(For Humans Who Are Slower Than Me)
Meow, my dear humans. It’s me, The Pine Ville Cat – your neighbourhood fat tabby who knows everything because I sit in the void deck all day listening to auntie uncles gossip.
Today I will explain the Ang Mo Kio SERS drama of 2022. Why? Because even though I’m just a cat, I understand money better than some humans. Also, I’m bored and my afternoon nap got interrupted by construction noise.
What is SERS? (Simple Cat Version)
SERS is like when your human decides to throw away your old scratching post and buy you a new one. Except:
- The government is your human
- Your flat is the scratching post
- And they FORCE you to get a new one whether you want it or not
For many years, humans thought SERS was like finding extra treats in your food bowl – always a good thing! The government would take your old flat and give you money plus a shiny new flat. Win-win, right?
Wrong. flicks tail in annoyance
The Ang Mo Kio Disaster (Or: When The Treats Turned Sour)
In April 2022, about 606 families in Blocks 562-565 at Ang Mo Kio Avenue 3 got a letter. These blocks were built around 1979 – that’s like 300 cat years ago! Very old.
The government said: “Surprise! We’re taking your flats and giving you new ones!”
The families probably thought: “Wah! Lucky us!”
But then… dramatic pause while I lick my paw
The Big Problem (Even I Could See This Coming)
Here’s what happened, and honestly, any smart cat would have spotted this trap:
OLD FLAT COMPENSATION: Government gave them money based on their old flats with only 57 years left. Like selling a half-eaten fish.
NEW FLAT PRICE: But the new flats cost A LOT because they came with a fresh 99-year lease. Like buying a whole new fish when you only need half.
THE RESULT: Many families had to pay EXTRA money – sometimes $100,000 or more! That’s like… calculates in cat math …a lifetime supply of premium cat food!
Imagine if someone took away your old cardboard box and said “Here’s $10 for it, but your new cardboard box costs $110.” You’d hiss too, right?
Why This Was Extra Terrible (The Sad Part)
Most of these humans were old – like really old, even older than the community cats who remember the kampong days. They were:
- Already retired (no more salary, like me having no job except being cute)
- Living on savings (like my secret stash of treats under the sofa)
- Too old to work (can’t catch mice anymore, if you know what I mean)
These poor aunties and uncles suddenly had to pay huge amounts for flats with 99-year leases. But hello! If you’re 70 years old, why do you need a 99-year lease? Even cats only live 15-20 years!
It’s like forcing an old cat to buy a 50kg bag of kibble when a 5kg bag is more than enough.
The Humans Got Angry (Rightfully So)
The whole Singapore was talking about this. Even the kopitiam uncles stopped discussing 4D numbers and started complaining about SERS instead!
The government realized they made a big oopsie. Even bigger than the time I knocked over the plant pot.
The Government's Fix (Finally, Some Sense)
In July 2022, the government said “Sorry sorry, here are better options”:
1. The 50-Year Lease Option (The Smart Solution)
For humans 45 years and older, they could choose a new flat with only 50 years left on the lease. This was MUCH cheaper because:
- It matched their old flat’s remaining lease time
- Most humans don’t need 99 years anyway (unless they’re planning to become zombies)
- No need to pay extra money!
It’s like choosing a smaller fish that you can actually finish eating instead of a giant fish that will go bad.
2. Other Options
They also offered some other complicated financial schemes that I won’t explain because it’s nap time soon and my brain is getting tired.
What I Learned From This Drama
- Humans are sometimes not very smart – They should have seen this problem coming from the start
- Old humans should not be forced to pay for things they don’t need – Like how I don’t need a giant cat tower when I prefer sleeping in small boxes
- The government actually listens sometimes – Unlike humans when I meow for food at 3AM
- Public outcry works – Maybe I should organize the neighborhood cats to protest for more fish scraps
The End (Because I Need My Beauty Sleep)
So that’s the Ang Mo Kio SERS story, explained by your favorite fat tabby cat who understands money better than most humans.
The lesson? Sometimes “free” upgrades aren’t really free. Always read the fine print, even if you’re a cat and can’t actually read.
Now if you’ll excuse me, I have very important napping to do in the afternoon sun.
The Pine Ville Cat 🐱 Professional Void Deck Observer
P.S. – If you found this helpful, payment accepted in tuna or chin scratches. No kibble please, I have standards. 🍚🎉
Sources (For Humans Who Want To Fact-Check This Smart Cat)
Even though I’m just a fat tabby from Pine Ville AMK, I get my information from reliable sources (when I’m not napping):
Official Government Announcements:
- HDB’s Original Ang Mo Kio SERS Announcement (April 2022) – The announcement that started all the drama
- HDB’s Fair Compensation and New Options Explanation – Where they explain the 50-year lease solution
News Coverage (Because Even Cats Read The News):
- TheHomeGround Asia: “Ang Mo Kio SERS 2022: Testing the waters for shorter leases?” – Good analysis of the whole situation
- Mothership.sg: “Is Ang Mo Kio SERS a storm in teacup or a sign of things to come?” – Comprehensive coverage of public reactions
- PropertyGuru: “HDB Ang Mo Kio SERS (2022): What Singaporeans Are Angry About and Why” – Property market perspective on the controversy
Note from The Pine Ville Cat: I may be a cat, but I believe in citing sources. Unlike some humans who share fake news on WhatsApp groups.