Mah to SDA: Want to build flats for me?
SINGAPORE: National Development Minister Mah Bow Tan has reacted strongly to statements by a Singapore Democratic Alliance (SDA) candidate that the Government is excessively marking up the prices of Housing and Development Board (HDB) flats.
On Sunday night during the SDA rally in Yio Chu Kang, its candidate for Tampines GRC, Mr Edmund Ng Say Eng, said that he estimated, based on various tender reports, that the building cost of a $250,000 flat was only "$70,000 to $80,000".
This drew a firm response from Mr Mah, who is heading the PAP team in Tampines and will do battle with Mr Ng's five-man team at the polls this Saturday.
"Maybe I should invite him to come build my flats for me. It's certainly very misleading for anybody to quote figures just like that, so the onus is on him to tell me how to do it. If he doesn't, I'll ask HDB to subcontract all our building to him for $70,000 to $80,000. Maybe I'll give him a little bit more than that to cover his costs," challenged Mr Mah.
Speaking during a morning walkabout with his fellow candidates at Tampines Street 21, he told reporters that the actual cost of a flat depended on various factors like location and land prices, in addition to the construction costs of the flat.
Just metres away, the SDA team was doing its own rounds meeting residents though, unlike on Sunday morning, the two sides did not cross swords. When asked how he derived his estimates, Mr Ng, a 33-year-old businessman, explained: "This is based on reports that we have, some tender information and results, and our own calculations of building a five-room flat. The HDB has not been transparent in telling us what's the cost price of building a flat. We don't assume (our estimates) are correct, but we hope the HDB can clarify."
One other election rally issue that Mr Mah addressed was that of the vast amount of money being spent now on lift upgrading.
Workers' Party secretary-general Low Thia Khiang recently blamed the Government for a lack of foresight in not building flats with lifts stopping on every floor to cater to the current ageing population.
Mr Mah explained that it was "not a mistake" on the part of the Government. He said: "The flats built in the earlier years did not have lifts on every floor (because) the cost of the flat and the affordability to the people were very important, so we built as cheaply as possible."
He added: "Then gradually, the standard of living and cost of living increased, and flats became more sophisticated. So we started, from 1990, to build flats with lifts on every floor. Now we have to go back and retrofit (the older) flats, and we will do it within the next 10 years. That's the promise we make and we intend to keep it." - TODAY /dt
Then he changes his mind when Edmund takes up the challenge:
SDA's Edmund Ng takes up PAP's challenge to build HDB flats
SINGAPORE : Singapore Democratic Alliance's candidate for Tampines GRC, Edmund Ng says he is taking up the challenge by National Development Minister Mah Bow Tan to build HDB flats at lower cost.
Mr Ng says he has written to the Housing and Development Board requesting for costing information.
But Mr Mah, who is leading the PAP team in Tampines GRC, says the SDA candidate is just 'fishing' for figures and he has asked the HDB not to entertain him.
At a recent rally, Mr Ng had said it costs just $70,000 to $80,000 to build an HDB flat priced at $250,000.
In response, Mr Mah issued him a challenge, asking the HDB to subcontract building projects to Mr Ng.
When asked about Mr Ng's letter to HDB asking for cost details, Mr Mah says the onus is on the SDA candidate to back up his estimates.
Mr Mah says: "He is fishing for figures. He's got absolutely no clue what is going on. He just makes this allegation, just shooting from the hip. I've asked HDB not to entertain him."
He says HDB flats are heavily subsidised and that its prices are based on market value.
Mr Mah says: "The market value of the flat includes construction cost, land cost, infrastructure cost, providing lifts on every floor, and it varies from place to place."
So what is Mr Ng's next move?
Mr Ng "We have better things to do. We are currently very busy with the unemployment job portal. We don't run the HDB. It's up to them to disclose the figures."
As for the SDA employment website, Mr Ng says it has so far received 50 applications from Tampines residents since it was launched on Labour Day.
Mr Ng says it will kick start phase two of its employment initiative by linking up with companies situated in Tampines, Changi, Bedok and Loyang to help residents find jobs nearer to their homes. - CNA/de
Filed in: singapore ge2006 singaporeelections
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