Pritam Singh asks for transparency in HDB land pricing. Indranee Rajah avoids specifics

During the Committee of Supply debate for the Ministry of Finance on 28 February 2025, Leader of the Opposition and Workers’ Party chief Pritam Singh questioned on the transparency of HDB land valuation. Singh highlighted the sharp rise in resale prices—up 58% since 2020—and asked why the government does not disclose how land for Build-To-Order (BTO) flats is valued, similar to the publicly available Land Betterment Charge (LBC) framework. The Second Minister for Finance, Indranee Rajah, in her response, insisted that HDB pays “fair market value” for state land but did not explain how the Chief Valuer determines this price. When Singh pressed for details on how public housing land valuation differs from private residential land, Indranee stated she was “not privy to the workings of the Chief Valuer.” Despite Singh’s repeated queries, Indranee avoided providing specific answers, reinforcing concerns about the government’s lack of transparency in land pricing and its impact on long-term housing affordability. 📌 Do you think HDB land pricing should be more transparent? Let us know in the comments below! 🔔 Subscribe for more updates on Singapore politics and governance.