The PAP using the tried and trusted pork barrel politics again

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Five-year masterplans announced for Tanjong Pagar, Holland-Bukit Timah GRCs
PUBLISHED 11 MIN AGO

Lester Wong


SINGAPORE - MPs from the People's Action Party (PAP) took to social media on Sunday (June 21) to announce five-year upgrading plans for estates in Tanjong Pagar GRC and Holland-Bukit Timah GRC.

The plans to spruce up estates include senior-friendly amenities, sheltered linkways and drop-off porches. Residents can also look forward to new fitness corners, community and green spaces as well as a fresh coat of paint for their public housing blocks, among other improvements.

The launch of such masterplans were accompanied by physical exhibitions in the past. But in view of the current Covid-19 situation, MPs posted videos and updates of the plans on their Facebook pages instead.

Said Trade and Industry Minister Chan Chun Sing: "Continuous rejuvenation and improvement to our estates - this is our promise and commitment to our residents."

Dr Mustafa Izzudin, a senior international affairs analyst with management consultancy Solaris Strategies Singapore, said such five-year plans are meant to give the electorate an idea of what the ruling party intends to accomplish at both the national and municipal levels between one election and the next.
"(These plans) are meant to demonstrate to the electorate that this is what good leadership looks like, thinking ahead for the mid and long-term," said Dr Mustafa.

"This move has been effective in the past and I think it will be even more effective this time around because of the anxiety and uncertainty over the (Covid-19) pandemic. The election for the PAP will be about how they've handled the pandemic and how they plan to handle the pandemic in the coming years."

Besides the additions to community living spaces, Tanjong Pagar GRC residents also have more public transport options headed their way.

These include new MRT stations on the Thomson-East Coast line due to be ready next year, and on stage six of the Circle Line, which will be completed in 2025.

Mr Chan, who helms Tanjong Pagar GRC, also invited feedback and suggestions from residents on neighbourhood renewal and repair and redecoration programmes in a five-minute video featuring his fellow MPs in the constituency.

Meanwhile, Holland-Bukit Timah GRC MPs Vivian Balakrishnan, Sim Ann, Christopher de Souza and Liang Eng Hwa each posted a video on their Facebook pages outlining the planned upgrades in their respective wards.

For instance, residents in Cashew can look forward to five new covered linkways, two new sheltered ramps and staircases, 12 new roofs over existing ramps and 10 new drop-off porches among other upgrades.

Said Dr Balakrishnan, who is Foreign Minister: "Grateful to the residents of Holland-Bukit Timah and Bukit Panjang for your suggestions over the years that have enabled us to make our neighbourhood a beautiful, unique and inclusive Home that we can all be so proud of."

Mr Liang highlighted improvements to the public transport network in Bukit Panjang, including a $344 million overhaul of the 20-year-old Bukit Panjang LRT line which is on track to be completed in 2024.

The peak-hour bus service BPS1 connecting Bukit Panjang and Chua Chu Kang was also upgraded to a new full-day bus Service 976 from last November.
Residents from other constituencies have also been receiving updates from their MPs on the upgrades planned for their neighbourhoods.

For example, Chua Chu Kang GRC MP Zaqy Mohamad posted on Facebook on Saturday about two new hawker centres in Choa Chu Kang and Yew Tee which will be ready by 2026.

He also highlighted a new Safra clubhouse located five minutes from Choa Chu Kang MRT station that will be completed by 2022.

 

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NTUC FairPrice to freeze prices of daily essentials and extend seniors’ discounts till year-end

Prices of 100 NTUC FairPrice housebrand items will be frozen until the end of the year.ST PHOTO: LIM YAOHUI
PUBLISHED 4 HOURS AGO

Sue-Ann Tan


SINGAPORE - Prices of 100 daily essential items sold under the NTUC FairPrice housebrand will be frozen until the end of the year, as part of a support package to help Singaporeans manage the cost of living during the coronavirus pandemic.

These items include groceries such as rice, oil, beverages and poultry, as well as batteries, toiletries and household cleaners, said NTUC Enterprise on Monday (June 22).

On top of the price freeze, the $50 million support package also includes extensions of seniors' discounts until Dec 31 this year.

"This six-month extension helps cushion Singaporeans against potential price increases, regardless of changes in supply, socioeconomic factors and external factors that could affect food prices, especially during the current volatile and uncertain climate," NTUC Enterprise said in a statement.

