Teh Cheang Wan
Singapore
“The Board does not propose to reinstitute the procedure for the resale of flats at the respective Area Offices in Ang Mo Kio New Town. As a pilot project, the Board has centralised the resale of Ang Mo Kio flats at Sales Section, Maxwell Road.”
“At the contract price or whatever it is, and this is due to the mistake made by the HDB, the HDB has been quite generous. If the mistake made by the HDB staff has been to sell the flat at lower than the posted price, then the owner has the benefit of this mistake.”
“The Member for Potong Pasir is asking a question which I have to check for an answer. I do not carry with me the millions of accounts of HDB flat-owners with me. So I cannot give him an immediate answer. But I can assure the Member for Potong Pasir that those people will be refunded.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, since the announcement by HDB on 4th July 1986, 49 HUDC lessees appealed to the Board to buy their flats. All were unsuccessful. As at 20th September 1986, 27 HUDC flat owners had sold their flats in the open market. Twelve of them sold their flats above their original purchase prices.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, since the implementation of the policy, HDB has resold 13 HUDC flats from among those flats HDB bought back from the HUDC owners. In addition, HDB has sold 44 new HUDC flats. The slow sale of HUDC flats is due mainly to the depressed property market.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I have no figures readily available as to how many of these 49 HUDC flat-owners who requested the Board to buy back the flats have committed themselves to buying other property.”
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“Mr Speaker, Sir, from HDB records, this assumption is untrue. HDB PURCHASE FLATS (Three-offer policy) The following Question stood on the Order Paper - 3.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, HDB does not restrict the contractors' working days. If the contractors choose to work seven days a week, thereby speeding up the construction and reducing their construction cost, HDB will not stop them from doing so.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, the HDB requires its contractors to take stringent safety measures at all its worksites. These include the erection of barricades, working platforms, overhead shelters and the use of metal scaffolds and anti-fall safety nets. Contractors are also required to provide proper fencing to prevent trespassing. In addition, site safety committees which comprise the Board's Safety Officers and the contractors are set up to look into the safety of the workers. All construction workers are also required to attend safety orientation courses conducted by the National Productivity Board. To ensure compliance of these safety standards, the Board's Safety Officers conduct safety inspections of all worksites on a weekly basis. HDB worksites are very safe. Accident records kept by HDB show that the safety of its worksites is comparable to those of developed countries, such as Japan and the UK.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I have already explained that for the financial year in question, the HDB has suffered a deficit of $38.7 million. But if the Member for Anson is interested in detailed accounting, he can write to me and I will give him a written reply. HDB WORKSITES (Safety measures) The following Question stood on the Order Paper - 2.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, the present service and conservancy fees payable by HDB residents are already subsidized by the HDB. In the last three financial years, expenditure on estate maintenance services exceeded the income derived from the service and conservancy fees by between 18% and 38%. The expenditure can be expected to rise even further in future as there is a shortage 2of labour for such work. On its part, the HDB has stepped up its mechanization programme to reduce the dependence on labour. It has also actively sought the support and cooperation of residents to lower the maintenance costs. Despite these measures, the total expenditure in FY 85/86 is projected at $312 million. At present rates for the service and conservancy fees, the revenue from these fees is estimated at only $220.6 million. The HDB therefore will have to subsidize the $91.4 million shortfall, or about 30% of estates maintenance expenditure. It is therefore not possible for the HDB to reduce the service and conservancy fees.”
“The buildings west of Serangoon Road bounded by Buffalo Road, Serangoon Road, Belilios Lane and Belilios Road are owned by Housing and Development Board (HDB). These buildings have been grouped into three parcels A, B, and C as shown in the attached plan (Hansard, 23rd July, 1985 (Cols. 249-250)). Parcel A, which has very few Indian related trades, has been cleared. Tenders for the renovation of parcel A are expected to be called in May 1986. Work is expected to be completed by third quarter 1987. The traditional Indian trades now operating in parcel B will be resettled in the renovated buildings in parcel A. Parcel B will be renovated by 1988 to resettle the traditional trades now operating in parcel C. No date has been fixed for the redevelopment of parcel C. The buildings east of Serangoon Road are mainly in private ownership. The Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) has completed a building use plan for the area in order to preserve the Indian character. The first storey premises will be allowed for retail uses although these buildings are within the residential zone in the Master Plan. The upper floors will be retained for residential uses. MEDICAL BENEFITS FOR DEPENDANTS OF FEMALE GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES 3. Mr S. Vasoo asked the Minister for Finance whether he will reconsider the extension of medical benefits to children of female government employees.”
“Vasoo asked the Minister for National Development if he will give an update on the plans to preserve and develop "Little India".”
