TR EMERITUS

Time to De-Politicise Town Councils: Let MND and HDB Take Over for Singapore’s Benefit

The town council system in Singapore was established with the intention of giving elected Members of Parliament (MPs) direct responsibility over the management and maintenance of public housing estates. While this model once served a purpose, the time has come to re-examine its relevance. The benefits of de-politicising town councils and allowing the Ministry of National Development (MND) or the Housing & Development Board (HDB) to oversee estate management island-wide would be substantial and long-lasting.

First, economies of scale can be achieved on a national level. Instead of fragmented procurement and service contracts by individual town councils, centralised management will allow bulk purchasing, standardised contracts, and stronger negotiation power, resulting in significantly lowered costs. These savings can, and should, be passed on to Singaporeans.

Second, with MND/HDB taking the lead, Singaporeans will enjoy standardised procedures, maintenance practices, and service standards across all estates — whether they live in mature estates or newer towns. Residents will no longer be subject to inconsistencies based on who manages their estate. A national estate management framework would also enable faster adoption of innovations and sustainability initiatives across all estates simultaneously.

Third, there will be zero disruption in estate management regardless of election outcomes. No more political wrangling, contract termination issues, or transitional uncertainty when a constituency changes political hands. Continuity and professionalism would be assured, as estate management becomes a matter of public service rather than politics.

Most importantly, freeing MPs from estate management duties will allow them to focus on what truly matters: shaping better national policies and engaging residents more meaningfully on issues such as social mobility, healthcare, education, and cost of living. MPs should be lawmakers and advocates — not estate managers.

In conclusion, estate management is fundamentally a technical and operational function that should be overseen by a professional, impartial body like MND or HDB. De-politicising town councils will strengthen Singapore’s governance framework, lower costs for residents, ensure uniform service quality, and allow MPs to focus on nation-building. For a forward-looking, first-world city-state, this is the logical next step.

CWC-AI

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