STREET LIGHTING IN RURAL AREAS

Inche Mohd. Ali Bin Alwi asked the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the Government's plans to provide street-lighting in all the rural areas, and approximately when those plans will be fully implemented.

Mr Chan Sun Wing (for the Prime Minister): Mr Speaker, I have been asked by the Prime Minister to reply to this question.

Any programme for street lighting in rural areas must take into account (1) population density, (2) traffic, (3) availability of electrical supply, and (4) the cost.

Priorities have to be drawn up taking these factors into account. I am able to supply the hon. Member with a list showing the number of street lights in the programme for 1960. Copies of the list* will be tabled for circulation to Members.

• Appendix I, cols. 821-2. Appendix I-STREET LIGHTING IN RURAL AREAS (Cols 0821-0822)

Class A street lights are from 250 to 400 watts and are installed on main roads at a maintenance fee of $16 per month. Class B street lights are below 250 watts and are installed on housing estates and lesser roads at a maintenance fee of $9 per month. Kampong lights are ordinary lights of about 80 watts at a maintenance fee of $9 per month. By this programme, 187 Class A, 481 Class B and 309 Kampong type street lights are to be installed this year of which 24 Class A, 164 Class B and 40 Kampong type have been installed and a further 130 special street lights, being the balance of the Class A lights, are on order for the Airport Road. Street lighting for the rural areas this year will cost $521,000. The Kampong type lighting is for the benefit of Kampong dwellers and is a new programme.

It is not possible to say that a street lighting programme is ever completed, as it is a continuous process over the years according to population and development trends and is, therefore, never completed. A similar amount of money has been entered in the Estimates for 1961 for the street lighting programme.