SingCitizen » HDB

‘Adviser over MP’ raises many questions

singcitizen — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 01:10:53 +0000

Source: The Straits Times Page A2 22 Oct 2009
Article by Sue-Ann Chia, Senior Political Correspondent

To Mr Lim, the MP’s role seems to be confined to that of running the town council: Collect service and conservancy fees from residents and maintain the estate. And yet town councils, he emphasised, should not be considered local government — for Singapore has only ‘one level of government’.

This statement, however, contradicts statements that senior government leaders have made previously…

‘With town councils and community development councils, and my intention to give more power and responsibility to them (MPs), every election in a constituency is indeed a local government election,’ Mr Goh explained at the annual PAP conference held before the polls.

WP rebuts ministry’s reply on lift upgrading

singcitizen — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 01:51:16 +0000

Source: The Straits Times Forum Page Page A27 15 Oct 2009

Letter by Sylvia Lim (Ms), Chairman, Workers’ Party

It was the HDB’s unjustifiable answer to Mr Muhammad Yusuf — that the grassroots adviser was more appropriate than the MP to announce the LUP plans because he was able to gather residents’ input and marshal support for the plans — which compelled Mr Low’s response.

The HDB should have just given the real reason in its reply and not beat around the bush.

Ministry: MP Low wrong on lift upgrading

singcitizen — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 00:44:17 +0000

Source: The Straits Times Forum Page Page A17 13 Oct 2009

Letter by Lim Yuin Chien, Press Secretary to the Minister for National Development

As Mr Mah highlighted, HDB’s upgrading programmes are carried out and funded by the Government. This is no different from other government programmes such as the building of roads and schools.

These programmes have to be implemented through government channels. In the case of HDB upgrading, this channel is the advisers to grassroots organisations, who are appointed by the Government. Opposition MPs are not answerable to the Government, nor are they obliged to carry out and explain the Government’s policies.

No basis for MP not to announce lift upgrading: Low

singcitizen — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 00:37:06 +0000

Source: The Straits Times Forum Page Page A40 10 Oct 2009

Letter by Low Thia Khiang, Member of Parliament for Hougang

The HDB deems the grassroots adviser as the appropriate person to announce the lift upgrading programme because he gathers input from residents, ensures that the plans meet residents’ needs, can propose changes based on residents’ feedback and seek residents’ support.

On what basis does the HDB assume that the Member of Parliament, who has the support of the constituency’s electorate, is unable to do the same and is therefore inappropriate to play the same role as the adviser?

Lift upgrading: Why Chiam and Low are not fronting it

singcitizen — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 00:35:25 +0000

Source: The Straits Times Page A8 8 Oct 2009

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 appointed by the People’s Association — for all its upgrading programmes. The advisers will then explain the programmes to residents.

Providing win-win service at the counter

singcitizen — Mon, 02 Dec 2002 13:48:53 +0000

Last Friday, while I was in a queue to pay some Housing Board charges at HDB’s Hougang Branch, I noticed something interesting which I thought I should share with all of you.
It’s about the quality of service dished out – something that Singaporeans like to complain about to their family, friends and almost everyone else. Anyway, that’s how bad news get spread around almost instantly.

But, this story I am going to tell you isn’t about something bad. On the contrary, it’s about an HDB officer’s win-win way of handling a difficult customer’s request.

There I was, watching an episode of Mr Beans being aired on a TV set in the branch whilst I was in the queue – which, mind you, stretched all the way round the roped stands to the entrance and snaked out into the open grounds outside the branch. There were more than 70 people in the queue.

I couldn’t help overhearing the conversation between a counter staff and an HDB tenant; the man was almost shouting. He insisted on the enquiry-counter girl allowing him to pay his season parking fee so that he needed not queue up. His reason? He was in a hurry so he didn’t have the time. Obviously, he must have thought that those in the long queue – which included me, of course – weren’t in any hurry at all! I mean, all the people in the queue didn’t have anything better to do than stand in a queue for more than half an hour, watching Mr Beans on the TV screen.

When the staff politely explained that he couldn’t cut queue, he bellowed to her that he should be allowed to pay at her counter since he was paying the HDB, quite oblivious to the fact that those in the queue, too, were paying the HDB.

The counter staff referred the problem to her officer, who took just under three minutes to resolve the situation without letting him cut queue, but at the same time, not letting him storm out of the building empty-handed.

The HDB officer told the man he could return on Monday to pay his season parking fee. And if he received a parking ticket for parking his car without a valid season ticket over the weekend or on Monday, the officer would squash the ticket. However, he said this was contingent on the man renewing his season parking on Monday 2 Dec 2002 and no later.

That sent the man off, jubilant that he need not queue. As I stood in the queue, I thought to myself that the officer’s way of handling the difficult man was something to marvel at. He provided a win-win solution. It might have been easy for the officer to do it, since he must have come across such situations many times. But, honestly, I ask you – how many officers would have bothered to do what he did. I am sure most of them would have waved the man off without batting an eyelid, after all, rules are rules.

I never thought that whilst in a queue, I could learn something on people management, but I did. Kudos to that HDB chap!