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, this proposal is being worked out. But roughly, much of the responsibilities of the Town Councils would be fairly similar to that of management committees of condominiums at present in the private sector. The management committee is responsible for looking after the maintenance and services to the flats as well as for paying cost of management of the estates. As for the people who are to be represented on the Town Councils, we envisage that the Member of Parliament for the Constituency should take the lead in its management.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, a team of officers in the HDB has been working on the proposals for the formation of Town Councils. However, as this is a new concept in the management of HDB estates, the team has to examine very carefully the complex issues involved and the legislation required. The study is now nearing completion and the proposals will be submitted to Cabinet for consideration soon. If the proposals are accepted, an experiment will be carried out in the Ang Mo Kio New Town in the middle of this year to test the proposed model. The results of this experiment will be studied and the model fine-tuned before the Town Councils are set up.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, at present HDB has a large number of flats. In fact, it is catching up with the waiting list. Therefore, the waiting time for purchase and rental flats, especially for small flats, is shorter and I believe the purchaser can get the flat faster. STATEMENT OF FIRST DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER (Offence taken by Malaysian Government) 4. Mr J.B. Jeyaretnam asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs whether it would not have been better in the interest of furthering closer relations with Malaysia if the government had apologised for the statement of the First Deputy Prime Minister to which offence was taken by the Malaysian government.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, the income ceiling of $1,500 per month for purchase of 3-room or smaller flats has been removed since April 1985. Those who are affected by the recession and who wish to move to smaller flats may do so without restriction.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, it is not true. The PAP does not decide on the priority. In fact, the PAP has nothing to do with the allocation or the priority. HDB FLATS (Removal of income ceiling) 3. Dr Aline K. Wong asked the Minister for National Development if he will remove the income ceiling for those who are affected by the recession and who wish to move to smaller flats.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, the grassroots organizations include members of the Citizens' Consultative Committee, members of Community Centres' Management Committees, members of Youth Executive Committee, members of the Women Sub-Committee and the Residents' Committee.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, they are given the same priority.”
“-- Armed Forces and Police personnel, staff of the HDB and members of grassroots organizations. They are given priority in HDB housing so that they are better able to serve the estates they live in. In the last three years, 6.96% of the flats offered for sale have been allocated to this category.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, the Housing and Development Board gives priority in the allocation of flats mainly to families affected by resettlement. These families are given priority for rehousing because they are being uprooted to make way for public development. In the last three years, 11.86% of the flats offered for sale have been allocated to such families on priority. The second category which is given priority consists of applicants under the multi-tier family scheme. Members of such families are given priority if they apply jointly for the same flat or for adjacent flats. This is in line with the Government's objective of encouraging families to stay together. In the last three years, 8.29% of the flats offered for sale have been allocated to this category. The last category to which HDB gives priority consists of persons who have contributed significantly to the security and social well-being of the community. This includes --”
“There was no Tree Planting Day activity in Potong Pasir Constituency because sufficient number of trees have already been planted in accordance with Parks & Recreation Department's guidelines. Similarly, there were no Tree Planting Day activities in four other constituencies. REVIEW OF BUS FARES 2. Mr S. Vasoo asked the Minister for Communications and Information if there are plans to review the bus-fare structure, in view of the pending reduction of operational cost of the Singapore Bus Service.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, the repayment will be suspended but not the interest. Mr Chiam See Tong: Mr Speaker, Sir, please allow me to continue from where I left off in the last question”
“HDB will normally allow a deferment of six months initially and this can be further extended. But usually those who lost their jobs are able to find another job within six months. But if they cannot find a suitable job, HDB is prepared to extend beyond six months.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, HDB home buyers who are facing difficulties in their housing loan repayment can arrange with the HDB to: a) extend the maximum loan repayment period to 25 years; b) make partial payment of monthly instalments temporarily and repay the arrears in subsequent instalments if the home buyers are in financial hardship; c) include another family member as joint owners of the flat so that his/her CPF contribution can also be used to pay the monthly instalment; d) sublet a room to supplement the family income; e) defer the instalment payment temporarily if the home buyers have lost their jobs or suffered business failures and the CPF Accounts are depleted. The drop in the HDB mortgage rate announced recently will also help to reduce the financial burden on the home buyers.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I would suggest to the Member for Anson to submit a Written Question so that I could give a very detailed Written Answer on all the points he has raised, because they are not part of the Oral Question that he has asked.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, the overwhelming majority of candidates recruited by the HDB are through local recruitment exercises. Overseas recruitment is resorted to only if the Board encounters difficulties in recruiting suitable candidates locally. In 1985, 180 graduates were recruited locally, as compared to only four graduates recruited overseas. However, the local recruitment exercises succeeded only in attracting suitable candidates for the more junior posts, but not for the senior ones. Only eight out of the 180 local graduates recruited have the necessary experience to fill the senior posts, while all the four overseas graduates recruited have five or more years of experience. Suitable Singaporean candidates are either already partners in professional practices or in well established positions and did not want to join the HDB. The vacancy position for the senior posts is further aggravated by the resignation of 20 experienced officers in 1985. The HDB therefore had to advertise overseas for the posts of Accountants, Architects, Administrative Officers and Computer Professionals to attract suitable applicants for these posts at senior management level.”
