Daily Archives: 9 Oct 2009

Not just about money

Posted on 9 Oct 2009 | Comments Off on Not just about money

I REFER to the slew of impending closures of neighbourhood wet markets, which will be largely taken over by the Sheng Siong supermarket chain and converted into a string of its air-conditioned outlets.

It is disheartening that the livelihood of the wet market stallholders was not a consideration in approving the conversion of wet markets into air-conditioned supermarkets.

Assuming that each wet market houses an average of 50 stallholders, one can safely assume an impending loss of 100 jobs per market.

Based on yesterday’s report, ‘Two more wet markets to go‘, eight wet markets will close down to make way for six Sheng Siong outlets, and a FairPrice and Shop N Save supermarket each.

So at a conservative estimate, the businesses and jobs of at least 800 people are at stake. Continue reading →

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In a bind over flat purchase involving bankrupt

Posted on 9 Oct 2009 | Comments Off on In a bind over flat purchase involving bankrupt

IN MAY last year, my wife and I bought a five-room HDB flat on the open market, on a contra-sale of our three-room flat.

At the second appointment, we learnt the seller was an undischarged bankrupt, and had outstanding loans or debts to the HDB, town council and Central Provident Fund Board. HDB did not advise us or take any precaution to protect the deposit we paid to the seller via the housing agent.

As buyers, we had completed our responsibility of paying all sums due. The seller had repeatedly failed to pay his debts to the parties named.

We sought the assistance of MPs for Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC, and wrote to the chief executive of HDB and the CPF Board on several occasions, but to no avail.

To make matters worse, while the paperwork for the ownership transfer had not been completed, the CPF Board deducted money from our CPF account as if the purchase transaction had been completed.

Our family of five, including two very small children, are without a home. Continue reading →

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