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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“Both in the supplementary question and in the Parliamentary Question, the Member has alluded to ECs as public housing. If you look at the 1995 debate during which the EC scheme was developed, it was to make private housing an option for middle class Singaporean households to be able to enter private housing in an affordable way. There are Government Land Sales and then there are EC land sales. For EC land sales, unlike private housing land sales, we put in place restrictions, as the Member has mentioned − the MOP, the eligibility criteria to provide for middle income households the option to buy ECs. Whilst these policies are in place, they make ECs an affordable way for people to enter into private housing. But that said, I think the Member's concern is about residents who face issues with ECs. While the contractual obligations are on the developer to address all the concerns the buyers have raised, when EC buyers raise concerns about EC units to HDB, HDB will certainly convey these concerns to the EC developers for them to take appropriate action.”
“Madam, the Executive Condominium Housing Scheme (ECHS) was introduced in 1995 to meet the aspirations of Singaporeans to own private housing in an affordable way. This is done by imposing on EC buyers certain initial eligibility and ownership restrictions. But after the 10th year, all restrictions are lifted and the EC will be no different from other private condominiums. MND does not track feedback received on ECs. This is because buyers purchase their ECs directly from the private developers and, under the Sale and Purchase (S&P) Agreement signed between the EC developer and home buyers, the EC developer is responsible for all defects during the 12-month Defects Liability Period. The EC developer is also contractually obliged to attend to all feedback from buyers on the design, finishing, workmanship or other concerns pertaining to the development and respond to the buyers accordingly.”
“I understand the Member's concern and many of us do receive requests from time to time on this basis. The grace period in and of itself will not solve the issue that the Member has highlighted. It is rather the arrangements for pick-up and drop-off of children and the elderly, in the case of Senior Activity Centres. As I have said earlier, the reason why we set a uniform grace period is to strike a balance between the different users of the car park. We need to take into account the residents, other users of the car park, as well as those who come and drop off and pick up people. It is not possible to accommodate every group's request, although we try as hard as we can. Bearing in mind also that we have more than 1,500 car parks under the EPS system, as mentioned in my earlier Parliamentary Question reply. And so, some amount of certainty, predictability and consistency is essential. Nevertheless, if there is an issue in particular estates, as I had said earlier, it is not primarily the grace period, I think it has got to do with the design of the pick-up and drop-off points.”
“Madam, the 10-minute grace period in HDB and URA car parks with electronic parking system (EPS) is generally sufficient for most motorists to pick up or drop off passengers, or for motorists to exit the car park if they cannot find a parking space. HDB and URA need to impose charges after the grace period to ensure quick turnover of vehicles in the car park. This prevents build-up of congestion in the car park, allows more motorists to make use of the car park and ensures that the interests of residents who drive or have season parking are adequately taken care of. Nevertheless, as parking charges in car parks with EPS are levied on a per-minute basis, if motorists exceed the grace period, they only need to pay for the actual duration of their parking in that car park.”
“I thank the Member for his feedback. Many people have already changed and exchanged their coupons. During this transition period, we have issued advisories, rather than offence notices. So, it is better to operationally cart over to the new parking coupons. The Member's other point is for the future. In fact, HDB and URA plan to eventually phase out coupon parking altogether. Both agencies have been progressively converting car parks from coupon-based parking to Electronic Parking Systems (EPS). As of December 2016, out of 2,104 public off-street car parks managed by both HDB and URA, 1,537 or 73% are already operating under the EPS. However, on-street car parks, such as kerb-side parking with site constraints, and car parks affected by impending redevelopment, are not suitable for EPS operations. For these car parks, HDB and URA are exploring the use of new parking technology to bring greater convenience to motorists. So, his suggestion about, if in future, there needs to be any change, that old coupons should be allowed to be used, we hope technology will replace all of that.”
“Mdm Speaker, we have studied the option and concluded that there is no need to do so. Instead, we have ensured that there is adequate supply of parking coupons for exchange at the majority of petrol stations, as well as at HDB branches and at the URA. At the same time, enforcement officers on the ground are issuing advisory notices and not parking offence notices, to motorists who may have overlooked the change and still use the old coupons during this transition period. HDB and URA have been actively monitoring the sale and exchange of coupons. After an initial peak period in the first week of December when the new rates took effect, the volume of sale and exchange of coupons has decreased significantly and has now stabilised.”
“This will allow us to better decide on the appropriate light colours in different settings − be it for functional or aesthetic reasons. On its part, LTA will continue to use pure white lighting for expressways and major arterial roads for road safety reasons, because of the greater colour contrast. In the meantime, because streetlamps use high intensity lighting, LTA will study whether it is feasible to use warm white lighting for streetlamps on minor roads, especially those located in residential estates. Deputy Speaker, the scientific research into lighting is evolving and new lighting solutions will come on the market. We will continue to take steps to find better ways to colour the night, to keep our city vibrant and safe. [(proc text) Question put, and agreed to. (proc text)] [(proc text) Resolved, "That Parliament do now adjourn." (proc text)] Adjourned accordingly at 7.38 pm.”
“And the specific implications of the reports' findings on our HDB common areas and LTA street lighting are as yet unclear. For example, the Harvard Medical School's Harvard Health Letter is based on studies which exposed people to blue light for six-and-a-half hours or longer, while the exposure of most Singaporeans to HDB corridors and street lighting by LTA is much shorter. Apart from changing the colour of all our lighting, there may be other ways to address this issue. Indeed, one of the possible solutions mentioned by the American Medical Association is dimming LED lighting during off-peak periods. We have, in fact, already installed LED lighting with motion sensors along staircases for all Build-To-Order (BTO) projects launched since 2014, and we are testing out sensor-controlled smart lighting in the common areas of Punggol Northshore estate. Not only will this make our HDB estates more energy-efficient, but it would also minimise ambient blue-light at night. Ultimately, we must ensure that our lighting remains functional, aesthetically pleasing and safe. The light colours of HDB common areas and LTA streetlamps are carefully selected to meet the functional, safety and aesthetic needs of Singaporeans. We should only decide how best to enhance our lighting after further study on the appropriate length and intensity of blue-light exposure at night has been done. This, notwithstanding, I agree with Dr Tan that it is not too early for us to be thinking about the long-term implications of these reports on the health and safety of Singaporeans. We will, therefore, continue to keep a close watch on the evolving research in this area. HDB will also take up Dr Tan's suggestion to study how to vary lighting levels or luminescence based on different colours of LED lights.”
