HOUSING
Mr Ong also spoke about housing, another policy outlined in the SDP manifesto, saying that the SDP had “taken a leaf” from another opposition party by proposing the removal of land costs from the prices of Build-to-Order (BTO) and Sale of Balance flats.
While it sounds appealing because it would make flats cheaper, he questioned its practicality.
“With new flats being so much cheaper, what is the impact on everyone else who owns a flat? What is going to happen to the resale prices? What’s the impact on the resale market?”
Mr Ong also raised a question for new homebuyers: what happens when they reach the minimum occupation period (MOP) and want to sell their flats?
“The SDP says you can sell it back to HDB. I assume you sell it at about the same price as when you bought it.
“This means you have no hope of benefiting from the appreciation of your flat. Your BTO flat is no longer an asset. Basically, our HDB policy – their HDB policy – is a rental scheme.”
He added that SDP’s proposals demonstrate a lack of understanding of how public policies work.
PROTECT POSITIVITY
Mr Ong also urged residents to preserve the positivity and optimism of Sembawang town, especially during this election season, when negativity can easily take hold.
He said elections are necessary for a democracy, but warned that they can also generate plenty of negativity, distorting “every good thing the government does” to make it seem “uncaring”.
Mr Ong pointed out that during elections, credit for the work done by civil servants and ministers over the years is simply claimed by someone who wants to enter parliament.
“One opposition leader even claimed credit for the government’s COVID-19 response because his party ‘supported’ all our measures!”
At the community level, Mr Ong pointed out that any minor frustrations blow up into anger.
He cited Meet-the-People sessions (MPS) as an example, noting that they “suddenly became something negative” because residents have to wait in line.
“I suppose SDP, if elected, will abolish MPS. Please take note,” he said.
SDP chief Chee Soon Juan said in a rally speech on Saturday that he would hold regular Meet-the-People sessions, after hearing that residents now have to wait two to three hours to see their MP.
In levelling his criticism of the long wait time, Dr Chee said he was shocked and promised to make arrangements so that residents would not have to waste so much time queuing just to speak to him.
Mr Ong also said that the SDP has an issue with the project to relocate the horses from the Bukit Timah Turf City to Sembawang – a stance he called “as puzzling as not allowing Sembawang West residents to use the Galaxy CC.”
The move to relocate over 100 horses from the turf club was announced in March, when Mr Ong said that it is part of plans to rejuvenate the area.
He added that some of the houses near Sembawang Park are being converted into stables to house the horses, and the facility will be open to the public, offering horse riding as well as animal therapy.
“Everyone I spoke to, and I told them about the project in Sembawang, they are excited by it.
“But the SDP always has something negative to say about it. I don’t even understand how they turned this into something negative. Maybe they think that if you care for horses, you cannot care for humans. I don’t know. I really don’t know.”