Monday, December 24, 2007
Thursday, December 20, 2007
请体恤邻里商店
站长的话（2007-12-20）
组屋商店门前摆放货品新条规实行了好几个月，至今还是有一部分商家继续违规。有的则仍然怪责执法当局太过一刀切，欠灵活。法律面前人人平等，要执法人员来判断哪个个案可以灵活处理，哪个又不能灵活处理，那是不公平的。
组屋商店门前摆放货品新条规实行了好几个月，至今还是有一部分商家继续违规。有的则仍然怪责执法当局太过一刀切，欠灵活。法律面前人人平等，要执法人员来判断哪个个案可以灵活处理，哪个又不能灵活处理，那是不公平的。
Monday, December 17, 2007
Act against overflowing HDB shopfront displays
Dec 17, 2007
I REFER to the report, 'Shop owners still ignoring rules on outdoor displays' (ST, Dec7). It is high time the authorities clamped down on overflowing HDB shopfront displays. It is also surprising that they are taking so long to act.
The shopfronts do not belong to the shop owners or tenants, but these people behave as though they own the space with blatant disregard for public convenience in using the space as passageways.
It is also open knowledge that many shop owners actually rent out their shopfront space to others who most of the time may ply a completely different trade. We see, for example, a goldsmith's shop with a phone accessories stall in front.
I wonder why the authorities seem to be oblivious to all this.
The shop owners should be grateful that the HDB allows them to display their wares in the designated space (which the shop owners do not own in the first place).
I hope the authorities will be steadfast in enforcing the current rules to ensure the shopfronts are in compliance with safety regulations and, most important of all, prevent the area from becoming a nuisance and inconvenience to the public.
Mohammad Yazid
Check corridors of HDB flats to ensure fire safety
Dec 17, 2007
IN SEPTEMBER, I wrote to The Straits Times Forum page about errant shopkeepers who obstruct walkways and urged government agencies to step up efforts to ensure that all items beyond the permitted area are cleared by shopkeepers.
More importantly, I called for checks on common corridors of flats by the Housing Board and town councils so that action can be taken against irresponsible flat dwellers who strew plants, clothes and shoe racks across the slightly more than 2m-wide walkways.
A few weeks later, another reader sent similar feedback to The Sunday Times. There was no response at all to both letters.
Now, we have the Dover Road fire which broke out on the lift landing of an HDB block, because of discarded furniture. Fortunately, there were no fatalities.
While the focus is on why the fire occurred, and the repairs that need to be done to restore residents' lives to normalcy, we should also look at preventive measures that need to be put in place.
Does the HDB act only when there are fatalities, as in the Hougang Avenue 8 minimart blaze on Sept 13 when two people died?
No doubt its subsequent steps were commendable, but there are still many irresponsible flat owners. I recently saw a wooden bench the size of a sofa sitting along one corridor.
Common walkways are important access routes for residents to move freely in times of emergency. Even in normal circumstances, you need to manoeuvre dexterously to move along the corridor and reach the stairwell.
I strongly urge government agencies to intensify their checks - including common corridors of flats - and issue stern warnings to irresponsible flat owners.
Guidelines should also be in place on what is allowed in common corridors, and what is not.
Hopefully, there will be no more such fire incidents in HDB blocks.
Larry Keh Chun Woon
IN SEPTEMBER, I wrote to The Straits Times Forum page about errant shopkeepers who obstruct walkways and urged government agencies to step up efforts to ensure that all items beyond the permitted area are cleared by shopkeepers.
More importantly, I called for checks on common corridors of flats by the Housing Board and town councils so that action can be taken against irresponsible flat dwellers who strew plants, clothes and shoe racks across the slightly more than 2m-wide walkways.
A few weeks later, another reader sent similar feedback to The Sunday Times. There was no response at all to both letters.
Now, we have the Dover Road fire which broke out on the lift landing of an HDB block, because of discarded furniture. Fortunately, there were no fatalities.
While the focus is on why the fire occurred, and the repairs that need to be done to restore residents' lives to normalcy, we should also look at preventive measures that need to be put in place.
Does the HDB act only when there are fatalities, as in the Hougang Avenue 8 minimart blaze on Sept 13 when two people died?
No doubt its subsequent steps were commendable, but there are still many irresponsible flat owners. I recently saw a wooden bench the size of a sofa sitting along one corridor.
