APR 24, 2011
'Housing not a 'make-or-break' election issue'
By Fiona Chan & Robin Chan
'There are so many other issues,' he told reporters at a press conference after a youth dialogue on the new Tampines Town Hub. -- ST PHOTO: CAROLINE CHIA
HOUSING will not be a make-or-break issue in this year's general elections, National Development Minister Mah Bow Tan said on Sunday.
'There are so many other issues,' he told reporters at a press conference after a youth dialogue on the new Tampines Town Hub.
But Mr Mah again took pains to rebut the Workers' Party's latest comments on housing, calling the WP's proposals for cheaper housing 'ill-conceived and even dangerous'.
In a detailed four-page statement he issued on Sunday, he reiterated that the WP's suggestion to reduce new flat prices would 'distort the market and destroy the value of the million flats owned by Singaporeans today'.
'Despite WP's denial, it's proposal to lower flat prices by paying less for land will constitute a draw on reserves,' he added.
Mr Mah also described Workers' Party leader Low Thia Khiang as 'mischievous' for alleging that the Government has been guilty of taking from Singapore's reserves for years.
'This is highly misleading,' Mr Mah said. 'The Government is fiscally prudent.'
'Housing not a 'make-or-break' election issue'
By Fiona Chan & Robin Chan
'There are so many other issues,' he told reporters at a press conference after a youth dialogue on the new Tampines Town Hub. -- ST PHOTO: CAROLINE CHIA
HOUSING will not be a make-or-break issue in this year's general elections, National Development Minister Mah Bow Tan said on Sunday.
'There are so many other issues,' he told reporters at a press conference after a youth dialogue on the new Tampines Town Hub.
But Mr Mah again took pains to rebut the Workers' Party's latest comments on housing, calling the WP's proposals for cheaper housing 'ill-conceived and even dangerous'.
In a detailed four-page statement he issued on Sunday, he reiterated that the WP's suggestion to reduce new flat prices would 'distort the market and destroy the value of the million flats owned by Singaporeans today'.
'Despite WP's denial, it's proposal to lower flat prices by paying less for land will constitute a draw on reserves,' he added.
Mr Mah also described Workers' Party leader Low Thia Khiang as 'mischievous' for alleging that the Government has been guilty of taking from Singapore's reserves for years.
'This is highly misleading,' Mr Mah said. 'The Government is fiscally prudent.'
