November 24, 2009 by admin
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Written by Our Correspondent
National Development Minister Mah Bow Tan told parliament
yesterday that PRs do not add further to the demand of HDB
flats.
“PRs are not eligible for buying new flats, even in
the resale market, quite a lot of them actually rent. They are
under-represented as far as purchases are concerned,” he
said.
Mr Mah did not quote any figures to substantiate his
claims. An earlier report by real estate agency ERA revealed that
40 per cent of buyers of resale flats are PRs.
The Straits Times reported an Indonesian PR forking out
$653,000 for a 4-room flat in Queenstown though he could well
afford a condominium.
The prices of resale flats have sky-rocketed over the last
few months, hittinga record high in June this year.
Despite the escalating prices, HDB is adamant that public
housing remains affordable in Singapore.
In response to mounting complaints from first-time home
buyers that they were unable to purchase a flat of their choice, Mr
Mah retorted that they were too “fussy”.
He reiterated his stance again in parliament that
expectations of first-time buyers are too high, with
many demanding for flats in prime estates or on higher
floors.
“I cannot build flats only in the mature estates, only in the city
area. I cannot build flats that are only on high floors,” he
said.
Mr Mah claimed that HDB will be building between 10,000
and 12,000 new flats per annum over the next five years to meet the
housing demand in Singapore.
He did not explain why the supply of new flats was not
increased between the years 2006 and 2008 when the influx of
foreigners is at its peak.
The number of foreigners working and living in Singapore
has increased rapidly over the last few years as part of the
government’s policy to boost the nation’s declining birth rates via
immigration.
Foreigners now made up 36 per cent of the population, up
from 14 per cent in 1990. This means that one out of three
residents in Singapore is a foreigner.
According to the National Population Secretariat, about
90,000 foreigners became PRs last year with another 20,000 taking
up Singapore citizenship.
Mr Mah did not reveal the exact numbers of PRs and new
citizens who bought resale flats as well as new flats.
The numbers of PRs who made a profit from the sale of
their resale flats after they left Singapore is also
unknown.
The question on whether there are sufficient HDB flats for
first-time buyers was actually fielded by a PAP MP. The three
so-called opposition MPs in parliament have remained mute on the
issue so far.
Singapore’s ruling PAP won only 66.6 per cent of the valid
votes in the last elections, but occupied 82 out of 84 seats in
parliament.
With an absolute majority, they are able to pass bills and
legislation unhindered in parliament with little or no
debate.
Without a sizable opposition presence in parliament to
demand detailed answers from Mr Mah, it is unlikely that
Singaporeans will ever know the real impact of foreigners on the
cost of public housing in Singapore.
Typical PAP MP reply:
"They are under-represented as far as purchases are
concerned,” he said."
But without figures to substantiate his claims...
Just LHL tells local citizen. We will prioritize local student
for education, Local citizen for job... Blah,blah,blah but not
further elaboration , explanation and satistic to back his
words.
RUBBISH