“(a) In 1985, the Housing and Development Board (HDB) advertised on seven occasions locally for the posts of Accountants, Architects, Administrative Officers and Computer Professionals before the Board advertised overseas in December 1985. The dates of these advertisements are 12 January, 14 April, 16 April, 7 June, 16 August, 25 September and 28 September. (b) The number of applicants received by the HDB for each of the posts was: Architect - 47 Accountant - 344 Administrative Officer - 158 Computer Professional - 27 --- Total 576 --- Most of these applications are from Singapore residents. (c) The number of Singapore graduate applicants selected locally for each of the above posts is shown in the Table below. For completeness,the numbers selected for other posts in the same exercises in 1985 are also shown. Architects 10 Accountants 4 Administrative Officers* 13 Computer Professionals 6 Estates Officers 106 Engineers 25 Contract Officers 6 Internal Auditors 9 Interior Designer 1 --- Total 180 --- *Includes Assistant Secretaries. (d) Those who were not selected either did not have the relevant qualification, working experience, or were found to be unsuitable during the interviews. Others were not selected because they had high salary expectations that the Board could not match. These were professionals who were already holding senior positions in the private sector. (e) The salaries offered overseas were the same as those offered locally. (f) Housing was offered to overseas applicants under the Housing for Non-citizen Middle Level Executive Scheme. All non-citizen employees in both the public and private sectors are eligible for HDB rental flats under the Scheme. UPDATED PLANS FOR "LITTLE INDIA" 2. Mr S.”
“There will be more competition because there will be more suppliers and fewer middlemen. Other things remaining equal, retail prices of the common grades of rice can be expected to fall. There will continue to be a national rice stockpile under the new Scheme. A trader who wishes to import rice will be required to stockpile, in a Government warehouse, twice the amount of rice he imports monthly. These stocks will form a national stockpile, equivalent to two months' of national consumption. This arrangement will ensure that our population will have sufficient rice supplies, both during peacetime and in a crisis. The grade or quality of rice imported into Singapore is not controlled by the Government. It depends on the buying habits and preferences of the population. Consumers should continue to exercise care in their purchasing decisions, in order to get value for money.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, the Resettlement Department of HDB has always been very considerate in handling cases of people who are not qualified for resettlement benefits, ie, people who are not qualified for alternative accommodation. For example, an HDB flat will be rented out to the permanent resident family because HDB flats are only meant for citizens who are entitled to the privilege of subsidized housing. Non-citizens are not entitled to the subsidy. So HDB will offer flats to non-citizen families, if they are permanent residents, on a rental basis but they have to pay unsubsidized rent. PURCHASE OF NON-RESIDENTIAL PROPERTIES WITH CPF SAVINGS 15. Mr Chng Hee Kok asked the Acting Minister for Labour whether plans have been finalised for the purchase of non-residential properties with Central Provident Fund savings. The Acting Minister for Labour (Mr Lee Yock Suan): Mr Speaker, Sir, the details of the non-residential properties scheme have been finalized. My Ministry intends to launch the scheme in May 1986 after the Central Provident Fund Act has been amended. RICE STOCKPILE (Assurance of supplies) 16. Dr Ow Chin Hock asked the Acting Minister for Trade and Inudstry if he will give an assurance to the people of Singapore that, under the new rice stockpile scheme, supplies of rice will continue to be made available at competitive prices and of acceptable qualities. The Acting Minister for Trade and Industry (BG Lee Hsien Loong): Mr Speaker, Sir, the new Rice Stockpile Scheme, to be implemented with effect from 1st April this year, is aimed at stimulating keener competition in the rice trade. The existing scheme limits the trade to only 15 importers. Under the revised scheme, any bona fide trader can participate in importing rice for domestic consumption and sale.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, under the present resettlement policy, the majority of persons living in premises acquired by the Government are eligible for alternative accommodation. Those who are not eligible are small in number. They include persons who moved into the clearance site after the area has been gazetted for acquisition, non-citizens, persons who already own or rent HDB flats, or own private residential properties, and persons living in premises which are surrendered to the Government on a vacant possession basis. These people can either find alternative accommodation on their own or move back to their own residences. Those who need to find alternative accommodation are given ample time by the Resettlement Department to make the necessary arrangements before they are required to leave the acquired premises.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, as I have stated earlier, do not confuse the award with the application for an HDB flat. These are two separate matters. If a property is acquired on an encumbered basis, then he is paid lower compensation.