LTA bullies and evicting home owners...
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sue lor sue lor... if...wahahhahahaOriginally posted by the Bear:thing is.. how long has the circle line been under construction?
they knew the whole building would have to go LONG ago.. yet did nothing until now...
if i were the residents there, i'd sue the LTA for incompetence.. -
1st thing 1st...Originally posted by Profounder:Have said many times over that LTA is the worst stat board in the history of SIngapore, staffed by 3rd class engineering and army idiots (red: Yam Ah Mee) who are there to collect fat pay cheques and headed by the ultimate bozo and piece of crap called Yeo Cheow Tong.
It has squandered millions of public money through the endless list of mistakes including:
1. aborted satellite tracking system
2. aborted 1st phase of bus stop upgrading
3. nicoll highway collapse
4. setting overly strict standards for private buses which want to compete with SBS for feeder routes
5. falsely thinking there will be competition between MRT and SBS hence leading to high cost of NEL
6. not mandating recordable security cameras initially resulting in SMRT now having to change all its cameras
7. endless road diggings all over singapore causing jams and inconvenience
8. bad locations of some NEL stations resulting in white elephants at Bidahari and Buang Kok and causing dissatisfaction among public
NOW ELECTIONS ARE COMING. IF YOU ARE UNDER YEO CHEOW TONG'S WARD, YOU SHOULD VOTE THAT CHIEF IDIOT OUT.
Satellite system... Unless you are borned perfect, you have the right to criticise... So you are perfect?
Next, false compeition leading to high cost... The issue now comes, if SMRT were to operate, the NEL frequency would have been 12 mins during off peak instead of 6-7 mins. Anyway, the loss is not that high like last yr..
In 1987, was there recordable cameras?
White elephant? If that's the case, then Sembawang, Admiralty, Yew Tee would have been white elephant when WDL Extn came in 1996 -
I don't even know why I bother to reply to this kind of trash.Originally posted by sbst275:1st thing 1st...
Satellite system... Unless you are borned perfect, you have the right to criticise... So you are perfect?
Next, false compeition leading to high cost... The issue now comes, if SMRT were to operate, the NEL frequency would have been 12 mins during off peak instead of 6-7 mins. Anyway, the loss is not that high like last yr..
In 1987, was there recordable cameras?
White elephant? If that's the case, then Sembawang, Admiralty, Yew Tee would have been white elephant when WDL Extn came in 1996
Please read the original post before you decide to open that hole on your face that resembles a mouth. -
Yeo Cheow Tong is a "No" man:Originally posted by durai:Billybong, LTA is managed by Yeo Cheow Tong. What can we expect from Mr. Yes Man?
Recently saw a website on him. Might be interesting for you to take a look. It's www.yeocheowtong.com.
1. NO air rights for budget airlines to Indonesia...
2. NO compensation for residents living in backyard near Paya Lebar
3. NO proper factfind and research before and during the digging at Nicoll Highway
4. NO resignation despite all the mistakes LTA has made under his charge
5. NO private feeder bus services against SBS.
Let's make it a "NO Yeo Cheow Tong" this coming election. We need to wallop these high ranking assholes who think they can sit there and waste taxpayers' money just because they are protected by the PAP who thinks they own the soul of every Singaporean. -
It all sounds peachy...if you get a chance to vote that is.Originally posted by Profounder:Yeo Cheow Tong is a "No" man:
1. NO air rights for budget airlines to Indonesia...
2. NO compensation for residents living in backyard near Paya Lebar
3. NO proper factfind and research before and during the digging at Nicoll Highway
4. NO resignation despite all the mistakes LTA has made under his charge
5. NO private feeder bus services against SBS.
Let's make it a "NO Yeo Cheow Tong" this coming election. We need to wallop these high ranking assholes who think they can sit there and waste taxpayers' money just because they are protected by the PAP who thinks they own the soul of every Singaporean.
Best bet is to lobby for WP's latest GRC team to challenge YCT's constituency...they may offer the best fight in years and guarantee you won't end up with defamation suits flying around.
All they have to do is appeal to high and non-transparent ministerial pay, YCT's hiccups (list is long and plenty) and lack of transparency by gahmen on public expenditure, citing NKF issue as an eg.
