With the current controversy over the issue of converting Serangoon Gardens Technical School into a dormitory for foreign workers, The Online Citizen decided to pay a visit to the area. We hope to give our readers an idea of what residents there might face if the plan by the Government goes through.
Here is a short video of the area in question – Burghley Drive in Serangoon Gardens – and its neighbourhood.
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Glam, thank you for the supportive comments. I am perturbed that the issue put forward by the residents of Serangoon Gardens is not about domitories being located next to residential areas but rather about how unpalatable it is for them. I think the former issue would be a more appropriate discussion and would lead to a result beneficial to the nation as a whole.
I am unfortunately given the impression that it is a selfish consideration of “anywhere else but in my area” by the residents’ response thus far. It is only “don’t use this school in Serangoon Gardens” and not “government should not use residential locations to begin with” that is being put forward by the residents of Serangoon Gardens. Does this not imply that certain perception-of-status related attributes are in play?
I am just disappointed that some of my fellow Singaporeans in Upper Serangoon are not that gracious after all. I feel that instead of just whining and kicking up a fuss (tantrum?), the residents should offer alternatives other than just pushing the buck and suggesting “go use some other place lah”.
“51) Ganga on September 8th, 2008 4.12 pm
the residents should offer alternatives other than just pushing the buck and suggesting “go use some other place lah”.
It is a classic case and widely used approach that if you do not like the sh** that I am giving you, please let me know if you have any other better suggestion orelse please do not complain.
To put it this way, please do not even start the process of giving sh**, that is the best suggestion. Do not have the notion that once you act, people are obliged to react every time especially if it is sh** that you are throwing at people, not only at the people of Serangoon Gardens.
Remember the fringe carparks? They should just free the land occupied by these. Another policy failure but no civil servant wants to stick his neck out and say “Hey! The minister was wrong. Let’s look at how else we can use the land.”
I am surprised the MND did not consider using Hougang and Potong Pasir to house the foreign workers. The PAP could kill 3 birds with one rock.
Solve the housing problem for foreign workers and screw the 2 opposition wards big time. Remember Goh C T’s plan to let these 2 wards degenerate into slums when he was the PM. lol
“I am surprised the MND did not consider using Hougang and Potong Pasir to house the foreign workers. The PAP could kill 3 birds with one rock.”
Why should PAP screw what they confidently said that it will belong to them in next election ? Hougang and Potong Pasir have great $$$ for property that will make the coffers very wealthy.
Singapore has too many under-utilized golf courses. MND should pick one golf course and convert it into an estate to house the foreign workers.
Make the estate comfortable and it can be a show case to attract workers from various parts of the world. A well managed estate can be an incentive for such workers. I also believe the environment influences human behaviour. Harsh living conditions tend to bring out the worst in a human.
Hi Ganga,
So you’re saying that the citizens in Serangoon Gardens should think of alternatives?
So should we pay them instead of the millions we pay our ministers? I mean afterall, they’re doing their job.
My argument about the price of their property was that they bought it cheap then. Just because land value increase now, doesn’t mean that they may necessary be cash rich and/or have a good job.
Hell, if my parents had bought that property there 20+ years ago, would you call me an ah-sia kia even if my parents are earning less than 4k in combined income and are struggling to pay our bills?
Asset rich doesn’t mean they are necessary well-off. Especially when these people only buys one house. Just because the land value of my house increase doesn’t mean I have an increase spending power.
I do implore you to go through your economics once more.
Why does the government see fit to put a dorm in a middle of a residential estate? Why not put it near industrial areas like Tuas, Changi, Jurong Industrial Area?
How did Serangoon Gardens get chosen? What was the rationale? These are valid questions that I think the residents of Serangoon Gardens deserve to know too.
Whether it is foreign workers or FT, govt should made it compulsory that they go thru a cultural induction course. With many rules for Singaporeans, one more for foreigners working here shd be considered. I encountered some angmos in their car driven like crazy FI driver in an MPV along CTE. I brought suggestion at the Meet the Residents sessions to Mrs. Lim. Her feedback? May be an isolated case, as most foreigners are generally friendly. With the Australian Intl Sch nearby, and more FTs in the neighbourhood of Serangoon Gardens, all foreigners, irrespective of profession, shd go for sessions to make them aware of Singaporeans’ concerns, values, etc…
So should we pay them instead of the millions we pay our ministers? I mean afterall, they’re doing their job.