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I am not aware of the case mentioned by the Member for Anson. But, as I have stated, anybody who is cleared as a clearance case, in other words, he is living on a property that is acquired by Government, then that person living on that property is eligible to priority allocation of an HDB flat. That means he jumps the queue and is ahead of many others. He is able to choose the locality and the type of flat he wants to move into. This is the special consideration that a resettlement case gets. Such people will have this priority of choosing the flat in the locality he wants. Therefore, quite often, the owner says, "I am quite happy to get less compensation and be treated as an encumbered case." Therefore, an abatement has to be made and the owner who stays in his property will be accorded priority of choosing the HDB flat in the locality he wants by jumping the queue and getting the flat earlier than others. But if the owner wants vacant possession value, in other words, he wants a higher compensation, then this is simple. He just moves out of the premises and then the Government will pay him higher compensation.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I think we must not mix acquisition of property with application for public housing. These two are separate matters. When a property is acquired, compensation is paid on the basis whether the property is encumbered or not encumbered. If the property is not encumbered, which means that nobody is staying on the property and that the HDB or the Resettlement Authority does not have to move any person out, then the compensation is made on vacant possession basis. But if the owner is staying there, then the property is no longer unencumbered, irrespective of whether the owner has applied for an HDB flat or not. If the owner has applied for an HDB flat and has obtained an HDB flat and moves out on his own, then he is able to deliver the property to HDB on a vacant possession basis. He will then be paid on a vacant possession basis. Mr Jeyaretnam: Is the Minister aware of a tenant in Tras Street who has been awarded a sum of $30,000 or so under the Land Acquisition Act and he is being told that an abatement of $12,000 will be made if he applies to purchase an HDB flat?”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, the compensation award for premises acquired by the Government depends on whether the premises is delivered by the owner with encumbrances or on a vacant possession basis. A lower compensation is paid for encumbered premises to reflect the cost which will be incurred by the Government in subsequent clearance. Owners who live in acquired premises can opt for priority allocation of HDB flats if they are unable to find alternative accommodation on their own. In which case, they are delivering the acquired premises on an encumbered basis. An abatement therefore has to be made on the compensation award if the award was earlier valued on a vacant possession basis.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, the pedestrian overhead bridge being built across Upper Serangoon Road near Lowland Road will be completed and available for use before the end of May 1986. ACQUIRED PREMISES (Abatement in compensation award) 13. Mr J.B. Jeyaretnam asked the Minister for National Development whether he will explain why an abatement is made in the compensation award paid to owners of acquired premises living in the premises if they are offered Housing and Development Board apartments for purchase upon moving out of their premises and delivering vacant possession.”
“Sir, there is a continuous upgrading of the tenants in HDB flats on their own. Every year about 8,000 to 10,000 tenants staying in rental flats move up to become home owners. This is a continuing process. So the additional concession is to help those who find difficulty in putting up the downpayment of 20% to purchase flats. This scheme is to help those who want to become home owners but who have only a small saving for their deposit. SERANGOON ROAD/LOWLAND ROAD (Pedestrian overhead bridge) 12. Mr Philip Tan Tee Yong asked the Minister for National Development when the pedestrian overhead bridge being built across Upper Serangoon Road near Lowland Road will be available for use.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, the scheme of reduced downpayment to assist the lower income families to purchase HDB flats has attracted 2,379 new applicants since its implementation on 23rd December 1985. In addition, another 71 existing applicants have also applied to purchase their flats under the scheme. Mr Chng Hee Kok (Radin Mas): Sir, this appears to be a very small percentage of the total number of 80,000 to 90,000 who are living in rental flats. Will the Minister consider relaxing the scheme on qualifying rules further so that more people can take up the scheme? Presently, the the number living in rental flats is still very high. We are talking about 2,000 applicants for purchase flats against 80,000 to 90,000 rental flats. Does it not mean that the scheme should be relaxed further?”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, after a prolonged period of continuous rain, road pavements are soaked with water. This weakens the pavements which become susceptible to damage under heavy traffic loads. PWD carries out temporary patching and repair as best as possible in between rains and follow up with permanent repairs as soon as the road surface is sufficiently dry. To minimize the problem, PWD also carries out preventive maintenance on those sections of the road surfaces which have aged and are known to be damage-prone at the end of each year before the rainy season. REDUCED DOWN PAYMENTS FOR HDB FLATS (Success of scheme) 11. Mr Chng Hee Kok asked the Minister for National Development how successful is the scheme of reduced down payments in attracting new and existing applicants for Housing and Development Board flats since it was implemented on 23rd December, 1985.”
