Derrick Sim questions increased bird-feeding penalties, calls authorities to improve food waste management instead
People’s Power Party (PPP) chairman Derrick Sim has criticised Singapore’s proposed tougher penalties for illegal wildlife feeding, questioning why repeat bird feeders could face jail time.
In a Facebook post on 7 May, Mr Sim took aim at plans to raise fines and introduce imprisonment for repeat offenders caught feeding birds such as pigeons.
Source: Derrick Sim on Facebook
“Feeding birds is not a violent crime, nor is it some major threat to national security,” he wrote.
“Yet now we are talking about fines of up to S$20,000 and even possible imprisonment. For feeding pigeons.”
Derrick Sim says authorities should tackle root causes instead
Mr Sim argued that the Government should focus on improving hygiene standards and food waste management at hawker centres instead of imposing harsher punishments.
According to him, leftover food and uncleared trays are major contributors to Singapore’s pigeon problem.
Source: RayRay on Facebook, for illustrative purposes only
“Perhaps the real solution is improving cleanliness standards and increasing the number of cleaners in hawker centres, rather than culling more birds and aggressively fining citizens,” he wrote.
He also referenced Singapore’s tray return initiative, calling on Singaporeans to “demand accountability” from the minister overseeing the National Environment Agency (NEA).
Says elderly bird feeders often act out of compassion
Mr Sim added that many elderly Singaporeans who feed birds come from Buddhist and Taoist backgrounds, where compassion towards animals is strongly encouraged.
“These elderly people are not feeding birds out of malice or ill intent,” he said.
“Most genuinely believe they are doing an act of kindness.”
Source: K Shanmugam Sc on Facebook, for illustrative purposes only
He also claimed that some elderly offenders had been “publicly shamed, fined heavily and even BANKRUPT” over bird-feeding offences.
On Friday (8 May), Mr Sim doubled down in the comments section of his post, drawing unfair comparisons between bird feeders and animal abusers.
“Imagine animal lover (bird feeders) and animal abuser in the same prison cell, but animal abuser gets lighter sentence,” he wrote.
He added that penalties for animal abuse should instead be increased.
Source: Derrick Sim on Facebook
Repeat bird feeders may face up to 12 months’ jail
Mr Sim’s comments came after Parliament passed amendments to Singapore’s wildlife laws on 7 May.
Under the revised penalties, repeat offenders caught illegally feeding wildlife may face fines of up to S$20,000 and jail terms of up to 12 months.
First-time offenders could also face fines of up to S$10,000, double the current maximum penalty of S$5,000.
The amendments were announced by Senior Parliamentary Secretary for National Development Syed Harun Alhabsyi during the reading of the Statutes (Miscellaneous Amendments) Bill.
Source: MDDI Singapore on YouTube
Authorities said the tougher measures are meant to deter illegal feeding of invasive bird species such as pigeons and crows, which have contributed to hygiene issues in public spaces and open-air eateries.
NParks says many offenders are repeat cases
According to the National Parks Board (NParks), enforcement cases involving illegal wildlife feeding rose from nearly 150 in 2021 to more than 380 in 2025.
About 42 per cent of cases in 2025 involved repeat offenders, with the majority linked to pigeon feeding.
NParks also said around half of bird-feeding cases involved seniors aged 65 and above.
Source: RayRay on Facebook, for illustrative purposes only
During the parliamentary debate, several MPs raised concerns about loneliness and social isolation among elderly bird feeders.
Hazlina Abdul Halim and Abdul Muhaimin Abdul Malik suggested stronger community engagement and counselling support for isolated seniors.
Meanwhile, Elysa Chen shared a case involving a repeat bird feeder who allegedly said he continued feeding pigeons because his late wife appeared in his dreams asking him to do so.
Dr Syed Harun stressed that the Government’s approach was “not merely to penalise”.
He added that NParks works with social service agencies to better understand offenders’ motivations, while offering alternative activities such as birdwatching and community gardening.
The revised penalties are expected to take effect later in 2026.
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Featured image adapted from Derrick Sim on Facebook and K Shanmugam Sc on Facebook. Right image for illustrative purposes only.
