LAND SALES (Duplication of work by HDB)

Mr Chng Hee Kok asked the Minister for National Development why is the Housing and Development Board duplicating the work of the Urban Redevelopment Authority in conducting land sales.

Mr Dhanabalan: Mr Speaker, Sir, we have started to sell State land in HDB estates for private housing and commercial developments to enable the private sector to play a bigger role in the development of HDB new towns. Previously, HDB used to do everything. Now, we want the private sector to involve themselves in HDB new towns.

Since the HDB plans all HDB estates, it is well placed to recommend to the Government suitable sites for sale according to the staging of developments for these estates. It is with this in mind that we decided to appoint the HDB as a land sales agent for the Government.

The URA, on the other hand, has traditionally concentrated on the redevelopment of the Central Area. Sales of sites here are part of the urban redevelopment process. They are proposed by the URA to meet the planning intentions for the Central Area.

Furthermore, more State land is being released now than in the past. There is a need to have at least two sales agents. We see this as a division of labour and not a duplication of work.

Mr Chng Hee Kok (Tiong Bahru GRC): Sir, will the Minister not say that from the point of view of planning, implementation and control, one agency that specialises in land sales will still be more efficient and better for the people instead of duplicating this process?

Mr Dhanabalan: Sir, the Member insists on using the word "duplication" rather than "division".

Of course, planning for Singapore as a whole is still the responsibility of the URA. HDB submits its plans for new towns and estates to the URA and URA has the final say. But the actual phasing of development and the judgment as to when is the right time to sell, I think in the case of HDB new towns, it will be best known to HDB. As I said, since we are selling so many new sites and a lot of work is involved in selling new sites, we think it is best to have two agents. Maybe a time may well come when we need three agents. If we start selling industrial land, for example, JTC may have to be the agent. So it is not a duplication of work. It is a division of labour.