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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“Similar to other leasehold properties, the wet market will return to Housing and Development Board (HDB) upon lease expiry in October 2024. To avoid service disruption to residents and ensure a smooth transition to tenancy, HDB will be offering the existing private operator an interim tenancy of one year upon lease expiry. The private operator will be required to retain the existing market stallholders and maintain their rents. Thereafter, HDB intends to let out the premises on the standard three-year tenancy term. The premises will be tendered out via the Price-Quality Method, in which proposals will be evaluated on both the tender price and the quality of the proposals. This will allow HDB to select an operator who can best serve the residents’ needs and keep the area vibrant. HDB is also open to explore alternative proposals for the space to meet the evolving needs of residents, such as converting excess or vacant spaces into other uses. HDB is in the process of engaging local stakeholders, including the current operator and grassroots leaders, on this.”
“The Housing and Development Board (HDB) takes a compassionate approach towards public rental tenants in arrears. When tenants default on their rents, HDB will send SMS and letter reminders in the first two months and encourage tenants to approach HDB if they face difficulties paying their rent. From the third month onwards, HDB officers will reach out to tenants through other channels, such as phone calls and house visits, to better understand their individual circumstances. HDB has various assistance measures in place to support public rental tenants in arrears. For those in financial difficulties, HDB can reduce their rents and allow them to pay off their arrears in instalments. Besides actively advising and guiding tenants, HDB can also refer tenants to Social Service Offices, Family Service Centres or other social service agencies for financial and social assistance.”
“The Court has to be satisfied that there are valid statutory grounds before granting a divorce. No Housing and Development Board (HDB) flat owners have been found to have falsely filed for divorce to decouple their HDB flat ownership for the purpose of avoiding payment of the Additional Buyer’s Stamp Duty on the next property purchase.”
“The Housing and Development Board (HDB) estates and precincts are designed to be inclusive and accessible to all residents. All new public housing developments, including rental and Build-To-Order flats, are designed in compliance with the Building and Construction Authority's prevailing Code on Accessibility in the Built Environment, which includes requirements on minimum accessibility provisions for Persons with Disabilities (PwDs). Universal Design principles and features, such as barrier-free routes and ramps, are also incorporated in new public housing developments to create inclusive environments. Apart from infrastructural support, PwDs living in HDB flats can also access home-based care services if needed, such as the Home Personal Care service for those who require support with their daily needs. Government agencies continue to actively study options to support PwDs and forge a more inclusive Singapore. Under the Enabling Masterplan 2030, a task force comprising Government agencies, disability social service agencies (SSAs) and PwDs has been formed to look into developing new community living models for PwDs, including those that may be sited in HDB estates. The task force aims to understand the needs and wishes of PwDs and their families, and will recommend alternative housing and care models to enable more PwDs to live and participate in the community. The task force will release its recommendations later this year after it concludes. Meanwhile, HDB will also continue to work with disability SSAs and other agencies to support PwDs with their housing needs as far as possible.”
“To offset the costs of estate maintenance for Town Councils and residents, the Government has been providing substantial grants of around $240 million a year to Town Councils via the Service and Conservancy Charges (S&CC) Operating Grant, the Goods and Service Tax Subvention Grant, the Lift Maintenance Grant and the Lift Replacement Fund Matching Grant. Given the sharp and steep cost increases faced by Town Councils due to external factors, such as COVID-19, the Russia-Ukraine conflict and global supply crunch, the Ministry of National Development had provided additional funding support to Town Councils for projects under the Neighbourhood Renewal Programme and Community Improvement Projects Committee in May 2022. In addition to the above support measures, the Government is prepared to provide further support to Town Councils considering the exceptional and sustained cost pressures faced by Town Councils. As mentioned during the Committee of Supply debate on 2 March 2023, to support Town Councils that need to adjust their S&CC rates to meet long-term financial sustainability, the Government will provide a time-limited, special funding support to cushion the potential impact on residents. More details will be shared with Town Councils when ready.”
“The wild boar population in our nature reserves has remained stable. This may be attributed to National Parks Board's (NParks') habitat restoration efforts, such as the replacement of introduced oil palms, which are food sources for wild boars, with native vegetation. NParks will continue to monitor the wild boar population. To minimise human-wild boar encounters and mitigate their risks, NParks adopts a community and science-based approach to managing the wild boar population. This includes habitat modification and conducting studies to better understand their distribution. In addition, NParks works with public agencies and developers to erect hoarding to prevent wildlife, such as wild boars from straying into nearby residential areas. NParks also implements population control measures, where needed, to protect public safety. NParks also works closely with stakeholders on public education and outreach, to promote safe and responsible human-wildlife encounters. This includes discouraging and taking enforcement action against the illegal feeding of wildlife, which can alter their natural foraging behaviour and lead them to rely on humans for food. Similar to other wild animals, wild boars can be unpredictable in behaviour, and can pose a risk to public safety even if not deliberately provoked. As wild boars primarily become aggressive when they feel cornered or threatened, members of the public are encouraged to remain calm and keep a safe distance if they encounter a wild boar. NParks will continue to engage the community on how to respond to wildlife sightings.”
