Khaw Boon Wan: HDB flats are not ‘shrinking’ in size
Posted by temasektimes on May 3, 2012
Contrary to popular belief that the average size of HDB flats has been shrinking steadily over the years, they have remained the same for the past 15 years, said National Development Minister Khaw Boon Wan.
Mr Khaw was responding to a concern raised by a NUS student about shrinking flat sizes at the annual REACH Contributors’ Forum last night.
He reassured Singaporeans that Singapore will not go the way of Hong Kong, where the flats are far smaller.
“There has been this misunderstanding that HDB has shrunk its units in recent years. We have not but we continue to build smaller units and larger units and it is the choice of the consumers,” he said.
Mr Khaw added that some units may be small because it serve some buyers who prefer small homes:
“We have 1.2 million housing units and some could be of that size because there would be people who find it comfortable for their purpose instead of having a big place and finding it very hard and costly to buy and maintain.”
Mr Khaw’s statement appeared to contradict that of HDB CEO Dr Cheong Koon Hean who admitted that the size of HDB flats has shrunk by five to 10 per cent over the last 20 to 30 years.
Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a housing forum in November 2011, Dr Cheong noted that there were now fewer persons living in one flat which works out to increased living space per person.
“Our families are smaller. In the old days, we have very large families living in a flat. Today, the family is two, three, four (people).”
Watch Mr Khaw speaks below:
THE TEMASEK TIMES 
Eugene said
Smaller flats do not mean lower quality of living: HDB CEO
By Joanne Chan | Posted: 10 November 2011
SINGAPORE: Public flats in Singapore may be getting smaller but this has not lowered quality of living, says Housing and Development Board’s (HDB) CEO, Dr Cheong Koon Hean.
Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a housing forum on Thursday morning, Dr Cheong noted that there were now fewer persons living in one flat which works out to increased living space per person.
“Our families are smaller. In the old days, we have very large families living in a flat. Today, the family is two, three, four (people).”
The size of HDB flats has shrunk by five to 10 per cent over the last 20 to 30 years.
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/1164517/1/.html
He says flats are not getting smaller but just a few months back, the CEO of HDB admitted that HDB flats are indeed getting smaller.
Channelnewsasia even gave examples of how HDB flats are getting smaller.
I think Mr Khaw must clarify what he meant otherwise Singaporeans might think he doesn’t know his job and this could become a very contentious issue in the next General Election.
Hope they clarify the conflicting statements.
岂有此理 said
Size is not getting smaller? Say, a 4-room flat from 103sqm to 80sqm. It’s shrinked more than 20%, not forgetting the the ledge for the aircon is not excluded yet.
Jack said
Of course, Our Minister is right, listen to the man.
silly said
Wasn’t khaw the one who said no means testing for medical subsidy just before election? And he implemented one year after the GE!
Ruby said
Does he REALLY have any idea of what he’s saying? Honestly PAP ministers are in a real class of their own. They should be renamed the Self-Denial Party instead. And we are paying these people millions every year? Inflation is caused by higher wages. So shouldn’t our leaders TAKE THE LEAD and try to help reduce inflation? Really fed up with this government.
Arshad said
They not only think Singaporeans are daft but they treat us as daft as well.
Let us show them we are not daft in 2016.
lol said
Kick own goal liao.
Chris said
Word press has a bug. I can’t find the like button again.
i5htar said
hello please go measure yourself lah!!! some new 4 room flat’s bed room, after putting a king size bed and wardrobe you bear walk around the room…and don’t even can putting a study table inside 😦
岂有此理 said
Haha. Very true. If he doesn’t say that. We may also keep quiet of that. SINCE he is not telling truth, we must rebut him.
Stirrer said
He needs another $8 bypass.
This time for the brain.
Snoopy Says said
“like”
The Hatchet Man said
He is trying to be a smartass – playing around with words.
js said
What would you expect from a Malaysian who didn’t grow up here.
I grew up in a 3 room HDB at Bedok. It was small but compared to flats these days, my place was a mansion!
Btw, if Khaw compares average size across ALL HDB flats, then it’s quite pointless right. He should compare apples with apples. Also, flats are build so so close to one another these days. Can easily see what others are having for dinner. I know land is scarce in Singapore, if so, stop importing so many people into here!!!
岂有此理 said
Fully agreed. He pretend he doesn’t know. He just care for his million dollars salary and please his old master.
Singaporean@Singapore.com said
In a way.. Govt are encouraging Singaporean to have more babies.. In another way.. they are saying since we have small family, HDB should reflect the reality and thus justifying the lower cost and smaller flats..
Isn’t that taking a stone and hit your own leg?
Please don’t surface another MBT!!!
Stirrer said
Correction : he needs another $8 bypass, from the CB to the mouth.
Since interchangeable CB mouth he’s got.
Jaded said
He is fast turning into a MBT clone! LOL
Jenny said
He should just stfu and resign. He is a fucking useless piece of shit.
Snoopy Says said
My 4rm is the size of a 3rm unit. EXPLAIN!!!! WTF.
Yes, the size did not shrink, the price increase only mah. Shut the F up lah.
岂有此理 said
Exactly. May be even smaller.
岂有此理 said
Increase price and also size shrinks. THAT MEANS THEIR PROFIT IS DOUBLE. HOW CUNNING ARE THEY? HE STILL DARE TO TALK SO LOUD. MAY BE HIS BUNGALOW HOUSE SIZE IS NOT SHRINKED BUT NOT OUR HDB FLAT.
Snoopy Says said
yes, $8 man. Why can’t u ppl at your ivory towel juz SHUT UP and stop adding fuel to us the ALREADY VERY angry PURE SINGAPOREANS!
John Zuppez said
Is he staying in HDB ?? If not , then he wont understand. You go to some old flats you can see how big is it & its really nice to have a bigger family . Houses today are freaking small & kids really cant run around !!
My friend went to see the new flats at Farrer Park & said that its very very small , but no worries PAP , we have the FT who are willing to pay & stay.
So Singaporeans , the only way to show our displeasure is by voting wisely in the next election.
Tony said
My current 5 room flat in Sengkang is the same size as my previous 4A room flat in Pasir Ris….
岂有此理 said
As a buddhist, he should not tell lies about the size of HDB flat that the CEO of HDB has mentioned. Is he saying that the CEO of HDB is telling lies? EVERYBODY knowd that the size of HDB flat had reduced tremendously. Last time my 4-room HDB had an area of 103 sq m. After forced to enbloc the size reduced to 80 sq m. Only when the rrsidents went to see MP, then they proposed to build 3 types of 4-room flat, being 80, 85 and 90 sq m. So the face tell us that who is telling lies to please his mastet? And also, if as what he had said, they family nowadays is smaller, then the HDB flat they applied ahould be lesser room instead of more rooms with smaller size. So please don’t fool us any more. We ate not pigeon so don’t treat us like birds.
Exaggerated said
At least we now have a minister who agrees flat is costly to buy and maintain.
(Mr Khaw added that some units may be small because it serve some buyers who prefer small homes:
“We have 1.2 million housing units and some could be of that size because there would be people who find it comfortable for their purpose instead of having a big place and finding it very hard and costly to buy and maintain.”)
So who is right here? HDB flats are costly or affordable?
Jack Chin said
Whether or not getting smaller we always seem to need more space in HDB, I change to transformer furniture and now have more space. Try Spaceman (www.spacemanstore.com) you will be shocked what is possible now and how much more space you can have