Mah’s story is also Singapore’s story?
March 11th, 2010 | 
Author: Dear Madam Low,
I refer to your Straits Times letter dated 8 Mar 2010.
I understand your empathy for Mr Mah since both of you grew up in very overcrowded conditions. However, you need to understand that the improvement in each family’s living conditions over the years is not just a matter of studying hard and working hard but more importantly of diminishing family sizes encouraged in no small part by our “stop at two” policy.
The supposed Singapore story of studying hard and working hard to pull ourselves out of poverty is no different from the stories in other East Asian societies.
Studying hard is not the sole premise of Singaporeans, it is the premise of East Asians in general. Furthermore, Mr Mah’s success is fundamentally different from those of Bill Gates and Steve Jobs since Mr Mah merely took over the reins of an already successful organisation whereas Bill Gates and Steve Jobs created something out of nothing.
In other words, it really didn’t matter whether we had Mr Mah or not, his existence as far as the HDB or Singapore is concerned, is non-essential. Bill Gates and Steve Jobs on the other hand are essential without which there would have been no Microsoft or Apple respectively. Therefore, Mr Mah’s story is far from Singapore’s story since the former created nothing as far as the latter is concerned. Mr Mah builds flats that are smaller, far from the city centre that took longer to build and are a lot more expensive. His ’success’ turned out to be the sorrow and nightmare for many Singaporeans.
It is not enough to remind the younger generation of where we come from. It is more important to let them understand that in an increasingly competitive world, it is not enough to simply ace one’s exams just so as to win a privileged seat to rot in. Being in a privileged position calls for a sense of duty to fellow Singaporeans, to create something for the benefit of all.
So while you give thanks to Singapore for living in a maisonette today, think about who you would thank if you were to start all over again by drawing today’s starting salary and paying today’s price for a maisonette. I can guarantee you, your tears will be no less than those you shed for Mr Mah last Saturday which you have no one else but Mr Mah to thank for.
Thank you
Ng Kok Lim
Posted in 
“His ’success’ turned out to be the sorrow and nightmare for many Singaporeans.”
“it is not enough to simply ace one’s exams just so as to win a privileged seat to rot in.”
These 2 statements sent a chill down my spine…well said…exceptionally well said
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Some people are made of shit, and this Ma is one. No intellectual integrity some more, kena debunked by Ng kok Lim and then diam diam, cock-stuffed mouth, what to do. It is actually very intriguing to see how this bloke is disintegrating in front of the media like a headless chicken.
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“Mah’s story is also Singapore story?” is not supposed to imply that Mah created modern Singapore, it just means that Mah prosper together with Singapore.
The Honour for the creation of Modern singapore goes to LKY but i do not think Ng Kok Lim is an admirer of LKY.
Just anyhow scold.
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How come Mdm Low does not understand that Singaporean can do without shit Mah at anytimes….whether it is yesterday, today or in the future. Mah is only good at protecting his own interests and not that of native Singaporean.
We just need to vote him out in the next election.
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Mr Mah did not build smaller HDB flat at all!
What HDB did was actually re-classifying the flat categories.
10 yrs ago. a 95sqm flat was classified as 3-room , 114sq classified as 4-room, 129sqm classified as 5-room.
currently, 95sqm flat is classified as 4 rooms , 110 to 115 as 5-rooms, and 129sqm mgically became Exec-Apt.!
Is this consider building smaller flat to make it affordable?
NO, it is actually reclassifying the flat to sell the same sqm at higher cost!
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Is Mah’s story also singapore’s story?
It depends who wrote it.
Another writer may say Lee’s story is singapore’s story.
Anyone can write anyone’s story is singapore’s story.
correct me if i am of the wrong.
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I do enjoy Mr Ng’s response. He has indeed spoken for the commoners who has problem expressing ourselves to the elites of today.
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Good one!!
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This is exactly what Singaporeans are feeling and Ng Kok Lim has clearly protray it. Strait Times will published articles that lick PAP asses but will never published any that counter it. That’s why we see subscription going down and they have no choice but to increase advertisement fees.
Only when SHP is privatised, otherwiase we shall keep seeing all the prpoaganda news coming out from there. BTW, Chinese newspaper Zaobao is also a bootlinking newspaper. I used to subscribe both papers but long given up.
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hahahaha! shiok! *clap clap lap*
well said Mr Ng!
