Alvin Tan
Singapore
“And if our companies can use Johor as a complementary base to scale, serve larger markets and strengthen their regional competitiveness while retaining their core capabilities here, that is also additive integration.”
“Sir, I have answered the Member's questions specific to HDB car parks. Specifically, I think, with the provision of hose reels, fire engine access, natural and mechanical ventilations that will help in the event of a fire, and that the HDB carparks must comply with these technical specifications and safety requirements under Technical Ref…”
“Sir, all Housing and Development Board (HDB) car parks are designed and constructed in compliance with the prevailing Fire Code stipulated by the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF). This includes provisions such as hose reels, fire engine access and natural or mechanical ventilation to disperse smoke and heat.”
“What was left unsaid was that in the emails and in the MP Appeal System (MPAS), the Member was informed that: one, he was aware of the fact that AVS had investigated the incident; he was aware of the processes; he was aware that AVS found no professional negligence or misconduct by the vet; he was aware and noted that AVS had found no rel…”
“As we have observed a growth in the range of animal-related services offered by non-vets that may pose a risk to animal health and welfare, Part 4 of the Bill will introduce various offences and penalties to safeguard against unlawful practice and misrepresentation by or about unauthorised persons.”
“Owners are responsible for providing for their pets' needs, including medical care. So, we strongly encourage prospective pet owners to thoroughly consider the full cost of raising a pet before committing to becoming a pet owner. Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, vet professionals form an important pillar of our animal health and welfare system.”
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“Technical agencies have assessed that this site is not a sensitive nature area and the environmental impact of the bus depot is limited. Hence, an environmental study was not required. The vegetation on the site is a result of regeneration of the last 10 to 15 years, comprising young exotic dominated secondary forests, scrubland, grassland and ponds. These habitats are commonly found in cleared or disturbed areas and generally have lower ecological value than more mature forest habitats such as native dominated secondary forests. So, this is a considered decision. We will not revisit the matter. Nevertheless, to mitigate any environmental impact and disamenities to residents, LTA has agreed to put in place necessary measures during the construction. This includes hoarding the work site, which also serves to prevent wildlife vehicular collisions, and conducting checks for birds' nests and other wildlife before site clearance.”
“These stakeholders' expertise and feedback inform the mitigation recommendations in the EIA. We then make the environmental study reports publicly available online so that the public can provide feedback, and this is our default practice unless there are national security concerns where confidentiality is required. So, I wanted to correct the mischaracterisation of the Member when he said that no EIA is needed as it is brownfield and zone B2. In fact, I just mentioned that it is not true that brownfield sites automatically do not require EIA. We make those assessments. On his specific point about Serangoon Forest, he spoke about the east of Sungai Serangoon and Serangoon Forest, and I previously explained in Parliament in November that this area has been zoned for industrial use since 1998. In fact, the Members of Parliament were briefed in February 2018. And on 1 December 2023, a Gazette Notice was published for rezoning to B2 to transport facilities for this bus depot. Member Gerald Giam was informed of the rezoning and gave no comments. The site is intended to be progressively developed to help us to achieve a few objectives. First, it is to bring economic development and jobs for residents in the area closer to them, to their homes in nearby towns such as Hougang and Sengkang, and to future residents of the upcoming new town at Defu and Paya Lebar Air Base. The planned bus depot, which the Member raised, at the southern part of this area is intended to improve public transport services for residents. So, there is value and benefit to residents living in the area. The area was previously a municipal waste landfill known as the Tampines Tipping Ground.”
“And the National Parks Board's ecological profiling exercise also guides our conservation strategies, including to sensitively integrate nature into our urban landscape upfront within our land use plans. We also ensure our green spaces are accessible and near homes. By 2030, every household will be within a 10-minute walk of a park. Because of these efforts, in fact, we are recognised. Singapore today is recognised as one of the world's greenest cities. The Massachusetts Institute of Technology's Green View Index shows that we are in fact ahead of most cities in our provision of urban tree coverage, including those with lower population densities. And we will do more. We have in place supporting efforts that allow us to contribute more effectively to enhance green cover, biodiversity and ecological connectivity. By 2030, we aim to restore and enhance 80 hectares of forest, marine and coastal habitats as well as to establish 300 kilometres of nature ways. But to achieve all this, we adopt a robust systematic and science-based framework to balance developmental needs and conserving our green spaces. We rigorously study the trade-offs and alternatives and consult stakeholders where relevant. Under our EIA Framework, we start by consulting technical agencies on the sites' potential ecological and biodiversity value. And if there is potentially significant environmental impact from the development, we require an EIA study to assess in greater detail – the nature and the magnitude of the impact and to develop more mitigating measures. And based on the EIA findings, agencies will then carefully consider the extent of the potential impact and the adequacy of the proposed mitigation measures in consultation with nature groups and community stakeholders.”
