Three pieces follow.
The first is from those KPKBing about the urns. My comments are interspersed. The other is a response from an intelligent TRE poster (Yup they do exist, though they are jeered by the rabble). The third tells of a better buy in the NE (Thanks for telling me about the area).
It’s all about “living environment”?/ Talking self-serving cock
The Singapore Mass Media has put up very negative report on us trying to portray us as some petty people who only care about our flat value and that is why we reject the columbarium. That is far from the truth.[Will say that wouldn’t they?]
I hereby represent the hundreds of affected stakeholders to put up the following statement:
1) We are unhappy and felt aggrieved by HDB’s misrepresentation by way of omission of material fact in their sale brochures. We reiterate that there was absolutely NO MENTION of columbarium in the sale brochures while the stated “Ancillary Service” phrase is so general that anyone who read that would have misconstrued as something else. Such definition can only be found in URA website and not HDB website at all. Any ordinary man would not have known how to get access to the details at all.
2) We are against such sales tactic as we should be treated fairly to be given FULL DISCLOSURE of information by the seller, HDB before we chose to buy the flat. We should have the right to make INFORMED choices and not short-changed with such omission of critical material information by HDB.
3) We are also very concerned about how HDB allowing a private commercial entity owned by a foreign public listed company to bid for the land gazetted for religious purposes. It is totally inappropriate for a commercial entity to make money out of any religion.
[Come on , tell us something new.]
4) According to High Court ruling, any entity that advance religion cause, should be subjected to Charity Act and put under the supervision of Commissioner of Charities. Apparently HDB has not made appropriate screening prior to the award of this land, which is meant for religious use, to a commercial entity.[What has this to do with the price of eggs?]
5) Commercial business should be restricted to land meant for commercial purposes, like industrial park. Land meant for religious purposes should be reserved to religious organizations registered in Singapore. This is to protect the interests of religious organizations as commercial entities would have more financial muscles to outbid them. It is totally unfair to these religious organizations which are Non-Profit Organizations to compete with Profit-oriented commercial entities in bidding for such limited land slated for religious purposes. [Gd point except that in traditional Chinese religion, there is no governing religious authority.]
6) Most of us are buying a flat as a HOME, not for property speculation. Thus, property resale value is least of our concern. Our main concern is the conduciveness of our living environment for our families. Thus the Main Stream Media has put up a totally misrepresentation of our plight and this is really a double whammy to us.[Come on, tell the truth. You are concerned about resale because a high-rise block containing urns does not affect the “living environment”. And you guys objected to a kindergarten. And are likely to object to an old folks recreation centre according to yr MP. You people think youare scholae Eng is it?] What we want is just a fair deal for our choice of home and we plead to the Main Stream Media not to put a double stabbing into our hearts and dignity by such grossly misreporting. [Nope MSM is right to slime you guys]
7) We are all law abiding citizens and we expect the Rule of Law to be adhered by the very institutions which are supposedly tasked to uphold the law and justice for citizens.
8) We sincerely hope that the relevant authorities, including the Ministry of Development, HDB and URA to look into the matter as soon as possible.
Thank you.
On Behalf of
Stakeholders, BTO Buyers.
An intelligent TRE poster responds
Addressing the points raised by the original poster.
1) You should have read the fine prints and clarify whatever you are not sure. Ignorance is no excuse in the eyes of the law.
2) What “such sales tactic”? You were INFORMED but when did not understand the information, you did not seek clarifications.
3) to 5)
Remember those days when the govt was in charge of everything and took care of everyone from cradle to grave? Well, you guys complained, criticised, condemned, cursed and swore at the govt at the slightest mistake it made. Now that the govt passes everything to the private sector, you guys complain about profit-making, commercialization. If the govt does not do it, the private sector also not allowed to do it, who will? Will you?
6) and 7) If you sincerely believe in what you have written, then just let the columbarium be. It is for the good of everyone, living and dead. Not only the healthy living but the sicked, the aged and the dead too have their rightful places in this country.
Rating: -70 (from 80 votes)
Give up the Sengkang west way BTO flat loh . Buy the resale HDB nearest at Punggol loh .
Punggol going to have some more amenities coming up like all the coney island supposed to opened up this year . Wonder what is taking so long for them to open up Coney island situated at end of Punggol Road . A big shopping centre will opened by year 2017 at Punggol Central near the waterway . Another Safra will be opening think between year 2016/17 . Punggol has other facilities like golf driving range , supermarkets, a small Punggol Plaza, restaurants dining ,yacht club area …..etc. With a seaside view to provide for , certainly can consider .
Cynical Investor
*The writer blogs at https://atans1.wordpress.com/