"This price freeze of essentials will also act as a benchmark for prices in general of everyday essentials, ensuring they remain affordable."
This initiative was launched in March last year and would have run until June 30 this year, providing customers with savings of approximately $17.8 million.

The six-month extension is estimated to provide an additional $6.7 million in savings to shoppers.

Last year, the cost of 38 of the 100 house brand items saw increases of up to 10 per cent, which means that FairPrice has absorbed over $350,000 as a result of this initiative.

Discounts for those in the Merdeka Generation, Pioneer Generation and senior citizens will also be extended until the end of the year.

Currently these groups enjoy discounts from Monday to Wednesday.

Last year, Pioneer and Merdeka Generation members saved over $5.5 million, while seniors saved $2.2 million through the senior discount scheme.

NTUC Enterprise noted that the extension of both the Pioneer and Merdeka Generation discount schemes is estimated to provide savings of $7.9 million this year.

Savings from the seniors discount scheme are estimated to exceed $2.5 million, bringing the total estimated savings for seniors to $10.4 million this year.

Mr Seah Kian Peng, NTUC Enterprise group chief executive, said: "2020 has been a challenging year with the heavy impact brought about by Covid-19 on the daily lives of Singaporeans. In times like these, our resolve to serve Singaporeans has only deepened.

"We have put in additional resources to ensure that daily essential products and services, including groceries, childcare and eldercare, remain accessible and affordable for all.

"Furthermore, our insurance, learning and skills upgrading services have adapted swiftly to address the needs of the community during this period.

"Through this comprehensive support package, we reaffirm our commitment to moderate the cost of living for all Singaporeans."

There is also a slew of new initiatives for NTUC union members, which provide support including specially priced groceries, complimentary $50,000 LUV term life coverage for the first year, dental care kits and more than 100 complimentary online courses to encourage upskilling.

In line with the recent phase two opening, a reduced price breakfast set at $1 for union members and $1.50 for the public will be available from July 3 to Aug 31 at all NTUC Foodfare and Kopitiam foodcourts and coffee shops from 7am to 11am daily.

The set, which includes a cup of hot coffee or tea, toast and two soft boiled eggs, is usually priced at $1.80 for union members and $2.20 for the public.
This discount is also estimated to bring about savings of $1 million.

NTUC Enterprise added that its organisations have also introduced coronavirus relief measures worth $8.8 million to help mitigate the impact of the pandemic on the community.

These include mobile grocery vans to bring daily essentials to seniors at selected mature estates with low-income older people.
From July, five additional vans will join the fleet, bringing the total number to 10 vans.

 

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ERP to stay free for another month until at least July 26

ERP gantries have been switched off since April 6, 2020.ST PHOTO: GIN TAY
PUBLISHED 2 HOURS AGO

Clement Yong

SINGAPORE - Electronic Road Pricing (ERP) charges at all gantries will stay suspended for at least another month until July 26, after which new rates might take effect.
The first review of ERP rates by the Land Transport Authority (LTA) after the circuit breaker period showed that road conditions did not warrant road charges to be reinstituted.

The transport authority said upon the review's completion on Monday (June 22): "Based on LTA's monitoring of traffic conditions, traffic speeds on expressways and arterial roads in early June have remained optimal.

"ERP rates at all gantries will therefore remain at zero until the next ERP rate review."

The outcome of the next ERP rate review will be announced in the fourth week of July and new rates, if any, will take effect on July 27.
ERP gantries have been switched off since April 6, as activity across the island was slowed down by circuit breaker regulations to curb the spread of the coronavirus.

Traffic volume shrank by an average of 60 per cent since January between April and May.

Accidents had also fallen by more than 40 per cent since April 7 by May.

Transport Minister Khaw Boon Wan said traffic statistics so far suggest that most employees in the Central Business District are still working from home as far as possible.

"And among those who need to go to their offices, many are adopting staggered work hours," he said.

"The evidence is in the MRT data of commuters going to (and) from CBD. Road traffic, during traditional peak hours, has recovered somewhat but has remained manageable."

He said he expects more people to begin using the roads in the coming weeks and for some congestion to emerge.

The LTA will monitor closely and make the necessary adjustments to ERP rates, he said.

Rate reviews are usually done every quarter but are now held more frequently - every four weeks - to be more responsive to changes in traffic conditions amid the pandemic.

The review frequency will return to the pre-Covid-19 quarterly timeframe at an appropriate time, the LTA has said.

Singapore is now in phase two of its three-stage approach to resuming economic and social activities.