My argument about the price of their property was that they bought it cheap then. Just because land value increase now, doesn’t mean that they may necessary be cash rich and/or have a good job.
Hey DC,
I think your points are not exactly relevant. Yes, Im not in denial that there may be old houses passed down generations after generations (usually these are the single storeys types), but what about the newly built ones which are mostly terraces, semi-D and Bungalows of minimum 3-4 storeys high? I believe all these are bought or even rebuilt in the last 5-10 years, some are even newly built if you are in the estate often enough and see new houses around. This is totally an unfair statement to pass. Whether a person or family is rich a not, its not just by house alone I guess, there are other aspects of lifestyle patterns, spending power, things they owned, cars, investments etc too.I do know of many in the estate who has fully paid for their house too.
I do agree with you that the increase of land value doesnt mean increased spending power. These 2 factors are not relative.
However, with an increase in land value, the asset worth is higher, even when the house is sold, the returns are higher to compared to selling a HDB. There’s a ceiling cap for prices HDB can fetch too, else everyone else will be after HDB, not private if they are able to afford.
There will always be the other side of the coin and end of a stick that people see or feel otherwise. Maybe they are not there yet, or in ownership yet to pass irrelevant comments.
Hello. I don’t think a minimem wage policy will work in Singapore.
Who benefits from a minimum wage policy? Workers and employees do. Not the employers.
Knowing the PAP govt is a pro-business one, you know the answer.
I’ve seen several posts on this thread countering views which sit comfortably with the idea of a foreign workers’ dormitory, where it has been asserted that if THEY were in the same situation faced by the Serangoon Gardens residents, that they would certainly change their minds about their safety/well-being/livelihoods.
I hope I speak for at least a section of the populace when I say not ALL feel threatened by the Other. I am a 21-year-old female, and I personally feel fairly comfortable with the idea of being in close proximity with foreign workers. I have had lewd comments directed to me in my lifetime, but these have more often than not come from Singaporean men. (Perhaps quotas should be imposed on MEN in general in any given estate to ward off that danger.) Noble as it is of the menfolk in S. Gardens to redflag the ‘safety’ of the women in their neighbourhood, the hysteria over having Them in Our backyards serves only to fuel the cycle of xenophobic fear.
I wonder if it is pure coincidence that this has emerged at a time when all foreign workers are being lambasted in the ST forum; the climate at the moment seems almost to be heading towards fascism. I could be inappropriately idealistic and call upon universal human rights to decent treatment and living conditions, but these don’t seem to resonate very much with Singaporeans at all. But this uproar over the foreign invasion is not pragmatic either. Who built S. Gardens estate? Who built the school?
Like it or not, these workers are an indelible and critical part of the landscape, and I daresay their sweat and toil allows them to partake in decent shelter. Transient workers here seem to be shunned as an untouchable caste — perhaps no wonder, then, they appear maladjusted, and some turn to antisocial behaviour. Perhaps if they too were given a stake in the land — if only temporary — the fear and Otherness manifested on both sides of the divide might be alleviated.
Why the decision to build a dorm now? Where have our workers been living before the government decides to build dorms?
Have Singaporean ever think back and realised that we are a way or another in fact an immigrant in the past. Our forefather from all over the world ventured into Singapore as an immigrant to seek a better living and settled down here.
Why discriminate against the foreign workers? Aren’t they human like us too?
Some one mentioned about the security issues if the1000+ foreign workers are to be located at Serangoon Garden. Do you mean that if I was to replace it by 1000+ Singaporean or 1000+ Ang Mos, will there be no crime at all ?
To the people who support the petition, I really doubt the education you have received over the years and the fact you are living in multi cultural society.
http://mysingaporenews.blogspot.com/2008/09/different-interpretation-of-serangoon.html
Are we being fair to just look at the interest of the foreign workers at the expense of the residents who have been there first? Are they selfish? I will say no. They are just decent human beings who want to live life decently. And if you raise your lifestyle to their level, you will surely be welcomed. No one who wants a better quality of life will want to live in the ghettos or the slums. And it is normal for them to protest when people want to bring the slum to their doorstep.
This is a microcosm of what Singapore is all about. We have move up to the first world in terms of quality of living and infrastructure. Do we want to level down? The influx of millions of poor workers into this first world city will definitely bring with it the graffiti culture along. Do we want that kind of environment or choose to be in a first world environment, F1 racing, fine dining, culture and concerts. Yes, snobbish appeals and past times.
