HOUSING BOARD ESTATES (Turfing of open areas)

Encik Mansor Haji Sukaimi asked the Minister for National Development and Communications what measures will be taken to ensure that debris, rusty iron rods, metal and stones are cleared before playgrounds and open areas in the Housing and Development Board estates are turfed. and that the use of barbed wires in these areas will be prohibited.

The Senior Minister of State for National Development (Dr Tan Eng Liang) (for the Minister for National Development and Communications): Mr Speaker, Sir, the Housing and Development Board has in the past asked the contractors to make good the playgrounds and open areas in cases where debris were not properly cleared. The Board will continue with this practice, and also exercise greater supervision on the contractors to ensure that all debris are removed.

It is the responsibility of the contractors to clean up open spaces and other grounds within a specific time after completing their work. The Housing and Development Board will impose a fine on those who fail to do so. In addition, they are required to clear the debris immediately.

Barbed wires are used to fence in newly turfed areas. They will be removed once the turf is fully established.

Mr Ivan Baptist (Potong Pasir): Mr Speaker, Sir, does the hon. Minister realise that the barbed wires could cause serious injury to children, especially at night when certain areas are not lit?

Dr Tan Eng Liang: Mr Speaker, Sir, in the first place, children are not supposed to walk around at night in open spaces where contractors are working. Let me perhaps tell the Member that if it is a well-planned and well-executed playground meant strictly for children to play, then in that case the barbed wires can easily be removed and perhaps other substitutes like wire, string or perhaps straw if he likes, could be used to fence around fields and certain plants as we do now. But in this case we are talking of turfing of playing fields.

Mr Ivan Baptist: Sir, just to clarify a point, I would like to ask the Senior Minister of State whether he realises that in Lorong 8, for instance, the turfed area has a boundary with barbed wire fencing running beside a pathway. At night this area is not well lit, and there is the danger that children might accidentally get cut by these barbed wires. Something has to be done. Could we have a positive answer on this, please?

Dr Tan Eng Liang: Sir, the answer is positive. If the Member can inform us of such incidents, we will definitely look into the matter.

Encik Mansor Haji Sukaimi (Kampong Kembangan): Mr Speaker, Sir, if the Senior Minister of State is obliging enough, I will be very happy to bring him to the housing estate and show him a piece of metal jutting out of the ground, not at the corner of the estate but in the `middle of the area where people walk up and down, especially children.

Secondly, it is not true that barbed wires are always located in areas which are not frequented by children. I was at Ang Mo Kio last night and I saw barbed wires along the pavement of the main passageways.

Dr Tan Eng Liang: Sir, the HDB area office will be most appreciative if the Member can point out where the metal piece is. Like all playing fields and areas under the HDB's management, things of this nature have occurred and will occur. I am answering a question here regarding the removal of debris by contractors, and I say again that it is the responsibility of the contractors to remove the debris, and that a fine will be levied if he does not do it properly. But that does not suggest that incidents of that nature will never occur. I would therefore appreciate it if the hon. Member could bring it to our attention so that we can have it removed.

Encik Mansor Haji Sukaimi: Sir, if the Estates Officer in charge of Eunos Crescent could just go round and take a look at the turfed areas where the grass is now growing, he will find stones, timber, logs -

Mr Speaker: Encik Mansor, what is your supplementary question?

Encik Mansor Haji Sukaimi: Mr Speaker, Sir, the question is: have the officials of the Housing Board ensured themselves that before turfing is carried out, every boulder, metal and sharp objects are cleared off the ground?

Dr Tan Eng Liang: Sir, to please the hon. Member, we will try our best to do that.

Mr Ahmad Haleem (Telok Blangah): Mr Speaker, Sir, I think the Hon. Minister has not really answered the question. The question is that the barbed wires in this area be prohibited -

Mr Speaker: Encik Ahmad, the Minister has answered the question. Mr Yeo Choo Kok.