People’s Association Youth Movement (PAYM) Policy Forum @ Jurong GRC

People’s Association Youth Movement (PAYM) Policy Forum @ Jurong GRC
Getting my first flat – Is it a challenge?

10 Jan 2009
We were gathered at Bukit Batok CC for another installment of the PAYM Policy Forum series. Each year there are about 30 or so policy forums, organised by the Youth Executive Committees (YEC) from the various GRCs and SMCs.

The Guest of Honor for this Forum was Ms. Grace Fu, Senior Minister of State, Ministry of National Development, & Ministry of Education, Member of Parliament for Jurong GRC. The other panelists consisted of Ms. Tan Poh Hong, Deputy CEO HDB and Mr. Tommy Tan, Marketing Director, ERA.

Ms. Tan gave a quick presentation about HDB, drawing the main conclusion that the government would continue to ensure affordable public housing as homes for eligible citizen families. Further, HDB would offer different types of flats to meet diverse housing needs, as well as ensure a steady housing supply and ensure public housing remains affordable.

Mr. Tan’s presentation centered more on personal observations from his business experience at ERA.

It was the Q&A that saw people raise issues such as would Singaporean’s risk taking appetite diminish if they are saddled with a 30-year loan and thereby affecting our overall happiness because it is difficult to contemplate a career switch or even to start a family. Another query was if HDB would on a case to case basis review first time buyers, whose combined income was above $8000, and not give the HDB subsidy but allow them to take up a HDB loan. Closer to the heart, a query was also raised about parents in mature estates but the children could no longer find a new flat in the mature estate but was encouraged to move to new estates such as Seng Kang or Punggol, which meant the family was ‘divided’.

Overall, the exchange was lively and Ms. Fu did the lion’s share of explaining and clarifying policies to the 100-strong youths present at the Forum. The message to youths remained: ‘Buy within your means. Do not over-commit your resources and do your homework.’ As always, it was time constraints, which limited the dialogue but well done to Jurong GRC for having touched upon this highly sensitive topic of housing and thank you Bukit Batok CC for the premises.

Look out for the next Policy Forum @ Aljunied GRC in March 2009. Our very own Serangoon YEC will spearhead this effort, with Mrs. Lim Hwee Hua, Senior Minister of State (Transport) & (Finance), and Member of Parliament for Aljunied GRC, as the Guest of Honor.

Stay tuned!

Contributed by: Serangoon YEC

Ms. Grace Fu, dressed comfortably, opening the discussion on a touchy topic.

On your marks, get set and GO! Panelists taking a moment to gather their thoughts before the start of the lively Q&A.

Jurong GRC attracts the crowds with a highly relevant topic.