What do we want? Return to the third world? Racism is definitely not an issue. It is social class. A mismatch of social class and a clash of social lifestyles and habits.
VERY VERY WELL SAID BLACK BEAN!!!
Couldnt agree more with you!
I think you have spell out most of the agenda and main point!
To gahmen,
Is the Swiss standard of living and golden period means living next door those workers ? If so, then Wayang gahmen please have more of these workers living round in your doorstep. How can you convince other if you are so wayang ? Only can propose solution that doesn’t affect you ?
And I think for those not there, havent arrive yet, or have yet raise their lifestyle to that level, no point commenting and bring all sorts external or secondary issues that comes with it. BLACK BEAN HAS SPELLED THEM ALL OUT,
Its the social class differences that SG residents has been protesting and debating all the long!
Yeh, the precursor was Choo Wee Kiang – his “early warning ” in parliament was taken as offensive and he had to apologised.
Perhaps Choo Wee Kiang is having 2 last laughs – STTA and Serangoon Gardens.
Speaking the truth too early will get one screwed in our system of make believe.
Thank you Choo Wee Kiang.
There are still many untested reclaim ground. Built dormitory there to strengthen the foundation. Many thousands can live there.
To first poster SevenEleven,
You are the worst hyprocrite! As long as it is not next to your home it is ok. If it is near another persons house, it is fine.
It is one thing to have them here to do work and another thing to house 1200 next to your house? If you so welcome it, tell Mah Bow Tan your address and he will build one right next to your house/apartment! I will see your neighbours curse you!
Bloody two-time idiot!
and to add to comments of 70), suggest that toc submit details of those sympathisers, incl. that of posting 1) to MND, so that funeral parlour, hospice, dormitories, mental hospital, eateries, entertainment centres, massage parlours, etc…can be built in their neighbourhood…….
Hey ppl, I brought the idea of converting golf courses into self-sustaining foreign worker estates – idea thanks to one of the commenters in this thread – at my local RC meeting last night. It would be at least brought to the attention of the MP who might forward the idea on. All the members quite liked the idea and felt it was feasible (in terms of practicality and not profitability, of course).
If it goes through (and that IS a BIG ‘IF’), we would have facilitated change and that would be real cool! Thanks guys and gals and to TOC as well!
you are right.
Sympathisers – all of you list down your street name and block number if you stay in apartment, and only street name if you stay in landed. Let MND build one right next to it (10-20m as in the case in Burghley Dr).
What? No one dare to state that? Is it bec it is now going to be your turn you suddenly pretend to be busy and no time to come online to blog nonsense?
Conclusion:
Sympathisers pretend to be self righteous, but in the end – they just not practical and full of nonsense. Sometime even cynical. Why? If it happen to Burghkey Dr resident it is ok. As long as it is not next to their homes.
Remember Sergangoon Residents DID not say ill treat FW. They just ask MND to consider other place where it is far from reisdential areas, and reported in ST Times, the places they suggest are really out of residential area. That is constructive suggestion and the MPs agree to bring that to MND.
Serangoon Gardens is a private residential estate and it has always been a family-friendly, homely estate.
How is it possible that the government can decide to potentially destabilise this lovely ‘suburb’ by just suddenly introducing a whole new population into the estate just because the school is not being used? Are there no other potential uses for the school? Is this the only alternative? Has the social and emotional impact on the residents been taken into consideration?
I believe even in zoos or animals’ natural habitat, when you want to introduce another group of animals, there are social cohesion concerns, much least when you are talking about people? Do you really think it is so easy as to just bring in another 1000 people to an estate and everything will carry on as it has been?
Yes, we have a market, hawker centre, restaurants, NTUC and even recently cold storage. But will the hawker centre / bus service etc be able to come with a sudden influx of 1000 more people (which will form a significant proportion of the poeple living in the are)?
How many SBS buses will it take to transport these people during their time off? As it is, currently now the bus is infrequent. Are we to ask many of the senior citizens who live in the estate to have to Q for buses? Is it fair to the other segments of the society ?
’69) sumokong on September 9th, 2008 9.23 pm There are still many untested reclaim ground. Built dormitory there to strengthen the foundation. Many thousands can live there.”
You know what? Singapore can even support up to 6.5million people! So why squeeze into so close to houses in SG?
Cannot really understand how those highly paid scholar can think of this in the first place!
Those who condemned Serangoon GArdens residents are only focussing on the Effect.
