Showing posts with label Aljunied. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Aljunied. Show all posts
Friday, June 6, 2008
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Aljunied Town Council - Taking the easy way out?
http://theonlinecitizen.com/2008/05/07/aljunied-town-council-taking-the-easy-way-out/
Aljunied Town Council - Taking the easy way out?
Posted by theonlinecitizen on May 7, 2008
Leong Sze Hian & Andrew Loh
All 14 town councils run by the People’s Action Party (PAP) will not be increasing their Service and Conservancy (S&C) charges this year.
- Channel NewsAsia, “PAP town councils to freeze S&C charges this year” (February 28, 2008)
Barely two and a half months later, on May 5 2008, this is what ‘officials’ at the PAP-run Aljunied Town Council (TC) said:
Officials also said they will consider raising the conservancy charges for the dirtiest precincts to cover the extra work that goes into maintaining them …
- “Aljunied trash index aims to wipe out litterbugs.” (Straits Times, May 5, 2008)
The Finance Minister had called for all town councils to freeze their fees during the recent Budget debate in Parliament when he announced the extension of a one-year freeze on fee increases for government-provided services till the end of 2008.
And indeed, as the Channel NewsAsia report said, all 14 PAP TCs declared that they will not increase S&CC for 2008.
However, it seems that PAP town councils, and Aljunied GRC TC in particular, are already looking for ways to increase S&C charges next year – Aljunied TC citing “hardcore litterbugs” in the “dirtiest precincts” as its reason for doing so.
With inflation hitting 26-year highs, isn’t this proposed increase in fees for “the dirtiest precincts” a breach of the PAP town councils’ promise to Singaporeans?
Aljunied GRC Town Council
The fact of the matter is that Aljunied TC, along with all PAP-run TCs, have enough funds to address the “hardcore litterbugs” problem. (Read here for TOC’s earlier article on town councils’ funds.)
According to Aljunied Town Council’s Annual Reports, it had $84 million in its Sinking Fund, an increase of 5 per cent over it’s $80 million in 2005/2006.
Its accumulated surpluses as at 31 March 2007 was $5 million.
Its funds invested with fund managers was $44 million, an increase of about 33 per cent over the $30 million in 2005/2006.
In an earlier article, TOC reported:
According to the Straits Times’ report of March 25, 2006, “The gathering storm”:
Taking into account all the grants from the Government, the Aljunied Town Council, for example, gets $560 per household for the financial year ending March 2005.
The grants include funds from the Community Improvement Projects Committee (CIPC), which is controlled by the Ministry of National Development.
In contrast, government grants came up to just $113 per household in Potong Pasir.
In another report on the same day, “Hougang’s Low may be ‘heart’ to beat”, the Straits Times reported:
Government grants came up to about $111 per household in Hougang in 2004-05. By contrast, neighbouring Aljunied Town Council, which has access to funds such as the government-controlled Community Improvement Projects Committee (CIPC), got $560 per household for the same period.
One therefore will have to question why the Aljunied Town Council charges more for S&CC than Potong Pasir and Hougang, across the board – from 2 rooms to executive flats – when the Aljunied TC is getting more government grants than the two opposition wards.
In one instant, a one-roomer’s S&CC in Aljunied Crescent rose from $3.50 to $18.50 from 1994 to 2005 – an increase of about 428 per cent.
Raising fees, penalties, legal cost, jail, lose your home!
Instead of charging more, how about reducing S & CC for the cleaner precincts instead?
Instead of using penalties almost all the time, how about incentives to motivate people, for a change?
By the way, we understand that if you couldn’t pay your S & CC, the penalty used to be just 50 cents or a dollar or so.
Now, we believe it is 2 per cent per month of the amount owed or a fixed penalty of a few dollars, whichever is the higher.
2 per cent is the highest charge for all financial transactions allowed in Singapore, and only credit cards charge such a high rate.
If you can’t pay your S & CC, you are slapped with penalties. If you still can’t pay, you get a legal letter for which you have to pay the legal cost. As it’s a standard letter for which thousands are sent every month, why charge $20 as the legal fee for such a letter?
If you still can’t pay, you are charged in court, and slapped with a fine.
Well, here’s the paradox - if you can’t pay for your S & CC, how can you afford to pay the fine?
If you can’t pay the fine, you may end up in jail.
By the way, how many people in Singapore have been to jail?
The Town Council Act also empowers the Town Council to sell your HDB flat to recover unpaid S & CC.