“Sir, similar questions have been repeatedly asked. Therefore, similar answers have to be given. HDB ADVERTISEMENTS FOR PROFESSIONALS OVERSEAS 2. Mr J.B. Jeyaretnam asked the Minister for National Development why the Housing and Development Board has advertised vacancies for Accountants, Architects, Administrative Officers and Computer Professionals overseas and why it was not possible to recruit persons for these positions amongst Singaporeans.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I think it is unnecessary and a waste of time.”
“Yes. Look up the Hansard and he will find that it has been given in this House.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, on the calculation of Potong Pasir estate, if I remember correctly, this has been given in this House.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, under the new accounting system this is clearly shown. In fact, if the Member for Potong Pasir is not aware, he can read the Gazette Notification on the Housing and Development Board's 1986-87 budget. It is quite clearly spelt out in this budget that the gross loss on sale of flats under the new accounting system for the financial year 1985-86 is a probable Actual of $633 million. The budget for 1986-87 is $660,510,000. He can read this in the Gazette Notification.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, the subsidy is calculated at the development cost incurred by HDB less the selling price. That is equal to the subsidy. For example, if the development cost of a flat is $60,000 and the selling price is $40,000, the subsidy is $20,000.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, the selling prices of Housing and Development Board flats are not determined by prices of private residential properties. They are based on the costs incurred by the HDB and the subsidy provided by Government. The present sale prices of HDB flats are heavily subsidized and are well below current market prices of comparable private flats. HDB prices are pegged at a level within the means of most Singaporeans who want to own a home or upgrade to a better flat. To lower prices means to increase the subsidy between market prices and the present HDB prices. Selling prices of new HDB flats are well below the market prices of old HDB flats. There is therefore no reason to further lower flat prices.”
“New HUDC estates may be included in the First Schedule in future for bodies corporate to be formed to manage these estates. To reflect a more intensive use of the common areas by the commercial units, the Bill requires owners of commercial units in an HUDC estate to pay twice the amount of the maintenance charges payable by owners of residential units. Other minor amendments in the Bill deal with the imposition of a penalty for breach of by-laws governing the running of the housing estates and the appointments and resignations of office bearers of the management committee of a body corporate. These amendments will help to ensure the proper management of the HUDC estates by the bodies corporate. Sir, I beg to move. Question put, and agreed to. Bill accordingly read a Second time and committed to a Committee of the whole House. The House immediately resolved itself into a Committee on the Bill. - [Mr Teh Cheang Wan]. Bill considered in Committee. [Mr Speaker in the Chair] Clause 1 -”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, "That the Bill be now read a Second time." On 26th July 1984, Parliament approved the HUDC Housing Estates Bill (1984), which would transfer the responsibilities for management and maintenance of the HUDC Phases I and II estates to bodies corporate to be constituted by ministerial order. The body corporate of each estate would comprise all owners of the HUDC flats in the estate. The Act came into operation on 31st August 1984. So far, no body corporate has yet been constituted. The powers of the body corporate under the HUDC Estates Act are similar to those of the management corporations of private condominiums set out in the Land Titles (Strata) Act. The HUDC Phases I and II estates are different only in that the common property remains in the ownership of the HDB, the lessor. Several HUDC resident associations have made representations requesting that the common property be given over to them so that they may be placed on the same footing as owners of private flats. The Ministry of National Development has looked into the request and is agreeable to giving over the common property to the flat owners. The HUDC Housing Estates (Amendment) Bill seeks to bring this into effect. The Bill allows the HDB to lease the common property to flat owners of each estate as tenants-in-common. The lease will be for a nominal sum of $1 and for a term which runs concurrently with the leasehold term of their flats. All flat owners shall be deemed to have accepted the lease when it has been executed by the Board. The Bill further seeks to empower the Minister to amend the First Schedule of the Act which describes the land on which the HUDC estates are located.”
