Chee Hong Tat
Singapore
“The National Parks Board (NParks) resumed crow shooting operations in March 2026 across nine districts, including Yishun. These sites were prioritised based on several factors, including the volume and severity of public feedback on crow-related issues, as well as the technical feasibility of conducting shooting operations safely at each…”
“To drive sustainable construction and reduce reliance on conventional diesel generators, the Housing and Development Board (HDB) has required the use of battery energy storage systems (BESS) or synchronised generator set systems at Build-to-Order construction worksites for all building tenders called since February 2025.”
“The Housing and Development Board (HDB) tracks resident feedback on maintenance-related issues, including spalling concrete and structural cracks within HDB flats. Such issues are much less common in younger flats, compared to older flats above 30 years old.”
“The Building and Construction Authority (BCA) provides resources on its website to guide building owners and Management Corporations Strata Title (MCSTs) on lift modernisation.”
“Private retail developments sold through the Government Land Sales Programme are intended to complement the commercial offerings in public developments undertaken by agencies, such as the Housing and Development Board.”
“The National Parks Board (NParks) is reviewing both the Animals and Birds Act and the Code of Animal Welfare (COAW). The former will include pet sector businesses and the latter will include and start with pet groomers.”
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“The noise monitoring system at Clementi Community Hall was recently installed by the Holland-Bukit Panjang Town Council as part of the Town Council's pilot to address noise complaints from residents. It measures noise levels and helps activity organisers maintain appropriate sound levels whilst preserving community programming. We understand from the Town Council that the system was only installed last December, and they have informed us that they will need some time to assess its effectiveness and decide whether the solution is suitable for wider rollout. Where there are useful learning points, we encourage Holland-Bukit Panjang Town Council to share them with other Town Councils and Government agencies to manage noise issues in dense residential environments.”
“The Building and Construction Authority had called a tender in December 2025 to appoint consultants for the design and planning of the project. The tender has not yet been awarded. We did not announce any plans to commence construction works for the project by the middle of 2026. As stated in the Ministry of National Development's written reply to the Member's Question on 14 October 2025, the project will commence with the design and planning phase. [Please refer to "Update on Estate Upgrading Programme for Jalan Naung and Realty Park Private Estates", Official Report, 14 October 2025, Vol 96, Issue 7, Written Answers to Questions for Oral Answer not Answered by End of Question Time section.] Construction will begin after the design and planning phase is completed.”
“The volume of otter-related feedback cases has increased in recent years. In 2024 and 2025, about half of the otter-related feedback cases received by the National Parks Board (NParks) involved human-otter conflicts. NParks partners stakeholders such as the Otter Working Group to develop and implement its otter management measures, which includes the use of sterilisation as a long-term population control measure, as well as stepping up outreach and public education efforts by installing advisory signages at identified conflict areas. NParks will continue to monitor the otter population and the ecological impact of measures implemented.”
“Around 30% of illegal bird-feeding cases in the past three years involved repeat offenders. All repeat offenders were issued with fines, except for one case which is pending Court proceedings.”
“The National Parks Board (NParks) adopts a multi-pronged approach to manage illegal bird feeding. To complement enforcement efforts, NParks partners with the Agency for Integrated Care, Town Councils and other agencies to engage elderly offenders and offenders with mental health needs to understand their underlying motivations, address misconceptions and raise awareness on the negative impacts of bird feeding. Besides expanding these community support programmes, NParks also plans to revise the penalties for illegal wildlife feeding to increase the range of sentencing options available to the Court to include community-based orders.”
“To enforce against the illegal trade of marine species protected under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), the National Parks Board works closely with the Singapore Food Agency, the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority and international partners to assess tip-offs and identify shipments for further checks at our borders, carry out periodic market surveillance at seafood wholesale markets and regularly engage the seafood industry on CITES regulations. Those who are found to have engaged in illegal trading of CITES Appendix II and III species will be prosecuted under the Endangered Species (Import and Export) Act. For example, corporate offenders may be subject to a fine of up to the higher of $1 million or the market value of all specimens comprised in the offence or imprisonment of up to six years, or both.”
“Purchasing a flat is a long-term financial commitment. The Housing and Development Board (HDB) assesses a household’s eligibility for housing subsidy and loans based on the household’s income from employment. This requirement for a formal employment relationship is to assess a buyer’s long-term ability to service the housing loan. If the household wishes to apply for the Enhanced CPF Housing Grant (EHG), at least one member of the core family nucleus must be in continuous employment for at least 12 months. This continuous employment condition (CEC) provides a proxy of a household’s financial situation, so that the corresponding means-tested grant amount can be determined fairly. The primary purpose of work programmes in prison is not financial remuneration, but to support the rehabilitation of the offender. It is different from formal employment. Hence, the renumeration from these programmes could not be included when assessing the HDB housing loan eligibility or fulfilment of the CEC. HDB does not have data on the number of ex-offenders who did not fulfil the CEC, as ex-offenders are not required to declare records of their prior offences in their flat application.”