“The Senior Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Communications and Information (Mr Ho Kah Leong) (for the Minister for Communications and Information): Mr Speaker, Sir, the answer to the Member's question is as follows: (a) 90 new taxis were registered in 1985, all by Singapore Commuters Pte Ltd (SCL); (b) 3,044 taxi driver licences were issued in 1985; and (c) As with other licences, taxi driver licences not renewed are cancelled.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, despite the construction slowdown, foreign workers still form 60% of our construction workforce. Many applications are still being received from the contractors to employ foreign workers. Graduates of the Construction Industry Training Centre (CITC) also have no difficulty in finding employment. Indeed, there are many jobs for Singaporeans to work in the construction industry. The problem is that many Singaporeans have a poor image of construction work. They view the job as dirty, uncomfortable and dangerous, despite the better pay compared to, say, manufacturing. This image of construction work has to change, as not all construction jobs are uncomfortable. Pipe-fitting, electrical wiring and finishing trades are usually conducted under shelter. Structural works, which are carried out under the sun, are often compensated in terms of higher pay. Worksite safety has also improved, with more stringent safety standards imposed by the Ministry of Labour and the safety orientation courses conducted for construction workers. To facilitate more Singaporeans to join the industry, the Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB) has implemented a job placement service to place Singaporeans with leading contractors. For those who need re-training, the CITC has also introduced a two-month intensive full-time programme to impart basic construction skills to the worker. It is my hope that in these lean times, more Singaporeans will come forward to join the industry. TAXIS AND TAXI DRIVER LICENCES (Figures) 4. Mr Chng Hee Kok asked the Minister for Communications and Information (a) how many new taxis were registered in 1985; (b) how many taxi driver licences were issued in 1985; and (c) whether there are plans to de-register dormant licences.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, the PWD has planned to construct a pedestrian overhead bridge across Jalan Eunos near Eunos Link to serve the residents of the housing estate who cross the road. The bridge will be ready by the end of 1986. CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY (Employment prospects) 3. Encik Othman bin Haron Eusofe asked the Minister for National Development, in view of the construction slowdown, what are the employment prospects in the construction industry.”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, I will answer the last question first, about this booster pump. I think HDB will make a study of this because the pumping hours were based on the demand of water during the peak hours. But if there are problems of water supply during the non-peak hours, I will ask HDB to look into it and to extend the pumping time, if necessary. The second question is on lift vandalism. Lift vandalism is quite a serious problem. HDB has been spending hundreds of thousands of dollars to repair the lifts. Usually vandalism is caused by urinating in the lift or throwing of rubbish in the lift; at times vandals even set fire to the lift or use a cigarette lighter to burn the lift button; sometimes chewing gum is stuck on the lift button, or scratching the wall of lift car as well as the lift door, or putting an obstruction to the lift door rails so that the lift door cannot close properly, and at times impatient people even kick the lift door and thus damage the lift completely. HDB has been publicizing in the Home magazine these very undesirable and anti-social activities of vandalism of lifts. HDB has also been conducting anti-vandalism campaigns together with the grassroots organizations. I hope the residents will cooperate with HDB and report to the HDB the vandals who damage lifts and who urinate in the lifts. But although the number of vandals in housing estates is very, very small, this minority of anti-social elements is causing serious problems for the residents who are using these lifts. The HDB's anti-vandalism campaign will therefore continue.”
“So I know very well the problems and difficulties faced by the affected residents and farmers. The Resettlement Department is also trying to lend a helping hand to such people. Where the problem is one of administration or other difficulties, then after a representation to the Resettlement Department, the Department will try to solve each case on its merit and according to approved policies. I think this is the request made by the Members for these two constituencies. As regards the question mentioned by the Member for Kampong Kembangan about the number of cases involved in resettlement, I hope the Member can write to me. Then I will try to get the figures for him. The Member for Anson, of course, also requested to postpone or slow down the resettlement clearance. He mentioned two separate cases.”
“In order that there could not be any disruption to our supply of primary products and fresh food, the clearance and development of the area could not be slowed down. There are three areas in Chua Chu Kang for agrotechnology farms, ie, Loyang, Murai and Sungei Tengah. At Loyang, there will be aquaculture-farming, like the breeding of fish and prawns. At Murai and Sungei Tengah, there will be mixed farming activities, like growing of vegetable and ornamental plants, breeding of ornamental fish and poultry farming but no pig farming. I will now answer some other questions relating to resettlement matters. The Members for Bukit Batok and Chua Chu Kang have raised the question on whether we could slow down the pace of resettlement in view of the economic downturn. The Resettlement Department intends to resettle certain farmers and residents according to the development needs of the Ministry of National Development for the next two years. The squatters, including farmers have to be cleared according to scheduled times so as not to hinder public development projects, such as HDB housing projects, road construction projects, MINDEF projects, MRT stations and, what I mentioned just now, agrotechnology farms. There are also water catchment schemes, etc. All these projects are related to our future interest and needs for the benefit of all of us and must not be slowed down. Therefore, we must proceed according to our original plan and take steps to resettle the affected farmers and residents in these areas. Among those affected, some of them will encounter some difficulties. I can well understand that because in my own constituency, of which I have been an MP since 1972, my constituents have also been affected by resettlement schemes.”
“The second point the Member for Anson has mentioned is that HDB is building a shopping centre in Toa Payoh with Italian marble all over the shopping centre. The answer of course is no. He is rumour-mongering. The Senior Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for National Development (Mr Lee Yiok Seng)( In Mandarin): Sir, the Member for Chua Chu Kang has raised the question that certain small farmers in his constituency have been affected by resettlement because the land is required for the development of agrotechnology parks. His first question is: what are the plans for this agrotechnology park, and secondly, would these small farmers be allowed to remain there a little longer? The development of agrotechnology park arises from the Government's estimate that the land available for farming will diminish from the present 5,000 hectares to 1,500 hectares by 1995. The local production of fresh food and primary products will be significantly reduced by 1995, causing a shortage of supplies if we do not quickly introduce the appropriate advanced agrotechnology to further increase the productivity of our farmlands. It is thus necessary to stringently plan for the use of available farmland for maximum productivity. With this in mind, the Primary Production Department has planned for the development of agrotechnology parks. Unlike traditional farming, agrotechnology farms will require heavy capital investment and the application of appropriate technology for intensive farming. Therefore, existing farms that are less efficient will have to be cleared to make way for these farms. The progress of clearance and development of agrotechnology parks could take up to five years. We do not have very much time left from now to 1995.”