Almost the entire economy is now estimated to have restarted, with safe distancing measures in place, although employees who can work from home are required to continue to do so.

 

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180 lifts under AHTC to be upgraded over 15 months

Among the safety features that the Building and Construction Authority recommended installing in lifts, to bring them up to date, are high-tech sensors to monitor lift speed as well as an emergency communications system. ST PHOTO: ALPHONSUS CHERN
PUBLISHED JUN 10, 2020, 5:00 AM SGT

Plans proceeding for second group of lifts after circuit breaker disrupted works on first batch
Michelle Ng


Around 180 Housing Board lifts under the Workers' Party-run Aljunied-Hougang Town Council (AHTC) will be upgraded with better safety features over the next 15 months.

Upgrading plans are proceeding apace for this group of lifts, even as works on a first group that were due to be completed in April have yet to be finished because of the halt called on most building and construction work during the coronavirus outbreak.

Altogether, 1,500 lifts under the town council will be enhanced under a 10-year national plan, which started in January last year, to upgrade more than 18,500 lifts across all HDB estates.

"We are still working closely with the lift contractors to complete all the lift works planned for the last 15 months, as works were affected over the past few months due to work restrictions in place," a spokesman for AHTC told The Straits Times yesterday.

The other 17,000 lifts to be upgraded under the $450 million Lift Enhancement Programme (LEP) are managed by the People's Action Party (PAP) town councils.
The LEP is substantially funded by the Housing Board.


Dr Teo Ho Pin, the coordinating chairman of PAP town councils, told ST on Monday that a total of 1,200 lifts in the 15 PAP town councils have been upgraded since January last year.

In January last year, the PAP town councils had said that 1,500 lifts would be upgraded in the next 15 months.
Dr Teo, who leads the PAP Lift Taskforce that is spearheading the programme, added that work is in progress for about 700 lifts.

A second batch of 3,231 lifts will be upgraded this year.

ST has contacted both AHTC and Dr Teo for more details.

Under the LEP, lifts will have eight safety features installed, in line with the Building and Construction Authority's (BCA) safety and efficiency standards.

The features include high-tech sensors to monitor lift speed as well as an emergency communication system.
The programme was first announced in September 2016, following a spate of HDB lift accidents which prompted the BCA to recommend the eight features to bring the lifts up to date.

Dr Teo told ST yesterday that lift complaints and breakdowns have "declined over the last three years" based on "overall statistics", although he did not specify the figures.

He said: "Overall, our lifts are performing better since the (installation) of the lift surveillance system and LEP. Vandalism and abuse of lifts have dropped significantly."

 

[zhihau]

So erections will be in Jurai?

 

[shittypore]

So plenty plenty goodies for Sinkies coming Erection.

 

[shittypore]

 

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Singapore GE: Plans for more active-ageing facilities in Jalan Besar, new green projects in Chua Chu Kang and Hong Kah North

Jalan Besar GRC MPs (clockwise, from top left) Yaacob Ibrahim, Denise Phua, Heng Chee How and Lily Neo speaking about the new masterplan in a video posted on the town council’s website.PHOTO: JALAN BESAR TOWN COUNCIL
PUBLISHED JUN 23, 2020, 12:00 AM SGT
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Cara Wong

SINGAPORE - Elderly friendly amenities such as ramps, lifts and additional fitness corners are on the cards for the Housing Board estates in Jalan Besar GRC to meet the needs of its ageing population.
Another key development slated for these estates is mixed-generational facilities, like a park with a playground for the young and pebbled paths for seniors, commonly used for reflexology.
These are among several major amenities in the new five-year masterplan for the group representation constituency in central Singapore, unveiled by the Jalan Besar Town Council on its website on Monday (June 22). Augmenting it is a video of the GRC's four MPs describing the major projects.
In northern Singapore, however, many of the prospective improvements in Chua Chu Kang GRC and single-seat Hong Kah North are geared towards families with growing children.
One highlight of the five-year masterplan for the two constituencies, which are run by the Chua Chu Kang Town Council, is a "mega playground" in Keat Hong.
In addition, more parks, sports hubs and wider cycling tracks and footpaths, as well as two new hawker centres, are among the communal and entertainment facilities in the pipeline for the two constituencies.

Active-ageing is a key focus of the new masterplan, said Senior Minister of State for Defence Heng Chee How, who is part of the four-member Jalan Besar GRC team.
"In our town, we have many seniors. We want them to age actively, age successfully and age happily. This is something we want to put an effort in," he said in the video.
For example, in the Rochor and Outram estates specifically, those aged 65 and older make up more than 20 per cent of all residents.

