To ensure that no Singaporean is left behind, various policies have been put in place to help low-income households to purchase their own HDB flats and at the same time ensure that Singapore’s pioneer generation is honoured and supported, said Minister of State for Defence and National Development Maliki Osman on Thursday (Sep 3).
Speaking at the People’s Action Party (PAP) rally at Bedok Stadium, Dr Maliki, a candidate for East Coast Group Representation Constituency, outlined the various initiatives to provide housing support for low-income families.
“They will not be there (low income) forever. With our help and our care, we will get them to the best position that they can be,” he said.
“Home ownership is a critical enabler that will build resilient families who have the security of a home and an asset to provide a better future for their children.”
Since 2012, 1,800 families earning under S$1,000 were able to book their own two-room HDB flats or larger, noted Dr Maliki.
“It shows that in Singapore, we try our very best to make sure that even the lowest-income families have (the) ability to own their own homes.”
He said that for those who have sold their HDB flats, cannot afford new housing and now live in rental flats, a new Fresh Start Housing Scheme — which was announced during last month’s National Day Rally — is in the works to help them purchase another property.
The minister also touched on how a large and active volunteer network in East Coast has been honouring and supporting the pioneer generation to ensure that they “do not live alone socially and emotionally”.
Over a period of nine months, volunteers managed to reach out to 9,000 pioneers to explain the Pioneer Generation Package and care for them. A fresh wave of outreach efforts will soon be launched to explain MediShield Life. Besides for the elderly who live in HDB heartlands, Dr Maliki said that support is also being extended to those who live in private estates.
“We cannot assume that those in private estates are without needs. We cannot assume that they are functioning well and managing on their own … They tell us they also have needs and we must connect with them.”
Speaking in Malay, Dr Maliki added that the PAP really cares about the Malay community and the socioeconomic conditions of the Malay community have clearly improved over the years. “As we mature and develop, we will hold hands together. We will hold the hands of those who are slower and lagging behind. But we will never leave them behind,” he said in English.
Source: www.channelnewsasia.com
