Responding to questions over a fresh vote that approved the Home Improvement Programme HIP) for two Tiong Bahru HDB blocks, Tanjong Pagar GRC MP Foo Cexiang said in a Facebook post that the voting threshold and rules had not changed. Residents had secured more votes in favour by proactively contacting flat owners, explaining the programme and addressing their concerns.
Singapore Democratic Party chairman Professor Paul Tambyah raised concerns about how the fresh vote for the Tiong Bahru blocks was handled in a Facebook post on Wednesday (28 October).
In his post, he said: “There was something a little unsettling about how the voting was handled for this HIP program. Although it was ‘just’ about homes and quality of life, the process raises concerns about broader and more significant elections in Singapore. Hopefully not!”
Responding in a Facebook post on Saturday (31 October), Foo said he saw “nothing unsettling” about the HIP voting process, saying the vote had succeeded because residents worked to overcome difficulties, and he was proud of their efforts.
Foo said: “They knew the odds were stacked against them, but they set out to overcome them, not by complaining about the rules, but by taking the time and effort to engage fellow residents, hear their concerns, and try their best to work with HDB to address them.”
Residents of Block 34 Kim Cheng Street and Block 35 Lim Liak Street in Tiong Bahru first voted on the HIP last November, with results falling short of the required 75% threshold by one and two votes respectively. The blocks were built in 1949. Upgrading works went ahead at the other 27 blocks that met the threshold.
Foo said in his post that many residents of the two blocks were disappointed when the first round of votes failed.
One was 71-year-old Robin, who has lived in a flat in one of the two blocks for more than 50 years and hoped to replace the pipes in his toilet and bathroom through the HIP. Although disappointed by the result, he did not give up. Instead, he sought out flat owners who could not previously be reached and took the initiative to address their concerns about the programme.
Residents of other blocks where the HIP had been completed also opened their homes for owners from the two blocks for viewing.
A year later, Foo sought and received approval from the Housing & Development Board for a fresh vote. The same 75% approval threshold and voting rules remained in place.
In the fresh vote, support at Block 34 Kim Cheng Street, which has 24 units, rose from 66.67% last November to 75%. At Block 35 Lim Liak Street, which has 15 units, support rose from 73% to 87%. With both blocks passed, with upgrading works expected to begin next month.
Foo said he believed HIP benefitted residents, especially older people. The government fully funds essential improvements for Singapore citizen households, while optional improvements qualify for subsidies of up to 95%.
He also stressed in his post: “I stood for elections to help improve the lives of Singaporeans and build stronger communities with heart. To me, this is ‘all’ it is about -- all it is worth fighting for.”
