Amy Khor Lean Suan
Singapore
“Sir, NEA does conduct inspections of these premises from time to time. For this particular premises, they actually did six inspections since 2021.”
“The Land Transport Authority (LTA) conducts enforcement actions against drivers who are found to have provided illegal car-pooling services. An individual who provides an illegal car-pooling service may face a fine of up to $3,000, up to six months' imprisonment, or both.”
“We will also provide the first 500 private heavy vehicle chargers co-funding of up to 50% of the charger installation cost, capped at $30,000 per charger. These measures will narrow the lifecycle cost gap between an electric and internal combustion engine heavy vehicle and spur adoption of electric heavy vehicles.”
“With regard to the extension of the lower speed limit to school zones for full day, we will work with the relevant agencies on the enhanced enforcements.”
“They will provide a certain amount of protection to the pedestrians because, as I have said, the bollards will absorb the impact of the collision from the vehicles. So, there is a protection. But ultimately, of course, road safety really depends on a multitude of factors, including road user behaviour.”
“The bollards installed at pedestrian crossings by the Land Transport Authority (LTA) are not of the K4, K8 or K12 standards stated by the Member. Bollards of these standards are typically security bollards. They are installed to protect critical infrastructure or at high security areas, such as Changi Airport, to be unyielding.”
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“Perhaps, taking a page from PM, we should organise grassroots or community outings to Sam Tan's or Lily Neo's wards to convince Singaporeans that this scenario is already happening and is fast becoming a reality in other wards too! There is a gap in understanding which public education can help to address. Uncertain payback Members of this House are familiar with the kiasu Singaporean. Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, the next objection is the "pau su" syndrome, "Won't I lose out if I die early since the money cannot be handed to my next-of-kin? You mean, my hard earned money will be taken away to benefit a very small pool of people who are fortunate enough to live beyond 85." They view this as a "pau su " (sure lose) proposition. I surmise that many people hold this view because a large number of Singaporeans still do not buy insurance and are unfamiliar with the concept. Annuities are even less understood as it is reported that last year only 4.1% of CPF members who turned 55 bought annuities with their Minimum Sum. Again, Sir, there is a gap in understanding which calls for an educational campaign on the concept of an annuity, especially among heartlanders, and in a language that they can understand, which I am glad the Ministry will be doing over the next few months. Perhaps, it would be simpler to explain to the public that whilst buying an annuity is not a "pau chiah" (sure win) proposition, it is also not a "pau su" case. Rather, it is "pau ho" which means "guaranteed good", because it gives more bang for the buck for the growing ranks of those who enjoy length of life, and who knows, you just could be one of them! Uncompromising condition It is uncompromising because it is compulsory. And many are unhappy with the compulsory nature of the scheme.”
“At a recent dialogue session, one of my grassroots leader shared that he had opted to purchase an annuity when he reached the age of 55 and is now looking forward to the payout of about $700 per month from next year when he reaches 65 for the rest of his life. He remarked that he believes the annuity scheme is an excellent idea. In a poll I conducted with 33 participants on the REACH's e-townhall web chat, only two participants had reservations about the compulsory annuity scheme whilst the majority supported it. This however seems to be the exception rather than the rule and the very positive result occurred after we took pains to explain in detail the rationale of the scheme. From the other feedback channels, over the past month, the naysayers outnumber the supporters. It is by far the most hotly debated issue among the slew of changes announced at the NDR. Based on feedback to REACH, there are four main objections to the scheme. Let me call them the four "U's". Unrealistic minimum age limit of 85 As the Minister has earlier noted, most people still do not believe they will live long enough to enjoy the annuity payout which only starts after the age of 85. It would seem that whilst many Singaporeans accept the inevitability of ageing, they have not seriously considered the possibility that they themselves may become octogenarians. But statistics show differently and, therefore, whatever their medical condition and state of health, the annuity will come in very useful for someone 85 or older. A grassroots member of mine noted that it would be useful if the Government could let us know how many in our constituency have already lived past the age of 85 and how many more are likely to be above 85 in the next few years.”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, this year REACH conducted an extensive feedback exercise for the changes announced in the Prime Minister's National Day Rally. In all, REACH received a total of 1,035 responses from new media - SMS, e-poll, and online discussions. We also got responses from 268 participants in the old fashioned way - at dialogue sessions as well as the e-townhall webchat. I can confirm that this is by far the most extensive feedback received by REACH on any NDR - which attests to the wide spread public interest to the changes announced by PM. The overall reception to the key issues raised at the NDR is positive. In fact, 71% of the respondents in the e-poll expressed greater confidence in Singapore's future after listening to or reading PM's NDR message. Nonetheless, the top three issues across all feedback platforms, and which garnered the most vigorous debate, are in descending order of interest level - the compulsory annuity scheme, the re-employment legislation and deferment of the CPF Minimum Sum draw-down age. I am happy to note that the Government is taking into account the preliminary feedback which REACH and others have submitted on these three issues, even as it fine-tunes policy and implementation details. From the additional input received as well as my own investigations, I wish to highlight several other issues relating to the key CPF changes, which the Government can further consider as it gears up to implement the proposed changes. Compulsory annuity or longevity insurance Sir, I support the intent of the compulsory annuity scheme to provide Singaporeans with at least a subsistence standard of living if we live beyond the expiry age of the Minimum Sum payout period.”
“To address this threat, Police has embarked on several crime intervention actions by working closely with the Ministry of Education (MOE) and also the Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports (MCYS) to conduct training sessions, workshops, programmes and crime awareness talk. The current legal provisions and penalties for these sexual offences are adequate. The penalties for the offence of rape, for example, under the Penal Code carry an imprisonment term of up to 20 years and option of fine and caning. The penalties for the offence of carnal connection (that is, having sexual intercourse with a girl under 16) under the Women's Charter carry an imprisonment term of up to five years and option of fine up to $10,000. In view of the relatively small number of Internet-related sexual crime cases reported over the years, there is no need to provide for enhanced penalties in existing offences when the offence is committed via the Internet.”
“Our PUB, as well as PA staff, after the incident, has actually undertaken an internal investigation. They are satisfied that there are proper safety procedures and measures already put in place. I think if you have your life vest on and are securely fastened at all times, I do not see how you would be able to sink into the water. Regarding the undergrowth, as I have said earlier, we have checked. We do have a system in place where the aquatic plants are actually pruned on a daily basis so that they only come up to about 1 1/2 metres below the surface of the reservoir and they would not pose any danger to the kayakers. INTERNET CRIMES (Stiffer penalties on offenders who prey on young girls) 13. Mdm Cynthia Phua asked the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Home Affairs (a) how many girls and women have been victims of sex crimes and/or financial loss from knowing the offenders through the Internet; and (b) will the Ministry consider imposing stiffer penalties on those who prey on young girls through the Internet. Assoc. Prof. Ho Peng Kee (for the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Home Affairs): Sir, there were 124 reported cases of females becoming victims of sex crimes as a result of them knowing the offenders through the Internet between 2001 and 2006. Of these reported cases, 80 cases (or about two-thirds) involved victims who were below 16 years of age. Of these 124 cases, two of them also involved the victims' property being stolen. The number of cases of Internet-related sexual crimes forms about 1.5 % of the total number of sexual crimes. Over the years, there has not been any significant increase in the number of Internet-related sexual crimes but, of course, this remains an area of concern as it mainly involves young victims.”
