Sers Pace Likely To Ease In Future: Mbt

[neubie 2]

JUST as three new blocks were identified for the Government's latest Selective En Bloc Redevelopment Scheme (Sers) on Sunday, National Development Minister Mah Bow Tan said the exercise is likely to be rolled out at a slower pace in the future.

The Housing Board has identified three blocks - Blocks 321, 322 and 323 in Clementi Avenue 5 - for its latest Sers programme. The 34-year-old 10-storey buildings comprise 374 three-, four- and five-room flats.

This is the 74th site to be identified for Sers since the scheme was implemented in August 1995.

'We do Sers on a very regular basis. We have been doing Sers for many years, but it is getting harder and harder to look for suitable replacement sites,' said Mr Mah. The minister, who was speaking on the sidelines of a Chinese New Year dinner with 800 residents at Tampines East Community Club on Sunday, added: 'So I think the pace of Sers will be determined on whether we can find these sites, and it is getting harder to do.'

Mr Mah also shared some of his thoughts on the upcoming Budget to be presented on Friday.

'The Budget, I hope, will be able to help lower-income Singaporeans, to help us to bridge the income gap in a way that will be sustainable... areas like investment for the future, education, productivity improvement, skills upgrading, I think these are investments for the future,' he said.