Charles Chong
Singapore
“I am interested, however, to hear what the experiences of the 28 pilot schools are and how they have found the move to FSBB. Could the Minister give an update on the pilot and how successful or otherwise this has been? Finally, Mr Chairman, I would like to address the need for support of children from disadvantaged backgrounds.”
“I know that we are very appreciative of the support provided by the Australian government and the Australian defence force. However, with the recent bush fires in the east coast of Australia, could the Minister let us know if the Shoalwater Bay training area has been affected and whether this has had an impact on the SAF's ability to full…”
“Mr Chairman, even as we aim for zero training fatalities, it inherent in the nature of the SAF that accidents will probably happen and the challenge for us then is to ensure that when they do happen, that our service personnel have the very best medical care which we can provide for them.”
“Finally, could the Minister provide details on the number of calls which have been made to the Army, Navy and Air Force safety hotlines, and whether this has increased since we have enhanced our emphasis on training safety and whether concrete action has been taken following the making of these reports? Safety Consciousness”
“Mr Chairman, a number of speakers before me have already raised most of the points which I have, so I will not repeat them and will be very brief. As Singapore's population ages, one of the issues which will be of increasing concern for our citizens is the affordability and accessibility of healthcare.”
“00 pm These days, however, the US appears to be focused on other regional matters, such as the denuclearisation negotiations in North Korea. While on trade, a comprehensive and progressive agreement for the Trans-Pacific Partnership came into force at the end of last year, with the conspicuous absence of the US, which withdrew from its pr…”
The complete record
Every one of 474 lines we hold for Charles Chong, in date order, each linked to its source. Free to read, in full, without an account. Page 2 of 10.
“I commend Mr Yee for this and I thank him for his commitment to residents of Joo Chiat while I was the serving Member of Parliament there. To come back to Ms Lee's reason for declining the seat, which I mentioned earlier, I do not think that Mr Yee's decision to take up the NCMP position was in anyway disrespectful of the decision of the majority. On the contrary, it was a benefit to all residents in Joo Chiat SMC. He is an example of an NCMP who sought to grow his roots in the constituency that he had contested in and I certainly do not consider him to be anything like duckweed, without roots; or a vase only for show. Both descriptions do him and the work that he has done a great disservice. Mdm Speaker, I do not doubt that if the situation was such, that an NCMP seat was offered to Mr Low Thia Khiang, he would either decline it or, as he has stated previously, resign from the Workers' Party if the seat was forced upon him, but that latter circumstance seems unlikely. It is clear that there is a precedence within the Workers' Party for declining an NCMP position and still retaining your party membership. But whatever their internal positions and intentions may be, as the members of the Workers' Party have now largely seem to accept the NCMP scheme, I would urge them to play by its rules, to abide by its spirit and not to use non-acceptance of a seat by properly-elected candidates as a backdoor way to have someone who did not qualify for the position into this House. As the Prime Minister has now announced that the NCMP scheme will be tweaked, it seems to me an opportune time for the Government to review the provisions relating to filling a vacated NCMP seat to prevent abuse of the current system.”
“This means, in this case, respecting the results of voting in Punggol East SMC, which saw sufficient numbers of voters in my constituency giving Ms Lee Li Lian a mandate to enter Parliament, a privilege which she has, regretfully, declined to accept and one which the Workers' Party now seeks to transfer to another candidate who did not qualify on the basis of the GE results. As pointed out by Mr Low Thia Khiang, while the Parliamentary Elections Act allow for Opposition parties to nominate the NCMPs where a GRC is concerned, the Act is really not intended to allow Opposition parties to pick and choose which best losers from different constituencies to enter Parliament. We would be very disappointed if Ms Lee's decision to decline the NCMP position was supported by her party for that reason. It would be a rather unfortunate misuse of the guarantee in the Constitution that at least nine Opposition Members of Parliament will be offered places in Parliament. My experience with having an NCMP working in my previous constituency was a very positive one. Although Mr Yee Jenn Jong was, as the title suggests, a Non-constituency Member, his presence in this House gave residents of Joo Chiat SMC an additional voice in Parliament, which was only natural as he was closely in touch with issues in Joo Chiat. For example, when there was a serious dengue outbreak in Joo Chiat, while I worked the ground with the grassroots leaders and NEA officers, Mr Yee raised this issue in Parliament. Although we were political rivals during the Elections, I believe that we were more interested in working for the good of residents after the Elections, notwithstanding our different party colours.”
“While the Workers' Party was initially extremely opposed to the scheme, and some of them may still be opposed to the scheme, their position towards it in recent years appears to have softened somewhat, as they must have come to realise that whatever the shortcomings they perceived the scheme has, it does actually confer benefits on members of the Opposition parties. I say "appears" because we have received mixed signals from the leadership of the Workers' Party, with Mr Low Thia Khiang being on record as saying that he would resign from his Party if it is insisted that he takes up an NCMP seat. On the other hand, members of the Workers' Party, who have previously been NCMPs, have spoken positively of their experience. But we are not here to debate the inconsistencies in the Workers' Party's position or what their internal politics are. There is a more important issue which this House needs to consider. Mdm Speaker, we are bound by the rules which we have established for ourselves, either in the Parliamentary Standing Orders, in our legislation or in our Constitution. Where there is a framework within which we must work, everyone involved should respect it and not try to find ways to game the system. This applies across the board regardless of party affiliation or political inclinations. Insofar as the NCMP scheme is concerned, while we must indeed respect the decision of the majority in our General Elections, which was the first of the reasons Ms Lee gave for declining the seat, we must also accord sufficient respect to the decision of the minority as provided for in our statutes.”
“Mdm Speaker, I am indeed very disappointed that this House would not benefit from Ms Lee Li Lian's membership in this Parliament. I remember, in particular, her speaking passionately during the Population White Paper debate in 2013. She had only just entered Parliament then but brought with her a passion for matters she felt strongly about. As my opponent in Punggol East SMC in last year's General Election, Ms Lee fought a very good clean fight. When the election results were announced, I was happy to note that she qualified for an NCMP position and the residents of Punggol East could benefit from the voice of someone who had worked with them for more than two and a half years. But this was short-lived as Ms Lee declared soon afterwards that she would not be taking up the NCMP position. Mdm Speaker, the NCMP scheme has been part of our political landscape since 1984, more than half the time that Singapore has been an independent nation. The Prime Minister, on Wednesday, had given a detailed explanation of the purpose of the NCMP scheme and indicated his intention to increase the number of Opposition Members in this House and to give NCMPs voting rights equal to constituency Members of Parliament. This was really not for the benefit of the PAP but for the Opposition. So, I am a bit puzzled by Mr Low Thia Khiang's claim that the NCMP scheme is for the benefit of the PAP to provide them with sparring partners. If this was so, then why do we get Workers' Party's candidates accepting the position in the first place for the benefit of the PAP?”