“The Housing and Development Board (HDB) Hougang branch was closed on 1 September 2025 to facilitate the development of the mixed commercial and residential site at Hougang Ave 10 and Hougang Central. Prior to its closure, staff from Hougang branch were redeployed to Sengkang branch to ensure more appointment slots were available for booking. To ensure continued service for Hougang residents, HDB has opened a 24-hour e-Lobby on 1 September 2025, on the same day the branch closed. The e-Lobby is located at Block 806 Hougang Central, close to the previous Hougang branch. It is equipped with self-help machines, such as HDB e-Service kiosks, for residents to access HDB services and complete transactions. To assist residents with HDB's e-Services, HDB has stationed a service ambassador at the e-Lobby until June 2026 and may extend the duration of the service ambassador if necessary. HDB actively monitors frontline service standards through various service indicators, including waiting time and customer satisfaction scores. The service standards at Sengkang branch have met HDB's targets and are on par with other HDB branches.”
“The National Parks Board carried out a series of coordinated raids across Singapore as part of Interpol's Operation Thunder in 2025, resulting in the seizure of 16 wildlife specimens. No evidence of organised criminal activity in Singapore was found during this operation or in other recent illegal wildlife trade enforcement operations.”
“Mr Speaker, if we look at the resale flats that have reached MOP and are entering the market for this year and also in 2027 and 2028, there is a spread. Not all the flats are in mature estates. Some are in different parts of Singapore. Some are nearer to MRT stations. Some are further away. So, I think there is a good spread of different flats with different locations, different attributes that buyers can look for, depending on their needs and their budgets. So, that was my point made earlier. We provide a range of options that cater to different groups of buyers. Sir, the second question, I think we have discussed this during the recent Committee of Supply, and I have responded to cuts from Members that we are reviewing the income eligibility criteria, not just for BTO flats but also for executive condominiums. 1:31 pm”
“Mr Speaker, resale flat prices are set by the open market at prices agreed between buyers and sellers, depending on the flat's location and attributes. In 2025, about 6% of resale flats transacted above $1 million. The resale market continues to provide a wide range of flats at different price points, catering to different budgets and needs. In 2025, there were 4-room resale flats with leases of 70 years or longer in Tampines and Punggol going for around $650,000 to $700,000. In Sembawang and Yishun, such flats were available below $600,000. In Jurong West and Woodlands, there were options below $550,000. For eligible first-time resale buyers, HDB provides housing grants of up to $230,000, further reducing the amounts they need to pay. Sir, based on the flash estimate for the first quarter of 2026, resale prices declined slightly by 0.1%. We expect the resale market to continue to moderate due to a robust supply of new Build-To-Order (BTO) flats, including Shorter Waiting Time flats, and a larger number of flats finishing their minimum occupation period (MOP) and entering the resale market from this year 2026, and we will see further increases in 2027 and 2028.”
“This question was addressed in the Ministry of National Development's reply to the question asked by Mr Yip Hon Weng on 4 March 2026. [Please refer to "Reason for Voluntary Approach to New Guideline on Property Flyers to HDB Homes", Official Report, 4 March 2026, Vol 96, Issue 24, Written Answers to Questions for Oral Answer not Answered by End of Question Time section.]”
“In managing the Housing and Development Board (HDB) rental shop landscape, HDB focuses on achieving sustained occupancy and maintaining an appropriate tenant mix so as to ensure residents in HDB estates have convenient access to amenities and services. HDB does not seek to maximise rental collections or to maintain high rental benchmarks. In fact, HDB does not always award tenders to the highest bidder. For example, HDB adopts the Price-Quality Method for coffee shops and supermarkets, where 60% of the score is awarded for quality based on factors, such as affordability, good track record and community-centric initiatives. When vacancies arise, HDB will assess the trade required. Where a change in the shop trade is assessed to be necessary to optimise the neighbourhood trade mix, HDB will conduct the necessary reconfiguration works before calling for tenders. Rather than setting specific vacancy thresholds or duration benchmarks, HDB puts out vacant units for tender as soon as possible to avoid inconvenience to residents. Vacancy rates for HDB rental shops are generally low. In 2025, the overall vacancy rate was 1.6%.”
“The Housing and Development Board (HDB) provides the estimated Home Improvement Programme (HIP) construction schedule for each block on the HIP precinct website and the HIP notice board located at the void deck of each block, at least one month before the works commence at the first block of the precinct. HDB will also remind residents of the impending works two weeks before and three days before the works commence. While HDB tries to provide residents with the schedule as early as possible, it is challenging to provide the schedule well in advance because the exact timing depends on several factors including the progress of the blocks ahead in the works sequence and site-specific complexities. Additionally, contractors need time to survey individual flats and residents require adequate time to select their preferred optional items and designs before works can begin. Residents can approach the HIP Information Centre at the precinct for enquiries.”