“I would like to thank the Member for bringing this issue up. Currently, when the public actually goes in to rent a kayak at the water activities centre, there is a certain set of safety measures and procedures which are put in place. First of all, the operator would have to brief the kayakers on the dos and don'ts when in the water, and of course they have to help them put on the life vests, they have to inform them that they have to make sure that the life vests have to be on at all times as well as they have to stay within the designated area which is clearly demarcated. In addition, the operators on shore also have binoculars, whistles, air horns, and so on, to alert kayakers if they see them straying out of the designated kayaking area. But I think, ultimately, the responsibility to ensure the safety of the users really lies upon themselves. They have to exercise individual responsibility. They have to adhere to the rules and make sure that, when in the water, they do not take any action which will endanger their lives.”
“First of all, I would like to reiterate, as I have noted in my earlier reply, that the People's Association, who is the operator of the water activities centre at Lower Seletar Reservoir where the incident occurred, has put in place an adequate safety system and procedures for the conduct of water activities there. Nonetheless, to further strengthen the safety system, PUB and PA have reviewed and enhanced the existing procedures regarding kayakers straying outside the designated kayaking area. The demarcation of kayaking area for walk-in public has been made more prominent at all reservoirs available for these water activities. PA and the National Sports Associations will also be looking into providing walk-in public with devices that they can use to send out distress signals should they encounter difficulty in the water. As regards the second question about the aquatic plants that could possibly have contributed to the drowning incident at Lower Seletar Reservoir, I would like to say that the aquatic plants did not contribute to this incident. The aquatic plants which are actually part of the natural eco-system in our reservoirs are generally very brittle and they do not pose any danger to kayakers with life jackets on. PUB has also engaged contractors to trim them on a regular basis, in fact, on a daily basis.”
“I want to thank the Member for highlighting that. It is true that for some fixtures, there may be an issue. But as more and more of these are manufactured, there would be energy-efficient lamps which are able to fit into most of these light fittings.”
“As far as the households are concerned, like the Minister mentioned earlier, we prefer to take a cautious approach. We feel that the critical first step really is to raise public awareness about the benefits of using energy-efficient lightings in the households and to work with the lighting manufacturers to give more consistent and accurate labelling of such energy-efficient lamps, so that the households can make informed choices. In fact, we feel that through this effort, the adoption of energy-efficient lamps by choice, rather than by force, will probably have a more lasting and effective impact. Nonetheless, we will be monitoring the results carefully and we may consider implementing a minimum energy performance standard. If we do that, inefficient models will actually be phased out.”
“We share the concerns of the Member and we are also very mindful of the benefits of using energy-efficient devices, and therefore to encourage as well as get more people to come on board. In fact, for the HDB estates, and as the Member rightly pointed out, common area lightings, for instance, actually consume about 40%, which is the largest energy consumption usage for common areas. HDB, together with NEA, has been working on implementing and installing energy-efficient lightings in all the common corridors. So all HDB common corridor lightings are actually fluorescent lamps which are energy-efficient. But, as I noted earlier, there is still room for improvement because as technology advances, even the energy-efficient fluorescent lamps can be improved and therefore there are even more energy-efficient ones. HDB has a policy where for new housing estates, it will use the best available energy-efficient lightings for the common areas as it builds them. So, this is taken care of. In terms of existing HDB estates, we are working very closely with the Town Councils as well as with the lighting manufacturers. Many of the Town Councils are already on board to change the fluorescent lamps which they have in the common corridors to even more energy-efficient ones, which are the T5 lamps. In fact, they also actually implement various other energy-saving measures, such as using dual switches and circuits and so on, as well as energy-saving devices in the switch rooms and using, say, electronic ballast rather than magnetic ballast. These would be gradually implemented by the Town Councils because the fluorescent lamps will have to be replaced due to cyclical maintenance, rather than actually replacing them when they are still viable. So, they will be taken into account.”
“At the very least, such students could be identified by the schools at the point of primary one registration each year and be encouraged to attend some bridging programme for the six months prior to formal schooling. The MOE and MCYS could enlist the help of the community, such as the grassroots organisations to identify these children early. However, as the families of such children usually have a host of problems that prevent them from sending their children to pre-school, the grassroots volunteers alone will not be equipped to deal with such cases. Hence, it would be more effective if the MOE, together with the MCYS, looks into employing full-time social workers to counsel and advise these families, show them ways to resolve their problems and motivate them to send their children to pre-school. Given the importance of pre-school as foundational learning for all children, the MOE should look at different ways to reach out to those children who fall out of the pre-school net every year and also ensure that the quality of pre-school education - their teachers, curriculum and resources are of some minimum standards.”
“Sir, formal and compulsory education for our children starts at the age of seven. However, given the increasing recognition of the importance of pre-school, most Singaporeans send their children to kindergarten before they enter primary one. For some, starting from as early as two-and-a-half to three years old, their children are sent to play school and then nursery, even before kindergarten. Perhaps, due to the prevalence of such extensive preparation at the pre-school level, primary one is no longer the place for a child to start learning his alphabets and numbers. In fact, primary one students are now expected to have some level of numeracy and literacy skills. Hence, students who enter primary one without any form of pre-school education usually find themselves highly disadvantaged and unable to cope. Every year, there is a handful of such children, estimated at 5%, who do not attend pre-school. The reasons are varied, but chiefly because of financial difficulties which might also be coupled with lack of support as a result of a broken or dysfunctional family. Even though the numbers may be small, it is imperative that we seek out these children and help place them in some pre-school or bridging programme, so that they are able to have the same headstart as other children and are not disadvantaged. Otherwise, this could lead to the child eventually dropping out of school as he finds himself unable to cope, especially if he has little family support. Such cases will add to the number of students who drop out of school each year, though they may not be that large a number, with no relevant job skills, thus perpetuating our low skilled, low-income worker problem.”
“You can do this by having more counsellors to work with teachers to identify such at-risk children at the primary and secondary schools. It should also enhance its Learning Support Programme, extending it beyond Primary One and Two as many of these pupils remain unable to cope with their studies in the upper primaries due to family circumstance and lack of support.”
“Sir, the few reports I have read about Northlight School, its dedicated teachers and the students that have joined the school have warmed my heart. I am not exaggerating nor embarrassed to say that my eyes became wet when I read from a Straits Times' article in November 2006 of how the school has brought hope to some 150 pupils who had failed their PSLE again and had been invited to Northlight School. Previously, many of these pupils, who were unable to cope with academic studies, would have likely felt very frustrated and demoralised and would have low self-esteem. To quote 13-year-old Ang Zheng Yaun: "The Maths class has games and it is fun and exciting. I hope to learn more new skills here. I don't want to repeat PSLE because it is boring. I rather learn something new at Northlight." Indeed, Northlight has brought new beginnings to the less academically inclined students who would otherwise have to be forced to repeat their PSLE and might join the ranks of school drop-outs. It is good that the Government now recognises that more attention should be paid to children who do poorly in school. Without education or acquiring some skills as an income leveller, they may remain stuck in the poverty trap. Sir, I would like to ask the Minister to provide an update on the progress of Northlight School, future plans for the school as well as whether there are other similar schools set up to cater to not just those who have failed their PSLE twice but to a wider spectrum of less academically inclined students who would likely benefit from a more hands-on educational approach. Additionally, I would like to urge the Ministry to adopt an early intervention approach - identify students at schools who are potentially at risk of dropping out and give them appropriate help.”
