SERANGOON NORTH NEIGHBOURHOOD 5 (Building of shoplets)

Mr Heng Chiang Meng asked the Minister for National Development what are the reasons for only building 3 shoplets but no neighbourhood shops or a dry market in Serangoon North Neighbourhood 5, which consists of about 52 blocks and 4,077 residential units.

The Minister of State for National Development (Mr Peter Sung)(for the Minister for National Development): Sir, I am answering on behalf of my Minister.

There is a neighbourhood centre at Serangoon North Estate. This neighbourhood centre has more than 120 shops and a supermarket and should be able to serve the residents of Serangoon North Neighbourhood 5.

Mr Heng Chiang Meng (Cheng San GRC): Sir, does the Minister of State know that the neighbourhood centre is at least about 1/2 kilometre to 1 kilometre away and residents have to walk that distance across a major road without any form of help to get even the smallest item?

Mr Peter Sung: Mr Speaker, Sir, the neighbourhood centre is about 400 metres from Serangoon North Neighbourhood 5. Of course, we do not measure from one corner to the other corner. It is the average distance. In terms of convenience items, HDB has a shoplet at Block 523. This would be for convenience items which should help the residents in that neighbourhood.

Mr Heng Chiang Meng: Would the Minister of State tell the shopkeeper of Block 523 to open his shop for service because, although it has been tendered out since April of this year, it is still closed. The other shoplets seem to be still under construction. Would the Ministry also consider not only building these three shoplets but also some rows of shops for the residents there?

Mr Peter Sung: Mr Speaker, Sir, I understand the successful tenderer of the shoplet at Block 523 is now renovating the shoplet. I am sure it is in his interest to open for business as soon as he is ready to do so. To build more shops in addition to the 120 shops in the neighbourhood centre may result in a situation where there are too many shops and the shopkeepers complaining to the MP that they have no business.

Mr Heng Chiang Meng: Sir, I believe the Minister of State misunderstood my question. I said the Ministry should consider building some shops in Serangoon North Neighbourhood 5, and not in the neighbourhood centre.

Mr Peter Sung: Mr Speaker, Sir, the decision as to where exactly to locate the shops is a decision which we leave to the professionals in HDB. If we have too many shops in too many corners of the estate, it will, firstly, be difficult to manage and, secondly, as I said earlier, it may result in there being too many shops with too little business.