“Under the Housing and Development Board (HDB) Green Towns Programme, the HDB will be expanding the cool coatings initiative to residential blocks across all HDB towns. The paint used must comply with the Singapore Standard Specification for solar reflective water-based coatings, or SS678. Currently, there are more than 60 colours that can meet SS678. Paint suppliers may progressively increase the colour selection if there is market demand. Town Councils can check with paint suppliers on the availability of darker colours that meet SS678. HDB will continue to conduct sessions to share with Town Councils good practices and operational guidelines in the implementation of cool coatings.”
“Since 2014, the Housing and Development Board (HDB) has provided dedicated bicycle parking racks in all new Build-To-Order projects. Currently, HDB provides one bicycle lot for every six dwelling units, with additional safeguarded space that can be converted by Town Councils (TCs) into additional bicycle lots when the need arises. For estates built before 2014, HDB has increased the bicycle parking provision to one bicycle lot for every six dwelling units since 2019 where feasible. Where there is demand, HDB has been working with TCs to identify suitable locations within void decks to install additional bicycle racks. With regard to shared bicycles, the Land Transport Authority is currently working with HDB to review the implementation of additional designated spaces for shared bicycle parking.”
“In managing the Housing and Development Board (HDB) rental shop landscape, HDB focuses on achieving sustained occupancy and maintaining an appropriate tenant mix, so as to ensure residents in HDB estates have convenient access to amenities and services. HDB does not seek to maximise rental collections or to maintain high rental benchmarks. In fact, HDB does not always award tenders to the highest bidder. For example, HDB adopts the Price-Quality Method for coffee shops and supermarkets, where 60% of the score is awarded for quality based on factors, such as affordability, good track record and community-centric initiatives. When vacancies arise, HDB will assess the trade required. Where a change in the shop trade is assessed to be necessary to optimise the neighbourhood trade mix, HDB will conduct the necessary reconfiguration works before calling for tenders. Rather than setting specific vacancy thresholds or duration benchmarks, HDB puts out vacant units for tender as soon as possible to avoid inconvenience to residents. Vacancy rates for HDB rental shops are generally low. In 2025, the overall vacancy rate was 1.6%.”
“This question was addressed in the Ministry of National Development's reply to the question asked by Mr Dennis Tan Lip Fong on 2 March 2026. [Please refer to "Data for Rentals of Privately-owned HDB Shops and for Licensing of Outdoor Refreshment Areas", Official Report, 2 March 2026, Vol 96, Issue 22, Written Answers to Questions for Oral Answer not Answered by End of Question Time section.]”
“This question was addressed in the Ministry of National Development's reply to the question asked by Dr Charlene Chen on 5 March 2026. [Please refer to "Timelines, Constraints and Safeguards for Resumption of Crow-shooting Operations", Official Report, 5 March 2026, Vol 96, Issue 25, Written Answers to Questions for Oral Answer not Answered by End of Question Time section.]”
“Over the past 12 months, the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) received one feedback case on smell and hygiene issues arising from pet grooming activities in a private condominium unit. Following investigations, URA issued an advisory letter to the pet groomer to implement mitigation measures, such as installing air purifiers and cleaning the pet grooming area daily. We do not have data on the number of pet groomers operating from residential addresses.”
“As announced by the Minister for National Development on 23 February 2026, the National Parks Board (NParks) will resume crow shooting operations progressively from the second half of March 2026. NParks has worked with the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and the Singapore Police Force to develop strict shooting protocols to reduce potential safety risks. These include ensuring that the shooting trajectory of the shotgun pellets is always directed upwards, cordoning off the shooting zone with signs and deploying additional personnel to manage public access and restrict movement during operations. All shooting operations will be conducted by licensed wildlife management contractors who are certified in the handling of firearms and carefully overseen by appointed personnel to ensure full compliance with the safety controls. Sites will be prioritised based on several factors including the volume of public feedback regarding crow-related issues and the technical feasibility of conducting safe shooting operations at each location. The progressive rollout of crow shooting operations will allow NParks to refine safety protocols and finetune risk mitigation measures before scaling up its operations. The resumption of crow shooting operations is one component of NParks’ holistic pest bird management strategy. It will complement existing crow management efforts, such as direct population control through crow trapping and removal as well as crow nest removal. Ultimately, we need everyone to work together. Do not feed the crows and pigeons. Keep our environment clean. These small steps will help keep our estates liveable for everyone.”
“The review of the Home Improvement Programme (HIP) voting process is ongoing and will be done in such a way that balances between helping older estates to benefit from the HIP while respecting the decision of flat owners. Currently, a minimum of 75% support is required from flat owners for HIP to proceed for their block. This is because many of the essential improvement works, such as the replacement of waste pipes, require the works to be carried out within the resident's flat and also affect other residents in the block.”
