ANOTHER group of Housing Board residents are objecting to plans to build elder-friendly facilities in their estate, following a similar case in Woodlands last week.

Residents of Toh Yi estate in Bukit Timah said HDB's plans to build studio apartments for the elderly will 'rob' them of their common space and the estate's main recreational facility.

A handful of the residents also likened the apartments to 'death houses' for the elderly to wait out their last days.

The apartments will probably be housed in one block. It will be sited on a plot of land at the junction of Toh Yi Road and Toh Yi Drive.

This site is currently occupied by a basketball court, jogging track and a small garden.

Yesterday, the residents submitted a petition with some 230 signatures to their MP, Ms Sim Ann.

Residents who signed the petition include those from the 19 HDB blocks in the area, as well as those living in the private landed estate opposite, and a nearby condominium.

Last night, HDB officials held a closed-door meeting with more than 100 residents to address their concerns.

But some left halfway through the meeting, which lasted more than two hours, upset that HDB officials could not give them a satisfactory reply.

This episode comes just days after a group of residents in Woodlands protested against plans to build an elder day-care centre at the void decks of their HDB blocks.

They cited reasons such as the loss of communal space and how such a centre may mean more deaths in the estate.

HDB first announced plans to build 130 studio apartments in Toh Yi last month, as part of its build-to-order launch next month.

The apartments will be fitted with features such as grab bars and anti-slip tiles. Only those aged 55 and older can apply for them.

But some Toh Yi residents said such units would be built at their expense as the basketball court, track and garden would have to go.

Businessman Ricky Goh Chok Chai, 58, who initiated the petition, said: 'It's the only sizeable leisure amenity we have. Both young and old gather here and they use it every day.'

Some argued that the chosen site, which sits on top of a slope, would be inconvenient for elderly residents, who would have to walk down the slope to coffee shops and the market.

Others, like quality engineer Heng Seoh Gek, 50, said they were upset that they were not consulted.

A handful admitted that they were uncomfortable with the idea of apartments meant for the old.

Said retiree Loh Tiam Chye, 66: 'Those old people are living there alone. It's almost as if they are sent there to just wait to die. I wouldn't want to live in such an atmosphere.'

HDB said the site was zoned for residential use in the 2008 Master Plan, and was leased to the area's Citizens' Consultative Committee for 'interim recreational use'.

An HDB spokesman added that the plot of land is the only vacant site available in the estate for building studio apartments.

An HDB official said the block will have a playground and exercise corner on its second floor, and this will be open to all residents in the estate.

Ms Sim, an MP for Holland-Bukit Timah GRC, said she is working with HDB to ensure that the residents' feedback is 'duly addressed'.

She told The Straits Times: 'From a broader perspective, it makes sense to introduce studio apartments in this area. We do have ageing residents.'

But she also noted that because the estate is densely built-up, 'every existing amenity is precious to our residents'.

The town council spent $120,000 to build the jogging track and garden last year, not knowing the land would be redeveloped so soon, she said.

She added: 'I fully understand why some residents may be reluctant to see these go - in fact, having invested effort and resources in the site, we in the grassroots feel exactly the same way.'

June 24, 2013 · 

CHAINED TO OUR ROOTS

Appeal speech by Teresa Teo Guttensohn, Eco-artist, Singapore 
Delivered at “Chained to Our Roots” - Eco-art Performance and Eco-picnic Speakers´ Corner, Hong Lim Park, Sat 22 Jun 2013 to Sun 23 Jun 2013

PAYING EXTREME PRICE FOR CROSS ISLAND MRT; A FASTER RIDE TO SPECIES EXTINCTION

Hello Singaporeans,
Thank you for being chained to your roots despite the recent terrible haze conditions from fires raging in Sumatra. 
If you are feeling unwell, or experience difficulty breathing, please do return indoors after signing the petition.

We all love Singapore, and her beautiful, amazing rainforests. 
We are here today to take personal action to save our central forest; to make an appeal to Land Transport Authority (LTA), in the hope of preventing a catastrophe.

Introduction
My name is Teresa Teo Guttensohn. I am a native Singaporean, a Chinese Peranakan, an Eco-artist and environmentalist. 
Next to me here are my dearest green friends, Vilma D´Rozario, Celine Low and Andrew Tay. 
As environmentalists, we embrace our natural and cultural heritage, and we promote eco-living and conservation of biodiversity.

Personally, I have a lot of appreciation for what the government has achieved for Singapore and Singaporeans. 
I love our island for its Southeast Asian flavour, its warm mixed people, its sunny clime and especially its steamy jungles. 
The rainforest to me is what makes our urban island and crowded city very special and liveable. 
It defines us as a tropical isle. 
The rainforest creates an alluring environment that sets us apart from many other cities. In short, our environment shapes us.

Cross Island MRT Line
Like many of you, I was deeply shocked and saddened by news of the proposed Cross Island MRT line running under our forest reserves. 
We are all aware of the value of the rainforest as a very precious natural heritage for Singaporeans. 
It is a critical refuge for our very last wildlife.

The potential irreversible damage to fragile rainforest habitats, its freshwater streams, and its many endangered and threatened species is very real.