“Madam, waste electronic and electrical equipment, or e-waste, is a generic term embracing all types of waste containing electrically powered components, including TV sets, computers, mobile phones, fridges, washing machines and consumer electronics. E-waste contains both valuable as well as hazardous materials that may require special handling and recycling methods. Because of their hazardous material content, if not managed properly, they can cause major environmental and health problems. 5.45 pm E-waste is a waste stream that will grow rapidly over time. In the EU, it is already one of the fastest growth streams and is expected to reach 12 million tonnes by 2020. Legislation has already been introduced in the EU to improve the environmental management of waste electronic and electrical equipment, and the restriction of the use of certain hazardous material in electrical and electronic equipment. Could the Minister tell us if there are any plans to introduce regulations or guidelines to ensure proper management of e-waste in Singapore and, if so, when will this be done? Regulate Construction near Residences”
“Would the Minister consider reviewing the conditions on the issue of the Singapore SAR145 to Singapore-based MROs in order that they may be more competitive on the global market? Maritime Safety”
“Madam, Singapore Airworthiness Requirement 145 (SAR145) approvals are issued by CAAS to Maintenance and Repair Organisations (MROs) in Singapore to accomplish work on Singapore-registered aircraft or components intended to be fitted on Singapore-registered aircraft. For the initial grant of an SAR145 approval, the applicant MRO must show the intention to work on a Singapore-registered aircraft or on components to be fitted on a Singapore aircraft. Singapore-based MROs that intend to work on aircraft not on the Singapore registry are, therefore, excluded from applying for the SAR145 maintenance approval. These MROs are also not able to participate in the Technical Arrangement-Maintenance that CAAS has with Transport Canada, Hong Kong Civil Aviation Department (CAD) or the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) of Australia by virtue of them not being able to apply for the SAR145 approval. Madam, the number of aircraft on the Singapore register constitutes only a very small percentage of the total number of aircraft in service throughout the world. The restriction on the issue of the SAR145 approval by CAAS may limit the potential of Singapore-based MROs from maintaining foreign-registered aircraft even from countries that recognise the Singapore SAR145. Other than Transport Canada, the major regulatory authorities such, as the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) of the United States, the European Union (EU)'s European Page: 101 Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and CASA of Australia, do not appear to have the restriction that CAAS imposes on domestic MROs in obtaining a Maintenance Organisation Approval.”
“Could the Minister tell us how does MSO intend to manage feedback from the public on municipal issues?”
“Madam, the Prime Minister mentioned during the National Day Rally last year that a Municipal Services Office (MSO) will be set up to get different Government agencies to work even more closely together in the area of municipal service delivery. Could the Minister tell us what role does MSO intend to play and what does MSO hope to achieve? Madam, in public areas in my constituency, when dried leaves from trees fall on the grass, it is the responsibility of NParks to remove the fallen leaves. However, if the wind blows the leaves onto the road, then the responsibility is transferred to LTA. If the LTA sweeper decides to sweep the leaves into the drain, the responsibility is transferred to PUB. Would MSO be able to co-ordinate between the different agencies and handle demarcation issues in order to improve productivity and efficiency? What are some of the improvements planned in other areas? Madam, I understand that MSO will be working with several agencies. However, does it include agencies, such as URA, SLA and the Town Councils? URA is the agency that usually approves development plans. However, the consequences resulting from these developments eventually have to be addressed by other agencies. For example, LTA has to handle traffic congestion and parking problems and NEA has to address noise pollution Page: 137 resulting from these developments. Town Councils also manage many municipal issues in the HDB estates and MSO may want to consider including Town Councils in its plans to improve overall municipal service delivery in Singapore. Finally, members of the public who want to provide feedback on municipal issues may not be fully aware of which agency has jurisdiction over which issue.”
“Mr Chairman, first of all allow me to declare my interest as President of the Association of Aerospace Industries in Singapore. Sir, Article 3.7 of the Korea-Singapore Free Trade Agreement, signed in 2005 stipulates that each party may exempt or reduce a customs duty to a good, regardless of its origin, that re-enters its territory after that good has been exported for repair or process, regardless of whether such a repair or process could be done in its territory. Korea has until recently granted full exemption of customs duty to aerospace components and aircraft engines repaired or overhauled in Singapore. However, this exemption is now being gradually removed until 2018 when full customs duty is payable for goods re-entering Korea. Sir, Article 2.6 of the US-Korea Free Trade Agreement on the same subject stipulates that neither party may apply a customs duty to a good, regardless of its origin, that re-enters its territory after that good has been temporarily exported from its territory to the territory of the other party for repair or alteration. Singapore-based Aerospace Maintenance and Repair Organisations or MROs are, therefore, at a disadvantage, compared to US-based MROs which appear to enjoy Page: 133 permanent exemption of the customs duty for goods re-entering Korea. In fact, some Korean companies have already served notice on their Singapore service providers that they will be diverting their business to US-based companies when the exemption of customs duty is ended. Would MTI consider reviewing Article 3.7 of the Singapore-Korea Free Trade Agreement, with the Korean government to bring it along the lines of Article 2.6 of the US-Korea FTA?”
“Finally, Singapore's re-election in November 2013 into the Council of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) is, indeed, a positive development in enhancing Singapore's maritime voice. However, that is not the only international maritime body that we are part of and I note that Singapore was also granted permanent observer status in the Arctic Council in May last year. My understanding of the Arctic Council is that it was formed by eight Arctic states in 1996 with a high level inter-governmental forum to provide a means of promoting cooperation, coordination and interaction among the Arctic states with the involvement of Arctic indigenous communities and other Arctic inhabitants on common Arctic issues, particularly issues of sustainable development and environmental protection in the Arctic. Although the Arctic Council now has admitted 12 non-Arctic countries, including Singapore, as a permanent observer state, Singapore is the only country that does not even experience any winter climate, and the cool temperatures that we experience in Page: 100 January this year certainly do not count as winter. Could the Minister please enlighten us on the purpose of Singapore's involvement in the Arctic Council and how Singapore can contribute to the objectives of the Council as a permanent observer?”