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Mr. Ng Kok Lin Sir, you write pretty good and your very frequent articles does ring a bell to most common folks.
May I ask without being impertinent why are you not with an opposition party which would definitely be a +++ for them and Singaporeans per se.
Unless Ng Kok Lin is someone else and you would prefer to remain as a name only.
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well written article!
Its good to remind people who did not use their brains to wake up and think about their future and their children and children’s children.
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Mr Ng, you speak of what we are in Singapore right now.
The middle class sandwich, like me, are facing the situation right now.
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If this is Singapore’s story,then Singapore is heading for ‘Doom’s Day!
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If I were Mah, and I’d do it again, I will have one sure-fire formula for getting everyone with maisonettes to thank me.
Method 1 (just 1 is enough)
——–
cut supply, raise prices
Warning:
a) Method 1 will NOT work if those already having maisonettes realise that method 1, when overused, brings detrimental effect to their living – i.e. raises their annual values and property tax.
b) Also, watch out for the other denizens who live in 3-room flats. They outnumber the maisonette owners and they have only 2 bedrooms with which they can downgrade and release the cash value of this “asset”, whereas maisonette owners have more. With 2 bedrooms you can maybe release 1, or at most 2, and soon you’re sleeping in your soup kitchen. The large numbers of 3-room flat owners can write more letters in than maisonette owners. Use Method 1 entirely at your own risk.
You have been warned.
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Mah’s own upgrading story
‘When I was young, I lived in various places with my mother, who was a domestic servant. I lost my father when I was three years old, so we moved around a lot.
We stayed in a kampung in Lorong Ah Soo, which today has HDB flats and is in Cynthia Phua’s (MP for Aljunied GRC) constituency. Every time I visit the flats there, I still remember where the kampung house was.
Then we moved to a shophouse in High Street. My mum was working for a High Street merchant at that time. Today, that is where the MTI (Ministry of Trade and Industry) and MOF (Ministry of Finance) are (in The Treasury building).
Then we moved to a room in Bugis Street. Today, it is Bugis Junction. There were 10 of us living in that room. We had one bed which slept five. It was raised so that another five could sleep underneath.
Then, I moved to Kim Keat Avenue with my aunt – eight of us in a three-room flat, sharing one toilet and bathroom, while my mother stayed in a one-room rental flat in Whampoa Road.
Later, we upgraded to a four-room flat in Toa Payoh.
That is a typical Singapore story for my generation. Start in a modest flat, work hard, accumulate savings, and upgrade over time. Then, if you need to, rightsize to a smaller flat.’
National Development Minister Mah Bow Tan recounting his childhood years growing up in various housing types.
———————————–
I’m sure Mr Mah didn’t mean to compare 20 years ago, because he taught us that we shouldn’t do that. Therefore he is comparing 40 years ago.
Let us try to follow in his footsteps. I’m sure we can find some rental flats in these rough locations to temporarily stay while we try to save up money faster than the rate upwards that he manipulates the HDB Resale Price Index.
If we are fast enough and succeed (how many % a year rise was it again??) we should have just enough to pay for downpayment / COV for the 4-room Toa Payoh flat we aspire to.
By that time, if people will stil hire me at the age of 70, it is probably time to rightsize into a smaller flat to prepare for my Next Life. I’ll tell my boy, Boy, do what I did in life. Go rent something because Daddy is Rightsizing to a Smaller Flat so unless you want to sleep with me again like we used to on the same bed, get the hell out of my house.
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Recently, every mother’s son has stood up and claimed that they all had humble beginnings, worked and studied hard to achieve success. So what? A lot of us too can recall having mud floors, atap roofs, using well water and holes in the ground to shit in. You were fortunate considered fortunate if you had tapioca roots and leaves to eat.
All these don’t mean a thing if along the way you forgot your humble beginnings and don’t help your fellow men who are in similar dire straits today.
Mr Mah, can you face yourself in the mirror and say that market pricing of HDB flats is really helping the poor in Singapore? Or that by increasing the price of flats by 100 percent and then later giving a 10 percent discount is an honorable act? How do you feel after knowing that all the money you squeezed from us are squandered away in reckless investments overseas? Can you sleep soundly in your bungalow at night after realizing that your incompetence caused prices of resale flats to go through the roof because you were “caught off guard”. Or knowing that in one year, you are paid the equivalent of 90 years of the median income in Singapore.
