Around 32 more households in Potong Pasir will be eligible for HDB’s Lift Upgrading Programme (LUP), said Mr Sitoh Yih Pin, incumbent MP for the estate.
The households are spread across blocks 123, 124, 125, 127, 128, 129, 130 and 132. The blocks previously did not qualify for the programme, reported Today Online.
“I have been working very hard on this,” noted Sitoh, who won the seat during the 2011 General Election (GE).
“Following residents’ feedback, we held many rounds of discussions with HDB and appealed to HDB.”
The LUP provides residents of HDB blocks constructed before 1990 lift access at each level. However, Senior Minister of State (National Development) Lee Yi Shyan announced in Parliament last month that the programme is not feasible in about 200 HDB blocks due to high costs or technical constraints.
The $5.5 billion programme has been a source of contention during previous elections, with opposition parties claiming that People’s Action Party (PAP) candidates are politicising the upgrading works. Two months prior to the 2001 GE, then-National Development Minister Mah Bow Tan said: “It’s only fair that we give those constituencies that have given us support, higher priority.”
Responding to queries as to why the request by Mr Sitoh was approved, the housing board explained that it recognises the urgency to offer barrier-free access to residents.
“We will exercise greater flexibility and extend LUP to more blocks where the current range of solutions can be applied. HDB is committed to providing barrier-free accessibility for our residents and will continue to explore alternatives,” it added.
Romesh Navaratnarajah, Singapore Editor at PropertyGuru, edited this story. To contact him about this or other stories email romesh@propertyguru.com.sg
