3/09/2013

Khaw Boon Wan, wow, is it real?





The announcement by Boon Wan on the back to basics public housing policy is a move in the right direction and will be most welcomed by the people. The objectives of public housing have been altered through the years by shallow thinking people that have forgotten why it was called public housing in the first place that it is best forgotten. Let’s get the basics right.

Public housing is for the citizens, the majority of whom that needs a roof over their heads, a place to rest and bring up children, a place to go home to. When getting a place to sleep is getting so expensive, it is going to make life very difficult to many people as not everyone is so bless to have so much money to pay for housing.

Boon Wan is calling for more feedbacks given the complexities of housing as a home, as an asset, as a fall back to be liquidated to release some funds for retirement, and a host of other purposes. What I would suggest is to go back to basics and simplicity. The priority is to make housing affordable, I mean really and reasonably affordable to the average citizens, and make the right to ownership simple. Some rules are still necessary but need not be so exclusive and demanding.

First principle, all Singaporeans must be allowed to buy a public flat. Everyone needs a place to stay, especially when you are a citizen.

Second principle, build to ensure the supply is enough to meet the demand and not like those thoughtless people who created the demand supply problem that led to the big angst among the people and a property bubble.

Third principle, provide a buffet spread and let the people decide what they want or can afford to buy. Let the people make their own choice and not dictate the choice on the people.

Fourth principle, when supply is adequate to meet demand, there is no need for all the exclusivity clauses to give impression that the higher income buyers are depriving the lower income earners of their chances. This wicked divisive idea to pitch the people against one another must be removed. Every citizen, regardless of income level, is entitled to buy his public flat within a simpler framework of rules and regulations.

Fifth principle, PRs are not eligible to buy public housing. However, they can rent from the citizens or HDB can build rental flats for them. PRs can go to the private property market if they can afford it. But to prevent a big bubble in private property prices, foreigners, including PRs, can only buy to stay and not for speculation. Given the limited space available, it is necessary to have sound regulations to prevent non citizens from churning the property market to raise the cost of living here. Many of the restrictions on foreign ownership of properties should stay and more be introduced to keep the property market under control.

Sixth principle, the speculative element in public housing should be minimised. When there is adequate supply, public housing prices should be stable.

But, as they all said, how real is Boon Wan and his return to basics? Wait for the fine prints. Hopefully cheaper public housing would not compromise on the size and quality of the flats. Please, no reduction in the lease period or things like can see back to HDB or any profits must return to HDB.

33 comments:

  1. Foreign workers depress pay and take away jobs, they from third world country can pay cheaper? If you give good enough pay are you sure locals don't work?


    Developed countries mostly local work this type of jobs because they are resonable pay and better working conditions?

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  2. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  3. Don know WTF PAP are doing. Our living space per person is 25 sqm.

    In comparison, China average living space is already 35 sqm this year. What more remarkable is not too long ago, china average living space is just 7 sqm. In short, our super clean and efficient PAP and HDB is worse than the ultra corrupt communist PRC.

    I do not see how Khaw Boon Wan can improve our lots. By right every Singaporean should be entitled one landed property, as land is acquired from us. We have enough land to do that. Now we are living in a 99 years cage.

    Land is not a problem. PAP is the problem.

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  4. We already know Khaw Boon Wan's track record.
    It's no secret.
    Introduce means testing for public housing!

    If you are poor, you cannot buy.

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  5. It will be raiding the reserve according to shortie last time so I don't think it can be real

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  6. Ron aka RDB in TREMarch 09, 2013 11:38 am

    KBW paid so very highly and can't decide how best to solve the problems that they created and is seeking feedback. And what of their many Parliamentary Committees studying so many issues for their talented ministers too? LOLLLL...LLL!

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  7. You have believed in PAP's "affordable public housing" for the last 50 years.
    Still want to believe for another 50 years is it?

    What will your children say in Malaysia?
    We are living in Johor because my parents believed in PAP's "affordable" public housing policy.

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  8. TO go back to basic,first must allow me to return my pigeon hole to HDB and ask JTC to return me my Ah Kong's Somapah road attap hut and land.Let me be what I should be.That is my basic.

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  9. When you are addicted to smoking, talking about quitting is easy, doing it is another matter.

    How much is the PAP willing to compromise given that many Singaporeans have already paid a ransom for their homes? Causing a steep fall in HDB prices is not the way to go obviously, with ground sentiments on other issues still simmering on the streets. Neither is allowing slower rise in prices.

    The PAP has ridden many tigers and now do not know how to dismount. CPF, HDB, Fertility issues, overdependence on cheap foreign labour are but some of the major policies that have gone wrong.

    So, is Boon Wan just giving sedatives to Singaporeans or the real cure?

    What do you think?

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  10. Tink they will jus slash the lease by 30% and reduce the price by 30%, and immediately everything becomes more affordable.

