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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“Apart from AHTC's slow progress in remedying the control failures, MND is also concerned with various systemic control failures that KPMG's latest report has highlighted, including: First, the extensive use of manual journal entries that bypassed AHTC's accounts payable module, for payments totalling more than $60 million. KPMG has flagged this as "highly irregular" and "makes effective oversight of payments by the Finance Department practically impossible". Second, temporary clearing accounts which were not investigated or cleared, containing transactions amounting to over $648,000 in total. Third, the use of dummy codes which might not update payee records in the Accounting System, for transactions amounting to over $270,000 in total. These control failures continue to paint a serious state of affairs in AHTC and are a cause for concern. KPMG noted that these control failures could conceal duplicate, fictitious or fraudulent payments, which could have been made without being detected. As ordered by the Court of Appeal, KPMG is currently reviewing the past payments made by the Town Council to ascertain whether any were improperly made and, therefore, ought to be recovered. The findings are due on 31 August 2016, the end of this month. MND asked AHTC to cooperate fully with the accountants to carry out a thorough and robust review of the past payments. The matter has dragged on for many years, with multiple Court hearings and not much actual progress made. For four FYs consecutively, AHTC has not had accounts that passed accountants' muster. This is accurately summed up by the Auditor-General in his report that "there was no assurance that the accounts are accurate or reliable, or that public funds had been properly spent, accounted for or managed".”
“More than a year has passed but the Town Council appears to have made little progress. KPMG had noted in its July 2016 report that only a few of the remediation steps that AHTC had said they would do had been completed. While AHTC had indicated that they aimed to complete the remediation works in 15 months, that is, starting from July 2016, KPMG estimates that at the Page: 7 current rate of progress, the remediation process will take at least 18 months. Instead of completing the remediation plans expeditiously, what we have seen from the Town Council in this past one and a half years is a series of actions that have only slowed down, prolonged and frustrated the whole process. First, the Town Council attempted to avoid having one of the Big Four firms appointed as its independent accountant. The Town Council also rejected the joint appointment of accountant with Pasir Ris-Punggol Town Council (PRPTC) to review AHTC's past payments in relation to Punggol East (PE), and when PRPTC appointed its own accountant, the Town Council refused to grant access to documents or to attend the coordination meetings called by the Housing and Development Board (HDB) with all parties to try to resolve the impasse. This pattern of behaviour is all the more worrying when set against what KPMG had stated in its July 2016 report, that the remediation of the control failures will require that the Town Councillors engage to "reset the tone at the top of AHTC, emphasising competence and accountability".”
“Mdm Speaker, the Ministry of National Development (MND) is deeply concerned with what KPMG had uncovered about the state of financial controls and systems in Aljunied-Hougang Town Council, or AHTC. In its July 2016 report, KPMG reported a total of 185 control failures in AHTC. This comprises 115 identified by AHTC's statutory auditors and the Auditor-General's Office (AGO) in previous audits, and an additional 70 control failures uncovered by KPMG. KPMG concluded that AHTC's control failures were "pervasive, cutting across the key areas of governance, financial control, financial reporting, procurement and records management over the course of five years". To recap, AHTC had received qualified financial statements from its own independent auditors for four consecutive financial years (FYs) since FY2011. AHTC's auditors were unable to determine the accuracy of the Town Council's various balances, expenses and receivables, including those relating to their service and conservancy charges (S&CC). There were also other audit observations, including late Sinking Fund transfers, incorrect usage of Sinking Funds, as well as inadequate disclosure and segregation of duties over related party transactions. When AGO undertook a special audit on the Town Council in 2014, it similarly found lapses in the Town Council's management of Sinking Funds, governance of related party transactions, management of S&CC arrears, internal controls and procurement, as well as inadequacies in their record management and accounting system. When AGO's report was debated in Parliament in February last year, the Town Council's then-Chairman and her fellow Town Councillors assured us that they had "already taken concrete steps to address and remedy many of the issues".”
“Mdm Speaker, he has informed me that he would like to request for him to respond to Question Nos 1 to 4 on the Order Paper, after some of the questions there after have been responded to, as he is on his way to the Chamber. So, seeking your indulgence, Madam.”
“Mdm Speaker, I am informed that the Acting Minister for Education (Higher Education and Skills) is on his way into this House and he seeks Mdm Speaker's indulgence to allow him to respond when he returns to the Chamber.”