That will garner significant support. -
Will Hong Kah GRC be contested this time round? Another GRC that is spoiling for a fight is Holland-BPJ. We have poor bus connections in BPJ town and also the upgrading fiasco in Holland V. Certainly a recipe for electoral disaster.
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I'm sure he isn't born perfect. But then he isn't paid hundreds of thousands per year.Originally posted by sbst275:Satellite system... Unless you are borned perfect, you have the right to criticise... So you are perfect?
Next, false compeition leading to high cost... The issue now comes, if SMRT were to operate, the NEL frequency would have been 12 mins during off peak instead of 6-7 mins. Anyway, the loss is not that high like last yr..
Re competition, i think whatever benefits that have arisen can be acheived even if SMRT were to operate both. Eg. By setting up a NEL division within SMRT. In this way, they can acheive economies of scale, and still compete on customer service. Maybe SMRT is not able to handle both lines dues to financial constraints, etc. But that is best decided by SMRT.
No matter how you cut it, to prevent SMRT from applying to run NEL on the basis of competition smacks of incompetence and shows a poor understanding of the theory of competition.
A while ago, someone offered me the following reason for LRT's decision; that because Temasek Holdings has a substantial stake in SMRT, the govt didn't want to hurt SMRT's profits, and hence temasek holding, and that the govt will allow SMRT to run both lines in the future, when the start up costs have more or less been absorbed. I am somewhat persuaded by that argument, but i have to admit that i do not know much about the way Temasek holdings is run, etc. . Perhaps someone here can confirm if that argument makes sense. -
If SMRT had the subway monopoly, Tibs Holdings would still exist today. Maybe the latter would be in better shape, who knows.Originally posted by lwflee:I'm sure he isn't born perfect. But then he isn't paid hundreds of thousands per year.
Re competition, i think whatever benefits that have arisen can be acheived even if SMRT were to operate both. Eg. By setting up a NEL division within SMRT. In this way, they can acheive economies of scale, and still compete on customer service. Maybe SMRT is not able to handle both lines dues to financial constraints, etc. But that is best decided by SMRT.
No matter how you cut it, to prevent SMRT from applying to run NEL on the basis of competition smacks of incompetence and shows a poor understanding of the theory of competition.
A while ago, someone offered me the following reason for LRT's decision; that because Temasek Holdings has a substantial stake in SMRT, the govt didn't want to hurt SMRT's profits, and hence temasek holding, and that the govt will allow SMRT to run both lines in the future, when the start up costs have more or less been absorbed. I don't know whether that makes sense. Perhaps someone here can enlighten me. -
business that rent the place are not getting any compensation. wtf
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1) The timing was too quick, too much of a last-minute process and obviously just too adrupt and rude. Bad, bad, bad. First impression will not be good.Originally posted by crazy monkey:Aug 12, 2005
Property owners shocked at short quit notice
By Tan Hui Yee
OWNERS of homes and businesses who have been given one month to vacate their five-storey Hock Kee House in Paya Lebar Road were shocked when they were told the news last night.
After a 90-minute meeting with the Land Transport Authority (LTA) at Geylang Serai Community Club, many said they need time to digest the news that their apartments and business premises were slated for demolition.
One owner of a business unit, who declined to be named, said: 'We knew it was going to be bad news, but we had to come.'
The letters, dated Aug 8, said only that the meeting was about the Circle MRT Line works near their property.
When the 24 property owners and their representatives who turned up found out, they were unhappy that they had been given only one month to move out.
The buffet spread of noodles, vegetables and fruit outside the meeting room did little to soothe frayed tempers.
One doctor who runs his practice there, Dr S.Y. Cheok, told The Straits Times: '(The time given) is just too short. It happened so suddenly.'
It's the second blow to his 40-year-old practice, which has already seen patient numbers drop by 40 per cent since last year because of the Circle Line works nearby.
An apartment owner, Madam Ek Kim Chai, was at a loss what to tell her tenants, who still have about one year left on their lease.
'I hope the Government can help us compensate our tenants, since we'd have to break our contracts with them,' said the 60-year-old retiree. 'It's just too fast.'
Each owner will be given an ex gratia payment of up to $100,000 per unit on top of compensation, which will be determined by valuers.
