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Jamus Lim raises concerns over high cost of living and its impact on Singaporeans’ sense of belonging

Workers’ Party MP Jamus Lim highlights rising concerns over Singapore’s high cost of living, with some residents moving to Malaysia due to unaffordable housing. He questions if this trend is eroding Singaporeans’ sense of belonging and the original mission of HDB to provide affordable homes.

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Associate Professor Jamus Lim, Workers’ Party Member of Parliament for Sengkang GRC, has highlighted growing concerns among Singaporeans over the rising cost of living, particularly the impact of skyrocketing housing prices.

In a Facebook post on Wednesday (28 Aug), Assoc Prof Lim shared insights from his recent engagements with residents in Sengkang, revealing that some Singaporeans are considering relocating to nearby Malaysia as a more affordable living option.

During his visits to 332B Anchorvale and 318A, as well as engagements with residents at the Place cluster, Assoc Prof Lim noted a recurring theme in his conversations: the unsustainable cost of living in Singapore.

While concerns over housing affordability are not new, he remarked that the phenomenon of Singaporeans moving to Malaysia is becoming more common, even among those who are not retirees or Malaysian nationals.

The increasing difficulty in “making the sums work,” particularly in relation to housing costs, has led some to seek alternatives across the border.

Assoc Prof Lim expressed his concern about the broader implications of this trend, questioning whether the high cost of living is eroding the sense of rootedness and belonging that has long been a cornerstone of Singaporean identity.

He reflected on the original mission of the Housing and Development Board (HDB) to provide affordable housing for the masses, enabling Singaporeans to have a stake in the nation’s development.

However, he questioned whether this hallmark of national identity is now being overshadowed by a more transactional approach to homeownership, where flats are viewed as assets to extract government grants or generate rental income.

“I don’t really have a satisfactory answer, and I suspect there isn’t a simple response,” Assoc Prof Lim wrote, acknowledging the complexities of the issue.

He emphasized the need for public policy to address the corrosive effects of the high cost of living, which extend beyond economic concerns to impact social and cultural ties.

In response to Assoc Prof Lim’s post, TOC co-founder Andrew Loh drew parallels between the current housing situation and past challenges faced by Singaporeans, such as older citizens seeking more affordable healthcare in Malaysia.

He pointed out that, much like the government’s claims of affordable healthcare before the introduction of the Pioneer Generation package, the rising housing prices are being justified as “affordable,” despite the evident financial strain on citizens.

The issue of cross-border transit might be relieved from the commute via bus and motor vehicle with the ongoing construction of the Rapid Transit System (RTS) Link, which will connect Johor Bahru and Singapore.

As of July, the project is 83% complete, with operations scheduled to begin on 1 January 2027, according to Malaysian Transport Minister Anthony Loke.

The RTS Link is expected to provide a more efficient commuting option for those who choose to live in Malaysia while working in Singapore, potentially influencing future migration trends.

With the cost of living continuing to be a pressing concern, Assoc Prof Lim’s comments resonate with a growing number of Singaporeans grappling with the financial realities of life in the city-state.

As the nation navigates these challenges, the balance between maintaining national identity and adapting to economic pressures will remain a critical issue for policymakers and citizens alike.

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Please bring back LTK !!! thank you

Many do not realized a $1000 +++ salary Amonth and work for 10 hours cannot sustain a family

They complain that Singapooreans do not want to work?

Have they cosidered Singapore cost of living as compared to Malaysia, Philippines, Mynamar, Vietname, Indonesia , India? What do you think?

Even employers do not mind paying more or even a few times to employ foreigners.So is it an excuse employers CANNOT AFFORD TO PAY SINGAPOREANS? What do you think? Sigh

Last edited 1 month ago by john lim

The ever increasing costs are needed to offset the productivity lost by rent-seekers wanting more and more.

Opposition parties should start an initiative to get businesses across he country to publicly state how much their rents have increased, at least since 2019.

raises concern ? we need you to do more JL…..What do you thnik? lol

Remember, the monkeys are already set and done to raise GST to 10%. All their talk about helping Singaporeans cope with the spiraling COL is absolute BS – when they are spiraling the COL themselves.

When there is a fire blazing, monkeys say they help the firemen fight the fire. Yet the monkeys are throwing petrol into the fire, hor. Monkey business indeed.

What sense of belonging ?

WP should be more aggressive like Ex-JB or Dr Chee or TCB or LMW……push hard in Parliament mah….Sigh. What do you think?

TCB dare to say: They have lost their directions. tsk tsk tsk.

