http://www.businesstimes.com.sg/arch...-2013-20130610

Published June 10, 2013

One Connect for all private estates by end of 2013

The helpline for govt agencies will benefit 270,000 people: PA

By cai haoxiang


CALL me maybe, the People's Association (PA) is telling private-estate residents complaining about monkeys in their backyard, clogged drains or illegal parking.

A one-stop hotline service dubbed One Connect will be extended to all private estates by the end of the year, said PA chief executive director Ang Hak Seng yesterday.

One Connect aims to link residents up with relevant government agencies to solve estate issues to "improve the social well-being of the residents", Mr Ang said.

Residents just need to call one number instead of figuring out which government agency to call. The programme will benefit a total of 270,000 private-estate residents, whose numbers have grown from 200,000 a decade ago.

Each group representation constituency (GRC), together with their attached single-ward districts, will get a dedicated hotline. They include Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong's Ang Mo Kio GRC as well as opposition-held Aljunied GRC.

The programme was originally piloted at Ang Mo Kio GRC and Sengkang West ward in July 2009 to allow residents there to call just one number - instead of figuring out which government agency to contact - when dealing with estate issues.

Those living in Housing Board flats typically call their town council, but private-home owners usually have to call either the National Parks Board, the Land Transport Authority or the Singapore Land Authority to get trees pruned, depending on whose land the tree is on.

Last July, PM Lee officially launched the programme for his GRC. From then until March this year, it was extended to nine other GRCs. In that time period, there were 1,410 cases logged, with 90 per cent resolved.

Yesterday morning, One Connect was officially launched for Jurong GRC and Yuhua ward at Hoover Park, near Upper Bukit Timah Road. The 28,000 residents from 11,000 private households can call 9631 3116.

Given the proximity of some condominiums to the Bukit Timah Nature Reserve, residents have had trouble with roaming monkeys. A task force had been formed to tackle this.