POST OFFICE IN DELTA CONSTITUENCY

Madam Chan Choy Siong asked the Minister of State (Prime Minister's Department) whether consideration will be given to establish a post office in the Delta Constituency.

The Minister of State for the Prime Minister's Department (Tuan Haji Yaacob Bin Mohamed): (In Malay): There are already two post offices in the immediate neighbourhood, viz., Alexandra Road and Tiong Bahru Post Offices, to meet the needs of the Delta Constituency and, therefore, it is not considered necessary to establish a post office in the constituency itself.

Madam Chan Choy Siong: (In Mandarin): Mr Speaker, I would like to put a supplementary question to be answered by the Minister of State, and that is, whether he is aware that the development of Singapore is proceeding ahead in order to meet the changes, and these changes are such that they are beyond description. For example, in the past, there were only about 14,000 voters in this constituency. But at the present moment the number of voters is more than four times that in the past. This means there are about 70,000 voters in this constituency.

Another question I would like to ask the Minister is whether he is aware that the changes in the Tiong Bahru area have been very considerable. In the past, there were only about 12,000 voters. But now because of the housing development in this area this figure has increased to about 60,000. In view of these changes, can the Minister say that the needs in the past have been satisfied and whether such needs have not increased in view of the changes?

Tuan Haji Yaacob: (In Malay): Mr Speaker, Sir, we realise that the rate of advance is rapid and that the number of voters has increased. We also realise our responsibility that there are two post offices in the immediate neighbourhood of Delta Constituency. The increase of the voters can be met by increasing the staff.

Madam Chan Choy Siong: (In Mandarin): Mr Speaker, I still have a supplementary question to ask. The Minister has mentioned just now the present services of the two post offices, but in fact there is only one. That one is in Tiong Bahru. I would like to ask him whether he knows that, of the two post offices, one belongs to Queenstown and the other to Tiong Bahru, and whether he knows that the Tiong Bahru post office, which is very small, is situated in a shophouse of the Housing Board? If there are ten persons in the post office, it will be jammed up. In view of this, can he honestly say that this post office itself is enough to satisfy the local needs, and whether he is prepared to go there for an investigation?

Tuan Haji Yaacob: (In Malay): At this stage, I am satisfied with the service provided by the post offices there, as I have received no complaints of inadequate service from members of the public. However, if the hon. Member is really having difficulty, I will look further into the matter.

Madam Chan Choy Siong: (In Mandarin): Can I ask another supplementary question, Sir? The Minister of State has said that he has not received any complaints of the inadequacy of the postal services. But as a Member of the constituency, I have personally received complaints on this matter. If I receive many complaints, will he be prepared to consider increasing the postal services? Perhaps the Member for Tiong Bahru himself may ask a similar question?

Mr Speaker: I think the Minister of State did, in fact, say that he would make an investigation if he received complaints. So perhaps Madam Chan could forward all complaints received by her to the Minister?