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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“At the end of the day, I think what is most important is a combination of good infrastructure but also safety consciousness, placing priority on safety for all users.”
“Sir, I thank Ms Poh for her supplementary questions. First, to clarify, AMAP is currently still doing its review. It has not come to any landing point at this moment. It is studying carefully the different options and trade-offs. What I shared earlier in my main reply was to highlight some of the practices in overseas jurisdictions where they do not license cyclists or bicycles, but they have other ways of improving road safety. So, we do need to look at these carefully. I believe where Ms Poh and some members of the public are coming from is that licensing may seem like an attractive idea to improve road safety, but, in practice, and based on the experiences in other countries, whether that is, indeed, an effective way or are there other more effective ways, that is something AMAP is carefully studying. Sir, I agree with Ms Poh that while we look at how to expand our cycling paths, our Park Connectors, in the meantime, there are also other ways to improve the infrastructure, to improve road safety in our towns for all users. Just to give an example, in Toa Payoh, where I am looking after the town, we are working together with LTA, PUB and also the other agencies to cover up some of the open drains and convert them into wider footpaths. And in doing so, as Ms Poh pointed out, there will be more space for different groups of road users: pedestrians, cyclists. This is an important effort that must be complemented by users putting safety as a priority. The footpaths may be wider, but you must still ride safely and you must still look out for bicycles, other devices and other pedestrians when you are walking along these footpaths.”
“Some are in support of licensing, so that errant cyclists can be more easily identified and punished. Others have expressed concerns that licensing on-road cyclists will increase compliance costs and affect the livelihoods of Singaporeans who are using their bicycles for work and commute. AMAP will adopt a fair and balanced approach in doing its review by consulting widely and hearing from different groups of stakeholders. Most jurisdictions, like the Netherlands and Denmark, do not license cyclists. Vienna licenses children aged 10 to 12 who ride alone on roads, to ensure they are educated with road traffic rules, but adult cyclists are not required to have a licence. Tokyo requires bicycles to be registered, but the purpose is to deter bicycle theft and not to enhance road safety. Beijing used to register bicycles too, but decided to abolish the scheme in 2004 as they found it to be costly and ineffective. AMAP will review the practices in overseas jurisdictions and study the different options and trade-offs carefully before finalising its recommendations. Sir, road safety is a collective effort by the community, requiring each of us, all of us, to play our part. Beyond reviewing the safety rules and penalties, I urge all road users to drive and ride safely, be considerate to one another and, in doing so, make our roads safer for everyone.”
“Errant cyclists can face up to a $1,000 fine and a six-month jail term for the first offence, with higher penalties for repeat offenders. There are also motorists who drive recklessly and endanger the lives of others, including cyclists, and we will take enforcement actions against them too. We should bear in mind that cyclists are more vulnerable than those travelling in motor vehicles. The Active Mobility Advisory Panel (AMAP) will review ways to raise awareness amongst motorists on how to share road space safely with cyclists and other users. Ultimately, there needs to be more graciousness, consideration, as well as give and take on the roads. Other countries have done it and I believe so can we. Beyond enforcement, the more enduring solution is public education. In his written Parliamentary Question, Mr Dennis Tan asked if we have a public education campaign on safe practices for cyclists and pedestrians. Since 2018, LTA has offered the Safe Riding Programme (SRP). This is a voluntary education programme that is free of charge, with both theory and practical components for all active mobility device users, including cyclists. LTA is revamping the SRP and will work with Traffic Police to reach out to road users and encourage public participation. We intend to roll out the new SRP in the next few months. AMAP is also reviewing if our safety rules need to be strengthened and whether existing penalties need to be increased. For example, it is studying suggestions from the public on whether cyclists should be required to ride in a single file at all times on the roads and if there should be limits on group sizes for on-road cycling. On whether to license on-road cyclists, there are mixed views from the public.”
“Thank you, Sir. Sir, more people have taken up cycling since the pandemic started. This is a good development, as cycling is a convenient, environmentally friendly and healthy way to travel. The key is to ensure safety – safety for different groups of road users. Where possible, we will separate bicycles from motor vehicles by providing cycling paths. We are building more cycling paths, within and between towns, from about 460 kilometres today to more than 1,300 kilometres by 2030. However, it is not always possible to have separate paths for motor vehicles and bicycles. There will be many instances and locations where motorists and cyclists have to share the same road space. To enhance road safety, it is important to have clear rules for motorists and cyclists, and for everyone to follow these safety rules. For on-road cyclists, there are existing rules under the Road Traffic Act which they must follow. For example, cyclists must comply with all traffic rules, such as adhering to traffic light signals and avoiding the use of expressways and tunnels. They should also ride as near as possible to the far-left edge of the road. This means they should keep to the left on the leftmost lane unless they are turning right or making a U-turn. On single-lane roads, cyclists are required to ride in a single file, so they do not obstruct passing vehicles. The majority of cyclists follow the safety rules. But there is a minority of errant cyclists who use their mobile phones while riding, refuse to stop at red lights, ride in the middle lane of a major road, including expressways where bicycles are prohibited, and some of them react aggressively when they are called out for their actions. We will enforce against such behaviours.”
“Speaker, may I have your permission to answer Question Nos 3 and 4 together?”
“This is something which is very crucial because it requires a strong tripartite partnership to work hand in hand with companies and the Labour Movement to be able to redesign the jobs and to be able to upskill the jobs. I think in the process of doing so, together with growth, we are then able to provide higher pay, better prospects, and I think this will allow us to attract more Singaporeans to enter the sector.”
