Dr Vivian Balakrishnan on why he rented the 31 Ridout Road bungalow | Full speech 

Such a touching story, Sir. I am sure many of us citizens will remember this heartwarming story again before the next General Election.

If an Opposition MP had gone on such a long explanation to justify his actions, would the Speaker of Parliament have brought an abrupt and premature end to his speech, or allow him to continue on his long-winded rhetoric?

Build more jumbo HDB flats so that multi generational families can stay together. We need this badly in Singapore. Having more than 2 kids per family is very hard already in a shoebox flat, let alone having grandma around

Wow never seen this minister being so humble, almost driving me to tears

Ownself check ownself 👍

these are problems only rich and powerful people face regularly, something we cant relate lol

Some questions: 1. Why he still wanting to rent the house given that it was in such a state of disrepair, leaking roof, infested with termites and snakes? Hearing it already scaring people off but they didn't mind paying $200k to renovate it, this is very puzzling..... 2. Any people with common sense would check the surrounding rents and previous rental amounts for the property before renting, it's rather shocking that they didn't do this check

Why bother to explain? We are not interested on why you rented the place. The issue here are to ensure there is no conflict of interest, and preferential treatment, besides other criminal investigations. We, Singaporeans are more interested whether any breach of Code of Conduct.

Well reheased Grandfather stories...

Just be frank! I was so loaded with money and power I can get anything I need in Singapore!

As usual....the comments are what i am here for. The real stuff.

Singaporeans expect the highest standard of conduct for cabinet and senior ministers. CODE OF CONDUCT FOR MINISTERS (3) Financial interests 3.1 A Minister must scrupulously avoid any actual or "apparent conflict of interest" between his office and his private financial interests. Such a conflict, or a perception of conflict, can arise  (a) from the exercise of powers or influence in a way that benefits or may be seen to benefit private interests held; or (b) from using special knowledge acquired in the course of his activities as Minister to bring benefit or avoid loss (or could arouse reasonable suspicion of this) in relation to his private financial interests. 3.2 A Minister therefore must never enter into any transactions whereby his private financial interest might, even conceivably, come into conflict with his public duty.

He had lectured those under social welfare on the difference between needs and wants. 3 meals in hawker ctr is a need but meals at a restaurant is a want. So his wanting to keep his growing family together is WANT not a need. Why should he use public resources to satisfy his bottomless wants? Even if he needed it...go rent one at market value la

So either Dr V is an extremly astute property investor coupled with precise timing landing him an extremely good deal, or SLA is the worst landlord in entire Singapore. Dr V definitely has seen better days as a champion debater.

The most interesting part is that he made the house sound so inhabitable, broken floors, lousy toilets, snakes, etc. But yet, fork out 200k to do up the place and seemingly 'save' the place.. wow...

Wah ....spend so much to eliminate the snakes.....only for new snakes to occupy the refurbished premises ! Real Jokers.

We all know very well that politicians are often criticised for extravagant lifestyles, Minister Vivian Balakrishnan and Minister K Shanmugam should be more sensitive about this. Whether or not legal procedure was followed is not the issue. Living in a colossal excessive property when ordinary Singaporeans are struggling is the issue. Lastly, whether you are PAP supporter or not, I think Singaporeans should outright and fundamentally reject the proposition of having a "Review" conducted by Shanmugam's own colleagues.

7:08 In 2022, they began paying the B&W bungalow for a price of $20k/mth, by a contract of '3+2 years'??? One *condo* now can go up to $9999 (as of 3 July 2023), and they can secure a '3+2' period for $20k/ mth??? Woah...so shiok ah Bala!

Curious to know about the following: 1. How many B&W bunglows have undergone renovation works at the request of an incoming tenant - if this was not standard practice, it may explain why the property was vacant since 2013; 2. Why was the rental agreement signed under his wife's name - typically a landlord would want to ensure that a tenant has the financial means to pay the rental - VB has the means but does his wife? If she did not have the means, then was this a relaxation of leasing underwriting standards?

