Desmond Lee
Singapore
“The Leadership, Enrichment, Achievement, Participation and Service (LEAPS) 2.0 is a framework for recognising student participation and achievement in secondary school co-curricular programmes.”
“The Ministry of Education (MOE) is mindful of the impact that rising temperatures may have on our students, teachers and officials taking part in the National School Games. Matches are scheduled only after students have had the time to train and become progressively more heat acclimatised.”
“As shared in Parliament in March 2026, the proportion of students with special educational needs (SEN) in mainstream schools has remained stable, at around 7% of the overall student population. This stability is observed across both primary and secondary schools.”
“The Ministry recruits and assesses applicants based on merit and suitability for the teaching profession, regardless of gender. We look for individuals with a passion for teaching, a belief in the potential of every child, and who possess the values and character to make a positive difference in students' lives.”
“Over the past five years, an average of 750 teachers resigned from the Education Service annually, representing a resignation rate of around 2%.”
“MOE has also progressively strengthened open access within the Primary 1 Registration Framework through Phase 2C, which is open to students regardless of whether they have prior connections to the school. MOE had increased the number of reserved Phase 2C places from zero to 20 in 2014; and from 20 to 40 in 2022.”
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“A reply was provided at the 7 January 2025 Sitting in response to Dr Lim Wee Kiak and Ms Hany Soh's questions on planned housing developments at Sembawang and Woodlands. [Please refer to "Timelines and Environmental Impact Assessments for Planned Developments in Marsiling, Woodlands and Sembawang Areas", Official Report, 7 January 2025, Vol 95, Issue 148, Written Answers to Questions for Oral Answer not Answered by End of Question Time section.]”
“The Community Care Apartment (CCA) is a public housing assisted living concept designed to expand the continuum of housing options for seniors aged 65 and above. CCA integrates senior-friendly housing with care services that can be scaled according to individual needs. It provides seniors with a home for life by offering flexible lease lengths of between 15 and 35 years, in five-year increments, to cover applicants and their spouses (if any) till at least the age of 95. The choice of lease length is made at flat selection, based on the age of the youngest applicant/spouse at the time of their application for a Housing and Development Board (HDB) Flat Eligibility (HFE) letter. Using the age at the time of HFE letter application allows HDB to be fair and consistent to all applicants across different sales launches or Build-To-Order (BTO) projects, which have different flat selection schedules. For example, even within the same BTO project, flat selection timing can vary by several months. This variation introduces uncertainty, which may, in turn, impact buyers' financial planning and purchase decision. CCA buyers with extenuating circumstances, who require a deviation from this lease tenure computation methodology, can approach HDB for assistance. HDB will review such appeals on a case-by-case basis. We will also take in the Member's feedback in our regular policy reviews to ensure that we continue to meet the diverse needs of households, taking into account prevailing conditions.”
“The Land Transport Authority will progressively inject the additional 20,000 Certificate of Entitlements (COEs) across vehicle categories from February 2025, over the next few years. This represents about 2% of the current total vehicle population in Singapore. At the national level, public car parks have sufficient capacity to cater to the expected increase in season parking demand by residents arising from the COE injection. Currently, nearly all public car parks within residential estates have more than 10% of season parking lots still unallocated. That notwithstanding, localised shortages in season parking occur at some public car parks from time to time. Agencies closely monitor car park utilisation rates and where there are localised shortages, agencies employ parking demand measures to ensure that the parking needs of residents are met. These measures include controlling season parking sales, increasing number of reserved lots, disallowing night parking for visitors and implementing differential pricing for short-term parking.”
“Beneficiaries who have inherited a Housing and Development Board (HDB) flat but do not wish to stay in it may sell the flat or return it to HDB. Alternatively, beneficiaries can choose to take over ownership of the flat, if they meet the conditions to do so. For such cases, the Minimum Occupation Period (MOP) will apply, as it does for all flat owners. If the beneficiaries were already occupiers of the flat prior to the demise of the original owner, the MOP will begin from the time that they were first included as occupiers of the flat. Otherwise, they will need to fulfil a fresh MOP after taking over ownership of the flat. This upholds the owner-occupation intent of public housing.”
“From 22 January 2024 to 31 October 2024, the Urban Redevelopment Authority investigated a total of 415 complaints involving alleged breaches of the occupancy cap in private residential properties. Ninety-one properties were found to have breached their applicable occupancy cap. Of these, 89 had breached the six-person occupancy cap, while two had registered for the eight-person occupancy cap and breached it. Penalties for breaching the occupancy cap include warnings, composition fines of up to $5,000 or prosecution for which offenders face a fine of up to $200,000 and/or imprisonment for up to 12 months, if convicted. The two registered properties that were found to have breached the eight-person occupancy cap were given warnings and their registrations for the higher occupancy cap were revoked, which means they will only be allowed to house up to six unrelated persons. They will not be permitted to re-register for the higher occupancy cap for 12 months after their registrations were revoked.”