“Mdm Speaker, may I seek your consent and the general assent of Members present to move, "That the proceedings on the Administration of Justice (Protection) Bill be exempted from the provisions of Standing Order 48(8) to remove the time limit in respect of the speech by the Minister for Law and his subsequent reply."”
“Mdm Speaker, I beg to move, "That the proceedings on item 3 on the Order Paper for today be taken after item 1." Madam, this would allow the Minister for Manpower to move his Bill entitled "The Singapore Workforce Development Agency (Amendment) Bill, Bill No 19 of 2016, immediately after the Third Reading of the Administration of Justice (Protection) Bill. [(proc text) Question put, and agreed to. (proc text)] [(proc text) Resolved, "That the proceedings on item 3 on the Order Paper for today be taken after item 1". – [Mr Desmond Lee]. (proc text)]”
“Madam, I said earlier that the Police have completed the installation of 62,000 cameras in HDB blocks and multi-storey carparks under PolCam 1.0, the roll out of which started in April 2012. These have been implemented with a lot of care to ensure that the privacy concerns of residents are addressed in a way that they have welcomed this measure because of the security and sense of assuredness that are provided to them, the balance has been struck right. Those cameras have helped to solve a number of cases in the community. So, crime has been reduced by a certain amount. As a result of these cameras, there has been a deterrent effect and, in post-incident investigations, they have been helpful. Under PolCam 2.0, Police are now expanding the installation of cameras to public areas in town centres, neighbourhood centres, hawker centres and linkways leading to transportation nodes, such as Mass Rapid Transit stations and bus interchanges. And I said earlier that we have already launched and rolled it out at three sites in Ang Mo Kio, Bedok and Jurong Gateway. The Member asked what percentage of the island will be covered by PolCam 2.0. I cannot give you a land area percentage but I have just articulated the places which will be covered: places with a high flow of people, the cameras will help us in addressing and preventing crime, and also play a very important role in counter-terrorism.”
“As I said earlier, it is not so much about the specific method that they are planning but rather the recognition that terrorists will try all ways and means and all forms to try to launch an attack on us. We remain on the radar; we know that and we need to be prepared for that, both at the level of the security forces but also making sure the community is entirely on board with us.”
“The Member is right to articulate that attacks can come using everyday items, such as a vehicle, a knife, a brick, as much as they can involve fire power, guns, explosives, both makeshift and otherwise. This is, as I said earlier, a challenge all of society needs to meet. Strong intelligence, sharing, cooperation both within and with our partners around the world, are an important function of that. But so, too, are the support and vigilance of members of the community, making sure that Singaporeans without over-reacting and being overly suspicious, are alert enough to pick up threats early, pick up signs in the community that may point to people who might perhaps be led down the wrong path through what they see, hear and read. That is critical. What the Home Team has prepared for in terms of emergency response, I have articulated as best as I can without going into too much detail. But prevention and response require the whole of society to play a part as could be seen from attacks in other countries. The Member also asked about threats beyond our shores. These are matters which the international communities are concerned about. My Minister attended, very recently, a security dialogue and meeting with Malaysia, Indonesia and other countries in the Association for Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) the day after National Day. With the key security ministers of Malaysia and Indonesia, they spoke about how they can strengthen international cooperation, including the sharing of biometric information of known militants as well as those suspected of such activities, so that we can cooperate more closely among our countries. This is just an example of cooperation with Malaysia and Indonesia, and with other jurisdictions as well.”
“Madam, public exercises have been conducted regularly in the community and in workplaces. We also conduct exercises in specific areas, for example, in schools, to make sure that coordination is strong and robust and that measures are put in place. Some exercises are closed in that they relate principally to the Home Team and other coordinating forces but over the years, we have also been conducting public exercises of various scales. We take the conducting of these exercises as well as the after-action review very seriously. We make sure that we pin down all the learning points and ensure that the coordination within agencies and among agencies and with private stakeholders and the community, are strengthened. This is continuous work in progress. What is done last month or a year ago, we still need to do, going forward, with different groups of people, different work places, different community groups, neighbourhoods, schools and other institutions. So, this is a major part of the SGSecure movement. I look forward to the Member's support and active participation.”