“At the Ministry of National Development's (MND'S) Committee of Supply debate on 2 March 2023, MND announced enhanced support for eligible first-timer families with children aged 18 and below, and young married couples aged 40 and below to secure a new flat. The moves will take effect from the August 2023 Build-To-Order exercise. They were announced early to give the public some time to understand how the changes may affect them. The Housing and Development Board also needs some time to stress-test and implement the system changes needed for the moves.”
“The Housing and Development Board (HDB) appoints Town Councils as the maintenance agent for car parks. The Maintenance Agreement between HDB and the Town Councils requires Town Councils to carry out routine maintenance, keep the car parks in a state of good and serviceable repair and carry out yearly inspections. HDB conducts checks on the maintenance of the car parks through audit checks by HDB officers and checks by HDB car park service providers. In 2021, following a review of the Maintenance Agreement, HDB moved away from a flat fee payment arrangement, in which Town Councils were paid a flat fee depending on car park type and location, to a performance-based payment model based on maintenance outcomes. HDB also introduced Liquidated Damages clauses in the Maintenance Agreement to ensure that maintenance standards are met. A new integrated Estates Management System (iEMS) was also introduced to track the maintenance status of HDB properties including car parks. The iEMS will allow HDB to monitor the timely rectification of defects and provide HDB with better oversight of the condition of the car parks. HDB is now in the initial phase of onboarding Town Councils to the iEMS. When fully implemented, HDB will be able to more closely monitor conditions of the HDB car parks, ensuring that the maintenance of the car parks is carried out in a more timely manner. HDB will continue to strengthen the maintenance regime of car parks, to better serve the needs of our residents.”
“Approval must be obtained from the relevant authorities prior to the commencement of addition and alteration works on buildings. These include planning permissions from the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA), plan approvals and permits from the Building and Construction Authority (BCA) for building works, and approvals from the Singapore Civil Defence Force for fire safety works. For this case, the owner of the unit had appointed Communication Design International (Singapore) Pte Ltd and Furnisteel Systems Pte Ltd to construct the unauthorised mezzanine floor at The Alexcier. The owner was charged and convicted in Court for contravening the Building Control Act and Fire Safety Act, with other charges taken into consideration. He was fined $50,000 for the offences. Following consultations with the Attorney-General's Chambers, URA and BCA issued stern warnings to the two companies appointed by the unit owner to construct the mezzanine floor. This decision was made after considering the evidence and other relevant circumstances, including the extent of the companies' involvement in the offences.”
“Between 2018 and 2022, around nine in 10 Build-To-Order (BTO) flat buyers who took up a Housing and Development Board (HDB) housing loan did not have to make any cash payment at key collection. About eight in 10 BTO flat buyers who took up an HDB housing loan were able to service their monthly mortgage instalments entirely by Central Provident Fund without any cash outlay. These proportions have remained relatively stable over the last five years. Among these BTO flat buyers, about 11% bought a 2-room Flexi flat, 12% bought a 3-room flat, 56% bought a 4-room flat, and 21% bought a 5-room or 3Gen flat.”
“The Building and Construction Authority's Construction Quality Assessment System (CONQUAS) score is an objective industry standard to measure the quality of building projects. The Housing and Development Board (HDB) has consistently achieved high CONQUAS scores, with an average score of 95 over FY2020 to FY2022, comparable to the scores achieved by private residential developments over the same period. It is also higher than HDB's average CONQUAS scores of 92 over FY2017 to FY2019. As part of HDB's commitment to quality, HDB provides all new HDB flat owners with a one-year Defects Liability Period, during which flaws and defects can be reported for the Build-To-Order (BTO) contractor to carry out the necessary repairs. Prior to and after the COVID-19 pandemic, the proportion of flat owners who submitted feedback on defects within this period remained the same. Most of the reported defects were minor imperfections, such as scratches or cracks on timber surfaces, walls or tiles. More than 90% of all defects reported were successfully rectified within 14 working days. This figure remains the same for the HDB's BTO flats completed prior to and after the COVID-19 pandemic.”
“We will continue to partner Singaporeans to ensure that Singapore remains a distinctive and thriving city, with inclusive neighbourhoods and endearing homes for all Singaporeans.”