“The Housing and Development Board (HDB) has not considered introducing non-smoking HDB blocks where smoking is disallowed within homes. The approach to tackle second-hand smoke in homes had been discussed extensively in this House, including the practical challenges of investigating and enforcing against smoking in homes. Without feasible and effective means of enforcement, smoking within homes could still arise even within dedicated non-smoking blocks. HDB will continue to support the National Environment Agency in its efforts to urge smokers to exercise social responsibility and be considerate towards those around them, including family members and neighbours. If there is feedback on second-hand smoke from a neighbouring flat, a joint advisory by agencies will be issued to the flat to advise smokers to be considerate to their neighbours and emphasise the harmful impact of second-hand smoke. Affected parties are encouraged to engage with their neighbour and try to reach a compromise that works for everyone. If they are unable to do so, they can approach grassroot leaders for assistance or attempt mediation at the Community Mediation Centre. If the dispute remains unresolved, the affected parties can consider filing a claim with the Community Disputes Resolution Tribunal as a last resort.”
“Information on private residential property transactions, such as property title and property ownership information, is available on the Integrated Land Information Service portal managed by the Singapore Land Authority. This is regardless of whether a caveat was lodged for the sale transaction. The Urban Redevelopment Authority's (URA's) private residential property transactions e-Service is intended to provide timely data that reflects dynamic market trends to relevant stakeholders, such as the real estate industry. It uses caveats data and data submitted by developers, which are available earlier in the transaction process and comprise the majority of private property transactions. This complements URA's other data e-Services, including releases of aggregated statistics, to provide timely updates of market trends.”
“The land parcel at Amber Road is proposed to be rezoned from "Reserve Site" to "Residential" to support the strong and broad-based demand for housing, which is due to strong household formation rates and societal trends towards smaller households after the COVID-19 pandemic. The Land Transport Authority has assessed that the additional traffic from the proposed Residential use can be supported by roads in the precinct, especially with the recent opening of the Tanjong Katong Thomson-East Coast Line Station, which is 200 metres from the land parcel, in June 2024. Notwithstanding, agencies will continue to study the traffic situation when the land parcel is developed and introduce measures to minimise traffic impact, if required. The Amber Road area is well-served by public parks and recreational options, which are accessible by a network of park connectors and cycling paths. These include East Coast Park, Katong Park and the newly-completed Marine Parade Road Park. Residents can also look forward to a new 0.5 hectare park along Tanjong Katong Road, which will be completed in the next few years.”
“HDB, hence, commissioned an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) to assess and recommend measures to mitigate potential environmental impacts arising from the development of the Woodlands N1 and Sembawang N4 sites. EIA reports were reviewed in consultation with Nature Groups and published online in November 2024 for public feedback, which HDB will carefully consider. The EIA reports recommended measures to mitigate the impact of the developments on flora and fauna. These included, retaining a large part of the native-dominated secondary forest at Woodlands N1, shepherding of fauna to areas not affected by the development works and transplanting plant species of conservation significance. HDB will require contractors to implement these mitigation measures as part of the Environmental Management and Monitoring Plan (EMMP). To ensure compliance with EMMP during construction works, HDB will hire an independent EMMP consultant, to carry out regular inspections of the project site and submit findings to relevant agencies. As an additional layer of checks, HDB will also be required to submit monitoring reports to the National Parks Board, who will review them and conduct site inspections. Where there are non-compliances with any regulation or the EMMP, including during the post-construction phase, the respective regulatory agencies will investigate and take relevant enforcement actions. Even as our land use needs evolve, I would like to assure Singaporeans that the Government remains committed to building a home and City in Nature for all Singaporeans.”
