Mah: Make Meaningful Comparisons

[trulysingapore 0]

I refer to the Straits Times report “Mah: Make meaningful comparisons” dated 2 Oct 2009.

Mr Mah reportedly said that it is “not meaningful” to compare prices of flats today with those 20 years ago because that would mean going back 20 years.

But MM Lee said in a speech on 12 Sept 1965: “Over 100 years ago, this was a mud flat, swamp. Today, this is a modern city”. Is Mr Mah going to tell MM Lee that his comparison is “not meaningful” and that he is trying to bring Singapore back 100 years?

In his 2006 National Day message, PM Lee said that “many years ago, Singapore was just a fishing village …” Is Mr Mah going to tell PM Lee that his comparison is “not meaningful” and that he is trying to bring Singapore back to a fishing village?

In the Straits Times report “How much is a burger worth” dated 26 Sept 2009, MP Seah Kian Peng was reported to have said that the key consideration in deciding how affordable or less affordable goods have become in Singapore is to see if life is better now compared to that in the past. Is Mr Mah going to tell MP Seah that his comparison is “not meaningful” and that he is trying to bring Singapore back to life in the past?

So Mr Mah is not being very meaningful when he says that it is “not meaningful” to compare with the past. Because everyone compares with the past, even our leaders do so. While our leaders readily compare with the past to show progress and achievement, comparisons that show price increases or deteriorating levels of affordability is deemed “not meaningful”.

Mr Mah brushes off “all sorts of arguments” about prices being too high today, not with sound counter arguments, but by simply saying that this is part and parcel of our system. In that case, he and the HDB might as well not give any explanations to the public. They can just answer any query from citizens with the phrase “this is part of our system”. No further explanations needed. Wouldn’t that be eaiser?

Mr Mah says that our HDB can be monetised by selling it or leasing it back to the HDB for retirement funds. But what is the point of paying for an HDB all our lives only to give it up at the end of the day?

Mr Mah says that our HDB remains affordable because it does not exceed the 30% international benchmark. But he and the HDB always insist on saying that our HDB is heavily subsidised. How can the HDB flat be simultaneously heavily subsidised and priced according to the international benchmark? That would mean that everywhere in the world that adopts the international benchmark enjoys heavily subsidised housing.

[Kalidor 0]

If you have a point to make, please say so.

If you have a political agenda, I don't think this is the right place to further it.

[trulysingapore 0]

If you have a point to make, please say so.

If you have a political agenda, I don't think this is the right place to further it.

I have a point, but you need to build up your case convincingly, otherwise people won't believe you.

no political agenda. just hope to educate as many people as i can. have come across too many people who are die hard govt fans who think that the govt can do no wrong and even high housing prices is good for us citizens. if only they can think a bit deeper and realise their own follies.

if only they realise that the govt's here to suck the marrow out of our bones ...

[asoon88 0]

I have a point, but you need to build up your case convincingly, otherwise people won't believe you.

no political agenda. just hope to educate as many people as i can. have come across too many people who are die hard govt fans who think that the govt can do no wrong and even high housing prices is good for us citizens. if only they can think a bit deeper and realise their own follies.

if only they realise that the govt's here to suck the marrow out of our bones ...

I believe you are truly one of us...Singaporeans. However, that's the problem with Singaporeans.....many of us are selfish, inconsiderate and greedy. Always blaming someone else for our problems.

When I see people paying sky-high prices for their HDB flats and rushing to buy private properties as well as cars, it makes me wonder how come Singapore have so many rich people ? I mean local people with pink IC, gone thru' NS, voted opposition and yet simply allowing the market to suck whatever it dictates.

I can only conclude that those of us who lament the current situation are only a small group of people. There are thousands of Singaporeans out there still frolicking in their nice cars, houses and spending habits and do not access sites like this to know what is good for them.

[trulysingapore 0]

that's the problem you see? many people simply don't understand that whatever they are enjoying now will eventually be paid for manifold by their children.

let's say their HDB went up by $200,000. So they sell their HDB, use the money to upgrade to condo. someone else will end up picking up the tab. of course the seller doesn't mind and doesn't care too.

but because resale flats are now up by $200,000. new flats, being pegged to old flats, would be up too, say $150,000. so all new buyers have to pay the govt $150,000 more - for absolutely nothing.

if you compound this increase upon increase upon increase, ultimately, it's gonna boomerang right back to ourselves in the form of much more expensive housing for our next generation.

people only think of their gains now. i don't know why they don't have the capacity to think or to realise that their children will end up poorer instead.