Common walkways are important access routes for residents to move freely in times of emergency. Even in normal circumstances, you need to manoeuvre dexterously to move along the corridor and reach the stairwell.
I strongly urge government agencies to intensify their checks - including common corridors of flats - and issue stern warnings to irresponsible flat owners.
Guidelines should also be in place on what is allowed in common corridors, and what is not.
Hopefully, there will be no more such fire incidents in HDB blocks.
Larry Keh Chun Woon
Thursday, December 13, 2007
请不要亡羊才补牢
早报 - 071212
● 许崇正
● 许崇正
四十多年前，我的大哥不小心掉进大沟渠溺毙了，事后，有关当局才在大沟渠两旁筑起了围栏，其他的地区也由于这个事故而采取了同样的防范措施。接下来的年头，陆续有类似情况发生，如发生严重的车祸后才建行人天桥等。
就以大家都熟悉的最近两起大事件为例，一起是发生在宏茂桥的按摩院命案，另一起是发生在后港，由于店屋起火而导致人命伤亡，过后有关当局马上采取了迅速 的大动作，封锁了按摩院，为邻里的商店实施强制性的条例等。这一系列的不幸事件，如果有关单位的负责人能够以更细心和珍惜他人生命的态度工作，我想这些大 家都不想发生的事件是可以避免的，亡羊补牢，其实为时已晚。
据报道，后港邻里商店在发生火患之前，有关居民已经向记者反映过，说一旦发 生火患，将会是一发不可收拾。电视台也在节目报道了情况。很遗憾的是，有关当局却视若无睹，更让人难以理解的是为什么这些犯了条例的店主屡次收到警告信后 可以置之不理，没受到法律制裁，而导致不幸的事情发生？
最近，有家长在言论版提到了电脑网络游戏／电动游戏商店设在组屋附近（和按摩院设在组屋区雷同）对青少年所起的不良影响。尤其是学生，由于沉迷于电脑游戏而荒废学业，希望有关当局能重视这个问题。有关当局的答复是电脑网络游戏／电动游戏商店只允许设在购物中心内。
大家都知道现在的许多组屋卫星镇都设有购物中心，而允许电脑网络游戏／电动游戏商店设在购物中心内和设在组屋附近又有什么分别呢？笔者还发现有电脑网络 游戏商店设在组屋区内的巴士转换站附近。这些对青少年身心健康发展不利的场所，不但容易让青少年由于摩擦而起冲突导致人命伤亡，商店内安全设备的不足也是 威胁人命的因素之一。难道我们又要等到另一起命案的发生才来亡羊补牢吗？
我国的行政管理和机制在国际享有良好的声誉，我深信政府会尽其所能将这些会影响我国声誉，造成人命伤亡的不幸事件减到最低。
Wednesday, December 12, 2007
Let trash these messy fire hazards
Tuesday • December 11, 2007
Letter from Lee Heng Kee
My weekly Sunday evening visits to Block 67, Circuit Road are always greeted by trash scattered along the corridor leading to the lift lobby. This is a serious fire hazard and the potential danger is heightened by those who smoke at the nearby benches.
With the recent Hougang fire and the Dover Road fire on Dec 9, surely the town council is not waiting for another fire before taking necessary action.
If the trash cannot be collected more frequently, can the bin be relocated away from the lift lobby? Public education programmes should also be conducted frequently to highlight the hazards of dumping rubbish along the corridors or walkways.
Copyright MediaCorp Press Ltd. All rights reserved.
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
$1 billion in town council funds : what’re they used for?
Posted by theonlinecitizen on December 3, 2007
By Leong Sze Hian
I refer to the CNA news report “Prudent to protect sinking funds of town councils: DPM Wong” (CNA, Dec 2) and the article “Move to protect council funds” (Today, Dec 1).
According to Creative Technology’s (CT) annual report, Holland-Bukit Panjang Town Council (HBPTC) was listed as one of the majority shareholders with 530,000 shares currently valued at about $3.2 million. I understand that CT’s share price from 2003 to 2007, has ranged from a high of $27.30 to it’s current price of $6.10 on 12 October 2007.
According to CT’s Statistics of Shareholding as at 19 August 2005, HBPTC held 200,000 shares. The CT high price for fiscal 2005 and 2006 was $27.20 and $14.40 respectively. Does this mean that the 200,000 shares could have cost as much as $5.4 million?
