Latest news with #VoluntaryEarlyRedevelopmentScheme
Straits Times
7 days ago
- Business
- Straits Times
Public housing affordability, supply priorities for new National Development Minister Chee Hong Tat
Mr Chee Hong Tat said his ministry will continue to have a strong supply of new BTO flats, building on the work of former National Development Minister Desmond Lee. ST PHOTO: KUA CHEE SIONG SINGAPORE - The affordability of Housing Board resale flats is a key priority for the Government, said National Development Minister Chee Hong Tat. 'This is an important area for my ministry and me . We want to see how we can help to address this concern at the heart of it,' he told reporters on May 28 , five days after assuming the national development portfolio. Mr Chee attributed higher resale prices to the Covid-19 pandemic, which slowed the construction of Build-To-Order (BTO) flats and drove some home buyers to the resale market. Resale prices are expected to moderate in the years ahead as more flats reach their minimum occupation period (MOP) from 2026, he said. From October 2024, a Standard BTO flat comes with a five-year MOP, during which the owners must reside physically in the unit before it can be resold. Plus and Prime flats have a 10-year MOP. Before this, all flats had a five-year MOP. Mr Chee, who was sworn in as the Minister for National Development on May 23, was speaking to the media during a visit to the Toa Payoh Ridge BTO project in his Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC. Home owners at the 920-unit project in Lorong 1 Toa Payoh, which launched in February 2020, started collecting the keys to their flats last week. Mr Chee said his ministry will continue to have a strong supply of new BTO flats, building on the work of former National Development Minister Desmond Lee. For instance, HDB had exceeded its target of launching 100,000 BTO flats from 2021 to 2025. HDB is also on track to deliver the keys to 19,000 households in 2025 , with 7,000 households having collected the keys to their homes to date, he added. Mr Chee, who was transport minister, said he also hopes to help residents in new BTO projects - including developments located a distance from the town centre or amenities - have a better experience when they move in. He said he has asked Senior Minister of State for National Development Sun Xueling to look into this. Another area Mr Chee intends to prioritise is the sprucing up of older HDB estates so that they are 'good homes for residents of all ages'. He pointed to the Remaking Our Heartlands programme, which aims to renew older estates to make neighborhoods more sustainable and vibrant, as well as the Silver Upgrading Programme, which provides senior-friendly improve ments to older precincts that already underwent upgrading in the past. These efforts require a 'dedicated focus' by various ministries that have to work closely together, he added. Asked about the HDB lease decay issue and the Voluntary Early Redevelopment Scheme (Vers), Mr Chee said: 'This is something we will study carefully and, at an appropriate time, we will share more details.' Lease decay is the erosion of a flat's value as the end of its 99-year lease approaches. The proposed solution, Vers, which has yet to be rolled out, will allow owners of flats aged 70 years and older to vote for the Government to buy back their homes before their leases run out. On rising resale prices and million-dollar flat transactions, Mr Chee said one of the ways to address this is to increase the supply of BTO flats, and to give the market time to adjust to the higher supply of flats that have reached their MOP from 2026. Mr Chee said the cooling measure introduced in September 2022, which imposed a 15-month wait-out period on private property downgraders who want to buy a resale flat, is not meant to be permanent. 'I hope that when the situation improves… we are able to consider reviewing or even removing this restriction,' he said. Mr Chee was also asked for his thoughts on his switch from the transport ministry to the national development ministry. 'Indeed, both transport and MND are hot portfolios,' he said, noting that there are similarities between the two ministries. 'They both require long-term planning and they both require us to work closely with the tripartite partners in our industry, and also the unions,' he added. The tripartite partners are the Government, unions and employers. Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.
CNA
30-04-2025
- Politics
- CNA
GE2025: Desmond Lee rebuts PSP's Leong Mun Wai, says housing issues have been addressed repeatedly
Progress Singapore Party chief Leong Mun Wai has demanded answers, alleging that National Development Minister Desmond Lee has been silent over a range of housing issues, such as the Selective En Bloc Redevelopment Scheme (SERS) and Voluntary Early Redevelopment Scheme (VERS). Mr Lee has denied Mr Leong's claims, saying the PSP has "little regard for facts". He said the issues have been addressed in parliamentary debates and throughout the campaigning period. Chloe Teo reports.
Straits Times
30-04-2025
- Business
- Straits Times
GE2025: Desmond Lee rebuts PSP's housing criticisms, says issue has been addressed repeatedly
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 Follow our live coverage here. 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. Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.