“This would help to assure parents that their special needs child will have equal opportunity to the best education possible and be allowed to maximise his or her potential. It will also allay the worries of some who fear that should they have a child with special needs, they would be left very much on their own to ensure that their child has access to quality education. In fact, I personally know of two families, one a friend and another the son of a grassroots volunteer who moved to New Zealand and Australia respectively because they feel that the educational system here does not give their special needs children equal opportunity to develop their potential to the fullest. SPED schools should not be treated as second-class and should be given every chance to excel and achieve excellence by developing quality curriculum for the students. MOE has the expertise and resources to provide proper training to SPED school teachers and ensure that SPED schools are not run like charities with few, if any, KPIs for the learning outcome of their students. Sir, I accept that disability straddles a wide spectrum, from learning disabilities like dyslexia to severe cases like multiple sclerosis. Hence, compulsory education may be difficult to implement. But there is really no big hurdle to putting SPED schools directly under MOE's wings. This would clearly underline MOE's commitment to the education of our special needs children so that they have as much opportunity to make good as any other. Education of Disabled Children”
“Sir, it is heartening to note that the MOE has in recent years given more attention to special needs pupils. It has committed more money to upgrade and redevelop SPED schools, recruited better qualified teachers, provided better professional development for the staff, as well as improved the curriculum design. This is in line with the Government's pledge to build a more inclusive society. Nonetheless, I believe that, to unequivocally signal a truly inclusive society, special needs education should, like mainstream education, come under the purview of the Ministry of Education. Special needs education should not be put under the charge of the MCYS. I would like to assure Minister Balakrishnan that I have full confidence in him doing a good job. The issues boil down to this. Placing special needs education under MCYS implies, whether we like it or not, that looking after the educational needs of children with special needs is mere charitable work and is not MOE's priority. Sir, the special needs child has as much right to education as those in mainstream schools and should not be treated any differently or given the impression that he or she is of less worth, regardless of how much the Government actually spends on each special needs child. MOE can and should work hand-in-hand with the VWOs to provide for the educational, physical and emotional needs of these children. But MOE should take charge, manage and control SPED schools, since the key function of these schools is to provide education. The quality of the SPED school teachers and their career development would then be under the direct charge of MOE rather than a VWO.”
“If they do, instead of being ambassadors and evangelists of the message to the students, their scepticism will rub off onto the students and it will be a great setback for the entire National Education policy. I, therefore, urge the Ministry to study this issue carefully in relation to National Education teacher selection and training as well as what is taught in National Education and how it is being taught.”
“The subjects covered are too diverse, historically, geographically and thematically - from macro issues such as the birth of Singapore, Japan's industrial development and a case study of Switzerland, to the micro issues such as health and education services in Singapore, to what makes good governance in Singapore and even a chapter on the rise and fall of Venice! I know all these because I have to tutor my kids. I think this is really against MOE's very own "Teach less, learn more" spirit. It would be far better to trim down the syllabus to the essentials and to what students can more easily relate to, such as the challenges that Singapore currently confronts. This would allow more in-depth study of the topics from different perspectives and alternative viewpoints. This will avoid students' perceptions that a particular view is being shoved down their throats and, hence, their conclusion that National Education is propaganda. Sir, hands-on practical learning can add interest to the subject, as educationists would confirm. Perhaps, teachers who teach National Education should be trained in generating a creative learning environment. They could, if they are not doing it already, use a variety of teaching methods - project work, group assignments, policy simulation exercise, mock Parliament, community projects and so on. Schools could work more closely with the community organisations to identify projects that students can meaningfully engage in, as part of their National Education curriculum. Central to this is also the issue of whether the National Education teachers are themselves convinced of the value of what they do and the substance of what they teach, without regarding the subject matter as propaganda.”
“Sir, national education is the focus of our efforts to ensure that our young grow up with an understanding of the constraints that Singapore overcame in its attainment of nationhood, as well as the challenges it now faces as a nation. It also builds a sense of shared history and destiny to root our young. This is especially important as Singaporeans become more mobile and display a higher propensity to study, live and work abroad and, in the face of increasing immigration, that could strain our social cohesion. It plays a crucial role in helping the children of our immigrants better integrate into the community, and helping our own children accept these immigrants into their world. Therefore, its role is vital to the future we are trying to build. But from the perspective of the students, National Education, which at secondary schools is currently taught under the subject "Social Studies", is perceived as dry and uninteresting, often studied merely because it is one of the compulsory subjects whose grades count for entry into junior college. As National Education is a compulsory subject required for entry into junior college, the teaching focus is on examination techniques and not on whether the students really truly appreciate the significance of the topics being taught. Sir, I would like to ask the Ministry to look into how National Education can be made to come alive and more enjoyable. In fact, I feel that our National Education syllabus, in typical Singaporean kiasu style, is simply too ambitious.”
“While I appreciate the Government's objective to provide the best educational environment for our students in schools, we must always be careful not to go overboard in our zealousness and deprive them of a see-smell-and-touch experience, as well as helping them to become resilient and rugged individuals ready for life in a tough competitive world.”
“Sir, I applaud MOE's move to give schools better facilities to help them organise sports and games with greater flexibility. Schools should, therefore, be able to provide more opportunities for students to take up CCAs for which they have an interest but may not necessarily excel in. Sir, in this regard, I would like to ask the Minister what is the percentage of CCAs for all schools which are not subject to audition or selection trials and which students can join purely out of interest without any pressure to participate in competitions. As CCA is primarily for character development and physical well-being, students ought not to be demoralised by being required to go for audition after audition just to find a CCA to participate in and which may not be what he or she is interested in. I understand that this is still happening in a number of schools. Another point I would like to highlight is the announcement by MOE that it will be building indoor sports halls and synthetic fields to guard against inclement weather. I read the letter with some amazement and dismay. I hope that MOE would only do this sparingly as we certainly do not want to nurture a generation of our young who are unaccustomed to what the real thing, real grass looks, smells and feels like and are averse to the sun and rain. It is analogous to asking some children to draw a chicken and the result is a headless naked fowl without feathers because this is what they see at the supermarket. Already, because of the Internet, many of our children are spending far too much time cooped up indoors with their computers. We certainly do want them to have more fresh air and sunshine.”
“Sir, we certainly agree. Although the size of the mosquito is small, we are not taking any chances and, therefore, we are enforcing very strict regime in mosquito control. As regards research into the vaccine, certainly, EHI is also working with the Ministry of Health and other partners in the region to look into this.”