“Mr Chairman, I think Mr Saktiandi asked a very important question about jobs, because when we pursue growth, when we attract investments, what is the end in mind? One very important objective is to create good jobs for our people. In the maritime sector, our aim is to be able to create an inclusive and diverse range of jobs. If you look at the port sector, this will be the traditional roles that we have, crane operators, drivers, but increasingly, we are also looking at new roles that we need different skills and different groups of individuals to come in to fill these roles. When we pursue environmental sustainability, green growth, de-carbonisation of shipping and port operations, I think this will open up new opportunities and new possibilities. Similarly, I think for the maritime services which actually go hand-in-hand with the port, because when we grow our port and shipping lines call at Singapore, they register their ships here with our registry, they base their headquarters – their regional and global headquarters – here in Singapore, we can then offer them all the other maritime related services – financing, insurance, legal, brokering and so on and so forth. All that will create a lot of opportunities for different groups of Singaporeans. Different age groups as well. Young graduates, but also mid-career entrants who want to join the sector. So, they may transit, for example, from engineering, from finance sector, from IT, and they want to now enter this growth sector. We welcome them. 2.00 pm Lastly, I want to say this. It is not just the number of jobs – which is very important and we will try our best and we will try and create as many as we can – but in the end, it is also about whether we are able to raise the quality of jobs.”
“Mr Chairman, in my speech earlier, I mentioned for the Tuas Port, that we will continue to explore viable transport options for workers. So, this is something which we will study and Mr Ang is right that if you look at the demand for transport connectivity to that part of Singapore, it will not only depend on the Tuas Port alone but also what are the other developments in the surrounding area using the port as a key hub supporting the growth of different industries. So, this is something which we will assess and we will discuss with the relevant stakeholders and other agencies.”
“If it succeeds, we can scale up the idea and extend it to other areas across Singapore. This is what former Head of Civil Service, Mr Peter Ho, calls, "aiming for safe fail, rather than fail safe". Mr Chairman, in the Summer Palace in Beijing, there was a stone boat built by Emperor Qianlong. He hoped the Qing Dynasty would be like the stone boat – unshakeable and unsinkable. Unfortunately, it is also un-sailable. And we know what eventually happened to the Qing Dynasty. When we build ships, it is not to anchor them in the harbour or in some lake in the Summer Palace. It is to sail out to the oceans, to the open seas and reach new lands, including going into uncharted waters. To be an innovative nation, we must have the same pioneering spirit and sense of adventure like our forefathers: willing to leave our comfort zones and take calculated risks, never giving up when we encounter challenges and always looking to pursue new rainbows on the horizon. [Applause.]”
“It will form a Transport Infrastructure Collaboration Panel with representatives from the Real Estate Developers' Association of Singapore, Singapore Institute of Architects and Institution of Engineers Singapore. The panel will find ways to reduce business costs and improve efficiency. For example, it will simplify and shorten the approval process for development plans, by expanding the lodgement scheme to allow more categories of submissions to receive in-principle approval upon submission. This win-win outcome can only be achieved if the industry is clear about what is required in the submissions, to avoid multiple back-and-forths. LTA will work with the professional bodies to conduct sessions and raise awareness on what is required for the submissions. LTA is also working with URA and other agencies to better integrate transport and land use planning-related information. This will be uploaded online for public access when ready. It will reduce information gaps and facilitate more public-private collaborations. Next, the panel will review existing rules and set up regulatory sandboxes to support innovative ideas and new business models. As regulator, LTA is a gatekeeper. It needs to assess proposals objectively. Some they will support, others, they will have to say no. It is not a free-for-all, but also not nothing at all. To try new ideas, we must also be prepared to take calculated risks and accept some failure along the way. If we have zero tolerance for failure or if we are too afraid of making mistakes, we will have zero capacity for innovation. This is why I support setting up regulatory sandboxes where necessary to pilot new technologies and business models. If the experiment fails, we limit the downsides, we learn from the experience and we try again.”
“As the maritime sector grows and transforms, there will be new opportunities and new pathways in areas such as environmental sustainability, systems engineering, cybersecurity and data analytics. MPA is partnering the industry and Institutions of Higher Learning to facilitate training, attachment and traineeship opportunities as part of the SGUnited Jobs and Skills Package. The training allowances will increase from 1 April. We are also encouraging maritime companies to tap on the Jobs Growth Incentive to increase local hiring as well as Professional Conversion Programmes for mid-career entrants. MPA will partner the industry to groom a pipeline of future leaders for Maritime Singapore. We are starting a new Maritime Leadership Programme to train up to 30 local maritime managers for the first two runs to hone their leadership skills, build global perspectives on key maritime issues and strengthen their business networks locally and abroad. Let me now turn to LTA's pro-enterprise efforts. Mr Saktiandi and Mr Ang Wei Neng asked about this. LTA's work impacts businesses beyond the land transport sector. The built environment sector is one example as development plans involving transport infrastructure or traffic flows require LTA's approval. Companies often request LTA to expedite their approvals to reduce processing time and business costs. Companies also introduce new business models and technologies, including green solutions. So, LTA's rules and regulations need to stay ahead of the curve to support new innovations. At the same time, LTA is responsible for public safety and a pleasant commuting experience for all. A balance must be struck. In line with the SG Together movement, LTA will partner the industry to make its approval process more pro-business.”
“We will increase the cap of co-funding support for maritime technology SMEs from 50% currently to 70%, and encourage industry players to share expertise and resources to co-develop scalable solutions. Eligible projects by industry consortiums will also receive up to 70% co-funding support. The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) will top up $15 million to the Maritime Innovation and Technology Fund. In total, we will have $100 million to fund maritime R&D and product development. We aim to more than triple the number of maritime tech start-ups supported under the PIER71 funding programme from 30 to 100 by 2025. The start-up eco-system is gaining momentum with wider industry support. Recently, SEEDS Capital partnered venture development firms to co-invest up to $50 million into maritime technology start-ups. Our goal is to be the top maritime start-up hub in the world, the Silicon Valley for maritime technology. Mr Saktiandi asked about the Green Energy and Technology Programme. A key project is the electrification of harbour craft. Our call for proposals has received interest from 16 industry consortiums. MPA is also drawing up a Maritime Singapore Decarbonisation Blueprint 2050 together with the industry to promote sustainable practices and identify new job opportunities. I have spoken about the first two "I"s, "integrated" and "innovative". The third "I" is inclusive, which reflects our vision of creating a diverse range of jobs for Singaporeans with different backgrounds and skillsets. We want to attract and train more Singaporeans to take on seafaring and shore-based jobs.”