“Volatile freight rates, the threat of piracy and labour shortages in the industry have also added to the uncertainty. It is fair, therefore, to say that the global maritime outlook remains cautious and it is not looking like it is going to be smooth sailing ahead. Page: 99 With that backdrop in mind, I would like to highlight two performance indicators which MPA has provided for last year. Singapore's port performance, in terms of container throughput, grew in 2013 by only 2.9% compared to growth rates of 9.9% in 2010, 5.3% in 2011 and 5.7% in 2012. Similarly, vessel arrival tonnage in 2013 grew by 3.2% compared to growth rates of 7.6% in 2010, 10.5% in 2011 and 6.3% last year. While we were fortunate to still record growth in 2013, it is clear from these indicators that the rate of growth has slowed tremendously over the previous years. It is worrying that our investment in this sector, one which we have placed much emphasis over the years, does not seem to be providing the sort of returns one might expect. In view of the challenges facing the industry and the declining growth rates we are seeing, could the Minister tell us what his Ministry's strategies are to strengthen Singapore's port hub status, growing Singapore as a leading international maritime centre and, ultimately, reversing the declining growth rates? One key part of the equation is that we need to safeguard our international maritime interests with regard to freedom of navigation and safety, particularly in the Straits of Malacca and the South China Sea, which are integral parts of shipping channels into and out of Singapore. Could the Minister please let us know what is being done to safeguard and advance Singapore's maritime interests in these areas?”
“This can often lead to congestion and unsafe conditions, especially when transit times are short. At several airports in the region, such as the Bangkok airport, electrical and air-conditioning units are installed as fixed facilities at each gate, eliminating the need for ground power and air-conditioning vehicles to be brought to the aircraft, thereby increasing productivity and enhancing safety. In addition, some airports have also fixed water-servicing facilities at the gate. At Changi Airport, most of such services have to be done by servicing vehicles being brought to the aircraft. I understand that having fixed aircraft servicing facilities at the aerobridge was discussed even when Changi's Terminal 2 was being planned, however, aircraft servicing is still being done today in the three terminals almost the same way as it was done when Paya Lebar Airport was in operation. Could the Minister tell us if CAG will consider improving and updating aircraft servicing facilities and, hopefully, sometime before Terminal 5 is constructed? Maritime Objectives and Interests My next cut, Mdm Chairman. The maritime industry has traditionally been one of our fastest growing economic sectors contributing 7% of Singapore's GDP and employing approximately 170,000 people. With over 5,000 maritime companies operating in Singapore and with the total gross tonnage of ships under the Singapore flag being among the world's top 10, we are certainly continuing to make significant investments promoting and developing our maritime industry. However, the maritime industry is not without its challenges, as observers have noted. Shipping companies continue to be affected by weak demand, ship over-capacity, high fuel and operating costs and greater environmental concerns.”
“While some of these figures may appear impressive because they started from a comparatively lower figure in 2012, the message is clear that, with the exception of Hong Kong, which it is maintaining the same figure as us, these airports are seeing faster passenger growth rates than we are and they are closing the gap. 4.15 pm I, too, would like to ask the Minister what measures have been taken to ensure that Changi maintains its air hub status, despite the challenges presented by competitor airports potentially seeking to seal their hub status. We are certainly making plans to make Changi Airport more attractive to visitors, but apart from these types of measures, are there other more structural issues which are being worked through such that carriers can be incentivised to use Changi Airport as a regional hub? On a separate matter, could the Minister tell us what measures are being taken to raise productivity at Changi Airport to accommodate growth and to reduce manpower reliance? Being essentially a service industry unto itself, it is not unexpected that Changi Airport should be fairly manpower-intensive. However, with the general trend being to increase productivity and to rely less on manpower, this is something which would be in keeping with the Government's general push to raise productivity. Finally, if you spend as much time in airports as I do, you will notice that during aircraft transits in Changi Airport, many times numerous servicing vehicles, such as ground power units, air-conditioning units, water-servicing Page: 98 and toilet-servicing trucks sometimes have to compete with refuelling, cargo loading and catering vehicles for space near the aircraft as they attempt to achieve quick turnaround time at the gate.”
“Mdm Chairman, I hope you will not think it inappropriate that as the topic of my cut relates to the aviation landscape in Singapore, that I would express my shock and grief in the situation which our neighbours in Malaysia are facing over flight MH370. It is particularly significant to me as a member of the aviation industry in Singapore, and I hope that those who have suffered in this tragedy will have the answers to their questions sooner rather than later. In the meantime, our thoughts and our prayers are with the affected families. Mdm Chairman, as mentioned by Mr Cedric Foo earlier, and I think it is worth repeating, in the first nine months of 2013, Changi Airport's growth in the number of international passenger movements grew by 6.3% over the same Page: 97 period in 2012. As it turned out, for the whole year, Changi Airport handled 53.7 million passengers in 2013, which was a record number for the airport, and which ultimately represented an increase of approximately 5% in international passenger movements over 2012. However, our competitors are not staying stagnant either. For example, in the first nine months of 2013, as mentioned by Mr Cedric Foo, Dubai Airport's international passenger movement was 16.3% higher than they were in 2012. Hong Kong Airport's figure is 6.3% higher than the same period over the previous year. Bangkok Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang Airports together recorded an 18.3% growth in international passenger movements over the period in 2012. In the same period, KLIA saw a 17.8% increase in international passenger movements.”
“Could the Minister please provide an update on the latest situation with respect to the number of reported cases and the number of dengue clusters? In the inspections conducted by NEA, what are the most common mosquito breeding grounds identified and are the sites mostly located in residential or industrial premises, or in construction sites? Is the current prolonged dry spell helping the situation, as there would not have been any rainwater collecting in leaves or receptacles for some time? Also, could the Minister let us know if any dengue sites have been identified on state land or premises? If so, what the consequences have been for the various agencies concerned? While there has been significant public education effort to stem the spread of dengue, this seems to have had very limited impact, as most people would carry on their usual lives without having regard to the mozzie wipeout. Is the Minister optimistic that we would soon turn the corner on this outbreak? If it is, what is the additional push we need to get there?”
“Clearly, our adoption of more stringent Euro Emission Standards is a move in the right direction but foreign vehicles entering Singapore may not be obliged where the laws of their home countries comply with these same standards. Could the Minister please let us know how MEWR has addressed the issue of foreign vehicles' emissions on our roads. While on the topic of foreign pollutants, the Minister is no doubt well aware that the haze has returned. It is hard to miss. All four speakers who spoke before me have already addressed the haze problem. So, Mr Chairman, I will not try Page: 163 and test your patience by repeating what has already been said, other than to support what was said by the four speakers before me, and to add that our proposed transboundary haze solution legislation is a positive development and will indicate to those parties responsible for contributing to the haze that their practices are in no way condoned by Singapore. Could the Minister please let us know whether the Indonesian government has indicated if any Singaporean companies are behind some of the forest fires and, if so, how quickly prosecutions are expected to be brought under the new legislation if it is passed into law? Dengue Sir, my cut on dengue, from 1 January to 7 March this year, there were over 3,000 reported cases of dengue fever in Singapore. In 2013, there were seven dengue-related deaths; and in mid June last year, 842 dengue cases were reported to the Ministry, a number which has far exceeded maximum weekly number of reported cases up to that date. 6.45 pm Dengue clearly remains a cause of concern among Singaporeans, and the current outbreak is the most severe and prolonged that we have seen.”