Luckily, it is not yet too late. 
We sincerely appeal to LTA to re-route the Cross Island MRT line, and to avoid altogether any invasive and destructive soil investigations.

Allow me to elaborate the reasons why:

(1) Record of Forest Devastation Must Stop

Those of you who know the history of Singapore will be aware that our nation´s early wealth was built with massive sacrifice of rainforest plant and animal species. 
A wealth profited from crops such as gambier, rubber and pineapple, which were gifts of the rainforest we devastated.
50 years ago, three months after I was born, on 16 Jun 1963, Mr Lee Kuan Yew, then Prime Minister of Singapore, planted a Mempat tree at Farrer Circus, and 50 years later, on 16 Jun 2013, he planted a Rain tree at Holland Village, to mark five decades of greening Singapore. 
Since the start of that brilliant campaign, an amazing 1.4 million trees have been planted by Nparks, across public parks and along Singapore's roads. 
This is a wonderful achievement after the historical devastation of our rainforest. I agree with Mr Lee Kuan Yew, when he said that without the green effort, Singapore would be a “darker and uglier” place. And I would add, a much hotter home as well.
However, although our man-made parks and gardens are green and great, but they cannot replace lost ancient forest eco-systems, and native species that have become extinct. When endemic species are gone from our heritage, they are gone forever.

Our majestic, native Malayan Tiger is gone from Singapore, and the last remaining 500 tigers in Malaysia are tragically being hunted to the brink of extinction. 
Their plight is very critical. To save them, we need urgent and concrete conservation measures. 
What will be the consequence of losing this apex hunter of our rainforests? Fact is, we as humans, have yet to fully understand the full consequences of losing our global species biodiversity on such a frightening scale.

(2) Taking a Risk with Our Reserves

The whole of our primeval island was once covered by dryland forest, wetland forest and mangrove forest. 
So exactly how much of our forest cover is left today? 
Let´s hear the numbers from conservationists:

96% of our rainforest is destroyed. 96% of our mangroves are gone. 70% of our reefs have vanished due to reclamation, and related sedimentation and pollution. 
Despite our green city, our total forest cover is actually less than 4 percent. 
Our original primal forest is down to a mere 0.5 percent! I repeat, zero point five percent. 
Species upon species have become extinct. When will it be enough? When will we stop? 
Let us save what little precious forest we have left. 
The very term “Reserve” means that it should be a safe sanctuary for wildlife. 
Let us ask ourselves, can we afford to take a risk with our already threatened species? 
Should we further fragment our last remaining forests?

(3) Our Regional Heritage and Identity

Two years ago, on 18 Oct 2011, our Bukit Timah Nature Reserve (BTNR) was officially declared an ASEAN Heritage Park. 
Together with Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve (SBWR), it is now part of the prestigious regional network of 30 protected areas, forming the complete spectrum of representative ecosystems in ASEAN. 
This is indeed a significant milestone for Bukit Timah Nature Reserve (BTNR). 
Let us not undo that achievement.
Our National Biodiversity Centre (NBC) represents Singapore in the ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity, and is part of the action plan to curb rapid regional biodiversity loss and degradation. 
Losing more of our forest is not true to that action plan.

Let us remind ourselves, our tropical rainforest is our Southeast Asian identity and common heritage, for we were once part of an ancient continent called Sundaland. 
An ancient continent that covers present day Southern Thailand, Peninsula Malaysia, Singapore, Sumatra, Java and Bali. 
Let us not tamper with our fast diminishing regional heritage.

(4) UN Decade To Reduce Biodiversity Loss
United Nations World Biodiversity Day was celebrated a month ago on May 22. The UN General Assembly declared 2011-2020 the UN Decade on Biodiversity to reduce global biodiversity loss. 
Let us not make this the decade where Singapore will lose more of our remaining biodiversity.

Nparks will be hosting its Festival of Biodiversity 2013 in July, and we look forward to that. However, what do we tell our students when they visit the festival promoting our unique species in our rainforest canopy and streams?

“Sorry kids, forget the Singapore Chilli Crab for one minute, and take a good look at our endemic Freshwater Crabs, because they won´t be around for much longer.”

So let us embrace and protect our natural legacy, our very own native crabs living in our rainforest steams. 
Don´t let our kids and researchers of Raffles Museum of Biodiversity Research (RMBR) study our special crabs, and many other crustacea and freshwater fish species only after they are gone.

(5) Save Our Highly Endangered Pangolins and Other Fauna

In two days, on Monday 24 Jun 2013, I will be attending the 1st IUCN-SSC Pangolin Special Group Conservation Conference, held here in Singapore. 
The international conference will bring together Pangolin experts from Africa and Asia, to discuss global strategies for scaling up Pangolin conservation.

Pangolins are under severe threat globally, mainly due to illicit wildlife trade and habitat loss, and once again rapid action is needed for their conservation.

In Singapore, the Sunda Pangolin, our Malayan Scaly Anteater (scientific name Manis javanica), is found in the Bukit Timah Nature Reserve, Central Catchment Nature Reserve, and other wild areas in Singapore.