But did not address theCause. Why was MND s desperate as even proposing SGTI to house 1,500-strong foreign workers there.
Lest you all forget, we are going to live with about 700,000 foreign workers in the construciton, oil&gas and marine industry – a majority of them farmers and fishermen never being to a mdoern city before, let alone Singapore – for the enxt few years, maybe till 2015 or forever.
Theft and disorderly conduct are perennial problem in a cosntruction site – I know as I had been in teh cosntrcuiton idnsutry since 1873. Their values ar different from Singpaore values and they are are exploitative.
E.g. during a disaster at site, kind-hearted Singpaoreans donated clothes, etc.
Imagine to my astonsihment that teh HR manager or thsoe managers in charge have the first pick of ‘the best” and thne the rest of the charity-donated goods are distributed to the hapless workers.
Meaning, do not beleive fairy tales like “be more accommodating and teach them the Singapore values”. Those cosntruction workers have only one aim – make enough to go home.
For those that compared if “whites” blah blah are stationed in SG, then people wil nto complain. You missed the point as the dormitory si to house 1,500 foreign workers.
And foreign workers mean from the construction industry. Oil& ags and marine industry foreign workers are housed in Jurong or Sembawang or Wodlands area.
And really, Singapore are really facing a crisis in their very first building boom sicne the Crash of 80s.
In those days, cosntruciton workers are hosued at their job site.
But recent laws had been passed and forbid workers being housed on job sites sincne early 90s.
And I blamed MND and MOM caught with their pants down at this sudden influx of construciton workers without decent dormitories – 700,000 of them.
And this is due tot the Triple Whammy:
- booming construciton industry due to MRT, he 2 no, IR and its spreading impact.
- booming rig-building and marine idnsutries.
- booming oil & gas with 2 mega-complex, Shell and Exxonmobile.
And our multi-milioanire meritorius scholars got caught short;
A sudden influx of 700,000 foreign workers without dormitories.
hence the amd scrabmle to find hosuing for them – voila!!! Serangoon gardens with a decent vacant school building gathering dust.
Today, I have made a serious verbal complaint in-person to Singapore Press Holdings (SPH) over the newspaper reports on the foreign workers domitories problems.
I am extremely angry over the problems.
Lai, you are right.
The true problem lies in the super efficient and highly paid scholars making a huge blunder, and now want we poor SG resident to accept the effect of their mistakes in manpower and accomodation planning.
People, please focus in real problem.
To solve it, there are many ways. Forcing it into SG next to people’s home is NOT the solution – temporary or permanent.
Only a hare-brain will think it is ok.
i too am a residence living in serangoon gardens. the arguments for social, economic ,political problems will never come to an end. typical problems like social images being ruin and what have you can easily be countered when looked at examples in south africa and even the USA.
however, lets all be practical and logical. for those who are for the dorm please go take a look at the school and location. i’ll explain why its so impractical here but anyone who thinks logically will understand e situation when they see the location.
firstly, the only route to that location is through a 1 way road where its width is capable of fitting only at max 3 to 4 cars. foreign workers have to normally report to their sites around 6 am to 7. with that road being a main road used by most of the serangoon garden citizens, traffic congestions will be the main issue. I’ve considered the typical solution to that is widening of roads but in order to do that houses have to be removed or altered which is terribly ridiculous. the question 1 must ask is , is the usage of a so called wasted space worth it at the expense of a whole community’s daily lifestyle? i mean to get to work or school on time, residents would have to leave at say 4.30 -5 ? to skip the jam? you decide.
saturdays and sundays as one would know are off days for foreign workers. the average foreign workers would use public transport to get to area’s of their interest. however in e narrow roads of serangoon gardens there is only 1 feeder bus(317) which goes to that area and then straight to the serangoon mrt. would this 1 bus service be feasible? some might argue that the frequency of the bus can be increased but think logically, the max capacity of a typical sbs bus =50. say rarely even half of the foreign workers leave the compound. 700/50 = 14. that would be 14 buses full of foreign workers not even counting in residents. spreaded over a 1 hr period buses have to come at a 4.2 minute interval? unreal.
and if 1 still refuses to be practical, look at the aboved mentioned reason. with such a small road. massive jams would occur. once again one would understand that basic human rights should be applied.but i seriously do not agree that the lifestyle and standard of living of CITIZENS should be undermined in order for foreigners to have a dorm.
well i can go on and on about the problems that can arise but im pretty certain these 2 can bring light to those who cannot see the awaking problems.
thank you.
