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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“Meanwhile, median rents of 4-room and larger HDB flats have remained stable for two consecutive quarters. Supply of commercial space has also increased in recent years, which has eased rental pressure. Around 599,000 sqm of commercial space (of which 402,000 sqm is for office use) is expected to be completed in 2024 and 2025. This is about twice the amount of commercial space completed in 2022 and 2023, and will help to cater to rental demand. As a result, commercial rents have also stabilised. Office rents increased by 1.3% in the first half of 2024, a significant moderation from the 5.2% increase in the second half of 2023. Meanwhile, retail space rents were broadly unchanged in the first half of 2024 and are currently around 22% below the pre-COVID level in end-2019. We will continue to monitor the situation closely and will adjust our policies as necessary.”
“The Government has undertaken a broad suite of measures to ease rental pressures in the residential property market. First, we ramped up housing supply significantly. Close to 100,000 public and private residential units are expected to be completed from 2023 to 2025. These will help to cater to housing demand, including for rentals. As households that are temporarily renting move into their new homes, the rental units freed up will help meet rental demand. Second, to support Singaporeans who need to rent, Housing and Development Board (HDB) offers schemes such as the Public Rental Scheme for low-income Singaporeans with no other housing options, and the Parenthood Provisional Housing Scheme (PPHS), which provides interim housing to eligible families awaiting the completion of their Build-To-Order flat. PPHS-eligible families renting an HDB flat or bedroom from the open market can also apply for the PPHS voucher of $300 per month to defray the cost of their rental. The scheme applies to tenancies that start between 1 July 2024 and 30 June 2025. Third, the Government has temporarily relaxed the occupancy cap for four-room and larger HDB flats, and private residential properties of at least 90 square metres (sqm). From 22 January 2024, these accommodations are allowed to house up to eight unrelated persons, up from the previous cap of six unrelated persons. This has increased overall rental supply and helped to ease rental pressures. With these measures, private and public housing rents have shown signs of stabilising. In the second quarter of 2024, private housing rents fell for the third consecutive quarter by 0.8% and have cumulatively declined by 4.8% since the peak in third quarter of 2023.”
“The number of projects for which directions have been issued since 2020 to date is shown in Table 1. To date, directions under section 10 have been issued for a total of 445 development projects, of which three projects have recorded contraventions. For each project, multiple directions may be issued, to the key parties involved, which could include the developer, the main contractor and the Qualified Persons.”
“There are penalties for individuals who contravene a disqualification order, and animal-related businesses that knowingly or with reckless disregard employ an individual for work that is prohibited by a disqualification order. They will be liable for an offence under section 43B of the Animals and Birds Act. Members of the public can inform NParks of animal cruelty offences and breaches of disqualification orders via NParks’ website. NParks will investigate the matter fully and take the necessary action against the individual or individuals involved.”
“Under section 43B of the Animal and Birds Act, the Court may issue a disqualification order to an individual or business that is convicted of an animal cruelty offence. This disqualifies the offender from owning or being in charge of any animal or carrying on any animal-related business for up to 12 months. The disqualification order, if issued, is in addition to the punishment for the animal cruelty offence, which comprises a fine and/or imprisonment term as stipulated in section 42 of the Animals and Birds Act. When a disqualification order is issued to a company that runs an animal-related business, such as a pet shop, the business will have to cease its operations for the period stated in the disqualification order. The National Parks Board (NParks) will also initiate the process to revoke the company’s pet shop licence and will not issue new pet shop licences to companies that are serving out their disqualification order. If the offender is an individual, they will have to surrender or rehome all pets under their care and NParks will withhold issuance of pet-related licences to this individual for the duration of the disqualification order. The individual will also not be able to purchase a dog from a pet shop, as NParks' Pet Animal Licensing System will prevent the transfer of dog licences from pet shops to the individual as part of the sale process. These licences are required under regulation for an individual to own a pet dog or to run a pet shop business. This process will also apply to pet cat licensees with effect from 1 September 2024. Breaching a disqualification order issued by the Court is a criminal offence.”
“The Member may wish to refer to the written reply given by the Minister for National Development to a similar question posed by Mr Dennis Tan Lip Fong on 3 April 2024. There has been no change to the policy since then. [Please refer to "HDB's Considerations for Housing Loan Applications and Loan Quantums", Official Report, 3 April 2024, Vol 95, Issue 134, Written Answers to Questions for Oral Answer not Answered by End of Question Time section.]”
“Working closely with agencies and our construction partners, HDB will meet this target one year ahead of schedule. We will offer about 2,800 SWT flats this year. Going forward, HDB targets to launch about 2,000 to 3,000 SWT flats per year.”