“Tuas Port will offer best-in-class efficiency, productivity, reliability and sustainability. It will be fully automated – from cranes to driverless vehicles. These will more than double our labour productivity at Tuas, compared to our City Terminals, and create many skilled jobs for Singaporeans in the port sector. It will also be a greener port, with a 50% reduction in carbon emissions intensity. The concept of integration extends beyond the port. To key sectors like advanced manufacturing, cold chain and logistics, which form the Tuas Port eco-system, we can move containers directly from the ships to the factories without additional delays or handling costs. We are also enhancing digital integration to facilitate data exchange, helping companies to enjoy greater convenience, reduce costs and save time. Mr Ang Wei Neng asked about accessibility and housing for workers. We plan to develop Tuas South region for industrial use over the next two decades. We will continue to explore viable transport options for workers and work with MND to increase public housing options in the West. We will further grow our International Maritime Centre and encourage maritime companies to expand their operations here, including maritime law and arbitration, ship management and marine insurance. We aim to bring in $20 billion in total business spending commitments from maritime companies from 2020 to 2024, and create more jobs and more opportunities for our people. Let me move to the second "I", an innovative Maritime Singapore. We will partner and support maritime technology SMEs: to push research and technology boundaries; scale up and team up; and turn challenges into new opportunities for growth.”
“Mr Chairman, I will speak about growing our maritime sector and LTA's pro-enterprise efforts. Maritime Singapore did well last year. Our port handled 36.9 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs). Our International Maritime Centre grew in scale and diversity. We attracted 11 new shipping groups to Singapore and worked with eight maritime companies to expand their operations here. Mr Saktiandi Supaat asked about growing the maritime sector and creating jobs. This is important. We must not be too satisfied with our success to become complacent. We will build on the momentum and seize new opportunities to create an integrated, innovative and inclusive Maritime Singapore eco-system – what we call the three "I"s. Let me start with the first "I", integrated. Our port is consistently ranked first or second in the world on efficiency, reliability and connectivity. But future growth is never guaranteed. If we do not stay ahead of the competition, others will steal our lunch. We must continue to differentiate ourselves and bring value to our customers. We are consolidating all of PSA's operations from Pasir Panjang, Keppel and Brani into one integrated Tuas Port, what the Prime Minister called "our next bold move". Mr Melvin Yong and Mr Ang Wei Neng asked for an update on Tuas Port. We are on track to complete the first phase of land reclamation works by end of this year, creating 400 hectares to support 21 berths and handle 20 million TEUs a year. When Tuas Port is fully operational, it will be as large as two Ang Mo Kios and handle up to 65 million TEUs a year, 50% more than our current capacity. This additional capacity will allow PSA to serve more ships and further enhance our network connectivity, which is a critical factor for a transshipment hub port.”
“The support of our people gives us strength. The pursuit of our national interests guides our direction and the well-being of Singapore and Singaporeans is why MFA and our officers continue to brave the odds and go the extra mile to get our job done. [Applause.]”
“Our Honorary Consul-General (HCG) in Lima Mr Winston Merchor helped with the repatriation of 14 Singaporeans and their families who were stranded in Peru last year. Unfortunately, Mr Merchor passed away last month. I would like to express my deepest condolences to his family and our appreciation for his 16 years of sterling service as our HCG in Lima. Mr Merchor was a wonderful friend to Singapore. I also thank all our HCGs around the world for their devoted service to Singapore and Singaporeans, especially over the past year during the pandemic. I share these examples to illustrate how our MFA officers, including those serving at our overseas Missions, are frontline workers, are frontline warriors in the fight against COVID-19. They have worked under challenging conditions to bring our citizens home and ensure that no Singaporean is left behind. MFA will also protect our officers on the frontlines, and I thank Mr Raj Joshua Thomas for raising this. Even as the global health situation deteriorated, not a single MFA officer, not one, not a single one, has asked to leave his or her post to come home. They bravely continue to perform their duties to serve Singapore and Singaporeans out at post. On behalf of all Singaporeans, I want to thank our MFA officers for their service during this especially difficult year and also my sincere thanks to their families for their unwavering support. Your tenacity and dedication in performing your duty to the nation despite the risk to your own lives, showcase the very best of the Singapore spirit. It shows the world why we are called Singapura – a city of lion-hearted people. Mr Chairman, in the face of global uncertainty and upheaval, domestic resilience and national unity are crucial. Foreign policy indeed begins at home.”
“Mr Don Wee asked about maintaining Singapore's relevance in the international community, while Mr Gerald Giam raised our technical assistance to developing countries. Singapore's survival is intrinsically linked to regional and international peace and stability. It is therefore in our interest for our region to grow and prosper. We have been proactively sharing our development experiences and know-how in areas where we can contribute, for example, though the Singapore Cooperation Programme. Through these initiatives, we had been able to grow our international network of friends whilst reinforcing Singapore's relevance as a constructive and responsible member of the international community. These friendships, built over many years, have been especially important during times of crisis like the COVID-19 pandemic. Sir, as Mr Desmond Choo noted, an important area where MFA helps Singaporeans abroad is through our consular work. During the pandemic, our officers went beyond the call of duty to assist fellow Singaporeans in distress. Just across the Causeway, some Singaporeans were unable to make it back home following the Malaysian Movement Control Order (MCO) in March 2020. Some of our children were in the care of their grandparents, their guardians in Malaysia at that time. To facilitate their return, MFA officers, together with ICA, MOH, MOT and LTA, worked tirelessly and they launched several repatriation operations to reunite over 350 children with their parents in Singapore. Our overseas Missions also worked around the clock with airlines and foreign authorities to facilitate safe passage home for overseas Singaporeans. We have also worked with our network of Honorary Consuls around the world to extend our consular presence.”