I cannot agree more. Th infrastructure alone cannot support the huge load of traffic to be generated in such narrow roads.
BTW, 3-4 cars is too optimistic as at anyone time, someone’s else car is already parked outside their own home. So, it is effective 1 car mostly. Those trucks and bus are BIG.
How leh? MND can build double deck road in SG? Direct link to CTE?
Really, how did they even suggest this is really showing everyone who the intelligence of MND – well, at least the group who came up with this idea.
i live near the serangoon area… and yes, i agree the roads to the proposed site is really narrow, with low frequency of public buses. If the govt does want to situate the dorms there, they have to solve the transport issue first.
View my posting at http://singaporeseen.stomp.com.sg/singaporeseen/viewContent.jsp?id=13885
to see an incident as to how constricted the traffic flow can be at the turning of Burghley Drive. The consequences of more traffic mayhem is unthinkable if MND decides on the workers dorm down the road.
I was wondering why our dear MPs didn’t think of housing these… Valuable contributors in the grounds of the Istana. After all, the last time I went there, I saw a large patch of unused lawn in the front. It’ll certainly be spacious, no? The govt should set an example and the peeps would follow. It’s only right.
That said, I think our own Singaporeans should learn to be a little more gracious. These are the people who came, with all their worries and uncertainties, looking for jobs, for cash. They built our houses, built our shopping malls… And now we’re shunning them? A little too much, don’t you think? The fear of dropping property rates shouldn’t happen if there was no discrimination.
That’s all. Just my two cents worth.
I think everybody’s overstating the whole “diminishing property value” argument. It is one of the many arguments that the residents have put up, but it isn’t the only reason.
Everyone seems to be attacking them based on that one argument.
Give them a break.
Walk the talk. Istana it is!
No Istana lah. Come on, the Istana is the equivalence of the palace – it is a country’s showcase.
What may be happening here – a slow retreat of the “not so official position” ?something like a leak – spies around ? Unlike the previous Temasek secretary’s leak to the newsworld.
Now – new news said that Serangoon Gardens is not definite even at feasibility study level. Wonder what the reported contractor involved would say now ?
May be good news for Serangoon Gardens – thanks to the leak which may prove to be pre-emptive, or perhaps middle class speaking up?
No leaks obviously at Jalan Kayu, Taman Jurong, etc
If only all the “gooners” are as gracious as the “Kayuneans”. They will open their arms and welcome FW to live nearby them.
But again, how much will FW dom nearby the estate affect the property value? As for safety, how unsafe will it affect the estate with the FW living in nearby dom? So which is the main objection from the “gooners” then? Mah has to listen objectively and decide why the “Kayuneans” and accept whereas the “gooner” want to object so much.
85) DC on September 15th, 2008 8.04 pm I think everybody’s overstating the whole “diminishing property value” argument. It is one of the many arguments that the residents have put up, but it isn’t the only reason.
Everyone seems to be attacking them based on that one argument.
Give them a break.
Hey DC i couldnt agree with you more…..why are all those “noble” and “human” ppl attacking SG residents on the issue of property value…..
those pple who are attacking SG residents should actually try to suggest to the government to build the dorm somewhere near their places…they would definately support the government decision i believe…..
the main issues here is security and serenity of the neighbourhood….just for the sake of those who do not live there…..there are actually a couple of houses in SG being used to house foreign workers…..though the number may be small but the way they behave sure is different from others not all are rowdy but they still behave in the way which bothers the residents in SG…..
dun start acting as if you are noble and “human” just because the issue would not affect you…..think put yourself into SG residents’ shoes and you would realise the reason why SG residents are so worked up……
The Planned Foreign Worker Dormitory Issue has caused another split amongst the Singaporeans. However, all seem to agree that our Authority(Planner) lacks care for its’ citizens. Indeed, there are many places to accommodate the Foreign Workers without upsetting the feelings of the people.
The former(old) Changi Hospital at Changi Village will make an excellent Foreign Worker Dormitory. It has many unoccupied/unused solid buildings built by the Former British Troops that are wastefully under utilized, the Location is quite large and far away from residential occupations. Another location is at Chua Chu Kang where there are some large partially used flatted factory buildings beside an old Chinese Cemetery. This is also far away from residential occupation.
