About 50 food delivery riders gathered at the Meet-the-People session (MPS) in Ang Mo Kio on Nov. 6, 2019, hoping to meet the MP in the area, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.

At around 8pm, the majority of these personnel were waiting in the vicinity of Block 322 Ang Mo Kio Avenue 3.

What was observed at the scene

Many of the riders parked their personal mobility devices (PMDs) along the footpath nearby or at the void deck.

Most riders waited outside of the branch office, while a representative took a queue number on the group's behalf.

The riders were also mindful of the other residents present who were seeking assistance or meeting with a representative at the MPS.

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Those who showed up appeared to have taken time out of their delivery work, as they were dressed in uniform.

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It also appeared to have been a show of solidarity with those PMD users affected by the blanket ban that came into effect on Nov. 5.

Some of the riders were sharing their frustration with reporters while waiting.

According to one of them, the earliest rider came as early as 7pm to get into the queue, in hopes of meeting PM Lee or other MPs.

Many of riders said they found the ban too sudden, which caught them off-guard as they were using the PMDs to make a living to support their families.

Some are caregivers of old-aged parents with illnesses, while others have as many as five young children to support.

However, the ban had handicapped them from earning a living, despite the riders' past efforts to follow regulations.

Since the implementation of the ban, they had not been able to make deliveries.

Some also felt that it should not be a case of a few rotten apples affecting the livelihoods of the rest, and observed that the younger riders were the reckless ones, as opposed to the delivery riders.

At around 8:40pm, a representative for the riders shared that she did not meet any MPs, but their collective concerns were registered.

She said she hopes the government can help them with their predicament and provide alternatives.

Photo by Zheng Zhangxin.

The volunteers at the MPS were mostly observing the situation and facilitating the registration process.

The riders left at around 9:10pm, after someone shouted to alert them that there was allegedly a report made to the Land Transport Authority (LTA).

There were only three to five riders left at the scene by 9:15pm.

The MPS continued till 11pm and a volunteer shared that the second grassroots adviser, S. Vasoo, was attending to the residents' cases.

The volunteer also shared that the feedback from the riders would be sent to LTA.

Photo by Zheng Zhangxin.

Despite several attempts, attempts to speak with Vasoo were unsuccessful.

Top photo by Zheng Zhangxin

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