“The first part of the question on the take-up rate for the Courier Hub Scheme was addressed in the Ministry of National Development's reply to the related question asked by Ms Valerie Lee on 25 February 2026. [Please refer to "Assessment of Effectiveness and Extension of Courier Hub Scheme to More Estates", Official Report, 25 February 2026, Vol 96, Issue 19, Written Answers to Questions for Oral Answer not Answered by End of Question Time section.] Under the Town Councils Act, Town Councils may enforce their by-laws against activities that cause obstruction of common property, such as parcel sorting, that blocks common areas.”
“The Municipal Services Office received around 10,500 and 15,000 feedback cases on crows in 2024 and 2025 respectively. The National Parks Board (NParks) has observed that bird effigies are effective in dispersing crows for a period of time. Following the trials, NParks has integrated the use of bird effigies into its holistic crow management plan, to complement other measures, such as trapping and removal, nest removal and upcoming shooting operations.”
“Introduced in 2005, the Building and Construction Authority's (BCA's) Green Mark (GM) Certification scheme provides a framework to assess the overall sustainability performance of new and existing buildings. Since its launch, the number of GM-certified building projects has increased to over 2,500 today. The significant progress over the years is only possible with the growing contributions and expertise of our built environment professionals. The Skills Framework for Built Environment, developed in collaboration with SkillsFuture Singapore and Workforce Singapore, positions sustainability as a core competency for key built environment professionals, such as architects and engineers, quantity surveyors and facility management professionals. Building on this framework, BCA works with training providers to develop and update courses for both new entrants and practitioners. For example, Singapore Polytechnic has updated the curriculum for their Green Mark and Energy Sustainability course to ensure it reflects the latest requirements and standards of the BCA GM scheme.”
“The Housing and Development Board (HDB) offers a range of subsidised accessibility solutions under the Enhancement for Active Seniors programme for flats with multi-steps in front of their main entrance. These include portable ramps, customised ramps, as well as wheelchair lifters. The proposed accessibility solution will be assessed based on the available corridor space and must not pose maintenance concerns, obstruct the fire escape route or encroach onto the space of neighbouring units. Minor addition and alteration works to the existing steps or entrance gate may be required. For those who face constraints with installing or using a ramp, HDB will evaluate the feasibility of other options such as a wheelchair lifter.”
“The industry-led memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the Singapore Institute of Estate Agents (SIEA) and the five major Estate Agents (EAs) came about after the Council for Estate Agencies (CEA) engaged the industry in 2023 on the rising number of complaints about property flyers left on the doors of Housing and Development Board (HDB) homes. The MOU is a positive step and reflects the industry's readiness to take ownership by developing practical solutions to address the community's concerns over improper flyer distribution by property agents. CEA supports this industry-led initiative, recognising that advertising using flyers is a common marketing practice across sectors, including among property agents. Under the MOU, flyers must be properly distributed without being visible to members of the public other than the intended recipient. EAs will adopt a “three strikes” penalty system on errant property agents who commit flyer distribution breaches, with the most severe penalty being a six-month suspension from distributing flyers to HDB homes. EAs are to update SIEA, who will keep a central repository of flyer distribution breaches committed by property agents. This industry-led framework allows EAs to promote responsible distribution practices while minimising unintended impact on agents' livelihoods. After the commencement of this framework on 1 April 2026, CEA will monitor feedback and work with the industry to assess the situation holistically on whether further measures are required.”
“The breakdown of the number of Enhancement for Active Seniors (EASE) (Direct) applications between the launch of EASE (Direct) in July 2012 and 23 February 2026, by Housing and Development Board (HDB) zones and by flat type, is as follows:”
“The Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) ordered the removal of the mural at 59 Arab Street as murals are not allowed on front façades of conserved shophouses, except those at Haji Lane, given that they may obscure key architectural and heritage features and affect the established character and ambience of the historic district. In its assessment, URA had consulted the Kampong Gelam Alliance and the Heritage and Identity Partnership, both of whom agreed to maintain the prevailing guidelines for murals on conserved shophouses. The tenant has since removed the mural.”
“The Housing and Development Board (HDB) allows residents to keep up to two cats and one dog of an approved breed in an HDB flat. Residents may also keep small pets, such as birds, if these pets do not cause nuisance and disturbance to the neighbours and living environment. Between 2021 and 2025, HDB received on average about 4,000 pet-related feedback per year, with 22% related to birds, 31% related to cats and 47% related to dogs. In 2025, about 20% of pet-related feedback was related to an excessive number of pets. This category was not specifically tracked prior to 2025. If a resident's pet is causing disamenities to neighbours, HDB will advise the pet owner to take the necessary measures to reduce the inconvenience. This includes seeking help from Animal and Veterinary Services (AVS) accredited dog trainers if a resident's dog has disruptive behaviours that cause disamenities. If neighbour disputes arise, HDB will also advise the parties concerned to discuss the issue amicably and, if necessary, go through community mediation. For recalcitrant cases, the flat owners may be asked to re-home their pets, with assistance from animal welfare groups if needed. To enhance public education and awareness, the National Parks Board (NParks) works closely with stakeholders, such as schools, community interest groups and animal welfare groups, to organise events promoting responsible pet ownership and best practices for pet care. NParks also requires all first-time cat or dog licence applicants to complete a free online course on responsible pet ownership before licence issuance.”