“Every generation will need to invest in strengthening our relationship, strengthen mutual trust, and continually identify areas of mutually beneficial cooperation. Mr Chairman, Singapore’s foreign policy has always been guided by our national interests. We work hard to be friends and maintain good ties with all countries, in order to preserve and enhance our security, economic and international space. However, it is inevitable that our positions on various issues may differ from those of our partners. This includes our neighbouring countries, as well as the US, the EU, China, Japan, India, etc. Our relations with other countries will therefore have their ups and downs. When our relations with other countries are good, we will build on the momentum and strengthen our collaborations and friendship. However, we must be prepared that countries will disagree with each other on certain issues based on different national interests. The key is to find suitable platforms to resolve these disagreements in an amicable manner, by engaging with each other constructively and where possible, coming to mutually acceptable compromises. Sometimes, we may have to agree to disagree, but we can still maintain friendly relations. Former Minister for Foreign Affairs Mr George Yeo had used the Taiji analogy of “zhan” to characterise Singapore-China relations; I think this is a good metaphor. There will be some back and forth in the interactions, and some ups and downs along the way, but the two parties should remain in contact and stay engaged with each other. 4.15 pm (In English): Mr Chairman, please allow me to continue in English. Mr Desmond Choo asked how Singaporeans can play their part on foreign policy.”
“The signing of the RCEP is a strong testament of the region’s commitment to deepening economic integration despite challenging times. It will boost confidence in trade and investment and open up new business opportunities with RCEP economies, including China. With our strong historical and people-to-people links with China, Singapore is in a good position to build bridges with China. However, our value proposition must go beyond our ability to speak Mandarin or understand Chinese culture. These are useful to build connections with our Chinese counterparts, but there are already more than a billion people who speak Mandarin and understand Chinese culture in China. This is therefore not an area where Singapore can add value to China. Our value proposition lies in our ability to continuously improve, innovate, manage our economy and society well, and to be an exceptional country. In fact, it is precisely because Singapore and China are similar in some aspects, but different in others, that there are more opportunities for both sides to learn from each other, and there is greater room for us to exchange views and cooperate. What is important is that we can seek common ground despite differences in some areas, and work together in areas of shared interests. For instance, Lianhe Zaobao has a strong following in China. The Chinese readers find Zaobao accessible and familiar, but its value comes from the fact that it is a Singapore newspaper and not a Chinese publication. So it analyses global and regional developments from a Singaporean perspective. It is also important that we do not take our excellent bilateral relations for granted. We should regularly renew and deepen our friendship to build on the strong foundations that our forefathers have put in place.”
“Mr Chairman, in Mandarin, please. (In Mandarin): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] The US is a major economic and defence partner for Singapore. It is also our largest source of FDI. US investments and US companies create many jobs in finance, insurance, manufacturing, technology and other sectors. Cooperation with the US is critical to maintaining our defence capabilities. President Biden is familiar with Singapore, and keen to work with us. Mr Zhulkarnain asked about the state of our relations with China. Singapore-China relations are developing well. Bilateral relations are longstanding, substantive, and multi-faceted. In 2020, we celebrated the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations. Despite the pandemic, we have kept up our exchanges and cooperation. Over the past decades, our cooperation with China has continued to progress, and developed in a way that meets China’s developmental priorities. In the process, Singapore has contributed to and benefitted from China’s growth. We learnt from each other. Looking ahead, we will continue to strengthen our cooperation with China and create development opportunities for Singaporean enterprises and our workers. Mr Liang Eng Hwa asked what are the opportunities for Singaporean businesses in China at the provincial level, and how RCEP could further boost bilateral trade. Our eight provincial business councils allow us to support Singapore companies to participate in China’s economic transformation; promote the internationalisation of Chinese enterprises through Singapore as a regional hub; and deepen collaboration in new areas such as connectivity, sustainability, and modern services.”
“So, therefore, we need to continually review how we can optimise the use of our scarce resources.”
“Sir, LTA has been conducting surveys to get a sense of the demand from commuters and especially when there are new housing developments, we do look at how do we provide the connectivity for residents. I would like to highlight one point that I think Assoc Prof Jamus Lim mentioned. And that is, he said that even if the bus services were to lose money, will we still be willing to provide? Actually, we have been doing so for the large majority of bus services. As I mentioned in my main reply, only two feeder services are able to generate enough revenue to cover operating costs in 2020. For the rest of the services, we are covering through Government subsidies from the $1 billion pool of total public funds that I mentioned. If you are talking about new services, we want to have more new services, it is not that we cannot do it but we have to assess this carefully, because resources are finite and we need to ensure financial prudence. So, if we spend on one, we will have less resources to spend on another. That is the trade-off. If we are going to cater to new demand and yet, we do not wish to take away or adjust existing bus routes, then you can work out the sums. Mathematically, I think it will be clear to everybody that the total amount of public subsidies would have to go up. The concern with doing that is over time, it becomes financially unsustainable and we are increasing the fiscal burden for this generation and the next generation. Therefore, the Government has to strike a balance between a few important considerations: quality of service, fare affordability for commuters and financial sustainability of our public transport system. These are all important objectives and ideally, we want to be able to do all of them. But we know there are practical trade-offs.”
“In fact, one of the concepts that I think we need to get people used to, is that what we want is to provide adequate transport connectivity via public transport through a combination of bus and MRT. This means that we want to ensure that residents have adequate connectivity between their homes and the train station with buses increasingly focusing on the first and last mile connectivity, to complement the expanding MRT network that will provide the connectivity for longer travel distances.”
