Not all HDB flats are created equal.

So other than the haze, what's been bugging me lately?

Well, HDB's pilot DBSS (Design, Build, Sell Scheme) was launched with a bang last week. The Straits Times front-page screamed, "Teak floorings, Italian hobs are standard fittings in these flats."! A reference to the Premiere@Tampines flats developed by Sim Lian. It looks private, smells private, but it's public housing.

Bravo! At first glance, the quality on offer was excellent. And it was drawing a lot of attention from the public. From the long line forming at the show flat, to the letters posted in the Straits Times forum pages. Including one from Mr. Lee (no, not the one running the country), who was quite (shall we say) p*ssed off about his ineligibilty.

Oct 7, 2006
Govt should relook income qualifying levels

WHEN my wife and I read about the Housing Board's first public-housing project by a private developer, our eyes lit up with hope - until we learnt that the same qualification rules apply.

To the Government, my family is one of the better-off ones. With a combined income of more than $8,000, we are deemed to be well off and, thus, not eligible for any subsidies. The only housing options available to us are private housing and older, yet more expensive, HDB resale flats.

My peers and I belong to a group who are not wealthy enough to live comfortably - despite what many think - yet not poor enough to deserve any benefits from the Government. Should misfortune strike, we are not eligible to downgrade our housing immediately because of the 30-month time-bar.

My family, rather reluctantly, bought a private property because we were making slightly more than $8,000 a month when we needed a new home five years ago. None of us really had any cash savings then and we ended up with a huge loan from the bank.

After five years of paying more than $30,000 in interest per annum, we hardly have any savings. Meanwhile, our property has depreciated by $200,000 while our loan remains slightly above $500,000.

My wife and I would like to expand our family. We did our calculations and planned our future but still found it difficult to move out of our Dink (Double Income, No Kids) status.

What the Government said about making it easier for couples to have kids, the need to have kids, and the need to retain talent meant nothing to us.

We played a role in Singapore's success, contributing to the government coffers via income tax, but we always feel left out where benefits are concerned.

Not so long ago, I broke out in cold sweat after hearing some minister propose means testing.

In Singapore, it is neither the Malays nor the Chinese that are marginalised; it is the families earning $8,000 and more.

Perhaps it is time the Government relooks income qualifying levels to more accurately reflect today's standard of living.

Poor Lee. Crying to the world about his problem - that he and his wife make too much (and yet not enough) money at the same time. What a paradox of a man. He's making my life look real pathetic. If Lee is to be believed, you need much more than $8K per month to 'live comfortably' in Singapore. Apparently, HDB resale flats are so expensive that you have to go for private properties. Yes, they are more ex than the new flats, but it doesn't mean you then have no choice but to splurge on an even more ex private property. How much more ex? Put it this way - his outstanding loan is more than double the total value of my HDB resale flat. And apparently, you need much more than $8K to raise a family here. If that's the case, the family that I support must be living on grass.

Lee may have some real problems, but it is obvious that they are self-inflicted. It is unfair to blame the gahmen for the difficulties in sustaining his (as opposed to 'today's') standard of living. If you insist on a high-flying lifestyle, go right ahead, but do so at your own risk. And do not blame others for any resulting financial distress.

So to Lee and his 'peers', just be grateful you're in that income stratosphere. Go enjoy life, and don't get so worked up over gahmen goodies you're not eligible for. You don't want to give others the impression that S'poreans are a bunch of kiasu uptight rich folks.

And please, seek financial counselling. Start with Lesson One - 'Live Within Your Means'.