BEDOK RESERVOIR HOUSING ESTATE (Post Office)

Encik Zulkifli bin Mohammed asked the Minister for Communications and Information whether a post office will be built in Bedok Reservoir Housing Estate which now incorporates 130 residential blocks.

Dr Yeo Ning Hong: Sir, a postal agency has been appointed at Block 632, Bedok Reservoir Road, to provide residents with basic postal services such as the sale of stamps, registration of mail and the posting of parcels. Besides the postal agency, there are also six stamp vendors in the housing estate where residents can buy postage stamps.

The experience of Telecoms in other housing estates has shown that the demand for other services provided by a full-fledged post office is very low. Nevertheless, Telecoms will monitor the present situation in Bedok Reservoir Housing Estate and, if necessary, set up a sub-post office.

Encik Zulkifli bin Mohammed (Eunos GRC): Sir, in the reply given two years ago, it was mentioned that Bedok Reservoir only has a small population of 18,000 and therefore cannot justify the setting up of a post office. I would like to ask the Minister whether there is a certain population catchment before Telecoms decides to set up a post office, because Bedok Reservoir now has a resident population of about 45,000 to 50,000 people.

Dr Yeo Ning Hong: Sir, I do not have the specific number. But my recollection is that the number would probably be in the order of about 150,000. There are already three post offices in Bedok New Town.