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India Gazette
2 hours ago
- Politics
- India Gazette
Housing Board's new slogan, alleges Karnataka LoP
Mandya (Karnataka) [India], June 23 (ANI): In a blistering attack on the Congress-led Karnataka government, Leader of the Opposition (LoP) R Ashoka on Sunday accused the state-run Housing Board of turning into a hub of corruption, claiming that the government was prioritising profit over public service instead of addressing the basic needs of the people. Speaking to reporters in Mandya, the Karnataka LoP said, 'This Congress government, when asked to provide food for the poor, has dug holes into their homes. In this government, the Housing Board has become a Collection Board. They've coined a new slogan: 'Pay money, get a house.' Blood-sucking leeches have infiltrated the Housing Department. Instead of providing homes to the poor, they are selling them,' he alleged. Following the Excise and Valmiki Corporation scams, Ashok claimed that corruption in the Housing Department has now come to light. He pointed to the recent controversy surrounding Congress MLA BR Patil, who admitted that the viral audio clip discussing graft was indeed his voice and has demanded an investigation. 'The issue of 'money for houses' is being widely discussed. Congress MLA BR Patil himself has made serious allegations about corruption in the Housing Department. He has admitted that the statements in a viral audio clip are his own and has demanded an investigation into the corruption. Therefore, the truth behind this must come out,' he said. 'The Housing Department is not meant to allot sites to the wealthy and moneylenders. Instead, its job is to provide shelter to the poor, homeless, and destitute. Homes should be given to the backwards classes. However, blood-sucking leeches have infiltrated the Housing Department, and instead of providing homes to the poor, they are being sold,' he alleged. Criticising the government's recent resolution meeting in Ballari, Ashok alleged it was not development-focused but rather a 'resolution to destroy the poor.' He added, 'No application is needed to get a house; the Chief Minister's approval is enough.' 'This is a 60 per cent commission government. I can provide documents if needed. In the Housing Department, a 15 per cent reservation has been introduced for Muslims and 15 per cent for Tipu's descendants, while our people are charged a 60 per cent commission. This is the achievement of this government,' he said. Ashok also slammed BR Patil's remark, 'If I open my mouth, this government won't last three days,' calling it the biggest insult to the government. 'If the Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister have the courage, they should take action against Patil, who has made serious allegations against the government, or they should resign,' he said. He further alleged that Congress, which had accused the previous BJP government of being a 40 per cent commission regime, had failed to take any action even after two years in power. 'They are immersed in a 60 per cent commission racket,' he alleged. He also claimed that funds were being raised in Karnataka to influence the Bihar elections, warning of large-scale corruption and accusing the government of failing to deliver on its guarantee schemes. 'No milk incentive has been provided for six months,' said, adding that this issue would be raised in the upcoming Assembly session. Ashok demanded a CBI probe into the alleged corruption in the housing scheme. If not, he said a judicial probe headed by a High Court judge should be initiated. 'Chief Minister Siddaramaiah should not remain silent but speak up. Those who speak against Modi at every opportunity should now talk about the flaws in their own government,' he demanded. R Ashok also alleged that in Mandya's beedi workers' colony, houses built for Tamil Colony residents were being allotted to minorities without legal process. 'This is all a conspiracy by the district's Congress ministers and MLAs. At their instigation, Muslims are trying to take over vacant houses. How can Muslims occupy vacant houses without the approval of MLAs?' he questioned, urging immediate government action. On the state's plan to conduct Kaveri Aarti at KRS, Ashok alleged corruption in the Rs 100 crore project. 'In the name of Kaveri Aarti, they are trying to gain fame. The government is snatching the livelihoods of people there. Why are they spending Rs 100 crore on the aarti? Congress will spend only Rs 30-40 crore, and the rest will go into their pockets. We will fight legally against the corruption of the Congress government. We are fighting both inside and outside the Assembly,' he said. (ANI)
Straits Times
a day ago
- Business
- Straits Times
Home-based food gigs are great, but unchecked growth risks tipping the balance