“The Member for Anson has spread a rumour. If he has any information about HDB purchasing $4 million of curtain walls from America - that is what you have said just now, is it not?”
“Since the Member entered this House in 1981-82, when he wants to spread a rumour, he usually says, "I heard a rumour about this and that." Then he goes ahead and spreads the rumour.”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, the first point is: can HDB build cheaper flats? The answer is yes, HDB can build cheaper flats but it is not the policy of HDB. HDB wants to continuously improve on the quality of the flats. That is what Singaporeans want. Singapore wants to have better housing. For example, HDB can reduce its cost by changing the aluminium windows into steel windows or timber windows. HDB does not have to provide ceramic tiles in the kitchen but instead provide mosaic tiles. To make it even cheaper, HDB just provides cement flooring and not even mosaic tiles. It can be cheaper. The flats can be built cheaper but they are of poorer quality and poorer finish. Sir, the Member for Anson seems to be deaf. He does not listen to what other Members have said. Other Members have said that the HDB floor tiles are not good enough. They want to have better tiles. I have just informed the House that 8.5% of HDB flat owners throw away the doors provided by the HDB because they want better doors. The Member for Anson is not listening. He wants HDB to provide a poor standard of housing. HDB is providing low-cost high-quality housing. But the Member for Anson wants HDB to provide low-quality housing. That is not acceptable. If the Member for Anson wants low-quality housing, he can build it for himself. He should not impose his ideas on the citizens of Singapore. HDB will continue to improve the quality of public housing to make the flats better and better, irrespective of what the Member for Anson thinks. The Member for Anson's ideas will be rejected. Another point is that the Member for Anson is in the habit of rumour-mongering in this House.”
“Now I propose to let my Senior Parliamentary Secretary answer questions on two areas, one is on resettlement and the other one is on agrotechnology parks.”
“Here I would like to inform Members that as from the first of next month HDB will introduce a new tender system for shops. This new tender system will allow tenderers to submit two tenders. Every tenderer will be allowed to submit two tenders. If both the tenders are the highest, that means, one is the highest and the second tender is the second highest, then HDB will rent the shop to them at the rate of his second highest tender, not the first highest tender. This will avoid the situation where people in their eagerness to get the shop would put up a very high tender price and get stuck with that high tender price. So HDB will have this new system. Simply explained, it is like this. For example, there is a shop for rent. Mr A makes a bid. Mr A puts in two tenders at $2,000 and $1,500. If nobody tenders higher than $1,500, then HDB will rent the shop to him at $1,500, ie, his second highest tender. But if there are other people tendering at $1,800, then HDB will rent him the shop at $2,000, his first tender price. In this way, high tenderers will be saved from their own eagerness to put tenders at too high a price. Several Members here have raised a lot of detailed questions on their own constituency matters. I do not think I can answer these matters offhand. If Members can write to me on these specific matters, I will get the information and reply to them. So I do not propose to answer here all the detailed queries about matters in their constituency. But Members are welcome to write to me on the matters they have raised in this House and I will assure every Member that he will get a reply from me on the various matters that they have raised.”
“They are now asking HDB to reduce their rental. This is a very difficult problem. Although HDB may be sympathetic and I may be sympathetic, it is very difficult to find a satisfactory way to resolve this problem. I will explain to you. Suppose the HDB reduces the rental of a shopkeeper who claimed that his tender was too high and that he could not continue his business. So HDB reduced the rental to accommodate the request of some Members here. Then HDB would be unfair to the person who had submitted the second highest tender. For example, a shopkeeper has tendered for a rent at $2,500 and his tender is the highest. The second highest tender is $2,300. After some time this highest tenderer says that the rental is too high and he wants to reduce it to $1,800. That would be unfair to the other person who has tendered at $2,300, and the second highest tenderer will say, "Look, if you were going to reduce the rental to below $2,300, then why didn't you inform me first? Because if I knew, I would have tendered higher to get the shop. So if we allow this, I think the tender system will be chaotic because every shopkeeper will realize that the best way to get the shop would be to tender at very high rates, at $3,000 or $4,000. Once they get the shop, they will then appeal to the Member of Parliament, saying, "Look, my rental is $4,000. It is very unreasonably high." Then HDB must reduce the rent. Therefore, it is not possible to reduce the rental. It will bring about a chaotic situation. So the HDB now allows the shopkeepers to give up their shops and tender again for the same shop. If they believe that the market rental is lower, they can submit a lower tender bid.”