“Speaker, Sir, I would like to thank Mr Ang for highlighting the importance of ensuring financial prudence. As Mr Ang mentioned, we now spend $1 billion a year in terms of Government subsidies for bus services and another $1 billion a year on train services. Mr Ang asked why is this $1 billion spent or what is it spent on in terms of bus services? It covers different aspects. But basically, when you roll out new bus services and that bus service cannot quite cover operating costs – that means the revenue and the fares that are being collected are not enough to cover operating costs and there is a deficit. And to cover the deficit, we are using the subsidies to pay the operators to run these otherwise non-commercial, sorry, uncommercial, in terms of viability, these bus services would not normally be run. But we understand why these bus services are required. Sometimes, it is to serve certain areas where we still need to provide the connectivity, but the ridership is low. Sometimes, it is because there are new housing estates, new residents and we do need to provide new services to connect them to key transport nodes like MRT stations and bus interchanges. However, in the process of doing so, we cannot keep on increasing the total sum of subsidies. Because if we do that, the fiscal burden for this generation and future generations of Singaporeans will increase. So, our approach is as far as possible, we want to be able to meet new demand, cater to new groups of commuters, new services, by re-adjusting some of the existing services that have low ridership. And as I mentioned earlier in my main reply, an example of these services will include those that run parallel to the train lines.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, the Government is expanding the rail network from 230 kilometres to 360 kilometres in the early 2030s, with the progressive opening of new stations and Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) lines. When the expansion is completed, our MRT network coverage will be comparable to major cities like New York and London. Eight in 10 households will be within a 10-minute walk of a train station. Past experience shows that the opening of new rail lines would lead to significant falls in ridership of parallel bus services. If we keep the services as they are, it will mean more operating subsidies and greater use of public funds. In 2019, we have a total of 356 bus services. Only 11 services could generate fare revenue that covered operating costs. The other 345 could not generate enough fare revenues to cover operating costs. The difference was made up by Government subsidies amounting to about $1 billion. In 2020, with public transport ridership falling due to COVID-19, only two feeder services were able to generate revenues to cover their operating costs. Sir, to maintain financial prudence and meet new demand for bus services, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) needs to continually review bus routes and implement changes to those with low ridership. These are often tough decisions with difficult trade-offs on what we choose to spend on at the national, and also at the local levels and after careful consideration of the impact on different groups of commuters. We seek the understanding and support of Singaporeans to make such adjustments from time to time, in order to optimise our limited resources to benefit as many commuters as possible.”
“The ASEAN Framework Agreement on Multimodal Transport is focused on the legal, regulatory and procedural aspects of facilitating the multimodal transport of goods across ASEAN member states. So, it does not deal with environmental sustainability issues per se. Having said that, ASEAN recognises the importance of environmental sustainability including in the area of transport, and there are other ASEAN initiatives and platforms that promote this goal. And Singapore, we are involved in these initiatives. These include the ASEAN Regional Strategy on Sustainable Land Transport, which was adopted by ASEAN Transport Ministers in 2018. Another example is the ASEAN Green Ship Strategy which was adopted in 2019. Mr Speaker, the Multimodal Transport Bill will put in place the legislative framework for Singapore to ratify the ASEAN Framework Agreement on Multimodal Transport later this year. Together with the ASEAN Framework Agreement on the Facilitation of Goods in Transit and the ASEAN Framework Agreement on the Facilitation of Inter-State Transport that Singapore have already ratified, this will bring us one step closer towards the goal of enhancing regional integration, which Members have spoken about. Sir, I beg to move. [(proc text) Question put, and agreed to. (proc text)] [(proc text) Bill accordingly read a Second time and committed to a Committee of the whole House. (proc text)] [(proc text) The House immediately resolved itself into a Committee on the Bill. – [Mr Chee Hong Tat]. (proc text)] [(proc text) Bill considered in Committee; reported without amendment; read a Third time and passed. (proc text)]”
“The ASEAN Framework Agreement on Multimodal Transport does not introduce additional requirements on the type of goods or materials that can be transported. However, the Bill requires the consignor to accurately inform the multimodal transport operator, or MTO for short, of the nature of the goods. In particular, the consignor will need to spell out if any of its goods are of dangerous character, and could endanger life or property. If it fails to do so, the consignor will be liable to the MTO, if the MTO incurs any loss during the shipment that is due to the dangerous nature of the goods. As for Mr Saktiandi’s question about protection and insurance for logistics companies, the Bill provides for a common and consistent liability regime for MTOs across ASEAN. To protect logistics companies, the Bill also sets out exclusion conditions to exempt MTOs from liability in the event of loss or damage to goods due to unforeseen conditions. Mr Don Wee suggested that the contents of the Multimodal Transport Document be specified in English, to lower transaction costs for businesses. The ASEAN Framework Agreement on Multimodal Transport does not explicitly state the language requirements of the Multimodal Transport Document. However, as English is the official working language of ASEAN, we will work with fellow ASEAN member states towards formalising this arrangement for the implementation. There have been precedents in other ASEAN initiatives where documents are required to be in English or to be accompanied by a certified English translation. Lastly, Mr Louis Ng asked about environmental sustainability for transport. This is an important topic.”
“Mr Speaker, I would like to thank Mr Saktiandi Supaat, Mr Louis Ng and Mr Don Wee for their support for the Multimodal Transport Bill. Let me now address the points they raised. First, the qualifying criteria for logistics companies to join the Registry are as follows. It must be a company or a person whose business name is registered in Singapore. It must also have a principal place of business in Singapore. It needs to have an insurance, bond, guarantee or other financial arrangements that can cover payment for claims arising from any loss, damage or delay in the delivery of the goods. This is a standard industry requirement. Lastly, the company must maintain the prescribed minimum assets. At the start, we intend to set this to be the equivalent of 80,000 Special Drawing Rights which is equivalent to approximately S$153,000, based on current exchange rates. These criteria are reasonable and would not be entry barriers for logistics companies. If the House approves this Bill, we will work with industry associations to reach out to logistics companies during the implementation. Sir, I agree with Mr Louis Ng that LTA should provide its reasons upfront if LTA refuses to issue or renew a registration certificate. LTA will do so. If there are any appeals from the companies, these can be submitted to the Minister for consideration. Mr Don Wee asked whether potential customers will know the amount of liability insurance that the company has. We will publish this information on the registry website when the company registers with LTA. This can help potential customers make informed decisions before engaging logistics companies for their multimodal transport services. Sir, Mr Saktiandi Supaat asked about the movement of hazardous materials.”