“As the Member alluded to, we are also exploring the use of more underground spaces to free up surface land for more liveable uses, including at Gali Batu and this builds on earlier efforts, such as the Jurong Rock Caverns and the deep tunnel sewerage system. So, we are already looking down, we are already looking up. And through our North-South corridor project, we are also diverting vehicular traffic underground to free up more ground level space for cycling, walking, green spaces and other spaces that Singaporeans enjoy. At the same time, we are also co-locating suitable uses within integrated developments to optimise our land use, while also bringing convenience to Singaporeans. This includes our Tampines Hub and Bukit Canberra as well as upcoming integrated community hubs in Siglap and Toa Payoh. These hubs will bring together sports facilities, healthcare, community spaces in one convenient location – all things which Singaporeans want. But even as we do our best to optimise existing build up areas, we will still need to strike that balance between development and conserving and preserving our green spaces. Today, we have safeguarded more than 7,800 hectares of green spaces for our nature reserves, nature parks and other green spaces, such as parks and park connectors, and these include our four nature reserves, which contain some of our most sensitive and biodiverse habitats. We have also identified key ecological corridors between core habitats. We have established nature park networks and nature corridors along these corridors, such as the Labrador Nature Park Network and the Clementi Nature Corridor, that is alongside them.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I thank the Member Dennis Tan for his Adjournment Motion. I wanted to say that our objectives are the same. Our objectives to balance different land use are the same, but we have different views on this, and I disagree with how he has characterised the approach we have been taking all these years, and it is fine to have these different views. But let me architect and let me frame how we look at land use planning. The Government takes a long-term and very careful approach when planning how we use our limited land to support the diverse needs and aspirations of generations of Singaporeans, and we are balancing many competing needs, including the need for green spaces, education, transport, defence, recreation and many more that the Member has outlined. In recent years, for example, as Members of this House know, and we have debated. Singaporeans' demand for housing has grown and the Government has, therefore, ramped up public and private housing supply in the past few years, and we will continue keeping up a steady housing supply if demand remains strong. And to meet Singaporeans needs, we must maximise how we use our limited land. Let me explain how we already are doing so. First, we are redeveloping brownfield sites, such as golf courses, industrial areas, and also activating underused spaces, such as via ducts and carpark rooftops. We are also building higher where possible, and the relaxation of aviation height limits near airports will open new possibilities for future intensification while maintaining liveable spaces.”
“Thank you, Mr Speaker. Clearly, it is a very important topic. First of all, as I mentioned to the Member, we are reviewing the ABA and we are getting feedback from Members, as well as members of the public. We are reviewing under the review of the ABA, the regulatory regime for pet sector activities and this includes pet grooming businesses and the other areas in which the Member has highlighted. With regard to the Code for Animal Welfare, which I mentioned earlier on, this is for specific to the pet industry. This Code of Animal Welfare specifies minimum standards and best practices for pet businesses and pet groomers. All pet groomers are encouraged to comply with these sets of standards and best practices, and that includes not leaving animals unattended in rooms, unsupervised, as the Member had mentioned. But where there are breaches to this code, they can be used to support prosecution under the ABA and where unnecessary pain or suffering has been found to be inflicted on the animal, that is section 42 of the ABA, or failure of duty of care is found, section 41 of the ABA, NParks then can take an appropriate enforcement action under ABA. [Please refer to "Clarification by Minister of State for National Development", Official Report, 14 January 2026, Vol 96, Issue 14, Correction By Written Statement section.] So, we are looking at all of these reviews under the review of the ABA. Currently, there are already levers for NParks to take action and we will take all of the feedback into regard. If members of the public or the Member herself comes across any reports, please feel free to contact AVS. I have gotten the number here – it is 1800 4761 600. And AVS will be prompt and swift.”
“Mr Speaker, all individuals working in animal-related businesses, including pet groomers, are entrusted with the care of their clients' animals and are expected to uphold high standards of animal welfare. Hence, these individuals face higher maximum penalties under the Animals and Birds Act (ABA) for animal cruelty and welfare offences compared to other members of the public. Failure to meet minimum standards stipulated under the Code of Animal Welfare may be used as evidence for enforcement action. Upon conviction for an animal welfare offence, the Court may also issue a disqualification order to an individual to disqualify them from owning an animal or running an animal-related business for up to 12 months. The National Parks Board (NParks) has investigated 54 cases of feedback alleging harm to pets caused by groomers over the past three years. We are reviewing the regulatory regime for pet sector activities, including pet grooming businesses, under the ongoing review of the ABA. We will consider whether to include requirements for closed circuit television (CCTV) recordings when we amend the legislation. We are also reviewing the appropriate penalties for animal welfare and cruelty offences, including those that apply to animal-related businesses.”
“Sir, may I have your permission to answer Question Nos 4 and 5 on today's Order Paper together, please?”
“Sir, I thank the Member for her continued support for our TNRM efforts and also working very closely with the AWGs. Indeed, there is a lot of discussion and collaboration between AVS and the AWGs, and that is why we are also refining the TNRM protocols. That includes the management of free-roaming dogs, the review of various trapping measures and also, how to further improve coordination and collaboration between AVS and our TNRM partners. That also includes streamlining feedback channels and conducting regular stakeholder engagements and workshops. In fact, when I visited them on Friday, I encouraged them to join our TNRM workshop that is scheduled for 15 January, which is Thursday. I am very happy that many of our partners will be joining this TNRM workshop for us to continue to refine these processes. On the effectiveness of the TNRM programme, while Members might know that it started in 2018, we have thus far trapped 4,470 dogs, rehomed 2,048 dogs and sterilised 80% of the free-roaming dog population. That is above our target of 70% and that has resulted in a reduction of 80% of feedback cases. So, we will continue to continue to work with our TNRM partners to further refine these processes for the well-being of our dogs. 1.38 pm”
“These build on existing collaboration channels, such as TNRM rehoming efforts, outreach and AVS-led adoption drives.”