“That would be the litmus test. We need to make sure that we are prepared, not just to prevent an attack and to deal with it, but with the more fundamental questions about what the day after will be. Will neighbours still trust one another, befriend one another or will there be an atmosphere of suspicion, of uncertainty? That is work that is painstaking and that requires stakeholders to look beyond the surface, look at the actual implementation to derive the objectives of a strong multi-cultural and multi-religious society.”
“Madam, on the two questions, I will start with the first on the nature of the attacks being multi-centric, coordinated and taking place at different locations at different times using different kinds of weaponry. Those are the kinds of attacks we have seen of late. We have also seen lone-wolf attacks. People, perhaps, who seemingly have very little communication with other organised groups being radicalised and then taking action on their own. So, whilst the Member speaks of coordinated attacks in multiple locations, we are also mindful that such attacks have taken various forms – both coordinated and solo – and we need to be prepared for all eventualities. So, in terms of the Home Team's response, I have articulated them as broadly as I could without going into too much operational details, but I assure the Member that the nature of recent attacks is being studied and being prepared for by the Home Team. Coming to the Member's second point, it just underscores how important it is for the fight against terrorism for SGSecure to be a national movement and not be one undertaken solely by security forces because, in terms of detection, dealing with the attack as it happens and unfolds, and addressing the aftermath – both the loss of lives as well as the loss of social cohesion – all these require society to be on board to appreciate in a deeper fashion the importance of social harmony and the importance of our multicultural and multi-religious fabric. In that regard, the Member is quite right about the efforts by the IRCCs, by grassroots' networks, by community groups, by workplaces, by religious organisations to deepen that bond. This is not work that is happening today. It is work that has been happening over the decades since our founding.”
“But should an attack occur, it is imperative for all of us to stand united against the threat, with a spirit of resilience that we will not be defeated and that we will bounce back as one people and one society.”
“Third, the community plays a critical role in our efforts to fight terrorism on a sustained basis. SG Secure will be officially launched later this year. SG Secure will sensitise, train and mobilise Singaporeans to play their part to prevent and deal with a terrorist attack. The Home Team has worked with our partner agencies to roll out pilot programmes across multiple domains to rally the community so that in the aftermath of a terrorist attack, we will stay united and strong. These programmes include the revamped Emergency Preparedness (EP) days held at Chong Pang, Jurong Spring and Toa Payoh West-Balestier. The Home Team has also developed advisories and applications to equip and prepare our community in the event of an attack. These include: (a) the "Run, Hide, Tell" advisory which guides the public on how to respond when an attack occurs; (b) the new 71999 SMS platform to allow the public to report an incident to the Police if they feel it is not safe for them to talk during an emergency; (c) the Police@SG App's i-Witness function which enables users to point, shoot and send critical information on major incidents and crime to support Police's investigations; (d) the "Improvised First Aid Skills" advisory which teaches the public how to use everyday items to help administer first aid to injured persons in the event of an attack; and (e) the SG Secure E-learning package which allows the public to carry out e-learning at their own pace and pick up useful survival skills to stay vigilant, cohesive and resilient. Madam, the Home Team's priority is to mobilise our efforts and that of society to fight terrorism and to prevent an attack from happening. Our security agencies will do all they can to prevent an attack.”
“Owners of premises are encouraged to bring this training back to their workplaces and Police will follow up to help them review their plans and validate them through exercises. We will hold more counter-terrorism seminars over the coming months for the hotel, chemical, security and manufacturing industries, amongst others. Police also work with various stakeholders to put in place security measures for crowded areas and events. I will not be able to go into the operational details. But calibrated measures are taken to protect against attacks, including those which attempt to use a vehicle as a weapon. These measures are continually reviewed based on SPF's risk assessment. Secondly, in the event of an attack, it is critical for security forces to arrive as quickly as possible and take down armed attackers decisively. SPF has reorganised its terrorist response forces to enhance their firepower, operational capabilities and speed of response. SPF recently commissioned the first batch of Emergency Response Teams (ERTs) in June. They are specially trained in counter-assault and equipped with more firepower. Singaporeans may have seen them patrolling in the Central Business District and Orchard areas. SPF has also started operational trials for new Rapid Deployment Troops (RDT) within SPF's Special Operations Command in July. The RDTs use Tactical Response Motorcycles to navigate through traffic to reach an incident quickly to support the ERTs in the event of an attack. SPF and the Singapore Armed Forces are also jointly developing counter-terrorism plans for high-visibility patrols during heightened threat conditions. These provide both deterrence and swifter response to terrorist attacks. The agencies are exercising these plans together.”