“This document will be recognised by all ASEAN member states to certify that the MTO has taken charge of the goods and will deliver them in accordance with the multimodal transport contract. Third, the Bill establishes a legal framework on the liabilities of the MTOs. Today, when disputes occur, liability between operators and consignors will be determined based on their contract terms, common law or other legislation. With the Bill, there will be minimum standards for the liability regime. For example, MTOs will be liable for the loss of, damage to, or delay in the delivery of goods when the goods are in their charge, but they will not be liable if these are due to inherent defects or caused by parties handing over the goods. Fourth, the Bill also lays out the roles and responsibilities of the consignors. Consignors are required to accurately inform the operators of the details of the goods that they will be carrying, including if the goods to be transported are deemed dangerous in accordance to domestic laws or international conventions. If they fail to do so, they will be liable for any losses incurred related to such goods. Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move. [(proc text) Question proposed. (proc text)] 3.59 pm”
“These goods are carried by a multimodal transport operator registered with the Competent National Body established in the ASEAN member states, under a single multimodal transport contract where the origin or destination of the goods delivery is in an ASEAN member state. The Bill covers four key areas, which are: (a) Registration with the Singapore Competent National Body; (b) Issuance of Multimodal Transport Document; (c) Liabilities of Multimodal Transport Operators; and (d) Duties and Liabilities of Consignors. I will go through each of these areas. First, the Bill will put in place the legislative framework for Singapore to recognise the Competent National Body, established by each ASEAN member state to maintain a registry of multimodal transport operators, or MTOs for short. For Singapore, the Land Transport Authority will be the Competent National Body. MTOs have the option to join the registry. For these MTOs, LTA will issue them with registration certificates, after assessing that they have met requirements such as having insurance to cover any payment of claims, and maintaining a minimum level of assets. Once issued, the registration certificate is valid for one year and can be renewed. The Competent National Body can also cancel the registration of MTOs if they have falsified material or contravened conditions of the certificate. The second area of the Bill relates to the Multimodal Transport Document. It will serve as a common documentational framework to be issued by MTOs registered with a Competent National Body. MTOs will be able to issue this document to consignors, which are the parties engaging the MTOs for the conveyance of the goods.”
“Mr Speaker, on behalf of the Minister for Transport, I beg to move, “That the Bill be now read a second time”. The Multimodal Transport Bill 2020 will set up a new Act to give effect to the ASEAN Framework Agreement on Multimodal Transport. This provides for the standardisation of provisions relating to the international multimodal transport of goods to and from any ASEAN member country, under a multimodal transport contract. A harmonised transport system will enhance regional connectivity in ASEAN and facilitate the free movement of goods, services and investment. To support this goal, ASEAN member states have signed three framework agreements. The ASEAN Framework Agreement on the Facilitation of Goods in Transit was signed in 1998, followed by the ASEAN Framework Agreement on Multimodal Transport in 2005. The ASEAN Framework Agreement on the Facilitation of Inter-State Transport was signed in 2009. ASEAN member states have been ratifying these agreements. In 2019, Singapore completed the ratification of the ASEAN Framework Agreement on the Facilitation of Goods in Transit and the ASEAN Framework Agreement on the Facilitation of Inter-State Transport. We are now introducing the Multimodal Transport Bill, to facilitate Singapore ratifying the ASEAN Framework Agreement on Multimodal Transport later this year. After all ASEAN member states have ratified the agreement, it will provide a single, unified framework for the multimodal transport of goods within ASEAN. This will include market access for Singapore logistics operators to operate in other ASEAN member states under a set of regionally aligned standards. Sir, the Multimodal Transport Bill applies to the carriage of goods via more than one transport mode, whether through air, land or sea.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, thank you for allowing me to join this debate. I cannot help but notice that Mr Leong Mun Wai has made a wrong attribution to the SP Group – their commercial model and their business model. He mentioned the wholesale price has gone down and why is it that the SP Group did not pass on the savings? Let me clarify. SP Group is the grid operator. They provide the infrastructure to transmit and distribute the electrons that are being produced by the generation companies – as Minister Tan See Leng mentioned, the gencos. After the electricity is produced, the SP Group's transmission and distribution system, the grid, then transmits the electrons from the power generation companies to the users. SP Group's returns, how that is determined – the Energy Market Authority or EMA, as the regulator, will then look at the assets that the SP Group has put in place and calculate what is the fair rate of return for those assets. It is actually separate from the price of electricity in the wholesale market. That is not what the SP Group earns. As Minister Tan was saying earlier, that is what the gencos are charging for producing the electricity. SP Group is the entity that transmits the electrons. They earn a return for the infrastructure that they have put in place, the grid infrastructure that they have put in place. I think it is important for us to be clear on what is the business model of the various entities before we make comments like: why are they making so much money and they are not passing it on? Why are they making so much profit and they are not passing through some of these to consumers? Mr Leong needs to understand what the facts are so that we can have a meaningful discussion based on accurate facts.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, a project of this nature is a bilateral project, something that requires both parties to sit down, negotiate, discuss and find a way forward. I think Mr Ang is aware that for the RTS Link project, it was suspended for a short while and we had to discuss together with Malaysia on what were the arrangements that were acceptable to both countries. In such negotiations and discussions, there will be some give and take, some changes made. And that is what we did with the RTS Link Project. But the important thing is this – there are safeguards in the agreement to protect the interests of both countries and to ensure that the objectives of the project can still be achieved. So, I mentioned earlier, and I stressed this point, 10,000 passengers per hour per direction. Because that was what we wanted; to make sure that continues to be the case. So, even though we switched from the TEL to LRT, we continue to be able to achieve this objective. Mr Ang also asked about maintenance, and again, I mentioned this in my main reply. I said there is a OpCo that is being formed by companies from both sides. Both countries will have a shared interest to ensure that the trains are able to run reliably, safely and meet the needs of commuters from both sides.