“Thank you, Mr Chairman. In August 2012, NEA announced that it would be adopting the World Health Organization (WHO) Air Quality Guidelines (AQG) for particulate matter with diameter smaller than 10 microns (PM10), Nitrogen Dioxide, Carbon Monoxide and Ozone, and the WHO AQG's interim targets for particulate matter with diameter smaller than 2.5 microns (PM2.5) and Sulphur Dioxide. From the middle of last year, NEA implemented several measures to achieve the WHO AQG including mandating the supply of near-sulphur free diesel (NSFD) for diesel vehicles and cleaner petrol for petrol vehicles. The refineries and power stations which contribute almost all of Singapore's sulphur dioxide emissions are also required to reduce their SO² output. Could the Minister please tell us if the abatement measures which have been implemented have had the desired effect and if we are anywhere closer to meeting the WHO Air Quality Guidelines, particularly, with respect to PM2.5 and sulphur dioxide figures? In line with this, new vehicle emission standards have also been mandated from this year. New diesel vehicles, since January, are required to comply with Euro 5 standards. New petrol vehicles will need to be Euro 4 compliant from April, and new motorcycles and scooters will need to comply with Euro 3 from October. This is well and good for domestic vehicles on our roads. But there are also a significant number of foreign vehicles on our roads, and I am thinking, in particular, of the buses and large foreign trailers and trucks which we often see transporting people and goods here, and also motorcycles.”
“And while there are already a number of companies providing MRO operations at Seletar, could the Minister let us know if there is capacity to grow this industry at Seletar and, if so, what incentives are being made available to companies intending to set up MRO operations there? Airport Capacity”
“Finally, would the Minister please also provide us with an update on the work of Changi 2036 Steering Committee which was announced in last year's COS? Has the Committee been able to provide any preliminary recommendations to enable Changi Airport's market-leading position to be retained? Seletar Airport Madam, it has also been some years now since it was announced that Seletar Airport could be transformed into a world-class aerospace park. Since the announcement of this initiative in 2007, much progress has been made on the project, including the improvement of roads, drainage and utilities to making available of additional land for commercial leases and the commissioning of a new control tower and an extended runway. The infrastructure development is moving at a good rate and the Seletar aerospace park development is now into its third and final phase. I would like to ask the Minister to provide some details, however, on what other support has been Page: 50 provided to attract business to the Seletar aerospace park. We are looking to make the Seletar aerospace hub a market-leading business and general aviation facility, and a maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) centre, but solely to provide infrastructural support does not seem quite to be enough. Part of Seletar's disadvantage, when compared with Changi Airport, is the distance from and the lack of good public transportation links to central Singapore. It is certainly not difficult to get to Seletar but just that little bit more inconvenient than it is to get to Changi. But it is factors such as these which can make or break a project. Would the Minister, therefore, let us know if there are any plans to make Seletar Airport more accessible to business and general aviation clusters?”
“Madam, Changi Airport is a source of pride for Singaporeans. More than just a public convenience, it symbolises in many ways the progress which Singapore has made and, like the rest of Singapore, it has grown, adapted and improved over the years. Changi Airport is also a centrepiece of Singapore's aviation industry and is an iconic symbol of this sector in Singapore. However, over the years, Changi Page: 49 has come under pressure both regionally and internationally. A number of new and very impressive Asian airports have started operations in the last few years and travellers are more willing to endure stopovers in the Middle Eastern airports in exchange for paying slightly lower fares. Being part of the industry myself, I am concerned that Singapore's position as an air hub is being eroded by our regional and international competitors. Would the Minister please provide an update on how Singapore has fared as an air hub over the last year or so, as well as to elaborate on the prospects and challenges for Singapore's aviation industry. Are there plans to further encourage the growth of the industry and, if so, what do we see as factors which continue to give Singapore an edge over our competitors? Now, turning to Changi Airport specifically, could the Minister provide an update on the development of the new Terminal 4 and also provide some insights on how it may further grow the low-cost carrier (LCC) segment in Singapore? Has the temporary move from the Budget Terminal to Terminal 2 resulted in an increase in overall fares for LCC passengers since they are now being serviced out of a full-service facility? Also, has a decision been reached as to the use of Changi Airport's third runway for civilian flights?”
“In contrast, sulphur dioxide contribution of all motor vehicles was less than 1% of the total. Sulphur dioxide emissions inventory figures on the NEA website now appear to be outdated based on data obtained in 2007. Now, I would like to ask the Minister if he is able to provide an updated set of figures, which hopefully would show that our efforts to get industries to use fuel of lower sulphur content have paid off over the last few years. ABC Waters Programme”
“We are very fortunate that on the whole, we enjoy very good air quality in Singapore. Partly because of our geographic location, the biggest visible concern is transboundary smoke haze which sometimes blows into Singapore. Page: 18 This is an issue which has been going on for many years now, and it is one which does not seem to have any visible end in sight. It will continue for as long as "slash and burn" agriculture is practised in our neighbouring country. Could the Minister provide an update on what is being done by NEA to address the issue of transboundary haze? In particular, is the NEA providing any sort of assistance to our neighbouring countries to help educate farmers on the consequences of "slash and burn" agriculture? Also, on the topic of air pollution, would the Minister please provide us an update on the number of Euro V compliant vehicles on the road today, as a proportion of the total number of diesel-powered vehicles? While Euro V diesel emission standards are intended to come into effect only in January next year, it will certainly be relevant for us to understand the positive environmental impact we would benefit from for having the new emission standards adhered to. Finally, sulphur dioxide is one of the major pollutants in Singapore, and the main source of sulphur dioxide emissions here, according to information publicly available from NEA, is oil refineries, power plants and shipping. These three contribute a staggering 96% of total sulphur dioxide emissions in 2007. Three power stations and three refineries alone produce approximately 118,000 tonnes of the 151,000 tonnes of sulphur dioxide emitted in Singapore that year. This is very worrying that such a small number of sources contribute to such a high proportion of sulphur dioxide pollution.”