“The response in this area would be faster because the work is done by HDB. The other area is beyond HDB's direct control. For example, certain work has to be done by term contractors, like repairs. The HDB then has to request the term contractor to do the job. That will be slower because the contractor may not respond so quickly as he may have a problem with the workers. Therefore, HDB does not seem to be able to respond very quickly. But the HDB will try its best to respond as quickly as it can. Now I want to come to the rental of HDB shops. Many Members have made continuous requests that HDB should try to help shopkeepers by lowering the rental of HDB shops, wherever possible. I am very sympathetic too. The HDB therefore has reduced the rental by 15%, and this 15% rental reduction is being extended up to the end of next year. Secondly, the HDB will pass all the 50% property tax concession announced by the Minister for Finance to the shopkeepers. Another area of rentals is the requests made for reduction of rentals for shopkeepers affected by the MRT. I understand that some shopkeepers are adversely affected by MRT because the car park in front of their shops has been taken away for the construction of the station. Several Members here have made such a request. The PAP Members have been talking to me in the Members' Room about the need to help the shopkeepers who have been adversely affected by the MRT. I agree with them. I have asked the HDB to study this request. I hope HDB will soon announce a policy decision to reduce the rental for those shops affected by the construction of the MRT. There is the other matter about people who tender for HDB shops. They have put up too high a tender, and as a result they find it difficult to carry on their business.”
“HDB's objective is to encourage every Singapore citizen family to own the flat they live in. I think this is a good objective and we should support this objective. The question of using the flat for business activity has been raised by several Members here. I would like to make this point. HDB flats are for residential use. In other words, it is not allowed for other uses. This is because we want to preserve a good residential character, to provide a good environment for our citizens to live. Once HDB allows a flat to be used for commercial or industrial or other non-residential use, the environmental situation is likely to deteriorate. There will be noise pollution, for example. And if they use it for industrial purposes, there may be a fire risk. So this is undesirable. I think the Members here make this request because we are facing a recession and times are hard. I would like the Members to consider the long-term objective. The request is actually a very important departure from the objective. The departure is that HDB residential units are no longer used solely for residential purposes. HDB residential units will be used for commercial and industrial purposes. I think this is a highly undesirable move because that will lower the environmental standards of our housing estates. One Member has raised the matter that HDB Area Office should be more responsive to requests so that there can be better public relations with the residents. Since the formation of HDB, the HDB has continuously emphasized to their staff that it is essential for them to provide a good service to the residents, they should try to respond quickly to any request by the residents. I would like to mention that there are two areas of work. One is the work that HDB can do.”
“The Government is not forcing anybody. The Government is encouraging the people. I am quite sure that the young people, that means people between 21 and 29 years, are young and healthy people. They should be able to save the necessary sum of money to meet the small 5% down payment to own their own homes. But HDB will consider very special cases where there is genuine hardship. If there are genuine hardship cases, then HDB will even waive the 5% down payment, if necessary.”
“They are leaders of our community and yet they cannot cooperate with one another. They quarrel and there is even vandalism in the car park. It is a sad thing. I would suggest that the residents solve these problems themselves. It is very good, if they can. If the problem cannot be solved, then there is no choice but the authorities will have to step in. I will ask HDB to discuss with the Member for Telok Blangah to look further into this problem. On the encouragement of home ownership, I think I have answered this question raised by the Member for Anson this morning. I said that HDB has reduced the downpayment to only 5%. Any prospective home owner should make an effort to save the 5%. If they have CPF, I think there should no problem. If they do not have CPF, like those people who do odd-jobs or are self-employed, I suggest that they make an effort to save the amount of downpayment. Generally, odd-job workers do get quite a good pay. I understand that on the construction site they get about $25-$30 a day. Some get even as much as $40 a day. So they should try to save, say, $150 a month. If they do that, then within a year they would have saved almost enough for this 5% downpayment. I think the Singapore Government has tried its very best to enable our citizens to own their homes, to become home owners. So the citizens must do their part by making the necessary effort to save and buy their own homes.”
“On the mechanization of cleansing work, the HDB has been carrying out mechanization of its cleansing work over the last few years. The HDB has even gone to the extent of providing loans to contractors to purchase machinery to do the cleansing work. I think most of the people who live in housing estates can see that machines are used to reduce labour and to relieve the task of the cleansing workers. On the question of free parking on Sundays and public holidays, I informed the House that we are carrying out an experiment from December last year in several car parks in Ayer Rajah Constituency, and that if the experiment proved successful, this would be extended to other car parks. I would suggest that if Members of the House wish to introduce free parking in their constituencies, they should consult their grassroots organizations. After the experiment, most probably the HDB will extend the scheme to other car parks. There is no reason for HDB to reject the requests by Members to introduce free parking on Sundays and public holidays in the car parks in their constituencies. So I would suggest that Members consult their grassroots organizations, the CCCs and RCs. If they are happy with the system, it will be introduced. But after the introduction of free parking, if we run into serious problems, then it is very difficult to reverse. We have to live with it. So Members must realize that once this scheme is introduced, everybody has to cooperate and make it a success in the car parks in their constituencies. On the car parking problem in Gillman Heights raised by the Member for Telok Blangah, this is a very sad state of affairs. The residents of Gillman Heights are in the upper middle income group, and all of them are highly educated.”