The LTA's deputy chief executive, Mr Low Tien Sio, told the media last night the Government will also take into account the individual needs of owners when determining their compensation.
'We'll try our very best to help them,' he said.
2) Compensation not adequate enough to compensate for their losses and also the compensation the tenants have to pay for cancelling the lease- and not just that.
3) 1 month window for moving out is just too short and too little for those who have to leave.
In other words, the lack of proper PR, proper candor between the LTA civil servants and the tenants has led to the current situation. I think LTA needs to wake up. It's not the first time they have stepped on ordinary people's toes for their own selfish intentions. -
if they go Istana, will Nathan help them ?Originally posted by timothytsgsg:1) The timing was too quick, too much of a last-minute process and obviously just too adrupt and rude. Bad, bad, bad. First impression will not be good.
2) Compensation not adequate enough to compensate for their losses and also the compensation the tenants have to pay for cancelling the lease- and not just that.
3) 1 month window for moving out is just too short and too little for those who have to leave.
In other words, the lack of proper PR, proper candor between the LTA civil servants and the tenants has led to the current situation. I think LTA needs to wake up. It's not the first time they have stepped on ordinary people's toes for their own selfish intentions. -
Nathan is too busy consulting PAP on what he should and should not do as a president unlike Ong Teng Cheong who we all know didn't get a Presidential funeral not for reason of bad planning.Originally posted by crazy monkey:if they go Istana, will Nathan help them ? -
SINGAPORE : The Singapore Land Authority has worked out a compensation package of about $17 million to owners of the 35 units at Hock Kee House in Paya Lebar.
On Thursday, the owners were informed of the compensation under the Land Acquisition Act, which SLA says is pegged to the current market value.
But some owners say the amount offered to them is up to 40 percent less than the valuation by their private valuers.
Since the government informed owners of Hock Kee House of the need to move a month ago, eight have already done so.
Another 24 units have indicated that they will move out before October 3 deadline.
The SLA said it had taken into account reports by the state valuer, as well as submissions by owners in working out the compensation package.
The statutory compensation is over and above the $3.2 million Special Assistance Financial Package by the Land Transport Authority.
There is also an ex-gratia payment for those who may suffer some hardship because of the acquisition at short-notice.
Simon Ong, Director of Land Resource Business at SLA, said: "The principle of payment for this ex-gratia is hardship. By hardship, we looked at individuals' special conditions. Such as their medical conditions, their mortgage status and so on."
The ex-gratia payment is on a case-by-case basis, so not every owner will get it.
But that is not the only reason owners of Hock Kee House are upset.
Of the 35 owners, 26 say they are not satisfied with the compensation amount they have been offered.
Tan Oon Fei, house owner at Hock Kee House, said: "The compensation given by SLA today is $300K. But according to my valuer, the report was $522,000. The difference is so wide! With this $300K given by SLA, I cannot even buy a same unit as mine!
"If you want to be fair, you need to compensate me with market value. Compensate with an amount which I can buy on the market value. But this is not the case!"
Ng Chee Lye, Coffeeshop owner at Hock Kee House, said: "They pay me only $1 million. My valuer valued at $1.56 million. So I am in the loss, so even in the open market, I cannot buy a coffeeshop which has around 3,000 square feet!
"Also, we claim for the ex-gratia - it is not given to me. They just give me the valuation of one million dollars."
The owners have up to September 29 to lodge an appeal (with the Appeals Board). - CNA/de -
Is it surprising that LTA will place a take-it-or-leave-it offer on the table and expect the shopowners to bite?Originally posted by crazy monkey:SINGAPORE : The Singapore Land Authority has worked out a compensation package of about $17 million to owners of the 35 units at Hock Kee House in Paya Lebar.
On Thursday, the owners were informed of the compensation under the Land Acquisition Act, which SLA says is pegged to the current market value.
But some owners say the amount offered to them is up to 40 percent less than the valuation by their private valuers.
Since the government informed owners of Hock Kee House of the need to move a month ago, eight have already done so.
Another 24 units have indicated that they will move out before October 3 deadline.
The SLA said it had taken into account reports by the state valuer, as well as submissions by owners in working out the compensation package.
