Facebook user Don Soh, recently took to Facebook to state his frustration on how his son tried 7 times to apply for a BTO but failed each time. There were many other Singaporeans who commented on his post and stated that they themselves have faced similar issues. The post has been shared close to 1,8000 times up to date.
Here is the full Facebook post.
My son tried 7 times to apply for a BTO but failed each time. The documentation fees is a paltry $10 for each application. I am not bringing this up as a small token of money but the principle behind it. Every time, my Son was filled with anxiety and expectations at each application. As he looked at the numbers of applicants and the availability of flats, he was optimistic. But each time before his date of appointment for selection, the flats were all taken up and he did not even has a chance.
Yesterday I read the news of BTO offered at various locations. The total number of flats available was about 8000 units ( I round off the figure) and the total applications was 18,000. Look at the figure of 10,000 people who will not be successful and multiply it by the miserable $10, it is $100,000. Is HDB being fair to those who did not have a chance to choose a unit ? Is this the cost of administration for this BTO ( 18000 x $10 = $180,000).
To be fair, the unsuccessful applicant who did not even has a chance to select an unit should be spared and that $10 maybe kept for the next BTO exercise when the applicant try again. I am sure HDB is not “hard up” for $10 to make for its administration service.
If the administration costs is higher than maybe they should make the successful applicant pay a higher amount ( but not those who failed).