“We have previously spoken about the need to significantly enhance our national counter-terrorism efforts in areas of (a) increasing security protection and vigilance, (b) strengthening our security responses to an incident, and (c) building strong community resilience to fight terrorism under SG Secure. I will give an update on these measures as requested by the hon Member. First, we have substantially enhanced our security vigilance by expanding our closed-circuit television (CCTV) coverage. We completed the installation of Police Cameras (PolCam) 1.0 in June 2016 with 62,000 cameras in all 10,000 Housing and Development Board (HDB) resident blocks. We have commenced the roll-out of PolCam 2.0 and completed the installation of cameras in Ang Mo Kio Town Centre, Bedok Town Centre and Jurong Gateway. About 11,000 more cameras will be progressively installed over the next few years to cover public areas in our neighbourhoods and town centres. In tandem, we have stepped up our efforts to encourage industry groups and premises owners to put in place security measures. The Safety and Security Watch Group (SSWG) is an important platform to achieve this. We held the first Counter-Terrorism seminar with the Retail SSWG in July, and with the Financial Industry SSWG last Friday, 12 August. Through SSWG, the Singapore Police Force (SPF) advises premises owners on how to increase their vigilance through a customised approach for each industry. Some practical examples of measures they can take include installing CCTVs or preparing their staff for emergencies through contingency plans, regular exercises and training.”
“Madam, the attacks over the last three years around the world and in the region shows the nature of the threat. The recent attacks on Istanbul's Ataturk airport and in Nice underline that point. The attack on a nightclub in Kuala Lumpur in June was the first Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS)-linked attack in Malaysia. We are on the radar as well. Just over a week ago, Indonesian authorities arrested terror suspects in Batam. The group was planning a rocket attack on Marina Bay from Batam. The main issue is not the nature of the plans – rockets and so on. The main point is that terrorists are looking for ways of attacking us – probing for entry points, checking out different options. These attacks can be launched by organised groups or self-radicalised individuals. They can plan and launch the attack from just outside Singapore. They can come through our borders and checkpoints. Or they could be home-grown radicals launching an attack from within Singapore. Even without firearms or explosives, they can still inflict many casualties. Our security agencies are monitoring these developments closely, assessing the impact on Singapore. We continue to work with our overseas partners to share information at all levels to fight against terrorism. The arrests in Batam by the Indonesians are just one example of this close cooperation. When we receive information on such threats, we cannot always announce them publicly due to operational secrecy. Our security agencies constantly calibrate our security measures in the context of such threats.”
“Mdm Speaker, I beg to move, "That, notwithstanding the provisions of Standing Order No 18(3) which require a Petition to be referred to the Public Petitions Committee, the Petition presented by the hon Nominated Member be referred to Parliament for consideration at the Second Reading of the Administration of Justice (Protection) Bill." I have stated the reasons for the Motion in my earlier speech. If agreed to, this Motion will allow the contents of the presented Petition to be fully discussed and debated by the House during the Second Reading debate on the Administration of Justice (Protection) Bill. [(proc text) Question put, and agreed to. (proc text)] [(proc text) Resolved, "That notwithstanding the provisions of Standing Order No 18(3) which require a Petition to be referred to the Public Petitions Committee, the Petition presented by the hon Nominated Member be referred to Parliament for consideration at the Second Reading of the Administration of Justice (Protection) Bill." – [Mr Desmond Lee] (proc text)]”
“Mdm Speaker, may I seek your consent and the general assent of Members present to move that the Petition that has been presented by the hon Nominated Member be referred to Parliament for consideration during the debate on the Administration of Justice (Protection) Bill. Mdm Speaker, I am moving this Motion at the request of the Nominated Member who has presented the Petition. As some Members may be aware from recent newspaper reports as well as from the Member's speech earlier, the Petition relates to the Administration of Justice (Protection) Bill, which I shall refer to as "the Bill", the Second Reading of which has been set down on the Order Paper for today. The Petition can either be considered and debated today as part of the Readings of the Bill or be referred to the Public Petitions Committee. If it is sent to the Committee, the contents of the Petition cannot be disclosed to Members or discussed during the Readings of the Bill. So, if the Bill is passed, there will not be an opportunity to discuss and to debate the Petition in a meaningful way. The Nominated Member has indicated his preference for the Petition to be considered and debated fully today. We are prepared to go along with that. Therefore, I intend to move a Motion to seek the general assent of this House to suspend the operation of Standing Order No 18(3).”
