Government’s Commitment to Affordable and Accessible HDB Flats Upheld Amid Debate
On Tuesday, February 7, Singapore’s Parliament rejected a motion by the Progress Singapore Party (PSP) proposing a “reset” of the nation’s public housing policies. The motion, which aimed to address concerns over housing affordability and accessibility, was defeated in favour of a government-backed motion affirming the commitment to affordable public housing.
The government motion, presented by National Development Minister Desmond Lee, received overwhelming support from 82 Members of Parliament (MPs), while 11 MPs voted against it. In contrast, the PSP’s motion garnered only 11 votes in favour, with 82 MPs voting against.
The two-day debate saw intense discussion on the state of public housing, with opposition parties offering alternative proposals. The Workers’ Party (WP) leader, Pritam Singh, proposed an amendment to the government motion, urging intensified efforts to meet housing goals. However, this was rejected by the House, with the government maintaining that its policies were already in line with these objectives.
PSP’s proposals, including an Affordable Home Scheme and the Millennial Apartments Scheme, aimed to tackle housing challenges, such as the high cost of land and the lack of affordable rental options for young Singaporeans. The Affordable Home Scheme proposed deferring land costs for BTO (Build-To-Order) flats, payable only if the flat is resold, while the Millennial Apartments Scheme suggested providing rental flats near the central business district for young people.
Minister Lee countered by defending the government’s track record, highlighting the ongoing accessibility and affordability of public housing. He acknowledged the system’s imperfections but rejected PSP’s claim that it was “fundamentally broken.” Lee reiterated the government’s commitment to improving policies and announced plans for more “Shorter Waiting Time” BTO flats, alongside additional support for first-time buyers.
Senior Minister of State for National Development Sim Ann also critiqued PSP’s Affordable Home Scheme, arguing that it could lead to inflated demand, making it harder for first-time buyers to secure flats. She also addressed concerns about the use of CPF savings for housing, stressing the importance of homeownership for retirement security.
Other MPs, including Leon Perera (WP) and Gerald Giam (WP), put forward proposals to improve the affordability and availability of public housing, such as building BTO flats with 70-year leases and exploring policies to moderate resale flat prices.
In his closing remarks, Minister Lee reiterated the government’s openness to studying suggestions and reiterated its commitment to making housing affordable and accessible for all Singaporeans.
