NATIONAL Development Minister Mah Bow Tan yesterday explained why the Government works with grassroots advisers instead of elected MPs for lift upgrading programmes in opposition wards.
This is because the HDB's practice is to deal with a constituency's grassroots advisers - who are appoiinted by the People's Association - for all its upgrading programmes. The advisers will then explain the programmes to residents.
Likewise for the ongoing programme to provide lift landings on every floor for selected blocks.
'I don't expect the MP who is not a government MP or PAP MP to go and front it, and explain why the Lift Upgrading Programme is like that...,' said Mr Mah. 'The adviser is always the one doing it, no different this time around,' he said, referring to such programmes in Potong Pasir and Hougang.
In wards held by the People's Action Party, the elected MPs are also the grassroots advisers.
In the two opposition wards, however, the current advisers are the PAP candidates who lost in the last general election - Sitoh Yih Pin in Potong Pasir and Eric Low in Hougang.
The two announced last week that they would be forming working committees to finalise the details of the Lift Upgrading Programme.
Some Singaporeans questioned why they, rather than the elected MPs Chiam See Tong and Low Thia Khiang respectively, made the announcement.
Yesterday, Mr Mah noted that the advisers had been in talks with Mr Chiam and Mr Low on this issue. 'Both MPs have been cooperative,' he told reporters on the sidelines of an HDB event.
He also reiterated that advisers nominate blocks for lift upgrading, and the Government will then decide which ones to select. 'All things being equal, we always put the PAP wards first,' he declared.
The Government has promised that lift upgrading will reach all wards by 2014. In July, it announced that precincts in the two opposition wards would be included in the 65 to be selected this financial year.
Source: Straist Times, 8 Oct 2009
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