As someone who is going to get married and buy a HDB flat (since
I cannot anything else) I was recently informed of this "fact" of
Singapore's public housing. In my 29 years of existence, this
little "fact" is a big shocker to me in today's Singapore; well, I
was informed by my oldie birdie friends in my neighborhood kopitiam
that all the Choice flats and Choice units in a HDB housing estate
is prioritized first and foremost for this group of people known as
Grassroots Leaders -- aka or also commonly known as the people who
do the dirty work for PAP MPs in each constituency -- remember how
the Nee Soon grassroot buggas cocked up in the last GE over the lor
zhu incident and almost cost the Minsta of State his seat until SM
had to go to a temple and negotiate like a true blue gangsta? Yep,
those people indeed. Anyway, back to my story: I gaped and said
"WTF???"
My guess is that there has to be some truth to this little fact
since it was confirmed by at least another 3 or 4 people. When
asked whether this kind of policy is logical, they shrugged their
shoulders in the very Singaporean style and said "like that lor?".
To pre-empt any Minsta from justifying by saying that these people
contribute tons to the constituency and break their Sundays
arranging the walkabouts for PAP MPs, my answer is "SO WHAT?" To be
a grassroots leader, you are VOLUNTEERING right? So why should this
act of volunteering be sweetened by these little "perks"? It's like
donating for NKF so that you can win the first prize condominium.
Where is equality and a free market for PUBLIC housing? If these
people are so important why doesn't HDB build one block right in
the middle of Toa Payoh Central and house them there? While you're
at it, paint the block white with a red lightning logo across the
building. These can be the first 10-room HDB flats to reward these
minions of the party.
If such a policy does indeed exist, it has to be removed. Simple as
that. For all the lucky ones getting Pinnacle @ Duxton, maybe you
should go find out who your top-floor neighbours are.
Bo Zheng Hu
18.06.04
www.thevoiddeck.org
