Photo gallery: Comparing Hougang & Toa Payoh estates

[Avantas]

View over 30 photos here:

http://wayangparty.com/?p=6780

Background:

Before the 2001 general elections, then Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong warned that Hougang and Potong Pasir would be turned into “slums” if they continue to vote for the opposition.

How does Hougang compare with the PAP-run estates? On 24 February 2009, we visited Hougang (under Hougang Town Council) and Toa Payoh (under Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC) and compared the two estates in terms of maintenance.

To our pleasant surprise, Hougang is one of the cleanest, if not the cleanest HDB estate we have ever stepped foot into. We visited 5 blocks of flats at Hougang Central. The void decks were spotless. There were no stray letters or papers at the mailbox. All the rubbish are neatly dumped in the dustbins provided at every block. The children’s playground is kept neat and tidy. The surroundings are cool, quiet and rustic.

In spite of its limited resources, Hougang Town Council had run the estate exceedingly well, better than many PAP-run estates. Kudos to Mr Low Thia Kiang and his team! This is ample proof that opposition Town Councils can do an equal if not better job than the PAP Town Councils. At the very least, they do not squander their sinking funds away in risky investments.

 

[takcheksian]

Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Low, for showing what a simple, humble, hardworking, honest and decent man can do despite the sabo-ing of the PAPpies.

 

[Royston46]

Town Councils under PAPigs wards are pretty much useless bunch!

Most of the property officers standard routine are to drink coffee 3 times a day, befriend contractors, some daring one even take undertable money from them for additional works which they push ahead with funds allocated for maintenance of the estate. They go cheong nightclubs with the contractors and basically are quite an invisible lot when it comes to serious inspection of the estates and followups with feedbacks. They will find places in the estate to while away their time and sleep, and only react to urgent complaints when called by their office... Some of them have been asked to CPIB before but due to lack of evidence to charge them, most of them roam free... Most of the undertable money are in fact cash, how to trace such income??

Yes, they attend monthly RC meetings, organise some events here and there with the CCs and RCs, but don't expect them to work late thru the night to better the estates.

I know for a fact that opposition wards town councils are run with a tight budget, hence the people in charge tend to squeeze the service providing contractors more, etc electrical, cleaning, building works, etc etc... They are in fact the role model for the rest of the town councils under PAPigs... They got back what they paid for the services on the behalf of the residents there... Excellent worthwhile services...

I respect Low and Chiam for their work!

Cheers!

 

[Goh Meng Seng]

I am not so sure whether the photo you have taken belongs to the Hougang Constituency or not. It may be on the fringe though, maybe on the side of Aljunied GRC.

If it is Blk 853 side, it will definitely fall into Hougang Constituency.

Goh Meng Seng

View over 30 photos here:

http://wayangparty.com/?p=6780

Background:

Before the 2001 general elections, then Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong warned that Hougang and Potong Pasir would be turned into “slums” if they continue to vote for the opposition.

How does Hougang compare with the PAP-run estates? On 24 February 2009, we visited Hougang (under Hougang Town Council) and Toa Payoh (under Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC) and compared the two estates in terms of maintenance.

To our pleasant surprise, Hougang is one of the cleanest, if not the cleanest HDB estate we have ever stepped foot into. We visited 5 blocks of flats at Hougang Central. The void decks were spotless. There were no stray letters or papers at the mailbox. All the rubbish are neatly dumped in the dustbins provided at every block. The children’s playground is kept neat and tidy. The surroundings are cool, quiet and rustic.

In spite of its limited resources, Hougang Town Council had run the estate exceedingly well, better than many PAP-run estates. Kudos to Mr Low Thia Kiang and his team! This is ample proof that opposition Town Councils can do an equal if not better job than the PAP Town Councils. At the very least, they do not squander their sinking funds away in risky investments.