If you can get landed Good Class GCB for 11 cents/psf/month then the HDB should be priced at 11 cents/psf/month divided by 100 to take account for multi-floors, multi-units, Non-prime area and lesser privacy Or at 0.11 / 100 * 1000 sqft * 12 mths * 99 years = no more than $1, 306.80 for a 5 rooms HDB lease-hold apartment.

"I no Longer Listen to what people say, I just watch what they Do. Behavior never lies. " Winston Churchill.

They truly serenade us....Vivian since young when he was in school debate. Both of them can charm the birds to come down from the tree..... Our Minister!!! Lol

The renter has the right to habitability and that is the responsibility of the landlord. In this case, the renter went against the norm.

My dear minister Bala, you say you want to stay ToGEther with all your extended family... so do I. I have 5 children & 3 of them are married with kids. But my 4 room HDB flat does not have enough rooms, so how? The married children have to stay in their own HDB lo, what to do right? This is the life of common Singaporeans. 😢 * The above scenerio is only hypothetical... I do not hv 5 children la...

A lie if rehearsed over becomes a truth

People, this is our minister. Have a round of applause 👏👏👏

So how much is he getting renting out his GCB. This is the only thing that will clarify this saga. Spending to fix Rideout properties is a one-off expense while any profit from renting out GCB and renting from SLA is recurrent.

It obvious you as a 1st class minister want to rent a worn down house infested with termite and serpent .. worn out roof and big holes on the floor and not have say it is haunted too 😏🤔🤔🤔? Woo it is amazing !

Hmmm, 😮 why did he spend almost $200000 on repairs, knowingly that this sum cannot be recovered? Strange! Nobody in right mind would do this unless there is a catch. Hmmmmmm

There is a ruler in everyone heart, that is why a CEO in Kidney Foundation fixing a 18k gold tap, a monk owning a horse, etc are not acceptable. Likewise, be it through right channel or not, renting a status and luxury coloniel house by a minister is not agreeable especially by tax payers. If most PAP members including PM cannot see the problems in this case, their rulers in their heart are misaligned.

I do not doubt the minister's explanation of using the property, to bring his extended family together. However there could be another unsaid reason: arbitrage. He can rent low, and rent his other property at even higher price. Also he and his family can then invest and flip other properties without being hit by ABSD. Smart! Question is whether he would have had access to Ridout at this rental price and same T&Cs, and thus be able to do this, if he was just a "commoner" ? 🤔

Just soo soo coincident it happens that 2 of our beloved Indian ministers decide to rent them so close to each other. What a bromance, muaks muakzz

Doesn't matter if it is ethical, justified or legal when these public servants seem to be serving themselves instead of the public.

Some people stay own jumbo house. Why rent Ridout bungalow?

Wow....justification and explanation from ministers. I clearly remember the reason given for ministers' high salaries is to prevent "corruption". I hope the exorbitant, obnoxious pay packet is attractive enough for no PAP minister to be caught in any wrong doing. I only implore with the sitting government for the good things you are doing, be magnanimous with the opposition and do not hound the opposition voraciously as an immature horde for the slightest mistake or any action that they genuinely overlook . Do not be harshly judgemental and viciously critical over the mistake/s of others and put yourselves on a high pedestal of great morals. Remember you are human capable of making mistakes too. Be forgiving rather than hunting hounds so that when you step out of boundary we can "empathise" with you. As citizens we can see the game play, as a human we have empathy too and we do not proclaim it like a minister justifying his action with self proclamation. It would be great if members of the majority party can be humane, kind and forgiving in words and actions and not to be so arrogant and proud to think that you are above others who oppose your policies. Be generous and inclusive. Stop the horde-hounding of the opposition. Surely you can be worth the salaries you are drawing by showing your empathy without proclamation. Let the citizens and common folks like us to be the judge, though we are no tink tanks like the ministers but we are empathetic too. Transparency, non biasness and absence of double standards should be the rule of the day when your members step out of boundary just as you loudly call for those opposing your party to upkeep.