“We will continue to make concerted efforts to retain and weave in our uniquely Singaporean identity as we develop Singapore. We have evolved from a “Garden City” to a “City in a Garden”, and now aspire to be a City in Nature, where native flora and fauna thrive amid a flourishing, urban metropolis. We will secure and extend our natural capital for generations to enjoy, and continue to build a productive and vibrant city, while strengthening the distinctive character and heritage of our towns and neighbourhoods. We will design our districts to connect with our shared memories of the area, which amplifies our Singaporean identity and provides residents with a sense of belonging, ownership, and community. We will plan for a range of possibilities as far ahead as possible, and introduce greater flexibility and optionality in our land use plans, so we can respond nimbly to crises and challenges. By carefully pacing out development plans, we can also better respond to changes in land use needs. To protect our city from the effects of climate change, we will deploy both infrastructure and nature-based solutions. These plans need to be supported by a strong and progressive built environment sector. The refreshed Built Environment Industry Transformation Map reflects our resolve to design, construct, and maintain our buildings in a more productive and sustainable manner, while strengthening our resilience against future challenges. We will support the growth of stronger firms with deeper capabilities, reduce our reliance on foreign manpower, and streamline regulatory processes. We will also ramp up efforts to reduce building emissions as we move towards our national climate target of net zero emissions by 2050.”
“We will refresh our social compact on housing, so that housing continues to be affordable and accessible, and our estates remain inclusive, cohesive and sustainable. (a) We are committed to supporting families. We will help young married couples and families with children buy their very first home. (b) We will keep public housing inclusive, including in our prime areas. We will continue to launch flats under the Prime Location Public Housing model. (c) We will pair housing with proactive social support to uplift lower income families and help them move towards home ownership. (d) We will develop a range of housing options and provide stronger support for singles, seniors, as well as persons with disabilities. (e) We will design and build estates to forge strong communities, bring Singaporeans closer together, and integrate how we live, work and play. (f) We will rejuvenate and upgrade existing housing estates to improve the quality of our living environment. (g) We will work together with Singaporeans to promote social norms in our neighbourhoods that reflect our values of mutual respect and care for one another. Ultimately, our new social compact on housing represents a consensus among Singaporeans on our priorities as a nation and how we should allocate finite land and limited resources to meet growing aspirations. We must also set aside enough land and resources for future generations, to meet their aspirations and needs. MND will continue to plan boldly for the long-term, carefully balancing different needs and executing detailed plans to keep our city-state green, vibrant, and inclusive. We will embark on big moves and create more space by transforming the Greater Southern Waterfront and relocating Paya Lebar Airbase so that new and sustainable towns can be built.”
“The Ministry of National Development (MND) will continue to ensure that we develop sustainably, build an endearing home and a distinctive global city, and meet the diverse aspirations of Singaporeans. Through the Long-Term Plan Review and the Forward Singapore exercise, we engaged over 30,000 Singaporeans to understand their values, hopes, and concerns for the future, including what a refreshed social compact for public housing should look like. We will update our housing and planning strategies to reflect the concerns and aspirations of our time. These strategies will be translated into detailed land use and development plans for the next ten to fifteen years in the upcoming Master Plan review. While the construction sector was severely disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic, we have made good progress to get back on track. Across the Housing and Development Board (HDB)’s Build-To-Order programme and private residential developments, there will be almost 40,000 home completions in 2023, and close to 100,000 by 2025. We will continue to maintain a steady pipeline to meet housing demand, and adjust our policies as necessary to keep the property market stable and sustainable. Our public housing programme has enabled eight in 10 Singaporean households to live in HDB flats today. We must continue to update our public housing programmes and policies as our city develops and society matures. Nearly one in four Singaporeans will be 65 years and older by 2030. We also have more singles and caregivers in our society, and more young Singaporeans aspire to live independently. In addition, our public housing estates and HDB flats are ageing. Many non-mature estates have also become much more well-developed over time.”
“In the past three years, there were no reported cases for flats that are (a) five years old and below. For flats that are (b) five to 15 years old and (c) 15 to 25 years old, the Housing and Development Board (HDB) received about one case per 1,000 flats per year. For flats that are (d) 25 to 35 years old and (e) 35 years old and above, HDB received about three and 32 cases per 1,000 flats per year.”
“The vast majority of Singaporean households own their homes. To support the minority of Singaporeans who need to rent, there are existing measures, such as the Parenthood Provisional Housing Scheme (PPHS), for eligible families waiting for the completion of their Build-to-Order flat. We have been working to increase the PPHS supply and are on track to double it to about 1,800 PPHS units by this year. We are also ramping up the supply of public and private housing, which will inject supply into the rental market in the coming years. For example, close to 100,000 public and private housing units will be completed from 2023 to 2025. International experience has shown that, rent controls are likely to distort the housing market and may inadvertently reduce rental supply or disincentivise landlords from maintaining proper upkeep of their rental units. We are monitoring the situation closely and will adjust our policies, as necessary.”
“Approved public rental applicants will be invited to select a flat in chronological order, that is, from the earliest to the most recently approved. Each applicant will be invited up to three times to select a flat. Those who do not select a flat after being invited twice will be deprioritised, to give other applicants the chance to select a flat first. Upon appeal, priority may be granted to applicants who are in urgent need of housing, such as those with medical grounds or other exceptional circumstances. There are about 1,000 approved applicants who have not selected their public rental flats. Forty percent of them had been invited to select a flat previously but did not do so. The average waiting time for approved applicants to be invited to select a flat has come down over the past year to about six months currently.”