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, on 30 July 2020, Singapore and Malaysia formally agreed to resume the Johor Bahru–Singapore Rapid Transit System Link or RTS Link Project, and held a ceremony witnessed by both Prime Ministers to mark the occasion. Three agreements were signed to give effect to the resumption of the project – an agreement to amend the RTS Link Bilateral Agreement, a Joint Venture Agreement between Singapore’s SMRT and Malaysia’s Prasarana to constitute a joint venture Operating Company or OpCo, and a Concession Agreement for the Government of Malaysia and LTA to appoint this OpCo as the RTS Link Operator for the first 30-year concession period. Both sides have agreed that the RTS Link will use an LRT system, instead of the Thomson-East Coast Line or TEL MRT system. The LRT system for the RTS Link is more similar to a medium capacity MRT system, such as the Jurong Region Line, with a peak hour capacity of 10,000 passengers per hour per direction. The change from TEL to LRT system will not require any major changes to the original infrastructure design. The RTS Link station continues to be located next to the TEL Woodlands North Station to provide commuters with ease of transfer. The RTS Link is an important bilateral project that will ease Causeway congestion, facilitate business and tourism, and bring our peoples closer together. Singapore looks forward to working closely with Malaysia to implement the RTS Link Project and to commence passenger service by end 2026.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I thank Mr Melvin Yong. This suggestion from the unions is currently being discussed with the operators. We would also take feedback from our bus captains because they are the ones who will be using this. When this safeguard is in place, they will be the ones who are going to use it daily. I think an important consideration when we ask the bus captains for their feedback, will be to ensure that the installation of these protective shields will not interfere with the safety when they are driving the buses. I think that is a very key consideration. We will also get their feedback, because I think previously the trials showed that when you put some of these protective shields in place, there was a bit of glare that affected the drivers, the bus captains. So, we will also have to look at that because, ultimately, this is for both the protection and safety of the bus captains and also for the safety of commuters.”
“Mr Speaker, I thank the hon Member for his supplementary question. I welcome his question. The zero-tolerance approach that we take is towards abusive behaviours by a small number of commuters. Mr Saktiandi has touched on a very important point, which is that this requires the collective effort of Government, operators, unions and I will add commuters too. All of us as stakeholders in this public transport system can play our role. For the on-going review that we are conducting with the operators and the unions, I would welcome further suggestions on what are some of the specific measures we can put in place to offer greater protection to our frontline workers.”
“Mr Tan was a commando during his National Service and Mr Mu’tasim served his National Service as a Police officer. We applaud them for their courage to step forward and do the right thing. The best way to protect our bus captains and recognise their contributions is to have the right societal culture, one that is based on respect for our frontline workers. Let us continue to support our public transport workers, so that they can work in a safe environment and provide an essential service to keep Singapore going.”
“Mr Speaker, bus captains are called "captains" for a reason. They are in charge of the bus and ensure the safety of commuters throughout their journeys. In today's context, this includes ensuring commuters wear masks, so that public transport does not become a transmission setting. Sir, I am very concerned about the recent cases of commuters verbally or physically abusing bus captains. The actions are wrong and unacceptable. I think people all know that, and it is not a matter of writing down a code of conduct. What we need is to take a clear stand. The Government, unions, public transport operators, and I would say the great majority of Singaporeans, we stand united in taking a zero-tolerance approach towards such abusive behaviours. The large majority of commuters treat our public transport workers and other commuters with courtesy and respect. For the small number who think they can behave badly and get away with it, let me be clear – if you abuse our public transport workers, whether verbally or physically, be prepared to face the full consequences under the law. LTA will work with the unions and public transport operators to remind commuters of the serious consequences of abusing public transport workers and to raise awareness on the responsibilities of commuters on public transport. Commuters too can play a part when such incidents happen. For the recent case where a bus captain was attacked by a commuter who refused to wear his mask properly, three good Samaritans helped to restrain the assailant before the Police arrived. I met two of them, Mr Clement Tan and Mr Muhammad Mu’tasim. Mr Melvin Yong was there too at the recent event; he was representing the National Transport Workers' Union.”
“Thank you, Mr Speaker. Sir, I would like to just clarify a factual point on something that Mr Pritam Singh mentioned earlier. He said I used the word "theatrics". I think we can check Hansard. I do not recall using this word in my response to Mr Pritam Singh when we were having a discussion on this issue when I was with the Ministry of Communications and Information. If my memory serves me correctly, I think we were talking about whether we should have live broadcast of Parliament proceedings and I was explaining to Mr Singh that the demand for such broadcasts was not high. And then later, we had a discussion about whether instead of a broadcast, maybe it can be done through live-streaming. And again, if my memory serves me correctly, because this was several years ago, I did say that this is something that we can discuss and review. So, I just wanted to clarify that factual point. I do not think I used the word "theatrics" in my response to Mr Singh. Thank you, Sir.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I just want to reiterate the reason for my clarification in the first place was to highlight that the Government has been open and transparent in our communications on the use of masks since the beginning – since the late January period when the virus first emerged in Singapore. I think that is really my key point – that we have publicly explained that and these are all in the public domain.”
“But I think the MTF and the medical professionals have provided the explanation. It is about safety. It is about protecting everybody's health and safety.”
“Mr Speaker, I am not a doctor, so I am not equipped to provide the medical reasons to answer Mr Singh's question in detail —”
“Mr Speaker, I think the Multi-Ministry Task Force or MTF has explained why there was a change in the advisory on the use of face shields. This is as Mr Singh himself alluded to – based on the advice from medical professionals.”
