What it should have been.

July 15, 2009
Including opposition wards for upgrading a gracious move

IT WAS heartening to read yesterday that residents in the two opposition wards will benefit from lift landings on every floor under the Lift Upgrading Programme earlier than expected ('Potong Pasir, Hougang to get lift upgrading').

This is a most welcome 'queue jumping' and win-win situation for residents, the Government and people of Singapore.

It further exemplifies the Government's commitment to the people to rejuvenate HDB estates - in good and bad times regardless of whether they reside in opposition wards.

I salute this pragmatic and magnanimous move. It reinforces my belief in the Government's 'Triple A' rating. It is a government that has displayed transparency and astute long-term planning, fostered social cohesion, inculcated self-renewal and intelligently made leadership its main catalyst for change, enabling the nation to stay relevant, while engaging the future.

Whatever critics may say about our system of governance - and though I am the first to acknowledge it is not perfect - it is as perfect a system as you can get anywhere. And it is still being tweaked as it evolves to tackle the vicissitudes of the economic environment.

Show me any other government that is able to house 85 per cent of its population - nearly all owner-occupied - complete with modern facilities comparable to First World standards.

Credit must go to opposition MPs Chiam See Tong and Low Thia Khiang too. Both have shown total commitment to their constituents' welfare and are the kind of opposition Singapore needs more of.

Clinton Lim



Er…. Hello? Shouldn’t we asked why in the 1st place opposition wards are not in the scheme in the 1st place.

Don’t forget people statying in Hougang and Potong Pasir are paying taxes too you know.

Guess the PAP finally realised that lift upgrading is not a carrots they can use in election anymore and they are trying to pacified the resident or hope that they can sell they flats are a higher price now and moved out of the opposition wards before the general election.

So I can safety predict that election in in 2 years time. Watch this space.