“Under existing law, the Government can impose a ban on the entry or circulation of such publications but this is not necessary. A ban may be misrepresented by such publications as fear of exposing our people to their reporting. Foreign newspapers and publications are owned and published by foreigners who have no interest in our welfare or long-term survival. They are ordinarily based overseas and are outside our legal jurisdiction. They have no responsibility or obligation to ensure our political stability or economic progress. When such publications consistently attempt to manipulate local opinion and interfere in our domestic politics for their own ends, including that of generating controversies to increase circulation of their publications, then we should take steps to prevent them from doing so at our expense. We are amending the Newspaper and Printing Presses Act so that foreign publications can be declared a gazetted publication if they interfere in our domestic politics. Such publications would be allowed restricted sales but unrestricted circulation in Singapore so that Singaporeans can read for themselves what others say about us. It would also educate our population on the motives of others. But these publications shall not profit financially through big circulations in Singapore.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, this question is totally unrelated to the question asked by the hon. Member for Toa Payoh. However, if the Member submits a fresh question for the next sitting, I will give him an answer. NEGATIVE ARTICLES ABOUT SINGAPORE BY FOREIGN PUBLICATIONS 4. Mr Lau Ping Sum asked the Minister for Communications and Information if he is aware that the foreign press and weeklies, with significant circulations in Singapore, have been publishing negative articles about Singapore and distorting the truth about local issues and what he intends to do about this. The Minister of State for Communications and Information (Mr Wong Kan Seng) (for the Minister for Communications and Information): Mr Speaker, Sir, I am answering on behalf of my Minister. Sir, I am aware that a few foreign publications with large circulations in Singapore have been commenting frequently on local issues and distorting the truth. There are more than 3,700 foreign newspapers and publications in circulation in Singapore. The overwhelming majority, when they report on Singapore, provide reports that are objective and balanced. They do not always share our points of view, nor do they appreciate all our problems. This is to be expected. We welcome such publications. They serve a useful purpose, providing us with different perspectives seen by people from different backgrounds and with different value systems. Such different points of view constitute fair comment. On the other hand, they do not engage in campaigns to influence Singaporean opinion. However, there are a few publications, a small minority, that have sought to influence Singaporeans by colouring the truth to stir up feelings on local issues, even on sensitive local issues such as race and language, and seek to manipulate local opinion.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, on this matter, if the Member of Parliament feels that there are certain shops which are substantially affected, not slightly, by these MRT projects, I would suggest that he write to the HDB and I will ask the HDB to look into these cases.”
