The problem with government forums

No one challenges the responses by the ministers.

Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong "wants to strengthen the CPF route in the buying and selling of flats" to reinforce "the aim of these homes as assets for life":

"When we help people to own a home, it's really for you for life," Mr Lee said. "When you're not so old, and you've bought the house, and now you see that the pot of gold is down there and you ignore the 'please don't break the glass sign' and you break the glass and take the money out straightaway, then what happens to you? Or more importantly, your children and your dependents? Where do they go?

"If you sell the house, the money goes back into the CPF. So if you're buying another house, you can use that for another house. If you're not buying another house, the money is there for your old age."

Again, it is the old PAP card of "personal irresponsibility". Continuing his analogy, why is that flat regarded as a pot of gold, and why is it protected by glass that has a glaring sign on it, tempting you to break it? This would not happen if HDB flat prices are not pegged to private property prices, or if the COV component is completely done away with, and it certainly ignores the reasons behind Singaporeans being in debt.

It is inevitable that people will want to take advantage of high flat prices, which means they need to be controlled. You cannot tout the high prices as a sign of "a growing asset" and expect Singaporeans to just sit on it. Forcing flat sales proceeds back into CPF will only cause the COV component to rise. This does not benefit Singaporeans in the long-term. It is just bad policy.

National policies created the mindset that debt is acceptable: student loans and HDB loans take ages to pay back and is an accepted fact of life in Singapore. As long as we deny the  impact of policy on national psyche, we will not move forward and find a solution. And PM Lee neatly sidestepped that, preferring not to address why Singaporeans are in debt, or even recognising that debt and income inequality is the issue, and cannot be solved by current policies.

Instead, he reiterates that access "to a good education and a high rate of home ownership are two of the best things the government has done". In other words, it is not their problem, it's our problem.

And Dr Vivian Balakrishnan delivers the conclusion:

"If you were a poor person, anywhere on this planet, Singapore is the one place where you will have a roof over your head, where you will have food on the table. Even if you can't afford it, we will have meals delivered to you. You will get healthcare."

The minister is still in denial about homeless Singaporeans, even after he and his ministry chased them off beach camp sites. While I cannot deny that we have access to healthcare, it is misleading: it will cost you. Just like a roof over your head, and food on the table. Nothing is free in this country. Andrew Loh jumps in.

The minister would do well to not claim credit, on behalf of himself or the PAP government, for delivering food to the poor and hungry. No government ministry I know of delivers food to those who can't afford it. There are volunteer welfare organisations (VWOs) and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) who do that, and lots of religious organisations who do that.

So when the minister says "we", who is he referring to?

Comments

[Local No Talent]

How daft and politically naive can LHL be to admit that your HDB flat is "gold in a glass box". He is of the same breed as the deaf frogs, or perhaps they have been talking too much to each other.

It tantamount to saying that the value in your HDB flat is something that looked good only, cosmetic and not real, and is ultimately not yours and you cant touch it, which is what our CPF really is.

But such is politics here, that politicians can make any blatantly foolish and elsewhere suicidal political statements, and they remain revered and worshipped, and totally secured politically. Or perhaps it is the people who voted and will continue to vote for him that are indeed truly daft.

[xtrocious]

To the previous poster - not only is he of the same breed of deaf frogs, he is their LEADER

Anyway, our esteemed leaders like to adopt this practice...

Credit we share but any blame is yours (the citizens) to bear...sigh

[Goh Meng Seng]

I was really puzzled by the apparent contradictions of PM Lee's remarks as to their "asset enhancement scheme" but yet, saying that Singaporeans should not cash out when they are in debts. It seems that the MYTH about "Asset Enhancement" is that it doesn't benefit Singaporeans but only the Government.

Those who have stayed in 3 room HDB flats for decades did not need to pay property tax in the past but due to this "Asset Enhancement", suddenly they find that they need to pay property tax! Those 4 room HDB flats owners have to pay even more property taxes. So while Singaporeans could not capitalize on their "ENHANCED ASSETS" when they are in serious need of cash to pay back debts, they are in fact have to bear the BURDEN of their "ENHANCED ASSETS" of higher property tax.

Weird to me for Singaporeans to be convinced by PAP's logic.

Goh Meng Seng

[Shawn Lim]

I have seriously no idea what Dr Vivian Balakrishnan is talking about. I wonder if he ever ate a hawker centre before.