PAP MPS' OFFICES AT VOID DECKS OF HDB ESTATES (Demolition)

Mr Chiam See Tong asked the Minister for National Development how many offices of People's Action Party Members of Parliament which were situated at the void decks of Housing and Development Board estates and which have been taken back by the HDB have been demolished.

Mr Lim Hng Kiang (for the Minister for National Development): Mr Speaker, Sir, following my Ministry's decision in September 1991 that HDB would no longer provide MPs with offices at HDB void decks, all PAP MPs who had their offices at HDB void decks have given them back to HDB. Of these, some have been let out for use as Education Centres, and others for social/communal use. None has been demolished.

Mr Chiam See Tong: Sir, the obvious question is: why do you make the Member for Potong Pasir an exception and demolish the office almost immediately upon taking possession of the premises?

Mr Lim Hng Kiang: Sir, the MP's office in Potong Pasir is only 75 square metres. We sought alternative uses from other Ministries and statutory boards. There was no request for alternative use and therefore we demolished it so that the void deck could be returned to the use of residents.

Mr Chiam See Tong: I wish to inform the Minister that we have a letter from the HDB stating that the MP's office will be used as a Civil Defence office. Why was it not used as a Civil Defence office?

Mr Lim Hng Kiang: The Civil Defence subsequently felt that the office, at 75 square metres, was too small and not centrally sited. They declined the use of the space. There were no other takers and so the space was returned to the residents for use.

Mr Chiam See Tong: Sir, the Minister has said that the office of the MP was not centrally sited. Does it mean that when it gave this office to the Member for Potong Pasir it was also not centrally sited?

Mr Lim Hng Kiang: I did not say that the office was not centrally sited. The Civil Defence agency felt that the office was not centrally sited for its own use. So they decided not to take it.

Mr Chiam See Tong: I notice that the Residents Committees' offices in Potong Pasir are not bigger than the MP's office. Why can it not be used by the RC? I think it is better than demolishing it.

Mr Lim Hng Kiang: As I mentioned, the RCs in Potong Pasir have had their premises. They do not require additional premises. They did not make a request for use of the MP's office as an additional RC's office.

Mr Chiam See Tong: Did the HDB demolish the MP's office for political reasons?

Mr Lim Hng Kiang: The answer is no. There was no request for alternative use so we demolished it and returned the void deck for use by the residents.