“I have explained how LTA uses light colour to improve road safety at night, for drivers and pedestrians. Dr Tan has cited several reports which advise minimising the amount of blue light for health reasons. Based on these reports, he has suggested we use warm white in our HDB common areas and LTA street lighting. These reports make two broad points. First, they state that long-term or high intensity exposure to blue light can damage the retina of the human eye. Second, they highlight that exposure to any light at night, especially blue light, can affect our sleep cycles by suppressing the production of a hormone called melatonin and affect our circadian rhythm or body clock. This has been linked to impaired daytime functioning and obesity. I would like to clarify that care has been taken by agencies to ensure that the lighting installed in public places do not cause harm to the human eye. So, the first point about potential damage to the retina of the human eye is not a significant concern in Singapore, given our regulations. Lighting in our HDB common areas and LTA street lighting follow the globally-recognised IEC standards, which Dr Tan had articulated earlier. These spell out technical and safety requirements for lighting, including the safety limits for exposure to white light. Indeed, the same report by the Swiss Federal Office of Public Health states that "commercial LED lamps represent no health risk when used correctly, in terms of the risk to human retina. On the second point on the impact of blue light on melatonin and our sleep cycles, as Dr Tan pointed out, there is no medical consensus on the issue as yet. The reports do not rule out the use of pure white lighting in street lighting or in public spaces like HDB common areas.”
“Deputy Speaker, I agree with Dr Tan Wu Meng that night lighting has an impact on the everyday lives of Singaporeans. Our lighting must, first, be functional, for drivers on our expressways to passers-by along our HDB estate corridors, night lighting must be calibrated to suit their different needs. Second, it must be aesthetically pleasing. It should positively shape how we perceive and interact with our estates and public spaces. And third, it has to be safe. This is important, given how pervasive night lighting is in a dense built-up city like Singapore. To achieve this, one of the specifications we take into account is the light colour. And those of you who have bought fluorescent or LED lights will know that they generally come in three colours, as Dr Tan had described − warm white, pure white and cool white. Warm white has the least amount of blue light, giving it a yellow hue and a colour temperature of about 3,000 Kelvin; pure white has a more balanced mix of blue light, giving it a natural daylight feel and a colour temperature of around 4,000 Kelvin; while cool white has the highest amount of blue light, resulting in a harsh white colour and a colour temperature of around 6,000 Kelvin. Light colour is important for both functionality and aesthetics. For our street lighting, LTA is moving towards pure white because it offers drivers a high colour contrast, allowing them to see better at night. In our new HDB developments, light fittings at common areas, such as corridors, also use pure white, but for a different reason. The previous feedback garnered from residents indicated that warm white was too dim for HDB estates. Light colour can affect safety, too, as Dr Tan rightly pointed out.”
“Madam, I thank the Member for the questions. The Singapore Prison Service considers various factors in determining how far in advance to inform the inmate's next-of-kin. Often, this includes the time needed for his next-of-kin and family to travel to Singapore if they live overseas. I would like to assure the Member that the Singapore Prison Service carefully considers the time required for the next-of-kin to travel to Singapore. But as I have said in my reply earlier, between conviction and the actual carrying out of the sentence, there is a certain duration of time. Throughout that duration, families and next-of-kin are given opportunities to communicate and to visit the inmates. On the question of whether physical contact will be allowed, I have said earlier that the practice has been no, because of operational security and the safety of visitors. But we will always assess requests from families and next-of-kin as they are provided.”
“Madam, after being notified of the date on which the sentence would be carried out, the inmate's family is allowed to visit the inmate more frequently and for an extended period of time at each visit. The Singapore Prison Service facilitates requests from the inmate and his family as much as possible, while ensuring the safety and security of inmates and their families. Physical contact has not been allowed for reasons connected with safety. There will be a period of time between conviction and the carrying out of the sentence to allow the full legal process to be completed, including any clemency petition. Throughout the inmates' stay in prison, families visit the inmates and also communicate with them. Inmates are also notified at every stage of the legal and clemency process. Counsellors are attached to each family to support them during the period leading up to and after the carrying out of the sentence.”
“Madam, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) is conducting a review of penalties under the Road Traffic Act in order to take a tougher stance against irresponsible motorists. The review will also consider the adequacy of the penalties for driving dangerously against the flow of traffic. This review was announced on 1 December last year and MHA will make an announcement when the review is completed.”
“Madam, I think the Member has asked this question recently and an answer was given. But if workmanship is the cause of a leak recurring at the area where the repair works have been carried out, then even though it is after the DLP, if it is due to workmanship, the contractor will fix it. We have said that before.”
“Madam, the Home Improvement Programme (HIP) helps flat owners address common maintenance issues in ageing flats, such as spalling concrete and ceiling leak. However, occasionally, such problems could still recur after the HIP improvement works are done. For defects reported within the one-year Defects Liability Period (DLP) upon completion of the HIP works, the Housing and Development Board's (HDB's) contractors will carry out the necessary rectification. For cases reported after DLP, HDB will look into the nature and cause of the feedback and advise flat owners on the follow-up action accordingly. Over the past three years, the number of reported cases of defects due to workmanship of HIP works after the one-year DLP is small, of about one to two cases per 10,000 units per year for spalling concrete, ceiling and sewage pipe leaks. For ceiling leaks or spalling concrete cases that arise out of wear and tear, HDB may also offer assistance to flat owners to repair and co-share the cost of repairs under the Goodwill Repair Assistance Scheme.”
