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I WISH to thank Dr Fung Suk Yin for the letter 'Silat Road's 50-year-old HDB flats forgotten?' (ST, May 18).

I have been discussing the development and upgrading plans of these low-rise walk-up flats with the HDB for sometime. The solution is not easy. As Dr Fung has pointed out, the installation of lifts for these old low-rise flats is not economically viable. It is prohibitively expensive. They are even more expensive to maintain.

Another solution suggested by Patrick Tan's letter 'Raze flats where lift upgrade not practical' (ST, May 15) brings on visions of resettlement and relocation. Most of the residents in Silat have been there for decades. Their roots in the community are long and deep. They do not welcome resettlement outside the area.

Notwithstanding these problems, I shall work with the HDB to overcome these issues and offer some solutions to the plight of senior citizens who need lifts in these low-rise Silat flats.

Koo Tsai Kee
MP for Tanjong Pagar GRC