All three of the Merpati Road households in MacPherson that were late in vacating their land have accepted compensation, although two of them had yet to move out by the deadline on Wednesday.

The former owners — whose freehold terrace houses are located at 27, 29 and 33 Merpati Road — had already received the cheques for the full compensation amount, the Singapore Land Authority (SLA) said in response to TODAY’s queries.

The SLA has already taken physical possession of 33 Merpati Road, as the former owners informed the authorities that they were no longer occupying the property.

Noting that the two other households are in the process of moving out, the SLA said it will continue to help them in their relocation efforts as far as possible.

“However, due process will have to be followed, and SLA will proceed to apply to Court for the Warrant of Dispossession on 25 May 2017 in accordance with the proceedings under the State Lands Encroachments Act. This has been explained to the former owners, who will try to move out as soon as possible,” the authority said.

In late April, the Government had served a final warning and notice of possession on the owners of the three properties. Their terrace houses were among a group of 15 properties in the vicinity gazetted in 2010 for redevelopment around the upcoming Downtown Line’s Mattar Station.

The owners of the three properties were then given a 28-day grace period thereafter to move out.

Mr George Oh, 60, who lives with his two brothers in one of the three terrace houses, said they have already secured a Build-to-Order flat in Hougang. However, they are planning to make the move by July as there are many belongings to transfer to the new flat.

“The last few days, I’m very tired ... doing packing and all that,” said Mr Oh, who has been living in the house with his brothers since 1974.

His younger brother, a 54-year-old car mechanic, was reluctant to move out because he works in the area.

His elder brother, 64, is physically immobile.

The SLA said the owners had been given four rounds of extensions spanning 20 months from the original deadline in 2015 to give up the land.

Source:
courtesy of TODAY

by TOH EE MING

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