National Development Minister Mah Bow Tan said the postponement of up to S$3 billion worth of public construction projects will not affect housing estate upgrading programmes.
As for new flats offered in mature estates being many times oversubscribed, Mr Mah said the HDB is already ramping up its building programme.At a community event on Sunday, the minister also gave the assurance that his ministry will proceed with the Home Improvement and the Neighbourhood Renewal Programmes announced last year for estates like Yishun and Tampines.
Mr Mah said: “We have sufficient Budget to be able to continue with our upgrading programmes. At the same time, of course, HDB will have to look at ways in which it can cut the cost, improve the methods, improve the productivity, make sure we cut down on waste.”
Earlier this month, the HDB had announced a total of 58 sites selected for upgrading.
The minister said the S$3 billion worth of projects to be postponed are projects the various ministries considered to be not very urgent.
The government will, however, proceed with urgent projects like the building of the Youth Olympics Village at the former Warren Golf Course.
On the recent record of more than 10,000 applications received for almost 280 surplus flats in mature estates, Mr Mah said it is not possible for the HDB to build flats on a need basis.
Mr Mah said: “Balloting method is probably the fairest. Administratively the most efficient way to do it. And we have certain criteria. We have certain income ceiling. We have given allocation priority to the first timers. We have given further chances to those who are living near their parents.”
The HDB has said it plans to launch 4,500 flats early this year and its advice for those who urgently need a flat is to consider getting a resale unit in the open market. - CNA/ch
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