“First, we would like to clarify that the Housing and Development Board (HDB) does not “set aside” flats to be sold under Sale of Balance Flats (SBF) exercises. The Build-To-Order (BTO) framework allows buyers to book a flat in advance of completion, giving assurance that they have secured a flat. However, there are instances where not all the units in a proposed development are taken up. These balance flats are then offered for sale under the SBF exercises. The SBF flat supply is, therefore, not a predetermined number. It depends on the number of unsold units from previous BTO exercises and some repurchased or ex-rental flats where available. Given that the total yearly supply of SBF flats is mainly a function of the BTO flats which are not taken up, it should be expected that the number of SBF flats is both variable and much lower than the number of BTO flats. Also, the majority of flats offered under the SBF exercises are still under construction, not completed units, and hence successful SBF applicants generally still have to wait a period of time before getting them. Since 2021, two in three SBF units were under construction when offered under an SBF exercise. To help home buyers, especially first-timers, move into their new homes more quickly, HDB has been working on various measures to shorten waiting times without compromising quality and safety. As a result, HDB has brought down BTO waiting time to the pre-pandemic level of three to four years, compared to the pandemic peak of four to five years. In 2023, we committed to launch 2,000 to 3,000 shorter waiting time (SWT) flats per year by 2025. These are flats with waiting time of less than three years.”
“Since 2019, the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) has imposed 64 composition fines and prosecuted 15 persons for the misuse of private residential properties for short-term accommodation, as such infringements compromise the living environment of neighbouring residents due to the frequent turnover of transient occupants. First-time offenders are subject to a composition fine of up to $5,000. Repeat offenders, or those found to have committed such offences involving multiple properties, will be prosecuted and liable to a fine of up to $200,000 per charge. For example, in 2022, an individual was fined $1.16 million for the misuse of 14 private residential properties. In 2023, another individual was fined $1.4 million for the misuse of 19 private residential properties. URA has taken enforcement action against the parties directly responsible for the misuse of the property, such as the property owners, and not the online platforms that host short-term accommodation listings. Nonetheless, URA regularly engages key online platforms to ensure that listings on their platforms do not perpetuate rental arrangements that run afoul of Singapore’s laws. URA will continue to monitor the situation and review our measures as necessary.”
“Where there are extenuating circumstances, HDB may also consider waiving NSC on a case-by-case basis. As HDB issues queue numbers up to 300% of the flat supply, those applicants who receive larger queue numbers and have lower chances of securing a flat may be anxious to apply in another sales exercise as soon as possible. So as not to unduly hold up such applicants from securing a flat, HDB allows applicants who receive queue numbers outside 100% of the flat supply to proceed with applying in a second sales exercise even before their flat booking appointment. As a result, 116 applicants, or under 2% of total applicants with more than one flat application, have been invited to book a flat in two sales exercises since October 2023. For fairness, HDB applies the NSC rules evenly across all applicants, including the 116 applicants who were invited to book a flat in two sales exercises. This means that the applicants who do not book their flat in their first booking appointment and are not eligible for an NSC waiver, will be issued an NSC and will not be allowed to book a flat in the second sales exercise.”
“In past years, about 40% of Build-To-Order (BTO) applicants who were invited to book a flat did not do so. For every applicant who received multiple queue numbers or flat booking appointments, there could be numerous other applicants who were denied a chance to obtain a queue number. Such irresponsible behaviour crowded out other home buyers, some of whom have genuine or even more urgent housing needs. To deter such irresponsible behaviour and ensure more efficient flat allocation in sales exercises, the Housing and Development Board (HDB) tightened the rules for non-selection of flats. Since October 2023, applicants in BTO and Sale of Balance Flats (SBF) exercises who received a queue position within 100% of the flat supply at an earlier exercise are not eligible to apply for a flat in subsequent sales exercises until after their flat booking appointment. Applicants who are invited to book a flat but choose not to do so will be issued a non-selection count (NSC) and have any existing applications for subsequent BTO/SBF exercises cancelled. First-Timer (FT) families with one NSC will be considered Second-Timers (STs) for a year in the computer ballot, while ST families, FT singles and seniors who accumulate one NSC will have to wait one year before they can apply for a flat again. HDB recognises that applicants invited to book at the tail end of the selection process face limited choices. Therefore, HDB will not issue an NSC to applicants who have 10 or fewer BTO flats, or five or fewer SBF flats, to choose from at their booking appointment. This means that applicants, with multiple flat applications, will be eligible to select a flat at their next flat booking appointment.”
“Today, new flat buyers are informed of the Minimum Occupation Period (MOP) of their flat and the MOP rules at various points throughout their flat purchase journey, including at the point of flat application, booking and signing of lease. This ensures that they are aware of the rules and make an informed decision when purchasing their flat. The Housing and Development Board (HDB) also regularly publicises enforcement actions taken against errant owners, to build public awareness of MOP-related rules. Flat owners may refer to the HDB InfoWEB for more information, or approach HDB if they have queries. In addition, property agents who perform estate agency work are required to perform due diligence and provide accurate advice to their clients to ensure that the MOP rules are adhered to. As we transit to the new flat classification framework – Standard, Plus, and Prime – we will continue with these efforts to ensure adherence to MOP rules.”
“Between January 2019 and June 2024, 104 flats were compulsorily acquired for lease infringements. Of these, 84 were for serious infringements, such as unauthorised whole flat rental, non-occupation and purchase of private properties during the Minimum Occupation Period (MOP). The remainder were largely due to loss of Housing and Development Board (HDB) eligibility status (e.g. change in citizenship or false declaration in flat application). The vast majority (88%) of the 104 cases involved owners whose sole properties were the acquired flat. However, most of these ex-owners had already been living elsewhere prior to the compulsory acquisition. In many cases, this was what had led to the infringement in the first place. For these ex-owners, the compulsory acquisition did not affect their living arrangements. For the small minority of ex-owners with pressing housing needs following the compulsory acquisition, HDB assisted them with housing options, including facilitating the purchase of another flat or allocation of a public rental flat.”
