Baey Yam Keng
Singapore
“Our next generation will have far greater opportunities to make their mark here. The Government will also guide them into the transport sector through scholarships, training and career development pathways, so that they can put their talents to good use and contribute to society.”
“I would say that the greening of bus stop roofs may not be something that is practical across all bus stops. I do not have the exact figures, but I am sure we must have tens of thousands of bus stops in Singapore. So, there is a cost element.”
“Based on earlier trials conducted by the Land Transport Authority (LTA), fans have a limited impact on the ambient temperature in an exposed bus stop environment. Commuter feedback from the trials was also unfavourable. Most bus stops are also shaded by surrounding buildings and trees, reducing the effectiveness of solar installations.”
“Certainly. Members would remember that over the years and decades, our bus stop designs have evolved. We have to take into consideration various factors, not just the comfort of commuters who are waiting there but also the practicality of sighting of buses coming ahead as well as maintenance, safety and different factors like that.”
“I thank Ms Gho for her concern for the arts and the artists. Indeed, it is part of our commitment to provide affordable, accessible spaces for artists and arts groups. We have announced last year that we are doing a study on how the arts spaces provision can be better improved and the study is ongoing.”
“Speaker, the median and maximum waiting time for pedestrians at signalised junctions are 120 seconds and 140 seconds respectively. Wait times for pedestrians depend on the nature of road, junction size and configuration, as well as prevailing traffic volume.”
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“The Caring Commuters Champions initiative, launched in 2021, aims to train volunteers to better assist fellow commuters in need. I am happy to share that more than 14,000 volunteers have completed the training as of December 2023. I would like to encourage more commuters to be certified as Champions by participating in the online training course. You too can make a difference to your fellow commuters. Chairman, ensuring everyone can undertake their daily commute safely and with ease is part of what makes Singapore a liveable city. This is also in line with the shared desire, among many participants of the Forward SG exercise, for a more inclusive transport system. To make this a reality, it is vital for all of us to join hands, show consideration and concern for fellow travellers to create a journey that is not only efficient but delightful.”
“Go Ahead Singapore has collaborated with Metta School to develop publicity materials, creating awareness of the challenges faced by Metta students during their commute and how others can lend a hand. Since 2021, Tower Transit has offered a Public Bus Confidence Course to help people with mobility challenges board, travel on and alight buses safely. Over the years, they have run the course for more commuters with disabilities, to help them gain confidence to use public transport. PTC, MINDS, Youth Corps Singapore (YCS) and SMRT co-created the Travel Makers programme to instill confidence in students with intellectual disabilities to be able to take public transport more independently. Under the programme, volunteers guided MINDS students from their schools back home via public transport. Mr Ong Hua Han asked if information and support would be provided to PwDs and elderly during times of train disruption. In such an event, station staff are deployed to guide and assist commuters. In addition to public announcements, related information is displayed on Passenger Information Displays and physical signages. Rail operators are also exploring the use of more digital display screens in stations to serve as visual aids for commuters. Beyond these initiatives, individual acts of care can make a big difference. When an elderly man in his 60s fell unconscious at Canberra MRT station, Dr Lee Wei Sheng and Mr Kelvin Tan stepped forward to resuscitate the man, taking turns with the station staff to administer cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) until the paramedics arrived. The elderly man has since recovered. Such proactive and selfless acts make a profound impact on people’s lives. Every commuter can play a part in looking out for others.”
“They will be rolled out across approximately 2,000 buses that are equipped with speakers from the second quarter of this year. These new audio announcements will include messages to encourage commuters to offer their seats to those who need them more and to make space for wheelchair users, serving as timely reminders for us to look out for more vulnerable commuters. I previously announced the introduction of a visual communication tool which uses illustrations of common scenarios, such as “ticketing” and “emergency”, for non-verbal commuters to obtain assistance. This would be deployed at MRT stations and bus interchanges to allow public transport staff to better understand the needs of these commuters. I am happy to share that LTA had concluded their trial and is working on enhancing the communication card to address ground feedback and to better suit the needs of users. 5.45 pm Besides hardware improvements, Mr Eric Chua would be happy to know that we are also pressing on with efforts to promote an inclusive and caring commuting culture, and propel the Caring SG Commuters movement. To date, we have worked with over 100 partners, including schools, social service agencies and corporates. Over the past year, they partnered with our public transport operators on several initiatives to grow a more caring commuter mindset. For example, our partners supported SBST’s "Travel with Confidence" programme, which offers a Travel Buddy service. Volunteer Travel Buddies help commuters with disabilities navigate the public transport system by sharing useful travel information and practical tips.”
“This term, AMAP will continue its momentum to promote active mobility in a balanced and sustainable manner through two key priorities. First, AMAP will review the weight criteria for active mobility devices. Over the past few years, we have received suggestions to increase the weight limit for these devices. A recent study done by a team at the Nanyang Technological University also suggests that some PABs, which are within the current weight limit, may not be as stable, making them potentially less safe. Particularly, PABs equipped with small wheels or built with small frames tend to be more prone to skidding and could increase the risk of accidents. This will be studied very carefully, considering the various trade-offs that must be made, including the impact on other path and road users. Secondly, AMAP will focus on promoting the wider take-up of active mobility as a healthy and sustainable mode of travel, with gracious user behaviour and safety in mind. This could include rides in the community or larger-scale events, such as the upcoming Car-Free Sunday. Engagement efforts will focus on fostering mutual understanding among various path and road users, for example, through ongoing dialogue with cyclists and motorists to promote a culture of safety on roads. AMAP plans to engage the elderly, PwDs, young children and many more in its outreach efforts. While we review regulations and expand our cycling infrastructure, it is equally important for us to behave graciously, not just on our paths, but on public transport as well. We can all play a part to make daily commutes a pleasant experience for ourselves and others. To encourage gracious and caring commuting, new audio announcements have been implemented at public transport nodes in 2023.”
