Singapore Government Press Release

Media Relations Division, Ministry of Information, Communications and the Arts,

MITA Building, 140 Hill Street, 2nd Storey, Singapore 179369

Tel: 6837-9666

SPEECH BY PRIME MINISTER LEE HSIEN LOONG, MP FOR ANG MO KIO GRC, AT THE LAUNCH OF POLLING FOR THE MAIN UPGRADING PROGRAMME AT ANG MO KIO AVENUE 10 PRECINCT ON THURSDAY 13 JAN 05, 8PM

In Feb 03, I announced that your precinct was selected for the Main Upgrading Programme or MUP. I know from the grassroots leaders and residents that many of you look forward to this upgrading.

Before we can upgrade this precinct, you have to vote decisively for the upgrading. So, tonight, I am very happy to be here to launch the polling for the MUP for your precinct.

State of the Precinct

There are 11 blocks in this precinct – Blks 411 to Blk 421. These blocks were completed in 1978. That was 27 years ago. After such a long time, it is only natural that the precinct is showing signs of wear and tear. Yet, many tell me you want to live here because of the facilities, the convenient transportation and most importantly, the warm community ties. MUP therefore provides you with this unique opportunity to live in an improved living environment that you can be proud of, and be among friends and neighbours you know well.

A Working Committee, chaired by Mr Chan Chee Keong, who is the Chairman for Teck Ghee Citizens Consultative Committee was formed to work out an upgrading package. Resident Committee members also sit on this Committee. They have actively gathered feedback to find out which improvement items will be practical, functional, and which meet your needs. They conducted surveys, house-to-house visits and interviewed many residents. Many of you gave valuable feedback and suggestions. The Working Committee has considered all this, and now it is presenting the final upgrading package to you to endorse.

Improvement Items

The Standard Package includes many improvement items that will benefit you directly, at the precinct, in each block; as well as within each flat. The blocks will be linked up with covered linkways. Every flat will have upgraded toilets/bathrooms with new waterproofing. And Blks 416 to 419 and 421 will have lifts that stop at each floor. At least 75% of households must vote in favour of this Standard Package before the works can proceed.

Affordability

The Standard Package is heavily subsidized by the Government. You only pay a small fraction of the cost. If you are a Singapore citizen enjoying the benefits of upgrading for the first time, your share will not exceed:

· $2,070 or 7% of the cost if you live in a 3-room flat, and

· $3,105 or 11% of the cost if you live in a 4-room flat.

Some of you, especially our senior citizens, are anxious about what this will cost you and how you are going to pay for it. I assure you that we are doing our utmost to help you afford the upgrading. First, you only need to start paying after all the upgrading works are completed, which should be in three years' time. You do not have to pay anything now. When the MUP is completed, you can either pay in one lump sum or through monthly instalments, over five or 10 years, in cash or with your CPF savings. If you are a Singapore citizen enjoying the benefits of upgrading for the first time and you choose a 10-year repayment plan, the monthly instalments for the Standard Package is only $21 for a 3-room flat or $31 for a 4-room flat.

For those with financial problems, HDB has in place assistance schemes to help you. For example, HDB can extend the repayment period or defer the payment completely until you sell your flat. So, do not hesitate to vote “yes” simply because of your financial position.

Additional options

Lift Upgrading Programme (LUP) for Blocks 411 to 415: There are five segmented blocks in our precinct – Blocks 411 to 415. On many floor segments in these blocks, there are only two flats. These flats are on floors without common corridors and have no direct lift access. The Government is now offering you a special Lift Upgrading Programme. We will add new lifts and lift shafts so that a lift will stop on every floor. This will cost $20,000 to $25,000 per flat, because it requires extensive works. But the Government and the Town Council will help to pay most of the cost. You will only need to pay 15%, or at most $3,000. Under a 10-year repayment plan, the monthly instalment is only $30 for Singapore citizen, or just $1 a day.

For a block to get LUP, at least 75% (of the eligible flat owners in that block who have no lift access) must vote in favour of LUP. (Also provided the precinct supports the Standard Package). Just like the MUP, there are various measures in place to help those with financial problems.

Space adding item: For those of you who need extra space and can afford it, there is the space-adding item (SAI). It will be provided for you if the precinct voted for the Standard Package and more than 75% of the eligible flat owners in your block vote for this item. But, if you do not need the extra space, you need not vote for it. You can vote for the Standard Package and enjoy the benefits of MUP without having to vote for the SAI.

Voting Principles

To make it clearer for you, let me sum up:

a. There will be no upgrading at all unless we get 75% vote in the whole precinct for the Standard Package.

b. As part of the Standard Package, Blocks 416 to 419 and 421 will get lifts that stop at each floor. But Blocks 411 to 415 will not. They must decide if they want the LUP. LUP will be provided if 75% or more of the eligible flat owners in each block without lift access vote in favour of LUP. (And the Standard Package proceeds in the precinct.)

c. For a block to get the space-adding item, 75% units in that block must vote for it. (Also 75% of the whole precinct must vote for the Standard Package.) Even if you do not vote for the space-adding item, you can still get the standard package.

Inconvenience

The upgrading works will take about two and a half years. Of course there will be some inconvenience. But I urge you to be patient because the result is well worth it. HDB and its contractor will do all they can to minimize the inconvenience. They will use special construction methods to reduce the noise and dust level. Moreover, the works are carried out outside your flats most of the time. Inside your flats, the contractor will plan the work carefully to have them completed within a couple of weeks. While the toilet is being upgraded, HDB will provide you with a portable toilet inside your flat.

Renewal of Ang Mo Kio

In the past 15 years, the entire Ang Mo Kio Town had undergone numerous changes to keep it vibrant. Our Town was among the first to benefit from MUP. In fact one precinct in Teck Ghee was upgraded under the initial demonstration phase of the programme. Since then, 10 precincts in Ang Mo Kio, including your precinct, have been identified for MUP. There are also other types of renewal programme for other precincts, such as Interim Upgrading Programme (IUP), IUP Plus, and Selective Enbloc Redevelopment Scheme (SERS). So far, about three quarters of the 48,000 flats in Ang Mo Kio (35,700 flats) have been announced for the various programmes.

With all this upgrading going on in Ang Mo Kio, you must not miss this chance to get the MUP for our precinct.

Vote for MUP for a better Life

Hence, I would urge all of you once again to support the MUP, especially the Standard Package which will benefit everyone in this precinct, and the LUP which older residents will especially appreciate. Remember, you have only one chance to vote. And those who do not vote are regarded as voting against the programme.

We need your support to transform and rejuvenated our 27-year old estate. So, vote for the MUP and make this precinct the best home for you, your family and your neighbours. It is now my pleasure to declare open the Upgrading exhibition and polling for our Ang Mo Kio Avenue 10 Precinct.