ST : 2nd chance to vote for lift upgrading: Mah

Nov 24, 2010

Parliament

2nd chance to vote for lift upgrading: Mah

By Teo Wan Gek

OF THE 5,000 blocks of HDB flats offered lift upgrading since 2001, only a very tiny number have voted against it.

Minister for National Development Mah Bow Tan said yesterday that residents of 54 blocks - scattered around Singapore - chose not to take up the offer to have lift landings on every floor.

These blocks will, however, be given a second chance to vote on the matter, he said in a written reply to Mr Baey Yam Keng (Tanjong Pagar GRC).

Under HDB rules, 75 per cent of the households in a block have to vote for the programme for it to be carried out.

Mr Baey had asked if blocks which had earlier failed to achieve the 75 per cent would be offered another chance, as some flat owners and their sentiments would have changed over the years.

Of the 54 blocks, 32 blocks have been allowed to rethink their decision, and 22 of that group have obtained the 75 per cent majority which gets them lift upgrading.

The other 10 blocks have yet to vote a second time.

The remaining 22 blocks that failed to meet the 75 per cent threshold can still be re-offered the Lift Upgrading Programme (LUP), said Mr Mah, adding that grassroots advisers can work with the HDB to do so.

In wards held by the People's Action Party, the elected MPs are the grassroots advisers. In opposition-held wards, advisers are people appointed by the People's Association.

Said Mr Mah: 'The Government is committed to complete the LUP by 2014. Therefore, we urge residents to exercise their polling options carefully within this timeframe, taking into consideration the benefits that the LUP will bring to them and their families.'

The programme is heavily subsidised by the Government. Residents and town councils each pay between 5 per cent and 12.5 per cent of the cost, depending on flat size and configuration of the block.

A total of $3.8 billion has been earmarked for this programme.

The polling of residents usually takes place nine to 15 months after the HDB announces its selection of a precinct of several blocks for lift upgrading.