Shame on you and your colleagues! Don’t try to gain our sympathy and respect telling us how bad you had it when you were young. You have the opportunity to do something now for the poor in Singapore. So that some time in the future, many young children may grow up and achieve something with their lives. Hopefully, they will remember their roots and do not become like you, a predator of others.
However, I don’t think you can give up the riches beyond your youthful imagination and for that you and your generations are going to rot in hell. The good news is that you will find excellent company together with the rest of the ruling elite. You can even form a political party there and replace the devil with LKY!
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MBT have created hell on earth for singaporeans whose living in a HDB FLAT
I do not have pity on him …i hope he gets a HEART ATTACK and dies no to second change…….OH NO I FORGOT HE DOES NOT HAVE A HEART….AS LONG AS I LIVE MY FAMILY WILL CURSE HIM IN OUR DAILY PRAYERS
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looks like TR readers aren’t the only ones who have unpleasant comments for Mah.
http://business.asiaone.com/Business/My%2BMoney/Property/Story/A1Story20100308-203235.html
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even straitstimes forum doesn’t seem to like him
http://comment.straitstimes.com/showthread.php?t=30897
kampongkid
March 08, 2010 Monday, 08:22 AM
I thought Mr HDB should have felt ashamed of himself for bringing up his upgrading story, now one dumb head is here to praise him.
If the THEN Minister in-charge of public housing was like him, pricing our HDB flats so expensive as they are now, could his family have afforded to upgrade from one smaller flat to a bigger one and then to a much bigger one??? Why is he now making life so difficult for the younger generation if he had been through hardship himself???
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This must be definitely be the phrase of the year!!!!!!!!!
“Mah Bow Tan’s ’success’ turned out to be the sorrow and nightmare for many Singaporeans.”
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HDB flat is peanuts compare to freehold.
I can just buy HDB flat off the market and pay in fool. You know why, cos, daft people are not fast, not better and not hard driving to reach there lor. Too bad, live with it.
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Typical stick & carrot tactics by MIW, first LKY threaten us that HDB prices would crashed when Mah is booted out which is pure rubblish, political menance. Now they turn to soft sell, the primary objective is to keep this backdoor money spinner for PAP.
Look at this Mah past portfolios and how he came up with brilliant money grabbing schemes (COE/ERP/COV etc). Its all wriiten on the wall – he has created enough of hardship and should be voted out with someone whom has real intentions to serve Singaporeans, not rob us.
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How about all our forefathers hard work, self sacrifice and determination that made singapore what it is too…without them, where will MBT be too?
Now i see a number of our forefathers picking trash cans, card board boxes and cleaning up tables to live out their lives.
And this is something some singaporeans feel so proud about? Or ignore as it is a status thing?
Your true value depends entirely on what you are compared with. Bob Wells
What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us. Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803 – 1882)
A noble man compares and estimates himself by an idea which is higher than himself; and a mean man, by one lower than himself. The one produces aspiration; the other ambition, which is the way in which a vulgar man aspires. Henry Ward Beecher (1813 – 1887)
To compare is not to improve. Field Marshall John French
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It’s Beyond Our Control
the animal we created is beyond our control.
if we (ok, don’t scold me) look back TWENTY YEARS
a housing administration that aims for affordable public housing dictated by calculations how much housing to have in the country, how much to add in, how much to demolish.
nobody complained until:
the housing administration tries to do something funky – by pegging the price to private housing, and letting it be dragged along as it is pulled further and further up the stratosphere. it also transformed public housing into a business where any tom dick and harry after a few years, whether he’s a retiree or not, can sublet the flat out as a business.
tinkering with rules, playing with fire, gets you burnt.
what happened to the old system where it was meant for public housing?
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I doubt anyone actually begrudges his success. What irks the common man is the constant pretenstions, the constant lying, the haughtiness, the condscending attitude … one can go on.
HDB is a mess today in terms of prices and availability of units cos of ONE MAIN REASON – foreigners were and are allowed to buy public housing when THEY ARE NOT EVEN CITIZENS YET.
Singapore is so small and yet PRs can easily buy HDb flats when this should not the be the case.
Of course, everyone knows and it is common knowledge that this policy of allwing PRs to buy .. . was and even now is simply to garner votes during elections.
This is the state of Singapore politics. Why? One-party ’system ‘. now it is an albatross around each Singaporeans” neck!
Beware, Singaporeans have and are being sacrificed for political gains. $$$ gains no need to elaborate lah.
