HWA CHONG INSTITUTION (HIGH SCHOOL)

Secondary 3 Integrated Humanities CORE

Theme: Understanding Governance

SBQ Practice 1: Singapore Public Housing
Name: _______________________ (

Class: ______

Date: __________

Study the Background Information and the sources carefully, and then answer all the questions.
You may use any of the sources to help you answer the questions, in addition to those sources which
you are told to use. In answering the questions, you should use your knowledge of the topic to help you
interpret and evaluate the sources.

(a)

(b)

(c)

(d)

Study Source A.
What is the message of the cartoon? Explain your answer.

[5]

Study Source B.
Why did PM Lee make this speech? Explain your answer.

[6]

Study Sources C and D.

How are the sources different? Explain your answer.

[7]

Study Source E.
Does this source prove that housing is becoming unaffordable for Singaporeans?
Explain your answer.

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[7]

Is Public Housing Becoming Unaffordable for Singaporeans?

BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Read this carefully. It may help you to answer some of the questions.
The Housing Development Board (HDB) home ownership program has been vital to building a nation
where everyone has a stake in Singapores success and feels a sense of belonging and ownership to the
country. However, in recent years, there has been a sharp surge in the public housing prices. Analysts
and experts have attributed the price increase to a rise in demand but a shortfall in supply of HDB flats.
This is a cause of concern for many Singaporeans, especially young couples, and has sparked the debate
on affordability of public housing.

Source A:

A cartoon posted on a blog post regarding the rising HDB prices.

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Source B:

Adapted from PM Lees National Day Rally 2011.

Let me start with housing which is at the top of a lot of peoples minds. Our home ownership policy
ensures that every family has a stake in Singapore. But in the last two years, with property prices
going up, spiking up sharply, many people have become unsettled. Young couples especially because
they want to get married, they want to book a flat, they want to start their family and no flat means
baby is put off. Or worse, they fear they would not be able to afford the homes when they finally get
the flat.
So HDB is building many more flats and I think the ratio of applicants to flats has gradually been
coming down. We will keep on putting out the supply onto the market to meet demands Overall, I
promise you we will keep housing available and affordable for Singaporeans.

Source C:

Adapted from the Straits Times article on former National Development Minister (NDM)
Mah Bow Tans response to affordability of HDB flats.

HDB home prices are not beyond reach. This is because the HDB home price index has risen by an
average of 3.2% annually from 1999 to 2010, lower than the 3.9% increase in median household
income.
Mr Mah said 80% of couples who bought new flats last year used only 25% or less of their salaries to
pay for their home loans, which means their CPF contributions can cover almost all their monthly
mortgage payments. He illustrated how a young couple can buy a new flat with almost no cash
required. A couple below the age of 30 needs to pay only a 5% down payment for a new flat which
can come from their CPF. So a couple earning a combined $4,000 a month can work for 6 months and
buy a new four-room HDB flat with no cash upfront. Their monthly mortgage payments would
require less than $50 in cash.

Source D: An opinion expressed by a Singaporean in an online forum, The Online Citizen.

Prices of HDB flats skyrocketed in recent years and Mr Mah incurred the unhappiness and
dissatisfaction of many young Singaporeans whose salary didnt keep pace with the rise in prices of
flats. One of HDBs mottos is Providing Affordable, Quality Homes and it is one of the main goals for
its establishment in February 1960. However, it seems that the HDB may have forgotten this goal.
How can housing be considered affordable today when we spend our whole lives paying for the huge
housing debt and our CPF monies are almost emptied by the time we retire? With the continual rise
of HDB prices, how will our current and future generations be able to afford a home?

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Source E: Adapted from a report covering the election campaign rallies for Singapore General Elections
2011.
The Workers' Party* (WP) questioned the People's Action Party (PAP) over the affordability of housing
during their election campaign rally by pointing to rising flat prices in Punggol and Sengkang.
According to figures cited by WP chief Low Thia Khiang, a new three-room flat in Sengkang cost as
little as 21 per cent or as much as 46 per cent more, compared to 2005. Similarly, he said, a new fourroom flat in Punggol was 46 per cent to 56 per cent pricier last year, compared to five years ago. Such
escalating property costs will become a financial burden for the younger generation, Mr Low warned.
'They will be mortgaging their future if they spend their whole lives paying for the housing mortgage,'
he said.
*Workers party: An opposition party that contested in the 2011 Singapore General Elections.

Copyright Acknowledgements:
Source A

Adapted from http://seijieiga.blogspot.com/search?q=HDB

Source B

Adapted from http://www.sammyboy.com/showthread.php?90777-Workers-Party-keepsdemanding-PAP-answers-affordable-HDB

Source C

Adapted from http://www.straitstimes.com/GeneralElection/News/Story/STIStory_660911.html

Source D

Adapted from http://theonlinecitizen.com/2011/05/cleaning-up-after-mr-mah/

Source E

Adapted from http://www.sammyboy.com/showthread.php?90777-Workers-Party-keepsdemanding-PAP-answers-affordable-HDB

Adapted from GVSS 2011 Prelims

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Suggested Answers
Qn 1

Question and Level Descriptor

(a)

Study Source A.