A billion dollars in funds, yet…
In the spirit of keeping one’s promise, this new idea to increase S & CC should be nipped in the bud, before we waste anymore of taxpayers’ money and time to figure out how to implement it.
Perhaps our MPs may have rather short memories, as the promise was made just about 2 months ago.
By the way, with more than a billion dollars in PAP town councils’ sinking funds, as well as operating surpluses – does Aljunied Town Council still need to charge more “to cover the extra work that goes into maintaining them”, as officials at the TC claimed?
It is high time that PAP-run Town Councils stop taking the easy way out.
Read also:
Aljunied Town Council and a matter of principle by Mr Wang.
More and more enigmatic by Melvin Tan.
Aljunied Town Council - Taking the easy way out?
Posted by theonlinecitizen on May 7, 2008
Leong Sze Hian & Andrew Loh
All 14 town councils run by the People’s Action Party (PAP) will not be increasing their Service and Conservancy (S&C) charges this year.
- Channel NewsAsia, “PAP town councils to freeze S&C charges this year” (February 28, 2008)
Barely two and a half months later, on May 5 2008, this is what ‘officials’ at the PAP-run Aljunied Town Council (TC) said:
Officials also said they will consider raising the conservancy charges for the dirtiest precincts to cover the extra work that goes into maintaining them …
- “Aljunied trash index aims to wipe out litterbugs.” (Straits Times, May 5, 2008)
The Finance Minister had called for all town councils to freeze their fees during the recent Budget debate in Parliament when he announced the extension of a one-year freeze on fee increases for government-provided services till the end of 2008.
And indeed, as the Channel NewsAsia report said, all 14 PAP TCs declared that they will not increase S&CC for 2008.
However, it seems that PAP town councils, and Aljunied GRC TC in particular, are already looking for ways to increase S&C charges next year – Aljunied TC citing “hardcore litterbugs” in the “dirtiest precincts” as its reason for doing so.
With inflation hitting 26-year highs, isn’t this proposed increase in fees for “the dirtiest precincts” a breach of the PAP town councils’ promise to Singaporeans?
Aljunied GRC Town Council
The fact of the matter is that Aljunied TC, along with all PAP-run TCs, have enough funds to address the “hardcore litterbugs” problem. (Read here for TOC’s earlier article on town councils’ funds.)
According to Aljunied Town Council’s Annual Reports, it had $84 million in its Sinking Fund, an increase of 5 per cent over it’s $80 million in 2005/2006.
Its accumulated surpluses as at 31 March 2007 was $5 million.
Its funds invested with fund managers was $44 million, an increase of about 33 per cent over the $30 million in 2005/2006.
In an earlier article, TOC reported:
According to the Straits Times’ report of March 25, 2006, “The gathering storm”:
Taking into account all the grants from the Government, the Aljunied Town Council, for example, gets $560 per household for the financial year ending March 2005.
The grants include funds from the Community Improvement Projects Committee (CIPC), which is controlled by the Ministry of National Development.
In contrast, government grants came up to just $113 per household in Potong Pasir.
In another report on the same day, “Hougang’s Low may be ‘heart’ to beat”, the Straits Times reported:
Government grants came up to about $111 per household in Hougang in 2004-05. By contrast, neighbouring Aljunied Town Council, which has access to funds such as the government-controlled Community Improvement Projects Committee (CIPC), got $560 per household for the same period.
One therefore will have to question why the Aljunied Town Council charges more for S&CC than Potong Pasir and Hougang, across the board – from 2 rooms to executive flats – when the Aljunied TC is getting more government grants than the two opposition wards.
In one instant, a one-roomer’s S&CC in Aljunied Crescent rose from $3.50 to $18.50 from 1994 to 2005 – an increase of about 428 per cent.
Raising fees, penalties, legal cost, jail, lose your home!
Instead of charging more, how about reducing S & CC for the cleaner precincts instead?
Instead of using penalties almost all the time, how about incentives to motivate people, for a change?
By the way, we understand that if you couldn’t pay your S & CC, the penalty used to be just 50 cents or a dollar or so.
Now, we believe it is 2 per cent per month of the amount owed or a fixed penalty of a few dollars, whichever is the higher.
2 per cent is the highest charge for all financial transactions allowed in Singapore, and only credit cards charge such a high rate.
If you can’t pay your S & CC, you are slapped with penalties. If you still can’t pay, you get a legal letter for which you have to pay the legal cost. As it’s a standard letter for which thousands are sent every month, why charge $20 as the legal fee for such a letter?
