Of salaries, value and hypocrisy

The issue of political remuneration is one of the latest hot potatoes to drop into the hands of the ruling People’s Action Party, and for all the efforts of the PAP to cool this potato, it appears that the potato has an internal combustion engine that keeps on spewing heat to keep the potato hot. [...]

Build-to-order scheme needs revamping

The appointment of former health minister Khaw Boon Wan to the national development ministry has raised hopes of positive changes to public housing policies in Singapore. The Build-to-Order scheme of the Housing Development Board, commonly known as the BTO, is in serious need of a revamp because this policy has contributed significantly to rising prices [...]

HDB flats and the illusion of wealth

The escalating prices of Housing Development Board flats are in the spotlight once again, and the upward climb is likely to continue into the future. The Singapore government, from time to time, uses the rising prices of HDB flats as an indicator of the rising affluence of Singaporeans. Most Singaporeans ‘own’ (technically, Singaporeans lease the [...]

Of raids and reserves

On the issue of affordability of HDB flats, the PAP appeared to be on the defensive. Instead of discussing the issue of affordability, Minister for National Development Mah Bow Tan had been arguing on the basis of price. Mah contended that HDB owners have a more valuable home today because PAP policies have resulted in a [...]

Flat prices: enhancement or inflation

Minister of National Development Mah Bow Tan was quoted as saying in a Channel NewsAsia report that he’s proud of the PAP government’s asset enhancement policy. Data from the Housing Development Board’s and the Ministry of Manpower’s websites showed that Mah was perhaps being too modest. MOM’s website showed the annual rate of average earnings in [...]