Letter to TOC: by Phillip Ang From: phillip ang Date: Mon, Feb 8, 2010 at 9:19 PM Subject: Town Councils – irresponsible to continue ignoring corridor clutter 20100208 To: mailto: mah_bow_tan@mnd.gov.sg Cc: lchertan@singnet.com.sg, Rosita_chow@prpg-tc.org.sg, news@newstoday.com.sg, stlocal@sph.com.sg, Teo_Ser_Luck@prpg-grc.sg, theonlinecitizen@gmail.com Dear Minister Mah Re: Town Councils irresponsible to continue ignoring corridor clutter (Please read the feedback in the Forum page of The Straits Times, “All but the kitchen sink” (Feb 6). I refer to my previous email which I had highlighted neglect by TCs on our common areas in HDB estates 2 I have lived in Pasir Ris for 10 years. Although TC Property Officers are out in the estate daily, they are indifferent to corridor clutter. Most of these objects have been placed along corridors for years, some since 10 years ago. (attitudes of POs must be similar in all HDB estates as no GM of any TCs able to claim otherwise) 3 If my TC were serious, thousands of warning letters would need to be written. Its reluctance is therefore understandable. But should TCs be allowed to continue its neglect? 4 For decades, the relevant authorities have not been able to convince tens of thousands of inconsiderate HDB residents not to treat the corridor as a storeroom or laundry room. Year after year, corridor clutter has continued to contribute to fire statistics. Its a huge waste of resources to deploy the SCDF in such cases. 5 As professional estate managers, TCs have never been , and will likely never be, held responsible despite the fact that they are aware but have chosen not to take action. Blame is, as usual, heaped on residents. 6 The incredible number of objects invisible to TC POs for years speaks volume of the indifference of TCs. Again I offer the example of Senior PO, Mr Yong, who is in charge of my block and other nearby blocks. I have taken the trouble to include some photos which I hope will convince the MND the need to change TCs’ irresponsible behavior. These are just some of the objects invisible to Mr Yong. a Thousands of corridors have been turned into personal laundry rooms which are potential fire hazards. b thousands have been converted to storerooms c many are a combination of both 7 Corridor clutter forms part of the 644 cases of fire in common areas in 2009. Is it possible that all the members of the Estates Committee have been sleeping on the job? Suggestions a Property Officers be required to inspect corridors on a regular basis. b Managers should conduct random checks on their subordinates as well as familiarise themselves with their respective estates. c Action must be taken on recalcitrant residents after ample warnings have been given. Conclusion TCs have to acknowledge this problem and not allow it to fester any longer. Common areas are not to be treated as storerooms or laundry rooms. Silence from the estate manager means consent to convert common areas into personal ones. Which is what tens of thousands of residents have done. The dilemma as to which objects are to be allowed along common corridors needs an answer, not procrastination. Unlike private estate managers, no one seems to be accountable in this case. Thank you. Regards Phillip Ang PS I am afraid it is simply not possible to give feedback to an officer who did not take my feedback seriously. TCs have contributed to many problems because of a totally HANDS-OFF approach by Property Officers. Are by laws only for knowledge? Share this on Facebook Tweet This! Subscribe to the comments for this post? Blog this on Blogger Share this on Technorati Share this on del.icio.us Post this to MySpace Digg this! Share this on Linkedin Add this to Google Bookmarks Related posts:20 years of town councils – yet no stake in governance for residents Town councils’ funds – Teo Ho Pin responds KPIs should motivate Town Councils to serve better