SINGAPOREANS who spend beyond their means and have to go to their MPs for help were placed under the spotlight by none other than Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong on Friday.

He noted that as MPs, 'we often see families who have over-committed themselves financially' - for instance those who have been 'extravagant in doing up their homes using renovation loans', or 'bought expensive furniture or large screen TV sets on hire purchase'.

'The ones with the most serious problems have bought homes which are larger than they can afford, and taken mortgages which they are then unable to pay,' he said.

Mr Lee was speaking at the 60th anniversary dinner of the Malay Youth Literary Association (popularly known by its Malay acronym 4PM), a community welfare organisation that helps young Malays.

While families who live beyond their means come from all races, 'quite a few are Malay families', he noted.

'It is a sensitive matter to raise, but all MPs and social workers know that it is a real issue that needs to be tackled,' he added.

Contacted by The Straits Times, Tampines GRC MP Masagos Zulkifli said he sees at least one such case a week - for example, a family living in a flat it cannot afford, or one that needs help preventing its TVs or stereo sets from being repossessed.

Some come with the latest mobile phones, a clear sign they have wrong priorities, he said.

Read the full story in Saturday's edition of The Straits Times.