“Sir, for those businesses that have to move out, as I have explained, it means that they are badly affected. For those businesses that are slightly affected, I am aware that these businesses are being inconvenienced. On the other hand, in future, when the MRT project is completed and the shops are facing the MRT station, their business will improve. So this is a case where initially the shopkeepers have to suffer during the period of construction but subsequently when the MRT project is completed, those who run the business there will benefit from the MRT project.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, the HDB is already offering temporary rental relief to shophouse tenants in Housing and Development Board estates whose businesses are badly affected by Mass Rapid Transit construction projects. The affected shop tenant can opt for priority allocation of an alternative shop at concessionary rental similar to those offered to resettlement cases. Alternatively, the tenant can choose to retain the existing shop and resume business after the project has been completed. In the latter case, he will need to pay only 20% of his current rental during the first six months of the project. Thereafter, he is not required to pay any rental until the completion of the project.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I do not know. HDB SHOPHOUSE TENANTS (Temporary rental relief) 3. Mr Eric Cheong Yuen Chee asked the Minister for National Development whether he will consider granting temporary rental relief to shophouse tenants in Housing and Development Board estates whose businesses are badly affected by Mass Rapid Transit construction projects.”
“No, I am not accusing the Member for Anson. I just mentioned that he has been advised by someone. On the Member's other question whether these four persons were PAP Members of Parliament, my answer is that one of them is a PAP MP and three are not. I am very reluctant to disclose the details for the simple reason that I do not want the parking wardens to misuse their authority by issuing tickets to the people for whatever reasons to cause them inconvenience. So I would like the public to know that wardens are not allowed to misuse their authority to inconvenience the public. Therefore, the public, if aggrieved, can appeal to the HDB and the HDB administration will take action against the wardens who have misused their authority. So I am quite reluctant to discuss who made the complaint to the HDB. If the Member for Anson is trying to debate on this, it may frighten the public away from writing to the HDB to provide the evidence or information on the misuse of authority by the wardens. Because the people may worry that if they write to the HDB and the warden goes to see the Member for Anson and the Member brings this matter up in Parliament, their names may be exposed. They would rather not get themselves involved in the debate or politicking of the Member for Anson. Therefore, I am very reluctant to give him the information.”
“For his own estate. In fact, that is not necessary. Any Member of Parliament who has an MP's car parking label does not need to purchase a season ticket. So, in short, this particular car has two labels entitling him to park in the HDB estate; one is the MP's car parking label, the other one is the season ticket. And HDB officers investigating this case were satisfied that the Member of Parliament had displayed the MP's label on his car. In fact, the HDB senior officer had personally checked the car and found that the MP's label was stuck on the windscreen and there was only one mark on that windscreen, and the mark was an old mark, not sort of newly stuck on. So the senior officers investigating the case were satisfied that there was negligence on the part of the car parking warden and, therefore, a penalty was imposed on him.”
“On the second question, this particular car, EU3803K, in fact, is an MP's car and has an MP's car label which entitles him to park in HDB estates. On top of that, he has also purchased a season parking ticket.”
“It has been paid by the warden. As I understand it, the warden had asked the senior officer for a deduction of the penalty. And the senior officer in charge of the case even helped the warden. The warden pleaded for a deduction of the penalty, and the senior officer in charge, I think paid $10 on behalf of the warden. So the warden paid only $10. And I was told that subsequently this warden had been advised by someone to return the $10 back to the senior officer. An hon. Member: By the Member for Anson!”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, in fact, the penalty imposed on the parking warden has been paid by the parking warden. It has been deducted.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, there is a normal channel of appeal, but I understand that the person in question has admitted the offence and has paid up the penalty.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, again, the Member for Potong Pasir does not seem to listen to my answer. I have stated here quite clearly that "most of the HDB parking wardens are, however, performing well." That means, they are per- forming well. And in the last 12 months, there were only four other cases where similar penalties had to be imposed on the parking wardens. You must understand that HDB is the largest car parking authority and HDB controls more than 200,000 car park lots. The warden has to look after, patrol and ensure that parking in these more than 200,000 car park lots is orderly. A large number of HDB wardens are performing this duty. And HDB, by and large, has good parking wardens and, therefore, disciplinary action taken against wardens is very rare. And in the last 12 months, there were only four cases where HDB had to impose a penalty on these wardens. I think that both the Members just refuse to listen to my answer.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, if the Member for Anson is interested in this matter, I will send him the rules. And when he reads the rules, then he will understand why the penalty has been imposed.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I think the Member for Anson does not seem to listen to my answer. I have stated in my answer quite clearly that this penalty was imposed under the HDB disciplinary rules, as provided in its Instruction Manual for parking wardens. I can send him a set of the Instruction Manual on the rules governing parking wardens.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, it is not necessary under the HDB rules to conduct an inquiry and call the Member of Parliament to be present. But HDB officers in charge of this case have followed the HDB rules governing its staff and have imposed the penalty.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, on the first supplementary question, the answer is yes. On the second supplementary question, the penalty has been imposed in accordance with the HDB rules governing its staff.”
