CNA
Posted: 23 January 2007 1645 hrs
SINGAPORE : The government cannot repeatedly provide assistance and subsidies to bail out financially irresponsible households.
Parliamentary Secretary for National Development Dr Maliki Osman said doing so would encourage such behaviour, and deprive deserving families of help.
The issue came up in the House when a member highlighted cases of families living in a tent and a lorry.
MP Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim asked if the government and Housing and Development Board (HDB) could do more to help families in financial trouble downgrade, or find temporary shelters like subsidised rental flats.
This was a point several other MPs also took up.
Dr Maliki said: "We recognise that when families are faced with crises, they need support. But often, it's very difficult to make a decision on what support can be given to such families.
"As far as options are concerned, there are several that are already in place. One is subsidised rental flats. We look at eligibility criteria, the conditions of the family, and whether we can waive some of these conditions.
"Secondly, the market rate rentals that are available to these families. The third is an option that very few families tend to fall back on - extended families. We have to recognise that at the end of the day, we want to uphold the policy that the family is the first line of defence.
"We have to take a look at where the family is. Often times, when we look at the individual cases..., there are family support available. And we explore that with them, but they tend not to want to go back to the family for support.
"HDB is prepared to help needy cases to rent or buy a flat from HDB. However, such appeals need to be carefully scrutinised to ensure that our limited housing subsidies are fairly distributed to those in need, and are not abused."
When the PAP govt displaced people like me & my family in the mid 80's...
ReplyDeletefrom a kampong where we were paying..all property tax, the water bill & electricity bill...it did not subsidise enough for the HDB flat we were buying....
there were spoken words of a so called "subsidy" ...but not knowing the real cost of flats we would never know, would we...
Now....after so many years... moved from their (our) land..the govt ..has imposed policy after policy...and finally...shutting people from having a roof....
Maliki must be embaressed to say such things in Parliment, nevertheless...bad words like his,
i wonder why comes from a minority MP.....as i recall there was an HDB blunder , recently, making someone bankrupt while he was in prison.....is it to justify that....
Now i wonder why an alternative plan....cannot be sought out....
i will provide a solution....if they can't think....
put these people in cheap rental housing...make them be able to stand up for themself(make sure there are jobs)...
over a limited number of years...then assess his/her ability to afford and pay for his/her flat...which he/she can buy as his or her own....
Is this too hard or is Maliki not able to think...he is an asso professor i thought...
Perhaps, perhaps...they find that the poorer people are the less they vote for PAP....
i must admit...i did not finish reading this article in the newspaper today....
Maliki is the same guy who expects a free lunch from his MP salary.
ReplyDeleteAs citizens, we recognise that when the PAP are faced with election crises, they need support. But often, it's very difficult to make a decision on what support can be given to such political parties especially when they expect to sit around and do nothing.
Full article on CNA: MPs decry whinging Singaporeans, call for soul searching
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"A nation of complainers" and "a society increasing reliant on the Government for help" were among the sadder - and harsher - labels mentioned. Member of Parliament for Sembawang Group Representation Constituency (GRC) Dr Mohamad Maliki Osman started the ball rolling when he called for "reflection and soul searching" among Singaporeans. Dr Maliki noted Singaporeans had become increasing reliant on an "efficient system" that handles issues on the municipal and national level. He said: "When the lift landing of our flat is not clean … we call the town council; when there are mosquitoes in the neighbourhood, we call the NEA (National Environment Agency) … if things don't improve, we go to our MPs or tell the media."
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