Who knows what else is to come.
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Mr Mah story will be his grandson story, not Singapore story. Last time Policeman wear short pant, now they dont. Do you understand Mdm Low ( Boss Carrier )?
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“Mr. Ng Kok Lin Sir, you write pretty good and your very frequent articles does ring a bell to most common folks.
May I ask without being impertinent why are you not with an opposition party which would definitely be a +++ for them and Singaporeans per se.”
to each his own.
Why should Ng Kok Lim join the opp party ? If he join the opp party, the establishment will character-assassinate him in every way just because he is from opp party.
Now, Ng Kok Lim is writing in his personal capacity as lesser mortal like rest of use. This alone will make the clownful gov speechless and imbecile.
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SystemNeedChangeUpdated 10:29 AM March 06, 2010
Dear Mr Mah
Thanks for your motivating childhood background story.
PLEASE HELP THIS FAMILY…..BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE ( FAMILY DISTRESS)
A family of 5 —2 adults and 3 primary school kids staying in cashew road.
Husband on medical leave for the past 2 years and wife works part-time and a caregiver…
HDB WANTS TO DO A COMPULSORY ACQUISITION OF THEIR FLAT AS THEY WERE BEHIND IN THEIR ARREARS.THEIR MONTHLY INSTALLMENT WAS $760/- AT THE POINT OF PURCHASED …BUT THIS FAMILY TOOK ADVICE FROM HDB AND HAVE RENTED OUT THEIR MASTER ROOM FOR $600/-AND ARE TODAY PAYING $900/-… THE FAMILY APPROACH THEIR MP.AND THE FAMILY HAVE ALSO SEND EMAILS DIRECTLY TO MAH BOW TAN OFFICE AND STILL UNSUCCESSFUL……….URGENT APPEAL! CAN ANYBODY OUT THERE PLEASE HELP THIS FAMILY
MR MAH BOW TAN…..WHY CAN”T YOUR OFFICE HELP THIS FAMILY .
INSTEAD OF SERVING A NOTICE OF VESTING
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Mah’s salary about $2million? That means he can buy about 7 HDB flats a year with his salary. Of course, it is very affordadable as he said. Average Singaporean earns $2000-$3000/month, or $24000-$36000/ annum. That means about 8-12years income to buy a flat which is currently around $300,000. No wonder Singaporeans are angry. Mah’s doesn’t seem to realise that many Singaporeans are struggling and suffering since he became minister. He has forgotten his roots and the people who voted him in.
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hi there
1. aiyoh! sheepish public housing is around before horse’s arrival.
2. what’s success, my foot!
3. he is being paid, he receives and he must “deliver”.
4. key performance index!
5. the question is whether he delivers enough! and meets the kpi.
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Very well written. I think the MBT should read this article be so ashamed of himself he can go become a monk in shaolin temple. He has created so much pain and suffering for all SINGAPOREANS.
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if MBT story is also Singapore Story then it is very sad as over the period he was in HDB, the number of flats being constructed have decreased in comparison with Lim Kim San.
The HDB has also lost monies. apparently.
I personally do not think that their story coincide because I believe S’pore has a better future that what MBT has left behind.
He has been a self serving pig.
Even the new rules that he announced are for his own good. Just look at the rule on downgrading and HDB loan.
If you need to downgrade that means you need cash. Still this fucker make it such that you can downgrade but half of your cash proceeds will go to the downpayment, as if you don’t need to pay for a high COV for the next flat.
You ended up with nothing but a smaller flat.
I forgot to note that by the time, you needed to downgrade, you probably had incur a large number of arrears, which HDB charges exorbitant rates. Is this sensible?
Why can’t he just let these poor people rent from HDB?
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With the number of people he made homeless because of his policies or what he could have done to change things, he dare to claim credit and pretend that his story matches that with Singapore’s.
How come legitimate people needs to wait for 2 years for rental flats?
How is he going to fund the construction of rental flats now?
That ’s why he didn’t say anything about rental flats now.
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The new university programmes for Poly students is just a show.
they know students are going overseas and to save on currencies, the govt give these students a new option to study in S’pore.
Why didn’t they do that earlier?
They have not been losing currencies as much as lately.
They are only do things in their interest never in the legitimate interests of s’poreans.
