PM LEE SORRY ABOUT HOUSING ISSUES

PM LEE SORRY ABOUT HOUSING ISSUES
May 4, 2011

Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said the government could have moved more quickly and efficiently to address the shortfalls in the country’s housing and transport industries.

The Prime Minister also acknowledged that things do not always go as planned and there might be side effects from the government’s decisions.

The government has had to “watch the wind and the tide and we have to pick our chances when we can and when the wind comes, put up your sail and go with it,” said PM Lee, likening the country to a “small boat on a stormy ocean (and) not a nuclear (powered) aircraft carrier.”

He also addressed the mistakes made by his government and said that he is sorry for them. He noted that his team is doing their best to address the problems.

“We can't go exactly on a straight line, from point A to point B, and have everything just perfect in every spot. There will be detours, sidetracks, side effects from our decisions,” he said.

The examples cited included the increasing influx of foreign workers, the flooding of Orchard Road, overcrowding on MRT trains and skyrocketing home prices.

“These are real problems. We will tackle them,” he said.

“When these problems vex you or disturb you or upset your lives, please bear with us. We're trying our best on your behalf. And if we didn't quite get it right, I'm sorry but we will try and do better the next time.”

Info courtesy - PropertyGuru