Heartache..

Maybe most of you have not noticed. There was this piece of news announced last Thursday. Well, it concerns me more than you guys, quite obviously. Cos it concerns the Hougang area. The piece of news is that HDB is gonna tear down a cluster of HDB blocks just a stone's throw away from mine..

It is where I usually go for my haircuts; it is where there's yummy breakfast to look forward to on weekends; there's where I can find a hawker centre that's still intact, devoid of all the new colourful chairs and tables, nice but easily dirtied tiled floors, and most importantly, it's where the food prices have very much remained lower than other hawkers..

But of course, my personal sentimental attachment counts for nothing cos the small plot of land is so important. It is so important that the HDB has its eyes zoomed in on it. The bulldozers should move in sooner rather than later. Well, it IS important. Because, it is where the 'real Hougang' is; it is where the biggest opposition party, Worker's Party, is the most active; it is where the bulk of the votes for Worker's Party come from; it is where the MP for Hougang and leader of WP is the most respected and adored. In short, it is the heartbeat of Worker's Party. So, it is important.

I'm still a bit shocked to think that, by next August, I can no longer have my haircut at my favourite barber shop.. The many workshops there. The hawker. And a very lucky 4D shop that never fail to make the list of "Lucky Stores" whenever there's a Toto Million Dollar draw. Many things will be gone..

Mr Eric Low, the PAP man in Hougang SMC said something like, the kampong spirit will be gone, but it's for the residents will be able to live a better life. Let me just ask this question, who are you to say it's better for them? Well, a lot of this people living in that part of Hougang are aged people, who have nothing much, but neighbours who are also their closest friends. If they lose those friends, can it definitely be better lives for them? Not everything should be measured in a very materialistic manner. Having a better-conditioned living area, DOES NOT mean one will have a better LIFE. get it? Now, I think I understand why Eric Low lost in the GE last year.. And by a bigger margin than in GE 2001.

It is really sad. When people around you do not treasure heritage. The 34 year old blocks are certainly some sort of a heritage to me! I just love those buildings.

I went for live firing that day in our Live Firing Area in the west. And I managed to go onto a hill and had a great view of the Live Firing Area. One of my men was standing beside me. And I said, "Damn nice right?!" He replied, "Ya, but damn wasted." My jaws dropped.

Me: What is damn wasted?!
Him: (sensing my annoyance) Er..
Me: You mean this piece of forest left intact is a waste to you?
Him: ya, they could have build something and put it to better use.
(I smacked my forehead, I was speechless)
Me: 2 points. First, if we don't save this piece of land, the SAF will not have anymore training areas! Second, if this piece of land is gonna be gone, you and my children will not know what a "forest" look like...
Him: Ya, true.

But somehow, I think he just accepts my point of view, but isn't totally convinced. I won't go to the extent of saying I'm an environmentalist or what. Maybe I'm just an antagonist. But if that's what a lot of our people's mindset are, then the advertisement now constantly playing on TV about saving the Earth, fronted by 4 teenagers, is just plain bull.