“Mr Speaker, my answer will also address related questions for written answer by Ms Diana Pang and Mr Kenneth Tiong, scheduled for subsequent Sittings. Sir, since 2018, the Animal and Veterinary Service (AVS) has worked with its partners on the Trap-Neuter-Rehome/Release-Manage (TNRM) programme to manage the free-roaming dog population in Singapore. Our TNRM partners play key roles, including conducting trapping and sterilisation operations. Upon identification of an unsterilised free-roaming dog, AVS will work with the TNRM partner responsible for the designated area to commence trapping operations. In situations that present risk to public safety, AVS will intervene swiftly. For instance, in the case of the recent trapping operation at Seletar West Farmway 8 on 14 November 2025, AVS' animal management contractor was activated to trap and remove three free-roaming dogs, which were confirmed by several victims to have been involved in multiple chasing and biting incidents. The operation was carried out safely under the supervision of AVS staff and is in line with existing protocols under TNRM. This includes complying with the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) standards on Stray Dog Population Control to ensure that uncovered wire loops or ropes were not used during the trapping process and also giving due consideration to personnel and animal safety in determining the restraint procedures. AVS will continue to work closely with TNRM partners in the management of free-roaming dogs to safeguard both public safety and well-being of the dogs. AVS colleagues and I visited our partners last week to discuss ways we can better collaborate moving forward. For instance, we intend to review joint protocols and further improve communication and coordination.”
“Sir, I will give as short a reply as possible. I wanted to clarify that I did not say to the Member that it was near the residential sites. I in fact said that it was not near any sensitive nature areas. So, just a point of clarification. The other part was also that this site has been zoned for industrial use since 1998 and it is intended to be developed into a new node in the area to provide for jobs closer to homes and for residents of the nearby towns such as Hougang, Sengkang and future residents as well. This was also briefed to the Members of Parliament (MPs) back in February 2018 so that MPs are aware of this. With regard to the potential disamenities as a result of the construction of the bus dept, LTA will work with the contractor to mitigate any of these. And I understand that there are already discussions about how to mitigate disamenities arising from the construction. 1.02 pm”
“Sir, as part of our planning process, developments which may cause significant environmental impact must undergo environmental studies, including baseline biodiversity assessments, before they are allowed to proceed. This applies to any future developments in the Sungei Serangoon area. The bus depot will be constructed on a brownfield site comprising non-native vegetation and is not near any sensitive nature areas. As such, the potential impact on sensitive habitats was assessed to be limited and an environmental study was not required. To mitigate any localised environmental impact, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) will put in place earth control and wildlife management measures during the construction.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, may I have your permission to answer Parliamentary Question Nos 25 and 26 in today's Order Paper together?”
“Sir, I thank Dr Chen for her supplementary question. I mentioned earlier on some of the criteria that we had and how the CRU takes on some of these cases. I also mentioned earlier on about severe cases with regard to a mental health nexus, as well as prolonged and unreasonable interference. There are also in the Second Reading, some details about what criteria we are looking at. But as I mentioned earlier on, let us look at the cases, let us study the pilot which is, again, only six months old, and then, take in your feedback and apply as appropriate. I also wanted to get back to Member Gerald Giam on his question about Tampines. Since April 2025, there has been about 160 neighbour noise feedback per month in Tampines.”
“Sir, I thank Mr Cai Yinzhou for his questions. For the first one, on the mandatory logging and tracking system, and then the second one on the subsidised soundproofing. These require, again, resources, as well as careful learning. And I think pilots, even beyond Tampines, we will look into these and then, if relevant or appropriate, we will consider them.”
“Sir, I have a majority of private residents in my constituency as well. The pilot is meant to inform. We are focused on Tampines town now as a pilot and after getting all of the feedback and all of the learnings from it, the plan is to extend it to other towns, including where there are private estates.”
“And I have mentioned to them that we are open to taking on even more cases, severe cases, to be precise, that have been escalated to us by Police and HDB.”
“So, I think, it is, I mean, inherent in that question is also a very important question that we want to ask. How many referral cases do we want to have and how many serious cases we want to have? And I think, the Member would agree with me that we would ideally have less cases. Ideally. I mean, you would because at the upstream you would have addressed them – but let me respond to this. The fact is that we are looking at all of these five cases. We have seen some encouraging signs within all of these different five cases that the CRU has already addressed and we are studying these very carefully for us to see what we can do. I also want to take this opportunity to say that the CRU officers – I mean earlier on, the Member Kenneth Tiong, also mentioned that you have how many different officers, and then why are there just five cases? My officers at the CRU have worked very hard on these cases. They have devoted time. And as the Member would appreciate, these are very complicated cases and that is exactly why these are severe cases that have been referred to by HDB and the Police. If they are normal cases that are easily managed in the community or in CMC or other measures, then they would not have been. So, I wanted to just make the point that ideally, we would address many of these cases upstream, but where there are severe cases downstream, that is where the pilot has shown us some ways to deal with it, in concert with and augmented by, the suite of CDMF measures that are already there. I really wanted to thank my public officers, because in this regard, they have worked incredibly hard and spent incredible amount of time in the five cases in Tampines.”
“Sir, I do not have the numbers for Tampines, but the trend that I mentioned earlier in my reply, about the average monthly volume of neighbour noise feedback in HDB estates, across Singapore, over the past five years, which has held steady at 2,500. The trend is similar in Tampines town. Please let me get back to the Member on those numbers. The Member mentioned earlier on about whether we could have expanded it and what are the measures that we can take? Correct? Can the Member just repeat his question, please?”