“Mdm Speaker, I beg to move, "That, under Standing Order 10(2), the Motion standing in the name of the Minister for Social and Family Development as set down in the Revised Order Paper Supplement for today be taken immediately after the Introduction of Government Bills." We have a number of Bills set down for Second Reading on today's Order Paper. So as not to delay the discussion on this historic Motion, I seek the House's agreement to have the Motion taken before the Orders of the Day. [(proc text) Question put, and agreed to. (proc text)] [(proc text) Resolved, "That under Standing Order 10(2), the Motion standing in the name of the Minister for Social and Family Development as set down in the Revised Order Paper Supplement for today be taken immediately after the Introduction of Government Bills." – [Mr Desmond Lee] (proc text)]”
“Mdm Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order No 35, may I seek your consent and the general assent of Members present for a business Motion to be taken now and for the Motion standing in the name of the Minister for Social and Family Development as set down in the Revised Order Paper Supplement for today be taken at this day's Sitting. Madam, Mr Joseph Schooling made Singapore history by winning an Olympic Gold medal on Saturday, 13 August 2016. The Minister for Social and Family Development will be moving a Motion later today to record the congratulations by this House for his achievements. As such, we seek Members' general assent to dispense with the requisite period of notice for the filing of such a Motion.”
“On the first question, it is the responsibility of the tenant of the coffee shop, the lessee, to make sure that their exhaust duct is kept clean. SCDF has guidelines and if they are found not to be complied with, action will be taken. As for the second question, I do not think the Member is referring specifically to popping tiles which occur after a fire has broken out. That will be a clear nexus. But if he is referring to other circumstances where these things occur after a period of time, then you need to look at whether it is within the warranty period. If it is, then they can be replaced. But if it is many, many years, even a decade down the road, and these things occur, we need to really look at what the cause of it is.”
“Madam, there are various possible causes for these fires. These include excessive open flames from cooking stoves, poor housekeeping of stalls or poor maintenance of the exhaust system. The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) investigates the cause of all reported fires and may, if necessary, introduce new guidelines to enhance fire safety at the coffeeshops. If residential units are affected by fire in the coffee shops, the Housing and Development Board (HDB) will inspect these flats and assess what damage may have been caused. Under HDB's tenancy agreement or memorandum of lease with coffeeshop tenants or lessees, the tenant or lessee is liable for any damage arising from acts of negligence. Should a fire break out, HDB will require the tenants or lessees of the coffee shops to follow up with the necessary repairs, including to the floor tiles of units above the affected coffee shops.”
“Madam, over the last three years, and this is before the CTO was set up, on average, about 110 or so Home Team uniformed service officers retired. Of these, about 60 would be from the Police Force. About 60% of these retiring officers each year would be re-employed within the Home Team, whether it is back within the Police Force or other parts of the Home Team. The remaining 40% either did not take up the offer or were not offered re-employment for various reasons. Some, for example, would prefer to strike out on their own and do something different. The CTO endeavours to serve every single retiring officer to provide them with skills, provide them with job offers and to make sure that they are taken care of after retirement.”
“The office will also collaborate with partners such, as the Workforce Development Agency (WDA) and the Employment and Employability Institute (e2i) to tap on their experience in these areas. Besides the Police, other Home Team departments will also structure similar services for our retiring officers.”