“First, users must hold a medical certificate to continue using mobility scooters. Users of electric wheelchairs will not be required to have a medical certificate. Let me say that again: only users who use mobility scooters need to have a medical certificate. Users of electricity wheelchairs do not need a medical certificate. Second, the speed limit for PMAs will be reduced to six km/h, which is similar to the speed of brisk walking. Third, to facilitate users to board public transport, PMAs must comply with the dimensions allowed by public transport. We understand that some users, for various reasons, such as medical needs or body size, need larger PMAs. Exceptions will be allowed with a medical certificate. I also want to reiterate that for safety reasons, PMAs should only have one seat and are for single-person use only. These new regulations will come into effect around 2025, after the amendment of the Active Mobility Act. The Government will ensure that users and retailers will have sufficient transition time to comply with these new regulations and to ensure that the new regulations do not impose unnecessary burdens on those in need. (In English): Mr Chairman, from now to implementation next year, we will continue to engage stakeholders and help affected users understand the new rules and to transition smoothly. Ms Yeo Wan Ling would be pleased to know that we will also work with the various platforms and agencies to support the small number who are currently using PMA for livelihood purposes. In the meantime, retailers will be able to clear existing stock, but they should stop bringing in new PMAs that do not have a six km/h speed limit. Individuals who do not have walking difficulties should refrain from purchasing PMAs.”
“Second, we will also recognise existing forms of certification so that users need not obtain a separate one. For instance, PwDs and seniors with mobility scooters subsidised under the Assistive Technology Fund and Seniors' Mobility and Enabling Fund, will not be required to obtain additional certification. Third, we will work with the relevant agencies to identify other forms of certification and keep the process of obtaining them simple. Lastly, let me emphasise that these regulations will only take effect after legislative amendments are made around 2025. We will provide a transition period to give users ample time to obtain certification. There is no need for users to rush to obtain certification. Enforcement officers will also exercise discretion on the ground. Ms Poh Li San and Mr Dennis Tan asked whether we can automatically qualify seniors above a certain age to use PMAs. We do not intend to do so, as there are many seniors today who have no difficulty walking and we want to encourage them to keep walking to stay active and healthy. This is in line with our Age Well SG initiative, to enhance our commuter infrastructure for walking, as announced by Senior Minister of State Amy Khor earlier. Chairman, I would like now to continue my speech in Mandarin. (In Mandarin): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] In recent years, the public has raised many concerns and feedback regarding the misuse of PMAs. These PMAs are intended for use by individuals with mobility difficulties, but they have been misused by able-bodied individuals. This not only excludes those who genuinely needs these aids, but their misuse has also led to faster and more reckless driving of these PMAs. To ensure the safe and sustainable use of PMAs, the Government will implement three measures.”
“Secondly, we will align PMA dimension restrictions on public paths with the rules in place on public transport. This follows the principle that PMAs are meant to replace walking and that they are welcomed on public transport for longer commutes. However, given space constraints on buses and the maximum weight that can be supported by our bus ramps, these PMAs must be within stipulated dimensions. Going forward, PMAs used on public paths should not exceed a width of 70 centimetres, a length of 120 centimetres, a height of 150 centimetres and a laden weight of 300 kilograms. This will allow users to seamlessly transit between public paths and public transport. We do know that a small proportion of users need larger PMAs due to their physical conditions. Enforcement officers will exercise discretion if they are used on public paths. However, due to physical limitations as mentioned above, these oversized devices will still not be allowed on public transport. Before I move on to talk about the certification requirement, it is important to make a distinction between the two main types of PMAs, which are mobility scooters and motorised wheelchairs. Generally, we have received feedback about the misuse and abuse of mobility scooters, which are three- or more-wheeled devices steered by a handlebar at the front of the device, whereas a motorised wheelchair look like a wheelchair. To address this, only users who are certified to have relevant medical or physical needs, such as walking difficulties, would be allowed to use mobility scooters. The new regulations will not be onerous for users. First, this regulation will only be applied to mobility scooter users, which means those using motorised wheelchairs will not be affected.”
“We will announce the specific implementation timelines later, but let me assure Members that ensuring a smooth transition is a key priority. Our footpaths today are mainly used by pedestrians, with the exception of some wheeled devices, such as bicycles and PMAs. And among these, PMAs are the only motorised devices allowed, and they are typically larger and can even be more than five times heavier than bicycles. We allow them to access more locations, such as void decks and lifts, as we know that they are used by those who are less mobile. In this context, there is a need to ensure that PMAs are used by those who really need them and in a safe and responsible manner. This is what our regulations aim to achieve. First, the speed limit of all PMAs will be lowered from 10 kilometres per hour (km/h) to six km/h. Some have shared that this may be too slow. For some perspective, 10 km/h is running speed, whereas our typical walking speed is between four and six km/h. Six km/h is a brisk walking speed, that is definitely not an average walking speed, as mentioned by Mr Dennis Tan. It is a speed that even some able-bodied people may not be able to sustain for an extended period. We understand that many existing PMAs have a speed limit of 10 km/h. There is no need for existing users to stop using or replace their current devices; they just need to ride no faster than six km/h. When they next replace their PMA, the new device should have a speed limit of six km/h. Meanwhile, there are various ways for users to gauge their speeds and ensure they are within the limits. They can use free mobile applications or get a speedometer for less than S$10. More simply, if you find yourself riding faster than those walking around you, you are likely to be above the limit.”
