AN OVERVIEW OF DELAY IN THE PRIVATIZATION OF SHUNFU HUDC ESTATE
(Notes: to facilitate reading, summaries of related events and activities are listed in chronological order and as far as possible, written in point forms)
1.0 Objectives
1.1 To provide an overview of delay in the privatization of Shunfu HUDC estate; and
1.2 To infer a logical solution to expedite the process of legal privatization.
2.0 Consent for the Application for Subsidiary Strata Certificate of Title (SSCT)
2.1 Mar 1 & 2, 2008: Mass signing exercise for privatization. Prior to and during the signing exercise, residents were informed that they would have to pay about $30,000 for the purchase of common properties, legal fee, etc. after the completion of legal privatization; and that the cost for the construction of fencing along the estate boundary would be from the sinking fund.
2.2 Apr 2008: Attainment of slightly more than the required 75% of votes for privatization.
Subsequently, the duly signed consent forms were submitted to HDB by the appointed solicitor, Tan & Au LLP.
3.0 Confirmation of Successful Mandate Exercise for Privatization
3.1 Aug 15, 2008: HDB confirmed that lessees of 278 flats (77.65%) out of 358 flats had given their support for the privatization; and that the estimated time frame for the estate to be legally privatized was 1.5 to 2 years, subject to completion of the privatization works.
4.0 Block Party cum MP Dialogue Session
4.1 Aug 30, 2008: A Block Party cum MP (Mr Hri Kumar) dialogue session for all residents was held.
5.0 Delay in Legal Completion of Privatization
5.1 Apr 3, 2009: HDB finalized the work schedule ( Time Lines – Privatization Process for Shunfu HUDC Estate) in which the legal completion of privatization was scheduled for 3Q 2010. Copies of the work schedule were posted on all the notice boards of the estate.
Subsequently, the legal completion time frame was postponed several times. The latest 2 targeted legal completion time frames were 2Q 2011 (optimistic) and 3Q 2011 (pessimistic). Based on the original target (3Q 2010), the delay is already 1 year.
6.0 Causes of Delay
6.1 Sep 15, 2009: A boundary inspection was conducted and attended by members of Protem Committee for Privatization of Shunfu HUDC Estate (PC), officials of Bishan Toa Payoh TC, Surbana and HDB. Two main findings were: i) 3 houses of Thomson Garden estate encroached slightly on the Shunfu land and ii) Staircase and footpath from Shunfu Road up to House No 43 Jalan Isnin (lot 2260L) were on Shunfu land.
Subsequently, the late Chairman of PC, Mr Philip Liau, had requested the MP (Mr Hri Kumar) to inform Thomson Garden residents that fencing of Shunfu HUDC estate would be constructed along its boundary after its legal privatization. On the other hand, HDB had taken up with the landowners at No 72 Jalan Isnin, No 50 Jalan Chegar and No 63 Jalan Hari Raya to rectify their encroachments.
7.0 Solution
7.1 Oct 14, 2010: HDB replied to the solicitor of Shunfu HUDC estate as follows:
“A decision has finally been reached recently. Basically, the decision is that the boundary of Shunfu HUDC estate will not exclude the footpath/staircase. Also, there is no need for Shunfu HUDC estate to allow the Thomson Garden residents continued use of the footpath/staircase. Hence, there is no need for HDB to address the possible solution, legal implication, etc stated in your letter of 5 Jul 2010”
PC noted that the above decision was made after several meetings among the interested parties, including the MP (Mr Hri Kumar), Tan & Au LLP, officials of HDB, Bishan Toa Payoh TC, representatives of Thomson Garden NC and PC.
7.2 Feb 24, 2011: HDB informed that the encroachments by 2 landowners had been rectified. Reminder had been sent to the remaining landowner to rectify a small portion of his chain link fencing. (rectification was completed subsequently)
8.0 Review of HDB Decision Stated in Para 7.1 above
8.1 Mar 8, 2011: A meeting with the MP (Mr Hri Kumar) who informed PC that: i) HDB was looking into the feasibility of compensating Shunfu HUDC estate with a piece of adjacent land of the same size as that to be given up by the estate for the use of the footpath. He also envisaged that the study would be completed in mid 2011 and would not cause further delay in the progress of privatization and ii) if the study confirms that it is infeasible for land swapping, the Protem Committee can proceed with the construction of fencing and decide at its discretion, whether the footpath shall be closed.
8.2 Aug 18, 2011: PC noted at the meeting with HDB & Bishan Toa Payoh TC and Tan & Au LLP that land swapping would incur extra cost and delay further the legal completion of privatization. It had proposed therefore, that HDB should abort the idea of land swapping and adopt item ii as stated in Para 8.1 above.
9.0 Proposal
In view of the fact that it has been a lapse of more than 3 years since HDB’s confirmation of successful mandate exercise for privatization, many residents are very unhappy about the situation. PC has requested to meet up with the new Adviser, Ms Josephine Teo, to seek her help to expedite the legal privatization process.
Protem Committee for Privatization of Shunfu HUDC Estate
Sep 9, 2011