We are so sorry

We are so sorry that we have messed up the public housing programme and many people have suffered because of the bad decisions. Our biggest mistake was to sell off the 10,000 excess units when we knew that the number of new immigrants coming in was so huge that the stocks would not even be enough. We knew, and please, don’t ever think that we did not know. Our system was so efficient and we had all the top scholars in all the departments and it was ludicrous to think that several hundred thousands of new migrants were arriving on our shore and we did not know, that we could be sleeping!

Yes, we made a very serious mistake by deciding to get rid of the stocks in double quick time. And yes, we compounded the problem by not building new flats and insisting that new building programmes would only be launched when the order book was full. And we were too arrogant, ruthless and uncaring to dictate that ‘take it or leave it’, the new flats would only be ready in 4/5 years time. The people who could not wait, it was their problem, not ours.

And the confluence of events and data, we had all the statistics, influx of new immigrants, young people coming of age and getting married, number of pubic housing needed and how long it would take to build, and how many units must be built every year to meet the demand. But we did not do the necessary. We did the reverse. Please don’t ask why. We cannot tell.

We are very sorry that many people are badly affected, financially affected by our ill conceived housing policies and regulations. We know that many are still not able to buy a flat direct from the HDB. And if they do, the prices would have gone up several folds and it would be very hard on them. We also are very sorry to those that were kicked out of the public housing system and now presumably too rich to buy HDB but too poor to buy private properties and hanging between the devil and the deep blue sea. And we know that they would not have the chance to ever buy a public flat as their income would have exceeded the ceiling determined by HDB. Even as we ramp up the building from 25,000 to a record 27,000 this year, nothing will change the fate of these people.

And no, we are not responsible for the shit they are in now. We will not admit any mistake on our part. How can we do that? We are incapable of making this kind of silly mistakes that cannot be made even by a 18 year old kid. Too embarrassing if we were to say so and it is not possible to unwind the situation now, and to bring down the high property prices. We know the prices were not affordable but we insisted that they were. What can you do about it?

You losers would just have to live with it and for those who fell victims, well, it is water under the bridge. Don’t call us. We know but we are not going to do anything about it. Neither would we apologise for it. We are sorry? You must be joking.

The apologetic part and the ‘we are sorry’ part, are all my imagination. Nothing of this sort will happen. Saying sorry is not a practice here. I stand corrected if anyone can contradict my statement and say yes, so and so said sorry for creating the big mess and hurting so many people, not only financially, but their whole lives, to spend more time working and saving and ended no time to get married, to have babies or start a family.

Actually there was no mistake at all, and no big mess. Everything happened the way it was supposed to be, very well executed by the best talents available. That is why there is no need to say sorry. No mistake how to say sorry? And if I am not mistaken, the policy makers could be duly rewarded for doing an excellent job, maybe even awarded with public service medals.

Now 27,000 units and the problem is getting worst, the prices are going higher. Just pretend to cry over spilt milk without meaning it. We are an inclusive country. But for those that were screwed by the bad housing policies, the inclusivity does not apply. Even if they are first timers, it will not apply to them too and they will not be allowed to buy direct from HDB. It is their faults.