TR EMERITUS

Beleaguered PAP National Development Minister Mah Bow Tan, who has come under fire for his failure to control sky-rocketing prices of HDB flats, now shiftsthe blame to Singaporeans again for the strong demand in public housing. The prices of HDB flats have ballooned in recent years due to a limited supply of flats in the face of growing demand caused partly by the relentless influx of foreigners into Singapore. Though the PAP regime announced its ambitious plan to increase Singapore’s population to 6.5 million people via immigration way back in 2005, the number of flats built between 2006 – 2008 is the lowest over the years. Only 3,183 flats were built in 2008 when Singapore accepted 20,000 new citizens and 90,000 PRs who were allowed to purchase resale flats in the open market by the PAP regime. [Source: HDB Financial Report 2008/2009] As there are insufficient new flats being built to meet the demands of both Singaporeans and the new citizens, many have to purchase flats in the resale market, thereby jacking up prices in the process. Below is a graph illustrating how the rise in the prices of resale flats coincides with the rise in the number of foreigners in Singapore between the years 2000 and 2008, courtesy of Kojakbt, the moderator of 3in1kopitiam: While Mr Mah has admitted he had been “caught off-guard” by the astronomical prices of HDB flats, he is adamant that they are affordable to Singaporeans and chided home-buyers for being “fussy” and having “unrealistic” expectations. Speaking in Parliament yesterday, Mr Mah accused of some Singaporeans buying HDB flats in anticipation of possible price increases in the future though they are not in need of housing and blamed them for contributing to the strong demand today without substantiating his claims. "I advise buyers to be financially prudent and remember that HDB flats are meant for their long-term occupation," he was quoted as saying in the Straits Times. Mr Mah should reveal the number of Singaporeans who own more than one HDB flat especially those who live in private properties and rent out their HDB flats for income, like YPAP leader and new citizen from India Sinha Shekhar before plucking nothing out of thin air and blame Singaporeans for their housing woes. Had Mr Mah built the 16,000 flats way back in 2006 - 2008 instead of next year, we will not be stuck in the current predicament.     Debunking official myths of HDB flats series: 1 Myth 1: Singaporeans are “owners” of their HDB flats 2. Myth 2: HDB flats are “affordable” to most Singaporeans 3. Myth 3: Rising prices of HDB flats “generate” wealth for Singaporeans   Related articles: >> Mah: 16,000 BTO flats next year >> Median COVs hit a record high >> $300,000 for four-room BTO flats in Punggol >> Mah Bow Tan: HDB flats are still affordable to first time flat buyers >> Why Mah Bow Tan’s policy of high HDB flats is wrong >> Letter to Mah Bow Tan on HDB policies >> Singaporean want govt to allay anxiety over HDB leasehold >> Mah Bow Tan embarrassed by Reform Party’s Hazel Poa >> Mah Bow Tan: “Unrealistic” expectations to blame for unhappiness about flats >> Taiwanese PR paid record $ 650,000 for 4-room resale flat >> Grace Fu: PRs are helpful to HDB flat owners selling their flats >> HDB launches “traveling exhibition” to trumpet its achievements in the heartlands >> PAP to upgrade 12,000 HDB households ahead of next election >> Mah Bow Tan: We do not want flat prices to go down >> Prices of resale flats to rise further as PR quota reached >> Taiwanese PR offers $50k COV for resale flat >> Mah Bow Tan: PRs have minimal impact on resale flat prices >> No empirical evidence to suggest that public housing is affordable in Singapore >> When will Singapore’s property bubble burst? >> Why HDB is unable to reveal break down costs of new flats now >> HDB to consider introducing rules to curb property speculation >> HDB blames Singaporeans for not selecting flats when given the chance >> Singaporeans worried about retirement after depleting CPF to pay for over-priced HDB flats >> Mah Bow Tan acknowledged that rising HDB flat prices has sparked “fresh concerns” >> PM Lee: Govt does not have control over prices of resale flats” >> COVs of resale flats shooting through the roof >> HDB resale price index hit record high in 2009 >> Singaporean wants PRs to live in rented flats instead of buying resale flats >> Singaporeans wants PRs to be banned from selling HDB flats at a profit >> Shanmugam: Singaporeans likely culprits for driving up HDB flat prices >> Mah Bow Tan: HDB flats remain affordable >> Means testing for PRs to buy resale flats >> Immigration and public housing: should the govt or people plan ahead? >> Grace Fu: hard to predict demand for housing >> Indonesian PR bought 4-room flat at $653,000 >> Mah Bow Tan asks home buyers to be realistic >> PAP MP blames young couples who cannot get a flat for not planning ahead >> Home affordability: HDB versus the public >> Demand vs supply: so many applicants, so few flats >> Number of applicants exceed number of flats >> HDB to increase supply of flats >> Mah: don’t compare with prices in the past >> ERA: 40 per cent of HDB flat buyers are PRs     Please join our Facebook discussion on this article here and invite your friends to do so as well to raise awareness among fellow Singaporeans.  Read More →