When did HBPTC purchase its CT shares, and at what price?
If it had held its total holding of TC shares on 1 July 2006, I believe it would have been valued at about $6 million.
According to HBPTC’s annual report, it had $8.4 million of quoted equities on 1 April 2005.
If this is the case, does it mean that it accounted for about 70 per cent of HBPTC’s total quoted securities portfolio of $8.4 million?
If the above assumptions and timelines are correct, why is its quoted securities portfolio so apparently non-diversified?
Isn’t diversification the key principle of prudent investing?
What guidelines do town councils use in investing their residents’ funds?
Another question which needs to be asked is: What are the profits from such investments used for and have they ever been used, since town council funds keep growing to more than $1 billion now? Perhaps the town councils should include this in their annual reports and make them public.
When we last checked, only 6 out of the 16 town councils have their annual reports easily available on their websites. Why are the reports of the other 10 town councils not available on their websites?
Read also: “Uniquely Singapore, F1 or F9: “Residents willing to pay more for service and conservancy?”
By Leong Sze Hian
I refer to the CNA news report “Prudent to protect sinking funds of town councils: DPM Wong” (CNA, Dec 2) and the article “Move to protect council funds” (Today, Dec 1).
According to Creative Technology’s (CT) annual report, Holland-Bukit Panjang Town Council (HBPTC) was listed as one of the majority shareholders with 530,000 shares currently valued at about $3.2 million. I understand that CT’s share price from 2003 to 2007, has ranged from a high of $27.30 to it’s current price of $6.10 on 12 October 2007.
According to CT’s Statistics of Shareholding as at 19 August 2005, HBPTC held 200,000 shares. The CT high price for fiscal 2005 and 2006 was $27.20 and $14.40 respectively. Does this mean that the 200,000 shares could have cost as much as $5.4 million?
When did HBPTC purchase its CT shares, and at what price?
If it had held its total holding of TC shares on 1 July 2006, I believe it would have been valued at about $6 million.
According to HBPTC’s annual report, it had $8.4 million of quoted equities on 1 April 2005.
If this is the case, does it mean that it accounted for about 70 per cent of HBPTC’s total quoted securities portfolio of $8.4 million?
If the above assumptions and timelines are correct, why is its quoted securities portfolio so apparently non-diversified?
Isn’t diversification the key principle of prudent investing?
What guidelines do town councils use in investing their residents’ funds?
Another question which needs to be asked is: What are the profits from such investments used for and have they ever been used, since town council funds keep growing to more than $1 billion now? Perhaps the town councils should include this in their annual reports and make them public.
When we last checked, only 6 out of the 16 town councils have their annual reports easily available on their websites. Why are the reports of the other 10 town councils not available on their websites?
Read also: “Uniquely Singapore, F1 or F9: “Residents willing to pay more for service and conservancy?”
Prudent to protect sinking funds of town councils: DPM Wong
02 December 2007 1835 hrs (SST)
SINGAPORE : Protecting the sinking funds of town councils is prudent, said Deputy Prime Minister Wong Kan Seng on Sunday.
He said capping the amount town councils can invest in non-government investment vehicles at 35 percent will protect the money they have for the future.
Mr Wong made his comments while meeting residents and shopkeepers at Bishan North Shopping Mall on Sunday.
The new rule by the Ministry of National Development (MND) on investing town council money kicked in on December 1st.
The aim is to strike a balance between town councils trying to get a good return on their funds and not taking unnecessary risks with residents' money.
Mr Wong agreed with this new rule, saying if town councils rundown sinking funds because of wrong or bad investments, then the money will not be available for other uses if and when needed.
Inflation hit a 16-year high recently at 3.6 percent and is expected to hit 4.5 or 5 percent next year.
Government bonds and short-term fixed deposits give a return of around 1.5 to 3 percent which is lower than the returns from riskier market investments.
So when asked about inflation eating away the low financial returns, Mr Wong said inflation is only one factor considered when investing and protecting sinking funds.
DPM Wong said: "There are world prices due to many reasons and therefore we have this increase in inflation. But it goes up and down and we just can't depend on that alone as a measure to decide how we invest our town council funds. So we cannot look at one spot and say it may go up to 5 percent, or 4 percent inflation and therefore that particular decision by MND will not cover the inflation."
Mr Wong said residents he spoke to did not complain about the price of hawker centre food going up, although some were concerned about general food prices having gone up.
