The chief of Workers’ Party (WP) Pritam Singh revealed in a Facebook post on Saturday (31 October) that residents find the transition between Town Councils at Sengkang GRC to be “seamless”.
Mr Singh said this after speaking to a resident during WP’s estate walk in a precinct in the Compassvale ward of Sengkang GRC on Saturday.
“I took the chance to speak to a cleaner after I parked my car at the Multi Storey Car Park (MSCP) and I was pleased to note that the transition between Town Councils was seamless for him,” said the Leader of the Opposition (LO).
Mr Singh noted that his fellow colleague, MP Raeeshah Khan, also received a number of good feedback from residents, which “she will take back and consider with the Sengkang Town Council (SKTC)”.
“TC management can be a steep learning curve and even more so if one isn’t on the ground, so I am particularly encouraged to see all my brother and sister WP MPs and members taking their ground outreach very seriously since the last election!” Mr Singh expressed.
He also encouraged residents to not hesitate to contact SKTC or reach out to Sengkang GRC MPs in person during their Meet-the-People sessions for any Town Council related matters.
Besides Ms Khan, other MPs who are representing the newly-formed Sengkang GRC include Jamus Lim, He Ting Ru and Louis Chua
Last week (28 October), the WP run SKTC officially took over the management of Sengkang Town.
“We pledge to faithfully discharge our duties to serve all residents of #SengkangGRC, and we look forward to working with you to make Sengkang Town a better home for all,” Sengkang GRC wrote in a Facebook post.
Sengkang GRC also revealed in a press statement that EM Services and CPG Facilities Management will work in collaboration in managing SKTC to “deliver the highest standards of estate management service to Sengkang residents”.
“With both managing agents continuing township management operations, residents of Sengkang GRC can look forward to a smooth handover, and continuity in the provision of township services at Sengkang Town,” the statement read.
The statement also noted that Buangkok, Compassvale and Rivervale wards – which are formerly part of Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC and Punggol East – will be managed by EM Services under Pasir Ris-Punggol Town Council (PRPTC).
Meanwhile, the Anchorvale ward – which is formerly under Sengkang West SMC – will be managed by CPG Facilities Management under Ang Mo Kio Town Council (AMKTC).
In Mr Singh’s latest post, he also announced that besides retaining the management agents for the area when it was under Pasir-Ris Punggol TC and Ang Mo Kio TC, the alternative party has also decided to maintain the same contractors in charge of conservancy, horticulture, pest control and other things as well.
The background
On 22 July, the Ministry of National Development (MND) revealed that the management of a lawsuit commenced by the Pasir Ris-Punggol Town Council (PRPTC) will be handed over to the SKTC as the former Punggol East SMC has become a part of Sengkang GRC, after the WP’s team won in the recent general election.
The lawsuit was initiated by PRPTC against WP chairman Sylvia Lim, former party chief Low Thia Khiang and six other defendants in the High Court. It came after the WP-run Aljunied-Hougang Town Council (AHTC) had taken the same defendants to court.
Initially, Punggol East was handled by AHTC from 2013 to 2015. However, in GE2015, the People’s Action Party (PAP) won back the constituency. In GE2020, the electoral boundaries were redrawn and Punggol East became part of Sengkang GRC.
PRPTC and the WP town councillors are appealing against a High Court decision which ruled, among other things, that Ms Lim and Mr Low had breached their fiduciary duties to the town council.
In response to the handover of lawsuit, the MP for Sengkang GRC He Ting Ru on 24 July said the SKTC will ensure that “all decisions taken in relation to the management of the ongoing lawsuit are fair, transparent and in accordance with the law”.
Earlier, The Straits Times reported that the appeal hearing involving AHTC has been postponed as the SKTC on 10 August had requested for a six-week adjournment to allow for “sufficient time” to consider its legal position on the case.
In the letter written by Ms He to the Supreme Court Registry, she said that the outcome of the appeal hearing and any judgment of the Court of Appeal “will bind SKTC and, therefore, ultimately affect the residents of Sengkang whose interests we must safeguard”.
“We consider it prudent to obtain legal advice relating to the steps SKTC ought to take (if any) including whether to file an application for intervention and if so, the legal position to take,” she added.
If that’s not all, SKTC also announced on 8 September that an Independent Panel was appointed to make all decisions relating to the pending appeals, involving PRPTC from various court decisions, which will be transferred to SKTC on 28 October this year.
The Independent Panel comprising of three distinguished persons, namely Mr Kenneth Tan Senior Counsel, Mr Lok Vi Ming Senior Counsel and Dr Kevin Tan, were appointed on 5 Sept under section 32(2) of the Town Councils Act.