“The Housing and Development Board (HDB) does not track the total number of unique appeals from flat owners who submitted appeals for waiver of the Minimum Occupation Period (MOP). Therefore, the success rate is not available. In 2023, HDB gave approval to about 1,000 households who submitted such appeals. HDB assesses each appeal on a case-by-case basis. Approval is granted for those with extenuating circumstances, such as overseas job postings or medical reasons. Owners who are unable to physically occupy their flats during MOP due to genuine difficulties can approach HDB for assistance.”
“The occupancy rate for Housing and Development Board (HDB) flats available for rent under the Parenthood Provisional Housing Scheme (PPHS) is around 90%. The remaining flats are available for selection in the ongoing August 2024 PPHS application exercise. As of 30 July 2024, HDB has received 90 applications for the PPHS (Open Market) Voucher.”
“The Housing and Development Board (HDB) does not collect information on whether flat owners are self-employed, as HDB treats all flat owners the same way, regardless of their occupation. We are, therefore, unable to provide the data requested in parts (a) and (b) of the Member's question. HDB has no preference whether flat owners service their mortgage loans by cash, the Central Provident Fund or a combination of both. We, therefore, do not plan to introduce incentives and assistance to encourage flat buyers to adopt a particular mode of payment. We encourage homeowners facing difficulties with their mortgage payments to approach HDB early, to explore options for support.”
“Under the Master Plan 2019, the land parcels at 5A and 7A Choa Chu Kang Grove are zoned for residential use and the land parcel at 11A Choa Chu Kang Grove is zoned for health and medical care use. There are currently no changes to these plans.”
“In 2022 and 2023, rents in both the public and private rental markets rose sharply as a result of construction delays due to COVID-19 and strong rental demand. We have undertaken a broad suite of measures to stabilise the property market. This includes ramping up our public and private housing supply, increasing the supply of flats available under the Parenthood Provisional Housing Scheme as well as the temporary relaxation of the occupancy cap, from six to eight unrelated persons, for four-room and larger Housing and Development Board (HDB) flats and private residential properties of at least 90 square metres. These measures have shown early signs of success in addressing the supply and demand imbalance. In the first quarter of 2024, the median rents for 4-room and larger HDB flats have remained stable, compared to the average quarterly increase of around 5.3% from 2022 to 2023. We will continue to monitor the property market closely and will recalibrate our measures, as necessary.”
“From 2019 to 2023, more than 80% of new buildings that were completed and existing buildings undergoing addition and alteration (A&A) works that require plan submission to the Building and Construction Authority (BCA) have fully complied with the prevailing Code on Accessibility in the Built Environment (Code). On average, BCA has exempted about 160 buildings per year from full compliance with the Code, through waivers or modifications to the requirements, due to technical constraints that make complying with the full requirements impractical. Applications for waivers or modification of requirements undergo a stringent evaluation process to ensure that the buildings remain largely accessible. For example, BCA may require building owners to provide mitigating measures, such as alternative access provisions for persons with disabilities. Approvals for waivers or modifications are also typically granted only for specific building areas or features and not the entire building. Buildings that do not comply with the Code and are not granted waivers or modifications by BCA, will not be issued with a Temporary Occupation Permit and/or a Certificate of Statutory Completion and cannot be used by occupants.”
“Parents who buy their child’s Housing and Development Board (HDB) flat are not eligible for the Central Provident Fund (CPF) Housing Grant, Enhanced CPF Housing Grant and Proximity Housing Grant. This is because they tend to end up with a large flat, contrary to our objective of supporting seniors to right-size to a flat that better meets their retirement needs. Seniors who are right-sizing to a 3-room or smaller flat can benefit from the Silver Housing Bonus of up to $30,000. Parents buying over their child’s flat due to extenuating circumstances can approach HDB, which will evaluate their appeal for housing grants on a case-by-case basis.”
“Public rental tenants are required to obtain Housing and Development Board's (HDB's) consent before carrying out any renovation works, including the installation of air-conditioners. This is consistent with market practices, where tenants are usually required to seek the landlord’s consent before carrying out renovation works. HDB generally approves such requests, taking into consideration tenants’ circumstances. HDB households, including public rental tenants, can tap on the $300 climate vouchers provided under the Climate Friendly Households Programme to offset the cost of buying energy-efficient appliances, including air-conditioners, from participating retailers. In this financial year, the Government will also provide up to $950 in U-Save rebates to help eligible households offset their utility expenses. On average, this will cover about eight months of utility bills for those living in one- and two-room flats.”
“Under section 11C of the Wildlife Act, enforcement officers may be accompanied or assisted by persons necessary to remove wildlife traps, search premises or vehicles, or seize wildlife or items related to offences under the Act. This is because during the course of enforcement, officers may encounter wildlife species that require specialised handling and assistance from persons with the necessary training qualifications or experience is required. We do not currently have plans to include a similar provision under the Animals and Birds Act (ABA). Nonetheless, as part of the ongoing review of ABA, we will study the need to include such provisions, where appropriate.”
