Tag Archives: Housing and Development Board

Singapore Property : Upgrade lifts in ineligible blocks too

Posted on 8 Nov 2009 | Comments Off on Singapore Property : Upgrade lifts in ineligible blocks too

I refer to last Sunday’s article, ‘Sorry, no lift for your floor’, which reported Senior Minister of State for National Development Grace Fu as saying that 200 out of about 5,300 blocks built before 1990 are ineligible for the Lift Upgrading Programme (LUP).

The reason these blocks – including the Lorong Ah Soo maisonette block (right) mentioned in the article – are ineligible is that upgrading them would severely bust the cost cap of $30,000 for each unit.

As the $5.5 billion lift upgrading scheme is a nationwide exercise to provide lifts which stop on every floor for Housing Board residents, it should be carried out with impartiality in all wards and for all blocks.

Moreover, $5.5 billion is a large sum and if it is spent wisely, it should be able to cover the costs of lift upgrading for these 200 blocks.

Also, with so many HDB blocks within each ward or constituency, installing or upgrading the lifts can be done at a much lower cost.

The LUP should be viewed from a macro, rather than a micro, perspective, as at least 85 per cent of our population live in HDB flats.

Another issue I wish to raise is the extravagant finishes of some of the upgraded lift lobbies and interiors.

Some of these are comparable to, or even better than, those in private condominiums. Continue reading →

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Inflow of foreigners ‘must benefit citizens’

Posted on 6 Nov 2009 | Comments Off on Inflow of foreigners ‘must benefit citizens’

SINGAPORE must manage the inflow of foreign talent and other immigrants to ensure Singaporeans do not lose out but rather benefit from their presence, Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong said yesterday.

He said the Republic, which is already a cultural melting pot, will become even more diverse in the years to come.

‘Locals must accommodate the different habits, beliefs and practices of foreigners, and foreigners working and living here must respect local ways and habits and make an effort to integrate,’ he said.

‘Then, Singapore will be an oasis of harmony with a rich diversity of people, culture and ideas.’

Foreigners living and working here, however, must contribute to Singapore, said Mr Goh.

‘Those who come to drink from the oasis must add to our ability to replenish the water, and not just consume and deplete the stock,’ he said.

‘By this I mean that we must manage the inflow of talent and new immigrants to ensure that Singaporeans do not lose out and in fact benefit from their presence. Only then can we create a harmonious, cosmopolitan society.’ Continue reading →

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