“I responded to that similar question. And MND will take this into consideration.”
“Ms Sylvia Lim is right on that second point, so clarified. On the first point about super powers. That was not my term. I think it was the Member Kenneth Tiong's term, special powers or super powers. So, the Member is absolutely right, there are a few. And I think in the Second Reading, it had already been mentioned under different sections: in section 13E, under section 13M. These are powers that the CRU have been afforded under the Bill which was passed last year. So, I just wanted to clarify because I did not say special powers and that is why I wanted to make sure that it is very clear. That is why I asked the Member Kenneth Tiong about what he really meant by special powers. If he meant that it would be a special antidote or panacea to resolving this, then it is not. And I think we have agreed that the CRU would not be able to do that. That any intervention could help, it could also hinder. So, I think just to clarify that exchange between me and Member Kenneth Tiong, that is what I meant. But Ms Lim is spot on, that there are powers afforded to the CRU as outlined by the Second Reading last year.”
“Sir, I thank Member Ng Chee Meng for highlighting the tireless work of his volunteers. Even last night, I was also dealing with one case and my volunteer stayed late night, and I think many of us can attest to that as well. So, this is a shout out to many of the volunteers who work very hard to mediate and also to build the community bonds that are very important upstream. If I may also just to suggest that Members, please continue to support the Municipal Services Office's (MSO's) ongoing work in this front. MSO has a Love Our 'Hood Youth Challenge, as well as HDB's Singapore's Friendly Neighbourhood Award. These are just some measures in which we can take all of these upstream. And I just wanted to also reflect that these upstream measures are complemented by what Senior Minister of State Murali and I had outlined today, a comprehensive suite of measures for the enhanced CDMF. They are not panaceas, but taken together, I think we can build that "we-first" society that we all aspire to.”
“Sir, I thank the Member. I had mentioned earlier on, going into the details of the cases, there are five cases, I mentioned that of the three cases that CRU is dealing with is to facilitate inpatient admission and treatment for one, and more consistent follow-up in community for the other two. Senior Minister of State Murali had mentioned that the CRU had issued an MD for one, and then, I also mentioned in my main reply, please refer to that, that the one case involving the deliberate use of noise to disturb neighbours and not related to mental health, has abated after joint intervention by CRU, Police and Town Council. We are studying these, the way in which the CRU is managing these cases. And we see that there are some encouraging signs, but please just do give us some time to study this in detail – and also, cases outside of the pilot – so that we can better think about resourcing it. I think we discussed this in detail last year and I really ask for Members' patience in this. Work with us, we are serious about this, we are working hard on this and we will take all of the learnings very seriously, and your feedback into account.”
“Sir, with regard to Dr Choo's questions, I want to say that the severity of noise disturbances can vary, depending on ambient noise levels, and rather than just across the board decibel thresholds, CRU measures noise levels above the ambient. I also wanted to assure Members and in fact, last year at the Second Reading, Senior Minister of State Sim Ann had also assured Members, that there will be safeguards to protect residents' privacy in the deployment of noise sensors. I refer the Member to that speech.”
“At this point, I also wanted to remind Members in the Second Reading last year that Ms Sylvia Lim had also asked for the expansion of the CRU pilot, amongst many other Members in this House. But what is also very useful is that Members of this House also acknowledged two things. One, is that this is a multi-year effort by several Ministries and agencies, and I thank Members for duly acknowledging that. But the more important point is that Ms Sylvia Lim, while asking like many Members to expand the CRU pilot, she had also acknowledged the resource-intensive and challenging nature of the work. I quote Ms Lim, she said, "It is also clear that the enhanced CDMF will be a resource-intensive exercise requiring standby teams after office hours and active management of difficult cases by the new Director-General of Community Relations. The work will not be easy." And I thought this is just useful for us. Give us some time. Let us study the pilot. We are working very hard on learning from the five cases that we have in Tampines. I have given, in my reply, the outcomes of these CRU cases in Tampines. And we are also looking at cases outside of Tampines, that some Members have also floated to us. Taken together, we are able to then look at how best to resource this and then extend it to beyond Tampines, when it is appropriate.”
“Sir, of course, that was a question in which we know the answer. Regardless of whatever we do, there is no 100% guarantee. You apply CDRT, CMC, or even to that regard, CRU, to any of these cases, it can help, it can also hinder, and in certain cases as well, it may even exacerbate the situation. So, there is no special power that CRU has and so, let us exercise reason. Let us exercise reason to it and recognise that there is no tool that is perfect and recognise that we have a useful suite of tools that are available to us, thanks to the enhanced CDMF. And we are using those tools and we are using novel tools in the Tampines pilot with regard to the CRU as well as the MD, but there is no perfect tool in this regard. And so, there is no special power. But what CRU does is help to be an intermediary, between voluntary mediation as well as enforcement. And that is what it is purporting to do. In the November 2024 Second Reading, I think, many Members of this House, from across both aisles, have naturally asked for the expansion of CRU beyond the Tampines pilot. I understand that and I am no exception. In fact, I think that was one of the biggest asks across. Can I ask and can I also request for Members to understand this: that this is a pilot, we have done this for six months in Tampines and it is resource intensive. We are now only six months into this one-year pilot. There are five cases. And we will continue to take on severe cases in Tampines that are being floated to, or raised or triaged by the agencies. But I ask for some patience. We are studying this pilot very carefully, sizing it very carefully and where appropriate, we will expand this pilot.”