It is very disappointing that our rulers hardly factor in the feelings of Singaporeans in their relentless and obsessive pursuits of economic(read money) developments. Are our rulers serious and sensitive in planning our future?
patriot
Quote : 88) MMSMPMMC on September 19th, 2008 8.13 am If only all the “gooners” are as gracious as the “Kayuneans”. They will open their arms and welcome FW to live nearby them
But again, how much will FW dom nearby the estate affect the property value? As for safety, how unsafe will it affect the estate with the FW living in nearby dom? So which is the main objection from the “gooners” then? Mah has to listen objectively and decide why the “Kayuneans” and accept whereas the “gooner” want to object so much.”
You may not be familiar with the proposed area. It is very different from Jalan Kayu and we cannot compare these 2 estates. Once you are familiar with the area, you will understand why SG residents are less welcoming. The proposed dorm is in the midst of the Serangoon Gardens estate and access is through the estate’s very narrow Burghley Drive unless LTA builds a road linking the proposed dorm to CTE. This is not feasible as the daily traffic jam on CTE is already horrendous. There is also no such thing as sealing off a section so that workers do not take enter residential areas like what they are doing in Jalan Kayu. Perhaps we should not comment unless we know the area well, ya?
Minister MBT talked about social integration with the foreigners and also hinted that Singaporeans are not doing their part to socialize. I felt that the problem with foreigner workers is not as simple.
When I was a young boy growing up in Little India, my neighbours are mostly Indian workers coming to Singapore to make a living. They are working as car washers, kachang puteh sellers, drivers, gold smith, hawker, newspaper man, cleaners, etc. These jobs are very exposed in the society in that they are mixing with the locals. You can’t avoid them or miss them. Presently, the workers are employed in the construction areas where there is very minimal chance of contact between the local and them, How can we take time or look for opportunites to get to know them or integrate with them?
Our neighbouring country has many Indonesian legal and illegal workers working in their country, they have problem separating them when the local intermarried with them. How much integration is the minister looking at?
Furthermore, as compared to HK(Idon’t know much about other countries) the govt do not collect levies from the foreign workers. In fact it guarantee the foreign domestic maid a minimum pay. Whereas, we imposed levies and whatever fees on the FW. It is payback time for our govt to look seriously into the issue of accomodation and the welfare of the FW if they are truly sincere.
Don’t pass the buck to us.
The slogan of safety is “prevention is better than cure”
I support what the SGResidents are doing!!!!
Prevent them from coming to S.garden.
PS: I love to eat at the chomp chomp there.
Yo! Me too. I like the Hokkien Mee there!
BTW, I also support Serangoon residents. Anyone who support housing them there got to be crazy and stupid! Or just plain idiot!
Dear all…the construction of the dorm in SG is set to take off…..saw it on yahoo news….can’t believe this is happening…….hope the govenrment dun regret doing so and hopefully they do their part to make sure that the serenity and security are not jeopardise…….
:(
http://sg.news.yahoo.com/cna/20081003/tap-997-mnd-gives-go-ahead-workers-dormi-231650b.html
Guess the ‘feedback’ that the government has been encouraging us to make, is just treated as nonsense.
Any doubts that SGardens will fall back into Marine Parade GRC in 2011?
Looks like the ‘feedback’ that the government has been encouraging us to make, has fallen to deaf ears.
So much for that.
I do predict though that SGardens will fall back into the safety net of Marine Parade GRC the next election.
Maybe they should get the buses timing to be faster…the only bus at the bus-stop outside of the building is 317 which comes every 10-20mins which is pretty long.Imagine taking the bus or alighting at the bus-stop,the foreign workers will be hogging the bus-stop and trying to get a space in the single decker 317.As I play tennis at Burghley Tennis Court and take 317 bus home.The bus will be crowded.
Just FYI.
1) Serangoon Garden Police Post close shop around 11pm++ (or maybe earlier). So, the nearest police centre will be at Serangoon Central. 20mins will be the fastest that I can estimate for them to reach in responding to distress calls (since they took 15mins to respond to problems occurring in my neighbourhood which is just a street away from it and time walking to the police centre took about 3-5mins.)
Serangoon Gardens have their own citizen watch group, if I’m not wrong. This might help, but it’s not related to the discussion here anyway.
2) The pictures in stomp as posted by Burghley Dr resident is a proof of how narrow is the road. Even though I am not living there, looking at the road and visualizing the numbers of buses going to travel through that narrow road… I guess, I leave it to your own imagination.