“As part of this review, URA has been engaging stakeholders extensively, from all walks of life, through a series of workshops, consultations, discussions and exhibitions to gather diverse views and perspectives to ensure that DMP reflects the needs and aspirations of Singaporeans. URA has been inviting members of the public to share their inputs, to ensure a collaborative effort nationwide towards planning and development of the DMP. After the review is completed, Singaporeans can find out more about development plans for their neighbourhoods at the DMP 2025 exhibition that will be held around mid-2025 at the URA Centre and selected locations around the island. Our land use plans also reflect our continuously evolving needs. In recent years, we have seen strong, broad-based demand for housing. This is due to strong household formation rates and societal trends towards smaller households after the COVID-19 pandemic. To meet housing demand, the Housing and Development Board (HDB) has been intensifying and optimising sites as far as possible. Nonetheless, agencies still have to develop greenfield areas to meet Singaporeans' housing needs. This includes the North Region, where the Woodlands N1 and Sembawang N4 sites that Members have asked about are situated. Most of the Woodlands N1 site is forested and has been zoned for Residential use in URA's Master Plan since 1980; while around 10% of Sembawang N4 site is forested, and the site has been largely zoned for Residential use since 2003. Agencies will share more details on the development timelines for these sites when ready. We recognise the ecological value of these sites and will develop them sensitively to balance the need for housing and other amenities, while retaining our natural assets.”
“My response will also cover matters raised by Ms Hany Soh and Mr Louis Ng1, scheduled for subsequent Sittings. [Please refer to "Balancing Public Housing Demand and Environmental Preservation at Woodlands N1 Site", Official Report, 8 January 2025, Vol 95, Issue 149, Written Answers to Questions for Oral Answer not Answered by End of Question Time section.] Members have asked about development plans for various sites in the North, including planned housing developments at Woodlands N1 and Sembawang N4. I will first address our overall approach to land use planning, before talking about the specific sites. Given Singapore's increasingly tight land constraints, we will not be able to keep every piece of vacant land undeveloped. As an island city-state, we must cater for everything that a country needs. We need space to continue meeting Singapore's economic, social, security, residential and recreational needs. These range from providing sufficient housing to training grounds for our national servicemen and land for industries to provide good jobs for Singaporeans. At the same time, we need to strike a balance with protecting our biodiversity and safeguarding our built heritage. We, therefore, take a long-term view towards land use planning, judiciously stewarding our scarce land resources to support competing needs. The Urban Redevelopment Authority's (URA's) ongoing Draft Master Plan (DMP) 2025 review is part of this process, where detailed land use plans are developed to guide physical development in Singapore over 10 to 15 years.”
“Rents under the Public Rental Scheme are reviewed during tenancy renewal, every two to three years. The Housing and Development Board (HDB) does not impose rent increases during the tenancy term, even if tenants' incomes increase during this period. In 2024, about a quarter of public rental households that renewed their tenancies had experienced income growth. Among them, about one in five experienced a rent increase. Their median rent increase was about $150, significantly lower than their median income increase of about $1,300. The Government provides higher subsidies to lower-income households as they require greater support. To maintain the incentive for work and income growth, the Government has made refinements to the public housing rent structure over the years. HDB generally ensures that rent increases are significantly lower than tenants' income growth, so that tenants are better off as their incomes improve. Factors, such as household size and individual circumstances, are also considered to ensure that the rent remains affordable. In addition, tenants who have signed the Agreement for Lease and made the downpayment for a booked flat do not experience any further rent increase, even if their income increases during the time they are waiting for the booked flat. We will continue to review the Public Rental Scheme regularly to ensure it meets tenants' needs.”
“The algae-stained walls earlier found at Anchorvale Parkview and Matilda Court in Sengkang and Punggol had resulted from the incorrect type of paint used by the contractors. In determining the appropriate action to be taken against contractors, the Housing and Development Board (HDB) assesses each case holistically, taking into consideration the severity of the lapse and the remedial actions taken by the contractor. For this case, upon being informed by the respective Town Councils of the algae growth, the contractors took responsibility and followed up promptly to rectify the problem. HDB has assessed that issuing a warning letter to the contractors is sufficient.”
“On 8 October 2024, an explosion occurred, which led to a partial collapse of two commercial shophouse buildings at 84 and 85 Syed Alwi Rd. Two persons were conveyed to hospital for minor injuries due to the incident. The Building and Construction Authority (BCA) issued a Dangerous Building Order and Closure Order to the owners of both shophouses. Under these orders, the owners of both shophouses jointly appointed a Professional Engineer to advise on safety, investigation and permanent rectification measures. Hoarding was also erected to restrict access and ensure public safety by the same evening. The buildings are currently assessed to be structurally stable. All debris at the area has been removed. While investigations are ongoing, preliminary findings by the Singapore Civil Defence Force revealed that the explosion was likely caused by a build-up of flammable gas in unit 84.”
“The Housing and Development Board (HDB) currently owns about 150 units that have been compulsorily acquired by HDB or bought back via the Ethnic Integration Policy buyback assistance measure. These units will generally be offered for sales progressively via HDB’s Sale of Balance Flats exercises and open booking of flats.”
