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[h=2]Sylvia Lim: NEA is politically motivated to tarnish the image of
AHPETC[/h]
June 7th, 2013 |
Author: Online Press
Media Release – 7 June 2013
AHPETC: NEA is Politically Motivated to Tarnish the Image of
AHPETC
AHPETC Chairman, Sylvia Lim
I find the conclusion of the NEA on 6 June 2013 that “AHPETC tried to get
hawkers to pay extra cleaning costs, and when that failed it deflected the
blame” puzzling and unprofessional as a government agency.
Has AHPETC Tried to Get Hawkers to Pay Extra?
The whole episode started with a Sunday Times report dated 26 May 2013
alluding that Aljunied-Hougang-Punggol East Town Council (AHPETC) is collecting
money from stallholders for the cleaning of the market & hawker centre. Has
any stallholder been approached by AHPETC staff or its contractors for the extra
charges? If so, please make it public. AHPETC has investigated the claim and
found the claim published in the press report to be baseless.
The latest attempt to substantiate this baseless claim was to show a
quotation by the cleaning contractor ATL Maintenance Pte Ltd, who has clarified
that it was in response to a separate request by the hawker association and not
pursuant to its contractual obligation with the Town Council to do annual
cleaning of the high areas at markets / hawker centres.
All cleaning contractors employed by AHPETC are well aware of its obligation
under the contract to clean the high areas of all the markets under AHPETC
management at least once a year. Anyone who is interested is welcome to inspect
the contracts.
Why Town Council cleaning contractor did not clean the high areas of
the market at Blk 538 Bedok North Street 3 in March 2013
NEA in its email dated 7 February 2013 categorically stated that “the Hawker
Association will make the necessary arrangements with its contractors on the
scaffold erection / dismantling during the spring cleaning from 4 – 8 March
2013”. It is ludicrous that a government agency would claim that its statement
means anything else than what it says, and to change its position
repeatedly.
AHPETC took the statement in good faith that NEA had arranged with the hawker
association for the same. The scaffolding was not provided as indicated; hence
the AHPETC cleaners were unable to carry out the work of the high areas.
AHPETC did not ask or impose any additional charges for cleaning.
The Scheduled Dates of Market Annual Cleaning
Based on the past experience of staff of our Managing Agent in managing the
market in Hougang Constituency, annual cleaning of the market including ceiling
and the high areas could be done without additional closure of the market and
disruption of business to hawkers and customers. This can be done by taking
advantage of the weekly one-day closures for markets and the hours when hawker
stalls are closed.
AHPETC will set the date of annual cleaning and will inform stallholders
nearer to the scheduled date and coordinate with the stallholders. AHPETC is
prepared to consider any stallholders’ request on cleaning arrangements to
ensure smooth operations and to minimize disruption to their business and
inconvenience to customers.
Is NEA Playing Politics?
Being a responsible Town Council with the interest of residents and
stallholders at heart, AHPETC is always prepared to work with the relevant
government agencies for the benefit of the residents it serves. Even in cases
where we may have disagreed with the approach of the agency, we are always
prepared to compromise and to work together for common good, so long as the
interest of residents is not jeopardised.
AHPETC positively responded to NEA’s advisory dated 31 May 2013 which was
published by the press on 1 June 2013. AHPETC welcomed NEA’s clarification on
the issue of hawker centre cleaning, and stated that “AHPETC is mindful of its
responsibilities for the maintenance and cleanliness of common properties,
including HDB-owned markets and hawker centres to safeguard public hygiene and
safety. We will use our best endeavors to work with all stakeholders to bring
any outstanding issues to an amicable resolution.”
NEA’s stance regrettable
Therefore, it is regrettable that our attempts to resolve the issue amicably
have not been reciprocated, with the government taking the opportunity to point
fingers at AHPETC, alleging that it was AHPETC which was “deflecting blame”.
Who is really the party deflecting blame? I set out the facts above and I
believe that the public can judge for itself.
.
