Several ministers are backing Finance Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam's comments that sparked a massive online furore recently.
Minister Tharman, also the Deputy Prime Minister (DPM), had said on Thursday (1 Mar) in parliament, that a family earning $1,000 a month can afford to buy a small HDB flat, while those that earn $1,200 to $1,500 can afford a medium size HDB flat.
See the story here.
His comments started a lot of heated discussion on the internet with many netizens expressing outrage and disbelief.
However, several ministers have since spoken out on the issue to back DPM Tharman's comments, according to The Sunday Times.
National Development Minister Khaw Boon Wan defended DPM Tharman's comments by stating in parliament on Friday (2 Mar) that first time flat applicants can get up to $60,000 in subsidies.
This will bring down the price of a two-room flat to $40,000, allowing it to be fully paid through CPF.
Ms Josephine Teo, the Minister of State of Finance, said yesterday (3 Mar) that with grants and CPF, a flat is "not out of their (low income families') reach."
Mr Lawrence Wong, the Minister of State for Defence and Education, also posted on his Facebook page that the government will continue to help low income families.
Mr Tan Chuan-Jin, the Minister of State for Manpower and National Development, wrote a note titled "Earn $1,000 a month and you want to buy a flat?!" on his Facebook page.
Mr Tan's note illustrated the calculations involved in a scenario of a household with a $1,000 income getting a two-room flat.
The calculations show that the household will have to pay $161 a month for 30 years.
With a CPF contribution of $217 based on the $1,000 income, the household would not have to fork out any cash for the flat.
Netizens, however, continue to be skeptical, saying that the calculation is merely in theory, but in reality, there are many other issues involved.
"Can calculations on paper really translate into real outcomes?" asked a netizen.
A netizen, 'Bean Ho Leng', also asked whether HDB will really lend the required $40,000 to a person earning $1,000 a month.
Minister Tharman, also the Deputy Prime Minister (DPM), had said on Thursday (1 Mar) in parliament, that a family earning $1,000 a month can afford to buy a small HDB flat, while those that earn $1,200 to $1,500 can afford a medium size HDB flat.
See the story here.
His comments started a lot of heated discussion on the internet with many netizens expressing outrage and disbelief.
However, several ministers have since spoken out on the issue to back DPM Tharman's comments, according to The Sunday Times.
National Development Minister Khaw Boon Wan defended DPM Tharman's comments by stating in parliament on Friday (2 Mar) that first time flat applicants can get up to $60,000 in subsidies.
This will bring down the price of a two-room flat to $40,000, allowing it to be fully paid through CPF.
Ms Josephine Teo, the Minister of State of Finance, said yesterday (3 Mar) that with grants and CPF, a flat is "not out of their (low income families') reach."
Mr Lawrence Wong, the Minister of State for Defence and Education, also posted on his Facebook page that the government will continue to help low income families.
Mr Tan Chuan-Jin, the Minister of State for Manpower and National Development, wrote a note titled "Earn $1,000 a month and you want to buy a flat?!" on his Facebook page.
Mr Tan's note illustrated the calculations involved in a scenario of a household with a $1,000 income getting a two-room flat.
The calculations show that the household will have to pay $161 a month for 30 years.
With a CPF contribution of $217 based on the $1,000 income, the household would not have to fork out any cash for the flat.
Netizens, however, continue to be skeptical, saying that the calculation is merely in theory, but in reality, there are many other issues involved.
"Can calculations on paper really translate into real outcomes?" asked a netizen.
A netizen, 'Bean Ho Leng', also asked whether HDB will really lend the required $40,000 to a person earning $1,000 a month.
