ST Letters : En bloc issue raises many questions

20 Feb 2011,
En bloc issue raises many questions

I felt sad on reading the special report on those who sold their apartments en bloc ('For better or for worse'; Feb6).

As expected, there were positive and negative stories. This is to be expected in any collective sale, when not all agree to the deal.

Nevertheless, the issue again raises many questions. For example:

· What is a home? To some, it is not just a house but a place where one can put down roots and bond with one's neighbours, or where one was brought up.

· Does money matter so much that financial gains become more important than everything else?

· Does the right of those who support the sales rank higher than the right of those who do not want to make the change? Should an 80per cent level of consent be the deciding figure? Should it be 100per cent?

· Is Singapore so land-scarce that we need so many collective sales?

· Do such sales improve the quality of life in Singapore?

· Government-built HUDC housing allows people to have a good home at an affordable price. Why do we allow this to be taken away from some people?

My view is that collective sales have created part of the liquidity problem as well as the housing problem here.

People should have the right to remain in their homes until the buildings are no longer suitable to live in.

Ang Miah Boon