YISHUN NEW TOWN (Second void-deck/shophouse community centre)

Dr Koh Lip Lin asked the Minister for Community Development whether and when a second void-deck/shophouse community centre will be set up in Yishun New Town.

Mr Lee Yock Suan: Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, I am answering in my capacity as Deputy Chairman of the People's Association.

The People's Association plans to set up a temporary community centre at two shop units at Block 235 Yishun Ring Road by about June 1988. The Member for Nee Soon will be consulted on this before the centre is built.

Dr Koh Lip Lin: Sir, will the Minister tell us what are the criteria for PA to decide on whether a temporary community centre should be a shophouse centre or a void deck centre?

Mr Lee Yock Suan: Sir, the preference of the PA is to locate the temporary centre in shophouses because, from experience, we have found that it is rather difficult to use the void deck centres once the PA has vacated them and moved into the modern centres. As far as possible, we would like to locate the temporary centres in shophouses.