BUILDING AND DEVELOPMENT OF SHOPHOUSES (Privatization)

[Mr Deputy Speaker in the Chair]

The following question stood in the name of Mrs Yu-Foo Yee Shoon -

Mrs Yu-Foo Yee Shoon: To ask the Minister for National Development whether his Ministry will consider privatizing the building and development of shophouses.

Mr Deputy Speaker: Mrs Yu-Foo is not here.

Mr Chew Heng Ching (Kaki Bukit): Question 3, Sir.

The Minister for National Development (Mr S. Dhanabalan): Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, the HDB's housing estates are planned and built on a comprehensive basis with supporting facilities such as shophouses to cater to the needs of residents. This approach was combined with the need to provide accommodation for resettlement cases. HDB found it simpler to build all the shophouses. HDB is presently studying the feasibility of selling land in its estates for private developers to build shops. It is also considering selling its shophouses to allow greater private sector ownership. A decision will be announced by the end of the year.