Some residents worry about size of new flats, others happy to move

News that his four-room flat would be acquired came as a shock to retired technician Aluwi Mohammedan, who has been living in Block 212 Marsiling Crescent for more than 20 years.

- Isabelle Liew, Ning Chionh and Deon Loke

His Housing Board block is one of nine that will be acquired for a further expansion of Woodlands Checkpoint, to help alleviate traffic congestion and meet a projected increase in volume.

Housing Board officers visited his flat yesterday to inform him about the acquisition.

"My wife and I are retired, and we've already paid off this flat. We don't know how much we would have to fork out for the new flat," he said. "We don't have much in our CPF (Central Provident Fund), only the basic reserves for our retirement."

The acquisition of Blocks 210 to 218 in Marsiling Crescent and Marsiling Lane includes 732 sold flats and 53 rental flats. Flat owners will be offered new replacement flats, with a fresh 99-year lease, in Woodlands Street 13.

They will get the same benefits as those offered under the Selective En bloc Redevelopment Scheme (Sers), which includes compensation based on the market value of their flats.