“Mr Speaker, I would like to clarify a point that Mr Pritam Singh made in his speech earlier regarding public communication on the use of masks. Sir, since late January this year, during the initial period when the virus first emerged in Singapore and even before the virus was called COVID-19, the Government had already started explaining publicly our position on masks. We explained to the public that there were supply constraints globally and some economies have in fact banned the export of masks. We then called on Singaporeans that we have to use masks appropriately. Please do not hoard so that we will have enough supplies, especially for those groups that need them most. Sir, what I have just said are based on media reports and information that can be found in the public domain. Sir, this Government has always been open and transparent with Singaporeans in our explanation and in our communications. When there is new information, there is new evidence, we would likewise adopt an open and transparent manner in our communications because we know that is important in our collective fight against this pandemic.”
“We start from solid foundations – a trusted brand name and rule of law, a cohesive and hardworking people, a strong tripartite partnership and excellent connectivity with the rest of the world. With these strong fundamentals, I am confident that Singapore will survive the crisis and we can emerge stronger.”
“Third, the digital economy will take on greater salience than before and we must be prepared to seize the opportunities it brings. The pandemic has compelled businesses in all industries to turn to technology-enabled platforms for safe operations and business continuity. Besides shoring up a strong demand for digital solutions in the ICT sector, the quickened pace of technology adoption across industries has also transformed business models – especially for traditionally brick-and-mortar industries such as retail and food services – and it has enabled these businesses to access wider markets and consumer segments than before. For essential services such as healthcare, the rise of tele-medicine also provides an opportunity for the industry to redefine service quality and access markets beyond Singapore. Businesses will need to pivot towards the digital economy, and the Government will continue to extend strong support to help our enterprises to transform their business models and to train our workers in new skills to prepare them for this digital economy. Sir, as a country, Singapore has time and again reinvented ourselves to be relevant to the world. We can recover from this crisis and we will grow again. Global competition will be intense. The road ahead will not be easy, but we will walk this journey together. The key is to remain united and support one another to transform ourselves to seize new opportunities. We need to strengthen Singapore’s attractiveness as a hub for business and investments and remain open to global trade and talent to benefit from Asia’s growth. How well we recover will depend on our adaptability as a country, as businesses and also as individuals.”
“While the pandemic is still evolving, some changes, including those that started even before COVID-19, have become evident, such as a renewed emphasis on health and an increased focus on sustainability. If this continues, it will benefit industries such as healthcare, online retail and financial services – just to name a few. We will have the opportunity to enhance our value proposition in these areas to capture the growth in demand. As Asia continues to grow, we must also work together with our neighbours to capture new opportunities. For example, in the agri-food industry, we are building up our local food production capabilities and also working with neighbouring countries such as Brunei, to grow this as an exportable sector that can strengthen food security and create good jobs for our peoples. Second, global supply chains will be reconfigured as businesses seek to balance efficiency and resilience. This started before COVID-19, and we can expect the pace to accelerate. As companies shift their production lines, our manufacturing and logistics industries should position themselves to serve new demand and participate in new supply chains that are formed. We must continue to compete on our strengths such as trust, quality and connectivity. These have become even more important to investors and customers in the new environment. This is where our biomedical and precision engineering industries can play to our advantage by leveraging sophisticated technologies and the trust and quality that have been associated with Singapore. Our trusted brand name is an asset in this environment. If we can move fast to capture the opportunities created by these shifts, Singapore will be in a stronger position when recovery comes.”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, COVID-19 is an unprecedented crisis with impact extending far beyond that of public health. It will change the global economy and social norms in far more significant ways than past crises. We will likely remain in a COVID-19 environment for some time; and even when the pandemic recedes, life would not return to what it used to be. Trade flows will be affected by the reconfiguration of supply chains. Some countries will respond by home-shoring certain production, while others will strengthen their inter-dependence with other economies and diversify their supply chains. How people travel will also change in ways more significant than after 9/11. Companies will need to transform their business models and operations. Manufacturers will have to redesign their "just-in-time" production to balance between achieving efficiency and resilience. The pace of digitalisation will accelerate and play a more fundamental role in the way we work, live and play. As a small and open economy, Singapore’s response cannot be to turn inward. We need to find our new relevance to the world. Even as we cope with the immediate challenges, there will be new opportunities where we can seize, we can leverage on our strengths and we can ride on the key shifts brought about by the pandemic. While some of these developments are still playing out, and there is still some uncertainty in terms of how the new landscape will look like, there are a few areas our businesses and workers should start to re-position ourselves for. First, changing consumption preferences, coupled with a rising middle class in Asia, will drive new demand.”
“Sir, I thank Mr Saktiandi for his supplementary question. Minister Chan Chun Sing shared earlier this week that the investment commitments that EDB has managed to attract amounted to $13 billion and this will create thousands of jobs. We are heartened that investors continue to have confidence in Singapore and that is very important because we do need to create jobs from a range of different sources – public sector, but also private sector. As to how well we can continue to attract investments, I think a key factor is how well we respond to this crisis as a country. If we can demonstrate resilience, fortitude, we can show unity, we are able to overcome this crisis together as one united Team Singapore, we are able to rally our tripartite partners to work closely together, I think we can inspire confidence and we can attract investments. We can demonstrate that Singapore has the capabilities and the resilience to overcome this crisis. That is very important – how we respond to this crisis together. We continue to have to remain as an attractive business hub because it is not just about retaining our current capabilities and companies but also attracting new ones. I shared earlier in my main reply that there will be some sectors that will show a decline and some sectors will show growth. How we navigate in this new COVID-19 environment, how we are able to adapt, how quickly and how flexible we can be to adjust to attract new growth sectors – agri-tech, biomedical, e-commerce, financial sector, infocomm and technology – those are the areas which we have to work together to be able to grow the pie so that there is more to go around; better jobs, more jobs, more opportunities.”