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I don’t buy the story that HDB lost money. Many flats were built on lands that the govt compulsarily acquired from ordinary Singaporeans. They were compensated at 1970’s prices(I think it was 1973 when the Land Acquistion Act was passed) even when their land were compulsarily acquired in the 1980’s and 1990’s. The lands were acquired for a song. The govt then sells these lands at inflated prices to HDB.Of course, HDB doesn’t make money. Simple accounting. Most of the subsidies came from ordinary Singaporeans whose lands were compusarily acquired
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The Land Acquistion Act was passed in 1966.
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I know I know HDB made monies.
I don’t believe HDB lost monies too.
S’poreans are honest generally. MBT is not cause he lied.
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Just because MBT went to Paris and see Frencie stay in small apartment, he decided to builod small flat without understanding the need for small apartment in Paris. Less aircon in summer and heating in winter. Here in Singapore we need bigger flat so we don’t need to operate aircon (tropical living design, ask any Architect)
He build small flat which is hot and humid and don’t need TV remote control. You can change channel using your foot. That is how small the flats are.
He is just another blind copycat.
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Well said; this is really straight thinking out of the box…love it.
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FYI, i live in Kings Rd.
Minister Mah has a landed property in my neighbourhood rented to some expats for rental income.
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Minister Mah has a landed property in my neighbourhood rented to some expats for rental income.(king rd expats only)
Owner’s sentosa cove 6.2 million
Salary not 2m but 2.7m + 8.8% recent increasement
The above pay does not include MP allowances, pensions and other sources of income such as Directorship, Chairmnship, Advisory, Consultancy, etc to Gov-linked and gov-related organisations or foreign MNCs such as Citigroup (for Lee Kuan Yew), etc
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Dear Mr Ng,
Please come out and joint the opposition parties. Singapore need young people like you who’s educated, smarty and with analytical brain, unlike those daft papies that can only carry leeders’ balls. I, together with all ah bengs and ah sengs will definitely vote for you and your party.
Kan lee lau bu yeh chee bye! Vote the fcuking papies out!
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Aiya I think MBT is holding on to the wrong portfolio. What made the administration give him such a critical portfolio? When u cannot even provide housing for your own people why do u have to keep talking about foreigners>. PAP loyalty is to the people not only to the old people but to the younger citizens who are also contributing …
Any idea why the Ministers are given the portfolio they r given at all?
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The Pappies have money coming out of every orifice of their bodies and still asking for more. They don’t have any conscience when they introduce new measures to increase the govt’s coffers when people are struggling. After losing so much of our money and they asking for 8.8% pay rise. Singaporeans are a stupid bunch to vote them election after election. That’s the reason I don’t donate money to charities because the govt they love so much should take care of them when they are broke. Remember, $600,00 salary is PEANUTS.
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MBT is an useless minister who has done anything good for the the country. His objective of becoming minister is to become multi-millionaire as he knows he can hardly fetch such a salary in private sector. He has not only has made HDB flat very expensive but also make it even smaller to increase their profit since less material is required.
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MBT is an useless minister who has done nothing good for the the country. His objective of becoming minister is to become multi-millionaire as he knows he can hardly fetch such a salary in private sector. He has not only has made HDB flat very expensive but also make it even smaller to increase their profit since less material is required.
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I stay in a 4 room flat bought in 1986 in Yishun. In the early 90s I applied for a 5 room flat in Yishun. In 1999, I was allocated a 5 room flat just across the street from my existing flat. Imagine my surprise when I got the keys and found that the kitchen of the 5 room flat is only half the size of my 4 room flat and all the rooms are smaller than the rooms in my 4 room flat. I suspected that HDB has changed the calculations of the floor space as on paper the 5 room flat should be bigger. I surrendered the flat and was penalise over eleven thousand dollars and barred from applying for a HDB flat for ten years.
11 thousand dollars is just about an hour wage for you, Mr. Mah but I earned only 450 dollars a month then and this amount is several years of my CPF contributions. In this instance I feel that HDB under the leadership of Mah has changed the way the flat area is calculated and did not inform the buyers leading to a disappointment in expectations as when one upgrades the flat, it is reasonable to expect that the size should be bigger. All my appeals to HDB and to my MP fell on dear ears.
So I am angry that ordinary Singaporeans who are just aspiring to upgrade to a bigger space are treated like this. I am sure there are many who surrendered their flats and got penalised through no fault of their own. Now I see HDB brochures with very detailed information so they have moved on. But for those who have been penalised unfairly have not moved on. I hope the opposition authorities can highlight these cases to get justice for us.
