I REFER to the letter “Oh, that elusive HDB flat” (March 28).
I emphathise with Samuel Lee and his frustration about the balloting system.
My family (myself, my husband and two children) is in urgent need of a flat. As such, I was advised by the Housing and Development Board (HDB) to join in the bi-monthly ballots where no priorities are given.
I have been taking part in these ballots since the start of last year and have always drawn very high queue numbers (over 3,000).
In the meantime, we are renting a flat from the open market, for which we are paying a high rental.
Samuel Lee suggested that the HDB increase the $10 application fee for the Build To Order and Design, Build and Sell Scheme flats to $100.
If his suggestion is taken up, I hope that it would not apply to fees for the bi-monthly ballots.
My family’s combined monthly income does not exceed $4,000 and I cannot afford to pay $100 each time I ballot for a flat.
I would like to suggest that the HDB conduct interviews to ascertain and attend to the needs of different families instead of asking us to collectively ballot for a flat.
Letter from KALISTA NISHA
Source : Today – 31 Mar 2008