“I think they are in my answer earlier. The escalators have to comply with certain safety standards. User behaviour is also a major part of incidents that occur on escalators. In many buildings where there are escalators, there will also likely be lifts which people can use if they feel that there is a certain risk to them and others around them.”
“Mdm Speaker, escalators in Singapore are designed and installed according to the prevailing Singapore Standard Code of Practice. The Code includes several safety requirements to reduce the risk of users falling over handrails. For instance, balustrades have to be designed to discourage users from climbing across the handrails. Handrails also have to be of a certain height. Furthermore, the Building Control Act requires safety barriers of at least one metre at escalator landings to prevent users from falling through the gaps between two escalators. These requirements are in line with international standards across Europe and the United States. Apart from design and safety requirements, escalator users also have a role to play in ensuring their own safety and the safety of others. Holding onto handrails, not getting distracted by mobile devices, and taking extra care when carrying heavy or bulky items are some of the good practices that will reduce the risk of accidents. Young children should also always be closely supervised when they are on the escalator. The Building and Construction Authority is working with building owners and operators to raise public awareness on safe and proper usage of escalators, such as by displaying posters on safety tips.”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, "That Parliament do now adjourn." [(proc text) Question proposed. (proc text)] Civil Claims for Negligence Arising from Safety Breaches during SAF Training”
“Madam, I do not have these estimates. Suffice to say, as I have said earlier, these are few and far between. [(proc text) Question put, and agreed to. (proc text)] Page: 49 [(proc text) Bill accordingly read a Second time and committed to a Committee of the whole House. (proc text)] [(proc text) The House immediately resolved itself into a Committee on the Bill. – [Mr Desmond Lee]. (proc text)] [(proc text) Bill considered in Committee; reported without amendment; read a Third time and passed. (proc text)] Page: 50”
“The loss of an NRIC poses not just inconvenience to the individual but also tremendous risks to him or her in terms of identity theft. People could use their ICs to borrow from loan sharks. Identity thefts could also pose national security risks. Criminals, syndicates or even terrorist organisations could use Singapore identity documents or NRICs maliciously. Therefore, it is important to reflect proper safekeeping of the NRIC in the law. We balance the need to emphasise that responsibility with the ability of people to afford the replacement fees. In relation to affordability, I have given the Member the answer that ICA will assess each case based on the person's circumstances and the circumstances under which the identity card was lost. In relation to Mr Patrick Tay's earlier question, currently, a person registers and receives his first NRIC at the age of 15 and he then has to re-register to receive a second NRIC at 30, with an updated photograph. ICA is looking at introducing another NRIC re-registration at a later phase of a cardholder's life so that the information captured, such as the photograph, will be more up-to-date. ICA will release more details in due course. Finally, Madam, Mr Leon Perera also asked about the explanatory statement of the Bill which states to that the Bill will not result in any increase in public expenditure. This is, indeed, the case. The enactment of the Bill and its execution will not cause an increase in public expenditure itself. Because when ICA puts the systems in place, MHA will include this amount as part of the Supply Bill and we will reflect that expenditure under that Bill. 2.34 pm”
“The Commissioner will have to carefully consider each case on its own merits before he exercises his discretionary powers to refuse registration, a power which ought to be exercised sparingly. Mr Leon Perera asked for examples of names that could possibly flout public interest. I have given a few earlier. Those that used titles like "Sir", "Professor", "President"; names that are offensive or that use expletives. One other example could be names that could possibly be deemed derogatory or highly offensive to any particular race or religion. Again, bearing in mind that this is the parents' right to express the kind of name they would like for their children to carry through Page: 48 their life, we will exercise these powers very sparingly and carefully. Madam, Mr Patrick Tay asked if ICA can provide NRIC replacements at selected intervals of a person's lifetime due to fair wear and tear and outdated photographs, while Mr Leon Perera asked whether ICA can give more assurance to people who have lost their NRICs, especially if they are impecunious or unable to afford the fee for replacements for either the first or subsequent replacements. Let me deal with the second query first. ICA considers each application for waiver holistically, taking into account a range of factors. ICA will consider waiving the replacement fees fully or partially for cases where the loss of IC was not through negligence but due to circumstances beyond the cardholder's control, for example, their wallet was stolen or they faced financial difficulties. Madam, we certainly understand that NRICs are critical for many functions ‒ whether interfacing with Government or in daily life in Singapore.”
“Mr Leon Perera wanted to know if time would be given to parents who register names that may not be registered under these new rules instead of being compelled to make a decision there and then, on the spot. I will deal first with Mr Leon Perera's point. Certainly, this is a very important decision for parents and will affect the children all through their lives. The kind of names to give is not an issue that we expect parents to take lightly. Neither do we want to put them in a position to be rushed. So, certainly, in the rare instance where the name suggested may not comply with the rules, the officers will give the parents ample time to reconsider. Even with the registration of a child's birth, there is a period of time given to parents to make that registration. Madam, we fully agree that names should be given responsibly and that has, indeed, been ICA's experience so far. So, in response to Mr Leon Perera's question about how often we see such inappropriate names or names exceeding 66 characters, the answer is very few and far between. This is the power that is embedded in the registration legislation of many other developed countries. The legislative language referencing public interest also exists in these other countries. ICA does not intend to prescribe a set of guidelines on allowable names, since the vast majority of names are registered without issue. It is not our intention to regulate the kinds of names parents choose for their children. Instead, ICA will assess each name at the point of registration to ensure that they do not flout the conditions stipulated in the new section 6A. And names that do not meet the mark will be refused registration. The Commissioner may also refuse to register names that are obscene or offensive.”