“Housing policy is complex and any change in one area may have wide ranging implications in other areas. Our approach to tackling this has been to address the supply and demand imbalances. As set out earlier, we have ramped up supply and implemented measures to moderate demand. As these measures take time to work through the market, we have also increased the CPF Housing Grant to provide quick, targeted and direct support to first timers. While the resale market has risen in the last few years, we should not expect housing prices to go up indefinitely. History has taught us that the property market moves in cycles. In a time of market exuberance, prospective buyers should be extra careful, because those who buy high will also be harder hit when the market eventually comes down. We encourage buyers to consider the wide variety of housing options available and exercise prudence in their flat purchase.”
“About eight in 10 first-timer families who collected the keys to their resale flats in 2023 could service their monthly loan instalments with Central Provident Fund (CPF), with little to no cash outlay. Resale transactions with high prices continue to make up a small minority of total resale transactions. Out of these, about a third are maisonettes and Jumbo flats which are much larger than most flats and have limited supply. More than 70% of the remaining units are 5-room flats with very good locational attributes, high floors, and/or very long remaining leases. For 4-room and smaller flats at the higher end of transacted prices, they are predominantly located in four HDB estates in or very near to the city centre. So, they are very central and well-served by transport connectivity and comprehensive amenities. More than half are also located on very high floors, above 30 storeys, and have good facing and views. So, they come with very attractive attributes and make up just 0.5% of all 4-room or smaller flats transacted in the last two years. Since the introduction of Prime Location Public Housing (PLH) in 2021, there is so far no conclusive evidence that the launch of PLH projects has driven up HDB resale prices in those towns. That said, it has only been less than three years since the PLH model was launched and it will be some years more before the first of the PLH flats enter the resale market and we will continue to monitor closely. We have also put in place safeguards to keep prices affordable even upon resale of PLH flats, such as a 10-year minimum occupation period and an income ceiling on resale buyers. We thank the Member for his concern about rising resale flat prices and for his suggestions.”
“The Government remains committed to providing affordable public housing for Singaporeans. COVID-19 disrupted our Build-To-Order (BTO) building programme and significantly impacted supply. At the same time, demand increased as more Singaporeans sought to move out to live on their own, a trend accentuated by the pandemic. These led to an imbalance in supply and demand, and resale prices increased. This is why we have significantly ramped up BTO flat supply, and we remain on track to offer 100,000 flats from 2021 to 2025. BTO flats are priced significantly below comparable market value, as the Government provides market discounts to ensure affordability for Singaporeans. Middle- and lower-income first-timer buyers are also given a housing grant of up to $80,000. Last year, the Housing and Development Board (HDB) completed about 21,400 flats across 23 housing projects, the highest number of projects and flats completed annually in the last six years. This year, we are on track to complete another 18,000 flats. Last year, we committed to launching 2,000 to 3,000 Shorter Waiting Time (SWT) flats by 2025. HDB is now able to do this one year ahead of schedule and would have offered more than 2,800 SWT flats by the October 2024 BTO exercise. Families that need temporary housing while awaiting the completion of their BTO flats can tap on the Parenthood Provisional Housing Scheme (PPHS) or the PPHS Voucher. For the resale market, we have implemented three rounds of cooling measures since December 2021 to temper housing demand and encourage greater financial prudence among home buyers. Today, the majority of resale flats remain within reach.”
“Since 1990, the Building and Construction Authority's (BCA's) Code on Barrier-Free Accessibility in Buildings, subsequently renamed the Code on Accessibility in the Built Environment, or the Code, has stipulated requirements and recommendations for buildings to provide toilets with senior-friendly features. The Code has been progressively enhanced over the years and the latest Code was published in 2019. The current Code requires new buildings and existing buildings that undergo addition and alteration works with plan submission to BCA to have at least one accessible individual washroom on every level where toilets are provided. For selected building types which seniors frequent, the Code requires toilets to have at least one water closet compartment for the ambulant disabled. These sanitary facilities are required to have senior-friendly features, such as grab bars.”
“In assessing household income to determine eligibility for housing subsidies, including the quantum of the means-tested Enhanced Central Provident Fund Housing Grant that the household may be eligible for, the Housing and Development Board (HDB) considers the income of all household members, regardless of whether they are applicants or occupiers. This ensures that housing subsidies are prioritised for households who need them the most. On the other hand, in determining the loan quantum that HDB can extend to eligible flat buyers, HDB only considers flat buyers' incomes because they will be the borrowers of the loan and will need to service the mortgage loan. Conversely, occupiers are not the borrowers and, hence, their incomes are not considered.”
“Young couples where both parties were full-time students or National Servicemen in the last 12 months are not eligible for the Enhanced Central Provident Fund Housing Grant (EHG), which requires 12 months of continuous employment prior to a household's Housing and Development Board (HDB) Flat Eligibility (HFE) letter application. We, therefore, allow them to apply for a flat first and defer their income assessment to give them time to enter into continuous employment, before their eligibility for EHG is assessed. Couples with one party already working for the last 12 months before their HFE letter application can already qualify for the EHG and, therefore, need not defer their income assessment. Young couples who need financial advice on their flat purchase may approach HDB for assistance.”
