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The latest BTO project in Punggol is 6 times oversubscribed a day after it was launched, a sign that the present supply of public housing is far inadequate to meet rising demand. The prices of HDB resale flats continue to sky-rocket, rising 3.8 per cent to a fresh record in the second quarter compared to the first quarter based on preliminary figures released by HDB. The Straits Times reports today that property analysts have revised their estimates for resale flat price rises to between 12 to 15 percent. The astronomical prices are caused partly by the shortage of new flats and rising demand fueled by the relentless influx of foreigners. The ruling party had made known its ambitious plan to increase Singapore’s population to 6.5 million via immigration as early as 2005. However, only slightly more than 11,000 new flats were built between the years 2006 – 2008 when there were over 90,000 PRs and 20,000 new citizens alone in 2008: [Source: HDB Financial Report 2008/2009] Below is a graph illustrating how the rise in the prices of resale flats coincides with the rise in the number of foreigners in Singapore between the years 2000 and 2008, courtesy of Kojakbt, the moderator of 3in1kopitiam: Due to the ruling party’s liberal immigration policy, foreigners now made up 36 per cent of Singapore’s population, up from 14 per cent in 1990. The influx of PRs also contribute to a spike in the prices of resale flats as they have higher spending prowess and are willing to spend more. Two weeks ago, a new citizen from India and YPAP leader Sinha Shekhar boasted on the REACH Facebook that he owns both a private property and resale flat which is being rented out for income. Mr Sinha even whined publicly that the rental from his HDB flat is insufficient to cover for his bank instalments when there are many young Singapore couples who are unable to afford a roof over their heads. He subsequently deleted his comments as he did not want to appear as a "show off". Below is a snapshot of Mr Sinha Shekhar’s comments, courtesy of our reader James Ong: [Source: REACH Facebook] Despite evidence showing otherwise, PAP National Development Minister Mah Bow Tan is adamant that PRs who form some 20 percent of the buyers of resale flats, have "no impact" on the prices. He also chided Singapore home buyers for being "fussy".   Debunking official myths of HDB flats series: 1 Myth 1: Singaporeans are “owners” of their HDB flats 2. Myth 2: HDB flats are “affordable” to most Singaporeans 3. Myth 3: Rising prices of HDB flats “generate” wealth for Singaporeans   Related articles: >> Mah Bow Tan: HDB flats are still affordable to first time flat buyers >> Why Mah Bow Tan’s policy of high HDB flats is wrong >> Letter to Mah Bow Tan on HDB policies >> Singaporean want govt to allay anxiety over HDB leasehold >> Mah Bow Tan embarrassed by Reform Party’s Hazel Poa >> Mah Bow Tan: “Unrealistic” expectations to blame for unhappiness about flats >> Taiwanese PR paid record $ 650,000 for 4-room resale flat >> Grace Fu: PRs are helpful to HDB flat owners selling their flats >> HDB launches “traveling exhibition” to trumpet its achievements in the heartlands >> PAP to upgrade 12,000 HDB households ahead of next election >> Mah Bow Tan: We do not want flat prices to go down >> Prices of resale flats to rise further as PR quota reached >> Taiwanese PR offers $50k COV for resale flat >> Mah Bow Tan: PRs have minimal impact on resale flat prices >> No empirical evidence to suggest that public housing is affordable in Singapore >> When will Singapore’s property bubble burst? >> Why HDB is unable to reveal break down costs of new flats now >> HDB to consider introducing rules to curb property speculation >> HDB blames Singaporeans for not selecting flats when given the chance >> Singaporeans worried about retirement after depleting CPF to pay for over-priced HDB flats >> Mah Bow Tan acknowledged that rising HDB flat prices has sparked “fresh concerns” >> PM Lee: Govt does not have control over prices of resale flats” >> COVs of resale flats shooting through the roof >> HDB resale price index hit record high in 2009 >> Singaporean wants PRs to live in rented flats instead of buying resale flats >> Singaporeans wants PRs to be banned from selling HDB flats at a profit >> Shanmugam: Singaporeans likely culprits for driving up HDB flat prices >> Mah Bow Tan: HDB flats remain affordable >> Means testing for PRs to buy resale flats >> Immigration and public housing: should the govt or people plan ahead? >> Grace Fu: hard to predict demand for housing >> Indonesian PR bought 4-room flat at $653,000 >> Mah Bow Tan asks home buyers to be realistic >> PAP MP blames young couples who cannot get a flat for not planning ahead >> Home affordability: HDB versus the public >> Demand vs supply: so many applicants, so few flats >> Number of applicants exceed number of flats >> HDB to increase supply of flats >> Mah: don’t compare with prices in the past >> ERA: 40 per cent of HDB flat buyers are PRs     Please join our Facebook discussion on this article here and invite your friends to do so as well to raise awareness among fellow Singaporeans. 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It has been a week since controversial YPAP leader and new citizen from India Mr Sinha Shekhar made the headlines with his outrageous remarks about native Singaporeans. A speech therapist by training, Mr Sinha Shekhar obtained his Singapore citizenship in 1994 at 25 years of age. He joined the PAP four years later, rising fast high up its rank to become its most prominent face in cyberspace. He is currently the Head of Rehabilitation at Ang Mo Kio Community Hospital. Mr Sinha Shekhar sparked a massive outcry in cyberspace lately when he revealed on the REACH Facebook that he owns both a condominium and HDB resale flat which he rented out, prompting one netizen “kojakBT” to write in to HDB questioning if Mr Sinha has contravened any HDB rules in doing so. Though there’s nothing wrong in the netizen writing to HDB for queries, an angry Sinha Shekhar threatened to sue him for “slander”. Mr Sinha Shekhar is notorious in Singapore blogosphere for his description of PAP critics as “dogs” on the YPAP Facebook in March this year.  