The statutory compensation is over and above the $3.2 million Special Assistance Financial Package by the Land Transport Authority.
There is also an ex-gratia payment for those who may suffer some hardship because of the acquisition at short-notice.
Simon Ong, Director of Land Resource Business at SLA, said: "The principle of payment for this ex-gratia is hardship. By hardship, we looked at individuals' special conditions. Such as their medical conditions, their mortgage status and so on."
The ex-gratia payment is on a case-by-case basis, so not every owner will get it.
But that is not the only reason owners of Hock Kee House are upset.
Of the 35 owners, 26 say they are not satisfied with the compensation amount they have been offered.
Tan Oon Fei, house owner at Hock Kee House, said: "The compensation given by SLA today is $300K. But according to my valuer, the report was $522,000. The difference is so wide! With this $300K given by SLA, I cannot even buy a same unit as mine!
"If you want to be fair, you need to compensate me with market value. Compensate with an amount which I can buy on the market value. But this is not the case!"
Ng Chee Lye, Coffeeshop owner at Hock Kee House, said: "They pay me only $1 million. My valuer valued at $1.56 million. So I am in the loss, so even in the open market, I cannot buy a coffeeshop which has around 3,000 square feet!
"Also, we claim for the ex-gratia - it is not given to me. They just give me the valuation of one million dollars."
The owners have up to September 29 to lodge an appeal (with the Appeals Board). - CNA/de
It is obvious that LTA, facing heavy liquidated damages from their circle line contractor, will drive a hard (and somewhat unethical) bargain to drive their operating costs down.
Not only did they fail to provide ex-gratia compensation, they refused to acknowledge the market price, prefering to quote from their own valuation of the site.
With all the fiascos dodging LTA at the moment, perhaps they might consider replacing their PR head with someone akin to ex-SIA chief Dr Cheong. Evidently, there is zero diplomatic skills at work here. -
Sigh... Valuations are subjective to a certain extent. What is a fair value is often debated not only informally but also in the courts. Just an example, pick up the phone now and call a few bankers. Tell them that you want to re finance your house but do not know the value. They will come back to you with differing values.
The report on ST today is damn funny.
Businessman L.K. Tan, 57 who owns a garment shop feels the same way. "Not much," he said of his $1.11million offer from SLA. " In the mid 1990s, we had an offer of more than $2million," he said in Mandarin.
Yup he said in right.... Mid 1990s even my 5-room HDB in AMK was worth $550,000.00 and now its only $330,000.00 How can we compare values of Real Estate in two time periods that differ so much in economic performance?
On the other hand, the last paragraph is the KILLER!
Several owners are expected to appeal for a bigger payout. They have two weeks to file an appeal. Such a move does not require them to stay put. They can appeal and still move out by Oct 3 deadline, said LTA
So you can appeal the decision, but have nothing on hand to act as a bargaining tool!
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It is not at all surprising that LTA or any government organisations ignored market values when they process private properties.Originally posted by crazy monkey:SINGAPORE : The Singapore Land Authority has worked out a compensation package of about $17 million to owners of the 35 units at Hock Kee House in Paya Lebar.
On Thursday, the owners were informed of the compensation under the Land Acquisition Act, which SLA says is pegged to the current market value.
But some owners say the amount offered to them is up to 40 percent less than the valuation by their private valuers.
Since the government informed owners of Hock Kee House of the need to move a month ago, eight have already done so.
Another 24 units have indicated that they will move out before October 3 deadline.
The SLA said it had taken into account reports by the state valuer, as well as submissions by owners in working out the compensation package.
The statutory compensation is over and above the $3.2 million Special Assistance Financial Package by the Land Transport Authority.
There is also an ex-gratia payment for those who may suffer some hardship because of the acquisition at short-notice.
Simon Ong, Director of Land Resource Business at SLA, said: "The principle of payment for this ex-gratia is hardship. By hardship, we looked at individuals' special conditions. Such as their medical conditions, their mortgage status and so on."
The ex-gratia payment is on a case-by-case basis, so not every owner will get it.
But that is not the only reason owners of Hock Kee House are upset.
Of the 35 owners, 26 say they are not satisfied with the compensation amount they have been offered.
