SPECIAL NATION, BUT WE'RE ALWAYS IMPROVING OURSELVES
Singapore may have been transformed radically as a city, but Mr Mah Bow Tan believes it is always 'a work in progress'.
His mandate as the National Development Minister is clear: Singapore is to be a distinctive global city.
'We have to be a special city. We have to be part of a network of cities that people want to live in and visit, and that our people want to stay in as well.'
The country is resolutely moving in that direction. 'But the moment we feel that we've arrived, that's really when you start to go downwards,' he says.
'Philosophically, Singapore is always a work in progress. We're always improving ourselves. Yes, we've done this, but we can always do better.'
This ethos touches every realm of national life: 'Whether it's public housing or social policies or physical infrastructure, there's always something better that we can do and we will do.'
CONCERNED ABOUT JOBS, BUT WE ARE FANTASTICALLY RESILIENT
How realistic is it to focus on the New Singapore rising around us when Singaporeans and the Government itself have made jobs the prime focus in this recession?
Jobs are the priority now, he affirms.
'But being in a recession really doesn't mean that we wallow in misery and we just react to things that happen.'
What distinguishes Singapore is not only how it copes with the downturn, but also its plans that reach far into the future, he says.
'Many countries are scrambling around trying to cope with the recession. But what happens when things get better?'
Three 'Ps' position Singapore for the upturn, he says.
Set up infrastructure in good and bad times, he says. 'Then you catch the upturn, and you are ahead of the others.'
END OF THE EN BLOC FEVER? GOOD!
Mr Mah is very cool about the end of the en bloc fever. 'Personally, I'm not unhappy that people are taking a step back.'
En bloc legislation gives owners an incentive to rejuvenate private estates, or they may turn into 'slums', he adds.
This will not happen in public housing, which is kept 'fresh' with constant upgrading, he points out.
The Government cannot do that for private estates, but the owners can.
'En bloc in itself is a right thing to do. As far as the MND (Ministry of National Development) is concerned, we are very supportive,' he says.
'But unfortunately, because of the run-up in prices, the fever caught on and there were a lot of things that should not have happened.'
New rules are now in place to prevent abuses, he notes, adding: 'Let's not dump the whole en bloc policy, but let's refine it further, if necessary.'
For now, the battered state of the economy has stopped the en bloc race.
Perhaps one happy aspect is that fewer communities will be disrupted?
'That's an important objective,' he says.
Public housing, for instance, has the Selective En bloc Redevelopment Scheme, or Sers.
'When we do a Sers in one area, we try to rebuild in an adjacent area.'
Displaced residents can buy a new flat in the adjacent area at subsidised prices.
'So, it's en bloc but with an emphasis on maintaining the community,' he says.
'You may ask: Why can't the private sector do that? The answer is: They can.'
He elaborates: 'They could actually rebuild, for example, where they are and then maybe pass some flats or sell them back to the developer...
'So, preserving community is well within the ambit of the private sector or sales committee.'