“Sir, I thank the Member Kenneth Tiong for his questions. I think there are two parts to it: one is with regard to the efficacy of CRU and the expansion; and the second is whether CRU has special powers. In this regard, Sir, I would also like to ask the Member if he can 100% guarantee that any of these suite of measures, including the CRU, can de-escalate a neighbour dispute, and then I will respond shortly.”
“This has reduced inter-floor noise transmission by up to five decibels. For existing flats, the scope for major infrastructure changes is limited. Nevertheless, residents can practise simple steps to reduce inter-floor noise. They can for example, place rubber padding or "chair socks" on the legs of furniture. HDB will also continue to explore other possible solutions through research and development. Overall, the average monthly volume of neighbour noise feedback in HDB estates, across Singapore, over the past five years has held steady at about 2,500. HDB does not otherwise track the number of disputes between neighbours in HDB flats, or the number of cases that escalated into physical altercations. Ultimately, we need strong community bonds and strong community norms, so fewer disputes will arise. And where they do arise, parties involved are more likely to resolve their differences in an amicable and mutually acceptable manner, if these norms and practices are strong. This is an outcome worth working towards as a "we first" society.”
“Therefore, it is piloted in one town first, Tampines, focusing on severe neighbour noise and hoarding cases. We are reviewing this pilot carefully, to ensure our systems and processes are effective and we have resourced it correctly and sustainably before we extend the CRU services to other towns. As Minister Edwin Tong and the Senior Minister of State Sim Ann explained in their Second Reading speeches in November 2024, CRU focuses on severe cases that frontline agencies, like the Housing and Development Board (HDB) and the Police, triage and escalate to it. These cases represent a small proportion of all disputes between neighbours. They can include cases where one neighbour is deliberately making excessive noise at unreasonable hours and/or over prolonged periods to cause suffering to surrounding neighbours and where prior mediation has not been successful. Severe cases with a mental health nexus are another example. Of the three mental health-related cases CRU is dealing with, it has facilitated inpatient admission and treatment for one, and more consistent follow-up with the community for the other two. The one case involving deliberate use of noise to disturb neighbours and not related to mental health has abated after joint intervention by CRU, the Police and the Town Council. CRU will continue to take on severe cases in Tampines that frontline agencies escalate to it. As a deterrent and a last resort after exhausting all levers, CRU may refer the most severe and recalcitrant nuisance-makers to HDB, to consider compulsory acquisition of their flats. We will take this course of action only after due care and careful consideration. For new Build-To-Order (BTO) developments since February 2023, HDB has increased the thickness of floor slabs to 200 millimetres.”
“Sir, my answer will also address similar questions filed for oral answer by Members Ms Mariam Jaafar, Mr Xie Yao Quan, Mr Foo Cexiang, Dr Charlene Chen1, 2 and Ms Nadia Ahmad Samdin scheduled for the Sittings on 15, 16 and 17 October, and the questions filed for written answer by Members of Parliament Mr Gerald Giam, Mr Cai Yinzhou and Dr Charlene Chen3, 4 for the Sittings on 14, 15 and 16 October. Sir, when neighbours engage in a dispute, our priority is to bring them together to understand each other’s perspectives and needs, and then, also try to find a mutually acceptable solution. It is neither desirable for our community spirit nor sustainable for Government to step in as a first response for all disputes between neighbours. The Community Relations Unit (CRU) framework strikes a balance between Government stepping in to manage a dispute and leaving enough room for neighbours to settle disputes themselves. It is not a panacea for neighbour disputes and it is not a substitute for a strong foundation of positive community norms, good neighbourly relations and community dispute resolution options. CRU has a range of investigatory and enforcement powers, including the power to install noise sensors. These noise sensors are used as a confirmatory tool, after CRU's initial investigations narrow down from which unit the noise nuisance might be coming from. In the five cases in the pilot town of Tampines that CRU has investigated since April this year, noise sensors were not required because either the noisemakers gave formal statements that confirmed they were the source of noise, or the source of noise was clear and unambiguous. The CRU framework is a useful step forward but its implementation requires significant amounts of resources.”
“Mr Speaker, may I have your permission to take Parliamentary Question Nos 10 and 11 on today’s Order Paper together please?”
“As announced on 4 July 2025, nine financial institutions (FIs) which have breached their anti-money laundering obligations were subject to Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) regulatory action. In respect of FIs that were penalised in both 2016/2017 and 2025, their earlier breaches were largely due to their failures in transaction monitoring, arising out of deficiencies in their relevant systems and controls. Following the issuance of financial penalties in 2016/2017, they have remediated these deficiencies. In 2025, MAS found breaches by these FIs in other areas, such as customer risk assessment, establishment and corroboration of customers' source of wealth and post-suspicious transaction report follow-up. While MAS also found some breaches relating to transaction monitoring, they were due to inconsistent implementation by the FI's employees. MAS noted that that the FI's transaction monitoring systems and controls were generally in place. The FIs involved have accepted that they had fallen short and have implemented remediation measures, including stronger oversight of staff tasked with implementing controls and checks. Criminals continuously shift their tactics to evade controls and FIs must adapt their control measures in tandem.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, the Ministry of Health (MOH) and the Health Sciences Authority (HSA) have assessed that the current reporting channels for vaping-related offences are adequate. Since July 2025, HSA has extended its hotline operating hours for reporting vaping related offences to seven days a week from 9.00 am to 9.00 pm. HSA has also launched an online reporting form to complement its hotline, as was answered earlier on with the preceding Parliamentary Questions. Where necessary, MOH and HSA will work with relevant agencies, including the Municipal Services Office (MSO), to explore other means to enhance the reach and accessibility of vaping reporting channels. Separately, MSO's OneService municipal case reporting function is also available as an AI-enabled chatbot on WhatsApp, Telegram and Instagram messenger. These channels complement our OneService app and do not require Singpass authentication. The chatbot is also hosted on social messaging platforms which are familiar to youths and seniors alike, which makes it even more convenient for residents to provide feedback on municipal issues. MSO is also studying how to enhance our chatbot to take in and process feedback given in vernacular languages.”
