Good morning

My parliamentary colleague, Mr Ang Mong Seng

Grassroots leaders

Residents

Ladies and gentleman

This morning, we have two BIG reasons to celebrate.

First, the successful move by residents from the biggest SERS site – Hillview Avenue, to their new homes under the Selective En bloc Redevelopment Scheme, or SERS in short.

Second, the completion of our biggest SERS replacement site – Goodview Gardens. It is an important milestone in the history of both your family and SERS.

Goals & Popularity of SERS

2. SERS was introduced 10 years ago in 1995. To date, it has benefited about 25,000 households in 58 sites island-wide. SERS offers you a unique opportunity, not available under any other programmes, to upgrade to a new flat nearby your homes, in a familiar neighbourhood. These flats come with modern designs and fresh 99-year leases. They are very highly sought after. In October last year, the surplus flats here were offered for sale under the Balloting Exercise. 700 applications were received for 182 units – a subscription rate of 3.8 times. It is no surprise that these flats are extremely popular. Located in prime location, well-served by public transport and a comprehensive range of facilities and amenities – they are everyone’s dream home. Those who successfully do so akin it to “hitting the jackpot”, or “teow beh biao” in Hokkien. You are the fortunate ones.

3. SERS is also part of the Government’s estate renewal strategy to rejuvenate the older towns. Among the 23 HDB towns, some have been developed before HDB was formed in 1960, and some in the 60s and 70s. It is important to ensure that the older towns do not decline or degenerate into slums. SERS is an effective programme to achieve this. It gives the older towns a new lease of life, as new flats are built and new younger families are given the opportunity to live in these towns.

4. Another goal of SERS is to allow optimization of land use by redeveloping certain land parcels in older estates. In land-scarce Singapore, we have to find every possible way to do so, to meet our longer term needs. Having said all these, the Government’s estate renewal programmes do more than improving the physical living environment, they build a closer community. Under SERS, the whole community moves en bloc to the new replacement site. Close ties painstakingly built over the years are kept intact. A strong local community contributes to a strong Singapore. And as a nation united, we are able to stand tall in the face of challenges.

From Hillview to Goodview

5. When SERS was announced for Hillview in Mar 99, the older residents who had lived there for more than two decades were very reluctant to be relocated, while a small number were apprehensive of the benefits of SERS. To find out the residents’ sentiments, HDB conducted a survey soon after the SERS announcement, in Jun 99. 1,364 lessees, or 86% of the total Hillview flat lessees responded to the survey. 1,178 lessees, or 86% of those who responded, indicated their support for SERS.

6. Six years have passed. Today, many are happily settled in their new homes in Goodview Gardens. The Koh family is one of them. Back in 1999, the Kohs had intended to upgrade to a new and bigger flat nearby, hence they applied for a new flat in Bukit Panjang. You can imagine their joy when SERS was announced. They took the opportunity to buy a bigger flat. Now, they are comfortably settled in a new home on the 7th floor, which is so windy at night that they do not need to turn on the air-con. The elderly Kohs, who found climbing the stairs increasingly tedious in their old home, now find the lifts serving every floor a big bonus. And with the new playground and pleasant ambience in the precinct, you can expect to see more of the Kohs and their grandson taking a stroll downstairs, meeting old neighbours and getting to know new friends. It is a dream home come true for them in Goodview Gardens.

7. The Shahs is another family who has found their home in Goodview Gardens. Avid gardeners and nature lovers, the family is feeling on top of the world, as their new home overlooks the common green. To them, Goodview Gardens is the same peaceful place like Hillview, except that everything else is upgraded. Plus the convenience of amenities and facilities all within walking distance. These are real life stories of how the fruits of our progress as a country are being shared with our people, through programmes like SERS.

Uniqueness of Goodview Gardens

8. Not many in Singapore have the privilege of living near the hills. Your precinct is located at a valuable and unique site. Its uniqueness posed some constraints in the beginning. But HDB managed to turn them into opportunities for innovative designs. What we see today is HDB blocks, set in landscaped surroundings, with pavilions, and streams near the hills. “You shan you shui” , in Mandarin. It is one of the most beautiful HDB precincts in the West Region.

9. On top of these, your precinct enjoys wide-ranging facilities. It is a 10-minute walk to the Bukit Gombak MRT station and Neighbourhood Centre. Sports facilities, schools, even a Reservists Clubhouse are located nearby. In addition, commercial facilities are provided within the precinct for the convenience of the residents. Your precinct even won the HDB Quality Award 2005 for its outstanding quality workmanship.

Living in Goodview Gardens

10. What we see today is a beautiful precinct clean and green. However, to keep Goodview Gardens “good” for many years requires a conscious effort by every resident here. Other than owning your home, I urge you to take a step further to own your community. See our home beyond the four walls in our flat. Let us build a sense of ownership for very part in this precinct – common corridor, lift lobby, void deck, walkways, playground. Keep them clean and handle the new facilities with care. It is only with every one’s effort and civic mindedness that Goodview Gardens can be the best home.

11. The best home goes beyond the brick and mortar. It must also be a place where you feel belong and enjoy close community ties. Such ties bring joy in good times and offer help in times of need.
I know that most of you moved here from Hillview. As you continue to strengthen the existing ties you have, do not forget to extend a warm welcome to the rest. A common Chinese saying “yuan qin bu ru jin lin” meaning “a good neighbour surpasses a long-distance relative”. How often do we see some of our relatives and friends, compared to our neighbours? Take a small step at a time – a smile, a hello. Simple acts add up and go a long way.

Kudos to the MP

12. Your journey from Hillview to Goodview is a short one by distance, but a long process that takes patience and understanding. Many have worked hard to make your new home possible. I would like to make special mention of one of them – your MP, Mr Ang Mong Seng. After SERS was announced for Hillview in Mar 99, he untiringly sought to find out and understand your needs and concerns. As a result of his representations, I announced in Jul 99, several fine-tuning measures to assist you :
- Bigger floor areas for new replacement flats, matching the old flat size;
- Higher loan quantum for hardship cases

13. More recently, after Mr Ang learnt that some of the elderly residents here have difficulties walking to Neighbourhood 3 for marketing, he requested HDB to convert half of the eating house premises into a minimart. The conversion works will be completed in 3 to 4 months’ time. You will have another reason to rejoice again.

14. Finally, let me wish you and your families good health and more good years in Goodview Gardens. On this note, I wish you a pleasant Sunday.

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