“Among public rental tenants, the length of stay at the 25th percentile, median and 75th percentile is currently four years, 10 years and 19 years, respectively. The corresponding figures for 2013 are three years, eight years and 17 years.”
“The price of the budget meal is proposed by the operator and reviewed by the Housing and Development Board (HDB) to ensure they are reasonable and remain affordable in reference to nearby options. This strikes a balance between the operator’s business sustainability and the needs of residents for affordable food options. Rental coffee shops leased under the Price-Quality Method tenders typically provide budget food options with prices at around $3 to $3.50 across the estates. Existing coffee shop operators who successfully tendered to rent their coffee shops under the Price-Quality Method will continue to provide six budget meals and one budget drink, as stipulated in the conditions of their original tender bids. However, operators of coffee shops who did not tender to rent their coffee shops under the Price-Quality Method will require time to make the transition with their stallholders. Hence, we will only require them to provide four budget meals and two drinks as a condition for the renewal of the coffee shop tenancy, until further review. To further ease the transition for operators and stallholders to offer the budget meals, HDB is offering them a 5% discount on the renewal rents for a period of one year.”
“The Housing and Development Board (HDB) endeavours to provide a good geographical spread in each sales exercise to meet the diverse needs and budgets of Singaporeans. However, land is scarce in Singapore and the planning and staging of sites in the Build-To-Order (BTO) flat supply are subject to site availability and readiness. Where new areas, such as Tengah, are being developed to provide housing, there is also the need to launch a sufficient quantum of flats to provide the critical mass to ensure viability of new facilities, for example, shops, and major infrastructure, such as rail lines. In the recent February 2023 BTO launch, HDB offered about 4,400 flats in four towns comprising a mix of non-mature and mature estates of Jurong West, Tengah, Kallang Whampoa and Queenstown. HDB will offer about 5,400 BTO flats in Tengah, Bedok, Kallang Whampoa and Serangoon in May 2023. HDB is prepared to launch a total of 100,000 flats from 2021 to 2025. This will comprise a range of flats in different locations to meet the diverse needs and budgets of Singaporeans. Flat buyers who have specific locational preferences can consider resale flats, where first-timer buyers can qualify for housing grants of up to $190,000.”
“The concessionary interest rate that the Housing and Development Board (HDB) charges for its housing loan is pegged at 0.1% above the prevailing CPF Ordinary Account interest rate and is currently at 2.6% per annum. There are existing credit measures, such as limits on Loan-To-Value ratio and Mortgage Servicing Ratio to encourage prudent borrowing. Since September 2022, alongside measures on housing loans granted by financial institutions (FIs), HDB introduced an interest rate floor to compute eligible loan amounts for housing loans granted by HDB. These measures help to ensure that HDB flat buyers take on loans prudently and are better able to service their loans should interest rates rise further. Nonetheless, we recognise that some HDB home owners may face financial difficulties when their circumstances change. We encourage such borrowers to reach out for assistance early. For HDB home owners with housing loans granted by HDB, HDB has various financial assistance measures in place to help them. These include allowing them to temporarily reduce or defer their loan instalments, pay their arrears by instalments within a reasonable period; and/or extend their loan tenure to help reduce their monthly instalments. For HDB home owners facing difficulties servicing their housing loans from FIs, they are encouraged to approach their lenders early. Government agencies have worked with FIs to establish standardised interventions for HDB home owners, which include potential loan restructuring solutions and early referrals to social service agencies.”
“During each Sale of Balance Flats (SBF) exercise, flats that remain unselected from earlier Build-To-Order (BTO) sales launches, surplus Selective En bloc Redevelopment Scheme (SERS) replacement flats, and flats from other sources, such as those repurchased by the Housing and Development Board (HDB), are offered to Singaporeans. Although SBF exercises may involve fewer flats than BTO launches, the former comprise a wider range of flat types, locations and prices. This means that the number of application categories, that is, towns and flat types, offered are higher under the SBF exercises, which also often see high flat application rates. These are factors which add to the balloting and selection time. SBF applicants, typically, receive their ballot results about six weeks from the close of the application period and would be invited to book a flat within six months from the release of the ballot results. HDB regularly reviews its sales processes and will continue to refine them where possible, to meet the needs of home seekers.”
“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 EIP-constrained flat owners 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 from 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 2022, HDB received 411 EIP-related appeals: 14% of the appeals were from the Chinese ethnic group, 25% from the Malay ethnic group and 61% from the Indian/Others ethnic group. HDB acceded to 128 of the appeals, of which four of them were assisted through the buyback assistance measure. Most of the remaining cases were ineligible as the flat owners did not make regular attempts to sell their flats over a continuous period or had yet to own their flats for at least 10 years. HDB will continue to extend assistance measures to flat owners who face genuine difficulties selling their flat when the EIP quotas have been reached.”
