Crying foul

National Development Minister Mah Bow Tan said there are three criteria when selecting precincts for upgrading: How old the blocks were, where the blocks were — to ensure upgrading is not concentrated in a few constituencies — and support for the Government.

But the Opposition feels it is unfair to place its wards at the back of the upgrading queue.

"Mr Mah's main argument was that the PAP Government had to be fair to those who had voted for the PAP on its promise to upgrade PAP wards. But the bigger question on voters' minds is a very simple one — whether such a promise is a legitimate use of taxpayers' monies or not," said Ms Lim, who is chairman of the Workers' Party.

"Everybody pays taxes whether they live in PAP or Opposition wards. There are no tax rebates for those living in Opposition wards."