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Citizen Engagement

Singapore's National Development Minister launches blog

Newly appointed as Singapore National Development Minister, Khaw Boon Wan launched his blog on Thursday, 26 May 2011. Called ‘Housing Matters’, Khaw’s first post said that he will “share regularly my thoughts, reflections, trade-offs, and possible ideas”.

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In a bid to engage Singaporeans who on 7 May 2011 gave the ruling People’s Action Party its lowest winning margin since independence, Khaw’s blog entry pledges a listening ear: “It is meant to be interactive as I will particularly value your comments, reactions and views, via emails or my Facebook or Kampung Sembawang Facebook, or the MND Facebook.”

Responding to the prices of public housing, one of the topics that most concerns Singaporeans, Khaw wrote: “Housing is hot politically and there are genuine problems on the ground. At my MPS [Meet the People Sessions], 70 per cent of appeal cases are on housing. I don’t think I am the only MP who harasses Ministry of National Development/Housing Development Board regularly.”

Goh Chok Tong, Emeritus Senior Minister, also Singapore’s second Prime Minister (PM), has also been using social platforms like Facebook to get citizens’ feedback. Post elections, he had posted a comment on his constituency’s Facebook page asking for two issues and policies on the top of Singaporean’s minds.

His 24 May 2011 post read: “PM reviewing governance issues. Let us have a claim of his mindshare. Let me know the top 2 issues/policies on your mind. Leave out Ministerial salaries. Will then collate for discussion later.”

To date, Goh has received 370 comments on that single post. Visitors to Khaw’s blog are encouraged to leave their comments on the Ministry of National Development’s Facebook page instead.

In his previous post as Minister of Health, Khaw also ran a blog and Facebook page.

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7 Comments

On 26 June 2011 Lim Yew Kang Christopher wrote:

Dear Sir,

I would like to feedback that the COV for HDB flats in Bishan is around $100K. (especially for high floor)

The Sunday Times today stated median COV is in the region of $30K which is quite out I reckon…what is your opinion?

Cheers,
Christopher Lim


On 21 July 2011 Steeve Tan wrote:

Dear sir,

I have some issues concerning mcst and the management of this condominium at Villa Marina. Being a resident, may I seek your advice on the by laws of this management? Mcst 2528.

The relevant department concerned regulating the poor service standard of the managing agent and the committee, house rules not in favour of the minority residents. Would appreciate you could provide me the right department and contact details for more information.

Thank you.


On 16 November 2011 Andy Lim Cheng Teck wrote:

Dear sir , i would like to seek your help in buying a flat. I,m already 40 single working with a CPF of $100K who only need a 2 or 3 room flat , the outside market price is so hight i can,t even afford , please do help me with a solution i apply for loan from HDB but only able to loan me $98k which make up to $2000K . still with all this i can,t afford a flat. Dear sir as you had said you would like all singaporean to be able to own a house , but for my cause how , i got no saving only my CPF .. Please look into my cause as i got no idea how long i can stay in my rental room. Dear sir please seriously look into my case. is there anyway i can buy a HDB flat be it 2 or 3 room . i reall need a house waht is the best solution.

Regards
Andy Lim Cheng Teck
S7148253G
Mobil 90031702


On 3 September 2012 George Chiang wrote:

I think Honourable Minister should review the Minimum Occupation Period rule. Possibly to a period of 3 years for new flats. This will have serveral benefits:
(1) more resale flats will enter the market and thus will stabilise the HDB resale market prices. And as more flats enter the resale market, this will hope to ease prices of resale flats.
(2) buyers will have more choices to buy a flat and let those who does not wish to wait for BTO to get these flats newer and earlier.


On 10 October 2012 Rozana wrote:

Dear Sir,

I had been appealing for 2rm HDB rental flat till up to date there is still no news.
From MP Mr Hazawi Daipi till to Mr S Iswaran been appealing to HDB for rental flat for me & my family.
Owner of the flat I am renting wants us to vacate the flat as they ahve new tenants to rent the flat. Where are my kids & me going to stay since the owner wants us to vacate the flat.
Seek your assistance getting imemdiate HDB rental for me & my 3 ongoing school children.
Appreciate your compassionate understanding in assistance us for 2rm HDB rental flat west area since my kids are schooling at west area.
I working at Jurong Island & only breadwinner to the family.

Best regards,
Rozana
S7219220F
Mobile : 97181470 / 84015253


On 26 November 2012 Ivy Tan wrote:

Dear Sir
May I asked why only last 3 months of income submission for purchase of EC and not over a period of 6months or 1 year?
Does it not subject to abuse where some people actually take a 3 months break from regular income work to qualify?
My niece 25yrs and boyfriend 29yrs had a combine income of $12.5k only with effect from sept 2012, they are not eligible to buy EC due to this 3 months income. They only had few years of work experience and it is not easy for them to raise the initial 20% down payment of EC,yet they are not qualified to purchase a unit.
They wanted to purchase a unit at Fernvale as she grew up with grandparents and aunt in this area. She hopes to start a family in 2 years and have her aunt to help in looking after her babies. I had been told there are no priority given to promixity to family. Why is that so? Are we not encouraging family to stay near each other?
Please advise how young couple can get a headstart to purchase EC,plan their future family and at the same time look after the olds as well.

Regards
Tan SH
81397299


On 22 January 2013 lim teck meng jackson wrote:

hi minister khaw boon wan good evening to u ,my name is lim teck meng jackson nric no s7723794a, last year i just release from prison ,coz i have commited a cheating case was sentence to 4years 6month.due to my stay at prison n previous outstanding instalment i own is around 13k,when the day i release is hard for me to pay the amount that i own,coz i have awife n alovely daugther that is 2years old ,in order to clear the loan that i own ,i sold out my blk1 marsiling drive flat that help me to solve my problem ,i did buy a 3room flat again that was at blk926 jurong west st 92 #11-121.so the time being i have to rent a room to stay with my wife n daugther ,when i buy this 3room flat was go through bank loan ,coz hdb loan was not approved due to my bad debth.i can understand why i been reject by hdb loan.but now i was really in need help by you sir could really help me.coz when i was renting a room from a house owner ,he happen to be a con man ,i have to blame myself instead of other .coz of my greedy he say join venture with him to do buisness, but it happen all to be my greediness ,i trusted him ,but now he have ran away already, my completion of this new house i buy ,have been postphone again n again ,my last date to complete is this coming 1st feb 2013.my wife n daugther now is staying at a renting room at jurong ,i have disappointed her n my daugther, she came from china .we been marry for 9years .after clearling my debth , idon have enough cash to do my completion ,so i was so stupid to went to casino to try my luck.but in the end i have lose everything. i m sincerely n honestly asking for ur help, i told myself chances given to me ,i will really work hard in future to feed my daugther n wife by all mean .but rigth now i really don know what to do ,now i m staying at my stepmonther house that was at jb.i really hope you sir could help me .i just want to give my daugther n wife a house like last time.i strongly promised i will treasure what is given to me. your sincerely lim teck meng jackson nric no s7723794a


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