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I just want to own a flat.
A home of my own.
Why is it so difficult?
Why is it so bloody expensive?
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@ wayang kulit on Thu, 11th Mar 2010 6:02 pm
I don’t buy the story that HDB lost money.
===
it’s called “marked to market”. you mark the HDB price to “market resale flat price” then say, OH NO, I’M SELLING AT A LOSS!
the last time the term “marked to market” was thrown around freely was during the subprime crisis with the CDOs and other derivatives.
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I sincerely urged that Singaporeans at large do not be ‘frightened’ into voting for PAPaya MP in the coming election.
They have enjoyed 50 years of monopoly in Parliament. Bills and legislatures get pass will they wimps and the people don’t have a say at all. I believe a strong opposition will serve Singaporean well in the long run.
The PAPaya always tell singaporeans to bear with the brunt when introducing unpopular national policies. Well if getting more opposition MPs to go into parliament may not be good for PAPaya, then please bear with the Singapore Citizens because we want some changes to the political scenery.
Trust me, most Singaporeans are neither daft nor stupid!
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@ roserose on Fri, 12th Mar 2010 8:46 am :
I just want to own a flat.
A home of my own.
Why is it so difficult?
Why is it so bloody expensive?
Because HDB says you are trying to own a home in a place where people are doing Business. You want to live in this flat? I want to buy it as a business. This business can generate me profits in rental. You offer this price? I offer more because after calculating my cost, I can still make profit from this business. Now try to beat my offer.
I can do this business easily because all I need to do is hang around for a short time with this flat, and I will qualify legally to do business with it. Or I can do it illegally. Either ways, it’s profitable, so I can outbid you.
Thank you HDB since 2007, I can do this business. I love this country, suddenly all the homes we have become businesses and we now we can compete on equal ground with Businessmen. Young people can do business as well as middle-aged people, as well as retirees who truly don’t have any income and need some money from the rental. We’re all one big happy family sharing the same Housing Development Business.
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Anderz69:
” I sincerely urged that Singaporeans at large do not be ‘frightened’ into voting for PAPaya MP in the coming election. ”
I am not frightened! Thanks to the new NCMP system, I can confidently vote for the Right MP, and not just any papular MP, because the Right MP will say the Right things in parliament and make Right decisions, not just papular ones.
And if we still wish to hear some papular speeches and opinions, they can be placed into the new and improved, super-sized NCMP section, where we will still give them equal airtime in Today In Parliament. We will therefore not miss their valuable input.
Previously, I was afraid that I would lose these talents if I do not vote for them. But not any more! With the new Enlarged NCMP system, we have a place to keep them close to us, possibly For Eternity!
Thank you, NCMPs!
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The difference between me and my family compared to Mr Mah is that we do not implement policies than cause hardship and burden to our fellow Singaporeans. The similiarity is that me and my family must share this island with Mr Mah as a home.
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The similiarity is that me and my family must share this island with Mr Mah as a home.
= = =
you also need to share it with 26% foreigners, 10% PRs, and 0.8% of singaporeans who officially are renting out their hdb flats, and finally the 50.4% singaporeans, some of whom are renting out unofficially as a business.
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First they took away our money to build those flats which are supposedly meant for us as promised. Someone saw money making opportunity coming in, they they hold back and accumuated those flats to be sold in cash to the foreigners instead. Remember, someone exposed later that they are making appr. 70K profit for a 4rm flat transacted, they are cornered and now they blamed the singaporeans for being choosy. MBT even mentioned that hdb lost some 2billions for subsidising to the people. Not long ago, the people discovered blocks of old flats which are supposed to be demolised years back are actually kept back to make more money out from renting to the FW. Instead of providing the citizens to buy a decent roof over their heads, they even washed their hands off and pushed the citizens to seek higher commercial bank loans but they never tell you how many lower income citizens are not even qualified for commercial loans and is not their problem anymore. You lost your jobs, its game over for you and your family, the banks will come and seize your flats, simple as that. Everything they do to the citizens, step by step till to this very day is too obvious to the core that they are not interested at all to serve the people anymore other than accumulating all those billions for who? its too obvious. Even the devils know how to protect their own children, how about our so called dear founding father of singapore???
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As more people have an affordability issue with rising HDB prices due to HDB policies, as evidenced by the 30,770 HDB loans in arrears over three months as of September 2009 (not including HDB bank loans), more people will become homeless.