“Thank you, Mdm Chair. At the start of this year, the operation of a Chinese restaurant in the central part of Singapore was suspended for more than a month over a suspected food poisoning outbreak involving more than 453 people. It later emerged that the cause of the outbreak was norovirus gastro enterovirus or stomach flu. This was not a small restaurant nor was it situated in a location where one might question its cleanliness. Rather, it was one of Singapore's most well-known Chinese restaurants in a five-star hotel. Mdm Chair, if food safety standards cannot be observed even in such a setting, then I think it is something which we need to be very concerned about. The results of the NEA investigations which followed were very disturbing. Food handlers going to work even though they had displayed symptoms of norovirus, improper cleaning of work surfaces, and inadequate hand washing by chefs and food handlers, to name just a few of the findings. I would like to ask the Minister if we could consider shortening the period within which refresher food hygiene certification must be obtained, which is currently three years. Three years is indeed a very long time between certifications. If these ideas are not ingrained into food handlers, it is easy for them to set aside best practices in the stressful environment of a kitchen. Having a shorter food hygiene certification shelf life will emphasise the importance we place on cleanliness in our F&B industry. It will also help boost confidence in our F&B outlets from hawker centres to five-star restaurants. It will certainly drive home the point to food handlers that food hygiene can literally be a matter of life and death. It is not something to be taken lightly. Air Quality Mdm Chair, on the air quality.”
“In such a case, any foreign construction worker hired for a public project would need to be tied to that project, and cannot be deployed to work on private projects. This proposal achieves two goals. First, it might mean that public sector projects, particularly public sector housing projects, would be completed in a shorter timeframe, and perhaps at lower cost. Second, it might attract more private developers to public sector construction work, if they think that it makes business sense to do so. I would like to urge the Minister to reconsider. Given the competing concerns of rising foreign construction levies and moderating the growth of the foreign construction workforce, are these really in the best interests of the country, given our public sector infrastructure needs today? I completely understand and agree with the drive to increase productivity across all sectors. But, perhaps, there are occasions when we have to be pragmatic and less dogmatic in which the productivity drive may need to take a temporary backseat to other pressing and urgent needs. Tripartite Cluster for Landscape”
“Although we know it is essential to our collective well-being, we know it is very difficult to find enough Singaporeans willing to take on the manual labour which is often associated with the construction industry. There is another element in this issue. One, which gives rise to a very real dilemma as we all are aware, there is a housing and infrastructure crunch in Singapore, which needs to be addressed along with the anticipated growth in our population. Simply put, we need the construction sector to be thriving. We need the construction companies to continue to be around to build public housing and infrastructure projects. We cannot afford at this stage to dis-incentivise the construction industry from contributing in a very real way to the growth of the nation through participation in public sector projects. The further moderation of foreign workforce growth in the construction sector will place further pressures on an already stressed industry. Can we afford to do this? We really need all these projects to be completed urgently. Do we have any contingency Page: 10 plans if our targeted productivity figures are not achieved? Perhaps, one solution might be to consider a different dependency ratio ceiling for public sector projects, as opposed to private sector projects. This could be in recognition of the public sector nature of the project, that is, the fact that it is for the betterment of Singaporeans generally. That is to say that, where projects are taken for private gain, the current DRCs and levies will continue to apply. But if the project is one of public nature, even if it is undertaken by private organisations, perhaps more leeway could be given.”
“Mdm Chairman, the Minister for Finance has indicated that the foreign workers' levy will be increased in all sectors from July 2014. With the most significant increases being in sectors where productivity growth is seen to be weak, and where growth of the foreign Page: 9 workforce is significant. Er Dr Lee Bee Wah and other Members have raised their concerns of how this will affect the construction industry, and I would like to add to these. The construction sector easily falls within the twin categories of low productivity growth and significant growth of foreign workforce. The first issue – low productivity growth – results not from want of trying. The Government has for many years already been trying to raise the productivity of the construction sector, and also our TFR – let us be honest about it – with rather limited success. While we must continue to persevere in this, I think the Government should also be realistic in its expectations. The Minister for Finance has spoken about mandating the use of more manpower-efficient designs, and increasing minimum buildability scores, with the lead being taken by the Government in respect of public sector projects. Now this is certainly a worthy aim. But is there any real incentive for doing this now, when the cost of foreign construction labour is still relatively low in Singapore, and there are urgent catch-up infrastructure projects to be accomplished? The second issue, the growth of the foreign workforce in the construction industry can also be attributed to the fact that Singaporeans just do not find the construction industry an attractive one, as mentioned by Dr Teo Ho Pin.”
“As Speaker Abdullah steps away from the front and centre of public life, he will be missed by many of us in this House, although I am sure he will continue to contribute to Singapore in other ways. I would like to thank him for his many years of distinguished service to Singapore and to this House. I wish him good health as he starts in his new phase of life. [Applause.] 4.22 pm”
“Page: 14 Sir, our interactions with parliamentarians from neighbouring countries confirmed my view that Speaker Abdullah is held in high esteem, and many of the parliamentarians in our regional countries congratulated him for his achievements and wished him well for his retirement. Speaker Abdullah carried with him many years of experience with the grassroots as an MP, before he assumed office as Speaker, and continued to remain close to the ground even after he was elected as Speaker. I mentioned the grassroots because I am of the view that it is vitally important that the Speaker continues to be connected with the ground so that he is able to appreciate the concerns of ordinary Singaporeans and to allow MPs sufficient latitude to raise and thoroughly debate issues that are of concern to all Singaporeans. While the debates we participate in and the business that is transacted in this House have wide-ranging effects for all Singaporeans, few outside the House fully understand how we function. Under his leadership as Speaker, Parliament was demystified and made more relevant through, for example, the provision of more information about parliamentary processes on the Parliament website, details of Members as well as the encouragement of educational tours to Parliament House. The Prime Minister had previously highlighted that one of the changes that Speaker Abdullah made was to allow Members to speak in any combination or all four of the official languages during a single speech. This may not seem like much on the surface but, as a multi-lingual and multi-racial Singapore, it is yet another move to keep Parliament closer to the people.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, tempted as I am to make a political speech and thank all my supporters, I think I will refrain from doing that till a later time as now may not be the right time. With your kind indulgence, please allow me to extend my congratulations to you, Mr Speaker, Sir, on your election. Having worked with you in Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC from 2006 to 2011, I am very confident that you will be able to discharge your duties as Speaker with distinction and that you are extremely well-placed to perform the functions of this office. Mr Speaker, Sir, I would like also to inform you that it is no longer a requirement for you to call me "uncle" from now on. It is I who will address you as "Sir". Sir, allow me to take this opportunity also to say a few words to record my appreciation and, indeed, if I may be a bit presumptuous, the House's appreciation to the retiring Speaker. Speaker Abdullah served this House as Speaker from 2002 and did much to keep parliamentary procedures up to date and relevant to a larger number of Singaporeans. Speaker Abdullah also did much to promote interaction and goodwill with parliamentarians within ASEAN and beyond. Indeed, up to last month, Speaker Abdullah continued to lead delegations of MPs to meetings with parliamentarians from other countries, and I had the privilege of being a member of the team that he led to the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Association's General Assembly (AIPA) in Phnom Penh just a few weeks ago. As mentioned by various speakers before me, Speaker Abdullah saved the Singapore delegation with his rendition of "Fly Me to the Moon".”