“Page: 47 For greater accountability, ICA will only appoint full-time staff of these entities as registration officers. Private entities will be required to submit to ICA the particulars of each employee whom they intend to appoint with these registration duties. And each of them will have to be individually appointed as a registration officer by the Commissioner of ICA. This will be done only after ICA has assessed the entity and each individual for their suitability, and conduct necessary screening measures. So, apart from the suitability of the institution and the individuals, Mr Leon Perera asked whether there will be a privacy impact assessment or security impact assessment conducted. The entire framework will be put under scrutiny in order to ensure that privacy is secured. In addition, under a new section 3A, these officers and individuals who are appointed by the Commissioner of ICA will be deemed to be public servants for the purposes of the Penal Code. Every registration officer is required to produce an identification card or document as evidence of the officer's authority. And this will clearly state whether he is from the public sector or he is from one of these external entities that we appoint to carry out some of these functions. If he does not do so, members of the public are well advised not to comply with any order or demand by these individuals. Madam, I will now move on to the powers to refuse the registration of certain types of names. Mr Alex Yam said that parents should think of the consequences of giving undesirable names to their children and asked if ICA could come up with a set of guidelines on allowable names.”
“This would necessarily mean that enrolment of the entire population will take quite some time. But let us start with the initial touch points first. That will already allow large numbers of Singaporeans and PRs to have their iris images enrolled. I will move on to the appointment of non-ICA employees as registration officers. Many Members spoke about this. Mr Alex Yam and Mr Melvin Yong asked why non-ICA employees should be appointed as registration officers. Mr Leon Perera asked whether these non-ICA employees would be subjected to the Official Secrets Act and other forms of security measures and undertakings. Mr Alex Yam asked if this was a productivity measure. Mdm Speaker, ICA's objective is to partner other agencies and the private sector to deliver certain registration services more conveniently to the public, specifically to provide services at more locations. ICA will be highly selective about what we appoint non-ICA employees to do. These may include functions, such as the issuance of NRICs and enrolling of iris images. They will not be appointed to perform sensitive functions that require them to access, retrieve or alter individuals' personal information in ICA's records. ICA has also put in safeguards. These includes strict user-access controls to prohibit non-ICA employees from accessing, retrieving or altering any information, such as an individual's personal records, from ICA's systems. Personal information collected by these employees will also be transmitted directly to ICA. Non-ICA employees will not be allowed to edit the information. Their role is to guide the public through the enrolment process and not to manage the information collected.”
“For those whose iris images cannot be effectively scanned or enrolled due to medical reasons, such as cataracts, ICA will continue to rely on other identifiers, such as fingerprints or facial recognition, to identify such individuals. Mr Melvin Yong also asked about people who wear very thick glasses. When we enrol iris images, we will request that they remove their glasses in order for the image scan to be more accurately scanned or enrolled. Ms Joan Pereira asked if identity theft can be committed by replicating a person's iris patterns. Like other biometric identifiers, it is certainly possible. But studies have shown that this requires very sophisticated equipment and is harder to do so accurately. Biometric systems also have built-in mechanisms to ensure that the presented biometrics are authentic. Carrying out identification using iris images alongside other existing identifiers will make the overall system more secure and robust and make identity theft harder to commit. Having said that, we cannot be overly reliant on technology and the human dimension is still very important. We will continue to deploy our officers to look out for tell-tale signs or suspicious behaviour amongst travellers that may indicate a possible identity theft. Mr Leon Perera asked about whether there would be processes beyond what I have just identified for the enrolment of irises. At this point in time, in order to minimise inconvenience to members of the public, we are limiting enrolment to those interfaces that ICA already has with members of the public ‒ registration at 15, and re-registration in subsequent years. And, of course, when a person applies for a passport, there will also be another opportunity and touch-point to enrol the iris.”
“Mr Melvin Yong, Mr Louis Ng and Mr Patrick Tay asked how personal data will be protected and whether the information will be shared with third parties. ICA has security measures in place. First, ICA has strict user access controls. Only authorised ICA officers can access the database as part of their work. Regular audits are conducted. Those caught misusing the data will be punished. Second, sensitive data like fingerprint and iris images are encrypted before storage in a secure database. Third, ICA servers are protected by physical and software measures, in line with international security standards. Fourth, the National Registration Regulations tightly regulate and restrict the instances under which personal identifiers, such as fingerprints and iris images, may be shared. Unauthorised access or disclosure is an offence. Ms Joan Pereira said that iris patterns may be affected by cataract surgery and that these patterns may also change over time as a person ages. Mr Yong also asked a similar question. Mdm Speaker, almost all personal identifiers will have their inherent vulnerabilities or limitations. This is already the case today for fingerprints and photographs, facial features. So, for instance, fingerprints can fade with time or if the person does a lot of manual work. A person will also look different with age. So, if you register at 15 and when you are 30, the photograph will look different over time. The person can also alter physical appearance or assume a fake identity by replicating another person's fingerprints. Based on reports by the National Institutes of Standards and Technology of the US Department of Commerce, iris patterns are relatively stable over time Page: 46 and have lower mismatch rates, as compared to other biometric identifiers.”
“The collection and verification of iris images are very safe and will not harm our eyes, and the process is similar to taking a photograph ‒ convenient, contactless, non-intrusive and can be done within a matter of seconds. Mr Alex Yam asked whether existing NRIC holders will be required to enrol their iris images and when ICA intends to begin doing so. Mr Yong wanted to know if this process can be made convenient for the public. And Mr Leon Perera asked about when this iris enrolment can be done outside of these three phases – registration, re-registration and passport collection. Madam, ICA intends to start collecting iris images from Singapore Citizens and Permanent Resident from next year. To make it convenient for people, ICA will do this as part of ICA's existing interactions with the public. And these include compulsory NRIC registration and re-registration. So, there are two phases, one at 15 and one at 30, as well as during passport application and renewal process. ICA will enrol an individual's iris images when he collects his new NRIC or passport. There is, therefore, no need to make a separate trip to ICA Building just to have your iris image collected. So, we build it into the existing process and we collect it as and when people make use of ICA's existing services. Mr Melvin Yong asked about how we will help people with disability or serious illness. The ICA Home Visit Team will enrol their biometric identifiers like iris images at their homes, when they register or re-register for their NRICs. This is an existing service, and all that the applicants need to do is provide documentary proof of their condition or their caregiver can do so on their behalf.”
