The Sunday Times: Ubin islanders worry about 'no compensation' clause in contract

Mr Ong Kim Cheng reading the NParks' Temporary Occupational Licence agreement outside his house. The taxi driver who was born on Pulau Ubin continues to live alone in the house built by his late parents. Photo coutesy of ST, Chong Jun Liang

SINGAPORE (Feb 24, 2019): A long-standing issue over compensation for Pulau Ubin villagers has flared up again, with some islanders upset that they could be turfed out and not get anything in return.

However, the authorities have told The Sunday Times that these villagers have been living on state land. They are thus not entitled to compensation, says the Singapore Land Authority (SLA).

The matter surfaced in December when the islanders confronted National Development Minister (MND) Desmond Lee when he visited the island.

In response to queries, a MND spokesman told The Sunday Times: "We have recently received inquiries from additional households about whether they would be eligible to receive resettlement benefits. These claims are currently being looked into, and the relevant agencies will follow up directly with the respective individuals."

The villagers' unhappiness escalated last month when National Parks (NParks) - the central managing agency for Pulau Ubin - sent officers to get them to sign a Temporary Occupational Licence (TOL) agreement to acknowledge a new condition added.

The new clause had nothing to do with compensation or the lack thereof - it requires islanders to obtain all necessary permits to keep dogs on the island, and ensure all female dogs are spayed.

But it drew the villagers' attention to the compensation issue, as the TOL includes an existing clause that states that licensees will not be compensated when they have to surrender the state land to the Government, in the event that it is required for public purpose or redevelopment.

Village chief Chu Yok Choon, 74, told The Sunday Times: "We are all concerned about the 'no compensation' clause in the TOL. We spent our money building our houses on the land. We don't dispute that the land belongs to the State. But what about the houses that belong to us? The Government doesn't think it needs to compensate us?"

MND said that Pulau Ubin residents who require further clarification on compensation matters may approach NParks for asisstance.

There are now 70 households living on the island, at least two-thirds of whom would not be entitled to any compensation. They include those who have been living on the state-owned land on Pulau Ubin since the 1940s when Singapore was still under British rule.

Back then, Pulau Ubin was a mix of state and private land. In 1987 and in 1993, the Singapore Government acquired the island's private land in two separate exercises. The 83 landowners were compensated. Most moved out of Pulau Ubin, except for 22 households whose land was not needed for development.

TOLs were then issued to these 22 households as well as the other group of villagers who have been on state land from the outset. They all now pay rent to the Government.

After NParks took over the management of the island in June 2016, it re-issued a new TOL to the residents under its banner with the terms unchanged.

Villagers fret about having to sign this agreement now, although NParks said that all had already done so two years ago. This was disputed by five villagers.

Said Mr Ong Kim Cheng, 60, a taxi driver: "My parents spent their entire savings to build this house and now I am told that I would not get a single cent should the Government decide to redevelop the place."

Born on Pulau Ubin, he continues to live alone in the house built by his late parents on the island. "I refused to sign. If I sign, I am dead. I don't know what will happen. I don't have any savings," said Mr Ong.

Bicycle shopowner Sit Chin Chwee, 66, signed and demanded for the TOL to be returned the next day.

Mr Sit said that NParks officers did not explain all the terms in the five-page TOL to him.

"The officer only told me that I would need to apply for a licence to keep dogs here. I can't read English. I stopped schooling at Primary 4. I didn't know what the other terms were about until I heard people talking about it the next day," said Mr Sit.

NParks director of Pulau Ubin Robert Teo said he has since instructed his officers to stop approaching islanders to sign on the TOL, which was simply to acknowledge the additional clause.

On the villagers' gripe that they should be compensated for their homes should the land be returned to the State, Mr Teo said that the "no compensation" clause means "if for some reason the TOL is terminated, there might be a loss of income or loss of investment because you took that TOL."

He added: "The condition says that there's no compensation for your loss. There's nothing to do with land ownership."

- Joyce Lim