The shops are part of the heartlands.
Mr Wong spoke to shopkeepers selling produce like fish and vegetables, listening to the concerns they face.
Some concerns included higher prices of produce and limited display areas, said shop owner Mr Ker Yeow Chong, who've been running his business for more than 15 years.
Other MPs from the Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC also joined Mr Wong on his Sunday visit. - CNA/ch
SINGAPORE : Protecting the sinking funds of town councils is prudent, said Deputy Prime Minister Wong Kan Seng on Sunday.
He said capping the amount town councils can invest in non-government investment vehicles at 35 percent will protect the money they have for the future.
Mr Wong made his comments while meeting residents and shopkeepers at Bishan North Shopping Mall on Sunday.
The new rule by the Ministry of National Development (MND) on investing town council money kicked in on December 1st.
The aim is to strike a balance between town councils trying to get a good return on their funds and not taking unnecessary risks with residents' money.
Mr Wong agreed with this new rule, saying if town councils rundown sinking funds because of wrong or bad investments, then the money will not be available for other uses if and when needed.
Inflation hit a 16-year high recently at 3.6 percent and is expected to hit 4.5 or 5 percent next year.
Government bonds and short-term fixed deposits give a return of around 1.5 to 3 percent which is lower than the returns from riskier market investments.
So when asked about inflation eating away the low financial returns, Mr Wong said inflation is only one factor considered when investing and protecting sinking funds.
DPM Wong said: "There are world prices due to many reasons and therefore we have this increase in inflation. But it goes up and down and we just can't depend on that alone as a measure to decide how we invest our town council funds. So we cannot look at one spot and say it may go up to 5 percent, or 4 percent inflation and therefore that particular decision by MND will not cover the inflation."
Mr Wong said residents he spoke to did not complain about the price of hawker centre food going up, although some were concerned about general food prices having gone up.
The shops are part of the heartlands.
Mr Wong spoke to shopkeepers selling produce like fish and vegetables, listening to the concerns they face.
Some concerns included higher prices of produce and limited display areas, said shop owner Mr Ker Yeow Chong, who've been running his business for more than 15 years.
Other MPs from the Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC also joined Mr Wong on his Sunday visit. - CNA/ch
Move to protect council funds - Ministry puts limit on estates' riskier investments
Weekend / December 1, 2007
Loh Chee Kong
Kongcheekong@mediacorp.com.sg
IN THE midst of an increasingly volatile financial market, the Government has moved to restrain Town Councils' investment activities as a precautionary measure.
On Thursday, the Ministry of National Development (MND) gazetted amendments to the Town Councils Financial Rules, which came into effect on Saturday.
The most notable change is a 35-per-cent cap on the amount Town Councils can use out of their sinking funds to invest in non-Government issued securities such as corporate bonds and equities, which are seen as "higher risk" investments.
There is no cap on the proportion used to invest in Government bonds or treasury bills.
MP Inderjit Singh, the vice-chairman of the Ang Mo Kio-Yio Chu Kang Town Council, told Today it was "not a sudden decision" as the MND had been monitoring the situation "for quite some time".
"I think what they discovered is that some Town Councils participate in riskier investments. The MND wanted to prevent Town Councils from being too aggressive. The idea is to protect the sinking fund as much as possible for future use," he said.
In response to Today's queries, an MND spokesperson said that changes to the set of financial rules "are made from time to time to bring them up to date and facilitate the effective administration and operation of Town Councils".
The spokesperson added: "Town Councils are required to set aside sinking funds to enable them to carry out long-term cyclical maintenance or replacement works for the estates. As such, (they) need flexibility to invest funds that are not required for immediate use, while ensuring the funds are not exposed to unnecessary risks."
Noting that the bulk of public sector investments is in Government-issued securities, CIMB-GK economist Song Seng Wun said: "I don't think (the cap) would affect any of them at the moment. It's more to ensure the Town Councils have a reference point."
Previously, Town Councils were given the same investment powers as statutory bodies under the Trustees Act, which spells out the type of investments they could make. But according to Dr Teo Ho Pin, co-ordinating chairman for the People's Action Party Town Councils, statutory boards ?including Town Councils ?were given greater leeway to invest at the turn of the millennium.
And under Section 33A of the Interpretation Act, a statutory body may invest "in such manner as it thinks fit" and "engage in any financial activity or participate in any financial arrangement for the purpose of managing or hedging against any financial risk that arises or is likely to arise from such investment".