Online Citizen
27-04-2025
- Politics
- Online Citizen
Pritam Singh criticises NTUC-PAP ties, says PAP candidates can still serve workers if unelected
SINGAPORE: Speaking at The Workers' Party rally on 26 April 2025, Pritam Singh took aim at the longstanding symbiotic relationship between the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) and the People's Action Party (PAP). Singh urged voters to support Workers' Party (WP) candidates Andre Low in Jalan Kayu and Kenneth Foo in Tampines Changkat at the upcoming general election. Singh stated that Labour Chief Ng Chee Meng and NTUC Assistant Secretary-General Desmond Choo, both contesting single seats, would likely continue their work in the labour movement even if they were not elected. Addressing the crowd at Temasek Junior College in Tampines during WP's second rally, he said the two PAP candidates would continue to serve workers with the support of 'rank-and-file unionists and workers who are truly the backbone of NTUC'. NTUC as a 'Guaranteed Trampoline' for Losing PAP Candidates Referring to the NTUC as a 'guaranteed trampoline' for defeated PAP candidates, Singh highlighted the unique advantage afforded to ruling party politicians through their relationship with the labour movement. 'It is the safest trampoline for a politician anywhere in Singapore, and maybe anywhere in the world, but you must be a PAP candidate to earn the right to bounce on it,' Singh remarked, rounding off a nearly three-hour-long rally. Singh encouraged voters to allow Ng and Choo to focus fully on union work by not electing them into Parliament. This, he argued, would enable them to generate fresh ideas or even implement ideas proposed by the WP. 'We need to give the PAP candidates more time for their NTUC work, so they can come up with new ideas, or maybe even implement WP ideas,' Singh added. Criticism of SkillsFuture Jobseeker Support Scheme Portrayal Earlier in his speech, Singh criticised a social media portrayal of Ng's role in launching the new SkillsFuture Jobseeker Support scheme. He reminded the audience that the WP had also advocated for similar initiatives to support lower- and middle-income Singaporeans who had lost their jobs through retrenchment or business closures. Attacks on PAP's 2025 Election Manifesto Singh further condemned the PAP's 2025 election manifesto, citing a lack of substance and specific policy proposals. He pointed out critical gaps, particularly on issues of housing affordability, the decaying leases of Housing and Development Board (HDB) flats, and the roll-out of the Voluntary Early Redevelopment Scheme (VERS). He said many families were purchasing resale flats with only 60 or 70 years left on the lease, sometimes at prices nearing or exceeding one million dollars. Yet the PAP's manifesto, he stressed, said 'nothing at all' about how these concerns would be addressed. Workers' Party's Alternative Proposals Highlighted In contrast, Singh said WP's manifesto advanced practical ideas on alleviating high rental costs for businesses and offering more flexibility for seniors using MediSave, Singapore's national medical savings scheme. 'Singapore is a far more complex society now, and it will always need fresh thinking. Yet we have a PAP manifesto without specific policy ideas. I believe it is because PAP wants Singaporeans to sign a blank cheque,' Singh argued. Singh also emphasised the need for Parliament to foster rational, responsible, and respectable debate rather than merely serving as a 'rubber stamp'. He cautioned that voting in PAP candidates with close ties to NTUC would not promote genuine scrutiny or accountability. Citing the proposed S$2.2 billion sale of Income Insurance to German multinational Allianz, which was abandoned following public backlash, Singh observed that no PAP labour MPs had filed questions or contributed to the parliamentary debate when the issue arose. 'Elected PAP MPs who champion NTUC… should fight hard in Parliament when NTUC issues are raised, particularly issues that Singaporeans are concerned about,' he said. Singh reassured voters that WP's candidates, if elected, would work diligently on the ground and manage town councils effectively in the constituencies they contested. 'Tampines wins, Tampines Changkat wins, Jalan Kayu wins, Singapore wins, everybody wins,' he declared. Firm Rejection of Foreign Interference Towards the end of his speech, Singh addressed remarks made earlier by Prime Minister Lawrence Wong regarding Facebook posts from two Malaysian politicians and a former Internal Security Act detainee. These posts had been blocked for alleged attempts to interfere in Singapore's election. Singh categorically rejected any foreign interference in Singapore's domestic politics. 'My colleagues and I categorically reject the involvement of any foreign element whatsoever in our domestic politics. Singapore is our business. Nobody else's,' he said. Singh concluded by reiterating his vision for a race-neutral Singapore. 'I passionately believe in a race-neutral Singapore, where we are judged not by our race or the colour of our skin, but by our deeds and our common humanity,' he said. Echoing this sentiment, WP Vice-Chair Faisal Manap, who is leading the party's Tampines GRC team, made a similar pledge. 'I am a minority candidate, a Malay/Muslim. Regardless, I will serve the residents of Tampines GRC – regardless of race, language or religion – equally and to the best of my ability,' Faisal said in his rally speech. Former NTUC Income CEO urges Jalan Kayu voters to demand accountability from Ng Chee Meng over failed Income-Allianz deal Separately, Former NTUC Income CEO Tan Suee Chieh has appealed to Jalan Kayu voters to hold Ng Chee Meng accountable for his leadership role in the failed 2024 sale of Income Insurance to Allianz. In an open letter, Tan disclosed that he had privately written to Ng and NTUC President K Thanaletchimi but received no response. He also highlighted his public efforts to raise concerns, which Ng allegedly did not address. Tan urged voters to seek answers, stressing that speaking up is an essential duty in safeguarding Singapore's future.
