Mah Bow Tan: We are a
“land-locked” city state
Just when Singaporeans are crying out for help to bring down the
sky-rocketing prices of HDB flats, National Development Minister
Mah Bow Tan talked about Singapore’s “biodiversity” instead.
During a speech made at the launch of the “Forest of Giants”
yesterday, Mr Mah claimed that Singapore has been “successful” in
balancing development and conservation.
”…we are a very small city state, land
locked; development is important for us, but at the same
time, we have to make every effort to conserve what we have. So,
this balance, this tussle between development and conservation is
even more acute in a city state like ours,” he was quoted as
saying in Channel News Asia.
It is not known how relevant the topic of conservation is to
ordinary Singaporeans who are increasingly priced out of the public
housing market.
Mr Mah has come under fire lately from disgruntled home buyers
for failing to control HDB flat prices which hit a record high last
year though he admitted that he was caught “off-guard” by the
phenomenal growth in prices.
Despite evidence showing otherwise, Mr Mah is adamant that HDB
flats remain affordable to Singaporeans and castigated home buyers
for being “fussy” and having “unrealistic” expectations.
Mr Mah’s nonchalant demeanour appeared to suggest that he
remained unfazed by the rising chorus of discontent from the
ground.
He is paid about $2 million dollars a year, or more than 4 times
the annual salary of U.S. President Barack Obama and is expected to
get another 8.8 percent pay hike this year.
With the property market booming and “good times” returning, Mr
Mah can well afford to dwell on “biodiversity” and “conservation
for now.