“The Housing and Development Board (HDB) provides a range of assistance measures for flat owners who face genuine difficulties selling their flats when the Ethnic Integration Policy (EIP) quotas have been reached. These include giving them more time to sell off their existing flat if they have purchased another one, or waiving the EIP limits in exceptional circumstances to allow them to sell their flat to buyers of any ethnic group. In cases where waiving the EIP limit may lead to further imbalances in the proportion of the various ethnic groups in blocks or neighbourhoods, HDB may consider buying back flats from eligible EIP-constrained flat owners. In 2023 and 2024, HDB received 693 EIP-related appeals from flat owners. HDB acceded to 211 appeals, including helping 8 households with the buyback measure. The breakdown by ethnic group is in the table below.”
“Under the current pet shop licence conditions, licensed pet shops are not allowed to sell dogs, cats and rabbits to individuals who have not reached 16 years of age. To promote responsible retailing and discourage impulse buying, the National Parks Board (NParks) will study if there is a need to implement a minimum age requirement for the purchase of other animals. In addition, NParks actively conducts education and outreach programmes to raise public awareness on responsible pet ownership. For example, NParks reaches out to the public, including students, through platforms, such as the Pets' Day Out events, webinar series, talks, roving exhibitions, school plays and a resource package for schools.”
“Furthermore, space required under conventional methods, such as service roads and localised bin centres, are freed up for other amenities, such as bigger playgrounds or fitness areas. Second, the PWCS is also designed to be more manpower-efficient than conventional methods in the long run. Instead of collecting waste from each block and each chute under the conventional method, PWCS waste from a few precincts only needs to be collected from one single centralised location. The Government regularly reviews the implementation of the PWCS and will continue to support the Town Councils where needed, especially those adopting PWCS for the first time in their towns.”
“The Pneumatic Waste Conveyance System (PWCS) is an automated waste collection system that uses high-speed suction via an underground pipe network to collect household waste. About 40 Housing and Development Board (HDB) precincts in Ang Mo Kio, Bukit Batok, Chua Chu Kang, Jurong East, Punggol, Sengkang, Tampines, Tengah, Toa Payoh, Woodlands and Yishun have been installed with PWCS. Compared to conventional waste collection methods, the costs of building, operating and maintaining PWCS is higher. The operating cost breakdown varies depending on system specifications and localised factors. The current higher costs with using PWCS is primarily borne by (a) the Government, for infrastructure and system deployment; and (b) the Town Councils for operations and maintenance. Furthermore, each set of PWCS infrastructure and system is typically built to serve a few precincts. In areas that are still being progressively built up, the cost per dwelling unit incurred by HDB and the Town Councils will be higher at the start but should gradually decline as more dwelling units are added to reap economies of scale. In recognition of the higher costs incurred by Town Councils with PWCS precincts, HDB currently provides them with a grant, at $2 per month per dwelling unit served by the PWCS. The Member asked who benefits from the savings from the adoption of PWCS. First and foremost, residents benefit. PWCS enables a cleaner and more efficient waste collection process, compared to conventional methods. As the waste is conveyed through sealed pipes from throw-points to a bin centre, the PWCS reduces disamenities to residents, such as pest infestation, odours and exposed waste.”
“Thank you, Mr Speaker and I thank Mr Louis Ng. Mr Speaker, as I have said, the review is a comprehensive one. It includes not just a review of penalties, but also zoonosis prevention and control, and other areas as articulated earlier. So, it is looking not just at penalties, but also a wider range of issues as well. We will consult the community, we will consult stakeholders, we will consult industry and professionals. Already, some work has started. For example, the Member will be aware that the dog training standards workgroup co-chaired by NParks and the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, involves representatives from animal welfare groups, dog trainers, vets and representatives from working dog units to study one specific area – that is on the least intrusive, minimally-averse training techniques, as well as to study and develop plans on the regulatory approaches to training devices. There are other work streams being undertaken involving consultation with different groups, but at a later stage, we will consult more widely.”
“Mr Speaker. as part of the National Parks Board's (NParks') efforts to safeguard animal health and welfare as well as public health and safety, we have embarked on a review of the Animals and Birds Act 1965 and the Code of Animal Welfare. For instance, the penalty framework under Animals and Birds Act will be reviewed to ensure that they are effective in deterring and punishing acts of animal cruelty and abuse. The review is wide-ranging and apart from reviewing penalties and enforcements, as I have just said, it also includes strengthening animal disease and zoonosis prevention and control, possible regulation of veterinary health products, as well as animal training devices, and other areas. We will continue to take a collaborative approach in this review and will engage the public and community stakeholders to ensure that their views are considered. We will announce more details when ready.”
