Singapore - The sealing off of air vents along the corridors of nine housing blocks has raised the ire of residents who were not consulted and are unhappy about less light and air entering their government flats, news reports said Monday.

The Housing Development Board said the move was aimed at preventing fires from spreading. Fifteen more blocks have been earmarked for the change.

Elderly residents told The Straits Times that they fear shouts for help would go unheard.

"If we die inside, nobody will know," 69-year-old Ee Mai Lan was quoted as saying, noting that even the smell of a decomposing corpse would go undetected.

Benny Yeo, 75, said he has been unable to stay indoors without turning on his fan, resulting in an increase in his electric bill since the vents were sealed last month.

Residents were upset that they had not been consulted in advance.

A fire in August 2007, which killed one resident and injured several others, spread from one unit to another through the vents, the civil defence force said.

Providing energy-efficient lights or fans for those who had counted on the vents letting in light and air is an option, said parliamentarian Josephine Teo.

The board said it understood some people were used to the vents, but "the safety of our residents is of paramount importance." (dpa)