“On the ground, our Active Mobility Enforcement Officers and volunteer Active Mobility Community Ambassadors also reach out to path users and the community to promote gracious behaviour. Mr Lim Biow Chuan, Mr Dennis Tan and other MPs had asked about regulations on the use of PMAs. As earlier mentioned by the Minister, the Government accepts AMAP's recommendations on PMA regulations. They were put up after careful consideration and in consultation with various stakeholders. In arriving at this decision, the Government's key consideration is to ensure that users with genuine needs for PMAs continue to be able to use them while ensuring the safety of all path users. We had engaged key stakeholders, including the National Delivery Champions Association, food delivery platforms, PMA retailers and social service agencies working with seniors and persons with disabilities, or PwDs. Various members of the public have also written in to share their views and concerns. We would like to thank all stakeholders for their feedback. Generally, stakeholders understood the intent of AMAP's recommendations and supported them. Nonetheless, there were some concerns raised and these have been invaluable in our assessment of AMAP's recommendations. They will also help us better implement them. I will address these concerns later in my speech. Let me first assure Ms Poh Li San that we are targeting for these regulations to only come into effect around 2025, after amendments are made to the Active Mobility Act. This will give affected retailers and users at least one full year from today to make transitory arrangements. In fact, we had first announced that AMAP was reviewing the PMA regulations back in 2022. AMAP completed its review and published its recommendations in December 2023.”
“Chairman, one of our key focuses this year is to enhance liveability through our transport system. We do this by balancing multiple considerations, such as connectivity, safety, inclusivity, while also promoting gracious behaviour. To enhance connectivity, we are pressing on with the expansion of our cycling path network. We are on track to meet our target of 1,300 kilometres of cycling paths by 2030. LTA will construct cycling paths in 23 towns and estates island-wide this year. Mr Ang Wei Neng will be pleased to know that this will include estates in Jurong West. With that, all 27 HDB towns and estates will have cycling paths by the end of this year. While we are expanding our cycling paths island-wide, it is not possible to build dedicated paths for different users everywhere given our limited land. We would often need to share paths. When doing so, the safety of all path users is critical. Where necessary, we will step up our public education efforts, tighten our regulations and carry out appropriate enforcement. 5.30 pm Mr Gerald Giam may wish to know that we take a multi-pronged approach to shape desirable behaviours and norms among all path users. One is through targeted efforts, such as the Path Safety Programme for schools, and wider public education campaigns, like the Move Happy Graciousness Campaign. We also work with stakeholders, such as the Singapore Road Safety Council, or SRSC, and the Traffic Police, to educate Singaporeans on path and road safety tips through posters, events and social media. The Chairman of SRSC, the Chief Executive of LTA and the Traffic Police Commander are also members of AMAP.”
“I thank Dr Tan for the question. I need to add to my earlier reply that if the online retailer or platform is based in Singapore and we are able to reach those platforms, and we know of non-compliant devices being sold or being placed as an advertisement on the platforms, we will reach out to these online retailers and ask them to take down or stop the sale of such devices. There is no law per se, but we are currently reviewing how we can strengthen this aspect of regulation.”
“We can only conduct operations against retailers when they have a physical shop. But what we find is that a lot of people or riders purchase their devices online and some of these sources are overseas. That is where we will have challenges in enforcing against such online retailers. I would like to remind the public that, especially for electronic devices, it is critical to ensure that these devices are meant for use in Singapore and comply with the regulations in Singapore. For some of these devices, they may be purported to be very good and very reasonably priced, but they may be constructed for use in a different climate, in different terrain, than Singapore's. So, I would urge consumers to keep their eyes and ears open, and look out for the right devices to purchase.”
“Yes, LTA already engages PAB retailers for them to collaborate with the National Delivery Champions Association to conduct workshops on the safe use of some of the more popular PAB brands used by delivery riders. On a more general basis, the LTA and Singapore Civil Defence Force co-chair an Active Mobility Fire Safety Taskforce that coordinates efforts to raise awareness among the public of fire safety and proper use of devices, whether through face-to-face interactions or through social media. On additional requirements for fire retardant features of the devices, if the devices are compliant with the standards – we have separate standards for PMDs and PABs – these batteries should work if they are used properly and charged in a proper manner. The authorities will continue to review these standards and also consider the suggestion by the Member on whether additional device features are needed for better fire safety.”
“Mr Speaker, any motorised personal mobility device (PMD) or power-assisted bicycle (PAB) that uses non-original batteries is non-compliant. It is an offence to illegally modify, sell or use such devices on public paths. The Land Transport Authority (LTA) conducts enforcement on paths and operations against retailers. From January 2020 to December 2023, LTA detected about 5,100 offences involving non-compliant devices on paths. [Please refer to "Clarification by Senior Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Transport", Official Report, 5 March 2024, Vol 95, Issue 130, Correction By Written Statement section.] In the same period, LTA detected about 100 violations from operations against retailers. LTA does not track cases specifically involving non-original batteries. Non-compliant devices are immediately seized and enforcement actions are taken. For first-time offenders, the maximum penalty for using a non-compliant device on a public path is a fine of up to $10,000 or imprisonment for up to six months or both; the maximum penalty for retailer companies displaying a non-compliant device for sale is a fine of up to $20,000; and the maximum penalty for individuals illegally modifying a device is a fine of up to $20,000 or imprisonment for up to 24 months or both. We will press on with our enforcement and public education efforts, and will review the need for further measures.”
“Sir, as discussed with Member Ms Carrie Tan just a couple of weeks ago, the take-up of inland ash scattering is still quite low, in the single-digit percentage, although it has risen slightly over the past year. We hope that there will be steady growth, and, indeed, we agree with Ms Carrie Tan that better awareness, public engagement will be useful to raise people's acceptance of this method of managing cremated ashes. I am very happy to work with Ms Carrie Tan if she would like to hold such conversations with residents. And from the experience, we can see how we can scale up in areas, so that people can look at this alternative option.”
“For past campaigns over the years, we look at general cleanliness of public toilets. And I would say that there have been improvements. In fact, based on surveys, the public does find that, for example, toilets at public transport nodes and shopping malls, especially at Changi Airport, these are places where we actually have very high standards of cleanliness. This taskforce will look at, specifically, toilets in coffee shops and hawker centres which have been found through surveys to be consistently at a very low level and, in fact, some find it even dirtier than before. So, we will take a more targeted focus on these premises, and we will also have a better understanding with the involvement of the coffee shop associations to understand the challenges of coffee shop operators in maintaining the public toilets. Is it a matter of resources or is it the design of the toilet? So, we will look at all these aspects and, hopefully, we will be able to come up with some recommendations and solutions to make our public toilets in coffee shops and hawker centres cleaner.”