“There are many opportunities for mural art in our historic districts to increase vibrancy and footfall, without obscuring key architectural and heritage features of the conserved buildings and affecting the established character and ambience of our historic districts. For example, murals are permitted on the side walls of corner shophouses and rear boundary walls. The Urban Redevelopment Authority has consulted the Kampong Gelam Alliance and the Heritage and Identity Partnership, both of whom agreed to maintain the prevailing guidelines for murals on conserved shophouses.”
“The industry-led memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the Singapore Institute of Estate Agents (SIEA) and the five major estate agents (EAs) came about after the Council for Estate Agencies (CEA) engaged the industry in 2023 on the rising number of complaints about property flyers left on the doors of HDB homes. The MOU is a positive step and reflects the industry's readiness to take ownership by developing practical solutions to address the community's concerns over improper flyer distribution by property agents. CEA supports this industry-led initiative, recognising that advertising using flyers is a common marketing practice across sectors, including among property agents. Under the MOU, flyers must be properly distributed without being visible to members of the public other than the intended recipient. EAs will adopt a "three strikes" penalty system on errant property agents who commit flyer distribution breaches, with the most severe penalty being a six-month suspension from distributing flyers to HDB homes. EAs are to update SIEA, who will keep a central repository of flyer distribution breaches committed by property agents. This industry-led framework allows EAs to promote responsible distribution practices while minimising unintended impact on agents' livelihoods. After the commencement of this framework on 1 April 2026, CEA will monitor feedback and work with the industry to assess the situation holistically on whether further measures are required.”
“In deciding the supply of Build-To-Order flats, including Shorter Waiting Time (SWT) flats, the Housing and Development Board considers many factors, like housing demand, land availability and the capacity of our construction industry. The shorter waiting time for SWT flats is achieved by starting the development process earlier, without compromising safety, quality or paying significantly higher costs of construction. To improve the productivity of our Built Environment sector, the Ministry of National Development has formed an action team together with industry partners to help companies save time, costs and manpower.”
“Ms Lee had a question about the 15-month wait-out period. So, as I have explained earlier, we will monitor the situation in the resale market a little bit more. Last quarter, the resale prices remain flat. Up to the middle of February this quarter, there was a slight dip, very slight, minus 0.1%. I think it is still too early, given such trends, for us to remove this because, we will all agree, we do not want to remove this and then the prices spike back up. Then all the previous efforts are all wasted. So, I think we should persist with this a little while more, monitor the data and at an appropriate time when we are ready, let us make a move. And in the meantime, if there are cases that require help, please do continue to appeal for your residents and we will look at each case on its own merits.”
“Mr Chairman, I thank Mr Foo for his three points. Certainly, we will be happy to work with him on some of the specific local challenges that he is facing with the older blocks in his constituency. 3.30 pm On pigeons, we are open to considering different possible ways and we can test this out to see whether they are effective. I do not know whether what Mr Foo describe is a workable solution or not, but I am prepared to try it, and I think we should be open-minded trying different ideas. Black cat, white cat, as long as can catch mice, it is a good cat. So as long as the method works, I think we should be prepared to try. The last point about lifts is an important one. Because as I described earlier, there are system level gains that we can derive when we build taller, but we do need to then make sure that we be fair to the Town Councils and be fair to the residents. The experience with Pinnacle that was built quite some time ago. I think, today, we learn from that and when we design, we will bring in the latest design specifications and technology. And also, I think we will certainly bear in mind how we support the Town Councils and the residents where we have some of these features in our estates that derive system level gains that all of us will benefit from but can impose some local level additional cost. So, if we can find a way to bridge that, then we can open up more possibilities that will be good for the country as a whole, the society as a whole.”
“On supply pipeline, I have actually addressed this earlier in my response to some of the earlier clarifications that we are not going to keep ourselves limited to the 55,000, which is what I said earlier as well. If we need to go beyond this 55,000, we will do so. If there is strong demand and we need to go higher than what we had earlier planned for, we will do so. Private residential, same thing, I have also said this previously that if the demand remains strong, we do have some capacity that we can release. There are two ways to do this: we can either activate a new site and release it through the Government Land Sale programme; or we could convert some of the sites from reserve to the Government Land Sale programme, or put some new sites into reserve that the developers could trigger if the demand is strong. So, there are very various ways to do this, but whether it is public housing or private housing, it goes back to the fundamental point that I mentioned earlier – which is that in order to meet all these different demands, all these different needs, supply is key. And supply means we have to build more. We have to activate more pieces of land. We have to build higher. We have to improve land intensification, improve the design so that we are able to have more integrated mixed use. These are all the different ways that we can increase the supply.”