“A Mandatory Treatment Order (MTO) is a sentencing option for offenders who suffer from a treatable psychiatric condition that contributed to their commission of the offence. For appropriate cases of animal cruelty and abuse, the Court may make an MTO. The number of MTOs issued by the Courts against animal cruelty offenders from 2018 to 2022 is shown in Table 1.”
“The 40% non-selection rate is fairly consistent across the different flat types. In the 2021 Build-To-Order (BTO) exercises, the non-selection rate by flat type ranged from 36.1% (4-room flats) to 44.7% (2-room flexi flats). For 2-room flexi BTO flats launched in 2021, the non-selection rates for seniors and first-timer (FT) families were both about 45%. Second-timer families and FT singles had non-selection rates of about 51% and 43% respectively. Currently, applicants with greater housing needs are given priority in HDB’s flat allocation system, such as through the different allocation quotas and priority schemes. To streamline flat allocation so that those who need a flat can secure one more quickly, we have recently announced a tightening of non-selection rules at the Ministry of National Development's Committee of Supply debate. This adjustment will take effect from the August 2023 BTO exercise and will apply across all flat types.”
“The breakdown of first-timer family applicants by age and gender at the point of key collection to their new HDB flats for the periods requested is tabulated below.”
“Flat owners are responsible for the maintenance of their flat interiors, including repairs to ceiling leaks and spalling concrete that could occur due to wear and tear over time. For ceiling leaks within the flat, the upper-floor and lower-floor flat owners are jointly responsible for repairs. Such issues can usually be amicably resolved when both flat owners exercise mutual understanding and cooperation in investigations and repairs. The Housing and Development Board (HDB) also provides financial support through the Goodwill Repair Assistance scheme, if applicable. If the upper-floor flat owner refuses to cooperate, HDB will advise both parties to understand each other’s needs and may further help to arrange for mediation between both parties, where necessary. As a last resort, when persuasion fails, HDB may take legal action to compel the upper-floor flat owner to comply with the covenants of the Lease. Generally, most flat owners are cooperative. HDB is currently taking legal action against seven cases where the upper-floor flat owners have remained uncooperative despite efforts to engage and persuade them to allow HDB to conduct investigations and repairs in their flats. For spalling concrete, HDB does not encounter any uncooperative flat owners, as spalling concrete occurs within a single unit and does not affect other neighbours.”
“In the context of our high-density environment, and with the Housing and Development Board (HDB) flats designed for natural ventilation, it is not possible to completely sound-proof a unit. Effectiveness of double-glazed windows are also limited and would require residents to close their windows to cut down noise. As such, HDB takes a holistic approach in designing HDB flats to mitigate noise. For new HDB flats located close to land traffic noise sources, such as major arterial roads and MRT tracks, HDB carries out noise impact assessment (NIA) during the design consultancy stage to understand the noise impact on the new residential developments and put in place appropriate noise mitigation measures. HDB has also introduced facade designs with overhangs or canopies to deflect and abate land transport noise transmission into the dwelling units. To mitigate the impact of aircraft noise, HDB is testing further noise mitigation measures and will introduce these when ready. Such measures include noise-cancelling technologies and innovative facade designs.”
“For new Build-To-Order (BTO) projects, the Housing and Development Board's (HDB) building specifications currently require contractors to use Acrylic Polymer Cementitious Coating (APCC), with a sealer coat system, for the screeding of floors in common areas. This system fulfils the slip resistance test under Singapore Standard 485 and meets the acceptance criteria of 40 to 50 British Pendulum Numbers (BPN). This is also the level of slip resistance HDB specifies for its bathroom floor tiles. In terms of aesthetics, APCC is grey in colour and, upon application, furnishes our common areas with a uniform and neat look. For existing estates, it is the Town Councils’ responsibility to regularly inspect and maintain the floors in common areas. HDB does not stipulate the materials to be used and the slip resistance standards to be followed by the Town Councils, but will provide technical advice to the Town Councils, where required.”
“For example, Post-Occupancy Surveys are conducted for all newly completed BTO developments one to two years after new home owners have settled into their new living environment and have a sense of what they like in their neighbourhoods. HDB also conducts regular dialogues with Town Councils to gather feedback. Such feedback from residents and Town Councils informs the design of new developments as well as upgrading initiatives in all estates.”
“The Housing and Development Board (HDB) works closely with architectural consultants and reviews design proposals of Build-To-Order (BTO) flats to ensure that they are in line with prevailing regulatory requirements, design objectives and guidelines. The precinct design is committed before project launch. Prospective buyers can refer to the launch brochures to have a general sense of each development’s design. I understand that the Member may be concerned about the design process for HDB BTO flats, following public feedback on the red lift lobbies at Tampines GreenVines. For this project, HDB had given the architects flexibility to incorporate new approaches to make the estate more distinctive. The architects proposed to use bright accent colours inspired by local fruits, such as red and yellow. The colours were used to differentiate the different clusters of blocks and facilitate wayfinding for residents. The sales models showed the cluster colours during launch. HDB has received mixed views on the cluster colours as taste is subjective. However, given feedback from residents that the red colour was too strong, steps were taken to repaint the walls and ceiling of the blocks to white to tone it down. This was an exercise of judgement, balancing the need to innovate with new designs and public receptivity. HDB continues to build up a store of experience over the years from residents’ feedback in various BTO developments. HDB proactively seeks feedback from Singaporeans, through surveys and engagements, to understand their aspirations and preferences, to review and refine the overall design for HDB flats.”