“Sir, certainly, the Ministry will continue to play its part to mitigate the problem of dengue in Singapore and work together with the grassroots, the Town Councils, CDCs as well as all other stakeholders to ensure that our fight against dengue would reduce the number of dengue cases further. As regards the size of the mosquito fund, actually the size is not commensurate with the size of the mosquito! It is far larger. Let me just recap. NEA had actually earlier provided $4.3 million in funding in 2005, just for the Town Council to help kick-start the dedicated mosquito control programme in the Town Council-maintained areas. That does not include the funds that we ourselves put into increasing the number of staff for vector control, and so on. The new incentive scheme for Town Councils, which will be in place for two years, is estimated to cost us about $3.4 million a year. Only Town Councils which have put in place dedicated mosquito control programmes in their estates, ie, they have source reduction via weekly inspections and checks for mosquito breeding sites, which has to be the principal control measure, then they are eligible to participate in the incentive scheme. The scheme comprises a fixed co-funding component at 10% of the Town Council's contract sum and a variable reward component that is tied to the number of breedings as well as the number of blocks in the Town Council maintained estates. So Town Councils with a higher number of breedings will receive smaller rewards or quantums, not higher, or none at all, if they actually exceed their threshold. Rewards will be disbursed to eligible Town Councils on a monthly basis. 3.15 pm”
“Mr Chairman, Sir, we encourage the cleaning contractors to get their cleaners trained under the NSRS scheme. Yes, we are certainly looking into the possibility of getting the cleaning contractors under our management to get their cleaners trained under NSRS. As regards the design, actually we have changed the regulations before to increase the number of cubicles for women, as many of the problems with cleanliness really pertain to high usage of the women's toilet cubicles. Certainly, we are also working together with BCA to see how else we can improve on the design of toilets, not just the number of cubicles but where we place the hand dryers, soap dispensers, and so on, because that will also contribute to the whole cleanliness standard of the toilets.”
“We have come thus far in the environment and water areas because of far-sighted policies and consistent practices through four decades. All these have been achieved even as we grew our economy. We are a small city-state that has shown that it is possible to safeguard our environment while we chalk up economic growth. But we should not rest on our laurels or even throw up our hands to say there is nothing we can do more or that our efforts are too small to make an impact. MEWR will continue to lead with other Government agencies and like-minded partners, hand-in-hand with members of the public who care for and want to do more for the environment. Where necessary, we enforce against lawbreakers to protect the public, but we do so with some sadness, as it is a breakdown of responsibility. We must continue to promote ownership of our environment in both our young and old. I hope Members too can also encourage residents to continue to be responsible for our environment and waters and choose habits that are environmentally-friendly. It is our environment, so let us all play our part and make this little red dot a little green, Sir.”
“NEA has been appointed the Designated National Authority for the approval of CDM projects that support sustainable development in Singapore. NEA will work closely with IE Singapore, which is the lead agency to establish Singapore as a Centre for Carbon Trading. NEA and IE Singapore have facilitated dialogue between project developers and financiers to create greater awareness of these economic opportunities. In June 2006, Singapore joined the Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Partnership (REEEP), an international partnership of governments and businesses that promote clean energy. Following this, a Renewable Energy Exchange was set up in Singapore to bring together investors looking for projects and developers looking for financing. Sir, we have also supported the formation of the Sustainable Energy Association of Singapore (SEAS) to grow the energy services and technologies sectors in Singapore. Whether we will become a hub or not, I think it is important to put all of these measures in place first. But, certainly, I share Mr Khew's optimism of us becoming a centre for such an activity. I hope our efforts to tackle climate change will make Singapore not just clean and green, but also lean. We can be environmentally sustainable and play our part in the global effort on climate change while making Singapore more economically competitive. But we have to be realistic. We cannot do it alone. Climate change actions require all countries to play a part. Singapore acceded to the Kyoto Protocol last year, and we will continue to be active in international discussions to work with the international community on this global challenge. Sir, in summing up in 30 seconds, I thank MPs who have raised concerns and offered their views.”
“In total, energy from incineration contributes about 2%-3% of the total electricity consumed in Singapore. Increasing worldwide concerns over climate change will mean an increase in demand for renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies. Renewable energy will also help to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels, a point noted by Ms Lee Bee Wah. While the costs of renewable energy still need to be brought down, NEA has been encouraging private and public sector partners to explore and test-bed renewable energy technologies through schemes, such as the IES Fund. For example, NEA has provided $1 million through the IES Fund to test-bed solar photovoltaics at the Biopolis. 3.00 pm We have identified clean energy as a strategic growth area for Singapore and are working towards growing a vibrant industry in this field, as noted by Mr Khew. In recent years, Singapore has had pioneering investments in solar energy, biofuels, wind energy and fuel cells. One important strategy in growing this industry is to build up the R&D and technology base on clean energy. My Ministry will continue to work closely with the Ministry of Trade and Industry to research on and test-bed clean energy technologies in practical settings in Singapore. For instance, NEA and EDB have brought together companies, such as Robert Bosch and DaimlerChrysler, to test-bed the use of biodiesel in our local setting. Sir, we will also focus on carbon trading. As rightly pointed out by Mr Edwin Khew, there is an opportunity for us here. In fact, the Government has put in place the necessary process to help companies take advantage of the economic opportunities associated with emissions trading and Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) as provided for under the Kyoto Protocol.”
“I agree with Dr Lam and Mr Hri Kumar that hybrid cars are more fuel-efficient and less pollutive than conventional ones. We know that they cost slightly more. Indeed, such green vehicle technologies are becoming more widely accepted internationally. More models are being introduced, and our motor traders are doing their part by bringing them into Singapore. The decision to purchase a green vehicle is a lifestyle choice, but I am heartened to note that more car-owners are embracing these green vehicle technologies, despite the high prices. Since the enhancement of the Green Vehicle Rebate in January 2006, the number of green vehicles has gone up substantially from about 200 to 700. And I know at least two owners of such cars. I am therefore glad to inform Dr Lam that the Government will continue to support green vehicles, and the Green Vehicle Rebate (GVR) will be extended for another two years to December 2009. With growing awareness, better technology driving down costs, and more models available in the market, I am hopeful that the take-up rate of green vehicles will continue to rise. Sir, I believe our energy efficiency initiatives will enhance economic growth. We can make Singapore a more energy-efficient economy by helping manufacturers, building owners, drivers and ordinary citizens reduce energy consumption, increase savings and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Sir, Mr Edwin Khew has raised a few questions relating to renewable energy as well as economic opportunities from climate change. Let me try and address him within the limited time I have. Energy is a scarce resource that we must use as efficiently as we can. For this reason, NEA has invested in the state-of-the-art waste incineration plants that also recover energy to generate electricity.”
“Besides buying efficient appliances, we can also save energy by adopting good practices. Yesterday, Mr Sam Tan had brought up the need to help households reduce their energy consumption. I would like to take this opportunity to commend my colleague, Dr Amy Khor, on the new South West Community Development Council (CDC) initiative called Cool@South West. Cool@South West encourages residents to conserve electricity and cut their utilities bill at home, such as switching off appliances at the mains when they are not being used, and using energy-saving light bulbs. As yesterday’s Straits Times aptly pointed out, each energy-saving bulb can save $24 a year and I am glad to note that South West CDC residents have taken energy efficiency to heart. A survey conducted in Hong Kah found that about 80% of households are already using energy-saving light bulbs. Similarly, choosing more fuel-efficient vehicles leads to lower costs and a cleaner environment. Mr Hri Kumar has asked about measures to encourage the use of more energy-efficient vehicles. In 2003, we introduced a voluntary fuel economy labelling scheme. The fuel economy label helps car buyers identify more fuel-efficient cars, although the actual fuel consumption also depends on individual driving patterns. As at the end of 2006, 84 vehicle models are labelled under the scheme. For the fuel economy labels to be more effective, car buyers need to be able to compare fuel economy figures of all available models. My Ministry will look into making it mandatory for all passenger car models to display the fuel economy label at the showroom. Sir, in addition, my Ministry is encouraging the use of green vehicle technologies.”