Tan Oon Fei, house owner at Hock Kee House, said: "The compensation given by SLA today is $300K. But according to my valuer, the report was $522,000. The difference is so wide! With this $300K given by SLA, I cannot even buy a same unit as mine!
"If you want to be fair, you need to compensate me with market value. Compensate with an amount which I can buy on the market value. But this is not the case!"
Ng Chee Lye, Coffeeshop owner at Hock Kee House, said: "They pay me only $1 million. My valuer valued at $1.56 million. So I am in the loss, so even in the open market, I cannot buy a coffeeshop which has around 3,000 square feet!
"Also, we claim for the ex-gratia - it is not given to me. They just give me the valuation of one million dollars."
The owners have up to September 29 to lodge an appeal (with the Appeals Board). - CNA/de
From the little I know, there are a few things the owners should know in dealing with these government ppl,
Firstly, the owners should be united, and accept compensation in a collective agreement. government ppl always Divide and rules. If Mr. Ng is the only one fighting the case, then he needs to be very strong and lots of luck.
Secondly, always get the MP involved and create publicity. MP will support LTA so he must get other sympathizers. If nobody else share his view, then also tough.
Finally, does LTA knows what you are prepared to accept and how determined are you in staying put, even facing forced evacuation?
This is part and parcel of a negotiation. -
nathan was not people elected. Who elected him... we all know
issues with circle line began long before yeo ... actually all these road issues started with mah
LTA is shifting blame but if you are the judge and the current absolute power is holding your pay cheque... how would you judge ????? So all the rulings have till now been biased so what makes those people on Hock Kee think they will ever get more ?? -
i would encourage you guys to visit Hock Kee house in the meantime before evaluating on whether the payout is fair.
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the house may look run down but they have 999 tenure in a good location with redevelopment potential. to place their value at that of a HDB flat is damn unfair.Originally posted by runningismylife:i would encourage you guys to visit Hock Kee house in the meantime before evaluating on whether the payout is fair. -
yeah 100K can't even buy a damn HDB now.
This is not free market lah.. so they have no say loh... -
Actually the run down state of some building over there adds character to the location... its interesting to look at rather than all the same same nice polished metallic buildings all over sg...Originally posted by crazy monkey:the house may look run down but they have 999 tenure in a good location with redevelopment potential. to place their value at that of a HDB flat is damn unfair.
Wah 999 ... like private house -
After getting these house and shops owners away. Lta will later re-develop or auction this vacant land with super good price.Originally posted by mistyblue:Actually the run down state of some building over there adds character to the location... its interesting to look at rather than all the same same nice polished metallic buildings all over sg...
Wah 999 ... like private house -
I will not argue much for the businessmen there. They have made their bucks and can be considered as small elites. It is a case of big powerful elites vs. small ones. As local businessmen, they should have considered such political risk in their strategies.
But I do pity the residents there.
Guess the ways out are:
1. To appeal to their MP
2. Appeal to Nathan. He is the "People's president" so if people need help, people should go to him. Make him work hard for his $1+million salary.
3. All else fail, then stage a Tian An Men. Position their bodies between the building and the bulldozers. At the same time, inform all the international news agencies, especially the filipinos ones. -
It's a pity that the people living within the perimeter of building the MRT line circle would be affected. LTA gave them a month's notice to evacuate the place. Why one month notice? The government can give six months notice before general election starts. The management needs to do some statistics and compensate the tenants accordingly and valuate the area appropriately. One month notice is not enough to convince those tenants to move out. LTA should be convincing enough to give them time to find a location before moving out. I think the nicoll highway incident didn't give LTA a month notice, but, a sudden destruction. Management in LTA should shape up or Ship out.
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His salary is S$2.47 million.Originally posted by Cindyfeh:I will not argue much for the businessmen there. They have made their bucks and can be considered as small elites. It is a case of big powerful elites vs. small ones. As local businessmen, they should have considered such political risk in their strategies.
But I do pity the residents there.
Guess the ways out are:
1. To appeal to their MP
2. Appeal to Nathan. He is the "People's president" so if people need help, people should go to him. Make him work hard for his $1+million salary.
3. All else fail, then stage a Tian An Men. Position their bodies between the building and the bulldozers. At the same time, inform all the international news agencies, especially the filipinos ones.