Marks

What is the message of the cartoon? Explain your answer using details from the
cartoon.
[5]
L1

Make no inferences; merely describes the picture and writes down captions in the [1]
cartoon.
E.g. Source A shows a graph that has the words profit and year written on the
axes.

L2

Make inferences without evidence and support.

[2-3]

Award 2m for 1 unsupported inference

Award 3m for 2 unsupported inferences.
E.g. I can infer from the cartoon that the price of HDB flats has been increasing over
the years.
I can also infer from the cartoon that there is a sharp spike/increase in HDB prices
recently.
L3

Make inferences with evidence and support.

Award 4m for I supported inference
Award 5m for 2 supported inferences
E.g. The graph in the cartoon shows that profits obtained from HDB flats have risen
over the years. The rising profits are probably generated from the higher HDB prices.
From this, I can infer that the cartoon is probably trying to say that the HDB home
prices have been increasing over the years.
The graph in the cartoon also shows that the profits made in recent years have
spiked/increased very sharply because the figures have gone off the charts. From
this, I can infer that the cartoon is probably trying to question the affordability of
HDB flats due to the very drastic increase/spike in HDB housing prices in recent
years.
*message = inference + motive of author (outcome not required)

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[4-5]

1(b)

L1

Study Source B.
Why did PM Lee make this speech? Explain your answer.

[6]

Answers based on provenance OR generalised answers that make no mention of

source content or context.

[1]

E.g. Source B is a speech by PM Lee during the 2011 National Day Rally.
L2

Inference unsupported
Award 2m for 1 inference, unsupported

[2 3]

Award 3m for 2 inferences, unsupported

E.g. PM Lee is trying to say that he understands that Singaporeans are worried about
not being to afford HDB flats.
He is also trying to ensure Singaporeans that the government is working to ensure
public housing remains affordable for Singaporeans.
L3

Inferences with support

Award 4 marks for 1 inference, supported

[4 5]

Award 5 marks for 2 inferences, supported

E.g. PM Lee is trying to show Singaporeans that he understands / is aware of their
worries / concerns about the rising HDB prices and not being to afford HDB flats
because he acknowledges in his speech that many people have become unsettled
with property prices spiking up sharply and people fear they would not be able to
afford the homes when they finally get the flat.
In his speech, he is also trying to reassure Singaporeans that the government is
working to ensure public housing remains affordable for Singaporeans because he
says that HDB is building many more flatsto meet demands. He also promised to
keep housing available and affordable for Singaporeans.
L4

Purpose of the message

E.g. PM Lee made the speech because he wanted to renew Singaporeans (audience)
confidence and support for the newly formed government (outcome) by assuring
Singaporeans that their voices / concerns regarding rising HDB prices are heard and
calming their fears through ensuring them that measures are being taken to resolve
the issue (motive).

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[6]

1(c)

L1

Study Sources C and D.

How are Sources C and D different? Explain your answer. (only differences
required)

[7]

Differences based on provenance / source type / topic

[1 2]

Award 1 mark for 1 difference

Award 2 marks for 2 differences
E.g. Source C is an excerpt from a news article while Source D is an excerpt from an
online post.
Source C is a response from the former National Development Minister, Mah Bow
Tan while Source D is posted by an anonymous citizen.
L2

Differences based on source content, unsupported.

[3 4]

Award 3 marks for 1 difference, unsupported

Awards 4 marks for 2 differences, unsupported
E.g. Sources C and D differ in their views of the rise of HDB prices compared to
income of Singaporeans. Source C says that the rise in HDB prices is lower than the
rise in peoples income while Source D says otherwise.
Sources C and D differ in their views of the affordability of public housing in
Singapore. Source C says HDB flats are affordable while source D says HDB flats are
not affordable.
L3

Differences based on source content, supported.

Award 5 marks for 1 difference, supported
Award 6 marks for 2 differences, supported
E.g. Sources C and D differ in their views of the rise of HDB prices compared to
income of Singaporeans. Source C says that the rise in HDB prices is lower than the
rise in peoples income and it is supported by figures which showed that the HDB
home price index has risen by an average of 3.2 per cent which is lower than the
3.9 per cent increase in median household income. In contrast Source D says that
the rise in HDB prices are not matched by the rise in peoples income because it says
that Singaporeans are dissatisfied with the increase in HDB prices as their salaries
didnt keep pace with the rise in prices of flats. (explain the evidences)
Also, sources C and D differ in their views of the affordability of public housing in
Singapore. Source C is of the view that HDB flats are affordable for Singaporeans
because they do not need to fork out a lot of cash to service their home loans as
their CPF contributions can cover almost all their monthly mortgage payments. It