*Am just wondering is there any MP out there living in subsidised HDB flat ?*

Wah! SG ministers so rich...

im crying already...😢

Obviously , this will become an issue and might tarnish the government's reputation. No other places ? No other national issues to settle ?Why going through all the trouble ?Just get another place !!

KS must have informed Vivan about the lobang of such colonial bungalows and how he got one himself. Probably invited Vivan to join him to be his neighbour. 😂😢😅

No need to resign, just wait for the next GE, mark my words and don’t forget to vote them out.

what a heartbreaking story..touching

If the opposition said this drama story they'll be flamed to no end. Yet we have this

Waah! Sweet talk till like dat. 1st say got termites ah got snakes all...end up rent only 20k/mth for 9000sqm at central area...hdb rental for 5-room now also 3k alrdy at neighbourhood estate...

He has the cheek to mention that the unit was left vacant for years. Why was nothing done to such units to raise to its market value?

The next you know is GST Hike again in 2024. Do you know how much they and the mayors are paid?

"How big do you want! Do you want your wife, children, and extended family to stay in a condominium, semi-D or GCB?”

Thank you minister

rental was lower in 2018 but skyrocketed come 2021, has the current rents reflect such a market move?

Mr Singh considered Mr Balakrishnan’s lease less contentious. As the SLA doesn’t fall under his ministerial portfolio, Mr Singh suggested it was highly unlikely for his duties to overlap with the SLA’s functions and responsibilities. Mr Singh went on to assert that there was no evidence that could “arouse suspicion” under clause 3.1(b) of the Code that the minister used special knowledge acquired in his role to benefit himself. “There is no evidence presently available of this, and it would be impermissible to come to this conclusion,” he declared, concluding that the lease at 31 Ridout Road didn’t appear to violate the Code.

Most of us upon the first look will not even bother a second glance at that bungalow if it is for the families.

Don’t these ministers have better and more important and relevant topics to discuss in Parliament affecting the citizens and the future of this country?

Now you talk soft . Wrong say so

15 PAP town councils to increase S&CC rates from July. Can the WP Party teach the PAP how not to hike?

To be faced with this issue only shows that the two millionaire ministers suffered a lapse of good judgement.

Foreign minister must have offended some country's leader who now dedicate an army of bots to denounce him back after his war got denounced by our foreign minister😂

Just wondering if our ministers have any housing subsidies?

Just resign and save PAP reputation la.

Don't need to explain, you are clear by ethic committee and anti corruption officials of any wrong doing. You are just exercising your 'Ministerial Privilege' as provided to every Cabinet Minister. 🧐

He was speaking the truth and nothing but the truth. I pray for our leaders to stay in line,be transparent and be accountable. Cheers Singapore. Ownself check Ownself. Not bad indeed

The Oscars, anyone?

As a foreigner, let me ask you singaporeans why this guy's name is Vivan? Is that a common name for a guy?😂

I think it’s not to be too detail , But been a good country and good people , It always good to fit in for all peoples, After all , That what I call the greatness of this little island , That the greatness of all peoples who live there , Thank to love of the peoples in this island ,

Body language and tone seems overly defensive.

Congratulations ❤

If house needed renovations then tenant should pay lay ! Why make tax payers pay??!!!

Rent B&W better than buy GCB, GCB need 100 millions for a small plot of land and still need to include renovation.

He didn't once mentioned why he never extend his own existing house or whether its was rented out for income

shameful! it's another ownself check ownself episode! so many questions remained unanswered!

He didnt answer the question? He just stated out how much he is paying the rent and how long he renewed the tenancy agreement. I am not too sure of the laws, but can a tenant rent out a property also? or just a landlord?