“Mr Chairman, workplace fatalities have decreased significantly over the last few years, falling from an average of four per 100,000 workers in 2005 to 2.2 per 100,000 workers last year. However, the number of fatalities in the construction industry, unlike the other sectors, has not seen any significant improvement over the last three years. Could the Minister tell us what measures have been taken to improve safety in the construction industry and how effective have these measures been? With the current efforts to reduce foreign manpower and to raise productivity, especially in the construction industry, would there be a need to have more additional safeguards to ensure that such productivity improvement in the construction industry is not achieved at the expense of safety?”
“Mr Chairman, Sir, we have witnessed the shortage of foreign domestic workers in some countries as a result of source countries restricting the supply for various reasons. Could the Minister tell us if there is a likelihood of Singapore facing a similar situation? Is MOM reviewing the existing sources of foreign domestic workers with the view of including new sources to meet increasing demand. What are the other measures, introduced over the years by MOM, to enhance the well-being of foreign domestic workers, raise the quality of such workers and improve the accountability in the recruitment process? Could the Minister also provide an update of his Ministry's investigations on possible anti-competitive practices by employment agencies in fixing charges and salaries of foreign domestic workers? Entry ban”
“Mr Chairman, Sir, the data in the Budget Book indicates that 15,000 jobseekers had been successfully placed and assisted in calendar year 2010 by WDA. However, the success placement rate has remained at only around 40%. Could the Minister tell us what is the average cost incurred by WDA and its partners for each successful job placement and what measures are being planned to improve the placement rate? Of the 15,000 jobseekers who were assisted and placed, how many were provided with training and skills upgrading before they found employment? What new measures are being planned by WDA to encourage the unemployed, the lower-skilled to go for skills upgrading and, therefore, enhance their employability? And what measures are being taken to encourage employers to send their lower-skilled workers for training? Singapore as a regional HR training centre”
“Sir, I would like to thank the Senior Parliamentary Secretary for his assurance that my residents will not be left in the air when they use the overhead bridge across Sengkang East Way. I would like to ask the Senior Parliamentary Secretary to give me an indication when they can be expected to be brought down to earth in these lifts or escalators.”
“We will continue to work in close partnership with key industry stakeholders to build on our strengths as an aviation hub.”
“In August 2010, Singapore was audited under the ICAO Universal Safety Oversight Audit Programme and was found by ICAO to be effective in all aspects of our safety oversight functions. This is testament to the strong commitment of CAAS and the various stakeholders in ensuring the safety of the travelling public. However, a strict safety regulatory regime cannot guarantee that there will never be any aviation incident. What CAAS has done is to put in place procedures to handle aircraft in distress, so as to minimise risk to life and property in the air and on the ground, such as assisting aircraft in distress to keep clear of populated areas, and guiding them to an eventual safe landing. The rigour and effectiveness of these procedures were clearly demonstrated during the A380 aircraft engine failure incident last year. All the stakeholders, including the flight crew, air traffic control and emergency services responded effectively and the aircraft landed safely in Changi. By acting in accordance with established contingency plans, the risk to people on the ground at any time was well managed and not significant. Singapore’s aviation safety record has thus far been exemplary. Members should be assured that CAAS will continue to work closely with all stakeholders to continually enhance the safety of civil aviation in Singapore. Sir, Singapore celebrates 100 years of aviation history this year. We have come a long way since Singapore witnessed her first flight at the Old Race Course at Farrer Park in 1911. Even as we commemorate the centennial milestone, we remain committed to securing Singapore’s position as a leading aviation hub in the long term.”
“To groom the next generation of industry leaders, we will also provide more opportunities for professional development. For example, CAAS collaborated with the Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University to launch a Masters in Business Administration in Aviation programme in February this year. Sir, let me now move on to an important area – which is that of civil aviation safety, for which Mr Charles Chong has raised some queries. Singapore’s strength as an air hub is predicated on the safety record of our air transport system. We remain firmly committed to ensuring the safety of the travelling public and aircraft operations in Singapore. This is even more critical as traffic volume expands at Changi. To this end, CAAS ensures that Singapore’s safety regulations and procedures comply with and, where practicable, exceed the standards and recommended practices set by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), including Annex 6 of ICAO’s standards and recommended practices referred to by Mr Charles Chong. The regulations and procedures govern almost every aspect of civil aviation carried out in Singapore, including aircraft airworthiness and flight operations, airport operations, the provision of air navigation services, aircraft maintenance, and the training and licensing of aviation personnel. CAAS also takes proactive steps to ensure the safety of foreign carriers that operate to Singapore. For example, there is an existing system of inspections to check on the airworthiness of these aircraft and the qualifications of their flight crew. Our safety regime is regularly reviewed and updated to incorporate international best practices and to address new safety issues.”
“The SAP will also help to attract aviation-related design and manufacturing centres. I am happy to report that industry response to the SAP has been good. Seventy-five percent of the land in Phase 1 and 2 have already been spoken for, with infrastructure works for Phase 3 slated to begin next year. Sir, I also want to inform Assoc. Prof. Dr Muhammad Faishal that we would want to develop Seletar into a regional business aviation hub. The prospects for business aviation are promising, given Asia’s strong growth momentum. Business aviation will complement our strength in commercial aviation and provide further depth to Singapore’s value proposition as a major air hub. The upgrading of Seletar Airport is therefore critical to our plans. We are in the midst of major upgrading works at the airport, which will be fully completed in 2014. These include extending the existing runway to accommodate larger aircraft, constructing additional taxiways and aircraft parking areas, as well as implementing a new landing system for flight operations, even in low visibility conditions. Next-generation air traffic control facilities, including a new control tower, will also be put in place. To date, about a third of these works have been completed. When fully developed, Seletar will inject new vibrancy to the aviation sector in Singapore. Manpower is an important issue. Having the right infrastructure is important, but ensuring a ready pool of competent human capital is even more important. We will intensify efforts to attract talent and develop our workforce to support the aviation industry. In addition to student outreach efforts, CAAS will be launching an industry scholarship programme later this year to attract top polytechnic graduates to the sector.”