There are also plans for more community gardens, covered walkways and upgrades to existing communal facilities like community halls.

More than 150 projects are in the offing.
Dr Lily Neo, the town council's chairman, urged residents to continue giving feedback and suggestions to improve the estates.
"In the next five years, you will see some of your ideas become a reality," she said in the video.
"Let us work together to create an even more caring and inclusive Jalan Besar. A vibrant place to live, work, play, and build our future together. A special place that embraces our stories, our hope, our home," Dr Neo added.
The other two MPs in the GRC, which has a total of 106,578 voters, are Mayor Denise Phua and Professor Yaacob Ibrahim.
Said Prof Yaacob, formerly the minister for communications and information: "You and your family will see a substantial improvement in your quality of life."
CHUA CHU KANG GRC, HONG KAH NORTH SMC
Apart from building more active living facilities, the four-member Chua Chu Kang GRC and Hong Kah North single-member constituency have set their sights on becoming an "eco-town", with green features such as solar panels and community gardens.
The Ministry for the Environment and Water Resources has earmarked Chua Chu Kang Town to be transformed into an eco-town, said a statement on Monday.

An artist’s impression of The Arena Sports Hub in Keat Hong. Many of the prospective improvements in Chua Chu Kang GRC and single-seat Hong Kah North are geared towards families with growing children. PHOTO: CHUA CHU KANG TOWN COUNCIL

Planned green initiatives include a new park in Bukit Gombak, and the installation of solar panels on the roofs of almost 600 buildings.
The savings in carbon emission from the solar panels are estimated to be equivalent to taking 4,000 cars off the road, said the statement.
More than 9,000 ageing flats will also be upgraded, with plans to replace or enhance more than 1,000 lifts in the HDB estates.
There are 103,231 voters in the GRC, whose MPs include Health Minister Gan Kim Yong, Senior Parliamentary Secretary Low Yen Ling, Minister of State Zaqy Mohamad and Mr Yee Chia Hsing. There are 23,519 electors in Hong Kah North SMC, which is helmed by Senior Minister of State Amy Khor.
In a Facebook post on Monday, Ms Low, who is also the town council's chairman, said the new masterplan will take residents into a "new age of healthy and active living, with opportunities to connect, work and live better".
"This is a place we can continue to build our hopes and dreams. Together, a better home for all," Ms Low added.

 

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Singapore GE: Tampines Town Council rolls out five-year masterplan for eco-friendly town

A pond at Tampines Eco Green on June 11, 2020.ST PHOTO: KELVIN CHNG
PUBLISHED 1 HOUR AGO

Audrey Tan


SINGAPORE - Plans to transform Tampines into an eco-town are shaping up, with a raft of projects completed and in the pipeline, the Tampines Town Council said on Tuesday (June 23).

When these plans are rolled out in the next five years, residents will be able move around more easily without a car as more cycling paths will be built and footpaths widened.

They will also get to enjoy more greenery, with a new park slated to be built by 2022, and more nature is infused into grey structures like on the rooftops of multi-storey carparks.

The announcement of the five-year masterplan by the Tampines Town Council, chaired by People's Action Party (PAP) MP Cheng Li Hui, is the latest in a slew of similar announcements last week by other PAP MPs helming estates in areas such as Tanjong Pagar GRC and Holland-Bukit Timah GRC.

It also comes as President Halimah Yacob on Tuesday (June 23) dissolved Parliament, setting in motion a widely-anticipated general election which will see Singaporeans heading to the polls on July 10.

In a statement, the Tampines Town Council said it had planned to launch its five-year masterplan with an exhibition in March.

But, it added: "Due to Covid-19, Tampines will announce its projects via its social media platforms and digital noticeboards. In addition to the regular estate enhancements, Tampines residents can look forward to many large-scale, town-wide projects in the next five years."

There are about 151,000 eligible voters in Tampines GRC.
The other MPs in the five-member GRC are Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Heng Swee Keat, Minister for the Environment and Water Resources Masagos Zulkifli, Mr Desmond Choo and Mr Baey Yam Keng.
"The Tampines five-year master plan focuses on the development of an inclusive, sustainable, and green town with community spaces and amenities for everyone to enjoy," said the town council.

Other sustainable features that will be rolled out include fitting all suitable Housing Board blocks with solar panels, and by painting some blocks with "cool coating" to reduce the amount of heat absorbed by the building.

