DEMPSEY ROAD CARPARKS (Free use for National Service registration)

Mr Heng Chiang Meng asked the Minister for National Development if he will provide free parking at the Dempsey Road carparks during National Service registration periods.

Mr Dhanabalan: Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, the Dempsey Road car park is a fringe car park with 340 lots. To park there for a whole day costs only a flat 60 cents compared to 60 cents hourly or half-hourly for other URA car parks.

As the cost of parking there is already extremely low and as it is also a fringe car park meant for other motorists, I regret that we cannot agree to allowing free parking at the Dempsey Road car park during National Service registration periods.

Mr Heng Chiang Meng: Sir, if it is so low, why would the Ministry want to charge? After all, it is a gesture just for national service registration.

Mr Dhanabalan: Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, parents are likely to go to this car park once in their life-time if they have one son, or maybe twice, if they have two sons. Surely the fee of 60 cents per day is just not worth talking about. Do you think the service that the national servicemen give to the country should be measured in terms of 60 cents? I think it is not worth discussing. I have been there to send my own son off. Yes, it was an inconvenience. There was a big traffic jam. But it is only once in a life-time. I do not think we should waste our time talking about this.