SAFRA CLUBHOUSES IN NEW TOWNS (Construction)

Mr Ng Kah Ting: To ask the Minister of Defence whether his Ministry has plans to construct more Singapore Armed Forces Reservists' Association (SAFRA) branches with similar facilities like the one in Toa Payoh in the Housing and Development Board new towns, namely, Ang Mo Kio, Bedok, Hou Gang and Tampines; and, if so, where and when these will be built.

Mr Ch'ng Jit Koon (Tiong Bahru): Question No. 8, Sir.

The Minister of State of Defence (Dr Yeo Ning Hong) (for the Minister of Defence): Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, SAFRA facilities and activities are aimed mainly at promoting cohesion among its 90,000 members. To achieve this, MINDEF plans to improve the SAFRA facilities at Toa Payoh, and to construct two new clubhouses in selected population centres. The second SAFRA Clubhouse now nearing completion at Bukit Merah will be ready early next year. A third Clubhouse at Bedok New Town is now on the drawing board. The feasibility and desirability of building more clubhouses in other new towns is under study. The number of these clubhouses that should be built, when and with what facilities, will, among other considerations, depend on the growth of SAFRA membership, the distribution of reservists, and the facilities that need to be provided over and above those already available in the community centres in the neighbourhoods.