COMMUNITY CENTRES AT JALAN PENGGAGA AND GEYLANG SERAI

Inche Rahamat Bin Kenap asked the Minister of Defence (a) whether Government has any plans to improve the community centre at Jalan Penggaga and to construct additional ones in the Geylang Serai Constituency; and (b) when will such plans be implemented.

Dr Goh Keng Swee: Mr Speaker, Sir, the community centre at Jalan Penggaga is housed in a building which is rented from one person who is not in Singapore, and the land belongs to another party. Therefore, it is not advisable to spend money on structural improvement in these circumstances. Improvement of all community centres in other respects is continually attempted by way of recruitment of better qualified staff, training of staff and appointment of management committees. The Assemblyman of the area is usually invited to be the adviser of the management committee and it is his responsibility, as much as that of the Government, to improve the amenities and activities of community centres.

In reply to the second part of the question, the Government plans to build another standard type community centre at Geylang Serai. In fact, it has already acquired a site. But we do not have enough money for the construction of this centre until sometime after 1966.

Inche Rahamat Bin Kenap (Geylang Serai): (In Malay): 1 wish to inquire of the Minister, since the P.A.P. came to power, the Government has been building community centres throughout Singapore. This is a matter of pride. But it is a pity that after the P.A.P. came to power, there has been no project for Geylang Serai -

Mr Speaker: If the Member has a supplementary question to ask, he may do so. But he must not embark on a speech. A supplementary, please.

Inche Rahamat(In Malay): This is related to my question. May I inquire why the Geylang Serai constituency does not have a community centre as other constituencies have? Is there something wrong why there is no community centre in Geylang Serai?

Dr Goh Keng Swee: Sir, there is one community centre. As I said, this is in a rather ancient building of wooden structure. The owner of the building is now staying, I am told, in Indonesia. The landlord is somewhere else. Obviously it is a risky thing to effect improvements to this particular place. Geylang Serai, of course, is fortunate in having at least one community centre. There are three other constituencies which have none whatsoever, and the Member is therefore comparatively fortunate. After 1966, as I said, we can look forward to having another one. He must, in the meantime, contain his soul in patience.