Such coatings include paints that contain pigments that can reflect heat.

For a start, some 200 blocks will be coated with the cool coating during repainting works from around 2022, said the town council.

Another sustainability initiative in Tampines is Sustainability @ Tampines Park - Singapore's first community-based circular ecosystem.

A circular ecosystem refers to one in which the by-products from one process are channelled into another, reducing the need to use fresh resources at each step.
In this initiative, residents segregate food waste generated at home and feed it to black soldier fly larvae.

The larvae break down the food waste into fertiliser, which can be used in a vertical vegetable farm. The pupa of the black soldier fly can also be processed and fed to tilapia fish reared in the Tampines Park pond.

"As a result, we will reduce food waste and more significantly, strengthen the community's food resilience," said the town council.

 

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1.4 million Singaporeans to get $570 million in GST vouchers in August

Cash payouts for GST vouchers will amount to around $410 million, while Medisave top-ups will total $160 million.ST PHOTO: KELVIN CHNG
PUBLISHED 59 MIN AGO

Cheryl Tan

SINGAPORE - About 1.4 million Singaporeans will benefit from $570 million in goods and services tax (GST) vouchers in August, in the form of cash payouts and Medisave top-ups.

Eligible Singaporeans will receive text messages or letters to inform them of their benefits by July 3, the Ministry of Finance (MOF) said on Wednesday (July 1).

Around 1.4 million Singaporeans will receive cash payouts of up to $300, credited directly into their bank accounts from Aug 1.

Those who have not provided their bank account numbers can do so at the GST Voucher website by July 22, and they will receive their payouts via bank transfer on Aug 1. The rest will receive cheques sent to their official address by Aug 17.The MOF added that a small number of citizens qualify for the benefits of the GST Voucher scheme, but have not signed up for the government payouts in the past. They will be invited to do so via SMS or a letter before May 31 next year.

Singaporeans aged 21 and above, whose assessable income for year of assessment 2019 did not exceed $28,000, will get $150 or $300 depending on their home's annual value as at Dec 31, 2019. Those who own more than one property are not eligible for the GST vouchers.

About 545,000 Singaporeans aged 65 and above in 2020 will also receive GST vouchers in the form of Medisave top-ups of up to $450 each from Aug 1.
They will receive between $150 and $450, depending on their age and annual value of their home.
Cash payouts for GST vouchers will amount to around $410 million, while Medisave top-ups will total $160 million.

The GST Voucher scheme was introduced in 2012 to help lower- and middle-income Singaporeans offset some of their GST expenses.

The annual scheme comprises three components: cash, Medisave and U-Save.

The cash payouts help lower-income Singaporeans with their immediate needs, and are paid every August.
Similarly, the Central Provident Fund Medisave top-ups paid every August help support Singaporeans aged 65 and above with their medical needs.
The U-Save vouchers provide lower- and middle-income Housing Board households with a rebate to offset their utilities bills every January, April, July and October.
Eligible HDB households will receive double their regular U-Save vouchers this year, through a one-off special payment. Eligible households with five or more members will receive 2½ times their regular U-Save rebate in 2020.
Other benefits that Singaporeans can receive this year, as announced in last year's and this year's Budgets, include the following:
For Singaporeans:
- Five-year Medisave top-up scheme: Singaporeans aged 51 and above in 2020 who do not receive Pioneer Generation or Merdeka Generation benefits will receive a Medisave top-up of $100 credited into their accounts in end-August.
- Solidarity Payment: Singaporeans aged 21 and above would have received a cash payout of $600 in April.
- Care and Support - Cash: From June, Singaporeans aged 21 and above would have received a cash payout of $900, $600, or $300 each, depending on their income and the number of properties that they own.
- Workfare Special Payment: All Singaporean workers who received Workfare Income Supplement payments for work done in 2019 will receive a cash payout of $3,000. This will be paid in two equal payments of $1,500 each, in July and October.
- Grocery Vouchers: All Singaporeans aged 21 and above, who live in one-room or two-room HDB flats and do not own more than one property, will receive grocery vouchers worth $300 in 2020 and $100 next year.
For Households:
- Solidarity Utilities Credit: All households in Singapore with at least one Singaporean member will receive a one-off $100 utilities credit in their July or August utilities bill.
- Service and Conservancy Charges Rebate: Around 940,000 Singaporean HDB households will receive 1.5 to 3.5 months of rebates between April and next January, depending on their flat type.

 

[fanta]

They didn't offer the pork barrel to East Coast?