“Thank you, Mr Chairman. The EC review is ongoing. So, I cannot give you a specific timeline. I think the important thing is this. I think Mr Chua highlighted this in his cut as well – it is not so straightforward. I think Mr Kwek mentioned this as well. If it is something that we can do by just increasing the grant, that is quite direct. But in this case, if that is the move that we make, and because we do not control the EC prices – these are based on what developers bid and what they sell – there is a risk that much of the support given, which is going to come from taxpayers, public funds, will be creamed off by the EC developers, instead of going to the home buyers, which was the intent. So, I think this is something which we need to look at carefully: how do you intervene appropriately, but without fundamentally changing the nature of what the ECs are. As I explained in my speech to Mr Chua's cut, ECs are more comparable to private condominiums. They are not public housing. Actually, after the 10-year period, they become exactly like a private condominium. And you can sell to anyone, including foreigners. Because of that, I think we need to ask ourselves as well: if you do this review, do you want to retain the fundamental nature of ECs, or do you want to actually change this? I think that is quite an important point to bear in mind. And if you want to retain it, then what are some of the moves that we can make to improve affordability but yet maintain this feature that it is closer to or more comparable to private condominiums, rather than to resale flats and to public housing.”
“15 pm I did acknowledge in my speech that it is something that we have to study carefully, because there are trade-offs. For example, if you allow this group – currently they are not eligible – if you allow them to come in, they will then apply for the same stock, the same supply of BTO flats that the other buyers, the eight out 10 who are currently below the income ceiling, this group will come in and compete with them for this supply of BTO flats. So, again, in order to ensure that we are able to meet this higher demand, supply is key, and that is why I hope to have the support of all Members of this House that we have to build more and build faster. There will be some trade-offs that we will need to make, including what Mr Dennis Tan mentioned. If I can avoid affecting some of the areas, I would, but we do have difficult trade-offs that we need to make. And if we prioritise providing adequate housing supply for our people as the number one priority, and if this House agrees with that, then what it means is that we have to be honest and candid about some of the trade-offs that we have to make.”
“Thank you, Mr Chairman, I will take the first two questions and my colleague Senior Minister of State Sun will take that third one. Sir, I do not have a number that I can share with Mr Singh at the moment, but it suffices to say that the application rate for the 2-room Flexi, which is what the singles and the seniors are able to apply for, that number is higher than for families. And that is why I mentioned earlier in my speech that we are going to increase the supply of 2-room Flexi flats by about 50% over the next three years to be able to meet this strong demand. Looking ahead, I think we are also reviewing whether for some groups of singles who may not want to buy a 2-room Flexi on their own but they may want to buy with a family member, but they need a bigger flat, whether that is something that we can also allow, if we are able to have adequate supply. That is what we are looking at. I cannot give a timing on when we can review this as well because it really depends on when we feel confident about the supply being adequate. I hope Mr Singh understands this point and I am sure he does, which is that if I lower the age before supply is adequate, we may then end up with more people entering the market to apply. Then demand goes up. That will also affect the existing group of applicants, including the singles who are aged 35 and above. So, to avoid that, we should time this properly, do it when we are confident that we are able to meet the increase in demand from the various groups of buyers. The second question on the removal of the income ceiling, we are of the same understanding, Mr Singh. I did mention in my speech earlier that you are not proposing to remove it – full stop; but with certain restrictions imposed on the people who exceed the income threshold. 3.”
“Thank you, Mr Chairman. Mr Chairman, the first question about 60 storeys, I think it is a bit too early for us to pinpoint which towns we are going to be able to do this, besides the one at Pearl's Hill that I just announced. But certainly, as I said in my speech, where we can, where possible, we would like to do so. Because this is a way to be able to increase the number of units, making better use of the limited land that we have and create more space. On wild birds, I thank Mr Ang for his support. As Minister of State Tan mentioned earlier, this requires a whole-of-society effort. We cannot solve the problem with just adding more and more enforcement officers or pest control teams, whether NParks or contractors. That is something that we will certainly do to make sure that they are adequately resourced to do their work, but we cannot just do that alone because we also need the other measures to work together as a package. For example, as Senior Minister of State Tan said earlier, please do not feed the birds. That is something which will help a lot. Please manage the food waste properly. That will also help. It takes a whole-of-society effort for us to do this and keep our environment safe and pleasant for everyone.”
“As Senior Parliamentary Secretary Harun mentioned earlier, we are using taxpayers' money, public funds. I think there is a need to balance and to be prudent. We will try our very best. I am hopeful that with new technologies coming out and working closely with the industry, there will be more options available that will allow us to be able to cater to more units.”
