DEMOLITION OF VACATED PREMISES UNDER CLEARANCE SCHEMES

Encik Mansor Haji Sukaimi asked the Minister for National Development and Communications whether he will consider and state what steps will be taken to ensure that empty premises vacated by persons affected by development programmes will be demolished speedily.

Dr Tan Eng Liang (for the Minister for National Development and Communications): Mr Speaker, Sir, my Ministry's objective is to demolish vacated premises speedily; however, it is not always possible to achieve this. Occupants of affected premises usually do not all move out at the same time. Since piecemeal demolition is not practical and poses safety hazards to remaining occupants in a block of partially vacated premises, it is often not possible to proceed with the immediate removal of these empty structures. Even after premises have been totally vacated, it is often necessary to await the disconnection of overhead cables for utilities before the structures could be demolished.

To expedite clearance, demolition of simple timber structures is presently done by the PWD using departmental labour. Where specialist demolition contractors have to be employed to remove concrete structures, tenders are timed to proceed as soon as buildings are ready for demolition. Where vacated structures cannot be immediately demolished, the Police are requested to provide more frequent patrols.