“By supporting the innovative spirit of the industry, we hope to boost the quality and productivity of our aviation companies. Sir, the past year also saw several noteworthy enhancements to Changi Airport’s airfreight-handling capabilities. For example, the SATS Coolport is Asia’s first on-airport perishables handling facility, while the Singapore Freeport is Asia’s first and the world’s largest dedicated facility for art collectibles. These specialised facilities will enable our airlines and airfreight partners to better tap the evolving and increasingly sophisticated needs of the Asia-Pacific market. Looking ahead, the opening of the Air Cargo Express (ACE) hub in 2012 will enable air express companies to use Singapore even more effectively as a gateway to serve the Asia-Pacific market. Assoc. Prof. Dr Muhammad Faisal asked about the Seletar Airport. Like Changi, Seletar Airport's traffic was also affected by the global economy downturn in 2009. We are now seeing a gradual return to pre-crisis levels with the 16% growth in passenger traffic last year. Seletar Airport also serves the wider aviation industry. Our ongoing efforts to develop Seletar will therefore help to spur further traffic growth. Seletar Airport and its surrounding areas are being transformed as part of a multi-agency effort to develop Singapore into a leading hub for aerospace maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) in the Asia-Pacific region. Singapore is currently already among Asia’s largest and most comprehensive MRO hubs. The phased development of Seletar Aerospace Park (SAP) from 2007 to 2018 will strategically put in place infrastructure to secure a good share of the huge growth potential for aerospace MRO in Asia.”
“The Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) is thus working with the airport operator, Changi Airport Group, and other stakeholders to study ways of enhancing connectivity between the BT and the main terminals, for the convenience of passengers. Sir, in addition to ensuring that we cater to the evolving needs of our air hub at Changi, we will need to sustain developmental efforts for the wider aviation industry. Let me highlight some of the initiatives that we have introduced to support the growth of Singapore as an aviation hub, a question which was raised by Mr Charles Chong. First, the Aviation Development Fund (ADF). In April 2010, CAAS launched the $100 million ADF. To date, more than half of the ADF funds have already been allocated to three incentive programmes, namely the Aviation Partnership Programme, the Aviation Innovation Programme and the Aviation Manpower Programme. These programmes support initiatives by local companies to raise productivity, promote innovation, grow talent, and enhance the competitiveness of the industry. Projects that have received ADF grants so far include the development of new capabilities for the repair of aircraft engines and the setting up of Southeast Asia’s first flammability test lab. Funding has also been provided to encourage the adoption of quality management systems by local aerospace companies. Such projects are estimated to generate more than $20 million of direct value-add over five years. Earlier this month, CAAS also launched the Process Innovation Challenge to encourage productivity improvements in work processes. Local aviation companies with qualifying projects could receive grants of up to $50,000.”
“A new Multilateral Agreement, signed by ASEAN Transport Ministers last November, extends unlimited passenger access beyond the ASEAN capitals to all ASEAN cities. This brings ASEAN-wide open skies closer to reality. The ASEAN-China Air Transport Agreement was also concluded last year, paving the way for a liberal air services regime between ASEAN and China. The agreement is the first of its kind and sets the stage for similar agreements to be concluded with other ASEAN dialogue partners, such as India and South Korea. Sir, we will press on with our liberalisation efforts. Only then can we continue to enhance our air hub status and fully tap the potential of the fast-growing Asia-Pacific air travel market. Let me now touch on the Budget Terminal (BT). Given the growth opportunities ahead, we will continue to enhance Changi’s passenger facilities. In addition to the ongoing $500 million upgrading of Terminal 1 that will be completed by 2012, there are plans to expand the BT in the next two years. We are thus well-positioned to welcome more LCCs to Changi. As Mr Charles Chong has pointed out, not all LCCs operate out of the BT. While cost is a key consideration, there are other factors that shape the airlines’ choice of terminals to operate from. For example, some LCCs may prefer operating at the main terminals to facilitate flight connections for their passengers. For passengers transferring from a flight at the BT to another at the main terminals, there is a free 24-hour shuttle bus service that plies at regular intervals between the BT and Terminal 2. While such transfers between the BT and the main terminals are a relatively new trend and the numbers are still small, we expect them to increase in tandem over time with the growth of LCCs.”
“Looking ahead, we expect traffic growth to moderate, in line with the International Air Transport Association’s projection of global long-term annual growth of about 5% to 6%. Sir, our air hub continues to benefit from our pursuit of Open Skies. We now have Air Services Agreements with more than 100 countries, of which more than a third are Open Skies Agreements. Such liberalisation has facilitated the commencement of new services at Changi Airport such as Singapore Airlines’ upcoming passenger service to Sao Paulo which represents Singapore’s first scheduled air link to South America. The nine new foreign carriers which commenced operations at Changi Airport in 2010 will continue to add vibrancy to our air hub. The expansion of our bilateral air services arrangements with countries like Malaysia and the Philippines has led to a surge in the number of short-haul services to Changi. Low cost carriers (LCCs) have flourished with the opening of such regional sectors. This has benefited the travelling public in terms of wider travel options and more competitive air fares. At the multilateral level, Singapore plays an active role at various fora to facilitate greater people and trade flows through air services liberalisation. As noted by Assoc. Prof. Dr Muhammad Faishal, we are party to the Multilateral Agreement on the Liberation of International Air Transportation (MALIAT) which was initiated by APEC member economies as a path-finder agreement for international open skies arrangements. We have also worked closely with ASEAN member states to bring about air services liberisation within the region and with ASEAN's key dialogue partners.”
“As the maritime sector grows and diversifies, I agree with Dr Lim that demand for maritime professionals will increase. Besides going to sea, there are actually many exciting shore-based careers in ship-broking, maritime law and banking. We are therefore working closely with companies and tertiary institutions to enhance maritime education and raise awareness of these maritime career opportunities. Last September, we launched the Singapore Maritime Institute to groom maritime talent and to drive maritime R&D. MPA also has a suite of manpower development schemes to encourage investment in human capital. Sir, the Government remains committed to the growth of the maritime sector. We will continue to nurture our close partnership with the industry and the unions to entrench Singapore as a leading International Maritime Centre. Let me now go on to the cuts in aviation. 5.45 pm Sir, let me once again thank Members for their interest in the aviation sector. I will begin by providing an update on the state of our air hub. Assoc. Prof. Dr Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim enquired about plans to tap on the growing air transport market and air services liberalisation and Mr Charles Chong has asked about low cost carriers and the Budget Terminal. Changi Airport recovered strongly from the global economic downturn that adversely affected the international aviation industry in 2008 and much of 2009. In 2010, Changi Airport handled a record 42 million passengers, or a robust 13% year-on-year growth. This is buoyed by a combination of the economic recovery, air services liberalisation, as well as increased tourism to Singapore. The airport handled over 1.8 million tonnes of cargo, representing a rise of 11%.”