刚刚细心听這位老实的外交部长在國会用英语敘说为何要租可容纳好幾家黑白大洋房少见一位喜欢拥有一個兒女孙子..'同住在一個屋詹下的长辈过程不容易，未入住之前，有蛇，有蚂蚁，大树倒，楼上破洞，收不回的二十萬装修费，等等他是一位值得我们学习好父亲。赞

I don’t think I saw any discussion on the issues that we Singaporean are facing are longer than this small matter.

Actually, does SLA published that the B&W is for rent? What's the rental price like? If the Ministers can afford and pay for the rental price that is published, I don't really find it a problem.

He pays more in rental per month than I earn the whole year. Such income disparity between a public servant and the common citizen

With all the comments in here, I wonder if any of the government people read this and to inform the Big Boss of the unhappiness of most of the people in this channel comments🤔

No need to tell long story, but to resign and go,Xiao sui !

You are a good and humble minister. Just terminate the lease and free yourself of any gossip.

Nobody is interested in his grandma stories.. he wants his extended family but regular sgporeans cant afford to live with extended families and have to deal with sky high HDB prices...😤 ownself check ownself..

Resign is the only option to retain the little remaining integrity. Ownself may cleared Ownself, it would not cleared people n international perception. Not forgetting future historians assessment of you n Singapore government. It would not be good

Fruit for thought: Would u trust a person who throws insults for instance calling another person illiterate and critising the school he studied in.

I also want my children and grandchildren in one roof but you told me what 3 meals I want? 3 meals at hawker centre or restaurant.

Sweet Propaganda 🐃💩 Did he Cry ?

rent now, own in the future👏👏👏

For multigenerational families to live together certainly requires more space. Mr VB earns a very high income and should upsize to a bigger home, especially when the rent is so affordable. Mr KS lamented that his income changed after becoming minister. As he is planning on retiring, renting a big house with an even bigger land area is implausible. The two ministers should swap houses. Problem solved.

such a waste of precious time and resources to deal with perception of corruption. Keep up the high integrity…

With the snakes, the rotting, the decay and multiple repairs and 200k costs - the$19k/20K p.mth rent is way way lower than GCBs of similar stats - mmm…

I will personally donate $10 to hum as his acting skills number 1

I have a question regarding the government's responsibility to provide the best possible lifestyle and care for its citizens. Why is it that the majority of Singaporeans are living in low socioeconomic status (SES) while politicians enjoy a high SES lifestyle? Can you explain the reasons behind this disparity? Also 90 vs 10 seats, how can opposition fight?

Self praise.

He should just get to the point. What is the process of securing a lease for a good class bungalow and did he follow it in acccordance. The long grandmother mother story just makes it sounds like he's trying to blur the truth.

can ya'll hear that tiny violin playing with angels are crying in the background ?

👏👏👏

Balakrishnan promo better than certain number of AEW wrestler. Quite a good storytelling to tell, well say. Everyone clap hand.

So what he said about the house condition is indirectly saying SLA is sleeping on the job?

*Not really making sense here cos if he intends to be futuristically thinking about his family nucleus expansion then he should consider a GCB which is highly modernised and not that historical run down Collonial House that was built pre war era also its surroundings so very kampong and eerie so the reasonings are so lame*

*Honestly I do not agree with Dr V explanation cos its too far fetched as I know very well about Colonial house living condition as contrast with GCB standard but still I respect and look up to Dr V as our FM cos hes an astute politician and by nature hes humble and nice and politically correct at most time*

5:31 .. this is a big house, a huge house in fact .. and it requires only $200k to repair it ? the roof, the see through hole in the floor, the rotting staircases, the toilets ? amazingly cheap contractor, should recommend to everyone .. because i often see people renovating their 5 room hdb flats needs almost the same amount already

I miss so much singapore❤❤❤

What is wrong with TT Durai having a gold tap? Why did it become such a big issue? Is it all about perception only? Is perception important?

Who sign the cheque? Wife or husband?