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  11. Can you trust someone who said no means test before the GE and rushed to implement it after the GE?

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  12. Pro aliens party politicians are evil, greedy and self serving. Housing has reached a point it has become so unaffordable for the working class that one has to slave the entire live just to have a deck above his/her head. It is better for the young generation to seek other greener pastures. The future is so bleak.

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  13. The future is so bleak - housing is unffordable, cars is unattainable, jobs are given to foreigners, schools are given to school foreigners kids, hospitals beds are used by foreigners. Vote opposition at least there is a better chance for a better future.

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  14. Veritas should be singapore prime minister and singaporeans will have net happiness not net miserables.

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  15. Since it is so bad, why not give the opposition a chance.

    Our parents also gave the PAP the chance they needed. They were different initially, I would say really doing things for Singaporens. Greed has changed them. Changed beyond recognition.

    Singaporeans must make the right choice in 2016. Choose the PAP and you will have more misery. Choose the opposition and you have hope for a better future for your kids. A country should not continue perpetually be ruled by one group of people. It is nothing short of a dictatorship or communism in disguise.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Well said Bro, during Dr Goh Keng Swee's era flats of 3 room flat at 9800 to 13500.

      4 room at 24500 and 5 room at 30500 to 46000.

      Where got DBSS, Executive condo etc.

      These are ploys to trick the public in paying more. Where got mention of raiding the reserves. Land belonged to the public and their mission to built affordable flats fir the masses.

      Where got development taxes etc.

      Full time NS men after completion of their active service were given priority in balloting of their flats.

      Before ROD, given choices for government services in various agencies.

      Guaranteed jobs some more.

      Friend if mine who works in the HDB fir forty odd years before retirement from housing maintenance to construction and also trained several PRCs engineers here fir exchange training told me that the construction costs are very minimal but the prices are inflated by this makboh tan and company

      Now they are caught in a bind as many had paid sky high prices fir their flats that they are in a shit mess trying to go back to the basics too rapidly.


      Delete
  16. Unfortunately, not enough singaporeans to vote them out. Only 40% managed to see the light in the last election.

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  17. I really wonder what feedback is needed.

    After so many years, with so much historical and current data in HDB's computer base, with so much print and online commentaries!!!!!!

    Another "natcon" after previous "natcons"...

    Wow....a city of talking, discussing, listening, asking...what a vibrant scene...our singapore

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  18. Yes, yes, have more discussion.

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  19. Public housing should be ring-fenced from private housing. Construction costs based pricing will be fair.

    If the PAP gahmen is not greedy. HBD housing can remain affordable.
    How can HDB be "subsidized" when every year HDB has "surplus cash" but "accounting loss"?

    The gahman on the other hand should let private housing be market driven.

    The gahmen cannot eat both sides of the cake.
    This is the major macro contradiction.

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  20. HDB should stop building anything smaller than a 3room (2bedrooms) flats. Singles can rent out one bedroom when they are old for pension. Families are more readily to have another kid. One more bedroom will not take up so much more land space but will create a lot more value for the lease owners.

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  21. Quality living is to have a bit more space. If it is possible, every family should live in at least 4 or 5rms. As for singles, what is wrong with them living in 3 or 4 rms or bigger?

    There something still seriously wrong with those in power, to dictate that people must live in squeezed little pigeon holes. On the other hand insisting that people who have a little more money must buy private properties or cannot use C class wards. Assholes.

    This sickness is very deep in the psyche. They must go to visit IMH more often to get rid of such prejudices. Sick people must not be allowed to decide on policy matters that affect the welfare of the people.

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  22. Nothing can be done. The more the government tinkers, the more disappointment for the people. The government is trying to "look good" and "please everybody" -- property owners, foreign buyers, locals coming of age...hahahhaha...good luck lah.

    You can't legislate away SCARCITY.

    ...oh, but please try, and fail. I want to experience the "entertainment" -- the kind of scenario where people do not accept reality, and try to use "magic" to bend reality to suit their own minds, so that they can be "happy".

    Got magic wand, motherfuckers?

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  23. What is 4 years annual income? Single income of household income? It was 3 years single income in the 70s.

    See the catch?

    ReplyDelete
  24. PAP is pushing panic button. After creating all the mess and lost of trust of Singaporeans as seen in PE election, they are trying all kind of damage control tricks to regain control. All but is too late. The smell of this rotten egg are just beyond its useful lifespan and the only right thing to do is to discard and get fresh ones.

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  25. PAP is pushing panic button. After creating all the mess and lost of trust of Singaporeans as seen in PE election, they are trying all kind of damage control tricks to regain control. All but is too late. The smell of this rotten egg are just beyond its useful lifespan and the only right thing to do is to discard and get fresh ones.

    ReplyDelete
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