Non-PAP wards get lift revamp

9 Potong Pasir blocks, others in Hougang

IN JULY, the two opposition wards of Hougang and Potong Pasir were told they would get their much-awaited lift upgrading earlier than expected.

Last night, it was officially confirmed that the Government had picked the blocks that would get a lift landing on every floor.

The announcement came from the People's Action Party's (PAP) grassroots advisers in both wards, which had been told after the 2006 General Election that they would be last in line for the Lift Upgrading Programme (LUP).

The adviser in Potong Pasir, Mr Sitoh Yih Pin, said nine blocks had been picked for the LUP. They are Blocks 101 to 109 in Potong Pasir Avenue 1.

Mr Sitoh, the PAP's candidate in Potong Pasir in the last two general elections, added: 'I'm very happy the LUP is coming to Potong Pasir.

'This new facility will certainly benefit our residents, especially our senior citizens. I look forward to successfully implementing this project in our estate.'

He will be sending out a circular to residents in the selected blocks soon.

In Hougang, the PAP's Eric Low said LUP had reached the constituency, but he refused to disclose how many blocks had been selected. He plans to announce the news today at a grassroots event.

'It is a result of our efforts over the years,' he told The Straits Times.

'For residents living in blocks that are more than 20 years old, there are likely to be people around 60 to 70 years old. Without a lift on every floor, it is definitely a burden for them.'

He added: 'At least it shows opposition wards will not be last in line for LUP.'

The move to give LUP to opposition wards earlier is a shift in position by the Government, which had said after the 2006 election that opposition wards would be placed 'at the end of the queue' for LUP.

The change was announced in July when Ms Grace Fu, Senior Minister of State for National Development, said 65 precincts, including those in the two opposition wards, would be selected for LUP in this financial year.

Those picked would be announced in 'a few months' time', she had added.

The two wards seem to be among the first to be picked, with both Mr Sitoh and Mr Low saying they will be forming working committees to finalise details for the upgrading programme.

A poll will be held among residents of each block, and the LUP will proceed only when 75 per cent of them vote in favour of it.

The cost will be heavily subsidised, with the Government paying up to 90 per cent of the bill.

A tender will be called, and Mr Low said it would take around 10 to 12 months before construction would begin.

The two opposition MPs - Potong Pasir's Chiam See Tong and Hougang's Low Thia Khiang - could not be reached for comment last night.

Residents, however, were overjoyed.

Mr Freddy Seah, 53, who lives in Potong Pasir, said: 'I have lived here for 25 years. This is good news for everybody, that after so long we will finally have upgraded lifts.'

Mr Seah, who lives on the 15th floor where there is a lift landing, added: 'There are a lot of old people who have difficulty walking to the lift landings. So this is good.'

Mrs Marissa Lee, 31, who lives on the top floor of Potong Pasir Block 109, a four-storey building, said: 'Of course, we want the lift. As we have two children, it is difficult for us to go up and down without a lift.'

Her children are aged 15 months and one month.

Source: Straits Times, 3 Oct 2009