An elderly tai chi group that relocated after narrowly missing a fatal car accident in January has been hit with noise complaints for the second time, with a member in her 70s lamenting that they are “almost running out of places to exercise”.
On April 15, Facebook user Elise Chow shared a video of their tai chi session in the Complaint Singapore group, claiming that the seniors would gather weekly at an open space beneath an HDB block, dancing and playing loud music.
“They start to play from 7.30pm to 10pm. Such selfish behaviour. People need to rest, study or even work,” Ms Chow said.
When Shin Min Daily News visited the location — a common area between Blocks 230 and 231 at Ang Mo Kio Avenue 3 — the person in charge, Yu Ziying (transliterated), said the group comprises elderly residents living nearby. The 78-year-old added that they have been practising qigong together once a week for almost 40 years.
“We started practising together in our 40s. We’re now in our 70s and 80s. We’ve already changed teachers three times, and things were fine until about four years ago, when we began receiving frequent complaints from one household,” she said.
Madam Yu said the group had always used the public space, but after a noise complaint was made against them in 2025, they moved to an open space about 200 metres away.
Near-fatal accident in January
However, a fatal accident occurred in January while the group was practising at the open space. A car had lost control and crashed into the area, causing the death of a 59-year-old man and narrowly missing the group.