Ironically, he was later given an “Outstanding Contributors’ award” by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong in person for the regularity of his contributions on the PAP REACH Forum and Facebook. [Source: YPAP Facebook] In the interview with the media, Mr Sinha Shekhar claimed he would be making a public statement to clarify the matter in a week's time. However till today, nothing is heard from him. Mr Sinha Shekhar has also stopped posting on the REACH and YPAP Facebooks altogether. He is a regular contributor to both Facebooks with an average of three to four postings a day, almost of which are in support of the PAP. His last post came last week when he wrote that he "appreciates" the contributions of National Servicemen and he "regretted" not having the chance to serve NS. For some strange reasons, YPAP Chairman Teo Ser Luck and his deputy Zaqy Mohamad have remained silent on the matter as if it has nothing to do with them. Mr Sinha Shekhar is a prominent leader of the YPAP and a possible candidate for future elections. He may even become a minister one day and therefore his words carry considerable weight now. By its continued silence, it seems that YPAP is endorsing Mr Sinha Shekhar's comments that Singaporeans who dare to disagree with the PAP's policies are "DOGS" which should be ignored.     Please join our Facebook page here and invite your friends to do so to create awareness of the current affairs affecting Singaporeans. Please use our online web form to contact us.     Related articles: 1. YPAP leader Sinha Shekhar blamed Singaporeans for misunderstanding him 2.YPAP leader Sinha Shekhar threatened to sue whistle-blower for slander 3. YPAP leader Sinha Shekhar complains about low rent of his resale HDB flat 4. YPAP leader Sinha Shekhar described PAP critics as “DOGS” 5. YPAP leader Sinha Shekhar urged CDCs to reach out to immigrants 6. Indian new citizen Sinha Shekhar scolds unemployed Singapore NSman  Read More →

OPINION Relief cabby Mr Teo Kian Seng was fined $2,000 this week for "threatening" his PAP MP Lee Yi-Shyan. Mr Teo had gone to see Lee for a summon his aged mother received for leaving her clutter along corridor and was ticked off by rude officers from East Coast Town Council. Instead of providing a listening ear, Lee appeared to be unempathetic to Mr Teo’s grievances and asked him how “he could expect others to be polite to him when he was rude to them.” Stung by Lee’s callousness, Mr Teo then reminded Lee in Mandarin nonchalantly about the Seng Han Thong incident last year and said he hoped “history will not repeat itself again.” According to Mr Teo, he was not rude to Lee and neither did he raise his voice at him. Lee made a police report immediately and Mr Teo was arrested by the police the very next day. Fortunately for him, he was only fined and not jailed as in previous such cases. Do you think Mr Teo deserves to be punished by the law? Is PAP MP Lee Yi-Shyan making a mountain out of the molehill?   TR Policy Forum, 30 June 2010 Andy Ibrahim: Our PAP ministers got million dollar salaries and no balls when face a bit if threat from disgruntle citizen. while the MP could mediate and are able to fix it himself, that chicken shit report to police? no balls?   Fortune Tella: This poor Mr Teo needed help from MP to settle his mother summon but in the end paying 20times more than the summon. He should be better off paying the summon instead of courting problems. With his payable amount increased to two thounsand one hundred, any idea which MP or Ministers he should seek help from ? Perhaps he should talk to the legal moneylender to avoid problems since Ah Long San now in jail.   Chen Wenfa: Letting him go "relatively easy" liao, even though is a lot to middle/lower income group: but if not GE coming n dont 1 to escalate the issue....mayb he may kana jail for 1 month to 杀鸡给猴看.   Lee Kee Seng: They had it all figured out, next time just pay fine, don't go disturb them, otherwise you kenna worse. Just another tactic to get paid for doing nothing.   Richard Lim: Don't you think the MP Seng saga could have avoid from happening if they could have guard it inclusive of verbal threat!!! give it a thought...MP is also human. See how you react when this happen to you.   KY Ang: If a survey were to be conducted to the majority of the singaporeans, most will agree that the cabby words did not constitute to be a 'threat but rather gripes and grouses at best.Nowadays, some PAP ministers no compassion and cannot take hardship. *sigh...*   Wenhao Liang: People always complain by talking cock. It is very sad that the MP felt that he had to do this to his own resident. People who cry father cry mother don't take action. The MP should have let the guy let off steam. By his own actions, he has harmed a guy who may have voted for him.   Andrew Toh: Where's the compassion and where's the graciousness? These leaders are PITIFUL examples of human beings. Grouse or threat, if someone wants to do harm, he will regardless of consequence as the person is no longer thinking clearly. As in MP Seng's case, the guy had mental problems, would any potential consequence have deterred him? Doubtful.... See More This whole fiasco only serves to demonstrate a lack of understanding and heart - using the system to suppress and oppress. True, he may have the law on his side, but does he need to exercise that power in every instance? I have no respect for this MP.     Please view the rest of the discussion here.  Read More →