“There is no rising trend of appeals. From 2022 to 2024, there was a decrease in the number of appeals to the Singapore Institute of Surveyors and Valuers to review the valuations made by independent valuers for resale Housing and Development Board flats. The number of appeals decreased from 13 in 2022 to five in 2023; and three in the first ten months of 2024.”
“The 2-room Flexi Scheme was introduced in 2015 to cater to the housing needs of families, seniors and singles, replacing the previous Studio Apartment and 2-room flat schemes. Seniors aged 55 and above can buy a 2-room flexi flat on a shorter lease. This supports seniors who wish to monetise their existing property and right-size for retirement. The flats that they sell on the open market tend to be bigger flat types and can cater to other larger households which may need more space. To ensure adequate supply to meet seniors’ housing needs, at least 40%, subject to a minimum of 100 units, of 2-room flexi flats in each Build-To-Order (BTO) project are set aside for seniors, with the remaining for families and singles. Any unused seniors’ quota is subsequently made available to other families and singles who applied in the same BTO exercise. In the October 2024 BTO exercise, around 60% of the 2-room flexi flats were set aside for seniors.”
“The Housing and Development Board (HDB) carefully plans for the provision of commercial amenities in HDB estates to ensure a balanced trade mix, providing residents with access to essential goods and services while minimising potential disamenities. All tenants must fulfil the conditions stated in their respective tenancy agreements, including the specific trade they are allowed to operate. During the first tenancy which is awarded through open tender, tenants are not allowed to change their trade, to be fair to other bidders who had submitted bids based on the trade specified in the tender. During subsequent tenancy periods that are no longer awarded through tender, tenants can seek HDB’s approval if they wish to engage in different or additional trades. HDB will assess such requests on a case-by-case basis, to ensure that the proposed change does not compromise residents’ well-being.”
“The Housing and Development Board (HDB) currently owns and rents out about 390 coffee shops to operators, typically on three-year tenancies. This rent for the first tenancy is determined through open tender using the Price Quality Method. When an existing tenancy is due for renewal, the rent for the next tenancy period is assessed by professional valuers appointed by HDB, with reference to comparable coffee shop rents and prevailing market and local conditions. Generally, HDB does not renegotiate rents during the tenancy period. Operators who face serious difficulties can nonetheless approach HDB to discuss how best we can assist them. This approach has kept rents and occupancy rates stable. Over the last five years, 97% of HDB rental coffee shop operators had their rents remain unchanged or slightly reduced. Only about 1% of operators return their coffee shops to HDB citing poor business or cost reasons.”
“The Code on Barrier-Free Accessibility in Buildings, subsequently renamed the Code on Accessibility in the Built Environment (Code), was first introduced in 1990. Since then, all new buildings and existing buildings that carry out addition and alteration works on their car parks requiring building plan submission to the Building and Construction Authority (BCA) must provide accessible parking lots in accordance with the Code. Buildings with car parks built before the implementation of the Code are not required to retrospectively provide accessible parking lots and we do not collect data on whether such car parks provide accessible parking lots. To promote an inclusive Built Environment, we strongly encourage the owners and operators of older car parks that do not have accessible parking lots and accessible routes, to upgrade their premises to incorporate these features. Eligible building owners may tap on the Accessibility Fund, administered by BCA, to co-fund the costs to provide accessible parking lots and accessible paths leading to the building entrance.”
“Since 2005, the Housing and Development Board (HDB) rental coffee shop operators are required to provide at least one halal stall under their tenancy agreement with HDB. Should any halal stallholder cease operations, HDB requires the coffee shop operator to find a replacement within the current tenancy period. If the operator fails to do so, HDB may decide not to renew the tenancy or, as a last resort, terminate the tenancy. In the past five years, 12 coffee shop operators received reminders to find a replacement halal food stall within their respective tenancy periods. Operators who face difficulties may appeal to HDB for more time to find a replacement halal stallholder. HDB will assess these appeals on a case-by-case basis. Coffee shop operators are generally able to comply with the requirement for halal stall provision, although some could take more time to find a replacement halal stallholder due to relatively lower demand in the area. So far, HDB has not rejected any tenancy renewal due to non-provision of halal stalls.”