“To enhance navigational safety in and around Singapore's waters, we will also launch a new Port Operations Control Centre at Changi. To further promote Singapore as the location of choice for ship owners and maritime service providers, we are continually developing new initiatives to meet their needs. I thank Mr Teo for his positive feedback on the recently announced Maritime Sector Incentive and the enhanced GST zero-rating scheme for marine supplies. We will certainly look into his suggestions on how to enhance our schemes further to make sure that they are relevant to the industry. Sir, when we discussed the MOF budget yesterday, I responded to Mr Teo's suggestion of an EXIM bank to support the maritime sector. In the meantime, I am assured that both the Maritime Port Authority of Singapore and the Monetary Authority of Singapore will continue to promote the growth of our shipping finance companies through the Maritime Finance Incentive, certainty in withholding tax treatment in the recently-launched Maritime Sector Incentive and other finance-related schemes. Today, there are more than 20 banks in Singapore with a shipping finance portfolio. We will continue to attract more of such banks to Singapore to serve the needs of the maritime industry. I agree too with Mr Teo that as a responsible port and member of the international community, Singapore must do its part to protect the marine environment. The Government has supported research and development (R&D) projects on clean energy and fuel cell technology through our S$100 million Maritime Innovation and Technology Fund. We will continue to explore more ways to promote green shipping, including the possibility of providing incentives to early adopters of green shipping technology.”
“As China's import and export volumes increase, we can expect Shanghai and the other gateway ports in China to continue to expand in tandem. Shanghai's pole position was not achieved at Singapore's expense. In fact, China's prosperity will continue to be a plus for us as a significant portion of our container volumes comes from or goes to destinations in China. As a major transhipment hub, Singapore is well placed to capture the growing trade volumes of not just China, but the rest of Asia as well. This is borne out by the 10% rise in our container volumes last year. The port constitutes a major part of our maritime services sector. Hence, we will continue to direct efforts at fostering a vibrant maritime services cluster. Today, there are about 110 major shipping groups and over 5,000 maritime-related companies operating in Singapore, employing more than 170,000 people and contributing about 7.5% of GDP. Industry-led initiatives like the Singapore Ship Sale Form have placed Singapore firmly on the international maritime law map. Indeed, Singapore has become a natural point of confluence for the international maritime community to exchange ideas, gather intelligence and do deals. This congregation has added considerable buzz to Singapore as an International Maritime Centre. Looking ahead, our maritime industry will continue to benefit from Asia's growth but we remain watchful for uncertainties that may threaten the maritime industry. Meanwhile, it is essential that we continue to invest in our port and maritime services sectors. Sir, to sustain our hub port leadership and to accommodate future growth, we are pressing ahead with the expansion of the Pasir Panjang Terminals. Beyond Pasir Panjang, we will explore if longer-term needs could be met at Tuas.”
“Sir, could the Minister provide us with an update on Singapore's compliance to Annex 6 of the International Civil Aviation Organization's (ICAO) standard and recommended practices? Annex 6 of the Convention on International Civil Aviation requires states to mandate implementation of safety management systems by air operators and maintenance organisations by January 2009. While CAAS can and has mandated their air operators in aviation, maintenance organisations under its jurisdiction to implement adequate safety management systems, could the Minister tell us what measures are being put in place to ensure that foreign air operators operating aircraft into Singapore air space comply with safety measures and airworthiness standards that would not endanger the travelling public and the larger population? The Second Minister for Transport (Mrs Lim Hwee Hua): Mr Chairman, Sir, I will now address the cuts raised by Dr Lim Wee Kiak and Mr Teo Siong Seng, and I thank them for their interest in the maritime sector. Dr Lim Wee Kiak asked about the competitiveness of the Singapore port. I am pleased to inform Members that our port performed well in 2010. We retained our positions as the world's busiest port by vessel arrival tonnage and the world's top bunkering port, setting records in both vessel arrival tonnage and bunker sales. The growth was felt Asia-wide. Many other Asian ports similarly experienced a robust recovery in container volumes last year. Dr Lim asked about Shanghai overtaking Singapore as the world's busiest container port, a position that we had held since 2005. Sir, this is not surprising given China's strong domestic growth.”
“Sir, the number of passengers carried by full-service carriers to Changi Airport has shown a very marginal decline, from 33.1 million passengers in 2008 to 32.6 million last year. However, the number of passengers flown by low cost carriers has more than doubled over the same period, from 4.6 million in 2008 to 9.4 million last year. Despite the increase in the number of budget carriers operating from the Budget Terminal, some major budget carriers continue to operate from Terminal 1. Could the Minister tell us the possible reasons for this situation and what is being done to improve the facilities and the services at the Budget Terminal, especially for passengers transferring to flights to and from the main terminals?”
“What are the future plans of the Ministry for Seletar Airport and the area close to it? Budget Terminal”
“Sir, Singapore aspires to be an aviation industry hub. Could the Minister tell us how is the Government supporting the growth of the aviation industry in Singapore? What is the Government doing to ensure that the aviation industry in Singapore continues to have a steady pool of talent and manpower so as to remain competitive globally? Sir, last year the Government announced the establishment of an Aviation Development Fund. A budget of $100 million was allocated to this fund over a five-year period from 1st April 2010 to 31st March 2015. Could the Minister tell us how much of this $100 million has already been dispersed to the industry since 1st April last year? And what are some of the projects that have received funding from the Aviation Development Fund? Seletar Airport Assoc. Prof. Dr Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim: Sir, I understand that the international visitor arrival to Singapore hit the highest ever recorded figure for the month of January. Based on a recovering and improving economy as well as the continuing success of our Integrated Resorts and Singapore's attractiveness for the Meeting, Incentive, Convention and Exhibition (MICE) sector, I believe that this trend will continue spurring greater growth in the tourist and services sector. Within this growing trend, an equal number of the rich and high rollers follow. I understand that a segment of these international visitors use the Seletar Airport in their trip to Singapore. Sir, I would like to know how has the air traffic at Seletar Airport grown over the years. Which segments of the society or industry are currently patronising its services? Is the current state of the facilities and amenities at Seletar Airport able to meet the needs of the clients?”
“Having barrier-free access ramps and tactile sensors for the elderly and visually-handicapped now become redundant as they are overwhelmed and often covered by these products. To make matters worse, often the positioning and arrangement of these products can be an eyesore. Enforcement is being carried out intermittently and has proven to be a cat-and-mouse game between the authorities and the premise owners. Can we work out some formal guidelines and systematic enforcement at the national level with the aim towards a cleaner, organised and more structured walkway? 4.30 pm National Cycling Plan”