I refer to Mr Soh Say Kiat’s letter last Sunday, ‘18 failed attempts to get an HDB flat‘.
I would have understood and empathised with Mr Soh if he had started his Housing Board flat applications in late 2006, in view of the surge in prices and applications since then.
But I fail to comprehend his application problem, as he had begun flat-hunting as early as 2001.
As I recall, thousands of flats had stood vacant in Jurong West and Sengkang from around 2003 to 2005.
During parliamentary debates, some MPs would question the HDB’s planning, as it had resulted in a large number of unsold flats then.
There were no long queues of applicants during those years and one could easily buy a new five-room flat for about $180,000 in Jurong West.
One could also easily afford a resale five-room flat, priced at below $300,000 in many estates, or below $430,000 in popular ones such as Marine Parade, Bishan, Redhill and Queenstown.
The supply of new and old flats was truly abundant from 2003 to 2005. So one should not conveniently put the blame on the HDB for a personal choice or decision that could have deprived one of a flat during those years.
Source : Sunday Times – 4 Oct 2009
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