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SINGAPORE – The authorities will study the voting process for the Home Improvement Programme (HIP), after <\/p>\n two HDB blocks in Tiong Bahru narrowly missed the voting threshold in November<\/p>\n <\/a>.<\/p>\n Responding to a question on whether the authorities are planning to review the HIP voting threshold, National Development Minister Chee Hong Tat said on Jan 8 that the authorities will need to strike a balance between upgrading older flats and respecting the decisions of flat owners.<\/p>\n He noted that blocks with fewer units may face challenges in meeting the 75 per cent voting threshold to proceed with the upgrading programme.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat\u2019s the best way to design the voting process so that we are able to achieve a good outcome,\u201d Mr Chee said to reporters on the sidelines of <\/p>\n a visit to ParkEdge @ Bidadari<\/p>\n <\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cMND (Ministry of National Development) and HDB will take a look at this. We will also consult the stakeholders on what is a better way to manage this process.\u201d<\/p>\n The two blocks \u2013 Block 34 Kim Cheng Street and Block 35 Lim Liak Street \u2013 had failed to garner enough votes to pass the 75 per cent threshold by a narrow margin of two votes and one, respectively. Block 34 comprises 24 units, while Block 35 has 15 units.<\/p>\n They were among 29 blocks in the neighbourhood where residents voted on whether to carry out HIP improvements. Voting was successful for the other 27 blocks. <\/p>\n All the blocks are four-storey, walk-up flats built in 1949 by Singapore Improvement Trust, the predecessor to HDB.<\/p>\n