MR MAH BOW TAN
ARE YOU GOING TO PUT ALL THESE FAMILIES ON THE STREETS.
YOU COME OUT WITH YOUR SAD UPDRADING STORY
INMHICH EVERY PARENT HAVE BEEN THROUGH….YOU WILL NEVER BE HAPPY TAKING PEOPLE HARD EARN MONEY.
ANSWER THESE QUESTIONS…..MR MAH BOW TAN
1)How much does it cost to built a HDB flat ?
2)If HDB is a Public housing WHY must Singaporeans go to
bank to apply for HDB housing loan ?
3)Why did you encourage HBD dwellers to upgrade if
they want their next flat subsidzed, inwhich today many
singaporeans have difficulty with their payments
4)Why are you holding more than 1 portfolio …when you
cannot even manage even one.
YOU AND YOUR POLICIES STING—BECAUSE YOU ARE A SKUNK
VOTE HIM OUT —–VOTE HIM OUT—–VOTE HIM OUT
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The difference between Lim Kim San and Mah Bow Tan is that LKS was genuinely trying to help Singaporeans to buy affordable housing while the horse is trying to cart away your money the fastest possible way by selling to you smaller flats at higher prices and hoodwink you by renaming them. Good luck Singaporeans if you guys vote him again.
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MBT down down. Throw him out.
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MABUK TAN DONT EVEN BOTHER WHEN LUP SCREW UP AT CLEMENTI AVE 5, BLOCK 340 N SURROUNDING BLOCKS.
Residents still need to climb stairs after LUP and handicap ppl and weak elderly folks still stuck at home, as no barrier free access to lift.
BEEN 4 MONTHS PLUS, n it’s all over the forums at TR, REACH, ST, TODAYonline, TOC, HWZ n others.
REACH even shut down tt thread after ppl started to ‘paste’ requests from various forums to help tt handcap guy n probably others.
http://www.temasekreview.com/2009/11/30/eunos-residents-protest-against-hdbs-lift-upgrading-programme/
http://forums.hardwarezone.com.sg/showthread.php?t=2579980
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I called up the HDB officer today to check on my appeal to buy a brand new flat , though I do not qualify under the exisiting policy, as the resale HDB flat is not affordable to me due to the high COV. I brought it up to the officer that I do not have a home and I need a place urgently. The officer replied “You are not the only one………” Geezzz where is the sensitivity and empathy?
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BrownMoon on Sat, 13th Mar 2010 12:30 am :
The officer replied “You are not the only one………” Geezzz where is the sensitivity and empathy?
On behalf of the HDB, allow me to complete the sentence: “You are not the only one, I’m sorry, *pat pat*, I’m full of sympathy for you, I wish you all the best. NEXT! Hello, Mr New Citizen, come to apply a new flat after you promised to bring your children here too?”
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today’s newspaper about them repossessing illegally rented flats. one of the reasons they identify to put the blame on, for this situation we are in.
a lot of fingers get pointed in every direction.
how many times have you heard them say, “perhaps we, as the greatest influence over the largest factor which is flat supply and price fixation, are the main cause of it?”
when they make a mistake, the japanese come out, apologise, some commit suicide and the rest get forgiven and carry on making motorcars. i suppose singaporean culture is closer to the SAF style: “My fault isit? you saying it’s my fault isit? (No Sir!) Then whose fault? Your fault? (Yes Sir!) You rent out isit? Your fault? (Sir! Yes Sir!) knock it down …”
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I am a homeless Singaporean lady looking for a Single Singaporean/PR man for a marriage of convenience to apply for a brand new HDB flat as per the government housing policy.
If u r someone who needs a place of your own to stay , like your space, privacy , independence and enjoy the freedom of a single lifestyle, buzz me for more details. [email protected].
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Homeless Singaporean lady urgently looking for a Single Singaporean/PR man for a marriage of convenience to apply for a brand new HDB flat as per the government housing policy.
Any responsible guy who share the same situation and wanna enjoy owining a place and living an independent lifestyle,buzz me. [email protected]
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TOC NOWADAYS LIKE REACH – STONEWALL PEOPLE POSTINGS
http://theonlinecitizen.com/2010/02/a-minister-must-fall-in-the-process-of-change-says-nsp-sec-gen/comment-page-4/#comment-134377
—————
TOC ADMIN,
We know TOC is supporter of NSP and trying to shield Goh Meng Seng.