“Aljunied Town Council has also conducted an energy audit on 40 blocks, with co-funding of about $60,000 from the IES fund. The recommendations from the audit, which include the use of more energy-efficient lights and power-saving devices, have been shared with the other Town Councils. I am heartened to note that several Town Councils have started implementing these recommendations. Even our Singapore Zoo and the Night Safari have managed to reduce their electricity consumption by about 8%. They achieved this through a range of energy-saving devices, such as installing automated lights and fans at their visitor areas, and switching to solar-powered as well as more energy-efficient light bulbs. Sir, one key NCCS feedback on improving energy efficiency was to provide more information to the public. In response to Ms Eunice Olsen’s query, one of the ways in which all of us can help play our part in addressing climate change is by using energy-efficient household appliances. A consumer who chooses a three-tick air-conditioner, instead of a one-tick, would save about 1,400 kg of carbon dioxide emissions and $525 a year. That is a little price to pay to go green. I announced last year that the voluntary Energy Labelling Scheme for air-conditioners and refrigerators will be made mandatory. This will begin as scheduled on 1st July this year. NEA will give the industry a six-month grace period to comply with the mandatory labelling scheme. I hope that consumers will make use of these labels to lower their electricity bills. We will also extend the existing voluntary energy labelling scheme run by the Singapore Environment Council to include other appliances, such as clothes dryers, in the coming years. These energy labels will be made mandatory later on, if necessary.”
“I am pleased to announce that we will extend the IES Fund for a further four years, up to Financial Year 2010, to continue to support innovative environmental projects. Sir, Ms Tan has asked who should take the lead. Buildings also consume a significant amount of electricity. The building sector alone accounts for almost 20% of the electricity consumed by commercial and institutional buildings in Singapore. Having energy-efficient buildings is in the Government’s long-term interest as it not only reduces carbon dioxide emissions, but also reduces our expenditure on energy. Sir, I am pleased to announce that the Government will lead by example by making our buildings more energy-efficient, and I hope this Chamber will also follow suit. All large air-conditioned Government office buildings, as well as polytechnics and ITEs, will conduct energy audits to improve their energy efficiency by March 2010. Some agencies, including MEWR of course, MOF and MOM, have already completed their energy audits and are projected to reap combined savings of $240,000 annually. We will ensure that new Government buildings are designed with energy efficiency and environmental sustainability in mind. As my MND colleague, Ms Grace Fu, announced late last year, all new large Government buildings and new schools will meet the Green Mark certified standard. We hope that, with the Government taking the lead, the private and people sectors will be encouraged to be more energy-efficient. In fact, some have already done so. For example, I understand that Alexandra Technopark has undergone an energy audit and is in the process of implementing the energy efficiency measures identified by the audit. They expect to realise total potential savings of about $600,000 annually.”
“Industry is the largest energy-consuming sector, accounting for 54% of Singapore’s carbon dioxide emissions. To promote energy efficiency in the industry, NEA launched the Energy Efficiency Improvement Assistance Scheme, or EASe, two years ago. EASe co-funds energy audits in the manufacturing and building sectors to identify potential areas for energy efficiency improvement. As a result of the scheme, 54 manufacturing facilities and buildings have identified energy efficiency measures which will result in $13 million in annual energy cost savings, and reductions of about 111,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide annually. To further encourage companies to implement recommendations from energy audits, NEA will promote EASe, together with EDB’s Investment Allowance, or IA Scheme. The IA Scheme gives an incentive to companies that invest in improving the efficiency of resource utilisation or bring in new technology into an existing industry. Under the IA, energy efficiency investments can enjoy a tax exemption on income of up to 50% of the qualifying fixed capital expenditure. This should improve the return on investment on energy efficiency projects. NEA has also been actively promoting energy-efficient technologies through the Innovation for Environmental Sustainability (IES) Fund. For example, NEA recently supported two projects with IES funding to demonstrate trigeneration technology. The two projects will help reduce carbon emissions by 23,200 tonnes annually and provide significant savings in energy costs to the facility owners. The annual savings for one of the facilities have been estimated to be over $900,000 annually.”
“NEA will take the lead through a focused effort to promote and monitor Singapore’s performance in energy efficiency. Much more can be done, including working together with the other Government agencies to implement targeted sectoral measures. For these efforts on energy efficiency to be successful, we also need to cultivate a culture of energy consciousness among industry and consumers. Sir, we can learn from the experience of other countries. In Japan, a country that also faces resource constraints, the industrial sector nearly tripled its output between 1973 and 2005 while keeping its energy consumption almost constant. Denmark, too, has seen its Gross National Product increased by 70% from 1973 to 2004, with almost constant energy consumption over the same period. Energy efficiency can reduce greenhouse gas emissions, reduce costs, and enhance our economic competitiveness at the same time. Yet, we know that, for a variety of reasons, energy-efficient choices are not made. Perhaps, this is because energy savings are often not immediately obvious, and so we tend to focus on the price tag and not the long-term savings, as quoted aptly by Mr Hri Kumar, as a 'no-brainer'. But I disagree. For example, many of us do not realise that the cost of energy to run a fridge is often greater than the purchase price of a fridge itself over its useful lifespan. This is where the Government programmes can help address these market failures, by bridging the information gap and by demonstrating the benefits of energy efficiency. Let me take this opportunity to elaborate on some of our planned initiatives. Sir, Ms Jessica Tan and Mr Edwin Khew asked about energy efficiency among industries.”
“Sir, improving energy efficiency is a strategic priority within the NCCS. Singapore is reliant on fossil fuels for much of its energy needs at present, but this does not mean we cannot do anything about greenhouse gases. Efficient energy use is a proven way of reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Using more energy-efficient equipment and appliances, or designing more efficient buildings, can save significant amounts of money in the long run without sacrificing comfort. As noted in a recent Newsweek magazine article, and as echoed by Ms Jessica Tan, energy efficiency is "one of the hottest topics in business - and a way to add billions of dollars to the bottom line". So it makes economic sense. Becoming energy efficient is not just good for the bottom line. It is also an important aspect of sustainable development for Singapore. Energy is a critical resource used by many different sectors, such as industry, building and transport. Mr Hri Kumar asked whether there is a lead agency in this. MTI is leading a group of agencies looking into energy sufficiency and security. My Ministry has been co-ordinating the initiatives for energy efficiency under the National Climate Change Committee, or N3C, chaired by my colleague, Dr Amy Khor. The N3C provides a valuable consultative forum to discuss views and feedback from members who comprise public sector representatives, industry leaders, NGOs and academics. Drawing from the N3C inputs, there is a need for a central agency to ensure effective implementation of energy-efficient measures. Just as PUB oversees water conservation, NEA will be the lead agency on energy conservation and efficiency. Both water and energy conservation are critical for Singapore to remain a sustainable and economically competitive country.”