Currently, Town Councils have various ways of managing their investments, including setting up finance or business committees or entrusting their money with external fund managers.
Said Dr Teo, who chairs the Holland-Bukit Panjang Town Council: "If we just put the money in fixed deposits, isn't that more irresponsible? There were a lot of criticisms in the past when the statutory boards dared not invest their money."
The Town Councils have recently submitted their 2006/2007 annual reports to Parliament for gazetting.
According to Holland-Bukit Panjang Town Council's 2005/2006 annual report, it has sinking funds of some $89 million. Of this, it holds shares worth some $8.4 million in book value, while investing $31m and $3m in bonds and unit trusts respectively.
Some smaller wards such as Potong Pasir invest solely in Government bonds. According to its MP Chiam See Tong, the Potong Pasir Town Council ?which has a kitty of $5 million ?employs a full-time finance manager to manage its $1.9 million worth of investments.
Holland-Bukit Panjang Town Council was listed as a major shareholder in Creative Technologies' latest annual report, holding 530,000 shares currently valued at about $3.4 million.
Pointing out how the shares of Creative Technologies had fallen drastically in the last few years, Mr Leong Sze Hian, president of the Society of Financial Service Professionals, felt that the investment guidelines should be "beefed up" further to make sure that even with the cap on high-risk investments, Town Councils are prevented from putting too many eggs in one basket.
Said Mr Leong: "There's nothing to stop them from putting all 35 per cent in one stock.
Nowadays, Town Council funds go up to a hundred million. And 80 per cent lost in a single stock can mean a loss of about $30m."
Pointing out that there are always risks involved in an investment, Dr Teo declined to discuss the specifics of the investment in Creative Technologies.
But he reiterated that his Town Council adopted a "wide" investment portfolio. Said Dr Teo: "Our investment committee has made good returns on our investments so far, averaging about eight to 10 per cent per annum, which is better than the bank interest rate."
Copyright MediaCorp Press Ltd. All rights reserved.
Loh Chee Kong
Kongcheekong@mediacorp.com.sg
IN THE midst of an increasingly volatile financial market, the Government has moved to restrain Town Councils' investment activities as a precautionary measure.
On Thursday, the Ministry of National Development (MND) gazetted amendments to the Town Councils Financial Rules, which came into effect on Saturday.
The most notable change is a 35-per-cent cap on the amount Town Councils can use out of their sinking funds to invest in non-Government issued securities such as corporate bonds and equities, which are seen as "higher risk" investments.
There is no cap on the proportion used to invest in Government bonds or treasury bills.
MP Inderjit Singh, the vice-chairman of the Ang Mo Kio-Yio Chu Kang Town Council, told Today it was "not a sudden decision" as the MND had been monitoring the situation "for quite some time".
"I think what they discovered is that some Town Councils participate in riskier investments. The MND wanted to prevent Town Councils from being too aggressive. The idea is to protect the sinking fund as much as possible for future use," he said.
In response to Today's queries, an MND spokesperson said that changes to the set of financial rules "are made from time to time to bring them up to date and facilitate the effective administration and operation of Town Councils".
The spokesperson added: "Town Councils are required to set aside sinking funds to enable them to carry out long-term cyclical maintenance or replacement works for the estates. As such, (they) need flexibility to invest funds that are not required for immediate use, while ensuring the funds are not exposed to unnecessary risks."
Noting that the bulk of public sector investments is in Government-issued securities, CIMB-GK economist Song Seng Wun said: "I don't think (the cap) would affect any of them at the moment. It's more to ensure the Town Councils have a reference point."
Previously, Town Councils were given the same investment powers as statutory bodies under the Trustees Act, which spells out the type of investments they could make. But according to Dr Teo Ho Pin, co-ordinating chairman for the People's Action Party Town Councils, statutory boards ?including Town Councils ?were given greater leeway to invest at the turn of the millennium.
And under Section 33A of the Interpretation Act, a statutory body may invest "in such manner as it thinks fit" and "engage in any financial activity or participate in any financial arrangement for the purpose of managing or hedging against any financial risk that arises or is likely to arise from such investment".
Currently, Town Councils have various ways of managing their investments, including setting up finance or business committees or entrusting their money with external fund managers.