“I thank Ms He for her questions. With regard to the complaints, the Member is absolutely right. In fact, we have responded to all the complaints and there are no outstanding issues. But moving forward, if there are consumers who suspect any wrongdoing related to any advice on financial products, including finfluencers, please lodge a complaint with MAS. And MAS will review these reports of breaches and misconduct, and take the appropriate regulatory action against the relevant parties found to be in breach of MAS regulations. On the finfluencers, can I make a plea for the finfluencers: first, to share responsibly; second, to create content with care, and that means to check that the content that you are producing or creating is both accurate and balanced; and third, to disclose relevant financial interests in these contents or the products that you are talking about. To Ms He's point, we are keen to have a discussion with the community to learn how to collectively improve this landscape. In fact, I have already spoken to some of the finfluencers and we intend to reach out to them to have further discussions on how to improve this particular landscape, as this landscape evolves over time.”
“So, we have education, we have a good regulatory framework and also implementation. I think these will help us to foster a vibrant fintech ecosystem while making sure that we protect consumers' interests.”
“Sir, we will do, I think, all of the above. Primarily, I think, consumer education is one. For customer complaints, I encourage the consumers and customers, if you do have complaints, to please raise them with MAS. MAS looks into these complaints holistically. Second, we work very closely with the industry, for example, the fintech firms and the Singapore FinTech Association. I think there is scope for us to work closely with them to see how we can encourage these platforms, as I mentioned in my early reply to Member Mark Lee, to raise the standards and also to better disclose these product features. Thirdly, I think with regard to more implementation of technology, I think we need to balance between financial innovation as well as regulatory conduct. And I think what is also important is one particular safeguard in this space. If you look at some of the safeguards for this particular case, this particular firm had a CMSL licence for fund management. Consumers can also look into the financial institutions directory to look at which firms and which financial institutions are regulated, and also, consult the Investor Alert List. But with regard to this particular firm and the CMSL licence, if you look at it carefully, there is a requirement for the segregation of customer funds. So, a segregation of customer funds from the company's money. And that means that there is a segregation where customers' investments are safeguarded. And that is why when customers are requesting for withdrawal, there is an orderly withdrawal because these customer funds are placed under independent custody. They must remain intact – it is a requirement under the CMSL licence – and they cannot be used to meet the firm's liability at any point of time.”
“Sir, I thank Mr Mark Lee for his supplementary question. I think he made a really good point about the need to continue to foster trust and also to uphold innovation – and that is what we are trying to do with the fintech sector. I think this particular episode has shown, in fact, that it is important for companies, and in fact, there are regulatory requirements, as I mentioned in my original reply for companies: first, to put in place these robust risk management practices; and second, to properly disclose their products and the features of their products as they impact the firm's operations. So, we will do that. We will review this particular case in detail and work with platforms, work with the industry to ensure how to better implement these within these requirements that we have set out earlier on. The additional part is also with regard to financial understanding of these products. And I think as more products are being introduced to the market, it is equally important for customers to be savvy about these. And we will continue to work with different platforms to promote the understanding of these products; but at the first base, to work with firms like the ones that I mentioned, the broader industry, to say, I think you need to make your disclosure just a little bit clearer and upfront. It is already there, but I think they can do more.”
“While product features do not always require regulatory approval, there are regulatory requirements in place for robust risk management and clear disclosures, especially where they impact a firm's operations. The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) is reviewing this particular case against these requirements, as well as, more generally, how to ensure investment platforms implement these requirements effectively. At the same time, we urge customers to fully understand the features, including key terms and conditions, and risks of a financial product, before deciding to invest in it. Customers should also seek professional financial advice on the suitability of a product if they are unclear of its features. We also encourage customers to refer to our MoneySENSE website to learn more about what to look out for in an investment.”
“Mr Speaker, investment platforms operating as digital advisers that manage investment portfolios on behalf of customers are licensed as Capital Markets Services Licensees (CMSLs) under the Securities and Futures Act. They offer portfolios which are invested into funds managed by other licensed fund management companies. These investment platforms are required by regulation to keep customers' assets legally separate and safekept by licensed custodians. The recent incident involving a surge in withdrawals from an investment platform illustrate that the safeguards worked as intended. Customers' assets were properly segregated from the platform and requests for withdrawal were redeemed in an orderly manner, within the standard fund redemption timeframe of three to six working days. Customers received the market value of their investments within the typical three to six days. In the specific case I mentioned above, the investment platform offered two unique features, which they marketed prominently to customers. First, it offered instant withdrawals for customers, up to a limit per account. Second, it allowed customers to spend on a debit card that was linked to the value of their underlying investments. The platform stopped both these features when the high usage of both these features became unsustainable for it to support. The conditions and limitations of these features, including the ability of the investment platform to vary or stop these features, were disclosed in the product terms and conditions. However, these disclosures may not have been effective in providing customers a full understanding of the product.”