By censoring, TOC is no different from REACH.
Quote -
Bree
Mar 12, 2010 16:11
TOC, praticising censorship again? Why din ‘post’ my 2 remarks?
Moderating Editor: Because you are repeating a point that has clearly been made earlier. Please direct your pressure directly to Mr Goh Meng Seng instead of ‘talking’ to him via the comments section, thanks.
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TOC DAMN CHIAKLAT NOWADAYS.
STONE-WALL PPL POSTINGS N GIVE CRAPPY REASONS.
If all forum use their reasoning below, then moderators will be very busy making sure only one ’suan’/criticism allowed on each thread.
LOL
Quote -
Bree Mar 13, 2010 21:03 …….
Moderating Editor:
Because you are repeating a point that has clearly been made earlier. Please direct your pressure directly to Mr Goh Meng Seng instead of ‘talking’ to him via the comments section, thanks.
@TOC NOWADAYS LIKE REACH – STONEWALL PEOPLE POSTINGS
Mar 13, 2010 22:38 ………..
Moderating Editor:
……….. We stand by our advice that you should take up grievances with Mr Goh Meng Seng directly instead of attempting to engage in dialogue on this thread of comments – to which he has no obligation to respond.
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Mah has done it again on Sunday’s Talking Point.
notice the key words:
“first time buyers.. priced out of the market” and “leave it to the market”
if “the market price has been rising and rising and is now 50% more than like 3 years ago”, what is the state of the market?
secondary school answer: market is rising because demand outweighs supply.
in a free market, what would be the response?
secondary school answer: increase supply (and not tie one hand behind back and pretend to increase a little at a time) or temper demand (instead of nudge nudge a little only) or both.
are we in a free market?
secondary school answer: no, because supply does not come any time. it comes only when a single authoritarian body decides it should come. and if that body misinterprets the market, we have a problem, as we already do now. also, if that same authoritarian body has control over demand (population size), we have a bigger problem on our hands.
so why do they keep referring to the market?
secondary school answer: they are trying to fool some people. maybe all the people.
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http://www.todayonline.com/Hotnews/EDC100315-0000021/The-Pinnacle-a-Talking-Point
And “we make sure we don’t overbuild because once you overbuild, you’ll make flat prices in future go down, and that’s not what we want”, he said.
– – — – - — –
I thought most people think going down is a good thing? Why is he deliberately trying to not let it go down? Is he trying to do something good for the country, or something bad? He expressed his intention this time very clearly, no doubt about it. The question is, what is his motive? He is not only endorsing this 50% hike in prices over the last 3+ years, but trying to fix it up there, and maybe raise it some more. is this the way we want our country to be?
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But COV could also act to “retard” price growth, Mr Mak told MediaCorp, “since most buyers have limited cash to pay for the COV”.
“If the valuation of the flat is growing at a slower rate, the rate of growth of resale prices can decelerate,” he explained after the show.
– - — — – – - —
His answer is obvious again. COV is there to at BEST retard price INFLATION, not to make it drop. in other worse, his intention is to, again, clearly, INFLATE it, even though it might be inflated at a retarded rate. which means that the current predicament all of you are in, can only get worse, never better, with his ideas still floating around as gospel truth. he has clearly stated his motive for having this concept of COV – to help inflate prices no matter rain or shine.
he is an ardent subscriber of inflation, it seems. wonder why? is he also a victim of inflation? is his family in dire need to beat this inflation to house themselves? can he understand the impact of inflation or must the people teach him? in no unclear manner, through some form of a mandate?
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“If we control resale flat prices, we’re actually moving away from the free market, which fundamentally would not be in the interest of homeowners.”
- – — – - —
his illusory free market is one in which he has total control of supply (new stock of flats or land parcels, both from HDB or URA). there is slightly less control over URA (20% of housing) and an iron hand control over HDB (80% of housing).
he also dictates who can buy which flat, who can’t buy which release based on his criteria.
after controlling it in this manner, he comes and tells you there is “free market”. could he please stop abusing that term and instead call it a controlled market?
which free market would also have a controller who says we need to PERPETUALLY inflate prices? the stock market also got up and down. even genting casino got up and down. is his market different? for what purpose?
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As usual, well written article Kok Lim. You can truly call yourself Son of Singapore because you understand what the ordinary Singaporean feels and goes through everyday. I will vote for you any day if you stand for election.
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