By MP for Hougang SMC, Png Eng Huat
[Delivered in Committee of Supply on 10 March 2015]
Sir,
The Home Improvement Programme (HIP) has evolved over the years and its scope of work has also been enhanced. It is certainly beneficial and economical for home owners to repair their ageing flats under HIP. As HIP is going to be ramped up, I urge the Ministry to look into two issues.
First, the scope of the repair work could be extended to cover some basic repair to the internal walls inside the flats especially the wall where the bin chute resides. It does not make sense for HIP workers to do spalling concrete repair to the ceiling of a flat and leave the same problem at the adjacent walls untouched. Alternatively, HDB could arrange for HIP contractors to offer such non-standard repair works at discounted prices for residents since the estate is undergoing HIP.
Second, the replacement of the pipe sockets with an imposing and clunky rack for clothes drying purpose needs a rethink. It is a sight to behold just looking at the new structure sticking out of each block of flats.
The design of the new rack will render repainting works by gondola difficult. It is also impossible for workers to do façade repair standing in a gondola suspended more than 2 meters away from the wall. I am not even sure if one can deploy a gondola safely with the racks sticking so far out of the flat.
I am of the opinion that HDB should relook into the design of the racks before it further deploys them island wide under HIP. Perhaps HDB could engage our Institutes of Higher Learning to come up with an alternative design to address the concerns highlighted earlier.