Sim Ann on public housing motions

Singapore does not need a reset in public housing policies as claimed by the Progress Singapore Party’s Leong Mun Wai, said Senior Minister of State for National Development Sim Ann in Parliament on Tuesday (Feb 7). She said over the long term, the Government has not under-built BTO flats nor lost sight of affordability, especially for flats in non-mature estates. The Government also agrees with MPs’ observations about short-term imbalances in supply and a spike in resale price levels and is taking action to address these issues. Ms Sim said Mr Leong’s proposed Affordable Homes Scheme does not solve existing challenges and raises more questions than it answers. It is wrong, for instance, to say that the land on which HDB flats is built should be treated like the land on which public infrastructure is built. As for Mr Leong’s proposal for a scheme to appeal to young people who are not ready to buy their own HDB flat, Ms Sim said the Government believes that compared to subsidising rental as a lifestyle, subsidising home ownership brings more benefits, especially if it is for the majority of Singaporeans for whom home ownership is attainable. She also explained how HDB and CPF policies are closely linked to help Singaporeans achieve both home ownership and retirement adequacy. Overall, she said, Government policies are designed to equip every generation with the opportunity to own their homes and benefit for more than one lifetime. Meanwhile, she said Mr Leong’s critiques of the Selective En bloc Redevelopment Scheme and the Voluntary Early Redevelopment Scheme encourage Singaporeans to expect extended benefits lasting indefinitely over generations, without explaining how this is fair or sustainable.