A bar in a HDB flat in the north of Singapore. Ensuring all home-based business operators obtain food hygiene certification is a start, says the writer. PHOTO: LEON SINGAPORE – In a stylishly renovated Housing Board flat in the north of Singapore, patrons are served $24 cocktails containing premium liquors such as Chinese moutai. The 'mixologist' has a full-time job in the healthcare sector – the bar is his after-hours gig. There are no signs, no menu boards, and he technically also has no licence. Such home-based businesse s have had restaurateurs up in arms recently, especially over private dining outfits operating on the scale of restaurants. Food and beverage bosses say they are not begrudging home-based businesses' success. What they are questioning is the fairness of allowing large set-ups to operate without licences or regulatory oversight, while actual restaurants and eateries contend with high overheads, manpower shortages and strict hygiene audits. But it's clear that some loopholes in the current landscape need to be closed so that there are better all-round protections and basic fairness for everyone with skin in the game. Home-based businesses took off during the Covid-19 pandemic as a way for workers to make extra cash, and today account for a fairly sizeable segment of Singapore's food industry. An online search by The Straits Times found more than 150 listings of F&B businesses operating out of residential properties, from HDB flats to landed homes. The actual numbers are likely higher. For homemakers, students and aspiring chefs, operating out of their homes offers a low-barrier way to test ideas, build confidence and earn income, particularly for those juggling caregiving duties. For consumers, home-based F&B concepts offer more than novelty. These businesses bring a level of diversity and intimacy that restaurants may not match – from heritage recipes and niche menus to one-on-one interactions with the chefs. With lower overhead costs, their prices can also be more accessible than restaurants'. Yet, with some home-based operations generating substantial revenue approaching $1 million annually, their unchecked growth challenges the system's fairness and food safety assumptions. The Home-Based Business scheme overseen by the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) and HDB allows owners, registered occupants or tenants of the property to operate small-scale home-based business activities without requiring approval from the agencies. The scheme stipulates guidelines that home-based business activities must adhere to. No non-resident employee is allowed to work in the flat or residential premises, for instance, and heavy equipment and commercial-grade appliances are not allow ed. Home-based F&B business activities must also comply with the Singapore Food Agency's (SFA) guidelines on good food hygiene practices to ensure food safety. But SFA does not require such businesses to be licensed, as it deems the food safety risk of these small-scale outfits to be limited, it told ST. Both URA and HDB do not keep track of the number of such businesses. Observers say this means the authorities likely also do not have visibility of the scale, volume or potential risks from such businesses, if they flout the rules. At the moment, any sort of enforcement on these businesses is mostly driven by complaints from the public. The lack of regulatory oversight on these businesses can also leave consumers without protection. Also, the 'small-scale' premise of the home-based-business scheme no longer reflects the reality on the ground. Some home-based businesses are no longer just dishing out weekend bakes or passion projects in the kitchen – a number are operating on pretty much the same scale as small restaurants. Little Social, for instance, operates from a residential shophouse in Tanjong Pagar, charging $140 per head for a Peranakan meal of seven dishes. It can serve up to 60 guests at a time. While URA and HDB say there is no cap on the number of guests allowed in a private dining setting, they have reminded home-based business operators to be 'responsible and considerate' to avoid disturbing neighbours. By contrast, licensed restaurants are subject to spot checks by regulators and must meet specific design and hygiene requirements to obtain a food shop licence. Is it time for larger home-based operations to be held to similar standards? After all, food safety lapses can happen in any setting. Case in point:In 2021, a home-based baker's products caused food poisoning that left 15 people ill – sending nine, including a four-year-old boy, to hospital. A good starting point could be to make basic food hygiene training mandatory for home-based food operators. If a coffee shop assistant handling food is required to complete such training, what more someone who sells 50 cakes a day or serves food to dozens of guests at a private dinner? Such a requirement should result in raising hygiene awareness and improving overall standards, and have the added benefit of giving the authorities a clearer picture of the landscape. Requiring attendees to declare if they run a home-based food business – even on a casual or part-time basis – would also be a good starting point for the authorities to gauge the size of this sector. The regulatory framework must evolve to reflect the reality on the ground. But any policy shift should be carefully calibrated and should not stifle entrepreneurship. Requiring basic hygiene certification for all food handlers is a logical and necessary first step. Larger home-based businesses operating at restaurant-like scales should be required to meet the same licensing, food hygiene and safety standards as bricks-and-mortar restaurants. It is time for the rules to catch up. Again, this is not to stifle entrepreneurship, but to ensure public trust and a level playing field. Check out ST's Food Guide for the latest foodie recommendations in Singapore.