“The Housing and Development Board (HDB) coffee shop operators are required to replace their sole halal food stalls with another halal vendor once the original vendor ceases to operate. The coffee shop operator is required to find a replacement within the current tenancy period. HDB may decide not to renew the tenancy if the operator fails to fulfil this condition. Operators who face difficulties in bringing in a replacement halal stallholder can appeal to HDB, and HDB will assess these appeals on a case-by-case basis.”
“As of end-February 2023, the operators of the three Joint Singles Scheme Operator-Run (JSS-OR) sites have received 79 requests from tenants for a change of co-tenant due to disputes. Of these 79 requests, 35 were dropped after the operators successfully mediated between the parties involved, who have continued to live together amicably. For the remaining 44 requests, most were resolved after the operators made changes to the flat sharing arrangements.”
“We engage nature groups and other stakeholders, so that their inputs can be considered in the review of our plans. We have also developed an Integrated Urban Coastal Management (IUCM) framework that guides the planning and management of our coastal and marine habitats. The framework is put together by an inter-agency committee including NParks, SFA, NEA, MPA and PUB, and seeks to promote the sustainable development of our coastal and marine areas. Agencies will continue to work closely together, for example, to monitor and coordinate responses to oil spill incidents as part of the IUCM framework. We are committed to being responsible stewards of our coastal and marine spaces, including our Southern Islands. As we push on with these efforts, we encourage everyone to join us, share with us their views and ideas, to ensure that our precious marine biodiversity is conserved for many generations to come. [(proc text) Question put, and agreed to. (proc text)] [(proc text) Resolved, "That Parliament do now adjourn." (proc text)]”
“When development plans are more firm, developing agencies undergo an in-depth consultation process and work closely with technical agencies to minimise the environmental impact for developments near or in an ecologically sensitive area. In the context of Lazarus Island, this also involves consulting technical agencies and SLA, the agency managing the island, to develop visitor management measures that ensure public safety and sustainable practices. Throughout the planning process —”
“This will ensure the rigour of EIAs, including for coastal and marine areas. And to facilitate collaboration among Government, industry and researchers in areas including marine conservation, MPA launched the GeoSpace-Sea portal in 2019. This publicly accessible database harnesses and integrates marine and coastal geospatial data from various sources and can help parties work off a common set of information. This also ties in with Ms Nadia Ahmad Samdin’s call for greater coordination across agencies to ensure that our Southern Islands are developed sensitively. We agree with her that proper coordination is important to ensure that we develop Singapore sustainably. Today, we already take a whole-of-Government approach to coordinate our plans, from planning to implementation. Upstream in the planning process, environmental considerations are taken into account in our land use plans. URA regularly reviews our long-term plans with agencies and studies alternatives and trade-offs to optimise our land use plans. This includes working with developing agencies such as the Sentosa Development Corporation (SDC) and the Singapore Food Agency (SFA) to evaluate proposals for ecotourism projects and fish farms. Our plans are also guided by science. As part of the Long-Term Plan Review, NParks conducted an Ecological Profiling Exercise (EPE) to gain a more comprehensive understanding of Singapore’s island-wide ecosystem and ecological connectivity. Based on the findings, NParks will work with agencies to study how development can be undertaken sensitively, taking into consideration the various habitats. For example, the marine EPE will help to guide future developments such as the placement of sea-based farms.”
“We have been partnering the marine community on a long-term survey of our species-rich seagrass meadows and are currently developing a restoration programme for these habitats. And we are planning to expand our "Plant-A-Coral, Seed-A-Reef" programme to rally more of the community around our efforts to establish and restore thriving reef habitats. We will also continue to ramp up our outreach and education efforts, together with partners such as the Nature Society (Singapore) and the Waterways Watch Society. Through initiatives such as guided intertidal walks and citizen science programmes, including our yearly Biodiversity Beach Patrols, we will encourage even more Singaporeans to join us in celebrating and stewarding our amazing marine biodiversity. Across the board, our marine conservation efforts are underpinned by strong and active partnerships. One example of how ground-up efforts can make a meaningful difference is the Singapore Blue Plan, which Mr Louis Ng mentioned. I had the opportunity to attend the launch of the Blue Plan back in 2018 and was encouraged by the passion and dedication of the diverse stakeholders who contributed to it. Many of our actions to better understand and conserve our marine spaces are indeed aligned with the recommendations of the Blue Plan. For example, we are stepping up funding for marine research. Through the Marine Climate Change Science programme, we are investing $25 million to develop solutions that address the impacts of climate change on our marine ecosystems. We have recently started to award grants for the first two projects and we look forward to catalysing further advancements in this field. To strengthen the environmental impact assessment (EIA) process, we are piloting the centralisation of EIA consultants under NParks.”
