A PRIVATE bus driver, known only as Kassim, has had the unfortunate honour of being the first Singaporean to be fined for sleeping. 

Recently, The New Paper ran a story on how he was fined $200 for 15 minutes of snooze time on a park bench. 

Mr Kassim reenacts what he was fined for.
TNP Photo: KUA CHEE SIONG

I was appalled, and at the same time, tickled by the absurdity of what happened. It is a sad allegory of a society that has become obsessed with rules and image, at the expense of compassion and flexibility.

The National Parks Board stated that the fine was due to "misuse" of park facilities. I imagine their explanation went something like this:

"The Visitor should sit upright, with his/her feet planted on the ground (unless you're a child or really short).  Mr Kassim, lying horizontally, is thus misusing the park facility with his improper posture and depriving another Visitor of a seat. Also, he could be mistaken for a squatter."

If so, would I be fined $200 if I took a nap sitting up? Or $100 because, technically, I'm only committing half the offence?

What about people who fall asleep on public library couches or on seats at HDB void decks? Or your coffee-shop uncle who hogs a table for hours downing bottles of beer? The visitors in both scenarios are definitely more common than what you would find in a park.

To me, being in a park is a beautiful experience where one feels free and relaxed. Such a restriction goes against the very nature of the place. 

Granted, we do not want people - homeless or otherwise - to loiter in public areas for security reasons. But I wonder: Can't we nap on a park bench if it's perfectly harmless? Or at least, warn those who do and not fine them for it?

This incident is one of many that reflects our society's rigidness, which I feel, stifles creativity and tolerance. Yes, a park bench is for sitting, but surely park-goers may explore beyond the boundaries of that definition.

Just like how a good photograph doesn't always have to be sharp.