“Sir, I thank Mr Louis Ng for his enthusiasm on tackling second-hand smoke at homes. As discussed, many times in this Chamber, there are practical challenges on legislating against smoking at homes. The cost involved in enforcing and the practicality of being able to enforcing such acts within the private spaces of homes is a big challenge that we have not had the solution yet. Yes, I do encourage, if residents are still bothered by second-hand smoke, to continue giving feedback because based on data, indeed, 95% did not come back to us. I am not sure whether is it that all of them do not think that it is useful to continue giving us feedback. With data, we are better usable to assess and for us to see how else we can work on addressing this issue. So, I beg the Member's patience and understanding.”
“Yes, two more minutes. So, we are heartened by the enthusiasm and contributions by our youths to shape a more sustainable future. In conclusion, Mr Chairman, we hope to see the same level of enthusiasm, sense of ownership and shared responsibility to create a clean, green and sustainable home among Singaporeans of all ages. The Government does not have a monopoly over the best ideas. To better navigate the changing environment and social context, MSE will continue to enable and empower Singaporeans to be stewards of a clean, green and sustainable future.”
“Hence, the Government has several initiatives to strengthen our partnership with the youth community by raising awareness on climate issues and galvanising action among our youths. Together with National Climate Change Secretariat and National Youth Council, MSE conducted an inaugural run of the Climate Youth Development Programme with 40 youths from July 2023 to January 2024. They had a fireside chat with Minister Fu and gained a deeper understanding of Singapore’s climate and sustainability considerations. Last year, they also participated in platforms, such as the Earthshot Prize Awards, Singapore International Energy Week and COP28. This allowed youths to engage climate change negotiators, policymakers, businesses and non-profit organisations, and develop a more nuanced understanding of climate and sustainability issues. To continue growing this community of young environmental advocates, we will be co-creating the second run together with participants from the inaugural cohort. We recognise the importance of co-creating policies with our youths, who will be most impacted by climate change. We have been supporting a group of passionate youths with a keen interest to make a positive impact through their involvement in the #GreenHacks Youth Panel. The Panel is targeting to share its preliminary findings and recommendations with regard to sustainable consumption in the second half of this year.”
“During our ForwardSG engagements, Singaporeans acknowledged that keeping Singapore clean and green is a whole-of-society effort, and that we cannot rely only on cleaners and cleaning technology. As part of our multi-pronged approach to keep the environment clean, we will intensify our efforts in managing hotspots. We will conduct larger-scale blitzes at hotspots more frequently. We will arrange for recalcitrant litterers to undergo CWO at hotspots with high footfall. We will also quadruple the number of CCTVs deployed at these hotspots to catch litterers. If we are unable to identify the offenders, we will work with community stakeholders to publicise the images of offenders at the neighbourhoods where they littered to get information of these offenders from members of the public. (In English): Mr Chairman, public engagement is also one of the main levers to shape social norms and individual behaviours. Hence, MSE launched the inaugural Go Green SG campaign in 2023. More than 70,000 participants took part in over 300 activities organised by more than 160 partners from across the people, private and public sectors. There was a diverse slate of activities, including behind-the-scenes tours, workshops and other community events to help participants develop a deeper appreciation of Singapore’s sustainability efforts. Go Green SG will return this year, with a focus on public hygiene, with an expanded range of activities, to welcome more participants to build a cleaner and greener Singapore. Our youths are deeply passionate about the environment and sustainability. It is essential to provide them with a better understanding of the relevant issues so that they can contribute meaningfully to national policy discussions and efforts.”
“To Mr Louis Ng’s question, NEA will continue to monitor the situation and consult relevant stakeholders, before considering extension of non-smoking areas. To Mr Gan’s query, indeed, as smoking is prohibited at all covered areas, including buildings and retail food establishments, smokers may congregate in adjacent spaces where smoking is not prohibited. Stakeholders interested in setting up designated smoking points (DSPs) can refer to guidelines on NEA’s website and seek NEA's advice, if needed. These should be at least five metres away from the premises boundary and direct smokers away from the general public. The proliferation of DSPs needs to be carefully considered and balanced against the risk of inadvertently normalising smoking. Mr Ng also asked about second-hand smoke within homes. In addition to working with other Government agencies and the community to issue joint advisories, we will continue to encourage smokers to practise greater social responsibility and facilitate conversations between neighbours. Based on NEA’s data from 2018 to 2022, about 95% of feedback providers did not give further feedback on smoking in homes within a year after advisories were issued. We remain open to innovative and practical solutions to reduce public exposure to second-hand smoke. Mr Chairman, I will now continue my speech in Mandarin. (In Mandarin): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] As announced by Minister Fu, MSE has designated this year to be the Year of Public Hygiene. This signifies the importance of safeguarding public health and providing a green and thriving home for all. I will speak more about our efforts to maintain a clean environment.”
“Second, we will explore the use of AI-powered video analytics to supplement performance audits of contracted cleaning companies. This will be productive than manual inspections in detecting cleaning lapses. Many Singaporeans we engaged during the Forward SG conversations agreed that we cannot just rely on cleaners and cleaning technology to keep Singapore clean. Hence, MSE will further strengthen our partnerships with the community. The PHC will launch the latest edition of the "Keep Singapore Clean" campaign next month to galvanise Singaporeans to do our part to uphold higher standards of hygiene and cleanliness. Last year, the PHC organised a workshop with residents and other community partners to brainstorm anti-littering interventions. As a follow-up to realise one of the ideas PHC partnered with Nanyang Polytechnic to develop a Smart Bin prototype, which was subsequently tested within the neighbourhood and now will be scaled up. NEA is also working together with residents of 21 private estates, such as Jalan Wajek in Bukit Timah, in an interesting initiative. Residents park their vehicles on just one side of the road on specified days to facilitate mechanical road sweepers cleaning the other side of the road. This achieved 50% to 80% of time savings compared to manual labour. NEA will like to double the number of private estates involved in this initiative. We look forward to more of such support from residents as we transition to using cleaning technology. To reduce the public’s exposure to second-hand smoke, we currently prohibit smoking at more than 49,000 premises. Last month, NEA adjusted the Orchard Road No-Smoking Zone (ORNSZ) to include additional areas where smokers congregate.”
