Not penalising private home owners - Mah Bow tan

SINGAPORE - In the past, subsidised HDB flat owners could not buy private property until after five years, whereas a private property owner could own both private and HDB properties at the same time.

The recent cooling measures have resulted in an "anomaly", Non-Constituency MP Sylvia Lim told Parliament yesterday, noting that while a Housing and Development Board (HDB) flat owner can own private property after the Minimum Occupation Period (MOP), but a private property owner has to sell his property within six months of buying an HDB flat.

In response, Minister for National Development Mah Bow Tan said the Government was not penalising private property owners but making it more "equitable" for both HDB and private property owners. MORE