PAP MPS' OFFICES AT HDB VOID DECKS (Quit notices)

Mr Cheo Chai Chen asked the Minister for National Development if he will state (i) the number of quit notices which have been served by the Housing and Development Board on People's Action Party Members of Parliament to recover possession of their offices situated at the void decks of HDB estates, (ii) the number of such premises which have been recovered and, of these, the number which have been demolished and (iii) the number of such premises which are still in use.

Mr Lim Hng Kiang (for the Minister for National Development): Mr Speaker, Sir, the HDB has not served any Notices to Quit on People's Action Party Members of Parliament, to recover possession of their offices situated at the void decks of HDB estates. This is because, following my Ministry's decision in September 1991 that HDB would no longer provide MPs with offices at HDB void decks, all PAP MPs have returned their MPs' offices at HDB void decks to HDB.

Mr Chiam See Tong (Potong Pasir): Sir, may I know when were all the PAP MPs' offices at the void decks returned to the HDB?

Mr Lim Hng Kiang: The MPs' offices were returned to the HDB over a period of time from the letters given to them in September 1991 and within the one-year grace period. If he want specifics, we will give him a written answer. But the offices were returned over a period of one year.

Mr Chiam See Tong: Can he in fact confirm that no more premises at the void decks are being used by the PAP MPs as their offices?

Mr Lim Hng Kiang: HDB has ceased the practice of letting out MPs' offices to all MPs, whether PAP or the Opposition.

Mr Chiam See Tong: Is it not true that in the last Marine Parade by-election, the MPs were still using HDB void deck premises as their election office?

Mr Lim Hng Kiang: The premises used by the Marine Parade Branch were the premises allocated by the HDB to the Education Centre. The tenant is the PAP Community Foundation, not a PAP MP.

Mr Chiam See Tong: So he admits now that HDB void decks loaned to the PAP Community Foundation for educational purposes have been used in the last Marine Parade by-election.

Mr Lim Hng Kiang: Mr Speaker, we went through this discussion several times before. The position is that the HDB lets out premises to the PAP Community Foundation. Under the tenancy agreement, the PAP Community Foundation is allowed to let out, up to 20% of its premises in terms of operational hours, to any approved sub-tenant.

Mr Chiam See Tong: Mr Speaker, we are now pinpointing a specific political use, that is, for use in the Marine Parade GRC by-election. So what I want to hear from him is that it is an admission that the PAP has been using the premises rented out to a PAP Community Foundation for educational purposes and it has been specifically used for an electioneering purpose. That is what I want to hear - it was used for a very specific purpose.

Mr Lim Hng Kiang: Let me repeat the answer. Under the existing policy, the tenant of an educational centre, which must be an approved foundation, like the PAP Community Foundation, can allow the premises to be used by other organisations up to a maximum of 20% of the total operational hours. The only condition is that they cannot charge rent exceeding the rent payable to HDB.

Mr Heng Chiang Meng (Cheng San GRC): Sir, in view of what the Minister of State has said regarding rental to community foundations, can he confirm that such rental could be made to any community foundation or any charitable organisation, whether or not it is formed by the PAP or any other political party?

Mr Lim Hng Kiang: That is precisely correct. Mr Speaker, the HDB will let out premises in its void decks to any approved foundation.

Mr Low Thia Khiang: Would the Minister say, besides the PAP Community Foundation, whether there is any other foundation being approved to use the premises of HDB on such a scale and scope?

Mr Lim Hng Kiang: There are many charitable organisations and foundations using HDB void decks for their purposes.

Mr Low Thia Khiang: Are these charitable organisations, besides the PCF, being given also the same rate of rental?

Mr Lim Hng Kiang: Such organisations also enjoy the same rate of rental.

Mr Low Thia Khiang: Are they on the same scale in terms of the number of centres used?

Mr Lim Hng Kiang: It entirely depends on their needs. If they need to expand and they want to apply for more, we will consider their application. But if they do not need so many centres, why should HDB foist all these centres on to them?

Mr Low Thia Khiang: Sir, would the Minister reveal the number of such centres run by private charitable organisations which enjoy the same status and are given the same rate as the PCF enjoys?

Mr Lim Hng Kiang: I would appreciate it if the Member files a separate question. Then we will take it up and give him the answer with all the facts.

Mr Speaker: Mr Chiam, do you have questions?

Mr Chiam See Tong: Yes.

Mr Speaker: All right.

Mr Chiam See Tong: Can you please name the other charitable foundations that have been using HDB void decks?

Mr Lim Hng Kiang: I would appreciate it if the Member also files a separate question, so that we can answer it.

Mr Chiam See Tong: He is not doing his duty, Mr Speaker, Sir. He is the Minister, and he should know his work.

Mr Lim Hng Kiang: Do I have to answer him, Mr Speaker?

Mr Speaker: No, you need not. The question that Mr Chiam asks is not directly related to the original question.