“Mdm Speaker, Members have asked questions broadly on the four areas that I have covered earlier ‒ collection of iris images; how data that ICA collects will be safeguarded; appointment of non-ICA employees as registration officers; and the powers to refuse the registration of certain types of names. Let me start first with the collection of iris images. Mr Melvin Yong asked how and when iris scan technology will be implemented at the checkpoints and how this will affect the efficiency of the checkpoint clearance process. He also asked if iris scans will eventually replace current fingerprint verification. Madam, ICA plans to introduce iris scan technology progressively at our land, air and sea checkpoints within the next two years. This will complement the current fingerprint matching process at immigration clearance and give ICA another way to verify a traveller's identity. This will enhance border security. Travellers using the automatic clearance lanes who find that their fingerprints cannot be matched, can also use iris scans, instead of being re-directed to manned counters. So, more Singaporeans and Permanent Residents will, therefore, enjoy automated clearance at our checkpoints, with the reduced need to be diverted to manned checkpoints. This will improve the overall efficiency and efficacy of our immigration clearance process. Page: 45 Mr Louis Ng asked about whether iris scanners can detect stress through the movement of eyeballs, to bolster border security. While potentially useful, our sense is that this technology does not appear mature at present. We continue to look at all these methodologies and will make decisions as they mature.”
“In addition, we intend to grant such powers only to ICA officers and not to any public officer. The above amendments will serve to improve ICA's effectiveness in the administration of the entire spectrum of NRA-related issues. Madam, in conclusion, this Bill will enhance ICA's operational effectiveness and efficiency, and allow ICA to deliver better and more convenient registration services. The collection of additional personal identifiers, such as iris images, will also enhance Singapore's security through strengthening the identification of individuals. Mdm Speaker, I beg to move. [(proc text) Question proposed. (proc text)] 1.48 pm”
“Currently, Police officers enforce NRA offences. Providing ICA officers with these powers will serve to improve ICA's effectiveness in the administration of the entire spectrum of NRA-related issues, from the issuance of NRIC to the enforcement and investigation of offences under the NRA. Clause 8 introduces new sections 15A and 15B. The new section 15A gives registration officers the powers to take possession of any document suspected to be false or invalid, when such a document is produced during registration or alteration of a person's particulars in the national register. The new section 15B gives registration officers and Police officers the powers to demand the surrender of a suspicious identity card. This includes cards that are suspected to have been obtained under false or misleading information; or been used in the commission of offences under the NRA; or been issued or altered by any unauthorised party. Page: 37 Clause 9 amends section 16 to give registration officers the powers to conduct searches under this Act. Clause 10 introduces new sections 16A, 16B and 16C. Section 16A, in particular, requires registration officers to comply with the Criminal Procedure Code when making arrests. Section 16B gives registration officers powers to investigate offences under the Act, whereas section 16C allows for registration officers to initiate criminal proceedings by issuing a notice to the suspected offender to attend Court. Mdm Speaker, we have put in place safeguards to prevent misuse of these enforcement and investigation powers. For example, the Commissioner cannot appoint registration officers with powers under sections 15B, 16, 16B and 16C, concerning the surrender of identity cards, arrest, search and investigation, unless they are public officers.”
“These include public officers, employees of public authorities and employees of prescribed institutions. Prescribed institutions have to be specified by the Minister in the subsidiary legislation and can include private entities. Only public officers can be appointed as registration officers for the purposes of certain enforcement and investigation related powers under sections 15B, 16, 16B or 16C. The amendments will allow the Commissioner to appoint non-ICA employees as registration officers for any particular provision of the Act. This will allow ICA to partner other Government agencies or private entities to deliver certain registration services more conveniently to the public and at more locations. ICA will only allow non-ICA employees to perform very specific functions, which will be carefully selected and tightly scoped. One such registration function is to enrol iris images during the NRIC re-registration process. Once collected, these images will be directly transmitted and stored in ICA's database. Non-ICA employees will not have access to individual personal records in ICA's database. ICA has considerable experience partnering external agencies in this manner, with the necessary safeguards on security and privacy. Currently, ICA already partners SingPost to deliver some services to Singaporeans. These include alternate site collection of identity cards and passports. Madam, the fourth area of amendments empowers ICA officers with powers of investigation and enforcement under the Act. For instance, ICA officers will be empowered to seize suspicious identity cards and to perform related investigations. Clauses 8, 9 and 10 of the Bill provide registration officers with additional enforcement powers, as well as new powers to investigate offences under the Act.”
“Without this, individuals could attempt to register names which are composed of non-English characters or even numerals or punctuation marks. Many people will find it very difficult to pronounce or read these names. They can cause difficulties in identifying the individual which may result in practical inconveniences or even security risks. The length of a name must also not exceed the character limit of ICA's systems. The current character limit is already long, at 66 characters. We have to be practical and impose a limit on the length of names. Otherwise, names that are too long would be truncated in official documents and could lead to potential misidentification, posing security risks. In addition to the mandatory rules, the Commissioner is given the discretion to refuse the registration of a name that: (a) contains anything that represents or resembles a title, a rank or an award, such as "Sir" or "Professor"; or (b) uses any expression or abbreviation to signify lineage, such as "bin" or "son of" or "daughter of", which does not correspond to the person's gender in the national register. Such names are misleading and could potentially cause confusion. The Commissioner is also given the discretion to refuse the registration of names which are obscene, offensive or contrary to public interest. The Commissioner will carefully consider the Page: 36 circumstances of each case, before he exercises his discretionary powers of refusal to register the names. The third area of amendments makes clear ICA's powers to appoint non-ICA employees as registration officers. Clause 3 of the Bill sets out the classes of persons that the Commissioner can appoint as registration officers for the purposes of the Act, or any particular provision of the Act.”
