Khaw sympathetic to divorcees' plight, but cautions against abuse

[BuiKia]

Minister for National Development Khaw Boon Wan said during Friday's Parliament sitting that Singaporeans who are in distress will receive compassion and special treatment from HDB.

Mr Khaw was replying to questions by Members of Parliament who highlighted the housing plight of divorcees, widows and the poor during the sitting.

However, there was also a need to minimise the potential for abuse as there were examples of claiming benefits even though their marriages are intact, he said.

Media reports said there are couples who fake divorces so that they can buy an extra flat to rent out.

At least three MPs had mentioned the plight of divorcees, who have to wait five years from the date a divorce is finalised before they can purchase a HDB flat or be listed as an occupier, The Straits Times reported.

Divorcees also face a 30-month debarment period after selling their flats before they can apply for subsidised rental housing.

Divorcees and their children sometimes have to share a confined living space with relatives because they cannot find a place to stay, which is an unhealthy arrangement, said Mountbatten SMC MP Lim Biow Chuan.

He suggested allowing divorcees with children to rent a flat quickly. They could also be allowed to buy a flat directly from HDB, he said.

Singles who wanted to buy flats were also mentioned by MPs, who said being single was often not a matter of choice and that singles were limited to more expensive flats on the HDB resale market.

In reply, Minister for National Development Khaw Boon Wan said MND was "sympathetic to divorcees", especially those with young children.

He said more than 20 per cent of allocated rental flats were to divorcees with children.

Mr Khaw also said he is thinking about how to help singles, so as to not compromise on the promotion of marriage and mutual family support.

Current HDB regulations allow singles above 21 to apply for a flat with their parents, Mr Khaw told Parliament.

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[Cruxx]

Singapore didn't progress from a third world fishing village to a first world modern metropolis by having sympathy. This Khaw is debasing our national ethos of self-reliance!

 

[Leongsam]

Singapore didn't progress from a third world fishing village to a first world modern metropolis by having sympathy. This Khaw is debasing our national ethos of self-reliance!

Divorcees should be excommunicated from the country. We don't want these tainted individuals to pollute the rest of society.

 

[erection2015]

i agree only partly with you on this. The better looking and better endowed ones should be sent to me for assessment. I will decide on their fate

.... whether to banish or allow them to remain.

Divorcees should be excommunicated from the country. We don't want these tainted individuals to pollute the rest of society.

 

[mojito]

Divorcees should be excommunicated from the country. We don't want these tainted individuals to pollute the rest of society.

Oh YES!! Just as bankrupt individuals have shown themselves to be financially imprudent, untrustworthy and lacking in judgment, divorcees have shown to be imprudent, untrustworthy and lacking in good judgment. What's worse, bad genes are like an infectious disease - they can be passed on to the next generation! We cannot allow that to happen here. We must nip the problem in the bud.

Once again, you have proven to be a courageous and forthright individual not afraid to speak his mind. We need more clones like you to speak up in this forum!