Lucky Tan's view on SDP NOM

[mojito]

HDB to build more rental flats to reduce waiting time
By Melissa Chong | Posted: 12 November 2012 2341 hrs

SINGAPORE: National Development Minister Khaw Boon Wan announced on Monday the government's target to have 57,000 rental flats by 2015.

Mr Khaw said this in a written response to Member of Parliament Dr Lee Bee Wah, who asked for an update in the measures taken to reduce the waiting time needed to apply for a flat under the Housing and Development Board's (HDB) Public Rental Scheme.

The minister said that the average waiting time for a flat is about six months, which could stretch longer if applicants request for specific locations or blocks.

He said that the government intends to build more rental flats to reduce the waiting time of applicants, with a target of 57,000 units by 2015.

Singapore now has 49,300 units of 1- and 2-room public rental flats, up from 45,500 two years ago.

Mr Khaw reiterated that even as more rental flats are being built, "we must also ensure that they are safeguarded for the poor and needy. These are the vulnerable citizens with no family support or other housing options."

Mr Khaw said the government is also tackling the problem upstream, by advising Singaporeans not to sell their HDB flats with the expectation that HDB will provide them with a heavily subsidised rental flat.

- CNA/jc

 

[aurvandil]

Opposition parties in Singapore have to get their acts together and be professional in their dealings, especially in policy studies. Unfortunately, almost all of them except WP and SDP, do not have the funding to do that. WP, with 6+2 MPs, should have enough funding to employ researchers to do serious policy studies. However, I do not see them doing that at the moment.

Many people view Lina Chiam with her strangely sculpted eyebrows as a bit of a joke. She looks more like one of those aunties you will meet playing slots at RWS/MBS than a serious politician. If however you look at her speeches in the Hansard, you can see that she has someone pretty solid advising her on policy. She shot this round off at $8 Khaw on Monday:

http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/1236779/1/.html

SINGAPORE: Minister for National Development Khaw Boon Wan said Block 31 at Lorong 6 Toa Payoh is managed by HDB for needy Singaporeans and is not leased to foreigners.

Blocks 32 and 33 along the same road, he said, are vacated Selective En-bloc Redevelopment Scheme (SERS) flats.

And in 2009, HDB leased these two blocks to EM Services at market rates as an interim arrangement.

Mr Khaw made the points in a written reply to oral questions raised by NCMP Lina Chiam in parliament on Monday.

She had asked why Blocks 31 to 33 at Lorong 6 Toa Payoh were leased by HDB, through its managing agent EM Services, to Resorts World Sentosa (RWS) at below market rates to house its foreign employees.

Mr Khaw said on Monday the arrangement between EM Services and RWS is a commercial one.

EM Services had leased Blocks 32 and 33 to RWS to house its employees in 2009.

RWS has since returned Block 32 to EM Services and is only leasing Block 33.

HDB's leasing contract with EM Services will end in December 2012.

The flats will then be demolished for redevelopment.

 

[aurvandil]

Three simple questions for $8 Khaw:

1) Are the 57,000 rental flats by 2015 sufficient to meet the needs of Singapore? The number seems somewhat small considering the applications that HDB has received.

2) Why is it that PAP will only provide 1/2 room rental flats to Singaporeans but 3/4/5 room flats to foreigners?

3) Why can't we convert rental flats under SHIFT/EM Services Pte Ltd for use by Singaporeans? This would give IMMIDIATE relief for Singaporeans in the queue?

The minister said that the average waiting time for a flat is about six months, which could stretch longer if applicants request for specific locations or blocks.

He said that the government intends to build more rental flats to reduce the waiting time of applicants, with a target of 57,000 units by 2015.

Singapore now has 49,300 units of 1- and 2-room public rental flats, up from 45,500 two years ago.

 

[captainxerox]

Three simple questions for $8 Khaw:

1) Are the 57,000 rental flats by 2015 sufficient to meet the needs of Singapore? The number seems somewhat small considering the applications that HDB has received.

2) Why is it that PAP will only provide 1/2 room rental flats to Singaporeans but 3/4/5 room flats to foreigners?

3) Why can't we convert rental flats under SHIFT/EM Services Pte Ltd for use by Singaporeans? This would give IMMIDIATE relief for Singaporeans in the queue?

for 2), got meh? or more like because of 3) i.e. they rent to commercial companies who then rent it out to foreigners. excuse for hdb to wash hands act blur.