“These travellers had to be directed to the manned counters instead. This has been a source of intrigue and, sometimes, even frustration to these travellers and also to fellow travellers queuing up behind them to use the automated lanes. The use of iris scan technology can help reduce such problems by providing an additional avenue for persons to verify their identity. Once implemented, persons can continue to use ICA's automated facilities at the checkpoints, even if their fingerprints may have faded over time. This will smoothen the immigration clearance process for individuals and also benefit other travellers, by reducing overall queue times. The end result is more efficient and effective immigration clearance at our checkpoints. Madam, the second area of amendments gives ICA the powers to refuse the registration of certain types of names. Clause 5 sets down the mandatory and discretionary rules concerning the name of a person to be entered into the national register. Clause 16 makes a related amendment to the Registration of Births and Deaths Act (RBDA) concerning the registration of a child's name at birth. Most individuals and parents try their best to come up with good and meaningful names for themselves or their children. The vast majority of names are thus registered with no issue. However, ICA has, from time to time, received requests to register names that are inappropriate. These situations are not common, but they happen. Inappropriate names include names that may be impractical, names that may be offensive, or names that may be confusing or misleading. Clause 5 makes it mandatory for a name to be expressed using the modern English alphabet, though it may include one or more permitted characters gazetted under the new section 9A(2) of the RBDA.”
“To ensure that the collection of iris images will be easy and convenient, it will be collected as part of the NRIC registration and re-registration process. Iris images will also be collected as part of the passport application or renewal process. Iris scan is a proven technology. It has been in use in countries, such as Germany and the Netherlands, since the early 2000s. Passport holders from European Union countries can voluntarily enrol their iris images with German and Dutch immigration authorities as well. Once this is done, immigration clearance to enter these countries through some major airports can be done using iris images. Authorities can verify the identities of these travellers by comparing their iris images against what had been previously enrolled. Some other countries, like the United Arab Emirates (UAE), have also mandated the collection of iris images from their citizens to facilitate immigration clearance. UAE mandated collection of iris images from all citizens since 2013. The enrolled iris images are used to verify the identity of citizens when they travel in and out of the country. Page: 35 The collection and verification of iris images are similar to taking a photograph. It is convenient, contactless and non-intrusive and can be completed in seconds. The use of iris scan technology will augment current identity verification methods using photographs and fingerprints. A person's appearance can change over time. A person's fingerprints may also wear out over time as he gets older, or if he does a lot of manual work. ICA has received feedback from some travellers who found it difficult to use the automated clearance gates at the checkpoints. Poor fingerprint quality could also be a reason.”
“Mdm Speaker, I beg to move, "That the Bill be now read a Second time." This Bill seeks to strengthen the operational effectiveness and efficiency of the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA). It will also allow ICA to provide more convenient registration services to the public and to enhance security in Singapore. Madam, the key amendments are mainly in four areas, namely: (a) collection of personal identifiers; (b) registration of names; (c) appointment of registration officers; and (d) powers of enforcement and investigation. First, the Bill amends the Act to allow ICA to collect more forms of personal identifiers. Currently, ICA collects photographs and fingerprints from Singapore Citizens (SCs) and Permanent Residents (PRs) as personal identifiers. These are collected during the National Registration Identity Card (NRIC) registration and re-registration process. As technology improves, other forms of personal identifiers may be used to complement existing identifiers. Clause 2 of the Bill allows the Minister to set out in the Schedule the types of personal identifiers that may be collected under the Act. These new personal identifiers are restricted to images, measurements or recordings of an external part of a person's body; or measurements or recordings of a person's voice. These personal identifiers will not involve the taking of body samples obtained through invasive means, such as blood samples. A new personal identifier we intend to collect are iris images. This has been included in the Schedule, along with photographs and fingerprints currently collected by ICA. ICA plans to start collecting iris images from SCs and PRs from next year.”
“Different corridors may, therefore, have different licensees, but every licensee is held to the same standards. Under SCDF's regulatory framework, every "pipeline owner" has to meet SCDF's stipulated safety standards for the maintenance of their pipelines. This ensures that there is both Page: 33 integrity and consistency in the maintenance efforts across the entire pipeline network. In addition, the licensed "pipeline owners" are also required to put in place comprehensive emergency response plans. When an incident occurs, the respective "pipeline owners" are responsible for the emergency response and mitigation efforts for the segments of pipelines for which they have been licensed. Should an incident occur at the boundary of two adjacent pipeline corridors, SCDF will activate both licensees for immediate emergency response. [(proc text) Question put, and agreed to. (proc text)] [(proc text) Bill accordingly read a Second time and committed to a Committee of the whole House. (proc text)] [(proc text) The House immediately resolved itself into a Committee on the Bill. – [Mr Desmond Lee.] (proc text)] [(proc text) Bill considered in Committee; reported without amendment; read a Third time and passed. (proc text)] Page: 34”
“Mdm Speaker, I thank the Member for his hand sketch. Mr Louis Ng asks what the commercial implications of this change might be. SCDF's policy intent has always been that where there are multiple pipelines that run together in a pipeline corridor, one appropriate party should be licensed as the "pipeline owner". This has largely been achieved since the pipeline licensing regime was put in place through the Fire Safety Act amendments in 2013. This round of amendments clarifies the definition of "pipeline owner" in the Act, to ensure that the appropriate parties will be licensed. SCDF has been working closely with the "pipeline owners" who will be licensed following these amendments and the necessary measures are already largely in place today. As such, there are unlikely to be significant commercial implications arising from the proposed legislative changes. Mr Ng also asked about SCDF's licensing approach to a pipeline network with multiple pipelines that branch out from a point of supply to separate destinations – whether the network would be licensed under one party or multiple parties. The answer is: different parts of the pipeline network are owned and managed by different parties and, accordingly, the appropriate licensee for each part will necessarily be different. We want to ensure that where pipelines run together, there is a single party that is accountable for that segment of the pipelines, rather than having different licensees being responsible for different pipelines that, in effect, run parallel to each other and lying side by side. However, where some pipelines branch off into an adjacent corridor owned and managed by another party, then that party is the most appropriate person to be licensed for that segment of pipelines running along his corridor.”