People have to wake up. PAP is a profiteer. PAP use Singaporeans as cheap labor in NS, make Singaporeans paid many taxes like GST, COE, income tax and make HDB expensive all to earn money for budget balance and make budget bigger and bigger. The budget increase in size drastically from 1965 to now hundred billion dollar plus. And of course, the spending in budget include their million dollar salary and benefits.

First, I can confirm that my sister will vote WP next GE for the effort Jamus took trying to help her. Importantly, she felt his genuineness and sincerity; that was the clincher. Second, the problem with us Singaporeans is, we complain about cost of living but sometimes contradict ourselves. Take the Toast Box new pricing for the breakfast set at $7.40. I am reminded somebody did a price comparison between 2 different years (I forgot which years). There were angry reactions. But what happened? Did we see Toast Box with empty tables? On the contrary, queues are a common sight.… Read more »

Do you have a sense of belonging in Sengkang or Ang Mo Kio? Should be Ang Mo Kio but Lao Lee territory … And like egg in the Cuckoo nest. You are in SengKang …

Ya, keep drumming in this national issue which is affecting the ordinary people.

Otherwise, miws keep making promises but take serious action to solve it.

Giving out vouchers only offer temporary relief.

Thank You Prof. JL We need a stronger voice and more to participate in voicing that the high costs of living which the government fails to understand is out of control and unaffordable. The “Grants,” solution will have to be borne by taxpayers eventually. So are the GST vouchers and all the handouts. We have to, “reimburse, ” the government in some way or other. A living wage has to be declared .HDB was turned into a political tool by the ruling party. GCT threatened Singaporeans with withholding upgrading if they voted Opposition. The purpose of HDB is for those… Read more »

Sense of belonging, what’s that?
Everything is artificial in Fantasy Island, even the seemingly patriotic fervour on Independence Day. Even Disneyland and Universal Studio are more real than the Island.

Teochew has a saying: ” Where it is cooling, sit there!”

Sense of belonging and patriotism are just forms of tribalism.
Elites use tribalism fervour to get others to enthusiastically serve their purposes.

Wong, do something lah. Don’t just keep studying, studying, ….

Time to take action, not just keep talking

Jamus Lim cannot go round repeating the same old issue,saying the same old things about it again and again. And it gets worse as election is near. This wayang is as though he is trying to psycho the voters to continue voting him, on the fake premise that he could DO SOMETHING TO THESE ISSUES. HE HAD DONE NOTHING TO CHANGE ANY SHIT, SINCE HE WAS VOTED IN 5 YRS AGO. At least Gerald ,LMW or even his WP leader Pritam had done better. Do you voters ,especially those in Seng Kang want to hear sound coming again and again… Read more »

One can keep on telling the garment for 50 over years…What is the point?

We want ACTIONS! not lip serivce.Stage more protests at Hong Lim Park and gather more citizens to vote against the pappies lah……What do you think?

Last edited 1 month ago by john lim

After so many years, now then tell the garment? sigh…

Will vote for PSP and not WP .thank you

Sense of belonging? Pipe dream JLim. This PAP has never never never never foster unity of Singaporeans at all, anytime all the time. MUP, IUP NIP – is this A PAP PURPOSEFUL DIVISIVE partisan Treachery anti nationhood to TEAR APART in SG into pro and anti PAP which PAP DENOUNCE as anti SG? Recall when they used the words, say the words Nationalism, Nationalist Spirit in any of their speeches? The school pledge I an ENORMOUS PAP FRAUD. A Big Fat LIE to Brain Wash Young VULNERABLE minds to recite well OVER 200 X annually for 10 LONG YEARS. Next,… Read more »

There is no escape. Singaporeans, this island is yours. Born and raised here… Served your NS here Eat your chicken rice here The only escape is to change the Government The PAP is not going to help you better than you doing it yourself. Singaporeans, it is in your hand to mark X in the box below the first one. Only you can take the first step to escape all this It will be a long journey… as the PAP has extremely deep roots that has to be dug out. Make that change happen If not for yourself, then for… Read more »

All PAP members are MILLIONAIRES.
We, local Singaporeans who served NS, what DO WE GET!
National Service, con us SERVE TO MAKE US MAN.
In reality, we are threatened. Let see who will fight SG when someone INVADE SG!
Mind everyone, all PAP and related will run like how ISWARAN sent his son to Aus!
We have stake in SG but PAP is taking all the BENEFITS!

Why NO ONE CLAIM the High Cost of Living is the REAL intention of PAP to set it up, and they adamantly still do SO with eyes CLOSED?

– the CRITICAL Reason, other than the GHOST of POFMA, is SG Reserves is QUICKLY DRYING up. LEAKS NEEDED to Be Plugged, bcz Population is Ageing, Productivity is DIVING down fast.

And PAP Administration UNDERSTAND well they do NOT HAVE FIXES and SOLUTIONS

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