“Shophouse spaces make up 9% of the total stock of office and retail space in the market as of 1Q2024 and its impact on the wider property market is minimal. In addition, shophouse sale transaction volume and total sale transaction value have fallen significantly over the last two years. Over the past five years, more than 80% of shophouse purchases were by local companies and individuals. Apart from shophouses, businesses can also rent spaces in other types of commercial properties, which include retail and office spaces in conventional commercial buildings, like malls and office buildings. There is also ample supply of retail and office space coming onstream over the next few years to cater to demand. Nevertheless, the Government will continue to monitor the property market and adjust our policies, as necessary, to promote a stable and sustainable property market.”
“The Housing and Development Board (HDB) plans for at least one general practitioner (GP) clinic in every neighbourhood centre and every precinct shop cluster. They can be located in shopping and office complexes or other commercial units, such as shops on the first floor of residential blocks. Out of the 34 HDB shopping and office complexes, 31 currently have GP clinics. Of these, 28 complexes have at least one clinic operating after office hours, including 26 with at least one clinic open on Sundays or both Sundays and public holidays.”
“Divorcees and seniors who require assistance with their housing options may approach HDB.”
“Divorcees can apply for a new flat once they have obtained an Interim Judgment of divorce and have settled the ancillary matters regarding their matrimonial property and children. Divorced parents with care and control of a child can qualify for the same housing access and subsidies as other families, including the Parenthood Provisional Housing Scheme, if they require interim housing while waiting for their Build-to-Order (BTO) flats to be completed. Second-timers buying 2-room Flexi or 3-room BTO flats in non-mature estates are also accorded priority under the Assistance Scheme for Second-Timers (Divorced/Widowed Parents). In the last five years, second-timer divorcees who booked the Housing and Development Board (HDB) flats in non-mature estates were generally able to do so within two tries. Seniors who need to monetise their homes to supplement their retirement income have several options. First, those who prefer to remain in their existing flat can tap on the Lease Buyback Scheme to sell the tail-end lease of their flat to HDB and join the Central Provident Fund (CPF) LIFE. In turn, they will receive a cash bonus and a stream of income in their retirement years. They can also seek HDB's approval to rent out spare bedrooms in their flat. Second, seniors who wish to sell their existing flat and right-size to a smaller new or resale flat can benefit from the Silver Housing Bonus of up to $30,000. They can consider buying a new 2-room Flexi flat on a shorter lease or a Community Care Apartment (CCA), which are also available to seniors who have already bought two subsidised flats in the past. In the last five years, second- and nth-timer seniors who booked 2-room Flexi flats or CCAs in non-mature estates were able to do so within 1.5 tries on average.”
“The "Help Neighbour" function in the OneService (OS) App was launched in September 2021 by the Municipal Services Office (MSO), the Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) and the Agency for Integrated Care (AIC), to make it easier for residents to alert MSF and AIC about persons who may be in need of assistance. These persons include, cardboard collectors, rough sleepers, tissue paper sellers and vulnerable seniors. In February 2023, MSO partnered Dementia Singapore to help broadcast its reports of missing persons with dementia via the OS App. For each missing person submitted via the Dementia Singapore's platform, the same information is broadcast via the OS App's push notification to OS App users who reside within the town of the missing person's last seen location. The notification contains photographs and details of the missing person. We have previously assessed the option of location-based Social Media Service (SMS) notification and decided not to proceed with this mode as the OS App's push notification can avail relevant information, such as photographs of the missing person, which is not possible via SMS notifications. The OS App is designed, primarily, to route feedback and replies between individual users and agencies. The Member's suggestion would entail a different operating model, that is, sharing information about specific residents, who need help, with OS App users; mobilising volunteers; and tracking their action. This requires more than just an enhancement to the OS App. We will study the Member's idea with the social agencies on its feasibility. In the meantime, residents who are keen to help their community may wish to take up volunteering opportunities through SG Cares and the Silver Generation Office.”
“Clinic operating hours are business decisions made by private operators and are not part of the assessment criteria for new tenders or tenancy renewals. Where there are site-specific requirements, the Housing and Development Board (HDB) would generally work with operators to understand any operational or business constraints they may face and explore solutions that can meet the local needs. This allows HDB to better assess whether it is necessary or feasible to impose additional requirements as part of tenancy renewals or new tenders. HDB understands from the operators of these three clinics at Woodlands North Plaza that they wish to continue serving the local residents as they have for many years, but face difficulties in extending their operating hours beyond office hours due to manpower challenges at this time. Residents living around Woodlands North Plaza could visit the 24-hour clinic at Block 768 Woodlands Avenue 6 (Woodlands Mart) should they need urgent medical attention after operating hours. They may also search online for other clinics near them and their opening hours, via Community Health Assist Scheme clinic locator or HealthHub.”
“The Housing and Development Board (HDB) parking lots are provided primarily to serve the parking needs of residents. For season parking, priority is accorded to residents who either have their own vehicle or a company-registered vehicle, including those used by sole proprietors for their livelihood. In general, large commercial vehicles, such as lorries, tow trucks and goods delivery vans, with unladen weight exceeding 2,000 kilogrammes are not allowed to park at HDB car parks due to safety concerns and potential disamenities to residents. HDB multi-storey car parks are also not designed to withstand vehicular weights beyond this limit. HDB can consider season parking requests at surface car parks on a case-by-case basis, if the vehicle is able to fit within a parking lot, does not obstruct or endanger other car park users and does not create disamenities.”