“For a pipeline corridor that traverses between two premises, there may be some segments that lie above ground and other segments that lie underground with no piperacks and pipetracks. In such cases, the owner of the pipeline corridor will be licensed for the entire pipeline between the two premises, including the underground segments that lie in between. Where the pipelines to be licensed run completely underground, there is no piperack or pipetrack. The Bill will, therefore, clarify that part (b) of the definition of "pipeline owner" applies for such cases and the party who owns or leases and uses the pipelines will be licensed as the "pipeline owner". The Bill also makes a consequential amendment to the definition of "relevant pipeline" under section 2(1) of the Fire Safety Act, to clarify that there may not be a piperack or pipetrack at certain sections of a pipeline. Mdm Speaker, the amended Fire Safety Act will allow SCDF to better regulate pipelines by licensing only one appropriate party who will ensure the safety and effective incident response for pipelines that run together. Mdm Speaker, I beg to move. [(proc text) Question proposed. (proc text)] 1.29 pm”
“This has posed operational challenges for SCDF on the ground as they have to deal with multiple parties with their own maintenance regimes and emergency response protocols for multiple pipelines within one and the same corridor. This is not ideal from a safety standpoint as no single party will have oversight and responsibility for the safety of all the pipelines running together in that corridor. More critically, it may not be immediately clear at the onset of an incident, such as a fire or explosion, which licensee is responsible for responding to the incident. This will impact the timeliness and effectiveness of incident response efforts. To ensure that these pipelines are properly managed, SCDF's intent is to clarify the definition of "pipeline owner" under the Act, so that in the situation where there are multiple pipelines in a pipeline corridor, SCDF will only license one appropriate party for all the pipelines within that corridor. The appropriate licensee should be the owner or lessee of the piperacks or pipetracks, who has overview of the safety of all the pipelines within its corridor. Madam, this is the main change that the Bill seeks to achieve. The Bill amends part (a) of the definition of "pipeline owner" in section 2(1) of the Act so that the party who owns or leases, and has management and control of the piperack or pipetrack will now be licensed as the "pipeline owner". This will allow SCDF to license the owner of the pipeline corridor as the single licensee Page: 31 responsible for all the pipelines in the corridor. I earlier mentioned that pipelines can run both above ground and underground.”
“Mdm Speaker, I beg to move, "That the Bill be now read a Second time". Pipelines are used to convey large quantities of petroleum and flammable materials from one location to another, for example, from the jetty where petroleum and flammable materials are unloaded off tankers to storage tanks in oil refineries. Let me first explain how pipelines are laid. This will help Members to better understand the amendments that we are making to the Fire Safety Act (FSA). Most of the pipelines that convey petroleum and flammable materials are on Jurong Island, while some are on the mainland. Pipelines can run above or underground. When they are above ground, multiple pipelines run together in pipeline corridors, where they are supported on piperacks or pipetracks. Underground sections of pipelines do not lie on any piperack or pipetrack and are either supported by structures, such as concrete slabs, or run through service tunnels. It is important to ensure the safe conveyance of petroleum and flammable materials and for there to be quick and effective response to any incident involving pipelines. As such, under the current Act, "pipeline owners" have to obtain a licence under the Act. The licensed "pipeline owners" have to adhere to safety standards in the design, construction and maintenance of the pipelines. They also have to ensure that there is regular inspection and maintenance of the pipelines and put in place emergency response plans. In a pipeline corridor, one party manages the piperacks or pipetracks. However, the multiple pipelines that run through a corridor usually serve different users and premises. As a result, there could be one corridor with multiple pipeline owners managing different pipelines within that corridor.”
“I thank the Member for his query with regard to suitability of certain tree species in the residential environment. NParks and HDB closely consult each other and NParks provides training to Town Councils' horticulturists, but they also share their learning experience with the HDB staff which Town Councils will approach when they want to make changes to the tree types within the municipal areas that they are responsible for. So, if the Town Councils' horticulturists have concerns, please flag out to HDB and ask them to consult NParks if you feel that there is a need to delve a bit deeper into the types of trees that need to be replanted. Page: 10”
“Madam, there are various factors that go into how NParks selects trees for planting, whatever the reason may be. In the Member's example, it is to replace a tree that had to be felled because it was ill and cannot be saved. NParks, over the years, would have obtained lots of residents' feedback, feedback from municipal agencies as well about the maintainability of a tree, the risk structure of particular types of trees given their height, their crown and the incidence of branch falling or how frequently the leaves are shed, making things difficult for the cleaning companies; but also for biodiversity reasons. So, some street scape forms part of nature ways where we try to plant a variety of plants and tree species in order to provide connections between areas of biodiversity. Of course, we look at considerations, such as the ability to provide shade, screening for privacy, and the ability to survive urban environment stresses and ease of maintenance.”
“Madam, NParks manages over two million trees in Singapore's parks, park connectors, state lands and along roads, our street scape. Trees are removed when they are in poor health, when they impact public safety or when there are development works. Prior to removal, NParks' arborists carry out professional assessments to decide if a tree can be saved or transplanted. So, this is the standard practice. When there is no choice but to remove a tree, NParks will study replanting options at the site. In doing so, NParks considers factors like the site condition and landscaping scheme. For example, where space is limited or tight, a small or medium-sized tree will be chosen. Page: 9 Residents are consulted when there is an opportunity to rejuvenate the overall landscaping of the estate. For example, NParks seeks feedback on landscaping options and tree planting schemes as part of the Estate Upgrading Programme and for large projects like Jurong Lake Gardens. NParks is committed to conserving the trees under its care as much as possible. Our green spaces and trees are precious and NParks does its best to ensure that Singaporeans can enjoy them well into the future.”
