Cheryl Chan on public housing motions

One of the key challenges Singapore faces is to balance the demand for affordable and accessible housing against competing needs for land use as the country modernises, said MP Cheryl Chan in Parliament on Monday (Feb 6). She said a few “bold” changes may be necessary to shift the balance of housing supply and demand. These include being prepared to settle for less profit when people sell their subsidised flats, being willing to live in the same property for a much longer time, accepting a new definition of living in proximity to loved ones in estates that are non-mature and at distances beyond 15 kilometres, and not constantly asking for more subsidies because these will have to be paid through taxes or other means. Ms Chan asked what more can be done to help buyers in urgent need of housing as well as first-timers. She suggested a longer Minimum Occupation Period for new BTO flats in mature estates and reviewing whether downsizing options for owners of private housing should be limited to some flat sizes unless they are above a particular age.