Khaw Boon Wan said Bhutan people are mostly unhappy unlike Singapore - 19Oct2011

SINGAPORE: The measure of happiness has been a topic of debate in Parliament over the last few days, and constant references to Bhutan have been made as well.

National Development Minister Khaw Boon Wan joined the debate, saying he visited the small nation a few years ago and the romanticised version of the ancient kingdom did not fit the reality he saw there.

In his speech in Parliament on Wednesday, he said Bhutan is not the "Shangri-la on earth" that some make it out to be.

Mr Khaw said: "Most of the time, I saw unhappy people, toiling in the field, worried about the next harvest and whether there would be buyers for their products. They have studied us because Singapore is also a tiny nation, living next to big neighbours.

"We have successfully transited from third world to first, and managed to create a functioning and harmonious society for our people. In their minds, Singapore could well be the Shangri-la and they want Bhutan to emulate Singapore."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Mr Khaw Boon Wan has also outlined his priorities for the first two years of his term as the National Development Minister.

In his first speech on housing issues in Parliament on Wednesday, he said he will focus on the newlywed HDB first-timers and vulnerable families.

Mr Khaw said he is committed to help all newlywed first-timers earning below S$10,000 per month get their first HDB home as soon as possible.

This, he said, will help meet an important social objective of helping them to settle down and start their families.

Mr Khaw said: "Housing is a complex matter, and there are no instant solutions. But I am confident that we can address the temporary problem of (the) supply-demand imbalance, with clear improvements for the newlyweds and the vulnerable families within two years.

"This will bring happiness to many families. The other housing segments will take a longer time to fix, and I seek Singaporeans' understanding and patience."

Mr Khaw noted that while current public policies are sound, there is a need to make major policy adjustments along the way to help the low- and middle-class cope better with higher cost of living.

In the past two years, home prices shot up by 30 per cent in the HDB resale market and 50 per cent in the private housing market, driven by global liquidity overflows and an imbalance in housing supply and demand in the domestic market.

The government is building 50,000 HDB flats in the first two years. This is the equivalent of a new Ang Mo Kio Town.

If demand remains strong beyond 2012, Mr Khaw said there are resources and capacity to build more than 100,000 HDB flats during the current term of government. This may include starting Build-To-Order (BTO) project launches in the proposed Bidadari estate, which can potentially house up to 12,000 units.

Planning for a new HDB town in Tengah will also start. The new town could have 56,000 HDB units when fully developed.

While no BTO projects will be launched in Tengah during this term of government, Mr Khaw said the infrastructure like earthworks, roads, drains, sewers, and other facilities will be put in.

Mr Khaw said as long as construction costs do not rise dramatically, the BTO prices will stabilise.

He said: I am tackling the issue of affordability head on... Since May, we have stabilised the prices of these BTO flats. We have moderated price changes such that after adjusting for differences in location, amenities and other physical attributes, the May, July and September BTO prices were roughly comparable to the prices of similar units in the April BTO launch. The upcoming BTO launch next month will repeat this pattern.

"Newlyweds eyeing new HDB flats do not need to worry that BTO price will run ahead of their income. As long as construction costs do not rise dramatically, the BTO prices will stabilise. In this way, new HDB flats will always be affordable to the newlywed first-timers, provided that their expectation is realistic."

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• singapore
• 154thmedia
• news
• parliament
• ex
• health
• minister
• khaw
• Boon
• Wan
• sylvia
• lim
• workers
• party
• pap

[ybbolb]

Every day I see unhappy people, squeezing to get on the bus and MRT. Working from morning to night, worry about being replaced by FTs. Only to reach retirement and find out that they got not enough money to retire because all the money has gone to buying a HDB, medi save. How we wish we can live in the shangri la ivory tower.

[ybbolb]

Happiness?? Harmonious?? Work for another 30 years to pay off HDB debt, of course damn harmonious...everyday just work like a dog and go back home, no time to make trouble.

[mrryhenboss]

yea spore is tiny nation with people with tiny mind, thinking they r the best, lol, pathetic little country ruled by selfish out of touch dictatorial people.. never trust these coward people.

[bangcha]

For Bhutanese, criticizing about anything is not a sign of healthy mind, and healthy mind cannot be achieved without happiness. So It clearly shows how much a happy person you are. We respect the people of Singapore, so please try not to scarifies their long term happiness for the short benefits.

[sg8888888]

You mean we've successfully transisted from being 3rd world people to 1st world zoombies? In the first place what right have you got to compare Bhutan with Singapore's standard? Did His Royal Highness gave you His Royal Permission to use His Nation for comparison? Bhutan is Bhutan. Singapore is Singapore. We're millions of miles apart! Bhutan is equivalent to imaginery place called Shangrila! Singapore is 21st century metro-cosmopolitan city. ...cont below.

[sg8888888]

The 2 countries varies in thousands of aspects! Its like comparing your honorable self with me. You're rich and a MP in the Gov. You've got power, prestige & respectable. Whereas I'm a simple and poor citizen. So how can people used us for comparison? We've got different variables to start with. And why should I want to emulate you since I'm happy being where I'm. Am I not asking for trouble when it's impossible that I become like you. I would be day dreaming now wouldn't I? ...cont below.

[sg8888888]

If people wants to do a comparison with you, they should look for someone of your calibre and stature. Otherwise, how can such camparison be valid? The conlusion may be true to some extend but it sure won't be 100% accurate. Bhutan has existed since 2000 BC and had survived to this day proving that their system works well for their people. They don't need no Vivo Cities or Rolls Royces. They don't need no multi-nationals companies. They don't need no oil barons. ...cont below.

[sg8888888]

They don't need no bankstas. They don't need to pay millions of US dollars per year to their King. And they sure don't need no askewed half-blind modern day Robin Hood to tell them what to do with their lives! Now, why, after surviving this harsh and wretched world for centuries, would a society so intelligent can to be so stupid as to want to exchange their way of life, their culture, their spirituality, their happiness & history for an illusion & be exterminated in no time, is beyond me?

[ignorance15bliss]

i think its too conceited to think that people in bhutan want to be like Singapore. I'm sure there are many things that they are superior to Singapore in. And at least, they dun end up stuck in crowds in every single part of their country due to overpopulation.

[drupsta]

check out the rebuttal from a Bhutanese to Mr. Khaw Boon's statement... justvgoogle Passu Dairy - Journal of an Ordinary Bhutanese as I can't paste the url here.