URINE DETECTORS IN HDB LIFTS (Progress report)

Encik Zulkifli bin Mohammed asked the Minister for National Development (a) in how many lifts and in which Housing and Development Board estates have urine detectors been installed since April 1988; (b) what is the progress of the pilot project to date; and (c) whether any decision has been made to install the urine detectors on a wider scale.

Dr Lee Boon Yang (for the Minister for National Development): Mr Speaker, Sir, 500 lifts in HDB estates throughout the island were installed with urine detectors under a pilot project in January 1988. A recent survey shows that since then the number of HDB lifts affected by the urine problem has dropped by 25%.

HDB will install detectors in another 1,500 selected lifts in the latter part of this year. Feedback from HDB area offices indicate that 60% of lifts in HDB estates are not affected by the problem. As such, there is no need to install urine detectors in all lifts.

The installation of urine detectors will only be a deterrent against anti-social behaviour. HDB will continue its effort in educating lift users to be civic conscious.