The investment claim of US$147 million set forth by the
government just does not stand up to logic or analysis. For 6-7
years they spent US$147 million, which is equivalent to US$21
million a year. To develop infrastructure and construct buildings
an area (70 sq km) the size of 10% of Singapore. If you based it on
the cost of construction of HDB flats in Singapore, say arbitrarily
US$60,000 for 1 unit of 3-4 room flat, a 10 storey flat with 10
apartments in each level would cost US$6 million per building.
US$21 million a year would translate to 3.5 buildings a year, this
amount does not even include the infrastructural works (roads,
communication lines, electrical framework) in the Suzhou Industrial
Park.
10% of Singapore would roughly be equal to Ang Mo Kio GRC +
Aljunied GRC + Tampines GRC. Just visualise 21 buildings standing
on 3 of these GRCs after 7 years.