Category Archives: HDB

PR distribution in HDB estates will be monitored

Posted on 27 Oct 2009 | Comments Off on PR distribution in HDB estates will be monitored

The Housing and Development Board (HDB) will consider measures to prevent the congregation of permanent residents, if necessary.

MediaCorp had contacted the statutory board after Member of Parliament Lim Wee Kiak filed a parliamentary question on the total number of PRs who own HDB flats and the distribution of PRs in various public housing estates.

While his question is being held over from last week – it could not be reached within the 90 minutes given for question time – an HDB spokesman said: “It’s important that PRs can integrate into the larger citizen community and to have a good mix of PRs in HDB estates. HDB will monitor the distribution of PRs in HDB estates.”

While it will consider measures, the spokesman added: “The number of PR households owning HDB flats is a small proportion of all HDB households.”

To Dr Lim, who may get the numbers next month when Parliament is in session, “10 to 15 per cent” would be “significant” enough – “as big a group as Indians and Malays” – to warrant introducing a quota system to ensure “even distribution” of PRs across estates, which will help the efforts to integrate and naturalise them.

PRs will otherwise “remain separated”, he said. Continue reading →

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Keep wet markets, but upgrade them

Posted on 26 Oct 2009 | Comments Off on Keep wet markets, but upgrade them

I REFER to the Oct 13 editorial, ‘Wet markets and the forces of change’, which recapped the current controversy over the impending closure of several wet markets as a result of acquisitions by supermarket chains.

While I agree that wet markets are often ‘wet and smelly’ places to shop for fresh produce, fish and meat, the root causes of the dampness and odours have to be addressed. From what I see at the Serangoon Avenue 3 wet market, where I shop twice a week, poor design and construction, age and poor maintenance by the current operator are to blame.

This market stands in sharp contrast to the recently renovated markets in Tampines and Bedok. These are clean, neat and well ventilated. The stallholders have well-designed stalls where they can store raw or cooked food properly, display their wares and ensure that waste is properly managed.

Wet markets are far from becoming relics from a bygone age. They are relevant to 21st-century Singapore and meet the needs of residents in the estates around them. For instance, the Serangoon Avenue 3 wet market services a large residential area comprising HDB flats, private condominiums and houses in Upper Serangoon, Braddell and Serangoon Gardens estates. Customers of the wet market comprise young working adults, expatriates and the elderly. Continue reading →

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