CLEARANCE OF UNSIGHTLY STRUCTURES (Alternative Accommodation for Occupiers)

Mr J.B. Jeyaretnam asked the Minister for National Development whether it is not an abuse of the Land Acquisition Act to threaten owners of land with proceedings under the Act in order to compel them to clear occupiers on their land of "unsightly structures" and whether his Ministry offers alternative accommodation to the occupiers whom the Ministry wants the owner to evict.

Mr Teh Cheang Wan: The letters issued by the Government to owners of properties with unsightly structures serve as an advice to them of Government's intention to clear unsightly temporary structures. They are not issued under the provisions of the Land Acquisition Act, neither are they an abuse of the Act.

As long as the occupiers stay on private land, the Government cannot offer alternative accommodation to them. However, it should not be difficult for the occupiers to find alternative accommodation, With the compensation given to them by the owners, they can easily buy resale HDB flats from the free market. Only when the owners and the occupiers cannot reach an agreement will the Government consider acquiring the land. Once the land is acquired by the Government, the occupiers will be entitled to resettlement benefits.