http://news.insing.com/tabloid/dispute-over-event-sites-continue/id-94883e00
Dispute over event sites continue
Zenzen
inSing.com - 3 hrs 58 mins ago
Hougang's grassroots adviser Desmond Choo has fired another salvo in the dispute over event sites in Aljunied GRC.
This comes after Worker's Party chairman Sylvia Lim charged earlier that 26 sites under the Aljunied Town Council were transferred to the People's Association (PA) "without notice, background or rationale". She goes on to say that the move was politically motivated and an abuse of power".
Choo, the People's Action Party (PAP) candidate for Hougang in the recent General Election has now come out to say that grassroots activities were curtailed by town councils run under the Worker's Party (WP).
In a statement released to the media, Choo and his grassroots leaders cited examples where they were fined by the town councils and where applications to use common areas for activities were rejected.
The statement even pointed out instances where grassroots activities were subject to "subtle sabotages".
For instance, the grassroots leaders alleged that an event was disrupted in November 2010 when "construction materials coincidentally appeared" at the event venue. Another event in 2001 was terminated prematurely when its lights were switched off an hour before the event ended.
Choo is now asking PA to lease six sites in Hougang directly from the Housing Development Board (HDB) to allow his grassroots organisers to extend their outreach.
The PA has also issued a separate statement with examples detailing how some of its grassroots activities were curtailed by the WP-run town councils.
The PA states that in 2001, its applications to use common areas for activities were mostly rejected due to reasons like noise pollution and prohibition of activities like washing and cooking in the void decks.
In 2004, the Hougang Town Council informed PA that permits will no longer be issued for activities in front of two Residents' Committee (RC) centres in Hougang. No reason was given for the change.
Dispute over event sites continue
Zenzen
inSing.com - 3 hrs 58 mins ago

Hougang's grassroots adviser Desmond Choo has fired another salvo in the dispute over event sites in Aljunied GRC.
This comes after Worker's Party chairman Sylvia Lim charged earlier that 26 sites under the Aljunied Town Council were transferred to the People's Association (PA) "without notice, background or rationale". She goes on to say that the move was politically motivated and an abuse of power".
Choo, the People's Action Party (PAP) candidate for Hougang in the recent General Election has now come out to say that grassroots activities were curtailed by town councils run under the Worker's Party (WP).
In a statement released to the media, Choo and his grassroots leaders cited examples where they were fined by the town councils and where applications to use common areas for activities were rejected.
The statement even pointed out instances where grassroots activities were subject to "subtle sabotages".
For instance, the grassroots leaders alleged that an event was disrupted in November 2010 when "construction materials coincidentally appeared" at the event venue. Another event in 2001 was terminated prematurely when its lights were switched off an hour before the event ended.
Choo is now asking PA to lease six sites in Hougang directly from the Housing Development Board (HDB) to allow his grassroots organisers to extend their outreach.
The PA has also issued a separate statement with examples detailing how some of its grassroots activities were curtailed by the WP-run town councils.
The PA states that in 2001, its applications to use common areas for activities were mostly rejected due to reasons like noise pollution and prohibition of activities like washing and cooking in the void decks.
In 2004, the Hougang Town Council informed PA that permits will no longer be issued for activities in front of two Residents' Committee (RC) centres in Hougang. No reason was given for the change.
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