I REFER to the HDB's bi-monthly walk-in selection of flats. Since a computerised balloting system was introduced, it has been extremely difficult for first-timers, like me, who have been consistently unsuccessful in the balloting.
The response has been overwhelming for the past three bi-monthly walk-in selection exercises.
The August sector C exercise saw nearly 10,200 applicants for the 354 flats on offer. The main reason was that HDB did not close applications earlier even though the applications far exceeded the number of flats by the second day of release.
It continued to allow prospective buyers to apply, and even collected an administrative fee of $10 for each application. The same thing happened in the other two selections.
Why didn't HDB close applications or shorten the time given to three working days when it was known that the number of applications had far exceeded the small number of units offered?