Therefore, the digging and boring of holes every 15m or so, for soil investigations in order to build an underground MRT line will have a negative impact on the ecology of our highly endangered Pangolin, as well as many other sensitive forest wildlife.

Even without cutting or clearing any trees, the forest disturbance will lead to pollution, erosion, siltation and an ecological disaster. Siltation may 🤬 rare freshwater animals living in our pristine MacRitchie streams. 
Digging means the beginning of the end.

(6) Leave a Little Legacy for the Children of Singapore

We are in the age of wanton destruction of our global rainforests and their endemic species in the name of development. 
We are in full awareness of the need for sustainability, and importance of biodiversity.
We must ask ourselves: do we need the shortest train ride at any cost?

Re-routing the Cross Island MRT Line to go around the reserve, via Lornie Road, will only add another few minutes of travel, but it will save our forest for generations and generations to come. Surely this is not too much to ask for?

The rainforest is our children´s last wild frontier to discover nature´s mysteries. 
Please leave a little legacy of awe and wonder for the children of Singapore. 
Please leave a little biodiversity for Southeast Asians and humanity. These legacies did not come easily. 
These are the riches we have inherited from millions of years of evolution. 
Do not take a risk, and destroy our last green gem. 
For if we deliberately damage our roots, like killing off the last Malayan Tiger, and getting rid of the last Singapore Kampong, I fear it will break our hearts and crack our communal spirits.

(7) Our Country Needs Roots

Would we deliberately plan to cut through a historical and cultural heritage site, such as the Istana or the Padang? 
The answer is no. Let us value our natural heritage as much as we value our cultural heritage.

Why do countries gladly flaunt their oldest this and that? Why do people throng to visit the oldest pyramids, and flock to see the oldest temple? 
That is because we need strong roots to stand upon. 
The older the roots, the higher we stand, the bigger the awe and national pride.

That is why Taman Negara and Borneo rainforests are advertised as oldest rainforests in the world at 130 million years. 
That is why our National Heritage Board is promoting the flea market at Sungei Road as Singapore's largest and oldest flea market.

A country is nothing without people, and people are lost without roots. 
Roots tied to our nature and culture, roots chained to our cultural and natural heritage.

Recognise it or not, our island´s oldest roots, before the colonial era, before the Malay Kingdoms, before Majapahit and Srivijaya maritime empires, is still our natural heritage - our jungles, our coral reefs, mangrove buffers and their amazing wildlife. Our wildlife.

(8) Ancient Legacy for A Young Nation

The rainforest is an authentic, ancient legacy that belongs to all the shopping and makan and Facebooking citizens of Singapore, regardless of which ethnic culture they came from, and what knowledge they have of the forest. 
Empty out that common legacy, and you are cutting off old roots at a peril.

As a young nation, our unique wildlife is something truly ancient that naturally belongs to us. 
We do not have to conjure this heritage in a tourism campaign (with due respect of course to our mythical Merlion). 
We just have to protect it. 
The rainforest is not just a bunch of trees, it is sacred home to wildlife, a heritage that enriches our stressed lives, and a root to foster our fledging identity.

(9) Paying Extreme Price for Cross Island MRT Line

I am all for a great public transport system. I acknowledge that ours is indeed one of the very best. 
I find our MRT very clean, efficient and comfortable compared to many other mass transport systems around the world. 
My family, friends and I use the MRT and public transport a lot as it is eco-friendly and very affordable.

However, we do not wish to take a shorter ride only to pay the extremely high and toxic price of damaging our heritage, certainly not if it is going to be a faster ride to species extinction.

LTA, let´s try again. It is not too late. Please halt the runaway train in its tracks, and save the day for our heritage.

Thank you all.

Teresa Teo Guttensohn
Eco-artist,
Singapore Email: teresaguttensohn@gmail.com

https://www.facebook.com/naturesocietysingapore/photos/a.10150185518069404/10151632946624404/?type=3&hc_ref=ARQsuOGMINoi2aXHS1o_kuI3hgOHiTIutLZY_NLHkOkWmyIzkUatT4vw_fOUG798JNU&__xts__[0]=68.ARAQD5DCeoOjo0Fcs9R2tyUyWn-L0UcSjLqgcCl2FZmJGuFbH0EwgtPT9ARQyrA7DbLpCDVeszPu42U7IVeJ29hXtLcd_1h2nHX0NC6glS8BR4a9H67oTOlf0OetDH_1c5pGa3Lf-vycPQwSQNfsbIdhs37s_pNQOez6s0JJ1WN2bZYotJ25&__tn__=EC-R

The 50km MRT line, which will link Changi and Jurong when it is completed by 2030, was first announced in early 2013.

Here's a look at what the controversy is about.

 

This has sparked heated debates amongst various groups of people in Singapore. Many concerned citizens are unhappy that the CRL may cause damage to Singapore’s nature reserves. Nature conservationists have also stepped in and called for an alternative route that skirts around the CCNR (see map below) in the proposed line. However, the new position of the CRL would cost an extra $2 billion to build and will result in a longer travelling time, approximately six minutes more, for commuters to get to their various destinations.

Would the building of the Cross Island Line bring about more harm than good for Singapore?