“We have already put in place measures in response to the earlier IPCC studies, for instance to safeguard against the anticipated sea level rises. So today, all our reclaimed land are designed with a platform level of about 125 cm above the highest recorded tide. This should be sufficient to address a sea-level rise of 59 cm, which is the worst-case scenario in IPCC’s latest report. But to ensure that we address all the key risks, we have commissioned a study to better understand the possible long-term effects and the impacts of climate change on Singapore, such as changes in rainfall patterns, sea levels and extreme weather conditions. This study, which is conducted by a team of local and foreign experts, will incorporate the latest scientific research on climate change, including the latest IPCC report. In fact, a number of the foreign experts that we have engaged have been actively involved in the drafting of IPCC's reports. We expect that this detailed study will be completed within two years, with preliminary findings expected next year. NEA will continue to work closely with other Government agencies to monitor and manage Singapore’s vulnerability to climate change. 2.45 pm Sir, I also announced last year that my Ministry would be carrying out public consultation on the National Climate Change Strategy (NCCS). I am pleased to inform the House that the consultation has been completed. We have received more than 1,300 responses in our online consultation. We also conducted dialogue sessions with companies, industry associations, academics, environmental groups and youths. The feedback received has made the NCCS more robust. A notable theme from the consultation was the need to make Singapore an energy-efficient nation.”
“Sir, our efforts to promote EWT will have a positive spin-off on the MICE and tourism sector. Plans are being finalised for the staging of an International Water Week (IWW) in Singapore starting in 2008. The IWW will be an annual event to showcase water technologies, and create business and networking opportunities among water experts and industry players from all over the world. The event will help strengthen Singapore’s position as the hub in the Asia Pacific for leading water technologies, as well as the gateway for business opportunities in the regional and global sector. Some 800 delegates and 5,000 trade visitors are expected to attend the inaugural IWW, and this figure is estimated to reach 2,000 delegates and 25,000 trade visitors by the year 2015. So through investing in R&D and growing the EWT sector, we can reap the opportunities that our environment presents to attract more investments, talent and jobs to Singapore. Sir, let me now address the issue of climate change. Sir, the many questions raised by my fellow Members, including those questions raised during the Budget debate last week, indicate the growing concern over climate change. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), established by the United Nations Environment Programme and the World Meteorological Organisation, projected in its latest report released earlier this year that global temperatures and sea levels are likely to rise, while extreme weather patterns that have been associated with climate change also often dominate headlines worldwide. Mdm Ho Geok Choo has asked about the problems arising from climate change on Singapore. Sir, like other nations, Singapore will not be spared from the effects and the impacts of climate change.”
“The presence of these global MNCs will help increase the vibrancy of our water industry and create many, many job opportunities. Our home-grown companies have also achieved good success overseas. For example, Keppel, Hyflux and SembCorp made further inroads into the Middle-East market in 2006 and clinched large water and environmental projects in Qatar, Algeria and UAE respectively. My Ministry, together with other Government agencies, will continue to support the expansion of our companies to overseas markets, for example, through trade missions to key markets like China, Middle East and India. Sir, going forward, technology will be a key enabler in growing our environment and water industry. To ensure that Singapore stays on the forefront of R&D developments, we launched the Environment and Water Research Programme (EWRP) last September. The programme will support R&D projects in Environment and Water Technologies (EWT) with funding of S$100 million over the next five years and there was good response to the first Request-For-Proposal under the programme, with more than 120 proposals received from the universities, public and private sectors. We have also recently launched the TechPioneer scheme to encourage early adoption of new technologies that may come through the R&D pipeline. In addition, Sir, we will have schemes to help individuals and entrepreneurs capitalise on the opportunities in the EWT sector. The EWI plans to provide post-graduate scholarships to train professionals and researchers in EWT. For new companies and technology start-ups, a new funding scheme, known as Fast-Tech, will provide assistance in transforming ideas and research into commercially feasible prototypes. More details on these will be released in the coming weeks.”
“My Minister will now touch on the issues on climate change, energy efficiency, and the environment and water industry. Assoc. Prof. Dr Yaacob Ibrahim: Mr Chairman, Sir, let me just address the point raised by Mdm Ho about earthquakes. I just want to report to the House - this is of course subject to confirmation - that there were two earthquakes this morning: one at 11.50 am, registered 6.6; another at 1.49 pm, registered 6.1, in Sumatra, at about 420 kilometres from Singapore. NEA, as you know, provides the Singapore Police Force, the Civil Defence Force, BCA and HDB with detailed information of earthquakes that have caused tremors in Singapore within five minutes of detection. Sir, Mr Edwin Khew has asked about the progress that we have made in the development of the environment and water industry. The National Research Foundation (NRF) has identified the environment and water sector as a key growth area, and has committed $330 million over five years to promote strategic R&D in this area. To spearhead the growth of this industry, we have formed the Environment and Water Industry Development Council (EWI) under my Ministry in May 2006. The main aim of the Council, which includes key agencies such as the PUB and EDB, is to grow our economy and create more jobs. By 2015, employment in the water industry in Singapore is expected to double to 11,000 with the value-add to the economy tripling to $1.7 billion. As the industry grows, it will need more specialist technical manpower, which means more jobs for Singaporeans. Over the past year, we have also attracted value-added investments from major global water players to Singapore. So now, we have Siemens Water, GE Water, CH2M Hill, Black & Veatch, just to name a few.”
“However, in Singapore, used plastic bags are disposed of at our incineration plants together with other wastes and the heat produced is used to generate electricity. So it is not entirely wasted. Moreover, many Singaporean households re-use plastic bags for their refuse and this is a good habit which we want to encourage. What we are concerned about is the excessive and unnecessary usage of plastic bags. We are tackling this by raising awareness and educating the public. Last February, NEA, together with the Singapore Environment Council, launched a "Why waste plastic bags? Choose reusable Bags!" Campaign. This campaign was aimed at educating shoppers as well as cashiers at retail outlets to reduce the use of plastic bags and promote the use of reusable shopping bags. I am pleased to inform Ms Olsen that from our survey, we found that the cashiers were indeed, because of this campaign, stuffing the bags to the fullest before they give it to the customers. Then, in November, we launched the "Spot the Green Shoppers" contest. Volunteers from the Singapore Environment Council were stationed at supermarkets to spot shoppers who used reusable bags. Those who were spotted received a shopping voucher each. This year, we will be launching a "Bring Your Own Bag" Day to encourage shoppers to bring their own reusable bags to bag their purchases and we are likely to encourage the cashiers to ask the patrons to donate some money, if they ask for plastic bags, for a useful cause of course. We hope to make this an ongoing event so as to drive home the message of not wasting plastic bags. All these efforts will help us reach the overall recycling target set under the SGP 2012, and bring us nearer our goal of having a sustainable solid waste management system.”