“Younger orphans under 18 years old are typically placed in kinship care. If there are no suitable carers, the Ministry of Social and Family Development will place them in alternative care arrangements, such as foster care or residential care. For those who are 18 years old and above and have inherited a fully paid-up Housing and Development Board (HDB) flat from their parents, they can continue living in the flat. For minors aged below 21 who inherit a fully paid-up flat, HDB may allow the creation of a trust over the flat, which will be transferred to the child once they reach 21. If the flat has not been fully paid up, HDB will treat these on a case-by-case basis, in consultation with an adult guardian when appropriate. Adult orphans who are at least 21 can choose to take over ownership of their parents’ flat, if they have the financial means to do so. They can also purchase a new HDB flat with their siblings or on their own under the Single Singapore Citizen scheme. Those with no other housing options may apply for a public rental flat with their siblings or with another eligible single person under the Joint Singles Scheme. The Member also asked about children whose parents are separated. For these children, as well as children whose parents are divorced, their parents continue to be responsible for their housing needs.”
“The Parenthood Provisional Housing Scheme (PPHS) (Open Market) Voucher is a temporary measure to support PPHS-eligible families who rent Housing and Development Board (HDB) flats or bedrooms in the open market, while HDB ramps up the supply of PPHS flats. The PPHS Voucher is disbursed directly to eligible households, without involving landlords. During tenancy negotiations, households need not disclose to potential landlords that they intend to apply for the voucher. Families can refer to the HDB InfoWeb or reputable private property listing platforms for information on market rental rates, in order to make an informed decision before entering into a rental contract.”
“The Housing and Development Board (HDB) has been actively working to reduce the waiting time for Build-To-Order (BTO) flats. In 2023, close to 70% of the flats had a waiting time of four years or less. This is back to pre-pandemic levels where the majority of BTO projects had a waiting time of three to four years, compared to the pandemic peak of four to five years. In 2023, we committed to launching 2,000 to 3,000 shorter waiting time (SWT) flats per year by 2025. These are flats with waiting times of less than three years. Working closely with agencies and our construction partners, HDB will meet this target one year ahead of schedule. We will offer about 2,800 SWT flats this year. Going forward, HDB targets to launch about 2,000 to 3,000 SWT flats per year. Eligible families awaiting the completion of their BTO flats can also tap on the Parenthood Provisional Housing Scheme (PPHS) for interim housing support. HDB will further double the PPHS supply to 4,000 flats by 2025. In the meantime, eligible families may also tap on the PPHS (Open Market) Voucher to defray the cost of renting an HDB flat or bedroom in the open market. There are practical and operational challenges to launching more SWT flats. These include difficult site conditions, extensive land preparation required for brownfield sites, need for consultation with stakeholder groups, and construction industry capacity. HDB will continue to innovate and aim for higher efficiency and we remain committed to deliver flats as quickly as possible to Singaporeans.”
“The largest wave of decolonisation took place in the aftermath of the Second World War. Singapore decolonised in 1963 and became a fully independent and sovereign state in 1965. Since then, we have charted our own destiny, as a people, and as a nation. In this context, however, I believe the Member is referring to more recent moves in some places to erase all and anything that may be a reminder of a colonial past. Re-examination of colonial histories on the other hand, involves looking back at history through a modern lens. It takes different forms in different places. In some places, it involves a reinterpretation of events or how they are viewed. In others, it has involved a latter-day condemnation of all things regarded as associated with colonialism. In Singapore, we take a clear-eyed view of our colonial past. We do not glorify or celebrate it. However, we acknowledge that it is a phase of our history which stretches way back 700 years to even before colonialism – as we saw in the Bicentennial – and that it has left legacies on which, post-Independence, we were able to build, adapt and transform to bring Singapore to what it is today. This includes our administrative, judicial and even our political system. For example, our Parliament is based on the Westminster model. The acceptance and display of this donated artwork should be seen in this light. It recognises the contributions of Raffles and Wallich to our botanical heritage and allows visitors to learn more about it. We need not be afraid of the past. We should be able to reference it with confidence, having regard to all we have achieved together since Independence as a people and a nation, and secure in the knowledge that we continue to carve our own destiny and forge our future.”
“The artwork featuring a pair of life-size bronze figures, titled “Scholars in Conversation: Sir Stamford Raffles and Dr Nathaniel Wallich”, was unveiled on 21 May 2024 at Canning Rise in Fort Canning Park. This was the site of Singapore’s first botanical and experimental garden, which was established by Raffles and Wallich in 1822. The artwork was commissioned by the University of East Anglia Alumni (Singapore Chapter) and donated by the Estate of Mr and Mrs Tan Chee Kow through the Garden City Fund, a registered charity and Institution of a Public Character established by NParks. Raffles and Wallich’s contributions laid the foundation for botanical discovery and science in Singapore and beyond. Raffles’ keen interest in natural history led him to study and collect specimens of flora and fauna during his expeditions around the Straits Settlements. He amassed a vast collection of natural history drawings over the years, which serve as records for the biodiversity in Southeast Asia during the 1800s. Wallich was known for his extensive catalogue of over 20,000 specimens. Many of the valuable old herbarium specimens collected by Wallich from Singapore and the region are now housed in the Singapore Botanic Gardens’ Herbarium. Raffles and Wallich’s collections contributed to our study and research of local flora in Singapore and the region in the 1800s. The Member has asked how this sits with the “growing trend towards decolonisation and the re-examination of colonial histories”. It is important to be clear on what is meant by “decolonisation” and “re-examination of colonial histories”. Decolonisation, in its traditional meaning, is the process by which colonies become independent of the colonising country. That is not a recent trend.”