“Chairman, I will take both questions. The question to the first question is yes, we will continue with a robust supply of new BTO flats to meet the needs of buyers. I shared earlier that there are different groups of buyers that we are trying to cater to. If we lower the eligibility age for singles to be able to buy BTO flats, more people will be able to apply. If we raise the income threshold, more people will be eligible to apply. If we want to cater to more buyers who previously may be staying with their family members but now want to stay near but have their own flat, that will also lead to a higher demand for housing. Even though the number of people in the household, the average household size, may have come down, the number of households have actually increased because of this household fragmentation that we are seeing. This year, we are building 19,600. I have said earlier that if demand remains strong, HDB will continue with this robust supply and we will go beyond what we earlier committed, which is to build 55,000 in three years. We are prepared to go beyond. We are getting ready to be able to do that. The second question on LUP, I take Mr Liang's point that we do not want to view this in a binary manner, that we cannot do for the whole block because some parts cannot do, so I take his point. The assurance I want to give Members, as my colleague Senior Parliamentary Secretary Harun mentioned earlier, is that we will do our best, because it is our intent to try and provide lift access to as many households as possible. We will do our best. But I also seek the understanding of the House that in some cases, this may not be possible because the technology may not allow us to do it for that configuration or it will just simply be too expensive.”
“So, this is an area where I think if we can work closely with the Town Council, it is a win-win outcome. Certainly, for taller blocks as well, there are system level gains that we derive. But if there are going to be areas where Town Councils will have to spend more, then we have to look at it to see what we can do to ensure that it is a fair arrangement where the Government, Town Councils and also residents would all contribute to this.”
“Chairman, Mr Kwek asked about the timing of our review of income eligibility threshold. This is something which we are actively looking at. I am unable at this point in time to give him a concrete timeline, but certainly we will be ready to share this when the review is completed. Second question, are we going to build more 5-room flats? The answer is yes, we are going to look for more places where we can do this, and that is why I shared earlier that we need to look for more land that we can prepare the site to build more, build faster. We also need to look at how we can intensify land usage by building taller through clever design, use of more integrated and mixed-use facilities to be able to squeeze out more land productivity. Then, we will have more space. Land is going to be limited in Singapore. That is something which I think all of us would agree. But if we can improve land productivity, we are able to squeeze out more space, then, I can use that space to provide more supply to meet the needs of different groups of buyers – whether it is the singles, seniors, larger families and other groups. Last question, taller blocks, are we going to be able to provide more support to our Town Councils? Sir, I mentioned earlier in my main speech that the approach that we will continue to take is a partnership. We recognise that the costs have gone up, and we also recognise, as Mr Liang mentioned earlier in his cut, that in some areas the cost of providing those maintenance and services would be higher than the conventional method. He mentioned about the pneumatic waste collection system. And there are some system level gains because you save land, but the maintenance cost in some areas could be higher because the operations are more complex.”
“We will continue to study how we can harness new technologies, such as by building taller flats in other parts of Singapore and through the use of systems like the Pneumatic Waste Conveyance System, which frees up land for other uses. We will also look at other ways of optimising land use, such as making better use of under-utilised spaces like the area under flyovers and MRT viaducts. As we develop and grow, we will keep an eye on conservation – preserving key green and blue spaces, and valuable pieces of our heritage. We will have to navigate these trade-offs carefully, to develop Singapore sustainably for future generations. Minister of State Alvin Tan will share more about how we are doing so. Mr Chairman, over the past six decades, Singaporeans have transformed our small island into a thriving global city and endearing home. But we are not done building Singapore. We must continue to build on our fundamentals, while looking ahead to the future with confidence and optimism. For our homebuyers and residents, we will keep up a robust supply of private and public housing, and we will create common spaces where we can build strong communities. To our industry partners, we will work with you to grow a stronger, more productive and more resilient BE sector. One which can also provide many good jobs for our people. And for younger Singaporeans and our future generations, we will continue to plan boldly and build sustainably for the longer term, so that we leave behind a better future for you than what we have inherited from our forefathers.”
“The team comprises representatives from Government agencies and the industry and will develop measures to help the industry achieve savings in time, costs and manpower. It will focus on three areas: scaling up the adoption of productive technologies and progressive practices; reviewing our regulatory approach to reduce regulatory compliance burden, support innovation and improve procurement and contracting practices; and supporting an enabling ecosystem for the industry to reap system-level synergies and address industry-wide challenges. We will also continue to focus on upskilling and investing in our architects, engineers, quantity surveyors, project managers and many more, because people are at the heart of the BE sector. On our part, the Government will continue to review our policies, rules and processes to keep regulatory burden and compliance costs as low as possible. Minister Indranee will share more in her speech. The third priority for MND is to ensure that we continue developing Singapore sustainably for generations to come, by balancing different land use requirements and navigating trade-offs within the limited space we have. We plan to build more homes, new economic districts, more transport connections and nodes. But as a small island city-state, our land supply is constrained. So, we have to be creative and think hard about how to optimise the use of every parcel of land. 1.30 pm One way is to rejuvenate our older estates to ensure that they remain liveable and vibrant, and at the same time we can intensify how the land is used. Outram and Toa Payoh, which I spoke about earlier, are some examples.”