AsiaOne
a day ago
- Business
- AsiaOne
Private home owners may not have to wait till 2027 for change in HDB wait-out period: Chee Hong Tat , Singapore News
SINGAPORE — The wait-out period for private property downgraders looking to buy a resale flat may be relaxed before 2027, with an expected rise in supply of new and resale flats. Speaking at a community event in Toa Payoh on June 21, National Development Minister Chee Hong Tat said the supply of resale flats is expected to rise from 2026, as batches of Build-To-Order (BTO) flats affected by the Covid-19 pandemic hit their five-year minimum occupation period (MOP). The Housing Board will also be launching more than 50,000 units from 2025 to 2027. Chee said he expects that the effect of a strong continued supply of new BTO flats and resale units would moderate resale prices, making it timely for the authorities to consider if the 15-month cooling measure should be partially or entirely removed. He added that private property owners may not need to wait till 2027 or 2028 for a review of the wait-out requirement, which was introduced in September 2022. 'So, that is why I said [this would be considered] at the right time, when the resale market has stabilised, and when the supply of resale flats increase, which we think will happen in the next few years, because this year is actually the year where the turn will happen,' he said. The HDB resale price index grew by 1.6 per cent in the first quarter of 2025, down from 2.6 per cent in the fourth quarter of 2024. This marks the lowest growth in the past five quarters. Asked if the Government is looking at a specific threshold, Chee said: 'I don't think we have a threshold in mind, because this is really a judgment call.' Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the PA Family PLAYGround event held at Toa Payoh West Community Club, the minister said there are already early signs of price stabilisation in the HDB resale market. 'We will continue to monitor. I think if the situation continues to improve, then it will allow us to then make that judgment call of when we can remove, whether partially or entirely, the 15-month requirement,' he added. Between shortening the requirement and removing it, Chee said he leans towards scrapping it entirely. 'We haven't come to any decision yet, but my own view is that if the situation allows us to remove it entirely, I think we should consider that,' he said. Chee acknowledged that the 15-month requirement posed some inconvenience for private property owners looking to right-size and buy an HDB resale flat, but he said the cooling measure's objective remains valid. 'We want to make sure that resale flat prices do not rise too quickly and become unaffordable for buyers, especially first-time buyers who want to go into the resale market,' he said. 'I think that is an important objective that we must safeguard.' New hawker centre in Bishan At the community event, Chee also announced to Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC residents that Bishan will be getting its own hawker centre. The hawker centre is among several plans he had pledged to carry out for the constituency during the general election. The anchor minister for the GRC said then that many residents had pointed out that Bishan lacked a hawker centre. Minister for National Development Chee Hong Tat playing with children at the PA Family PLAYGround 2025's third stop at Toa Payoh West Community Club on June 21. PHOTO: The Straits Times Chee said more details will be shared after the Urban Redevelopment Authority unveils its Draft Master Plan 2025 on June 25. He said the hawker centre may be integrated with Bishan Bus Interchange, which is set to become an air-conditioned facility. Chee said the refreshed bus interchange may not be built on its existing site next to Junction 8, but it will be near its current spot where the town centre and Bishan MRT station are located. 'We want it (hawker centre) to be near the key transport nodes to make it more convenient for residents,' he said. The approach is in line with integrated facilities in Pasir Ris and Bidadari, where new hawker centres are built on top of or next to MRT stations or bus interchanges. Chee said it is one of the ways the authorities make full use of Singapore's scarce land resources. 'When we combine these different facilities serving different needs, I think we are able to, on one hand, optimise the use of land, and on the other hand, also bring about greater convenience for residents. 'So, it is win-win,' he said. ALSO READ: Resale flat prices may begin moderating from 2026 as new units reach MOP: Chee Hong Tat This article was first published in The Straits Times . Permission required for reproduction.
Straits Times
2 days ago
- Business
- Straits Times
Private home owners may not have to wait till 2027 for change in HDB wait-out period: Chee Hong Tat
The HDB resale price index grew by 1.6 per cent in the first quarter of 2025, down from 2.6 per cent in the fourth quarter of 2024. PHOTO: LIANHE ZAOBAO Private home owners may not have to wait till 2027 for change in HDB wait-out period: Chee Hong Tat SINGAPORE – The wait-out period for private property downgraders looking to buy a resale flat may be relaxed before 2027, with an expected rise in supply of new and resale flats. Speaking at a community event in Toa Payoh on June 21, National Development Minister Chee Hong Tat said the supply of resale flats is expected to rise from 2026, as batches of Build-To-Order (BTO) flats affected by the Covid-19 pandemic hit their five-year minimum occupation period (MOP). Housing Board will also be launching more than 50,000 units from 2025 to 2027. Mr Chee said he expects that the effect of a strong continued supply of new BTO flats and resale units would moderate resale prices, making it timely for authorities to consider if the 15-month cooling measure should be partially or entirely removed. He added that private property owners may not need to wait till 2027 or 2028 for a review of the wait-out requirement, which was introduced in September 2022. 