“In 2014, we established the Sisters’ Islands Marine Park, in view of the area’s important ecological functions and variety of marine life. The Marine Park is protected under the Parks and Trees Act, which prohibits the removal of biodiversity and restricts activities such as fishing, the collection of corals and the mooring of boats, among others. I would like to assure Mr Louis Ng that, just like for nature reserves, the boundaries of the Marine Park are set out in the Schedule to the Act and any changes would have to be presented to Parliament. In addition to protecting our key marine ecosystems, we are also actively enhancing them, in close partnership with the community. For example, together with JTC and the National University of Singapore (NUS), we are supporting the introduction of artificial reefs at the Marine Park, to promote the restoration of its coral habitats. We also work closely with the multi-stakeholder Friends of Marine Park, as well as volunteers, to conserve and study native turtle species at the turtle hatchery on Small Sister’s Island. Beyond the Marine Park, we also make use of science and data to prioritise threatened species for our recovery programmes. Today, our efforts cover the Neptune’s cup sponge, over 14 species of corals, and more. We will do more to protect our natural marine habitats and heritage. At this year’s Committee of Supply debate, we announced our enhanced commitment to restore and enhance 80 hectares of habitats by 2030, up from 30 hectares previously. These efforts will also include coastal and marine habitats. Like Mr Louis Ng, we recognise the importance of our seagrass meadows as carbon sinks and habitats for marine fauna.”
“Sir, I thank Mr Louis Ng and Ms Nadia Ahmad Samdin, and our blue activists, for championing the protection of our marine environment and our Southern Islands. I only have 10 minutes, so I will be brief and may not be able to address all the questions that they have raised. As a small city-state, we will always have to balance conservation with our development needs. The pressures on our sea spaces are no less intense than on land. We are home to a rich array of marine biodiversity, from hard corals and seagrasses to turtles and dugongs. The Port of Singapore is also a busy global transshipment hub, supporting our economy and the continued flow of global supply chains. Our coastal and marine areas are also used for many important activities, including offshore industries, aquaculture, tourism, recreation and defence. As we balance these competing demands, we recognise that our marine ecosystems are an important part of our natural capital and agree with Members that we must take collective action to conserve them. Through our Marine Conservation Action Plan, we seek to conserve our rich marine biodiversity. This comprehensive, science-based approach is part of our broader Nature Conservation Masterplan, which sets out conservation strategies for both green and blue spaces. Over the years, NParks has been partnering experts, researchers and the marine community to study and monitor the biodiversity in our waters. With the use of advanced modelling tools, as well as efforts such as the Comprehensive Marine Biodiversity Survey and the more recent Southern Islands Biodiversity Survey, we continuously update and deepen our knowledge base. This helps us to identify key marine habitats for protection.”
“When assessing requests for public rental housing, the Housing and Development Board (HDB) adopts a holistic and needs-based approach and does not reject applicants based on income alone. Various factors, such as applicants’ circumstances, household size, family support and ability to afford other housing options, are also considered. Applicants may be ineligible for multiple reasons, including not meeting the citizenship requirement, or having alternative housing options, such as being able to afford a flat or having family members who can accommodate them. We do not specifically track the number of appeals from residents who were ineligible for public rental housing and cannot afford to rent from the open market. Nonetheless, applicants who do not have family support and do not have other housing options will be assisted with a public rental flat. Those who are ineligible for public rental housing and cannot afford to rent from the open market may consider other housing options, such as staying with their families or friends, to minimise their financial outlay. For lower-income households who are waiting for their new BTO flats to be completed and have no other temporary housing options, HDB may offer them interim rental flats on a case-by-case basis. The expansion of the Progressive Wage Model will increase the wages of more lower-wage workers, putting them in a better position to purchase homes of their own. We also have various generous housing grants and subsidies that they can tap on, such as the Enhanced CPF Housing Grant and Step-Up CPF Housing Grant. For those who are not ready for home ownership and have no other housing options, HDB will assess their applications holistically and consider them for public rental housing.”
“On the Housing and Development Board (HDB) webpage on housing support for single parents, we already state that single unwed parents who require housing assistance can approach HDB, and we will assess each request holistically, based on their individual circumstances. Since January 2021, eight single unwed parents have applied for the Parenthood Provisional Housing Scheme (PPHS). HDB assisted two of them with Interim Rental Housing. Of the remaining six, one was invited to select a PPHS flat but did not do so, three were not successful in the balloting, one is awaiting the ballot results, and one withdrew the application to take up alternative housing arrangements.”