Said Dr Teo, who chairs the Holland-Bukit Panjang Town Council: "If we just put the money in fixed deposits, isn't that more irresponsible? There were a lot of criticisms in the past when the statutory boards dared not invest their money."
The Town Councils have recently submitted their 2006/2007 annual reports to Parliament for gazetting.
According to Holland-Bukit Panjang Town Council's 2005/2006 annual report, it has sinking funds of some $89 million. Of this, it holds shares worth some $8.4 million in book value, while investing $31m and $3m in bonds and unit trusts respectively.
Some smaller wards such as Potong Pasir invest solely in Government bonds. According to its MP Chiam See Tong, the Potong Pasir Town Council ?which has a kitty of $5 million ?employs a full-time finance manager to manage its $1.9 million worth of investments.
Holland-Bukit Panjang Town Council was listed as a major shareholder in Creative Technologies' latest annual report, holding 530,000 shares currently valued at about $3.4 million.
Pointing out how the shares of Creative Technologies had fallen drastically in the last few years, Mr Leong Sze Hian, president of the Society of Financial Service Professionals, felt that the investment guidelines should be "beefed up" further to make sure that even with the cap on high-risk investments, Town Councils are prevented from putting too many eggs in one basket.
Said Mr Leong: "There's nothing to stop them from putting all 35 per cent in one stock.
Nowadays, Town Council funds go up to a hundred million. And 80 per cent lost in a single stock can mean a loss of about $30m."
Pointing out that there are always risks involved in an investment, Dr Teo declined to discuss the specifics of the investment in Creative Technologies.
But he reiterated that his Town Council adopted a "wide" investment portfolio. Said Dr Teo: "Our investment committee has made good returns on our investments so far, averaging about eight to 10 per cent per annum, which is better than the bank interest rate."
Copyright MediaCorp Press Ltd. All rights reserved.
DOVER ROAD FIRE - Requests to clear furniture were ignored
Dec 11, 2007
By Carolyn Quek
FRUSTRATED residents of a block of HDB flats on Dover Road complained for a week about a pile of discarded furniture outside the building's third-floor lifts.
But their pleas fell on deaf ears. That was until early Sunday morning when the pile went up in flames, a blaze police have classified as mischief.
'The furniture had been lying there for so many days, yet no one came to clear it,' said Mr Khoo Pek Tee, 68, a retired driver.
The fire, which broke out at about 12.20am, roused many residents of the block, which contained 182 two-room rental flats.
Many on the third floor - especially the units near the heart of the blaze - were trapped in their homes by the flames and thick smoke, which blanketed the corridor.
Five residents had to be taken to the National University Hospital for smoke inhalation, said the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF).
One of them was Madam Zainub Ibrahim whose flat was closest to the lift landing.
The 44-year-old hotel chambermaid told The Straits Times that she was asleep in the living room with her 10-year-old daughter when she heard people shouting.
But the flames were too intense for mother and daughter to flee by the main door. They escaped by climbing down a ladder placed against their kitchen window by firefighters.
'It was very hot, I could not breathe,' Madam Zainub recalled. SCDF paramedics took her to the hospital that night but she left at 8am yesterday even though doctors had asked her to stay.
Her health, it seemed, was not as much of a concern as cleaning up the damage the fire had caused. It destroyed her curtains and corridor window while the smoke blackened the walls.
Two television sets and a DVD player in the living room were also damaged.
A West Coast-Ayer Rajah Town Council spokesman said the town council would 'expedite' repairs to common areas of the block.
She said residents are reminded periodically to not dump their unwanted items in the common areas. Cleaning contractors are also told to remove garbage during their daily rounds.
There is also a free service to remove bulky household trash, she said.
All this did not satisfy Madam Zainub's 21-year-old son Sufiyan Jumali, who was not at home at the time of the incident.
He said he was upset and disappointed, especially because he had asked a cleaner to clear the heap of cupboards, cabinets and mattresses last week.
'A fireman asked me if the space at the lift landing was a room because of the amount of furniture there,' he said.
Mr Khoo added: 'I had been meaning to complain about the discarded furniture to the authorities, but I kept putting it off. Then the fire happened.'
According to the SCDF, 205 fires were set deliberately in the first half of this year, a slight decline from 2006.
Fires in residential buildings have also fallen by 27 cases, to 1,613, in the first half of this year.
However, fires involving rubbish - including Sunday's - have increased. They formed the bulk of residential fires.
