TANAH MERAH KECHIL ROAD (Making up)

Dr Lee Chiaw Meng asked the Minister for National Development whether there is any plan to make up that stretch of Tanah Merah Kechil Road between Jalan Limau Bali and Upper East Coast Road.

Mr Teh Cheang Wan: Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, there are no plans to make up the stretch of Tanah Merah Kechil Road between Jalan Limau Bali and Upper East Coast Road. Satisfactory access to the private housing development in the area is provided by Bedok Rise and Jalan Langgar Bedok, off Bedok Road.

Dr Lee Chiaw Meng: Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, I take it, therefore, that the HDB has no plans to develop the vacant piece of State land between Bedok South Avenue 3 and the Tanah Merah Kechil Road,

Mr Teh Cheang Wan: Sir, the Planning Department and the HDB have studied the possible development of that area, and it is most probable that a public scheme will be implemented there. But until the scheme is finalized, I will not be able to make a definite statement on the development of that area.

Dr Lee Chiaw Meng: Sir, would it not be prudent, therefore, for the HDB to make up that stretch of Tanah Merah Kechil Road now and consider it as part of the public scheme under study by the HDB?

Mr Teh Cheang Wan: Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, when the public scheme is finalized, the Tanah Merah Kechil Road will be incorporated as part of the scheme. Therefore, any making up of the road in that area now will only be a waste of money.

Dr Lee Chiaw Meng: Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, I disagree. Is the Minister, therefore, saying that the HDB policy and the PWD policy is this: "We will cross the bridge when we come to it."? With such a policy they will not consider building any road until they have built a housing estate or until a big traffic jam occurs. Alternatively, it suggests that the HDB has actually no forward planning.

Mr Teh Cheang Wan: Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, I do not think that is a correct interpretation of our policy, At present the housing estate concerned is being served by two roads, that is, Bedok Rise and Jalan Langgar Bedok, off Bedok Road. So there is a proper access to that estate. I do not think there is any traffic jam in that area.

Another point is that the Member for Tanah Merah is asking for an additional road to serve that area. But since that private housing estate, which does not have a very large number of housing units, is already being served by two roads, an additional road is not justified because this is tantamount to wasting a large amount of public funds. To build an additional road would mean having three roads in that area.

Another reason, as I have said, is that Tanah Merah Kechil Road is likely to form part of a future public scheme. So if we spend money on building up that stretch of Tanah Merah Kechil Road, the money will be wasted. I do not think it is correct to say that because we are adopting this policy we have, therefore, no forward planning.

Dr Lee Chiaw Meng: Sir, I believe the Ministry of Trade and Industry is carrying on a Save Energy Campaign. To go to the estate, although very well served by two roads, involves a detour of about one kilometre each way. Is that not a waste of energy? Secondly -

Mr Deputy Speaker: Dr Lee, you are out of order. You are going out of the scope of the Question.