ANG MO KIO ESTATE (Pilot scheme for joint balloting)

Encik Sidek bin Saniff asked the Minister for National Development and Communications what is the latest development in the Housing and Development Board's pilot scheme for joint balloting at the Ang Mo Kio Estate; how far it is a fact that the scheme is a failure; and whether the scheme will be applied to housing estates in other constituencies.

Dr Tan Eng Liang (for the Minister for National Development and Communications): Mr Speaker, Sir, to help maintain the extended family system, the HDB introduced a scheme to allow parents who are already lessees of HDB flats to jointly ballot for flats adjoining their children's. There was no response to the scheme when it was first tried out at Ang Mo Kio recently.

It is too early to say whether the scheme is a failure or not until it is tried out further in other housing estates.

Based on feedback information, the scheme may be modified if necessary.