“We have set out ambitious plans for Singapore’s development as an endearing home and global city; from providing a robust supply of public and private housing to laying the foundations for Singapore’s next bound of economic development – constructing Changi Airport Terminal 5 and Tuas Port, building new economic districts, expanding our rail network, and many more. These are long-term projects that will benefit many generations of Singaporeans and have lasting impact for decades to come. To turn these plans into reality, our BE sector needs to be ready for the challenge. Mr Henry Kwek and Ms Lee Hui Ying spoke about this. For example, how do we benefit from advances in technology to save time, costs and manpower? AI and robotics can transform construction into a fast, smart and highly automated process, where software systems help designers to optimise sub-components that can be constructed by 3D printers in days rather than months. Autonomous robots could be used to construct buildings, monitored in real-time for delays and safety by drones. And we can have safer worksites, lower costs, reduced wastage and better-quality buildings delivered faster than before, at better value to the owners and occupants. This will also open up more exciting and meaningful job opportunities for Singaporeans, jobs which are no longer perceived to be “dusty, dirty and dangerous” but “dynamic, decarbonised and digitalised”. So, it is still three “Ds”, but a different set of three “Ds”, with strong growth prospects and career development pathways. To achieve this, I announced last month that we have set up an Action Team to improve BE productivity.”
“In the meantime, HDB will continue to consider appeals from households facing their own set of circumstances, and this will be done on a case-by-case basis. In the private residential property market, for 2025, we similarly saw the smallest increase in prices since 2020. Mr Louis Chua asked about how we can continue to ensure affordability for ECs. Similar points have been raised by others in this House previously, including Mr Henry Kwek and Mr Murali Pillai. ECs were introduced to provide an option for higher-income Singaporeans who aspire to own private housing. EC developments are strata-titled and have design features and facilities similar to private condominium developments. ECs are therefore more comparable to private condominiums than resale flats, because resale flats are still part of public housing. While ECs are priced by private developers, the prices are lower than private housing as we impose initial eligibility and ownership restrictions, such as an income ceiling and a minimum occupation period. EC new sale prices are about 20% to 30% lower than comparable private condominiums. Eligible EC buyers can also benefit from a CPF Housing Grant of up to $30,000. Sir, I understand the concerns which various Members have raised about ECs. We are reviewing the policy and will consider your suggestions as part of the review. The second priority for MND is to transform our Built Environment (BE) sector to improve productivity and to reduce costs, time and manpower. This is not a new priority, but we need to give it a renewed focus and stronger push.”
“We are looking into how the Government can provide some co-funding support for our private estate in key upgrading works, particularly where it concerns safety and liveability. It will require a combination of carrots and sticks. Minister Indranee will share more about our plans. We have seen moderation in the HDB resale and private housing markets in recent months. Growth in resale flat prices has slowed from 12.7% in 2021, to 2.9% in 2025. In the fourth quarter 2025, resale prices remained flat compared to the previous quarter, and this is the first time it has happened since first quarter 2020. As at mid-February, HDB resale prices for 2026 have shown a slight decline of 0.1%. This follows from our strong pipeline of BTO flats as well as the four rounds of cooling measures we rolled out over the last few years. The measures have taken time to work their way through the market, and we are starting to see some initial results. We are watching the market closely and stand ready to adjust our measures, bearing in mind that more flats will reach their MOP in the next few years, thereby increasing the supply of resale flats. Mr Ang Wei Neng and Mr Cai Yinzhou asked about the 15-month wait-out period for private property owners to purchase resale flats. This applies to the private property owners who are below the age of 55 or for those who are above the age of 55 if they were to buy 5-room and larger flats. Sir, while the recent data looks promising, as I shared earlier, it is prudent to monitor for a while more before making any adjustments. I want to assure the Members that we will remove this restriction when conditions allow.”
“These include estate maintenance and improvement projects, lift maintenance and building façade repairs to ensure public safety. Such funding support is extended to all Town Councils. For water seepage-related cases which require façade repairs to address public safety concerns, HDB currently co-funds repairs under the Façade Repairs Co-Payment Scheme. HDB also works closely with Town Councils to deal with more complex cases of water seepage by providing technical guidance. We will review Mr Singh’s suggestion, but as different cases may have their unique considerations, we will need to assess each case on its own merits. Sir, maintaining our estates is a shared responsibility. Residents contribute through their S&CC, and Town Councils play an important role to ensure that maintenance and other services are delivered in a cost-efficient manner, with Government providing grants and technical support to complement these efforts. I think this is the approach that we will continue to take. It is a shared responsibility and therefore, all the different parties will need to contribute to achieving the positive outcomes for our residents. Beyond public housing, we have also been ramping up private housing supply. We expect about 12,000 units of private housing, including ECs, to be launched for sale by developers this year. And this is more than 50% higher than the number of units launched for sale in 2024 and broadly similar to 2025. We are also studying how to enhance the liveability of private residential estates. Many private estate residents, including our seniors, have shared their concerns about rising maintenance costs and ageing facilities, especially in older estates.”