SDA candidate wants to set up a residents cooperative for a hawker centre

Singapore Democratic Alliance (SDA) candidate for Punggol East, Mr Desmond Lim, wants to set up a residents' cooperative to build a hawker centre. 

Mr Lim said he intends to invite interested parties to invest in a joint-venture with the residents. 

He said such programmes can't be funded by the town council. 

However, he said that his five-year plan for the ward can be funded by the town council as it has the operating and sinking funds. 

He added that his five-year plan was announced during the General Election in 2011 and it includes building a hawker centre, bicycle tracks, childcare centres and coffee corners. 

Mr Lim, who continued on the campaign trail with block visits at Rivervale Crescent on Thursday, said he has about 100 volunteers to help him in his by-election bid. 

These young people, who're between 18 and 21 years old, were recruited by his grassroots team as part of his community involvement project. 

"They are volunteers but then to be fair, to be fair any volunteer they will incur transportation costs and food and therefore it's fair for the party give them a token as appreciation. It's very minor, very nominal and we're not going to disclose the amount."