This is all misdirection. While I would like to believe that the government is sincerely looking for public contribution, in all likelyhood, the fate of the KTM land has already been decided. Come 2013, a suitably sombre faced Mr Tan Chuan-Jin would call a press conference and announce that due to the demand for housing, all calls for a green corridor and nature areas will have to be subordinated in favour of greater 'national' priorities.
The amazing thing is that at the point of announcement, the URA will have all plans for development of the KTM lands already finalised. You would think that with calls for suggestions supposedly open UNTIL 2013, they would need time to SERIOUSLY consider all alternatives before doing so. The truth of the matter is, the land is already being divided into plots NOW by the URA. All that is left to do is to release it for tendering by property developers. After all the next general election is in 2016, exactly 3 years from 2013 and is the time needed for flats to be balloted and built.
And so, what could have been a precious resource and legacy for future Singaporeans will be sacrificed on the altar of political gains and expediency. So much for all the claims about not being populist. Back in October, it was reported that the authorities had given the go-ahead for Queenstown to convert a part of the KTM railway land into playgrounds and fitness parks because existing facilities
are being demolished to make way for carparks.
KTM land is a resource for ALL Singaporeans and this decision to allow Queenstown residents to jump queue so to speak, on a matter still open for discussion is a violation of our collective rights. Is there any doubt that the authorities are trying to curry favour by appearing super responsive to Queenstown residents? Doubtless also, MP Chia Shi-Lu will be pencilling this into his diary to bring up for mention during hustings for the next election.
And so, Singaporeans are being treated yet again to a 'wayang' show where they are seemingly being asked for input on what type of cake they want when the cake they will be getting anyway is already baking in the oven. And apparently for our benefit!
Remember the tembusu tree in the Botanic Gardens with the low lying branch that appears on the back of the $5 dollar note? And a subject in many Singaporeans photo snaps? That branch would never have stood a chance if it grew up today. It would have been pruned for 'safety'. And this is where the KTM land stands today. Its potential lies in the future provided it is given a chance to survive, but already the buzzsaws are being revved in the background and backrooms of the URA.
Remember also the fiasco of renaming Marina Bay to Marina Bay? At a cost of $400 000 to the taxpayer? In that case, the external agency engaged was professional enough and had balls enough to suggest that the existing name was fine as it is and thank you very much for the money. I mean, they could easily have pulled a random name out of a hat and recommend it, but to their credit, they didn't. And so, it is with the KTM land. Perhaps the best suggestion is to do NOTHING. Just leave it alone. It is fine enough as it is.
PM Lee highlighted during his National Days' speech, a newly minted architect's design to add buzz to the KTM land. Doubtless, we can also expect many suggestions to improve Leonardo Da Vinci's Mona Lisa or Michelangelo's statue of David when students of SOTA or LaSalle-Sia are asked for their input. (Not one will have the brains or guts to say that the masterpieces are fine as they are.)
PM Lee would probably also not find it above himself to suggest that the austere Zen gardens of Japan could be improved with added buzz and maybe a F&B outlet or two. I'm sure the Abbot of Ryoan-ji would be all ears. I leave you to decide on the value of such suggestions.