Copyright © 2007 Singapore Press Holdings.
杜佛路组屋火患 电梯口杂物狂烧
早报 - 071210
杜佛路一座组屋昨天凌晨发生火患，大火狂烧被丢弃在电梯口的杂物，使滚滚浓烟弥漫整个走廊。居民受困屋内，必须等民防部队人员利用云梯救出。
这起火患在午夜时分发生，从杜佛路第4座组屋的3楼电梯口烧起。民防部队于12时20分接获通知，派出两辆消防车、一辆红犀牛轻型消防车、两辆消防电单车、两辆支援车和两辆救护车到现场施救。
民防部队人员在7分钟后抵达时，发现火势非常猛烈，走廊上的呛人浓烟也让屋内的居民无法逃出来。民防部队人员只好在组屋后架起云梯，让最靠近大火单位内的两名马来女子从厨房窗口逃生。
此外，由于大火导致电流中断，民防部队人员也得强行撬开两架电梯的门，把受困在内的一名马来男子和两名华族女子救出。
一名邱姓居民（69岁）受访时透露，自己原本关着门听收音机，根本不晓得有火患，直到停电后才到客厅打开门探个究竟，结果看到熊熊烈火在外头燃烧，冒出大量浓烟。
他说：“烟很呛，手电筒根本照不到前路，我只好走到厨房呼救。”他过后也由民防部队人员利用云梯救出。
尽管火势在10分钟内扑灭，为了安全起见，民防部队还是将2至7楼的住户疏散，事后有5人因吸入大量浓烟，被送往国大医院接受治疗。失火原因还在调查当中。
杜佛路一座组屋昨天凌晨发生火患，大火狂烧被丢弃在电梯口的杂物，使滚滚浓烟弥漫整个走廊。居民受困屋内，必须等民防部队人员利用云梯救出。
这起火患在午夜时分发生，从杜佛路第4座组屋的3楼电梯口烧起。民防部队于12时20分接获通知，派出两辆消防车、一辆红犀牛轻型消防车、两辆消防电单车、两辆支援车和两辆救护车到现场施救。
民防部队人员在7分钟后抵达时，发现火势非常猛烈，走廊上的呛人浓烟也让屋内的居民无法逃出来。民防部队人员只好在组屋后架起云梯，让最靠近大火单位内的两名马来女子从厨房窗口逃生。
此外，由于大火导致电流中断，民防部队人员也得强行撬开两架电梯的门，把受困在内的一名马来男子和两名华族女子救出。
一名邱姓居民（69岁）受访时透露，自己原本关着门听收音机，根本不晓得有火患，直到停电后才到客厅打开门探个究竟，结果看到熊熊烈火在外头燃烧，冒出大量浓烟。
他说：“烟很呛，手电筒根本照不到前路，我只好走到厨房呼救。”他过后也由民防部队人员利用云梯救出。
尽管火势在10分钟内扑灭，为了安全起见，民防部队还是将2至7楼的住户疏散，事后有5人因吸入大量浓烟，被送往国大医院接受治疗。失火原因还在调查当中。
Friday, December 7, 2007
Tanjong Pagar - Damaged mailbox and water ponding: Nothing done despite promises, promises, promises
Stomp
Posted on 07 Dec, 2007 10:20
Fitness instructor Gan said he sent feedback to his town council on two areas that needed attention at the start of the year. The year is almost over, and nothing has been done, he said.
"Beginning this year, I sent feedback to Tanjong Pagar Town Council," he said in an email this morning (Dec 7).
One was about a damaged returned mailbox and the other was a water ponding problem below a covered linkway between Block 62 and Block 63 of Commonwealth Drive.
"The officer replied to my mail, saying repair works will be carried out and works will be completed by end Jan 07 on the mailbox and Feb 07 on the water ponding problem.
"It is now December, and nothing has been done," he said.
The STOMPer said he sent feedback again on Oct 15 about the indiscriminate feeding of animals in his estate. He said he was told that a pest control operator would be engaged and signages advising residents not to feed the animals would be put up.
"All this did not materialise. So, do you think they deserve the 2.5 months bonus?" he asked.
"I am happy to learn that Singapore’s economy is doing very well and that all civil servants will be getting 2.5 months bonus.
"However, not everyone deserves this Special Bonus," he said.
STOMP is contacting Tanjong Pagar Town Council for comments.
Tuesday, December 4, 2007
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