“I am pleased to inform the House that all HDB estates will have these centralised recycling bins by end of this year. Residents in condominiums and private apartments are not covered in the National Recycling Programme as their estates are managed by Management Corporations. But they are certainly not forgotten. NEA is currently working with Management Corporations to provide recycling facilities for their residents. We would consider making it mandatory for condominiums to provide recycling facilities if need be. Our target is for all households in Singapore to have access to recycling facilities. We are also addressing the waste generation problem at source. Sir, last year, my Minister announced that the Ministry is working with manufacturers and distributors to develop a voluntary packaging agreement for the food and beverage industry to reduce the amount of packaging used and enhance the recovery of used packaging materials for recycling. I am pleased to announce that to date, five industry associations representing more than 300 companies and another 10 food-related companies have agreed to participate in the voluntary packaging agreement. They aim to have the agreement ready for signing in June this year. This is a good example of how the Government and industry can work together to jointly tackle common challenges such as waste reduction. Ms Olsen also asked how the Ministry is dealing with the issue of plastic bags in Singapore and whether we are considering any incentive schemes or tax systems on its usage, such as making the consumers pay for the plastic bags. In many countries where waste is landfilled directly, plastic bags pose an environmental problem as they are nonbiodegradable and hence remain in the landfills for many years.”
“As highlighted by Mr Khew, there are still lots of food waste, plastic waste, wood waste and used slag that are not recycled and disposed of at the incineration plants and landfill. NEA has been facilitating the private sector in setting up recycling facilities for these wastes. We expect a number of new recycling facilities for food waste, wood waste and household waste, among others, to start operation in the next one to two years. This would further boost our effort and our capacity in waste recycling. Mr Khew also asked specifically about the recycling of construction and demolition waste. Given the booming construction industry, more of this waste can be expected in the next few years. NEA has helped a number of companies to set up recycling facilities in Singapore to treat C&D waste into recycled aggregates for construction materials such as non-structural drain slabs and road kerbs. I am glad to inform the House that the recycling rate for construction and demolition waste has reached 98% last year through the various recycling efforts. But recycling cannot be left to the Government and industry alone. Each and every Singaporean should do his or her part to reduce the amount of waste we throw away as a nation. To make it easy for residents to practise recycling at home, my Ministry introduced the National Recycling Programme (NRP) in 2001 to provide residents in HDB flats and landed estates with recycling services at their doorsteps. During Recycling Day 2005, it was announced that we are putting in one recycling bin for every five blocks of flats in HDB estates. This means that the majority of HDB residents will need to travel not more than 150 metres to reach a recycling bin.”
“In Singapore, we do not have the luxury of land and landfills, given the many competing demands for our limited land space. In fact, our only landfill in Pulau Semakau, the Semakau Landfill, was constructed in the sea at a cost of $610 million. However, it is not sustainable for us to keep building new landfills. Hence, it is important that we take action to reduce waste and thereby extend the lifespan of our existing landfill. We must move towards a sustainable waste management system. We are glad to note that the waste disposed of in Singapore has decreased from a peak of 7,600 tonnes per day in 2000 to 7,000 tonnes (equivalent to about 1,000 refuse truck-loads) per day last year. This decrease is significant against the backdrop of continued growth in GDP, population and tourist arrivals. It indicates that efforts to reduce waste through recycling are working. I am pleased to announce that our recycling rate has reached a new high of 51% in 2006, up from 40% in 2000, and we are on track to achieve our Singapore Green Plan recycling target of 60% by 2012. For some waste streams such as metals and construction and demolition waste, we have achieved high recycling rates of over 90%. These efforts have reduced the amount of waste going to the Semakau Landfill and increased its projected lifespan by 10 years to 2040. While the results are encouraging, our GDP, population and tourism arrivals will continue to increase. There are also many major development projects, including the en bloc projects and the IRs mentioned by Mr Khew. All these bode well for our economy and quality of life, but will inevitably generate even more waste. We must therefore continue to push for more recycling.”
“In particular, there has been a significant increase in the number of complaints against construction noise at night and on Sundays and public holidays. Noise measurements by the NEA, however, showed that for more than 90% of the complaints received in 2005 and 2006, the noise levels were actually within the legal permissible limits. Nonetheless, in view of public concerns, my Ministry has reviewed the noise regulations for construction sites which were last tightened in 2001. For construction sites within 150 metres of residential premises, my Ministry, in consultation with key stakeholders from the construction industry, will further tighten the permissible noise limits for night time and on Sundays and public holidays. The noise limits for these periods will be revised to be the same as those for hospitals and schools. Singapore is a highly urbanised and compact city, and noise cannot be eradicated completely. The increased level of construction activities is a sign that our economy is booming, but it may bring with it more construction noise, as has been alluded by Mdm Ho Geok Choo. We therefore need to strike a balance by allowing some level of construction activities to carry on without depriving our population of a good rest during the night and on Sundays and public holidays. NEA will review the construction noise regulations regularly to ensure that they are in line with international practices. 2.30 pm Sir, Mr Chong, Mdm Cynthia Phua and Mr Edwin Khew asked about our efforts in tackling waste and increasing the recycling rates. Singaporeans throw away a lot of waste, about 7,000 tonnes of it every day. In many countries, much of their waste ends up in landfills.”
“He has been passionate about environmental conservation since he was young. Oliver and members of the Building and Environment Green Volunteer group have been managing an educational and fun-filled programme on nature conservation for the public and school students at Hindhede Nature Park. As trained guides, they also provide a guided tour for visitors to the Bukit Timah nature reserve. The programme has so far benefited over 300 members of the public, 150 secondary school students and a 13-member Swiss delegation. My Ministry has a great challenge ahead of us. A recent survey by NEA has shown that despite greater awareness of environmental issues among the youth - nine out of 10 are aware of environmental issues - awareness of individual responsibility and action is still not high. For instance, nearly 42% of the respondents felt that it was the responsibility of the Government to keep the environment clean and green. My Ministry will continue to explore more creative ways to convert this awareness into action, and to encourage more youths to come forward to organise themselves and make a difference to their environment. Sir, Mdm Ho Geok Choo, among the many issues that she has raised, has asked us about our efforts to keep noise levels down. Indeed, excessive noise can be a source of irritation that detracts from our quality of life. To maintain our quality living environment, NEA works closely with various agencies to monitor noise levels and address noise pollution from different sources such as construction sites and factories. NEA also engages construction industry associations in regular dialogues, and takes in feedback from the general public. Over the past few years, the NEA has received an increasing number of complaints on noise from construction sites.”
“To complement the President’s Award, PUB and NEA will also introduce the Friends of Water - Watermark Award and the EcoFriend Award in 2007 respectively. The Friends of Water - Watermark Award is a 3P initiative to get individuals and organisations interested in water and develop an interest to do things to sustain Singapore’s water supply. The Eco-Friend Award aims to give due recognition to proactive individuals such as school teachers, NGO volunteers and grassroots who have contributed selflessly to the environment through efforts beyond their immediate job scope. Through these Awards, we hope to recognise role models who have made a difference to our environment and water resources in their own unique ways and encourage them as well as inspire others to do the same. I am glad to note that there is a growing awareness and concern over environmental and water issues among our youths. My Ministry, together with our 3P partners, is committed to creating more avenues to engage our youths. Through annual dialogues with youths and initiatives, such as the Environment Champions and Youth Environment Envoy Programmes, we hope to inculcate the value of environmental ownership in them. I am also heartened to learn about the range of environmental activities being driven by our youth. Let me mention two such individuals. The first is 26-year-old Angela Lee. Her passion for the environment started as early as in secondary school, and she has since been sharing ideas at youth exchanges in countries like Switzerland, Malaysia and Northern Ireland. She has also helped organise an International Water Forum which saw 150 participants from eight countries discussing water issues. Our second environmental youth ambassador is 20-year-old Oliver Goh.”
