Sembawang GRC unveils S$500 million renewal plan
Health Minister Khaw Boon Wan launched a S$500 million renewal plan for Sembawang group representation constituency (GRC) on Saturday morning.
Under the five-year renewal plan for Sembawang GRC, residents can look forward to various initiatives and improvements in their estates.
These include the building of 5,500 new housing units, two new nursing homes and a community hospital.
Minister Khaw, who is leading the People's Action Party team in the area for the elections, also responded to comments by the Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) that he was "mixing religion with politics".
On Thursday, Mr Khaw had referred to his religion when commenting on SDP's remark about aged parents and Johor Bahru nursing homes.
He said that the SDP was twisting his words for political gain.
"I am a Buddhist. I think everyone knows that. What's wrong with that? I'm not saying, Singaporeans please all join and become Buddhists. I think that will be wrong. Or Singaporeans all become Christians. I think that will be wrong. But I'm just stating I am a Buddhist. What's wrong with that?"
"Are they shy to talk about their own religion? I am not one who will promote people to dump their parents. I am a brave man but I am not a reckless man so when I talk about my religion I am saying that, hey, in my religion that is a very serious sin," added Minister Khaw.
Sembawang GRC residents' wishlist
Two new primary schools and two new community centres will also be built in Woodlands and Admiralty, while S$45 million will be channelled into the development for private housing estates.
For flats built before 1986, Mr Khaw aims to complete the team's ongoing Home Improvement Programme and Neighbourhood Renewal Programme within the next five years.
In view of the changes promised, residents Yahoo! Singapore spoke to were generally aware of the timeliness of the launch, and its significance in the weeks to come.
"Obviously, this is all done in the lead-up to the elections," said accountant Cheryl Tan, 40, a resident in the GRC. "Some of these changes are already in place, in fact," she added.
Lab technician Azean Zaiden, 30, agreed. "Everything I see there - upgrades, lifts on every floor, parks, facilities - we've already had," she said.
Raymond Leong, 43, a marketer, felt that the issue of connectivity in the GRC has not been adequately addressed.
"They should think about building an LRT (Light Rapid Transit) line in the area," he said.
Referring to enhancements to parks and facilities, he added: "The rest of these changes can be made by anyone else; the PAP could and should certainly do better."
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