“Since April 2020, first time offenders who fail to keep public toilets in their premises clean and in good working condition, are fined up to $400 instead of getting a warning letter. Implicated retail food businesses would also incur demerit points, and some have resulted in the suspension of licences. Enforcement can only go so far. So, I agree with Ms Poh Li San and Ms Rahayu Mahzam that users and the community need to be involved as well. We will continue to collaborate closely with our partners from the people and private sectors to address the problem of dirty public toilets holistically. We will form a Public Toilets Taskforce to study and recommend solutions to improve the cleanliness of public toilets. Mr Andrew Khng, Chairman of the Public Hygiene Council (PHC), and I will co-chair this taskforce. The taskforce will tap on the expertise of public sector agencies, Town Councils, premises managers, academia and trade and industry associations. The taskforce will: one, examine measures for adoption of good public toilet designs; two, promote responsible use of public toilets; three, advocate responsibility among premises owners for toilet cleanliness and maintenance; and four, strengthen community partnership to promote cleanliness. The focus will be on toilets that consistently fare poorly in cleanliness surveys, such as those at coffeeshops and hawker centres. We will incorporate new technology to improve the efficiency of our cleaning and vector control operations. First, we will trial the use of thermal imaging cameras for rat surveillance. NEA will share relevant footage and data with premises operators so that they can conduct targeted interventions to eliminate potential rat nesting grounds.”
“NEA will increase the frequency and scale of anti-littering enforcement blitzes, targeting hotspots that have higher offence rates and public feedback reports. This year, we plan to conduct around five times as many blitzes compared to 2023. These blitzes will be more visible by deploying uniformed officers to patrol these hotspots and putting up standees on the number of enforcement actions taken. We will also deploy non-uniformed officers to catch litterbugs. Recalcitrant littering offenders will carry out CWO at high footfall areas, like transport nodes, town centres and city locations. An average of around 500 CWOs are issued to offenders each year. They wear pink and yellow vests that clearly state "Corrective Work Order" while picking up litter. Furthermore, we will quadruple the deployment of CCTVs at hotspots, which include HDB estates. This will improve NEA’s remote surveillance capabilities, facilitate efficient deployment of resources by enabling investigations into public hygiene offences, as well as deter would-be offenders. However, even if someone is caught on camera, we are unable to follow up with enforcement action if we cannot identify the person. NEA will work with community stakeholders to identify these offenders. If there are still no leads, NEA will explore putting up images of these offenders at the places where they had littered to seek the wider community’s assistance in identifying them. We hope that this will invoke collective community ownership to keep the common spaces clean and also deter potential litterbugs. 8.00 pm Public toilets remain a bugbear of many Singaporeans. We have stepped up our enforcement efforts on unhygienic public toilets, including at food establishments.”
“This was launched in 2013 to encourage diners to return their trays after their meals. However, the Tray and Crockery Return Rate remained low despite public education efforts. By commencing enforcement in September 2021, we managed to cement new social norms and increase the return rate from 35% to over 90% today. To Ms Nadia’s query, tray return is a key measure that helps tackle bird nuisance issues at hawker centres. NEA currently works with stakeholders, such as Hawkers’ Associations and cleaning contractors, to clear used crockery promptly and implement proper food waste management. NEA, together with the Town Councils, has also implemented anti-bird measures, such as netting at tray return racks. Bird control efforts are also carried out where necessary. To Mr Gan Thiam Poh’s query, we similarly use both public education and enforcement to curb high-rise littering. While we continue to educate the public on the dangers of high-rise littering, offenders, including first timers, are sent to Court and receive stiffer financial penalties and Corrective Work Orders (CWOs). In July 2023, we introduced the statutory presumption provision for littering from residential flats to hold the registered owners or tenants responsible. We also encourage residents to follow guidelines by HDB or Town Councils on proper placement of objects in open spaces. Any cases of potential killer litter will be referred to the Police for investigation. The number of feedback on ground littering from 2022 to 2023 has increased about 15%, compared to the two years before the pandemic. To tackle littering hotspots, we will adopt a more targeted approach.”
“Mr Chairman, creating a Clean, Green and Resilient Shared Future for Singapore is a collective effort. During our Forward SG engagements, Singaporeans acknowledged that the whole society needs to work together to ensure that Singapore remains a clean, green and safe home. Our education efforts and campaigns over the years have paid off and Singaporeans are generally civic-minded. However, we continue to observe some persistent issues that require us to go beyond just public education. Public hygiene remains a top priority for MSE. Ms Rahayu Mahzam, Mr Liang Eng Hwa and Mr Murali Pillai have asked about MSE’s efforts to enhance cleanliness. Minister Grace Fu announced earlier that MSE will designate 2024 as the Year of Public Hygiene. This year, we will be working more closely with the community and ramping up our efforts to address persistent pain points, such as littering hotspots and dirty public toilets. The pandemic may be over, but Singapore needs a clean environment to be well-prepared to tackle future public health threats. Based on our cleanliness surveys, many still believe that the responsibility to keep Singapore clean lies with the Government and our “army of cleaners”. Our cleaners are already busy cleaning up natural litter, such as fallen leaves, and accidental litter, such as spillages. Let us not add to their heavy workload with intentional litter by leaving or throwing our litter for them to clean up after us. To tackle ongoing and persistent issues, we adopt a multi-pronged approach. Legislation and enforcement are critical to help us tackle the inconsiderate behaviour of a small number of people who are not as socially responsible and to shape social norms for the wider population. Ms Nadia Samdin asked about the Tray Return Initiative.”