“(a) Not even one of the 159 units of 3-room HDB flats in Blocks 740, 742 and 744 Bedok Reservoir Road has been sold yet. (b) These flats are expected to be sold within the next few months and to be fully occupied by the second quarter of 1986. The shops in this neighbourhood centre serve a total of 3,687 residential flats in 45 blocks of which 3,400 flats (92%) have been occupied since the beginning of this year. The occupation of the remaining 8% of these flats is unlikely to substantially improve the business of the shopkeepers. paper - USE OF CPF SAVINGS FOR INVESTMENT IN SHARES, LOAN STOCKS AND UNIT TRUST (Cols. 649 - 652) Tables - HOUSING & DEVELOPMENT BOARD (Cols. 653 - 654)”
“There is no delay in the erection of pedestrian crossings and other road safety features. Along Bedok Reservoir Road, there will be a total of 9 pedestrian crossings. 5 of these crossings have already been built and 4 more will be installed by the end of this financial year. It was unfortunate that the fatal accident should have happened while the crossings were progressively being built along Bedok Reservoir Road. 3-ROOM HDB FLATS IN BEDOK RESERVOIR ROAD (Date of Full Occupation) 7. Encik Zulkifli bin Mohammed asked the Minister for National Development (a) how many of the 159 units of 3-room Housing and Development Board flats in Blocks 739 to 746 Bedok Reservoir Road have been sold up to the latest convenient date; and (b) when the HDB expects to complete selling all the units and when these units will be occupied in order to provide the badly needed clientele for the shop tenants there who have been suffering poor business for the past months, in some cases since January/February 1985.”
“All premises built on or before 7 September 1947, except those owned by government and statutory boards, come under the Control of Rent Act. Since 1947, many of these premises have been demolished or rebuilt through the process of development. The Ministry has not kept any record of the type and number of rent-controlled premises as there was no need to monitor such premises. However, in consultation with the Ministry of Law and Inland Revenue Department, the Ministry is currently reviewing the need for the Control of Rent Act. Data on rent-controlled premises including the type and number is being collected. The study is expected to be completed next year. BEDOK RESERVOIR ROAD (Road Safety Measures) 6. Encik Zulkifli bin Mohammed asked the Minister for National Development (a) what were the reasons for the delay by the Public Works Department in erecting pedestrian crossings and other road safety features along Bedok Reservoir Road although requests for them had been made by residents as early as November 1984 and the PWD knew well in advance the planned development for this neighbourhood; and (b) what and when additional measures will be taken by the PWD to avoid a recurrence of the recent tragic accident which resulted in the death of a 10-year-old schoolgirl whilst crossing this road.”
“Dr Wang Kai Yuen asked the Minister for National Development (a) what types of dwellings and how many units of each type are still under the Control of Rent Act; and (b) whether the government will review the need for the said Act in view of the liberalisation of government rules and regulations to encourage private entrepreneurship.”
“(a) HDB flat owners who tear down internal walls and doors when renovating their flats form only a small percentage of new flat owners. An estimated 1.7% of new flat owners are observed to have knocked down part of the internal walls and 8.6% to have replaced internal doors with decorative doors. Over the last 5 years, the estimated value of such renovations is about $1.7 million per annum. This is less than 0.1% of the total construction cost of $2.5 billion per annum. (b) Allocation of flats earlier with an option to accept or reject HDB's standard finishes just to cater for this very small group of owners may lead to higher cost for all new flat owners. If the option is given, HDB building contractors would be faced with different requirements for different flats and uncertainties over the final quantities required. Such uncertainties lead to higher tender prices.The co-ordination of the construction programme would be more complicated with higher administrative costs for the HDB and possible delays in completion of flats. The impracticability of this proposal is borne out by the experience of HUDC. Previously, HUDC flats were allocated when the flats were midway through construction. Lessees were given the choice of a variety of finishes. Tremendous administration and site supervision problems were encountered leading to contractors jacking up their tender prices for subsequent contracts to cater for such problems. This scheme has now been abandoned. REVIEW OF CONTROL OF RENT ACT 5.”