“I am quite sure that the Member who raised this question will, if he consults his CCC, most probably find that they have no problem paying this small amount of rent. On cleansing service, the Member for Tanah Merah wants to know how the HDB chooses its cleansing contractors. At present, the cleansing work in slightly under 40% of the housing estates is carried out by HDB daily-rated workers, while in slightly more than 60% of the housing estates the contractors do the cleansing work. This ratio is essential because HDB is facing difficulty in recruiting daily-rated workers. Also, the daily-rated workers in HDB are faced with the aging problem. If you look at the daily-rated workers, they look much older than general workers in factories or in other places of work. The HDB has been quite strict in the supervision of these contractors. I admit that the performance of the contractors is not uniform. Some contractors do a better job while other contractors do a bad job. This goes for almost everything, including the construction of HDB flats. For those contractors with poor performance, the HDB usually imposes a penalty and will not allow them to tender again. For those contractors with good performance, the HDB usually awards them with a merit star to encourage them to perform even better. This problem of poor contractors who cannot do their job, I think we cannot help it. This problem will always be with us as long as we use contractors. The Member for Ayer Rajah has suggested the mechanization of cleansing work. His photograph shows cleansing work done by the Ministry of the Environment, and I am quite sure that my colleague, the Minister for the Environment, will take note of his suggestion and maybe take a look at the machine.”
“Not a fee. They pay for the cost. The Member for Fengshan spoke about the possibility of algae growing in the concrete water tanks. This is not likely to happen, according to the experience of the Hong Kong Housing Authority. They have been building concrete tanks all these years. In fact, they have experience with concrete tanks for almost 25 years and they do not have any problem of algae. I think that as long as the water tank is covered and there is no sunlight, there is no likelihood of algae growing in the water tank. Quite a few Members have mentioned about providing flats for senior citizens. The Government's intention is to try to keep the family together for as long as possible. It is most desirable to have senior citizens in Singapore living with their children. So any suggestion that facilitates the break-up of the family will be rejected by the Government. This is against Government policy. The Govern- ment will stick to the policy of three-tier family that stays together, and will continue to give them priority, such as the joint balloting scheme. If the priority is not good enough, and if any Member can come up with suggestions that will help the family to be together, the Ministry will be very happy to consider the suggestions. We would like to keep the family together. Once we encourage the breaking up of families, this will go against the Government's social objective. On the question of senior citizens' clubs, the HDB has been charging a rental of $3 per sq metre for senior citizens' clubs. I think this rental is reasonable. In fact, most grassroots organizations have no problem meeting this rental.”
“That is because of the disciplinary action that the HDB takes against renovation contractors. All renovation contractors know very well the rules and regulations of the HDB, and they should be able to achieve the same level. Any renovation contractor who cannot achieve the same level is not a good contractor and his workmanship is doubtful. It means that he has put an extra-thick base between the concrete floor and the tiles. In fact, it puts an additional load on the building. It is undesirable. Although the structure of HDB blocks is able to carry additional loads, we do not encourage that. So the fault is the poor workmanship of the renovation contractor. The HDB has to discipline the renovation contractor. Word will get around and later on every contractor will acquire better workmanship. As regards water supply, the Member for Kaki Bukit wants to know who owns the water pipe between the PUB meter and the flat. I want to clarify here, Sir, that the water pipe after the meter is owned by the flat owner. So if the pipe has to be changed, it will have to be changed by the owner of the flat. But if the owner has any problem changing this pipe, because it may be a bit complicated, then the HDB will be quite happy to do the job and charge them.”
“As regards kitchen floor tiles, the HDB has made a record of the number of residents who after three years hack up the tiles provided by the HDB in the bathrooms and in the kitchen. Again, the figure came up to 6(r)%, less than 7%. In other words, the majority of the residents are quite happy with the kitchen tiles provided by the HDB. One point raised by the Member for Thomson is that HDB has come out with a new design where the kitchen floor is higher than the living room floor. I think there is a misunderstanding. At present, the HDB's design for the living room floor level and the kitchen floor level is the same. From our experience, the situation where people pour buckets and buckets of water to wash their kitchen floor is no longer true. This is true in the days of squatter huts, and shophouses where people were in the habit of pouring buckets of water on the kitchen floor. At present, almost everybody just mops the kitchen floor. That is my understanding. In my house, my wife does not pour several buckets of water on the kitchen floor. I believe Mrs Leong also does not do that! So it is not necessary to have steps between the kitchen and the living room. To have different levels is quite dangerous and can cause accidents because people might take the wrong step. In new flats, the living room has a lower floor level. After renovations, ie, after laying the ceramic tiles, marble tiles or whatever that is preferred by the owner, the level of the living room floor will be raised to the same level of the kitchen floor. So if we had the living room floor at same level, then after renovation we will go back to the position of different floor levels between the kitchen and the living room.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I think I have sufficiently dealt with the prices of HDB flats. I do not wish to deal with it any longer because I do not think I can convince the two Opposition Members, and I do not believe they wish to be convinced. I would now come to the various points raised by the Members here. On the question of the wet market in Teck Whye Estate raised by the Member for Chua Chu Kang, I would like to inform him that HDB is going to build another dry market in Teck Whye Estate. Construction will start, sometime towards the end of this year and the market is likely to be completed in 1988. Teck Whye Estate will eventually become part of Chua Chu Kang New Town. [Mr Deputy Speaker in the Chair] 4.30 pm On the question of renovation of HDB flats, various Members have raised the point that a lot of purchasers of HDB flats do not like the design of the doors in the flat, the colour of the kitchen floor tiles, and also the wall tiles provided by the HDB. This is true. In fact, some of the purchasers throw the doors away and install new doors of their own choice. HDB has been monitoring very carefully on the number of HDB flat owners who discard their doors within the first three months of the renovation period. The latest figure the HDB obtained is 8.5%. In other words, 8.5% of HDB flat owners throw away their doors. So acceptance of the suggestion that HDB should not provide doors will put the 91.5% into serious trouble. And since 91% are quite happy with the doors provided by the HDB, in the development of HDB housing estates, we cannot help it. We have to provide the doors because we have to listen to the opinion of the majority. Similarly, in this House, we have to listen to the opinion of the majority!”
