Re-poll possible for Tiong Bahru blocks where HIP voting failed

MP says he will make request to HDB if residents are strongly supportive

- Isabelle Liew

At Block 34 Kim Cheng Street, only two more votes were needed to pass the voting threshold for HIP upgrading to be carried out. The Home Improvement Programme was launched in 2007 to spruce up older housing estates and resolve common maintenance problems.

(ST PHOTO: SHINTARO TAY)

Residents in two Tiong Bahru HDB blocks could get a second chance to vote on whether they want to undergo the Home Improvement Programme (HIP) after a narrow miss in November, said Tanjong Pagar GRC MP Foo Cexiang.

Whether the re-poll takes place will depend on the level of support from residents, he told The Straits Times on Dec 4. Mr Foo added that he and grassroots volunteers will continue to reach out to households that did not vote or voted “no”, and address their concerns.

“If residents are strongly supportive, I will make the request to HDB to have the re-poll,” he said.

The two blocks — Block 34 Kim Cheng Street and Block 35 Lim Liak Street — had failed to garner enough votes to pass the 75 per cent threshold by a narrow margin of two votes and one, respectively.

They were among 29 blocks in the neighbourhood where residents voted in November on whether to carry out HIP improvements. Voting was successful for the other 27 blocks. All the blocks are four-storey, walk-up flats built in 1949 by Singapore Improvement Trust, the predecessor to HDB.