PR's plea on lift upgrading
Published on Aug 11, 2011
SINGAPOREANS are lucky to have the Government upgrade their homes by
subsidising lift upgrading by up to 95 per cent ('Why lift upgrading
cannot be compulsory' by the Housing Board; last Saturday).
However, permanent residents (PRs) are not eligible to vote in lift upgrading. Why is this so?
PRs pay the full market price for their resale HDB flats and conservancy
charges, and do not enjoy service and conservancy rebates.
They regard their flats as their homes and contribute to nation building
through the taxes they pay. And yet, when HDB asks residents to vote on
the lift upgrading for their blocks, PRs are not allowed to vote on the
physical work that will affect their homes directly. On top of that,
PRs are asked to pay the full unsubsidised price.
The increased cost borne by PRs is unlikely to be recouped from a higher
resale price, as citizens do not have to pay for it and so can sell
their flats at a lower price. A PR owner's only option is to sell his
flat before the lift upgrading is completed.
Give PRs a voice on changes to their homes.
Sin Kuan Cheung
http://www.straitstimes.com/STForum/...ry_700651.html
sign on citizenship lor.....