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[h=2]Govt to phase out ‘Scheme for Housing of Foreign Talent’[/h]
March 12th, 2013 |
Author: Editorial
Lee Yi Shyan (Photo CNA)
Under pressure from opposition MPs and Singaporeans as witnessed by last month’s protest at Hong Lim Park, the PAP government is forced to cut back on some of its pro-foreigner policies.
Singaporeans are clamoring for the government to implement more policies which put Singaporeans first in their own country – something which comes naturally and goes without saying in other first world countries.
In Parliament today (12 Mar), Senior Minister of State for Trade and Industry, Lee Yi Shyan, said JTC Corporation has been gradually phasing out the Scheme for Housing of Foreign Talent (SHiFT) [Link].
He explained that the scheme was started in 1997 to address the “lack of affordable housing for foreign talents”.
The scheme, managed by JTC, actually provides foreigners with affordable housing at monthly rental of up to 40 per cent lower than market rates.
The rental units are located in Wessex Estate, Chip Bee Gardens and various HDB estates. Here is a description of Wessex Estate taken from JTC’s website:
That being the case, it is not known why it has taken something like 10 years to phase out the scheme.
Mr Lee added, “JTC expects to continue to run down the stock of the remaining SHiFT flats as the tenancy agreements expire.”
He was responding to a question in Parliament by NCMP Lina Chiam, on whether the government would consider suspending the scheme, to address the housing concerns of Singaporeans who cannot afford HDB flats.
Mrs Chiam had suggested renting these housing units currently under the scheme to these Singaporeans instead.
Meanwhile, a second event for Singaporeans to protest against the Population White Paper has been planned for 1 May 2013 at Hong Lim Park (‘White Paper Protest 2 to be held on Labour Day, 1 May 2013‘).
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Under pressure from opposition MPs and Singaporeans as witnessed by last month’s protest at Hong Lim Park, the PAP government is forced to cut back on some of its pro-foreigner policies.
Singaporeans are clamoring for the government to implement more policies which put Singaporeans first in their own country – something which comes naturally and goes without saying in other first world countries.
In Parliament today (12 Mar), Senior Minister of State for Trade and Industry, Lee Yi Shyan, said JTC Corporation has been gradually phasing out the Scheme for Housing of Foreign Talent (SHiFT) [Link].
He explained that the scheme was started in 1997 to address the “lack of affordable housing for foreign talents”.
The scheme, managed by JTC, actually provides foreigners with affordable housing at monthly rental of up to 40 per cent lower than market rates.
The rental units are located in Wessex Estate, Chip Bee Gardens and various HDB estates. Here is a description of Wessex Estate taken from JTC’s website:
“Nestled amidst lush greenery off Portsdown Road and within the one-north development, Wessex Estate provides an excellent housing option for the working population in one-north. Priority is given to applicants working in the Biomedical Sciences, Infocomm Technology, Media, Physical Sciences and Engineering industries within the one-north development.”
Mr Lee said that in those days, HDB owners could only rent out rooms and not the entire flat, to locals and foreigners alike. But this has changed since 2003, where HDB has allowed the rental of entire flats to both Singaporeans and foreigners.
That being the case, it is not known why it has taken something like 10 years to phase out the scheme.
Mr Lee added, “JTC expects to continue to run down the stock of the remaining SHiFT flats as the tenancy agreements expire.”
He was responding to a question in Parliament by NCMP Lina Chiam, on whether the government would consider suspending the scheme, to address the housing concerns of Singaporeans who cannot afford HDB flats.
Mrs Chiam had suggested renting these housing units currently under the scheme to these Singaporeans instead.
Meanwhile, a second event for Singaporeans to protest against the Population White Paper has been planned for 1 May 2013 at Hong Lim Park (‘White Paper Protest 2 to be held on Labour Day, 1 May 2013‘).
.
Join our TRE facebook page here: http://www.facebook.com/TREmeritus
.
Read more at http://www.tremeritus.com/2013/03/1...-for-housing-of-foreign-talent/#ixzz2NQhwzc2Z
Under Creative Commons License: Attribution Non-Commercial No Derivatives
Follow us: TREmeritus on Facebook