“The inter-agency Hoarding Management Core Group (HMCG) focusses on protracted and severe hoarding cases. Where there are fire safety, public health or animal welfare risks, the Singapore Civil Defence Force, National Environment Agency or National Parks Board will intervene with their regulatory levers. Agencies also work with community partners to engage hoarders and their families to keep up decluttering efforts. Nonetheless, despite agencies' effort, some hoarders refuse to cooperate. The issue could also recur for a variety of reasons. As a measure of last resort, the upcoming Community Disputes Resolution (Amendment) Bill proposes to empower the Community Relations Unit (CRU) in Municipal Services Office to apply to the Community Disputes Resolution Tribunals (CDRT) to declutter a residential unit, after the CDRT has found the hoarding to be causing unreasonable interference to the neighbours' enjoyment of their properties and the hoarder has failed to comply with the CDRT's order to declutter. Hoarders' underlying motivations and family support networks vary from case to case. There is no one-size-fits-all solution and enforcement is only one of several measures that the agencies use to tackle hoarding issues. Enforcement is also not suitable for all cases. A whole-of-society approach is needed to address hoarding in a more holistic and sustainable manner. This entails the Government, social service agencies, community groups, grassroots organisations and the private sector coming together to learn from and tap on each other's strengths and capabilities.”
“Under the Wildlife Act, offenders can be fined up to $5,000 for their first offence of feeding any wild animal, including birds; and up to $10,000 for subsequent offences. Between January 2024 to October 2024, the National Parks Board (NParks) took enforcement action against 209 offenders for feeding birds illegally, including 30 repeated offenders. NParks works closely with agencies, such as the People's Association as well as Town Councils, to manage bird feeding issues. As part of its efforts to address illegal bird-feeding in estates, NParks conducts on-site surveillance, including the deployment of closed-circuit television cameras at identified feeding hotspots. From January to October 2024, NParks had conducted more than 2,200 surveillance operations.”
“The Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA), in partnership with agencies and local stakeholders, works with the artistic community to implement public art projects and placemaking initiatives to create distinctive and lively public spaces. For example, with support from URA, through its Lively Places Fund, One Kampong Gelam (OKG) engaged artists Akai Chew, Leow Wei Li and Leonard Yang to transform the facade of 45 and 47 Sultan Gate through a vibrant wall mural inspired by the rich iconography of Kampong Gelam. The artists also invited the local community and visitors to contribute to the mural by painting and sharing their memories and hopes for the area, fostering a stronger sense of community. Details on the Lively Places Fund are provided on URA's website.”
“Between 1 November 2023 and 31 October 2024, the Housing and Development Board (HDB) processed more than 135,000 applications for the HDB Flat Eligibility (HFE) letter. Applications with complete documents are generally processed within about a week. For applications submitted without complete documents, HDB will need to request for the full set of documents to be submitted before processing the application. Applicants are, therefore, advised to provide accurate and complete information during their HFE letter application for a faster response. In November 2023, as part of a regular review to improve the flat buyer's experience, HDB extended the validity period of the HFE letter from six to nine months. This serves to strike a balance between providing home seekers with greater convenience and ensuring a holistic and fair assessment of their eligibility for housing subsidies and loan based on recent household income. There are currently no plans to further extend the validity period of the HFE letter.”
“The measures imposed within directions issued under section 10 of the Wildlife Act depend on the nature of the development and its location. The most common types of measures are pre-felling checks for bird nests and other wildlife and restricted working hours, as they mitigate common impacts arising from development. To ensure compliance with directions, developers may be required to develop and implement an Environmental Management and Monitoring Plan and provide monitoring reports to the National Parks Board (NParks). NParks reviews these reports to verify compliance with the directions issued. NParks also conducts site inspections for developments, where necessary. For the three projects that have recorded contraventions against directions issued, NParks had taken enforcement action against the main contractors involved.”
“The National Parks Board (NParks) adopts a multi-pronged approach to manage bird-feeding in estates. NParks partners with agencies, such as the People's Association (PA) and Town Councils (TC), to conduct on-site surveillance and take enforcement actions. To complement surveillance and enforcement efforts, NParks has been increasing its outreach and public education efforts to deter illegal bird-feeding. For instance, NParks conducts outreach programmes to educate the public on proper food disposal practices and discourage pigeon feeding. For repeat offenders or those with mental health needs, NParks works with the Agency for Integrated Care (AIC), TCs, the Municipal Services Office and PA to understand their motivations, address misconceptions and discourage them from feeding birds. NParks offers these feeders nature-based activities as alternatives to feeding. These include community gardening, which creates opportunities for them to be engaged socially with others; and birdwatching, where they can observe how wild birds forage naturally without human-generated food sources. For individuals with mental health needs, AIC will link them with appropriate services, such as counselling, for support.”
