Mega makeover for housing estates in the east? Better spend

• Cindyfeh

  3 Dec 05, 09:09

  Mega makeover for housing estates in the east? Better spend the money on needy
  
  http://straitstimes.asia1.com.sg/forum/story/0,5562,356405,00.html?
  
  Having lived in 'The East' for over four decades, your front-page article - Makeover plans worth $800m for estates in the east - could be expected to make those of us in the 'Eastern Bloc' happy, even proud, for getting such a huge contribution in keeping with the promise of the government's upgrading programme.
  
  It must however be the height of irony that the article appeared alongside the other 'It's harder for kids with no computers'(ST Nov 2 which highlights that 140,000 lower-income households cannot afford even a used computer.
  
  It is probably a reflection of our priorities that the cosmetic facade of the various constituencies seems to be of greater importance than providing facilities for the less affluent of the next generation.
  
  There must be many more like myself staying in 'The East' who would happily sacrifice such mega makeovers for the more urgent priority of helping the really needy, like those profiled in your Upfront article.
  
  One can easily pre-empt the official rebuttal that there are already plenty of avenues open for deserving cases like the 11-year-old John Ng mentioned in the article. But your report suggests that this problem is not being tackled with the same zeal as improving the housing estates.
  
  Narayana Narayana
  =====
  
  Lets have your vote.
  
  Would you want a pretty make over for your estate? - (1)
  Or would you rather have the money helping the needy? - (2)
  
  I vote for (2)
• Medicated Oil

  3 Dec 05, 09:48

  It is very hard to define who are the needy.
  
  When the money is given to the needy, the rest of the community will definitely make noise on why the money is not distributed evenly.
  
  It will become a egg and chicken issue.
  
  The issue is that the town council have stored so much reserves, just like NKF, over the years.
  
  They are still collecting conservancy fees without any reduction.
  
  The government should come in to audit on how each town council spend their funds as they are doing some repetitive works on roads and parks.
  
  Or else, we will be expecting another same case of NKF.
• dakkon_blackblade

  3 Dec 05, 12:05

  I live in Sembawang, which is also reported to be getting some improvements/makeovers. I don't really see the point though, because I think the town here is just good enough as it is. I'd rather they use the money to help the needy instead.
• TooFree

  3 Dec 05, 12:57

  [quote]Originally posted by Cindyfeh:
  Mega makeover for housing estates in the east? Better spend the money on needy
  
  http://straitstimes.asia1.com.sg/forum/story/0,5562,356405,00.html?
  
  Having lived in 'The East' for over four decades, your front-page article - Makeover plans worth $800m for estates in the east - could be expected to make those of us in the 'Eastern Bloc' happy, even proud, for getting such a huge contribution in keeping with the promise of the government's upgrading programme.
  
  It must however be the height of irony that the article appeared alongside the other 'It's harder for kids with no computers'(ST Nov 2 which highlights that 140,000 lower-income households cannot afford even a used computer.
  
  It is probably a reflection of our priorities that the cosmetic facade of the various constituencies seems to be of greater importance than providing facilities for the less affluent of the next generation.
  
  The writer feels for the lower-income household is commendable. But nevertheless, the writer needs to define who are the needy in wider scope. In my opinion, it is hard to filter out the 140,000 households and who should rightfully be given a computer. It is even harder, when a society is based on equity principle.
  
  There must be many more like myself staying in 'The East' who would happily sacrifice such mega makeovers for the more urgent priority of helping the really needy, like those profiled in your Upfront article.
  
  The upgrading programme serve to provide basic facilities to the masses beside the makeover in the estate. Basic facilities include, lift upgrading etc. which can be beneficial to the senior citizens.
  
  One can easily pre-empt the official rebuttal that there are already plenty of avenues open for deserving cases like the 11-year-old John Ng mentioned in the article. But your report suggests that this problem is not being tackled with the same zeal as improving the housing estates.
  
  From what I heard, there are already computers that are allocated at certain CC or RC. These facilities are free for public to use if I am not wrong.
  
  Narayana Narayana
  =====
  
  Lets have your vote.
  
  Would you want a pretty make over for your estate? - (1)
  Or would you rather have the money helping the needy? - (2)
  
  I vote for (2)
  
  The objective of the mega makeover meant to cater to the masses. Yes. The needy needs our help, but can we have another approach at this problem perhape together with some other charitable organisations, can some way or another either by setting up a public computer room at CC/RC or interview genuine low-income households and whose children are of schooling age.