“Work is now in progress on the pedestrian overhead bridge across Ang Mo Kio Avenue 10 between Street 41 and Street 43. It will be completed by mid-February 1986. The cost of the bridge is $150,000. OPTIONS ON STANDARD FEATURES OF HDB FLATS 4. Dr Wang Kai Yuen asked the Minister for National Development (a)what is the annual estimated dollar value of the work, such as doors and walls, including labour and materials, torn down and thrown out by owners in renovating their newly constructed Housing and Development Board homes; and (b) whether such wastage of resources can be avoided by allocating the flats earlier in the construction process and providing the potential owners with the option of accepting or rejecting HDB standard features as well as rebating any labour and materials savings to the owners.”
“This, however, does not mean that HDB's buildings do not comply with fire safety requirements for highrise dwelling units. The HDB buildings are designed according to different stringent fire safety standards. For example, the layout of lobbies and staircases allows smoke to disperse quickly. Design features together with the use of non-combustible building materials prevent the spread of fire from one flat to another. Despite the large number of HDB flats housing 82% of the total population, the outbreak of fire in HDB buildings has been extremely rare. In every case, the fire has been confined to the unit itself. This speaks for the fire safety standards adopted by the HDB. STANDARD OF ATHLETICS IN SINGAPORE 12. Mr Chiam See Tong asked the Minister for Community Development why our present Singapore athletic standard is so low when compared to other Asian countries as evidenced by the poor showing of our athletes at the recent Asian Track and Field Championships held recently in Jakarta.”
“(a) The number of fie outbreaks in HDB apartments that had been reported to the HDB in the last four years are as follows: ______________________________________________ | | Fire outbreaks in HDB Apartments | | |____________________________________| | Year | | % of flats under | | | No. | management | |________|_________|__________________________| | | | | | 1982 | 53 | 0.013% | | | | | | 1983 | 65 | 0.015% | | | | | | 1984 | 42 | 0.008% | | | | | | 1985 | 48 | 0.009% | |(up to | | | |Sep 85) | | | |________|_________|__________________________| Figures before 1982 are not available as the HDB does not keep these statistics. The outbreak of fire in HDB apartments is due mainly to the negligence or carelessness of residents. The main causes of fire are the use of faulty gas appliances, unauthorised electrical extensions,storage of combustible materials in the flat, leaving lighted gas stoves unattended, children playing with matches and the throwing of lighted cigarette butts out of the window into the flat below. In view of this,the HDB has concentrated on creating a greater sense of fire safety consciousness among residents. Home safety and fire prevention exhibitions are regularly organized jointly with the Singapore Fire Service and grassroots organizations in HDB estates. Fire prevention messages are also incorporated in Residents Handbook and from time to time in HDB's "Our Home" magazine. In addition, the HDB exercises strict control over renovations and alterations to flats. Works which are likely to increase the risk of fire are strictly prohibited. (b) The HDB has been exempted since 1960 from submitting building plans to the Building Control Division.”
“There are plans to develop the land in the immediate vicinity of Bedok Reservoir into a recreational park. Detailed plans are being prepared but not yet completed. Work on the park is expected to commence within the next two years. FIRE REGULATIONS FOR HDB FLATS 11. Mr J.B. Jeyaretnam asked the Minister for National Development (a) if he will (i) give the number of fires that have broken out in Housing and Development Board apartments over the last ten years - year by year; (ii) state the main cause or causes of these outbreaks of fires; and (iii) say whether the HDB has any plans or measures to prevent the outbreak of fires in HDB apartments and to ensure adequately the safety of the residents in HDB apartments; and (b) does he not think that the HDB should be required to comply with the fire regulations in the new apartments that are being built.”