“The Waterways Watch Society is also putting in place a five-year plan to reach out to the youth community, schools, national sports associations and corporate organisations. We have also been supporting the Restroom Association of Singapore in programmes, such as the Happy Toilet School Education Programme and the Portable Toilet Research Project. We want to have more of such partnerships to further strengthen our outreach efforts. But I must emphasise that even as the Ministry does so, we will ensure that public monies are spent well and outcomes achieve our objectives. In all instances, we have the responsibility to evaluate proposals carefully, and work with our partners to shape the desired deliverables. We should not indiscriminately endorse and fund all ideas coming to us. Over the past years, my Ministry has introduced various awards, including the Singapore Green Plan 2012 Award, to honour worthy individuals and organisations for their significant environmental contributions to Singapore. Past winners of the Singapore Green Plan 2012 Award include Senoko Power Ltd, Mr Jack Sim from the Restroom Association of Singapore, and Nan Hua Secondary School. Last year, we elevated the SGP2012 Awards to a Presidential level and renamed it as the President’s Award for the Environment. This is the highest accolade in Singapore’s Environment and Water Resources field and gives top-level national recognition to individuals, organisations and companies for their outstanding efforts that have contributed towards Singapore achieving environmental and water sustainability. The inaugural winners for this award are Prof. Tommy Koh, Dr Geh Min and the Waterways Watch Society.”
“Sir, Mr Charles Chong has asked, going forward, how do we intend to strengthen and capitalise on our 3P partnership to raise environmental standards and inculcate environmentally friendly habits. My Ministry has been actively promoting environmental consciousness and ownership among our 3P sectors, as it is not sustainable to have the Government manage our environment and water resources alone. We have come a long way in working with our 3P partners in managing our environment and water resources. We are seeing an increase in cooperation amongst the 3P sectors in promoting environmental awareness and activism. Earlier in my speech, I had mentioned how public agencies are working together in initiatives, such as the Inter-Agency Dengue Taskforce and the Committee on Youths for Clean and Sustainable Environment. My Minister will touch on the private sector’s involvement in the environmental and water sector later. For the people sector, it is important for the community to play a big part to maintain and improve their living environment. MEWR, NEA and PUB have been working closely with NGOs on various initiatives to reach out to the public. These initiatives are carefully thought through and implemented to either raise awareness on environmental and water issues, or enhance the general state of our living environment. For example, the Singapore Environment Council has been our partner in programmes, such as the 10 Litre Challenge, as mentioned by my Minister earlier; and the Climate Change Awareness Programme. As for the Waterways Watch Society, we have been partnering them to promote litter-free waterways and catchment areas.”
“Singapore remains at risk, as we are located in a region endemic to dengue. As pointed out by Dr Lim, what we can and should do further is to contribute towards enhancing the region's overall capability in understanding and tackling the dengue problem. We can do so through promoting greater exchange of information, knowledge and expertise among countries in the region. I am pleased to inform the House that Singapore's approach to dealing with dengue, focusing on vector control, has been held up by the World Health Organisation as an example for others. Singapore supports the Strategic Framework for Asia-Pacific Dengue Partnership that the WHO is putting in place to help countries in the Asia-Pacific region build national capacity to prevent and control the disease. Singapore will continue to contribute to the partnership effort by sharing our experience in dengue prevention, to help other WHO member countries in the region fight against the disease. This includes partnering the WHO to provide training in vector control practices and sharing our knowledge in laboratory-based dengue surveillance. Through these efforts, Singapore aims to become the regional centre of excellence for dengue research. Dr Lam Pin Min has asked about the potential economic cost of dengue to Singapore. Without a doubt, dengue, if left unchecked, can impose tremendous economic burden on our country, although thus far there has not been any comprehensive study on the economic cause of dengue to a nation. In conclusion, I would like to urge every member of the community to play their part to keep dengue at bay, for dengue control is the shared responsibility of every member of the community. Water for All”
“In 2006, NEA had taken enforcement actions against 617 construction sites, 2,173 domestic premises and 1,525 non-domestic premises, such as factories and shophouses, for mosquito breeding offences. NEA will continue with its regular audit checks and will take enforcement action against members of the public, land agencies alike, including Town Councils, for mosquito breeding offences. We recognise that research into the behaviour of the Aedes mosquito and dengue virus is key in formulating appropriate, preventive and control strategies, as alluded to by Dr Lim Wee Kiak. The Environmental Health Institute (EHI) under the NEA was therefore established in 2002 to develop capability in vector research. EHI has successfully piloted the use of ovitraps to monitor the level of mosquito activities in dengue-prone areas. Our researchers have also developed an in-house test that allows earlier detection of dengue cases and determination of the infecting serotype. Early detection of dengue cases will enable control measures to be put in place quickly, to curb further spread of the disease among the population. The test has been made available to hospitals and GPs. EHI also actively collaborates with partners in both the private and public sectors in its research efforts. For instance, EHI invites GPs in the vicinity of dengue clusters to send blood samples of suspected dengue patients to EHI for testing and confirmation of dengue. This helps improve the detection of new cases and determines the dengue serotype. Monitoring the virus serotype of dengue cases is important as the emergence of a different dengue serotype can result in a surge of dengue cases amongst the population without immunity to the serotype.”
“We hope that the Town Councils will continue to keep up the good work. I am therefore pleased to inform the House that my Ministry is introducing an incentive scheme for Town Councils to recognise Town Councils for their efforts in mosquito control and to spur them to further reduce mosquito breeding in their estates to even lower levels. The scheme will provide some co-funding of Town Councils' mosquito control contracts, taking into consideration their performance in minimising the number of mosquito breeding sites. My Ministry will offer this scheme to Town Councils for a period of two years to facilitate Town Councils to further develop their capacity and enhance their expertise in mosquito control. To engage the community in our fight against dengue, NEA makes use of both multi-media advertising ("broadcast") and target-group outreach programmes. We also work with grassroots to notify residents to be vigilant when a cluster of dengue cases occur in their neighbourhood, eg, through dengue alert banners, such as those referred by Mdm Cynthia Phua. I would like to clarify at this juncture that these banners can be customised according to how the grassroots feel the information can be better communicated, whether it is in terms of larger size, larger fonts or more colourful banners. We have seen encouraging results through these efforts. The number of breeding found in homes in 2006 is 44% lower than in 2005, despite 59% more inspections by NEA in 2006. A survey in 2006 has shown that the level of awareness for dengue among the general public is high. NEA will continue to improve its public outreach efforts to bring about greater awareness and to make the practice of keeping homes mosquito-free a way of life among members of our community.”