RESIDENTS' PERCEPTIONS OF THE SUCCESS OF THE MAIN UPGRADING PROGRAM

Abstract

The Ministry of National Development (MND) introduced the Main Upgrading Program in 1989 to refurbish older public housing flats in Singapore to ensure that standards of the older public housing estates in Singapore are compatible with the newer ones while maintaining and improving the community ties amongst the neighbors. The MUP was expected to cost $95 billion and affect 95% of the HDB residents. As such, this study attempts to examine the residents' perceptions on whether the MUP has achieved its objectives and evaluate their satisfaction of the upgraded items so that the resources could be allocated more effectively in the areas that are more important to the residents. Door-to-door interviews were conducted to gather the residents' opinions. The findings show that the majority of the residents find the MUP beneficial and are satisfied with their upgraded estates. In view of the findings, it is proposed that the HDB recognize the contractors who provide quality workmanship to the MUP and invest in programs to educate the residents on the importance of maintaining the quality of their upgraded estates to ensure the standard of these upgraded estates is sustained.