SYLVIA
LIM
CHAIRMAN
ALJUNIED-HOUGANG-PUNGGOL
EAST TOWN COUNCIL
7 June 2013
AHPETC[/h]
Media Release – 7 June 2013
AHPETC: NEA is Politically Motivated to Tarnish the Image of
AHPETC
AHPETC Chairman, Sylvia Lim
I find the conclusion of the NEA on 6 June 2013 that “AHPETC tried to get
hawkers to pay extra cleaning costs, and when that failed it deflected the
blame” puzzling and unprofessional as a government agency.
Has AHPETC Tried to Get Hawkers to Pay Extra?
The whole episode started with a Sunday Times report dated 26 May 2013
alluding that Aljunied-Hougang-Punggol East Town Council (AHPETC) is collecting
money from stallholders for the cleaning of the market & hawker centre. Has
any stallholder been approached by AHPETC staff or its contractors for the extra
charges? If so, please make it public. AHPETC has investigated the claim and
found the claim published in the press report to be baseless.
The latest attempt to substantiate this baseless claim was to show a
quotation by the cleaning contractor ATL Maintenance Pte Ltd, who has clarified
that it was in response to a separate request by the hawker association and not
pursuant to its contractual obligation with the Town Council to do annual
cleaning of the high areas at markets / hawker centres.
All cleaning contractors employed by AHPETC are well aware of its obligation
under the contract to clean the high areas of all the markets under AHPETC
management at least once a year. Anyone who is interested is welcome to inspect
the contracts.
Why Town Council cleaning contractor did not clean the high areas of
the market at Blk 538 Bedok North Street 3 in March 2013
NEA in its email dated 7 February 2013 categorically stated that “the Hawker
Association will make the necessary arrangements with its contractors on the
scaffold erection / dismantling during the spring cleaning from 4 – 8 March
2013”. It is ludicrous that a government agency would claim that its statement
means anything else than what it says, and to change its position
repeatedly.
AHPETC took the statement in good faith that NEA had arranged with the hawker
association for the same. The scaffolding was not provided as indicated; hence
the AHPETC cleaners were unable to carry out the work of the high areas.
AHPETC did not ask or impose any additional charges for cleaning.
The Scheduled Dates of Market Annual Cleaning
Based on the past experience of staff of our Managing Agent in managing the
market in Hougang Constituency, annual cleaning of the market including ceiling
and the high areas could be done without additional closure of the market and
disruption of business to hawkers and customers. This can be done by taking
advantage of the weekly one-day closures for markets and the hours when hawker
stalls are closed.
AHPETC will set the date of annual cleaning and will inform stallholders
nearer to the scheduled date and coordinate with the stallholders. AHPETC is
prepared to consider any stallholders’ request on cleaning arrangements to
ensure smooth operations and to minimize disruption to their business and
inconvenience to customers.
Is NEA Playing Politics?
Being a responsible Town Council with the interest of residents and
stallholders at heart, AHPETC is always prepared to work with the relevant
government agencies for the benefit of the residents it serves. Even in cases
where we may have disagreed with the approach of the agency, we are always
prepared to compromise and to work together for common good, so long as the
interest of residents is not jeopardised.
AHPETC positively responded to NEA’s advisory dated 31 May 2013 which was
published by the press on 1 June 2013. AHPETC welcomed NEA’s clarification on
the issue of hawker centre cleaning, and stated that “AHPETC is mindful of its
responsibilities for the maintenance and cleanliness of common properties,
including HDB-owned markets and hawker centres to safeguard public hygiene and
safety. We will use our best endeavors to work with all stakeholders to bring
any outstanding issues to an amicable resolution.”
NEA’s stance regrettable
Therefore, it is regrettable that our attempts to resolve the issue amicably
have not been reciprocated, with the government taking the opportunity to point
fingers at AHPETC, alleging that it was AHPETC which was “deflecting blame”.
Who is really the party deflecting blame? I set out the facts above and I
believe that the public can judge for itself.
.
SYLVIA
LIM
CHAIRMAN
ALJUNIED-HOUGANG-PUNGGOL
EAST TOWN COUNCIL
7 June 2013
