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We had a clear financial plan for lift upgrading: Chiam

Former Potong Pasir Member of Parliament (MP) Chiam See Tong said that the previous town council under him would have had no financial issues paying for lift upgrading in the constituency. 

Chiam was clarifying a Straits Times article published last week which reported that newly-elected MP Sitoh Yih Pin is asking for more time for the town council to pay the Ministry of National Development (MND) for the Lift Upgrading Programme covering 48 blocks.

Sitoh is requesting for nine years to repay the $8.7 million owed to MND for the programme instead of the current deadline of 2014 supposedly because the town council’s residential sinking fund is not sufficient.

According to the council’s annual report as of 31 March last year, it had $4.4 million, ST reported.
In a statement released to the media, Chiam said: “I can categorically state that my town council and I would have executed the Lift Upgrading Programme project without any hassle. We had a clear financial plan and were reserving funds even from our operating accounts.”

The Secretary-General of the Singapore People’s Party (SPP) added that the total available residential property fund was $6.7 million as of 31 March 2011.

Chiam also said that the project is achievable as it is expected to be completed by 2014 and the town council would be able to accumulate funds. Payments can also be made progressively.

In addition, he challenged Sitoh’s claim that the previous town council did not do any major rewiring work in the constituency for 26 years.

Chiam said 29 lifts had been built free of charge for residents of Lorong 8 Toa Payoh without having to make any co-payments like for the lift upgrading programme.

“At the same time, we were able to build interaction parks, around 16 linkways, do re-painting, make changes of water pumps, re-roofing and many other important improvement works,” Chiam said, adding that upgrades were done without funding from the Community Improvement Projects Committee (CIPC) which all PAP-managed town councils receive. 

“In any case, I am happy for my former residents to be able to get assistance and grants from the government now, to enhance their living environment in Potong Pasir,” he said.