Mr Dennis Tan Lip Fong (Hougang): Thank you, Mr Speaker. Just one supplementary question for the Minister. Would the Government consider exempting Singaporeans with genuine financial difficulties from the effect of the property cooling measures? The reason I am saying this is because these people may have difficulty servicing their existing loans for their condos, they may have existing debt issues arising from their own other financial obligations and they have no choice, but to dispose of their current private property and they need a place to stay, they need a place to live. So, they need to buy a HDB property and they may not be able to afford commercial rental.
Mr Desmond Lee: Indeed, this group of Singaporeans who are affected financially can approach HDB. As I said, there are two exemption measures. One would be for seniors, the other would be for any Singaporeans with extenuating circumstances, regardless of age and they can approach HDB and we will see how to help them. So, if the Member has come across any of them, please let us know.
Ministry of National Development
20 October 2022
https://sprs.parl.gov.sg/search/#/sprs3topic?reportid=oral-answer-2926
Office of the Leader of the Opposition 