“Chairman, Forward Singapore's Equip pillar sets out how education and learning can equip Singaporeans with the knowledge and skills to seize new opportunities and maximise their potential. Minister Chan Chun Sing shared last week more details on the subsidies for Singaporeans aged 40 and above to pursue another full-time diploma at the local polytechnic. It is not easy for someone well-past the conventional graduation age of early 20s to go back to full-time studies. Mature students are likely to have financial commitments to support their families. They could already be parents and may also have to take care of their own elderly parents' financial commitments. The newly announced monthly training allowance of up to $3,000 for up to 24 months will be useful to mitigate the loss of income during their training period. Given that the allowance may still not be enough for some mature students with significant financial commitments, I would like to ask the Ministry if these students could still take on part-time work during their training to supplement their income? Would this act against them in their eligibility for the training allowance? As the term lifelong learning goes, learning does not stop in the early 20s after graduation nor does it restart at 40 years old. Are there support provisions for Singaporeans aged under 40 years old? How about Singaporeans who want to go further than a second full-time diploma? What support could be made available for those whose career paths and aspirations would benefit more from a second degree programme? SkillsFuture and Level Up”
“This year, SBB has been fully implemented for the Secondary 1 cohort in 120 secondary schools across the island. Teaching resources have to be adjusted and devoted to offer students greater flexibility to study more subjects at different levels that suit their interests, aptitudes and learning needs. I thank our school leaders and teachers for their hard work in making this important transition. For most schools, they are still operating the previous academic streaming system for the older cohorts. I understand that full SBB also means staggered recess periods, and different end times for classes which will make planning after-school activities more complicated. Over the last two months, when full SBB has been implemented at scale, may I ask the Minister what is the experience so far on how the schools and teachers have been coping and adjusting? It would be useful for students and parents to understand the operational challenges and work with the schools to reap the full, intended benefits of SBB. From 2027, secondary students will receive the Singapore-Cambridge Secondary Education Certificate (SEC), instead of the "O" or "N" levels. The SEC will reflect the different subject combinations and levels. I would like the MOE to share how the SEC system will affect these national examinations, and how the results will be used for students to choose and be selected for the various post-secondary pathways. Through-train Pilot”
“I thank Ms Ng Ling Ling for the question. I believe under Enterprise SG, there could be some schemes or grants to help local companies procure more productive or environmentally friendly equipment or products. I do not have the details now but I believe NEA would also have such grants and schemes. We will continue to look at what other ways we can nudge the private sector to be greener in their procurement. Essentially, it is good for environment, but it must also be something that is available in the market readily and at a price point that makes sense for such commercial decisions. We will continue to look at that.”
“Sir, as I have said earlier, the disposable carrier bag charge was only implemented recently, about half a year ago. So, we will continue to monitor the effectiveness, the impact and then assess whether we would like to expand the scheme.”
“Besides the Light Rail Transit, residents at Fernvale are currently served by bus services that connect them to the transport hub at Sengkang town centre and to other areas, like Ang Mo Kio, Serangoon, Upper Thomson and Yishun. Additionally, City Direct Service 671 provides a direct connection from Fernvale to and from the city during the morning and evening peak periods. The Land Transport Authority makes enhancements to bus connectivity in tandem with new housing developments. For example, we adjusted the route of Service 102 and increased its capacity to serve the recently completed Fernvale Glades and Fernvale Woods Build-To-Order projects. 11.00 am”
“I thank Member for that wonderful suggestion. Indeed, I think we can tap on the community more. So, I would be happy to work with Ms Carrie Tan to host such talks in her community and to promote the awareness of such options.”
“Sir, I thank Member Carrie Tan for her interest in this area and on how we can intensify the land use in Singapore. Indeed, IAS takes up much less land. We have provided sufficient capacity. The current Garden of Peace will last us a couple of hundreds of years, but as I have said, the management of family members' cremated remains is a sensitive issue. We have been working with religious leaders and the community to share and raise awareness of such an option and to encourage uptake. Currently, the fee for the use of the IAS facility is cheaper. It is about 40% cheaper than buying a single niche in a Government columbarium. So, that would nudge the use of such a facility. But even so, in 2022, only about 7.1% of residents whose religions do not require burial opted for IAS. This has increased slightly to 8.8% in 2023. So, there is steady but slow uptake. We will continue to monitor and plan for the future demands for IAS.”
“Sir, as explained, if the makeshift smoking point is located in a smoking prohibited area, then smoking there is illegal. Enforcement will be taken and the smokers will be subjected to fines. If the area is not under the prohibition list, technically, it is not illegal to smoke there. That is where we would need to work with the premises owners to remove or relocate chairs, seating or receptacles that encourage or make it convenient for smokers to congregate in those areas. NEA will also work with the premises owners to try to identify a potential designated smoking area, which is somewhere where smokers would find convenient or would want to congregate, and at the same time, reduce disamenities to the public. On this, we seek the community's understanding and also the cooperation of premises owners to try to resolve this problem.”