“Mr Speaker, with your permission, may I take Question Nos 7 and 8 together please, as they touch on similar issues.”
“I thank Ms Joan Pereira for her questions. First, it is really encouraging to see our youths stepping up in the interfaith space. I mentioned this was something that we have done in previous generations, but this new generation of youths, they have new ideas, they have formed many of these youth sector organisations – Rose of Peace is one; hash.peace is another. If you noticed during the recent visit of the Pope last year, there were many youths involved, including Shukul Raaj Kumar, who is 29 years old and led the interfaith youth discussions at the Catholic Junior College with the Pope. He is part of our IRO youth team, and they have just refreshed it and are doing a lot more. Many of them will be involved with ICCS 2025. It gives them this platform for them to share with an international audience and international peers what interfaith and multiculturalism is like in Singapore, and also gives them opportunity to take the lead in some of these discussions, showcase what Singapore is doing, but also learn and pick up lessons from others. The second question is with regard to the INC. We think that it is time for us to also refresh it. We have refreshed our initiatives over the years. MCCY has refreshed, for example, the IRCC into the Harmony Circles. We think that it is an appropriate time for us to also look at what we can do better in terms of training, recruitment and also refreshing the branding of INC so that they are more relevant to what we have today. So, we are going to do a pilot. It is going to be in my constituency in Moulmein-Cairnhill. We will learn from the learnings from this pilot, and hopefully, share it across the island.”
“Sir, I thank Ms Jean See for her question. In fact, I sit on the NVPC's Company of Good Roundtable and we meet very regularly and have seen an increase in the number of companies that value the Company of Good's recognition. That is why we have seen not just a number of companies, large local companies, and MNCs, being on board, but also see a four-fold increase in the number of SMEs. That is a good trend and we will continue to spur them on. One initial challenge in the early days was to get more SMEs involved, and we now have SME representation within that Company of Good Roundtable, which I sit in. And through that, we are also getting more SMEs to be involved. As to Ms Jean See's other question with regard to MyCareersFuture, nothing is off the table. We will discuss with both the MNCs and LLEs as well as the SMEs to see whether we can do more on that front. 6.00 pm”
“One of these ways is the unifying power of sports, which Senior Parliamentary Secretary Eric Chua will speak on, before bringing us to the finish line. I look forward to our tapestry growing more vibrant and colourful, as each one of us threads our unique stories into the living masterpiece we call our home.”
“These are platforms for our youths to connect on what Singapore can be for them and how they want to contribute in areas, such as volunteerism and mental well-being. Every youth is invited to participate and be a change maker in an area that interest them and is close to their hearts. [Deputy Speaker (Mr Christopher de Souza) in the Chair] I attended a recent session at the Red Box in January by our partner Growthbeans, who are connecting over 100 youths and stakeholders on the issue of youth well-being. Including Shannen Yeo, a Secondary 1 student and active volunteer who facilitated discussions at the engagement. These contributions will culminate in our SG Youth Plan; this SG Youth Plan is a five-year action blueprint for youths, by youths, supported by whole-of-society. There are many ways to contribute. I invite everyone – youths, organisations, like Growthbeans, and individuals – to shape our SG Youth Plan together. Chairman, I have spoken of how we are tightening our weave and expanding our tapestry. And how every single one of us can play our part. Like Thaddeus Tan, whom I met in November at a counter-terrorism seminar he helped us organise. It was called the Radical Shift and we held this at the Civil Service Club. A member of the MacPherson Racial and Religious Harmony Circle, Thaddeus is spearheading an inter-faith concert in July, showcasing young local talent in celebration of Racial and Religious Harmony Month. Thaddeus is an excellent example of how every successive generation of Singaporeans must continue this meaningful endeavour to ensure that our Singapore tapestry remains vibrant. MCCY will continue fostering communities who care and contribute to the Singapore tapestry.”
“Over 260 partners – which involves corporates, mentoring organisations, community groups – have joined the movement since we launched it in 2022. And we are doing more, there is good momentum. We are doing more to guide our youths through life's key transition stages. We are now partnering with Institutes of Higher Learning to match more youths with mentors. We launched the first Youth Mentoring Hub at Singapore Polytechnic in November that will connect 10,000 students to mentors over the next three years. This commitment extends across sectors. Companies or corporates, like Jobstreet by SEEK and Prudential, offer flash mentoring at career roadshows, and they provide valuable insights as our youths prepare for work. We also partnered trade associations and chambers, like the Singapore Semiconductor Industry Association, to promote mentoring to the Institute of Technical Education (ITE) students and to attract future semi-conductor leaders. I have attended these sessions over the years at ITE College Central many times and saw firsthand how interested our youths are in exposing themselves to new opportunities in the semi-conductor space. We invite everyone to join us as mentors – we will not leave you hanging, because we will train you. You can pick up mentoring skills through our Mentoring 101 programme and Workforce Skills Qualification-accredited Mentoring for Youth course. Sir, as we mentor a new generation of youths to lead and take action for their lives, community and our nation, we are also creating platforms for them to design Singapore's future tapestry, points that Mr Shawn Huang had raised. This SG60 year, we are embarking on a year-long series on engagements with our youths, for them to step forward to share their views and realise their aspirations.”
