Sunday, November 2, 2008

Is this true or only hearsay?

From: Bo Zheng HuTo: Singapore Review18 June 2004www.thevoiddeck.orgGuess Who Gets Top Floor @ Pinnacle Duxton?As someone who is going to get married and buy a HDB flat (since Icannot anything else) I was recently informed of this "fact" ofSingapore's public housing. In my 29 years of existence, thislittle "fact" is a big shocker to me in today's Singapore; well, Iwas informed by my oldie birdie friends in my neighborhood kopitiamthat all the Choice flats and Choice units in a HDB housing estate isprioritized first and foremost for this group of people known asGrassroots Leaders -- aka or also commonly known as the people who dothe dirty work for PAP MPs in each constituency -- remember how theNee Soon grassroot buggas cocked up in the last GE over the lor zhuincident and almost cost the Minsta of State his seat until SM had togo to a temple and negotiate like a true blue gangsta? Yep, thosepeople 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 sinceit was confirmed by at least another 3 or 4 people. When askedwhether this kind of policy is logical, they shrugged their shouldersin the very Singaporean style and said "like that lor?". To pre-emptany Minsta from justifying by saying that these people contributetons to the constituency and break their Sundays arranging thewalkabouts for PAP MPs, my answer is "SO WHAT?" To be a grassrootsleader, you are VOLUNTEERING right? So why should this act ofvolunteering be sweetened by these little "perks"? It's like donatingfor NKF so that you can win the first prize condominium. Where isequality and a free market for PUBLIC housing? If these people are soimportant why doesn't HDB build one block right in the middle of ToaPayoh Central and house them there? While you're at it, paint theblock white with a red lightning logo across the building. These canbe 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 asthat. For all the lucky ones getting Pinnacle @ Duxton, maybe youshould go find out who your top-floor neighbours are.Bo Zheng Hu18.06.04www.thevoiddeck.org

No comments: