to me
Jun 13
Thank you for your email.
We are currently looking into it and will reply at the soonest possible. If you have any other questions, please call our SERS Enquiry Line from Mondays to Fridays (8.00 am to 5.00 pm) at 1800-8663070. You can also continue to email us at hdbsers@hdb.gov.sg if you have any further enquiries.
PROJECTS & DEVELOPMENT SECTION
ESTATE ADMIN & PROPERTY DEPT
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Robert HO
Date: Jun 13, 2007 4:31 PM
Subject: Fwd: Why no enbloc sale for HDB blocks to private developers?
To: hdbsers@hdb.gov.sg
Your Ref
Our Ref : 454-45-01-0053
Date : 11 Jun2007
TEL : 64903816
FAX : 64903811
EMAIL : hdbsers@hdb.gov.sg
Mr Robert Ho
28 Bukit Batok St 52
#20-03
Singapore 659248
Dear Mr Ho
ENQUIRY ON EN BLOC SALE FOR HDB BLOCKS
We refer to your e-mail of 25 May 2007.
Unlike owners of private residential properties, HDB flat lessees do not own the land on which their flats are built, the car park and common areas [a]. Hence, they are not in a position to conduct an en bloc sale [b]. Moreover, they are not allowed under the Housing & Development Act to sell their flats to a body corporate [c].
HDB sold flats identified for the Selective En bloc Redevelopment Scheme (SERS) are acquired under the Land Acquisition Act [d] . SERS is part of the Government's Estates Renewal Strategy to rejuvenate old estates and improve the living environment of the residents there. In addition to market compensation [e] for the existing flats, it offers the residents involved a unique opportunity to upgrade to new and better flats nearby at subsidised prices [f]. The residents can thus remain close to their familiar surroundings and preserve the strong community ties built over the years.
For more information on the benefits of SERS, please refer to our infoWEB at www.hdb.gov.sg or the SERS information package given to your mother-in-law when her flat was announced for SERS in Feb 2003 [g].
Yours sincerely
[signed]
LAU KIM HUANG (MS)
SENIOR EXECUTIVE ESTATES OFFICER
EN BLOC REDEVELOPMENT UNIT
PROJECTS & DEVELOPMENT SECTION
ESTATE ADMIN & PROPERTY DEPARTMENT
1. Dear Ms LAU Kim Huang, I have MANY issues with your reply [forgive me if I seem stupid or untutored in the ways of bureaucracy, so please humour me and reply to each and every of my points, which I have marked as [a] to [g].
2. In [a], you wrote that "HDB flat lessees do not own the land on which their flats are built, the car park and common areas" and therefore [b] "Hence, they are not in a position to conduct an en bloc sale". I find this totally illogical. You are of course, right to state [a] BUT YOU CONVENIENTLY FORGET THAT THE HDB DOES NOT OWN ALL THE FLATS IN THE BLOCK EITHER. SO YOUR CONCLUSION [b] APPLIES TO THE HDB AS MUCH OR EVEN MORE, SINCE THE FLATS IN THE BLOCK ARE WORTH FAR MORE THAN THE LITTLE COMMON AREAS.
3. So what gives HDB [cite the laws, etc] the right to buy all these flats AT ITS OWN DETERMINED PRICES so as to sell enbloc to private developers for humongous profits? Why can't the flat owners, who have even more rights than the HDB [since they own all the flats and not just the common areas] BUY THE COMMON AREAS FROM THE HDB, THEN SELL ENBLOC TO PRIVATE DEVELOPERS FOR HUMONGOUS PROFITS? You tell me.
4. In [c], you wrote "Moreover, they are not allowed under the Housing & Development Act to sell their flats to a body corporate". I will be content to just ask you for the chapter and verse of the Act that says so explicitly. I don't think there is anything in the Act that supports your contention. I don't think ENBLOC SALES are covered at all, these whether by the HDB or by the flat owners. So I await your reply.