“As of February 2023, the National Parks Board (NParks) has established 10 Therapeutic Gardens (TGs) in parks and is on track to meet its 2030 target of establishing 30 such TGs islandwide. To complement these efforts, NParks also facilitates Therapeutic Horticulture programmes in TGs, as well as in various facilities, such as hospitals and senior activity centres, many of which are located in HDB estates. These curated programmes leverage nature-related and gardening activities to enhance the well-being of participants. In addition to establishing TGs in parks, NParks also works with Housing and Development Board (HDB) to incorporate TGs and therapeutic landscapes in HDB estates where feasible. This is done as part of new HDB developments and through estate renewal programmes. These TGs in HDB estates help to bring the benefits of therapeutic horticulture and landscapes closer to residents.”
“Town Councils are, generally, responsible for managing disamenities and residents' feedback arising from pest birds, such as pigeons. The National Parks Board (NParks) advises Town Councils on upstream measures to mitigate such disamenities, such as the planting of certain tree species or pruning of existing trees, to discourage pigeon roosting, as well as best practices for pigeon removal operations. As bird-feeding is a key driver of pest bird population growth, NParks conducts surveillance and targeted enforcement against such acts. In addition, NParks works with Town Councils to raise public awareness about the negative impact of illegal bird-feeding, while partnering agencies and Town Councils to encourage proper food waste management by residents and food establishments. This collaborative and multi-pronged approach to pest bird management has helped to mitigate the disamenities caused by pigeons and to reduce related feedback in recent years. NParks will continue to advise and support Town Councils on such matters.”
“In November 2018, then-AVA launched the Trap-Neuter-Rehome/Release-Manage (TNRM) programme, in partnership with animal welfare groups, veterinarians and the community. The TNRM programme is a humane and science-based method to manage the free-roaming dog population through sterilisation. The National Parks Board (NParks) assesses that the TNRM programme has been effective. Over half of the 3,600 dogs under the programme have been sterilised and successfully rehomed or fostered. The number of cases of public feedback on free-roaming dogs has also decreased by more than 60% since the launch of the TNRM programme. NParks will continue efforts to improve the rehabilitation and rehoming outcomes for sterilised dogs under the TNRM programme. For example, suitable dogs are enrolled into a canine behaviour rehabilitation programme at the Centre for Animal Rehabilitation, to help them better adapt to home environments. We appreciate the contributions of our animal welfare group partners, veterinarians and the community to the TNRM programme thus far. NParks is monitoring the TNRM programme and will assess the need to extend it beyond the five-year timeline.”
“From 2018 to 2022, there were two reported incidents of injuries to visitors to our nature reserves and nature parks due to adverse weather conditions. No incidents were reported due to damaged infrastructure in the same period. To safeguard public safety, the National Parks Board (NParks) puts out advisories to remind the public to avoid entering nature reserves and nature parks during and immediately after inclement weather. They should also seek cover at the nearest available shelter, should it rain when they are in the area. NParks also conducts structural inspections for all public structures within our nature reserves and nature parks once every five years. In between scheduled inspections, NParks conducts monthly checks and additional inspections if there are prolonged periods of heavy rainfall or upon receiving feedback on infrastructure-related issues. Following each inspection, NParks will carry out repair works as necessary. NParks also monitors visitor levels in our nature reserves and nature parks to ensure that the carrying capacity of relevant structures is not exceeded. NParks will continue to expand the network of parks, including nature parks, so that Singaporeans have more options for nature-based recreation. This will also help to spread out the demand for such recreational experiences.”
“From 2020 to 2022, about 19% of resale flat buyers bought a larger flat, and about 15% of resale flat buyers bought a smaller flat, within three years of disposing of their previous flat.”
“Golden Mile Complex has been the subject of various heritage documentation efforts. For example, NUS, supported by NHB, had completed a research study in 2021 on post-independence buildings in Singapore, which included interviews with Golden Mile Complex's tenants, visitors and residents on its intangible heritage. In addition, several members of public have documented their experiences at Golden Mile Complex on their own initiative, capturing the building's history through books, videos, blogs and media articles.”
“The Ministry of National Development (MND) has commissioned a study on the lived experience of residents in blocks which have both BTO flats and rental flats on the same floor. The study is still ongoing, but the early findings are that: (a) residents are more likely to form ties with neighbours living on the same floor than with others living further away, and building sold and rental flats on the same floors has brought about interactions and ties between owners and tenants; (b) block designs that minimised visible differences between sold and rental flats better facilitated interactions and ties; (c) shared amenities, such as playgrounds, are important for social interactions; and (d) social activities organised by the community are also important, and a critical factor is to treat everyone as equal participants and not differentiate between tenants and owners. The findings thus far are encouraging and reaffirm that mixed blocks are important for inclusive public housing. We have launched a total of 20 mixed blocks, of which three are completed and 17 are under construction. The findings will also inform the design of future mixed blocks. For example, we plan to continue building mixed blocks with sold and rental flats on the same floor, and minimise differences in the external appearance of units. That said, blocks with only rental flats still have a place in our housing estates, as they facilitate social service delivery to rental households.”
“The number of disqualification orders issued against animal cruelty offenders from 2018 to 2022 and the breakdown of the disqualification period are shown in Table 1.”