“The youths spent over a year developing their ideas across these four panels and engaged over 5,000 of their peers through surveys, focus group discussions and our Youth Policy Forum. They then distilled their views into four policy papers with 11 recommendations. At one of my many engagements with these energetic Youth Panels, I spoke with Kimberly Quek, who is a final year Life Science student at the National University of Singapore. Despite her hearing loss, Kimberly has excelled in her pursuits in bowling and passions in the sustainability space. In fact, Kimberly led our #GreenHacks panel to propose solutions like segregated recycling bins and standardised recycling labels, to improve consumer knowledge and promote better recycling habits. We are considering the Panels' recommendations and will respond soon. To Mr Shawn Huang's question, we are also reviewing the Panels to better involve our youths in shaping Singapore's future. The Youth Panels have concluded and I recently hosted them here, in Parliament, to deep dive into their recommendations. We had a really lively dialogue, and they gave excellent solutions and also recommendations. And, in fact, it does not end here, because many of the Youth Panel leaders have gone on to thread new pathways. One of them, Josh Lee, was a contributor to our #TechHacks Panel, and now serves as a youth representative to the Media Literacy Council. So, there is a channel for them to contribute even more to national initiatives. Just as we have empowered youths, like Josh, through the Youth Panels, we are doing the same for other youths through Mentoring SG, our national mentoring movement.”
“Our AfA will rally and equip more employers to nurture inclusive workplace communities. And we will share more about what we have learned and what we plan to do in the second half of this year. Sir, just as in the workplace, we are also doing this in the community. We also plan to refresh our Integration and Naturalisation Committees and Champions (INC) programme. Since 2006, INC volunteers have helped newcomers settle into their communities and adapt to our Singaporean way of life, including Ms Jessica Tjung from my constituency. Jessica is a Singaporean Citizen originally from Indonesia and has lived here for over 26 years. Her first-hand experiences navigating integration's challenges led her to volunteer as an Integration and Naturalisation Champion. Jessica has spearheaded initiatives, like an Old School Games Carnival in 2023, for residents of all ages and backgrounds to learn about our heritage. Like Conal, Rama and Jessica, every thread contributes unique colour and texture to our Singapore tapestry. Sir, we have good cloth. We have good cloth in our youths. Our youths bring fresh colour and perspective and are our future leaders, who will take on the work of tightening our weave and expanding our tapestry into the future. Mr Shawn Huang asked about our Youth Panels. Our inaugural Youth Panels gave our youths a platform to be involved in policy-making. And our youths have responded with great interest – 120 youths stepped forward to work with the Government to deliberate on policy issues. We put together four panels, together with our youths, we called them #LifeHacks, #JobHacks, #TechHacks and #GreenHacks.”
“Newcomers to Singapore alike also navigate unfamiliarity every day. And we can all play our part to make them feel at home in that particular season of their lives. Mr Sitoh Yih Pin asked how we are fostering greater understanding and integration of foreigners in our society. I agree we should do more, beginning at our workplaces. Therefore, this year, MCCY is partnering our business community to convene an Alliance for Acrton (AfA) on Integration of Foreign Professionals. I co-chair this with PwC Singapore's Chairman, Mr Marcus Lam, who serves in the Singapore National Employers Federation and Singapore Business Federation; alongside 15 other industry representatives. We began engagements last year – we have met quite a few times now, including in focus group discussions and we have so far gleaned some learnings. First, local employers are committed to fair, equal-opportunity hiring; they want to better integrate employees and foster positive interactions in workplaces. Foreign professionals also want to adapt to Singapore's cultural norms and build relationships with their local colleagues. And efforts have already begun, so we have a running start. Last year, OCBC organised their inaugural run of the Singapore Immersion Programme (SIP), which provides opportunities for foreign employees to get involved in the community alongside their local colleagues. I recently spoke with Diallo Ramatoulaye, a Canadian lady originally from Mali. Through SIP, Rama deepened her understanding of our culture and our work ethic, and built meaningful relationships with her local colleagues. She is giving back to Singapore through teaching financial management to children with special needs and also befriending underprivileged families.”
“So, ICCS 2025, the third edition, will bring participants to our iconic places of worship and heritage districts to witness diverse religious and cultural practices coexisting harmoniously in shared spaces across Singapore. Our community leaders will also share their lived experiences of harmony in diversity. At 60 years, we are still a young nation and have much to learn from others. I have been involved with earlier ICCS editions and have witnessed the impact that it has made in Singapore and beyond our shores. Through ICCS 2025, we get to share our challenges, learnings and brainstorm solutions and areas for improvement in a never-ending effort to remain open and connected. 5.15 pm Sir, remaining open and connected allows us to enrich our tapestry with new weaves and fabrics, through friends from all over the world and our next generation. Like Conal McMahon, PwC's Head of Market Insights. He told me he moved to Singapore about seven years ago after living in Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong and Shanghai. He and his wife were attracted by Singapore's lifestyle and personal growth opportunities. In his free time, Conal teaches professional skills at Aidha, a charity looking after migrant domestic workers. Conal also serves on the board of the Jane Goodall Institute, which empowers youth to take action for the environment, for the animals and community. It is wonderful to have people like Conal call Singapore home and contribute to our nation and our community. And we too, must welcome our overseas friends with open arms. I understand, having lived overseas for over nine years across my career. While overseas, the community surrounding me and my young family helped us to settle down and find home in that particular city, for that particular season.”