Since the eruption of the "DOG" food scandal, more and more Singapore volunteers have been stepping forward with horrid tales of the inhumane treatment they are being subjected to volunteering for the inaugural Youth Olympic Games (YOG). Many are students in secondary schools, ITEs, polytechnics and junior colleges and were coerced to volunteer for the YOG by their schools. One JC even threatened students with six hours of Corrective Work Order if they do not volunteer. [Get instant updates and discussions about the YOG on our Facebook page here] According to the feedback we receive, the students often had to work for long hours without proper meals or rest and some have to take cabs home after 1am as no transport is provided. One JC student told us that he was forced to serve as an usher at Jalan Besar stadium for one entire week from 4pm to 11pm daily and still has to attend school at 8am the next day. "I am dead tired every day I return home and fall to sleep immediately. Where got time to study. I am worried for my term tests in two weeks' time," he wrote in exasperation. Another polytechnic student volunteering at the Youth Olympic Village work from 1.30-10.30pm daily and apparently she is only entitled to one pathetic packed meal. "In addition, the volunteers were not even given chairs to take a rest because apparently one member of the organising committee commented that some other individuals were lazy and took all the chairs away. Imagine standing straight for 10 hours?" she exclaimed. These accounts were corroborated by a letter from an irate parent Lim Yoke Peng which was published in the Straits Times Forum on 14 August 22010: "I was appalled by the meals served to volunteers of the Youth Olympic Games ('Caterer acts after criticism of YOG food'; yesterday). My son, who is a junior college student, was enlisted as a volunteer. He had to train for weeks from 11am to 11pm and sacrificed weekends. So it is irresponsible of the organisers to neglect basic requirements like a proper meal or transport. After training, volunteers must find their way home. How would one expect to encourage pride in service?" Our students are already stressed up by the heavy school load. The PAP regime and MOE should not impose additional burden on them by forcing them to volunteer for the YOG which has nothing to do with their studies anyway. EDITORS’ NOTE: Has your life been turned upside down by the YOG? Please share your views with us. We assure you that your identity will be kept strictly CONFIDENTIAL. We will be your UNCENSORED VOICE. We will publish your letter in FULL with ZERO editing, moderating or censoring. You do not have to suffer in silence! You have the RIGHT to speak up as a citizen of this country. Remember: you are a CITIZEN of Singapore, not a SLAVE of the PAP regime. Our mailbox has been swarmed by letters from YOG volunteers for the last few days. Unless you specifically want us to publish your REAL NAME, we will use a pseudonym instead. Please understand that due to manpower constraints, we may not be able to publish your letters immediately and we will have to stagger them a few hours apart to ensure that they get maximum exposure. Please keep your feedback coming! Singapore for SINGAPOREANS! Your interests always come FIRST. Related articles: >> PM Lee caught napping at YOG opening ceremony? >> Disaster at YOG opening ceremony >> 8 reasons why I am disappointed with YOG opening ceremony >> Netizens lampooned YOG opening ceremony >> No news of YOG opening ceremony in rest of the world >> MOE teacher: How students can stay out of YOG >> YOG Webcast server crashed >> SFI promises to improve “DOG” food for volunteers >> Primary school students stand in the rain to welcome YOG torch >> Plight of Singapore volunteers at Youth Olympic Village >> JC students forced to attend YOG events >> Dr Vivian: Singaporeans are proud of YOG >> PM Lee: YOG has struck a “chord” with our people >> Dr Vivian: YOG venues will not become “white elephants” >> Online pressure forced SFI to provide better food for YOG volunteers >> Civil Service Club offering free YOG tickets >> Journey of YOG flame costs Singaporeans $7 million dollars >> Corny YOG propaganda in Straits Times >> Tharman: YOG enthusiasm is real >> Polytechnic student: I don’t care about YOG >> JC students being “volunteered” for YOG >> YOG: What the HELL is that? >> PAP provides YOG athletes and officials three daily buffets >> YOG students being given “dog food” >> Singapore students forced to volunteer for YOG >> Poor ticket sales forced closure of YOG gallery section >> PM Lee calls on Singaporeans to support YOG >> Young Singaporeans hurl vulgarities at YOG >> Dr Vivian wants Singaporeans to celebrate YOG >> NTU students complain about YOG >> Dr Vivian: Sports is not about “petty politics” >> More than 300 Singaporeans joined “I hate YOG” Facebook >> CNA poll: 90 percent of Singaporeans “not interested” in YOG >> Slovak YOG Ambassador slams YOG venues of “school standard” only >> Two Facebook groups calling for boycott of YOG >> Free condoms for YOG officials and athletes >> Singapore helping to repair Jamaica’s stadium in return for YOG marketing >> Former stripper to choreograph opening ceremony of YOG >> Desperate PAP wants Singaporeans to get “passionate” about YOG >> PAP to Singaporeans: Give way to YOG vehicles or get fined $130 >> PM Lee wants Singaporeans to do their part for YOG >> Only six teams in YOG soccer tournament Please join our Facebook page here and invite your friends to do so to create awareness of the current affairs affecting Singaporeans. 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It was reported on the 6 Aug 2010 that Temasek Holdings will contribute $165 million to honour five of Singapore's pioneering leaders - Rajaratnam, Hon Sui Sen, E W Barker, Tay Eng Soon and David Marshall. But there have been so many notable pioneers that came before them. Lim Bo Seng, Tan Kim Seng, Lim Boon Keng, Lee Kong Chian, Tan Kah Kee, Tan Tock Seng were pioneers before the 'pioneers' that are honoured this time. These pioneers of 'pioneers' didn't just contribute in terms of the jobs they were supposed to do. They contributed their time, money and even their own lives voluntarily and not as part of the work they were paid to do for the benefit of Singaporeans. Yet Temasek Holdings has chosen to bypass them and honour those that came after them. Temasek Holdings seems to only honour 'pioneers' that came after 1965. Those who came before 1965 are all but forgotten. But Singapore is more than just 1965. Let no one, not even Temasek Holdings forget that.   Ng Kok Lim  Read More →