GE2025: Desmond Lee rebuts PSP's housing criticisms, says issue has been addressed repeatedly

Straits Times

30-04-2025

Minister for National Development Desmond Lee speaking to supporters during the PAP's rally at Jurong West Stadium on April 27. ST PHOTO: BRIAN TEO
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SINGAPORE - Minister for National Development Desmond Lee has hit back against statements by PSP secretary-general Leong Mun Wai that he had 'been silent on national housing issues throughout the campaign '.
Mr Lee, who is anchoring the PAP team against Mr Leong's line-up in West Coast-Jurong West GRC, said on April 30 that he has 'addressed national housing issues on multiple occasions' over the ongoing election campaign.
The PAP candidate noted that Mr Leong had made the statement against him in a media interview the same morning, and pointed out that he had spoken on national housing issues at the launch of the constituency's manifesto on April 23.
He added he also spoke on the topic in a media interview on April 25, and at the PAP rally two days after, and that some of these events were covered by the press.
Mr Leong said earlier on April 30 that Mr Lee had yet to respond to the party's queries on national issues, zooming in on housing policy and criticising rising public housing prices.
In response, Mr Lee said that in his rally speech, he had acknowledged housing concerns that many Singaporeans have, including how Covid-19 caused the 'worst construction crisis in decades', leading to surging demand, and higher prices.
The housing projects that were delayed by the pandemic have since been completed, said Mr Lee, noting how the Government has 'significantly ramped up' the supply of new homes.
He added: 'The market will stabilise, and we will be able to provide more affordable housing.'
Mr Leong had also said how the prices for public homes were 'not going to stop rising at such a rapid pace', and 'real solutions' would need to be talked about.
In his statement, Mr Lee reiterated the importance of the new Standard, Plus and Prime housing model – introduced in 2023 – which he said would keep flats in choice locations 'within the reach of young Singaporeans'.
He also reiterated that the Government was exploring more public housing options for higher-income young couples and singles.
'These are topics that PM Lawrence Wong has spoken about, and public housing is a part of the PAP National Manifesto,' said Mr Lee.
Apart from national policy, Mr Lee said that other areas covered during the election campaign included the upgrading of older estates and helping seniors age in place.
Mr Leong had also, among other things, criticised how the Government has not proposed any solution to tackle the lease decay issue in public housing, other than the Voluntary Early Redevelopment Scheme, which may not be a viable solution.
But Mr Lee said that housing had been extensively debated in Parliament before the election campaign , and the Government had set out its strategy to keep homes affordable and accessible. This includes the ramping up of supply and cooling measures where necessary.
Mr Lee said: 'It is indeed a matter of concern when the PSP makes assertions with little regard for facts.
'I would like to urge the public to consider the facts and concrete plans that each side has presented when making their choice during this General Election.'
Besides Mr Lee, the PAP slate for West Coast-Jurong West GRC consists Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Finance and Education Shawn Huang, three-term MP Ang Wei Neng, orthopaedic surgeon Hamid Razak and lawyer Cassandra Lee.
They are up against a PSP team that includes the party's top three leaders – Mr Leong, chairman Tan Cheng Bock, and first vice-chairperson Hazel Poa. The other two candidates are Mr Sumarleki Amjah, head of packaged food and business development at a food and beverage firm, and in-house legal counsel Sani Ismail.
The PAP and PSP had faced off in the then West Coast GRC at the 2020 General Election, with the ruling party winning 51.68 per cent of the vote.
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