“People who refused entry for NEA inspections span across a wide spectrum and there is no predominance of senior citizens. As mentioned in my reply, most of them do eventually allow access to their premises after engagement and explanation, and NEA has not had the right to take harsher action against them. These residents also find that after they have allowed the officers to enter their premises, they also learned from the officers about potential breeding grounds for mosquitoes and how they could prevent such habitats from building up and invading their homes. Besides the NEA polo t-shirts that the officers wear, they also carry an authority card that residents can check against. They can verify the identity of the officers by calling the NEA contact centre at 6225 5632. So, perhaps the Member can also help us to provide the number to his residents so that they can call by phone to check the authority card number against NEA records or, for those who can use the Internet, they can also check using the NEA website. Our officers will also share these verification methods with residents who raise any concerns about their authenticity, and we will continue to raise awareness of our dengue officers' work through periodic outreach. We could also look at, for example, in dengue cluster areas, perhaps putting up posters, with the support of local advisors, using their notice boards, to assure residents that NEA is doing the inspection to contain the spread of dengue and also how they may verify the identity of these officers. 12.31 pm”
“Yes, we are aware of options, like scattering ashes at trees. These are things that we will need to look at and how to turn ashes into diamonds or other things that people can keep for remembrance. I think these are innovative ideas. But as I have said, when the Government looks at providing such services or facilities, we have to make them affordable for most, if not all Singaporeans. Of course, if there are private operators who are offering such different types of services, we can work with them and they can offer these more interesting options for Singaporeans.”
“Mr Speaker, there are currently about 70 private and Government columbaria at different locations across the island of Singapore, it is not just in the north. The Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment (MSE) and NEA work closely with the Ministry of National Development (MND) and URA to safeguard sites for the development of after-death facilities in the medium and long term. And this is to support the needs of all Singaporeans. And these sites are distributed across the whole of Singapore. When developing the after-death facilities, we do prioritise the design to be sensitive. As I have mentioned, an example is the Mount Vernon Funeral Parlour Complex with lush greenery around, so that it provides a screen and is visually pleasant in the surrounding. In particular, the after-death facilities that are provided by the Government are also intended to be simple and secular to serve the needs of all Singaporeans. The services provided at these facilities are also much cheaper than those provided by other providers which are mostly affiliated to places of worship or privately owned commercial entities. We will continue to look at other options and ways of managing our loved ones' ashes and also in terms of the models of columbaria and designs. This will help us to maximise and also intensify land use. We will also look at other practices overseas and assess its suitability and more importantly, public acceptance of such new technologies, new ways and innovation in Singapore's context.”
“Besides IAS and niches, families can also place ashes of departed loved ones at home or scatter them at sea. NEA will continue to study methods of intensifying land use and design at future facilities to minimise the land required and optimise land usage. But as the Member rightly pointed out, the acceptance of after-death facilities in their neighbourhood or even some distance from where they live vary. More can be done to improve the acceptability of after-death facilities and all of us – in this Chamber and beyond – can do our part. This starts with raising awareness of end-of-life planning and post-death matters. To create awareness and make it easier for individuals to plan ahead, My Legacy@LifeSG was launched in 2020 as a one-stop portal on end-of-life planning and post-death matters. There are also ongoing efforts to work with stakeholders, such as the Singapore Hospice Council, to engage the public to normalise conversations on death and dying. These conversations are necessary, although they can sometimes be difficult. Beyond destigmatising after-death facilities and explaining why such facilities are needed, it is also important to understand and address the concerns that stakeholders have, especially when actual sites have been identified for development of such facilities. This way, when our loved ones pass on at some point, we can be assured that they can be provided with a dignified sending-off and a proper resting place.”
“I thank the Member for raising the issue, which is an important topic, given our rapidly ageing population. Annual deaths in Singapore are expected to increase, from about 25,000 today to about 60,000 by the 2060s. The National Environment Agency (NEA), therefore, works closely with land use planning agencies such as the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) to plan ahead for more after-death facilities, such as funeral parlours, wake halls and columbaria, to ensure adequate capacity. With an increasingly ageing population, such facilities will inevitably be a more prevalent feature of our urban landscape. Singaporeans, by and large, accept the need for such facilities, which are developed in a way that is sensitive to and integrated with the surrounding community. For example, the Mount Vernon Funeral Parlour Complex, which is being built, will be integrated with a nearby park with lush greenery to provide a visual screen. Today, most bereaved families will opt to cremate the body of their loved ones if the deceased's religion does not require burial and will typically place cremated ashes in niches. To provide more options for the public, in May 2021, NEA introduced Inland Ash Scattering (IAS) at the Garden of Peace in Choa Chu Kang Cemetery as an additional option for managing cremated ashes. IAS requires less land compared to traditional niches and the fee for IAS is also lower in comparison to niche fees. Since its introduction, there has been increasing demand for IAS, with the number of applications increasing steadily from about 900 in 2021 to about 2,000 in 2023. A second IAS facility, the Garden of Serenity, is being constructed together with the new Mandai Crematorium Complex, which will make IAS more accessible when it is opened in 2025.”
“I need to confirm this, but I am quite sure it is not in the letter box, because NEA would not have access to the letter boxes. So, in cases where the household is not occupied at the point in time, I believe it is placed under the door. There could be cases where a household member returns home, may not understand what the slip is about and ignores it or throws it away. That is possible. Hence, the rightful party may not know that inspection was conducted and some breeding was found. But the slip will provide a contact number for the household to call, to ask for more details, verification or provide information that will help NEA in its investigations or to refute that the item where the breeding was found does not belong to them. So, there is a channel for members of the public to get in touch with NEA to assist in its investigations.”
“That is where the resident who receives the notice can appeal and NEA will investigate and ascertain who is the rightful owner and the rightful party to be responsible for upkeeping the area. NEA will review all appeals properly on a case-by-case basis, depending on the situation and to exercise leniency where it is necessary.”
“NEA's key priority is to make sure that dengue transmission is stopped. So, resources are devoted to detect and destroy breeding habitats. The follow-through will be issuance of fines. In fact, residents should be "happier", if they receive the fines later, so they have more time to respond to that. But nevertheless, during dengue outbreak periods, there will be a lot more inspections and potentially more breeding grounds detected and, therefore, more fines and more administrative work to be done. But we are committed to improving the processes so that residents do not have to wait too long to receive the fine. The current practice is that when a breeding habitat is detected, a notification slip is given to the household. If the owner is not at home, the slip will be left at the household. The slip will inform them that enforcement may be taken if the sample is verified to contain a vector. This slip will be issued when there are larvae found within the premises. With this slip, it is very clear, in black and white, that there has been detection. There is no practice where first-time offenders will not be fined. There is no such practice. NEA will remind its officers not to give this wrong impression that first timers will be let off more easily because dengue can cause fatality and we need everyone to play their part to keep mosquitoes at bay and to remove any potential breeding grounds. Mr Saktiandi's second question is on the wrong address. So, if the owner is at home, the slip will be given. But sometimes, there could be challenges or arguments as in, let us say, a pot along the common corridor. It may not necessarily belong to the unit closest to it.”