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[5 6]

states that CPF contributions can cover almost all their monthly mortgage
payments. On the other hand, source D questions the affordability of public housing
because the high HDB prices mean that by the time Singaporeans finish paying for
their housing debt their CPF savings which is meant for retirement will be almost
emptied out. It states How can housing be considered affordable today when we
spend our whole lives paying for the huge housing debt and our CPF monies are
almost emptied by the time we retire? (explain the evidences)
L4

Difference in Purpose

[7]

E.g. Sources C and D differ in their purpose. Source C, the ministers response to
affordability of HDB prices, is probably trying to appease/address Singaporeans
(audience) unhappiness/worries/concerns about the rising HDB prices (motive) by
assuring them that public housing is still affordable because with CPF contributions
people would only need to fork a quarter or less of their salaries to service their
housing loan so that they would support HDBs housing initiatives (motive).
In contrast, Source D, an online post, is probably trying to get readers of the online
forum, probably Singaporeans (audience) to question/rethink the government and
HDBs stand that housing prices are within reach (motive) by asking people to stand
up against HDB home prices because it means being burdened with long-term debt
and having their CPF savings almost wiped out by the time they retire (outcome).

1(d)

Study Source E.
Does this source prove that housing is becoming unaffordable for Singaporeans?
Explain your answer.

[7]

*prove = analyse the reliability of the source

L1

Answers based on provenance / typicality (not explained)

[1]

E.g. This source cannot prove that housing is unaffordable as it is only made by one
person.
L2

Answers based on provenance / typicality, explained

[2]

E.g. This source cannot prove that housing is unaffordable as it is the view of only
one person and cannot be taken as representative of the general opinion of
Singaporeans regarding the affordability of housing.
L3

Prove And/OR not prove supported, based on source details/content

Award 3 marks for either prove or not prove supported.
Award 4 marks for both prove and not prove supported.

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[3 4]

E.g. Prove
Source E does prove that housing is becoming unaffordable for Singaporeans
because it provides statistics to show that there has been a sharp spike in HDB
housing prices in recent years. For example, according to the figures WP chief Mr
Low cited, a new four-room flat in Punggol was 46 per cent to 56 per cent pricier
last year, compared to five years ago. These escalating property costs will be a
heavy financial burden on people, making it difficult for them to afford public
housing. Thus Source E proves that housing is becoming unaffordable.
Not Prove
Source E does not prove that housing is becoming unaffordable for Singaporeans
because it does not adequately address the issue of affordability of public housing
due to the omission of some information. For instance, Source E pointed out the
rising HDB prices in areas Seng Kang and Punggol but it failed to mention if HDB
prices in all the different areas in Singapore are experiencing similar price
increments. It could be that only Seng Kang and Punggol flats are getting pricier. If
thats the case then, source E cant adequately prove that housing prices have
spiked and is becoming unaffordable.
L4

L3 and cross-referenced
5 marks for either prove or not prove, supported and cross referenced.
6 marks for both prove and not prove, supported and cross referenced.
E.g. Prove
The reliability of Source E in proving that housing is becoming unaffordable is further
reinforced when it is cross-referenced to Source D. Source D which says that prices
of HDB flats skyrocketed in recent years and people have to spend their whole lives
paying for the huge housing debt and have their CPF monies almost emptied
supports Source Es claims that housing prices have spiked sharply and are a huge
financial burden to people. Thus Source E proves that housing is becoming
unaffordable.
Not Prove
The reliability of Source E in proving that housing is becoming unaffordable is put
into question when it is cross-referenced to Source C. Source C which says that HDB
home prices are not beyond reach because the rise in peoples income is more than
the rise in housing prices and a young couple can buy a new flat with almost no cash
required because their CPF contributions can cover the bulk of their downpayment
and monthly mortgage payments, does not support Source Es claim that the
increase in housing prices have created a huge financial burden for the people
making housing unaffordable. Thus, Source E does not prove that housing is
becoming unaffordable.

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[5 6]

L5

Prove /Not prove based on purpose explained.

E.g. Prove
Source E does prove that housing is becoming unaffordable because Mr Low who is
from the opposition party is less likely to sugarcoat the truth / dismiss / gloss over
the issue on rising housing prices. His speech at the rally was probably aimed at
getting Singaporeans (audience) to question the efficiency / ability of the
government in meeting the needs of the people (motive) by highlighting the issue of
the rising public housing prices so that they would pressure to government to take
steps to resolve the issue (outcome).
Not Prove
Source E does not prove that housing is becoming unaffordable because Mr Low
who is from the opposition party might possibly be exaggerating the issue of the
rising housing prices in order to rile Singaporeans (audience) up and get them to see
the government as being inefficient (motive) so as to garner more support and votes
for his party during the elections (outcome).

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[7]