“The Member for Anson will then be able to make a huge profit if he is able to build the flats cheaper.”
“That is the point. The point is that Government is providing very cheap flats for the citizens of Singapore. And if the Member for Anson claims that HDB should build the flats at a cheaper price, then the logical conclusion is that the Member knows how to build flats cheaper. I am not challenging him. I am only suggesting to him that when HDB calls for tenders to build the flats, he should put in a bid of more or less the same price as what HDB accepts.”
“He mentioned that the selling price of a 4-room Model A flat is $78,000 which works out to $742 per sq metre or $69 per sq foot, with a floor area of about more than 1,100 sq feet. Just imagine, Potong Pasir area, which is near Serangoon Road, is a very nice residential area and each flat with an area of more than 1,100 sq feet is selling only at $78,000 or $69 per sq foot. Is that not a very cheap flat?”
“The Member for Anson is saying that HDB should build cheaper flats. I am not going to challenge him. I just want to advise him.”
“Very simply, without going into the figures, I think I would just mention that, in Potong Pasir Constituency, the HDB sold the 3-room new generation flats at $41,500 a unit, and the area of the flat is 68.8 sq metre. In other words, the selling price is $603 per sq metre for a 3-room new generation flat. The Member for Potong Pasir can check with his constituents to see whether or not that is the price and also that the floor area is 68.8 sq metre. This works out to be $603 per sq metre; a more familiar figure is $56 per sq foot. Just ask around, where can you buy a flat at a price of $56 per sq foot, anywhere near Potong Pasir,that is in Serangoon Road/in Braddel Heights area? That is very cheap, a very low price. And why is the price so low? Because it is heavily subsidized by the Government.”
“" And yet this morning the Member for Potong Pasir was trying to persuade the House that his 19 conditions are very reasonable.”
“I would like to come now to the issue of housing costs. I thought that this question has been settled with the Member for Potong Pasir. But Mr Speaker, Sir, the Member for Potong Pasir has again brought up the housing cost question and made claim to his letter dated 27th April 1985 stating the 19 conditions before accepting my offer to build four blocks of flats in Yishun New Town. He said that these 19 conditions were very reasonable. I just want to quote my reply to the Member for Potong Pasir dated 7th May 1985. I do not want to take up too much time of the House, so I will just read a paragraph. 'The HDB has budgetted $3.3 billion for the public housing building programme this financial year [that was last financial year]. Your condition No. 17 requires that SDP should be given the first option to construct all future housing projects on the same terms and conditions [that is his 19 conditions] and HDB will pay the Member for Potong Pasir 20% of the purchase price even before building.' You see the audacity of the Member for Potong Pasir - that the HDB housing programme should be completely entrusted to him? After knowing him in the last year, I would not trust him to build even a dog house! He does not know anything about housing. Imagine, even before building, HDB has to pay him 20% of the total housing development, that is, HDB has to pay him $660 million first before he starts. On top of this, his condition No. 19 says that "in any dispute with HDB, the SDP shall have the final say and its decision shall be conclusive." In other words, the Member for Potong Pasir is saying that having taken $660 million from HDB and he decides, "I am not going to build and my decision is final. Too bad for HDB!”
“Yes. He can see the development in Hong Kong. So I am asking this question: whyare Singaporeans able to live in better housing than these three countries? My answer is a very simple one. It is because of the PAP Government's decision to give top priority to its policy of providing housing for the people. That is the reason why today 84% of the population in Singapore are living in public housing which is one of the highest, if not the highest, standard of housing in Asia. In fact, it is comparable to any developed country. We have a lot of visitors coming to Singapore to look at our housing. Not one has failed to admire our housing, or failed to praise the Govern- ment's housing policy. Everyone, without exception. If the Opposition Members have any scheme of providing better housing, I am quite sure there will be a queue of foreign delegates waiting to call on the Opposition to ask for their expertise. And, as far as I know, no one has yet called at the office of the Member for Anson to ask for his expertise on how to reduce housing costs. And nobody has called at the office of the Member for Potong Pasir to ask for his advice on how to reduce housing costs. But there are thousands who call on HDB every year to look at HDB housing, to admire HDB housing, and to study the expertise developed by the HDB. I think this fact speaks for itself.”