If you still can’t pay, you are charged in court, and slapped with a fine.
Well, here’s the paradox - if you can’t pay for your S & CC, how can you afford to pay the fine?
If you can’t pay the fine, you may end up in jail.
By the way, how many people in Singapore have been to jail?
The Town Council Act also empowers the Town Council to sell your HDB flat to recover unpaid S & CC.
A billion dollars in funds, yet…
In the spirit of keeping one’s promise, this new idea to increase S & CC should be nipped in the bud, before we waste anymore of taxpayers’ money and time to figure out how to implement it.
Perhaps our MPs may have rather short memories, as the promise was made just about 2 months ago.
By the way, with more than a billion dollars in PAP town councils’ sinking funds, as well as operating surpluses – does Aljunied Town Council still need to charge more “to cover the extra work that goes into maintaining them”, as officials at the TC claimed?
It is high time that PAP-run Town Councils stop taking the easy way out.
Read also:
Aljunied Town Council and a matter of principle by Mr Wang.
More and more enigmatic by Melvin Tan.
Sunday, May 4, 2008
Wednesday, January 2, 2008
Friday, November 23, 2007
Aljunied - Light is on day and night. Who's paying?
http://singaporeseen.stomp.com.sg/viewPost6705.aspx
Posted on 19 Nov, 2007
STOMPer Zul says this light along the covered walkway near Block 126, Bedok Reservoir Road has been switched on day and night for about four weeks.
"Who is going to pay the bill?" the STOMPer asked in an email today (19 Nov).
"Four weeks. 24/7. It has been even from morning till night...about 28 days already," the STOMPer said.
The STOMPer also said some of the light bulbs along the covered walkway are showing signs of wear and tear, and are "going to drop".STOMP has contacted Aljunied Town Council for comments and is waiting for a reply.
http://singaporeseen.stomp.com.sg/viewPost.aspx?error=true&tid=6754
A defective timer was one of the causes for which the lights at Block 126 Bedok Reservoir were left switched on, while as the accidental switching on of a bypass switch was the other.
This was the explanation given by the Aljunied Town Council officers, in response to a STOMPer’s post about how he saw the lights at the block left switched on for four weeks, even in the day.
Said the Town Council, in their email to STOMP:
“Our property officer has verified that on 1 November, Emergency Maintenance Service Unit (EMSU) received feedback that the lights were not working. This was due to a defective timer . The bypass switch was temporarily switched on to provide lighting for the linkway. We have subsequently replaced the defective timer.
“On 5 November, the lights were fused, and the ESMU arrived and made the necessary replacements. The lights were then lit up with the timer. We believe the bypass switch may have accidentally been switched on. This has also been rectified.
“Residents can be assured that our officers will closely monitor the lights to ensure the timer is in good working order.
“We wish to thank STOMPER Zul for the feedback.”
Friday, November 9, 2007
Aljunied - Why is this drain so dirty?
This Urban Jungle Posted on 15 May, 2007
http://singaporeseen.stomp.com.sg/viewPost2981.aspx
William Lim, 47, was appalled that the drain behind Aljunied MRT station was dirty and clogged up with rubbish.The production manager was on Geylang Lorong 25A, near the roundabout behind Aljunied MRT station where cars drop off and pick up passengers, yesterday evening (14 May).He was there with a friend at about 5pm to 6pm when he noticed the drain.He told STOMP, “It looked like the drain was not cleared for a long time. The water is stagnant, and there were newspapers and rubbish in there.”“I am so shocked that there is this kind of drain in Singapore.”
Posted on 18 May, 2007
PUB to step up cleaning of drain after posting
http://singaporeseen.stomp.com.sg/viewPost3017.aspx
The Public Utilities Board plans to step up on the cleaning of a drain behind Aljunied MRT station on Geylang Lorong 25A, and might even consider covering it up to prevent litter from clogging it. The national water agency said that it already cleans the drain three times a week, after production manager William Lim wrote into STOMP about the terrible condition of the drain. He took a picture of the clogged up drain that was filled with rubbish and contained stagnant water and told STOMP that he was rather shocked that there was such a drain in Singapore. PUB has taken over the maintenance of Singapore drains from the National Environment Agency, from April this year. PUB director of Catchment and Waterways, Tan Nguan Sen is appealing to the public to help keep drains and canals in Singapore, as they are linked to reservoirs and channel rainwater there as a source of drinking water.“ We welcome the public to give us any feedback at 1800 2846600,” he said.
http://singaporeseen.stomp.com.sg/viewPost2981.aspx
William Lim, 47, was appalled that the drain behind Aljunied MRT station was dirty and clogged up with rubbish.The production manager was on Geylang Lorong 25A, near the roundabout behind Aljunied MRT station where cars drop off and pick up passengers, yesterday evening (14 May).He was there with a friend at about 5pm to 6pm when he noticed the drain.He told STOMP, “It looked like the drain was not cleared for a long time. The water is stagnant, and there were newspapers and rubbish in there.”“I am so shocked that there is this kind of drain in Singapore.”