5. In [d], you wrote "HDB sold flats identified for the Selective En bloc Redevelopment Scheme (SERS) are acquired under the Land Acquisition Act". Again, I don't believe that the Land Acquisition Act mentions enbloc sales since the Act was drafted and legislated long before enbloc sales were even thought of. If I remember correctly, the Land Acquisition Act dealt with acquiring land and buildings for such things as road widening, maybe even for the developing of HDB estates, BUT ENBLOC SALES ARE A NEW PHENOMENON AND UNMENTIONED IN THE ACT. So please quote me the chapter and verse that allows you to acquire enbloc my mother in law's block.
6. Against your mention of the Land Acquisition Act, I can cite the general property laws which give owners of property the legal and unobstructed rights to enjoy their properties without being forced to sell. I can also cite the general rights of ownership of properties but suffice it to say that generally, if you have paid for a property, whether it be a car or a radio, you have the legal rights to enjoy that property without someone, not even the government or the HDB, being allowed to restrict that right. Subject, of course, to your not breaking some other laws while enjoying those rights. Thus, citing the Land Acquisition Act is not enough because firstly, the Act does not cover enbloc sales and secondly, the laws on property and ownership give us unobstructed rights to enjoy our properties without arbitrary restrictions, and certainly do not condone forcing us to sell that property/properties.
7. In [e], you wrote "In addition to market compensation [e] for the existing flats", to which I also have a query. Although I did not discuss these things with my mother in law, who is 79 and illiterate, I gather that her compensation for selling her flat back to the HDB is a new similar 3-room flat plus S$30,000 cash. Now, we all know that the HDB sells brand new flats that are so unfinished that one cannot move in to live and must spend quite a few thousands to renovate the floor so as to have a tiled floor, plastered and painted walls, electricity points, even interior doors, etc, and for a 3-room flat, THESE RENOVATIONS COME TO TYPICALLY, S$30,000. So some genius in the HDB came up with what you call "market compensation" that is just about the amount needed to renovate the flat to a state fit for human habitation. No more, no less.
8. Thus, the HDB's offer of a new 3-room flat plus S$30,000 seems to be, not so much "market compensation" as THE LEAST THE POOR OLD FLATOWNERS OF BLOCK 29 WILL AGREE TO! I am curious. How did the geniuses of HDB arrive at S$30,000? Why not S$50,000? Why not $70,000? Thus, the whole affair stinks of cheating the old folks of Block 29 and not so much "market compensation".
9. In [f], you wrote "to upgrade to new and better flats nearby at subsidised prices [f]", I also have an issue, too. We all know the euphemism "subsidised" as used by the HDB. Most Singaporeans now know that the HDB pays only about S$30,000 to its contractors for building each typical 4-room flat but then sells it to us for about S$250,000. And worse, hides these obscene monopoly profits using dubious accounting practices so it never appears as profits in the Annual Report and accounts. So whether the HDB calls it 'market subsidy' or 'subsidy', etc, we all know these are lies. If you insist that my mother in law is enjoying a "subsidised" new flat, well, you can continue to lie but we all know better. Question: what if my mother in law and some others REFUSE TO SELL? Most of the flatowners in Block 29 are very old folks who have no interest in having a new flat 2 kilometres away from their current familiar surroundings, where they have friends in each other and nearby blocks, the shops and wet market are only a few minutes' walk away and everything is comfortably familiar with the soothing hand of time. What if they refuse to move? What would you do? What CAN you do?
10. In [g], you wrote "For more information", well, this seems to be a standard closing paragraph to government letters. I don't think I will find any answers in the said places. Instead, I will wait for your replies to each and every one of my points. By the way, please reply by email rather than snailmail as you have done. I can still digitise any snailmail and disseminate it, so please reply to this email. There are many issues raised and many important principles to be established and all 85% of Singaporeans living in HDB flats will want to know what your replies will be. For example, how do you choose which blocks to SER? My mother in law's block is only a few minutes' drive to the city and so will fetch a humongous price when sold to a condo developer. In fact, the old blocks opposite her block were also cleared and turned into condos, at huge profits to the HDB. Thus, SERS serves to ring up huge profits rather than any noble aim of moving aged folks to better surroundings. I await your detailed, point by point, replies.
Robert HO
28 Bukit Batok St 52
#20-03
Singapore 659248
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Robert HO
Date: Jun 12, 2007 1:45 PM
Subject: Fwd: Why no enbloc sale for HDB blocks to private developers?