“The National Parks Board (NParks) bears the costs and expenses involved in the maintenance and treatment of animals in its centres. This includes animals that have been seized during investigations, as well as those that are brought to the centres under the Trap-Neuter-Rehome/Release-Manage programme for community cats and dogs. NParks does not track the costs and expenses incurred in the maintenance and treatment of specific animals.”
“The periodic facade inspection regime was recently introduced in 2022. The Building and Construction Authority (BCA) will continue to keep abreast of developments in structural safety and materials and climate change projections. Taking reference to this and prevailing building safety standards in other jurisdictions, it will review our regulations and guidelines where necessary. BCA also recently completed a study on the effects of climate change on façade materials, which showed that most materials can withstand the more extreme climate conditions that are projected. For potentially vulnerable materials, the current inspection regime is assessed to be sufficient to address their potential deterioration in a timely manner. With more extreme weather, BCA is also studying and updating design wind speeds used in structural calculations, in consultation with industry experts and other agencies.”
“As part of the National Parks Board's (NParks') efforts to safeguard animal health and welfare, as well as public health and safety, we have embarked on a review of the Animals and Birds Act. This includes a review of the penalty framework, including fines and jail terms, to ensure that they are effective in deterring acts of animal cruelty and abuse. NParks will continue to take a collaborative approach in this review and consult the public and community stakeholders. We will also study the regulations and penalties of overseas jurisdictions. We will share more details of the review, including the timeline, when ready.”
“Under the New Flat Classification Framework which applies to sales from October 2024 onwards, eligible first-timer singles can apply for new 2-room flexi flats island-wide. Previously, they were limited to applying for new flats in the non-mature estates. To meet this demand, the Housing and Development Board (HDB) is increasing the supply of 2-room flexi Build-To-Order (BTO) flats. From 2024 to 2026, HDB will launch up to 14,000 2-room flexi BTO flats island-wide. This is more than a 50% increase from the 9,000 units launched in the non-mature estates from 2020 to 2023. We are prepared to continue putting out a strong pipeline of flats to meet demand. In February 2025, HDB will offer about 5,000 BTO flats across five projects. HDB will also hold the largest-ever Sale of Balance Flats exercise with more than 5,500 flats across various towns or estates.”
“The Ministry of National Development has accepted most of the six recommendations by the Community Advisory Panel (CAP) on Neighbourhood Noise. These include setting norms on considerate behaviours to manage neighbourhood noise, designating an agency empowered to enforce against unacceptable neighbour noise and reviewing the mediation process to better manage community disputes over neighbourhood noise. On CAP’s recommendation to adopt a quantitative noise threshold to assess egregious cases of neighbourhood noise, the Ministry has no plans to set such thresholds during the quiet hours from 10.30 pm to 7.00 am, or during the period from 7.00 pm to 10.00 pm suggested by the Member. This is following consultations with external experts, who shared that there could be operational challenges in setting absolute, across-the-board noise thresholds, as residents would respond to noise differently and have subjective perceptions of severe noise disturbances of varying duration. Neighbourhoods could also have different perceptions of acceptable ambient noise levels, depending on location.”
“We do not impose requirements on minimum living space for each household as circumstances, including family planning and needs, differ across households. This applies to public rental flats as well as to HDB flats purchased or rented on the open market. As such, we do not actively track the average living space per child for children in public rental flats.”
“Over the past five years, the Housing and Development Board (HDB) processed and balloted close to 370,000 Build-To-Order flat applications. Of these, less than 0.1% had their balloted queue positions subsequently revised. These revisions typically arose from the applicants' request, such as withdrawals from priority schemes, or when applicants were found to be ineligible for the priority schemes that they had applied for based on the documents subsequently submitted to HDB. Only a very small fraction of revisions was due to erroneous processing. Since the implementation of the HDB Flat Eligibility letter process in May 2023, 23 cases out of approximately 55,000 applications balloted fell into this category. In such instances, HDB corrected the queue positions to ensure fairness to all applicants. Of the 23 cases, one applicant had already booked a flat when the error was identified during HDB’s counter-checking process. HDB subsequently sought the applicant’s’ understanding, cancelled the booking and refunded the option fee. Despite the low incidence of such cases, HDB treats these matters seriously. To minimise future occurrences, HDB has implemented additional safeguards, including system enhancements and reviews of operating procedures. These measures are part of HDB’s ongoing commitment to ensure a fair and accurate allocation process for all applicants.”