“There is some more work to be done, so allow the investigation to run its course before we address the broader issue of accountability in different aspects.”
“Sir, if I may supplement what Minister Grace Fu had said. The incident happened on 14 June. By 16 June, some of the Friends of Marine Park had already been galvanised to do a survey of some of the Southern Islands. They helped us monitor impact and to identify shorelines and habitats that have been affected. Of the 1,500 volunteers who stepped forward, as I said earlier in my answer, that some 700 volunteers have been called upon to help with coastal patrols, to advise members of the public, to help us keep an eye out for impacted areas. Some have been mobilised for more specialised works pertaining to the environment, habitats, biodiversity and wildlife. The incident happened on 14 June. And on 21 June, Senior Parliamentary Secretary Baey Yam Keng and I met many members of the community, green groups, environmental groups, IHLs, researchers, organisations, who wanted to support. We had a closed-door session to discuss areas where we could collaborate more closely on. And as I said earlier in my answer, there were five broad areas that we decided to embark on, ranging from wildlife rescue to habitat monitoring to coastal clean-up surveys, as well as research into scientific questions on the impact of oil spills. These are all areas where we engage stakeholders, including those who are more specialised with skills that they can offer. And we work very closely with them to ensure that in carrying out these operations, this is all done safely and securely. In response to the Member's second question on accountability, as Minister Chee Hong Tat had mentioned earlier in his answer, investigations are ongoing, even as operations to clean-up are in their second phase.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, we are carrying out habitat and environmental surveys of the affected areas, including the Southern Islands, both those that were affected as well as those that are not affected, and we are monitoring the long-term impacts. So, the answer to the first question is at this point in time, we continue to assess the impact of the oil spill. There is no impact on our plans for a second marine park in Southern Lazarus and Eastern Kusu. And secondly, in terms of the total cost of monitoring and research, we are still working out the research questions and methodology, processes and locations of these works. The exact figure will be worked out in due course.”
“Sir, to conclude, while the impact of the oil spill on our marine biodiversity and habitats have not been observed to be significant as of now, we will remain vigilant and keep a close watch on the longer-term impacts. Once again, we would like to extend our gratitude to our many partners and community volunteers who have leaned forward and worked hand in hand with our colleagues in our agencies to manage the oil spill. With your help, we will be able to ensure that our ecosystems remain resilient. The incident is not over yet, but we have made some good progress and we will continue to work with the community and our partners to safeguard our natural marine habitats.”
“For instance, Otter Watch and the Bird Society of Singapore will work with us to share tips with members of the public, on the dos and don'ts when spotting oil-slicked wildlife. Second, we will involve the wider community for coastal clean-ups and citizen patrols. In the next six months and beyond, once NEA has assessed the affected areas to be safe for public access, we will work with our partners on recovery efforts, such as coastal clean-ups and beach patrols and surveys. In fact, community beach clean-up groups, such as Stridy and the International Coastal Cleanup Singapore (ICCS), have already started to coordinate their respective networks, so that they can organise beach clean-ups, once we can do so. Third, we will work with partners to tap on their expertise and skills to support wildlife rescue and recovery efforts. Partners from Mandai Wildlife Group, Singapore Veterinary Association, ACRES and S.E.A. Aquarium, with their own pool of veterinarians, have offered to support wildlife rescue and rehabilitation efforts, where needed. Fourth, we will continue to undertake impact assessments and sustained post-incident biodiversity impact monitoring, surveys and research, in collaboration with the nature community and volunteers, scientific community and our IHLs. These efforts will inform subsequent ecological recovery action plans. Fifth, we will conduct scientific research with the scientific community to better understand the longer-term impacts of the oil spill on biodiversity. We have already started surveys at the Southern Islands and Labrador Nature Reserve, as well as Serapong and Tanjong Rimau in Sentosa.”
“Some joined NParks to patrol East Coast Park and West Coast Park, advising members of the public to stay away from affected beaches and areas, as well as reporting sightings of oil stains and oil-slicked wildlife for rescue and rehabilitation, if needed. Members of the public can contact NParks' 24-hour Animal Response Centre hotline, if they encounter an oil-slicked animal. As I shared briefly earlier, marine experts and volunteers from the Friends of Marine Park have also been carrying out surveys with NParks on St John's Island and Lazarus Island, to track the impact on biodiversity on these islands. We are very grateful to our volunteers for their strong support, and to members of the public, nature groups and other organisations for coming together alongside our frontline workers and colleagues to mitigate the impacts of the oil spill. As we move into our next phase of managing the impact of the oil spill, we will work closely with our partners from the nature and community groups, organisations and Institutes of Higher Learning (IHLs), and tap on their knowledge and expertise to implement an action plan to manage the impacts more effectively. During a recent consultation with these partners, some suggestions were raised, which will be incorporated into actionable plans. First, we will work with various stakeholder networks to disseminate information to keep the public updated on the progress of recovery efforts. Through our partners, we hope to share information on the recovery and response operations, that can be translated into advisories and information guides for members of the public.”
