WP defends lucky draw for upgrading poll

It was aimed at getting more to vote, says Aljunied-Hougang Town Council

By Tessa Wong, The Straits Times, 5 Oct 2012

THE Aljunied-Hougang Town Council has defended its handling of a recent upgrading poll and a follow-up lucky draw after coming under criticism over the two.

Some netizens had lambasted the Workers' Party-run town council after it told Eunos Spring residents that those who voted for the Neighbourhood Renewal Programme (NRP) would be automatically included in a lucky draw.

Critics said this meant that the ballot was not secret and that the draw was unfair.

Yesterday, however, the town council explained that the lucky draw was held to get more people to vote and that the ballot was never meant to be secret.

A report of such polling exercises is usually submitted to the Housing Board detailing the number of votes for and against, it said.

"The NRP voting is a consensus-gathering exercise and not a secret ballot, a practice that is common to all town councils in Singapore," it added.

Most residents appeared to be unconcerned over the controversy, saying it mattered little so long as they got their upgrading.

Under the NRP, a government-funded programme that outfits estates with drop-off porches, covered linkways and residents' corners, at least 75 per cent of residents must support a project before it can be carried out.

The flap had started earlier this week when a copy of a letter from Aljunied GRC MP Pritam Singh to residents in Eunos Spring began circulating online.

It said that 79 per cent of the 2,768 households affected had voted for the NRP in a poll done in August and invited them to a reception featuring a lucky draw.

It added: "All residents who voted 'yes' in the NRP polling exercise are automatically included in this draw."

This line quickly drew fire from some netizens, who asked why the ballot was not secret and why those who did not vote for the NRP were being left out of the lucky draw.

It had offered prizes such as a TV set, iPad and household appliances.

Dog trainer Ang Peng Huat, 50, had voted for the upgrading, but was against the lucky draw.

"Those who said no to upgrading should not be treated differently," he said. "I also don't agree with them using the lucky draw to encourage us to vote 'yes' - it's a little like buying votes."

But the town council yesterday explained that the lucky draw was "part of a larger strategy to address the lacklustre interest in the original polling exercise in April last year and to encourage residents to come out and cast their votes in favour of upgrading".

In the previous poll, done before the WP won Aljunied GRC from the People's Action Party, less than 50 per cent voted for the NRP.

So the town council, working with grassroots and HDB officials, reworked the design of some of the facilities and amenities based on feedback, distributed booklets on the project and sent staff knocking on doors to encourage residents to vote "yes". In the end, 79 per cent backed the NRP.

Many Eunos Spring residents interviewed yesterday said they did not vote last year because they were not even aware they could. But with the increased publicity this time round, more turned up to vote.

Most residents interviewed, however, dismissed the issues being raised online as minor, including some who voted "no".

"These are just small things," said Mr David Yong, 53, a driver who wanted the NRP.

Pointing to a worn-out looking playground, he said: "Things here are getting so old.

"I just care that my estate is getting upgraded."