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Candidates spar over upgrading

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The $24 million upgrading plans announced by former Bukit Batok MP David Ong last year have been in the works for some time, said Mr Murali Pillai, the People's Action Party's candidate for the May 7 by-election in the constituency.

"There are a number of projects that have been fully executed, a number of projects which are still ongoing and a number of projects in the pipeline," he said.

Mr Murali was addressing queries by Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) candidate Chee Soon Juan on updates for the plans mentioned during the 2015 General Election.

Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of an evening walkabout yesterday, Mr Murali said: "I would invite SDP to walk around the estate and to look at the improvements that have been made since."

CLARIFIED

He also clarified that a $1.9 million Neighbourhood Renewal Project (NRP) fund unveiled by him was "part and parcel of what was estimated" in the $24 million plans by Mr Ong.

In response, Dr Chee said Mr Murali's clarification "comes across as an after-thought".

He questioned why the $1.9 million project had been mentioned without referring to the $24 million plans.

The plan proposed by Mr Ong last year included a hawker centre, a childcare centre and an eldercare centre.

Dr Chee, who spoke to reporters shortly after Mr Murali's doorstop interview,assured residents that projects proposed by Mr Ong would be given "No. 1 priority" by the town council formed by the SDP if he were elected.

- Tan Tam Mei and Linette Heng

Bukit BatokelectionMURALI PILLAIChee Soon Juan