Low continues war of words over housing
By Chong Zi Liang
THE Workers' Party (WP) continued its three-week-long tussle with the People's Action Party (PAP) over the affordability of housing yesterday, with party chief Low Thia Khiang pointing to rising flat prices in Punggol and Sengkang at its first rally last night.
According to figures he cited, a new three-room flat in Sengkang cost as little as 21 per cent or as much as 46 per cent more last year, compared to 2005. Similarly, he said, a new four-room flat in Punggol was 46 per cent to 56 per cent pricier last year, compared to five years ago.
Such escalating property costs will become a financial burden for the younger generation, Mr Low warned. 'They will be mortgaging their future if they spend their whole lives paying for the housing mortgage,' he said to a cheering crowd at the rally for Hougang ward.
His latest remarks continue a debate over housing policies with National Development Minister Mah Bow Tan since WP launched its manifesto on April 9. The document contains alternative housing proposals such as pegging the price of new HDB flats to median household incomes. Both parties have since been arguing over the proposals' potential impact on the property market.
Also taking the stage last night was corporate lawyer Chen Show Mao, who also let the numbers do the talking in his maiden rally speech.
He questioned if everyone had benefited from Singapore's strong gross domestic product (GDP) growth. This is because, he said, the average monthly income per capita for the bottom 10 per cent of employed households was just $354 last year, compared with $340 three years ago. As for the bottom 10 per cent to 20 per cent, it was $675, compared with $630 three years ago.
'Their income has clearly, clearly failed to grow at the same pace as our GDP growth. So where did all our GDP growth go? It went to corporate profit and wage income for top earners.'
He also implored voters to help build a First World Parliament, a message that was consistently emphasised by every WP speaker last night.
Only with a sizeable opposition presence in the highest forum of the land can 'serious questions' be asked, he added. 'Like how many millions of dollars to pay a government minister a year is enough? Like how many hundreds of thousands of foreign workers to bring in every year is enough?' said Mr Chen, who is contesting in Aljunied GRC as part of the WP's strongest slate, which also includes party chairman Sylvia Lim and Mr Low.
By Chong Zi Liang
THE Workers' Party (WP) continued its three-week-long tussle with the People's Action Party (PAP) over the affordability of housing yesterday, with party chief Low Thia Khiang pointing to rising flat prices in Punggol and Sengkang at its first rally last night.
According to figures he cited, a new three-room flat in Sengkang cost as little as 21 per cent or as much as 46 per cent more last year, compared to 2005. Similarly, he said, a new four-room flat in Punggol was 46 per cent to 56 per cent pricier last year, compared to five years ago.
Such escalating property costs will become a financial burden for the younger generation, Mr Low warned. 'They will be mortgaging their future if they spend their whole lives paying for the housing mortgage,' he said to a cheering crowd at the rally for Hougang ward.
His latest remarks continue a debate over housing policies with National Development Minister Mah Bow Tan since WP launched its manifesto on April 9. The document contains alternative housing proposals such as pegging the price of new HDB flats to median household incomes. Both parties have since been arguing over the proposals' potential impact on the property market.
Also taking the stage last night was corporate lawyer Chen Show Mao, who also let the numbers do the talking in his maiden rally speech.
He questioned if everyone had benefited from Singapore's strong gross domestic product (GDP) growth. This is because, he said, the average monthly income per capita for the bottom 10 per cent of employed households was just $354 last year, compared with $340 three years ago. As for the bottom 10 per cent to 20 per cent, it was $675, compared with $630 three years ago.
'Their income has clearly, clearly failed to grow at the same pace as our GDP growth. So where did all our GDP growth go? It went to corporate profit and wage income for top earners.'
He also implored voters to help build a First World Parliament, a message that was consistently emphasised by every WP speaker last night.
Only with a sizeable opposition presence in the highest forum of the land can 'serious questions' be asked, he added. 'Like how many millions of dollars to pay a government minister a year is enough? Like how many hundreds of thousands of foreign workers to bring in every year is enough?' said Mr Chen, who is contesting in Aljunied GRC as part of the WP's strongest slate, which also includes party chairman Sylvia Lim and Mr Low.