“The same pool of flats is used for both the Public Rental Scheme and Interim Rental Housing. On average, 13% of about 4,000 rental flats in Sengkang and Punggol were unoccupied in the last six months. Of these unoccupied rental flats, the majority are not available for allocation to new tenants as they are reserved for tenants affected by relocation exercises in other parts of the island or are being progressively spruced up for allocation to new tenants after the previous tenant moved out.”
“As of September 2024, around 1% of Housing and Development Board (HDB) blocks and 1% of neighbourhoods have reached the Non-Citizen (NC) Quota. These proportions have remained relatively stable since 2021, while the specific blocks and neighbourhoods that have reached the NC Quota have changed over time. Flat owners or potential tenants can visit https://go.gov.sg/nc-quota to check if a specific HDB unit is affected by the NC Quota.”
“Under the Wildlife Act, it is an offence to offer for sale, sell or export any wildlife, whether alive or dead, or any part of a wildlife, without the Director-General’s written approval. The existing provisions have been sufficient to support our enforcement efforts against illegal wildlife import and sale, and the National Parks Board has prosecuted individuals who offered wildlife for sale through advertisements in previous cases.”
“The Housing and Development Board (HDB) has adopted Universal Design and barrier-free design principles in all new HDB developments since 2006, as well as various upgrading programmes. All of these provisions comply with Building and Construction Authority's Code of Accessibility and the Universal Design principles to ensure that the communal spaces within HDB estates are senior-friendly and inclusive. In addition, HDB has recently launched the Silver Upgrading Programme (SUP) to introduce senior-friendly enhancements for older HDB precincts with higher densities of seniors. Under SUP, Community Improvement Walks will be organised to allow seniors to share their feedback on the senior-friendly enhancements they hope to see within their precincts, which could include making pathways safer and wheelchair-friendly. HDB will continue to enhance the inclusivity and accessibility of our HDB estates and blocks.”
“The Housing and Development Board's (HDB's) public rental flats are heavily subsidised and limited in supply. They are, therefore, prioritised for citizen households that include a Singapore Citizen (SC) applicant and at least one other SC or Singapore Permanent Resident who could be the spouse, parent or child. For exceptional cases involving families that are ineligible for public rental but have urgent housing needs, HDB refers them to social service agencies for assistance.”
“For the rest, HDB works closely with other agencies and community partners to support them holistically towards financial stability, through employment support and social assistance.”
“The Housing and Development Board (HDB) used to have a Rent and Purchase Scheme. Introduced in 1999, the scheme allowed lower-income households to rent a flat from HDB and then purchase it when their financial situation improved. After we resumed the building of 3-room sold flats in 2004 and 2-room sold flats in 2006, as well as introduced substantial Central Provident Fund (CPF) housing grants to help low-income working households own their first home, the demand for the Rent and Purchase Scheme dropped significantly. For instance, in 2008, there were only two applications. The scheme was, therefore, suspended in 2009. While we have no plans to revive the scheme at this point, supporting public rental households to achieve home ownership remains a priority and we have strengthened our measures over the years. HDB prices new flats with significant market discounts, and we offer substantial housing grants to lower-income families. First-timers can receive up to $120,000 of the Enhanced CPF Housing Grant, while second-timers can tap on the $15,000 Step-Up CPF Housing Grant. Second-timer families with children can also tap on the Fresh Start Housing Scheme, to buy a 2- or 3-room flat on a shorter lease, with a $50,000 grant. Home ownership is a long-term financial commitment and the process of buying a home may be daunting for some. This is why HDB has a dedicated team of officers in the Home ownership Support Team, or HST, that provides personalised guidance to public rental households on their home ownership options. For those who are ready to work towards buying a flat, HST will guide them throughout their homebuying journey, from budgeting to key collection.”
“I would like to thank the Member for his suggestions. In fact, we will engage the Member on some of the ideas he has raised. We are in touch with Orang Laut SG, as well as the other members of the community and we will consider all these ideas that have been raised.”
“Sir, as Singapore is a small city-state, we need to carefully steward our limited land resources and balance various competing needs. Wherever feasible, we will integrate elements of heritage significance into our plans and explore creative ways to recall and commemorate the heritage and identity of an area, such as through urban design, heritage storyboards, walking trails and others. Our agencies will continue to engage local communities, as with all stakeholders, to ensure that developments are carried out sensitively and provide appropriate community spaces, where possible. For example, to support the Orang Laut community in the practice of their maritime crafts and tradition, members of the community have been granted permission to moor their boats and store fishing equipment at a site off West Coast Park, along with other licensed boatowners.”
“Sir, may I take Question Nos 4 and 5 together?”