Straits Times
26-04-2025
- Politics
- Straits Times
GE2025: Pritam says PAP candidates with NTUC ties can continue helping workers even if not elected
GE2025: Pritam says PAP candidates with NTUC ties can continue helping workers even if not elected SINGAPORE - Labour chief Ng Chee Meng and NTUC assistant secretary-general Desmond Choo, who are contesting single seats at the general election, can continue helping workers even if they are not elected, WP chief Pritam Singh said on April 26. Taking aim at NTUC's close relationship with the PAP, Mr Singh urged voters to vote for WP's Jalan Kayu candidate Andre Low and its Tampines Changkat candidate Kenneth Foo instead. Mr Low will square off against the PAP's Mr Ng in Jalan Kayu at the May 3 polls, while Mr Foo will go up against Mr Choo from the ruling party in Tampines Changkat. Mr Singh said at WP's second election rally, held at Temasek Junior College in Tampines, that Mr Ng and Mr Choo will probably continue working in the labour movement if they do not get elected. If so, the two PAP candidates will continue serving workers with the help of ' rank-and-file unionists and workers who are truly the backbone of NTUC'. Calling the labour movement a 'guaranteed trampoline' for losing PAP candidates, the Leader of the Opposition said Mr Ng and Mr Choo can still lobby the government because of the 'symbiotic relationship' between NTUC and the PAP. 'It is the safest trampoline for a politician anywhere in Singapore, and maybe anywhere in the world, but you must be a PAP candidate to earn the right to bounce on it,' said Mr Singh in a speech rounding off the rally, which lasted nearly three hours. Union work is not easy, he added, and rank-and-file unionists push hard for better workers' rights because of their passion for workers. 'I thank them for that ,' he said. 'So, Singapore, let us help the PAP candidates in Jalan Kayu and Tampines Changkat, who are the top leaders in the NTUC, to be full-time NTUC union leaders .' This, Mr Singh said, would save them from spending time in Parliament and managing town councils. 'We need to give the PAP candidates more time for their NTUC work, so they can come up with new ideas, or maybe even implement WP ideas,' he added. Earlier, Mr Singh took a swipe at a social media site that touted Mr Ng's role in driving the launch of the new SkillsFuture Jobseeker Support scheme - a policy on which the WP said it has also made a difference . The scheme gives payouts to lower- and middle-income adult Singaporeans who have lost their jobs for reasons such as retrenchment and business closure . Mr Singh also hit out at what he said was a lack of substance and specifics in the PAP's 2025 election manifesto. For example, he cited the lack of details about proposals to tackle housing affordability, the decaying lease of Housing Board flats , and the roll-out of the Voluntary Early Redevelopment Scheme (Vers) , which will give owners of older flats a chance at 'going en bloc' before their leases run out. Mr Singh said m any families are buying resale flats with 60 or 70 years left on the lease, at prices nearing or even surpassing $1 million. 'These families need more details about Vers before their resale flats start to lose value... What does the PAP manifesto say about this concern? Nothing at all.' He said WP, in comparison, has advanced many practical proposals in its manifesto that deal with issues such as high rental costs for businesses and more flexibility for seniors using MediSave, the national medical savings scheme. 'Singapore is a far more complex society (now), and it will always need fresh thinking. Yet we have a PAP manifesto without specific policy ideas. I believe it is because PAP wants Singaporeans to sign a blank cheque,' he said. Mr Singh said Parliament needs rational, responsible and respectable debate, and 'not a rubber stamp', arguing that voting in PAP candidates with ties to NTUC would not make a difference. He cited the proposed $2.2 billion sale of home-grown insurer Income Insurance to German multinational Allianz, which was called off after the deal came under public scrutiny. Mr Singh noted that no PAP labour MP filed questions or spoke during the debate in Parliament when the issue surfaced. 'Elected PAP MPs who champion NTUC... should fight hard in Parliament when NTUC issues are raised, particularly issues that Singapor eans are concerned about.' Mr Singh said WP's candidates, if elected, will work hard on the ground and look after the town councils in the constituencies they are contesting. He added: 'Tampines wins, Tampines Changkat wins, Jalan Kayu wins, Singapore wins, everybody wins.' At the end of this speech, Mr Singh responded to Prime Minister Lawrence Wong's comments at a press conference earlier in the day that delved into Facebook posts by two Malaysian politicians and an ex-ISA detainee. The posts were blocked for attempting to interfere in Singapore's election. They - along with a Malaysia-based Singaporean religious teacher, Mr Noor Deros - had spotlighted several opposition politicians in social media posts. These politicians include WP vice-chair Faisal Manap, who is leading the party's Tampines GRC team. Mr Singh said: 'My colleagues and I categorically reject the involvement of any foreign element whatsoever in our domestic politics. Singapore is our business. Nobody else's.' He added: 'I passionately believe in a race-neutral Singapore, where we are judged not by our race or the colour of our skin, but by our deeds and our common humanity.' Mr Faisal , who was moved from Aljunied GRC, made a similar pledge to voters. 'I am a minority candidat e, a Malay/Muslim. Regardless, I will serve the residents of Tampines GRC - regardless of race, language or religion - equally and to the best of my ability ,' he said in his rally speech. Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.