Posted on 18 May, 2007
PUB to step up cleaning of drain after posting
http://singaporeseen.stomp.com.sg/viewPost3017.aspx
The Public Utilities Board plans to step up on the cleaning of a drain behind Aljunied MRT station on Geylang Lorong 25A, and might even consider covering it up to prevent litter from clogging it. The national water agency said that it already cleans the drain three times a week, after production manager William Lim wrote into STOMP about the terrible condition of the drain. He took a picture of the clogged up drain that was filled with rubbish and contained stagnant water and told STOMP that he was rather shocked that there was such a drain in Singapore. PUB has taken over the maintenance of Singapore drains from the National Environment Agency, from April this year. PUB director of Catchment and Waterways, Tan Nguan Sen is appealing to the public to help keep drains and canals in Singapore, as they are linked to reservoirs and channel rainwater there as a source of drinking water.“ We welcome the public to give us any feedback at 1800 2846600,” he said.
Aljunied - Stone table and chairs removed
"Solve" the old folks playing cards at the void deck problem by removing the stone table and chairs.
http://www.mrbrown.com/blog/2007/09/stone-seats-2-t.html
So the Aljunied Town Council has replaced a stone table and 5 stone seats because of gambling activities with these "elderly friendly benches". Er, 2 seats don't make a bench, people.
And how is this an improvement over 5 seats and a table? And how much more accessible are these seats compared to the old round stone ones?
Oh, the traces of the former stone tables and seats have been cemented over too. So nice of them to cover those up.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mr-brown/1383906187/
This is classic Town Council bozo thinking. Apparently, some old folks play cards here at Block 128 Lorong Ah Soo, and in order to "solve" this gambling problem, the stone table and seats, which have been there for years, were ripped up.Now the whole block is inconvenienced. A grandfather told my dad that he has effectively lost his place to sit to wait for the school bus with his grandchildren.Why not rip up the floor too, in case some old folks gamble standing up?
Letter to a resident who wrote in to ask:
RE: Stone Table and Stools at Blk 128 Lorong Ah Soo
Thank you for your e-mail to Mr Yeo Guat Kwang.
We have received complaints of gambling activities at this stone table and stools . These complaints were brought to the attention of the Police for their investigation and follow up.
On our part, we have a programme to phase out the stone table and stools with more elderly friendly benches under our Barrier Free Accessibility Project. Residents can look forward to use the new benches when they are installed by the end of the week.
RegardsAljunied Town Council
http://www.mrbrown.com/blog/2007/09/stone-seats-2-t.html
So the Aljunied Town Council has replaced a stone table and 5 stone seats because of gambling activities with these "elderly friendly benches". Er, 2 seats don't make a bench, people.
And how is this an improvement over 5 seats and a table? And how much more accessible are these seats compared to the old round stone ones?
Oh, the traces of the former stone tables and seats have been cemented over too. So nice of them to cover those up.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mr-brown/1383906187/
This is classic Town Council bozo thinking. Apparently, some old folks play cards here at Block 128 Lorong Ah Soo, and in order to "solve" this gambling problem, the stone table and seats, which have been there for years, were ripped up.Now the whole block is inconvenienced. A grandfather told my dad that he has effectively lost his place to sit to wait for the school bus with his grandchildren.Why not rip up the floor too, in case some old folks gamble standing up?
Letter to a resident who wrote in to ask:
RE: Stone Table and Stools at Blk 128 Lorong Ah Soo
Thank you for your e-mail to Mr Yeo Guat Kwang.
We have received complaints of gambling activities at this stone table and stools . These complaints were brought to the attention of the Police for their investigation and follow up.
On our part, we have a programme to phase out the stone table and stools with more elderly friendly benches under our Barrier Free Accessibility Project. Residents can look forward to use the new benches when they are installed by the end of the week.
RegardsAljunied Town Council
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