http://rds.yahoo.com/;_ylt=Ai3kqDj4Vf7vGk1T4CK6u5NXNyoA;_ylu=X3oDMTE2ZDBkM3U5BGNvbG8DZQRsA1dTMQRwb3MDNgRzZWMDc3IEdnRpZANGNjA2Xzg2/SIG=13qn4168p/EXP=1126871785/**http%3A%2F%2Fapp.mof.gov.sg%2Fdata%2Fcutwaste%2Ffree%2F8441_pubreply%2FHDB_after_BDD_Corporatisation.docHDB after BDD Corporatisation
Suggestion
Some functions in HDB were privatized in Jul 2003. More than $200 million was spent on SRS. Many former HDB staff joined Surbana with very little pay cut. Some fortunate ones might have pay increases despite very attractive SRS given to them.
After July 2003, some departments are created for the remaining Heads of Department (HOD). It appears the new Departments were created to accommodate the former HOD’s rather that the functional needs of HDB. Many functions within the Building Group are not well defined and possibly duplicating in some areas. It may be better to collapse into fewer Departments within the Building Group. On national level there are many duplicating functions at URA, BCA and HDB. For examples, HDB has BCU which performs the same function as BCA; Research and Planning Department in HDB is similar to URA. Why not make it a one stop service to serve the public better and at the same time some cost serving?
There are too many Audit checking , design review and control function performed by HDB nowadays on Surbana. This is due to the overstaff in HDB and to create “ unnecessary” auditing work to justify their existence. Too many audit checking, design review and control function by HBD have caused additional cost to the poor contractors who are already suffered badly by the economic downturn and the material increases.
If HDB needs to carry out frequent audits, design reviews and con trol functions because Surbana cannot achieve the desired results, then HDB should deduct/reduce the consultant’s fee paid to Surbana. Surbana is being paid too high consultant’s fees and is making huge profit. It is not fair to other consultants in the private sector. Which consultant is making as much as the Surbana staff? All these are the tax payers’ money. Why is HDB helping Surbana to pass the manpower cost to flat purchasers? Why Surbana staff are paid QP allowance when the works are all normal standard. Depite the high salary cost for Surbana staff, Surbana is still making huge profit. Is HDB and MOF prepared to review the professional fee/ management fee paid to Surbana.
During the heavy building period , HDB built some 60,000 dwelling units (DU). To-day HDB builds very few DU’s. However, the manpower on site site supervisors is still very high or very little reduction. Can HDB justify the manpower cost in terms of DU’s and manpower needs. Too many site supervisors are employed by HDB despite the construction slump. All the site supervisors are very well paid and well above the market rate. Why HDB needs to help them again and again after paying them SRS? Many new Poly and University graduates are suffering from unemployment. Why HDB is paying Surbana or HDB Corp a management fee for the employment of the clerk-of-works? There are other well above market rate management fees paid to HDB Corp or Surbana by HDB. Does it defeat the whole purpose of ‘privatization’?