“Sir, since 2016, we have already approved 66 PAB models. In fact, the numbers have been increasing, especially in recent years. Just this year, in the first eight months, we have approved 17 PAB models. As the demand grows, the retailers would be incentivised to import more models – models that are certified to be safe for use on paths and roads. As to ensuring that riders ride safely and properly on approved paths, public education and enforcement are carried out. For the offences that have been detected, the culprits were fined accordingly. We hope this will give the signal to riders to understand the law, abide by the law and, most importantly, look out for other users, whether on the path or on the road. PABs are allowed on the roads, as well as on cycling paths. Yes, some riders would find it safer to be on cycling paths. That is why we are aggressively rolling out the islandwide cycling network. Currently, we are at over 500 kilometres. The plan is to build 1,300 kilometres by 2030. We have just recently called a tender to construct cycling paths in the western region and that includes the Member's Nanyang area. The first phase of the cycling paths will be progressively completed from 2024 and there are plans to roll out subsequent phases in the coming years.”
“As of 31 August 2023, 66 power-assisted bicycle (PAB) models have been approved, of which 17 were approved since January 2023. Between 2020 and 2022, about 26,300 PABs were registered with the Land Transport Authority (LTA). In the same period, 3,000 non-compliant or unregistered PABs were detected; 10,900 riders were caught riding PABs on pedestrian-only paths, footpaths and expressways, on which PABs are disallowed; and there were 380 accidents involving PABs on roads and 50 off-road accidents recorded.”
“Indeed, I agree with the Member, because a life lost is a life too much, too many. We want to prevent all casualties or fatalities arising from such accidents. But we also realised that when accidents happen, there could be a variety of reasons. Sometimes, it is a combination of reasons, where the pedestrian, the motorists and/or other road and path users are also responsible. Therefore, we would take a more holistic approach towards addressing this issue. Public education is one and this has to be targeted at all road and path users. LTA will work with Traffic Police and the Road Safety Council on this. At the same time, we also look at how we can improve road designs or enhance features such as Silver Zones and the recently announced "Friendly Streets" programme to make it safer for pedestrians to cross the roads. All in all, we hope that all these will help to reduce incidences of accidents. More importantly, everybody must play a part in ensuring safety on roads and our paths.”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, the Land Transport Authority (LTA), Traffic Police (TP) and Singapore Road Safety Council (SRSC) engage in extensive public education programmes and campaigns on path and road safety. This includes reminding pedestrians to stay alert to their surroundings when walking along paths and crossing the road. LTA has been promoting to path users the message of staying alert through various public campaigns and educational materials, such as the annual Move Happy Campaign. LTA also works with our Active Mobility Community Ambassadors and schools to educate pedestrians and students on safe and gracious path use, including not using mobile phones and electronic devices when crossing the road. Likewise, TP regularly conducts education and engagement programmes. As part of the Road Safety Month campaign in June 2022, TP produced infographics and video advisories to educate the public on pedestrian safety and the dangers of distracted crossing and jaywalking. In August 2022, TP organised the Road Safety Concert for Seniors to raise road safety awareness and to inculcate good road safety habits among the seniors. These educational efforts are ongoing and we remain committed to inculcating a strong culture of safety and graciousness among all road and path users.”
“I thank the Member for his questions. Indeed, the light-emitting wreaths are a more recent Innovation. But the display of wreaths at wakes are part of a cultural tradition. In fact, there are people who even think that using light-emitting wreaths are more sustainable because they can be reused and do not contribute to waste as compared to other traditional wreaths. But what is important is how are these light-emitting wreaths being used, whether they are placed and used in a responsible manner. Since the issuance of guidelines, the Town Councils and land agencies have incorporated the requirements within the guidelines into the conditions of their permits. So, the Town Councils land agencies are responsible to ensure adherence. But I note the Member's point that during bereavement, there needs to be a bit more sensitivity to enforce such guidelines. Therefore, we also worked concurrently with the funeral directors and the wreath suppliers. They are supposed to concurrently check in with the families on the site conditions and on how many light-emitting wreaths are already placed there, and only take on the orders when the conditions permit for them to deliver the wreaths. NEA will continue to monitor the situation with various stakeholders and review the guidelines, if necessary.”
“I do not have the cost of the Bloobox campaign. As I mentioned in my reply, we had estimated the number of Blooboxes required. We did not produce or procure Blooboxes to cover all households in Singapore because that would not be realistic and we know that not every household would require it. We were quite close to our estimate – 93% of the Blooboxes were collected. The remaining will not be put to waste because they will be used in our efforts to promote recycling. Most importantly, with 93% collected, there are these households who have interest in the Bloobox and we hope that they would put the Blooboxes to good use. We will continue our efforts to promote recycling in the community.”
“Madam, our recyclables collection data is done on the annual basis. I would need to check whether we have micro data at the level of the estates or neighbourhoods, according to what the Member has asked for, based on the rate of the Bloobox collection. The effort to promote recycling as well as recycling right is one that is ongoing and long term. So, this is one of the many initiatives that NEA has done and will be doing over time. We thank the Member for his interest and to get his residents to do more recycling. As for the Blooboxes, if there are members of the public who would like to have access to Blooboxes after the deadline, do look out for the various recycling initiatives by NEA and our partners, as that is where members of the public can have access to the Blooboxes. If the Member is interested to promote recycling as a community, NEA would be happy to work with him to do so.”
“The remaining Blooboxes will be used to support this campaign.”