“Assessments of the environmental impact of the oil spill on our offshore islands are therefore, also still ongoing. Based on our experience with the oil spill that affected the intertidal and seagrass habitats at Tanah Merah back in 2010, as well as the oil spill that affected Chek Jawa Wetlands at Pulau Ubin and Changi Beach Park in 2017, while our ecosystems are resilient, they will take time to recover from such external stressors. At Tanah Merah, the intertidal and seagrass habitats started to recover after a year and they no longer show any signs of impact from the 2010 oil spill today. At Changi Beach Park, long-term biodiversity surveys have shown no discernible changes to the intertidal fauna before and after the oil spill in 2017. We will closely monitor the impact of and recovery of our marine habitats and biodiversity including seagrasses, corals and aquatic wildlife, through intertidal and subtidal biodiversity surveys. NParks will also undertake rescue and rehabilitative efforts for affected wildlife where necessary. Over the past few weeks, we are heartened by the public's response and support. More than 1,500 individuals have signed up to help with oil spill management efforts. An additional 2,000 have registered their interest to be kept updated on ongoing efforts and future volunteering opportunities. As of 1 July, we have deployed over 700 volunteers, including volunteers from the Public Hygiene Council (PHC), and Friends of Marine Park. Organisations, such as the Singapore Veterinary Association, World Wildlife Fund for Nature (Singapore), Singapore Canoe Federation and many more, have stepped forward to offer help in their own ways. These volunteers have been involved in a wide range of efforts.”
“Aquarium had conducted preliminary surveys at St John's Island, Sentosa, Labrador Nature Reserve, Sisters' Island Marine Park, as well as the site of the second Marine Park at the Southern part of Lazarus Island and the reef off Kusu Island, between 16 and 25 June. Based on the visual surveys thus far, oil was sighted along the upper intertidal zones of biodiversity-sensitive sites at Labrador rocky shore, Tanjong Rimau and Serapong at Sentosa, Bendera Bay at St John's Island, Eagle Bay at Lazarus Island, as well as the outer mangrove fringes at the mouth of Berlayer Creek near Labrador Nature Reserve. However, the intertidal zones at other biodiversity-sensitive areas, such as Sisters' Islands Marine Park, the other Southern islands, Changi Beach Park, Pasir Ris Park and Chek Jawa Wetlands at Pulau Ubin appear to be largely unaffected. Similarly, the mangroves at West Coast Park and Pasir Ris Park also appear to be largely unaffected. Notwithstanding this, we will continue to monitor these sites closely. As of end-June, NParks and animal welfare groups, such as ACRES, have rescued four collared kingfishers from the oil spill, two of which were received by NParks' Centre for Wildlife Rehabilitation. Despite prompt veterinary care, two kingfishers unfortunately died, but the other two appear to have stabilised and we are monitoring their condition closely. While no significant impact on our marine biodiversity and wildlife has been observed thus far, the situation remains dynamic and there could be a time-lag between the oil spill and its effects on our biodiversity and habitats. Some of the impact on our marine and coastal ecosystems may only show up weeks or even months later, such as during spawning periods.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, the Minister for Transport and the Minister for Sustainability and the Environment have given an update on the progress of the seaward and shoreline clean-up operations. I will now elaborate on the efforts taken by agencies and the community to contain and mitigate the immediate impacts of the oil spill on our coastal and marine wildlife, the impact thus far and the potential longer-term impact on biodiversity and habitats, as well as our action plans in the months to come. From the onset of the incident, agencies worked together and moved quickly to contain and mitigate the immediate effects and impact of the oil spill on our coastal and marine biodiversity and habitats. Affected beaches and shorelines were closed off to safeguard public health and safety, and frontline workers were deployed to clean up affected areas, such as the East Coast Park, Labrador Nature Reserve, Sentosa, as well as St John's, Lazarus and Kusu Islands. NParks deployed over 1.5 kilometres of oil-absorbent booms to protect biodiversity-sensitive coastal and marine areas, including Berlayer Creek and the Rocky Shore along Labrador Nature Reserve. These booms contained the spread of the oil and facilitated clean-up operations along affected beaches and shorelines. As some oil was detected off Changi on 17 June, agencies also preemptively deployed booms around biodiversity-sensitive areas, such as at Chek Jawa Wetlands at Pulau Ubin, Coney Island and Pasir Ris Park as preventive measures. To ascertain the immediate impact on our marine biodiversity, agency representatives, scientists, as well as volunteers from the Friends of Marine Park and S.E.A.”
“Town Councils (TCs) are required to establish and maintain a dedicated Lift Replacement Fund (LRF) to ensure that sufficient funds are set aside for the replacement of their lifts. Lift replacements works may be infrequent but involve heavy drawdown of funds when they are due, as lifts built in the same period will generally require replacement around the same time. There are currently no plans to expand the scope of LRF to cover cyclical works relating to escalators. Escalator replacement works will continue to be funded from TCs' Sinking Funds, which have been set aside for such long-term non-lift related cyclical replacement works. The Government will continue to review the framework regularly to ensure that it remains relevant.”