To: HEA06/EAPD/HDB/SG < HEA06/EAPD/HDB/SG@hdb.gov.sg>
1. Thank you for acknowledging my email to HDB. I am glad it is receiving attention. But it has been quite some time since my email to you on the 25 May 07. Why no reply still? Is it being studied at all or trashed? Will I get a reply?
2. The issue is one of great legal and monetary significance since it involves millions of dollars for an enbloc sale of a block and the question as to who should get the monies, HDB or the owners of the flats/block. Since 85% of Singaporeans live in HDB flats, this impacts everybody and the principle that will emerge from your reply to me will impact everybody in Singapore, since sooner or later, the HDB flat owners will be involved in being moved out to make way for redevelopment, etc.
3. My curiosity was prompted by the fact that some years ago, the residents of the HDB blocks opposite my mother in law's Block 29 were also moved out and the vacated land sold to private developers to build condos, netting the HDB humongous profits. Thus, I believe that my mother in law's Block 29 will also be redeveloped into condos, at equally huge profits. Question is, WHO SHOULD GET THE PROFITS OR SHOULD IT BE SHARED BETWEEN HDB AND THE FLAT OWNERS?
4. Just in case you are unfamiliar with the location, I attach a url of the Block 29 in question :
http://www.streetdirectory.com/asia_travel/travel/travel_id_3436/travel_site_11735/
Robert HO
28 Bukit Batok St 52
$20-03
Singapore 659248
RE : Why no enbloc sale for HDB blocks to private developers?
HEA06/EAPD/HDB/SG < HEA06/EAPD/HDB/SG@hdb.gov.sg>
Thank you for using our email enquiry service.
We have received your email. We will look into it and give you a reply as soon as possible.
In the meantime, if you have any general queries, you may call our Sales/Resale Customer Service Line on: 1800 866 3066 on weekdays from 8am to 5pm.
We are glad to be of service to you.
CUSTOMER SERVICES CENTRE
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Robert HO < robert.ic019@gmail.com>
Date: May 25, 2007 1:21 PM
Subject: Why no enbloc sale for HDB blocks to private developers?
To: hdbsales@hdb.gov.sg
1. My mother in law lives in Block 29, Havelock Road, which is scheduled to be demolished, probably to be sold to a private developer to develop condo/s, at humongous profits for the HDB.
2. I am curious.
3. Since my mother in law has paid off her instalments, like everybody in Block 29, she and everybody else OWN THEIR FLATS AND THE BLOCK.
4. SO WHY AREN'T ALL THESE OWNERS ALLOWED TO SELL OFF ENBLOC TO A PRIVATE DEVELOPER/S LIKE IN PRIVATE BLOCKS? AND MAKE THE PROFITS INSTEAD OF THE HDB?
5. UNDER WHAT LAWS, HDB RULES, ORIGINAL PURCHASING AGREEMENTS, ETC, DOES MY MOTHER IN LAW AND ALL THE OTHERS IN THE BLOCK HAVE TO SELL BACK TO THE HDB, AT A PRICE DETERMINED BY THE HDB, WHILE THE HDB THEN SELLS OFF THE LAND AT HUGE PROFITS TO DEVELOPERS?
6. Please cite the relevant laws or HDB rules, etc, that allow the HDB to do this.
7. Thank you. I am curious and await your reply.
Robert HO
28 Bukit Batok St 52
$20-03
Singapore 659248
--
RH: MY ACQUAINTANCE, A FORMER POLICE INSPECTOR, AND HIS LAWYER FRIEND, EYEWITNESSED LEE KUAN YEW RIGGING THE 1997 CHENG SAN GRC ELECTION. READ MORE AT MY BLOG ENTITLED "I CAME, I SAW, I SOLVED IT" :
http://i-came-i-saw-i-solved-it.blogspot.com/
[ALSO AT THE ABOVE BLOG, LIE KUAN YEW's LIES, WRONGFUL JAILING, TORTURE AND BEATING TO DEATH OF INNOCENT POLITICAL PRISONERS]
READ ALSO MARTYN SEE's INTERVIEW WITH ME AT:
http://singaporerebel.blogspot.com/
MY ARCHIVE OF WORKS AT:
http://i-came-i-saw-i-wrote-it.blogspot.com/