'So that's why I said (this would be considered) at the right time, when the resale market has stabilised, and when the supply of resale flats increase, which we think will happen in the next few years, because this year is actually the year where the turn will happen,' he said. The HDB resale price index grew by 1.6 per cent in the first quarter of 2025, down from 2.6 per cent in the fourth quarter of 2024. It is the lowest growth in the past five quarters. Asked if the Government is looking at a specific threshold, Mr Chee said: 'I don't think we have a threshold in mind, because this is really a judgment call.' Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the PA Family PLAYGround event held at Toa Payoh West Community Club, the minister said there are already early signs of price stabilisation in the HDB resale market. 'We'll continue to monitor. I think if the situation continues to improve, then it will allow us to then make that judgment call of when we can remove, whether partially or entirely, the 15-month requirement,' he added. Between shortening the requirement and removing it, Mr Chee said leans towards scrapping it entirely. 'We haven't come to any decision yet, but my own view is that if the situation allows us to remove it entirely, I think we should consider that,' he said. Mr Chee acknowledged that the 15-month requirement posed some inconvenience for private property owners looking to right-size and buy an HDB resale flat, but he said the cooling measure's objective remains valid. 'We want to make sure that the resale flat prices do not rise too quickly and become unaffordable for buyers, especially first time buyers, who want to go into the resale market,' he said. 'I think that's an important objective that we must safeguard.' New hawker centre in Bishan At the community event, Mr Chee also announced to Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC residents that Bishan will be getting its own hawker centre. The hawker centre is among several plans he had pledged to carry out for the constituency during the general election. The anchor minister for the GRC said then that many residents had pointed out that Bishan lacked a hawker centre. Minister for National Development Chee Hong Tat playing a game at the PA Family PLAYGround 2025's third stop at Toa Payoh West Community Club on June 21. ST PHOTO: CHONG JUN LIANG Mr Chee said that more details will be shared after the Urban Redevelopment Authority unveils the Draft Master Plan 2025 on June 25. But he said the hawker centre may be integrated with the Bishan bus interchange, which is set to become an air-conditioned facility. Mr Chee said the refreshed bus interchange may not be built on its existing site next to Junction 8, but it will be near its current spot where the town centre and Bishan MRT station are located. 'We want it (hawker centre) to be near the key transport nodes to make it more convenient for residents,' he said. The approach is in line with integrated facilities in Pasir Ris and Bidadari, where new hawker centres are built on top of or next to MRT stations or bus interchanges. Mr Chee said it is one of the ways the authorities make full use of Singapore's scarce land resources. 'When we combine these different facilities serving different needs, I think we are able to, on one hand, optimise the use of land, and on the other hand, also bring about greater convenience for residents. 'So it's win, win,' he said. Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.
Straits Times
2 days ago
- Business
- Straits Times
Private homeowners may not have to wait till 2027 for change in HDB wait-out period: Chee Hong Tat
The HDB resale price index grew by 1.6 per cent in the first quarter of 2025, down from 2.6 per cent in the fourth quarter of 2024. PHOTO: LIANHE ZAOBAO Private homeowners may not have to wait till 2027 for change in HDB wait-out period: Chee Hong Tat SINGAPORE – The wait-out period for private property downgraders looking to buy a resale flat may be relaxed before 2027, with an expected rise in supply of new and resale flats. Speaking at a community event in Toa Payoh on June 21, National Development Minister Chee Hong Tat said the supply of resale flats is expected to rise from 2026, as batches of Build-To-Order (BTO) flats affected by the Covid-19 pandemic hit their five-year minimum occupation period (MOP). Housing Board will also be launching more than 50,000 units from 2025 to 2027. Mr Chee said he expects that the effect of a strong continued supply of new BTO flats and resale units would moderate resale prices, making it timely for authorities to consider if the 15-month cooling measure should be partially or entirely removed. He added that private property owners may not need to wait till 2027 or 2028 for a review of the wait-out requirement, which was introduced in September 2022. 'So that's why I said (this would be considered) at the right time, when the resale market has stabilised, and when the supply of resale flats increase, which we think will happen in the next few years, because this year is actually the year where the turn will happen,' he said. The HDB resale price index grew by 1.6 per cent in the first quarter of 2025, down from 2.6 per cent in the fourth quarter of 2024. It is the lowest growth in the past five quarters. Asked if the Government is looking at a specific threshold, Mr Chee said: 'I don't think we have a threshold in mind, because this is really a judgment call.' Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the PA Family PLAYGround event held at Toa Payoh West Community Club, the minister said there are already early signs of price stabilisation in the HDB resale market. 'We'll continue to monitor. I think if the situation continues to improve, then it will allow us to then make that judgment call of when we can remove, whether partially or entirely, the 15-month requirement,' he added. Between shortening the requirement and removing it, Mr Chee said leans towards scrapping it entirely. 'We haven't come to any decision yet, but my own view is that if the situation allows us to remove it entirely, I think we should consider that,' he said. Mr Chee acknowledged that the 15-month requirement posed some inconvenience for private property owners looking to right-size and buy an HDB resale flat, but he said the cooling measure's objective remains valid. 'We want to make sure that the resale flat prices do not rise too quickly and become unaffordable for buyers, especially first time buyers, who want to go into the resale market,' he said. 'I think that's an important objective that we must safeguard.' Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.