“The Code on Accessibility already requires eating establishments like hawker centres, food courts, fast food outlets and restaurants to set aside at least one in every 10 tables for use by persons with disabilities. A symbol of access is affixed to these tables. The intention is clearly to give priority to persons with disabilities and their companions. People are kind and compassionate, by and large, and if a person with disability and his or her companions need to use one of these tables, I think it would be rare for able-bodied diners not to vacate and to allow them to do so. Ultimately, what we want is an inclusive and gracious society and we will certainly take the Member's feedback and send it, pass it on to the Building and Construction Authority (BCA). 1.30 pm”
“Madam, as I mentioned earlier, there are security officers, and in the case of IMH, Auxiliary Police Officers, trained to respond to incidents that may occur in the hospital. The Member is referring to administrative referrals or making of reports, most likely after the fact, so the staff is advised to make a Police report. That was the role of Police Posts in hospitals in the past from the 1980s to about 2011 when MHA rationalised the resource allocation of Police Officers and these Police Posts were principally handling, as the Member mentioned, administrative tasks, such as making Police reports, the Coroners' cases, and so on. Now, this can be made at Neighbourhood Police Posts (NPPs), Neighbourhood Police Centres (NPCs), and Police Divisions. Between the Police, the Ministry of Health (MOH) and the restructured hospitals, including IMH, there are protocols in place, and we will certainly look at the Member's concern about how we can make this more efficient and effective for the staff. We thank her for her suggestions.”
“Madam, to maintain security and order within the hospital compound, the Institute of Mental Health (IMH) deploys Auxiliary Police Officers on a 24/7 basis. IMH also provides panic alarm tags to inpatient ward staff and equips clinic consultation rooms with panic alarm buttons. These Auxiliary Police Officers are trained to respond to incidents involving persons with mental health conditions. They are able to handle most incidents of abuse of IMH staff and will contact the Police to handle cases that they deem more serious. From January to September 2016, IMH staff reported 12 cases of physical or verbal abuse to the Police. Police investigated these cases and prosecuted one discharged IMH former patient for unlawful stalking of an IMH staff under the Protection from Harassment Act, applied for another to be detained under the Mental Health (Care and Treatment) Act, and administered stern or conditional warnings to six more persons. The Member can be assured that the Police will take action against abusive individuals who compromise the safety of public health workers.”
“Madam, the Members have been speaking about the elected Senate of Page: 72 professionals and experts. What would be the criteria to be nominated for election?”
“The second question the Member asked was whether the heritage community like Heritage Society Singapore can be involved further upstream. This is something we need to strike a right balance on because, as Members would know, the projects that LTA undertakes, whether it is underground tunnelling works, whether it is road and infrastructure, there are implications beyond heritage. They are important but they also impact people's businesses, homes, public amenities, parks and greenery. We need to do work from conception to a certain level of certainty before we then engage the community. But certainly, working upstream, as far as possible, is a better outcome.”
“But keeping in mind that these are buildings with heritage value, agencies worked very hard to minimise the impact and tried very hard to conserve the building, knowing that there should be minimal impact and with the commitment to ensuring that with any impact, it would be mitigated. Engineering studies would be put in to see how we can protect the building and, if there is an impact, how we can remove and reinstate it to its authentic appearance. They then decided in 2008, many, many years ago, to proceed with that conservation measure. What they could have done back then, if you go back in time, is maybe: do not conserve. Affected, so do not conserve. Is it the right decision? Not sure. Or partially conserved: this part affected, so we conserve the rest of the units. Not sure if this is the right decision. Fully conserve? Knowing that we do our best to minimise the impact and, if there is impact, what acceptable conservation measures can be undertaken in tandem with the community and conservation experts whom we are working with, in my view, from the heritage point of view, I would think it is the best of the three options. The Member asked about cultural impact assessment embodying various strands of impact on the environment, community, heritage. This is something we need to study carefully. Certainly, for heritage impact, we begin the process which is currently an internal deliberative process that involves also reaching out to the community, especially the heritage community. We are going to begin with the heritage surveys which were announced. I think we need to work out on that, we need to work with the various heritage groups and let it work first. Then, downstream, let us have a Page: 17 closer look.”
“I thank the Member for his comprehensive series of questions. Let me deal with the last question first. As the Member would probably be aware, the Ministry of Culture, Community and the Youth had about two years back announced plans for a heritage survey to be conducted in different parts of Singapore and that will aid in our current conservation process. As the Member is aware, the current conservation process involves URA looking at various areas, buildings and places with the potential for conservation. It is based on what URA assesses to be potential sites. It also works with Government agencies like the National Heritage Board and takes in views from the Conservation Advisory Panel set up since 2002, which comprises many passionate members of the heritage community. URA takes views from heritage groups directly and suggestions from the public. URA will then assess with the assistance of Government agencies. If a site is deemed to be worthy of conservation based on historical, architectural and aesthetic merits and so on, URA will then put it out as a gazette and invite the larger public to comment. The building owners, if it is a private property, will also be consulted and their views taken into account, because conservation does impact their flexibility to use the building. We have to then strike the right balance. After a decision is made, it will then be gazetted, as was in this case for Ellison Building and Rex Cinema at the side. Let me assure the Member that all efforts were taken by the agencies, including the heritage departments in URA, to minimise the impact on Ellison Building. As I said earlier, initial plans would involve the whole building going. At that point in time, Ellison Building and Rex Cinema were not conserved. They were not.”