“Madam, the Singapore Police Force set up a new unit, the Career Transition Office (CTO), which the Member mentioned in April 2016. This Office brings together all the existing efforts and programmes to help retiring officers. As the unit is newly set up, there are no statistics available as yet on its work. The new CTO will give greater focus in our efforts to help retiring Police Officers secure good jobs after they leave the Police Force. Even before the CTO was set up, the Police Force has for many years been organising training programmes in areas, such as resume writing, job interview techniques and entrepreneurship skills, to help our retiring officers in their job search. In addition, Police would also share job opportunities from other Government agencies and Ministries when these Ministries and agencies approached Police to recruit retiring Police Officers. Over the past three years, about 300 Police Officers have received training for their post-retirement job search. With the Police CTO, we will be able to do more. Efforts to help retiring Police Officers will be stepped up and done more purposefully. The Office will proactively source for suitable job opportunities for retiring Police Officers. The office will also provide career counselling to prepare our officers psychologically for the job search and the transition from uniformed to civilian life; equip them with new skills that are in demand; and actively reach out to prospective employers where our officers' experience and knowledge would be valued, for example, companies which need professionals with expertise in contingency and security planning, regulatory compliance and enforcement.”
“Madam, the definitions of "animals" in the Road Traffic Act and the Animals and Birds Act are not scoped in the same way. The objectives of the two Acts are different. The Animals and Birds Act seeks to prevent the introduction and spread of diseases through animals, control the movement of animals, prevent cruelty to animals, and safeguard the general welfare of animals in Singapore. On the other hand, the primary intent of the Road Traffic Act is to ensure the safety of road users, including motorists, cyclists and pedestrians. The specific provision in the Road Traffic Act relating to animals had been confined to farm animals of commercial value. The original intent of that legislation was to ensure restitution to their owners should an accident occur. The question is whether we should now mandatorily require all motorists to stop, should they hit an animal. The primary requirement must be safety. They should stop, if it is safe to do so. If the motorist requires assistance in relation to attending to the animal, he can contact the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority of Singapore (AVA) or Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA). The Ministry of Home Affairs intends to review the definition of "animals" in the Road Traffic Act and also consider any amendment in the context of road safety, especially the safety of the motorists and other road users. In response to the Member's question, yes, we will review.”
“I do not have the precise details. I have heard from the Member. I think what is important is to just let us have the details and then we will look into that. I cannot address it here in this Chamber.”
“Sir, there are certain requirements that we put into our Government Land Sales (GLS) in order to drive the industry towards higher productivity methods of construction. I think we all agree as to the direction. The Member is concerned about whether these actually achieve the objectives. The objective is the same but, on the methods, we might have a slight difference of opinion. 7.00 pm Some of our GLS sales come with a condition that they meet certain buildability scores. That has been the norm. Now, we have some GLSs which specify that the construction must be by PPVC, and it is not 100%. I think it is about 60% by PPVC; the rest can be by casting in situ; so, we provide some flexibility. It is transparent and it is a level-playing field. Parties who bid for these land sale sites know that there is a certain technological requirement. These help create lead demand for us to adopt the higher productivity methods. As for one of the points, the Member raised in his speech earlier about whether we can relax the requirement for contractors or developers to finish the project within x number of years, I think we do not want the land to be hoarded. There are certain requirements that drive us to have GLS, especially for residential and commercial uses. They are meant to meet the demand that we have projected and we do not want and, certainly, no Singaporean would want land to be hoarded indefinitely. We want to see that the project is developed. The timeline that URA provides is a reasonable one.”
“Chairman, may I deal with the Member's last question, which is on whether BCA is doing anything to encourage the growth of the Singapore Core with regard to the built environment sector. I presume the Member is talking about architects, consultants, designers and contractors. Yes, certainly that is key. I spoke earlier in my speech about how BCA is going upstream and having a whole suite of scholarships to encourage Singapore students in our institutions, whether it is in ITE, polytechnics and universities, to come onboard the built environment sector. There is also an Earn-and-Learn scheme, where after they join the particular programme at an institution, they learn and earn along the way and get brought into the sector. Certainly, building that core is critical. In fact, whilst the push to productivity is one of the key drivers behind adopting higher technology or game-changing technology in construction, such as VDC and DfMA, ultimately, if you look at it, by using technology, using ICT, building in a smart and creative way, this also creates niches and opportunities for Singaporeans to come into the built environment sector as well.”
“Mr Chairman, the Goodwill Repair Assistance scheme involves HDB coming in to help facilitate the resolution of maintenance issues faced by both upper and lower floors. In this particular instance, it will be the residents of the lower floor who are suffering from the leakage and, therefore, the scheme encourages both parties to do what is necessary to solve the problem. So, the Government, HDB will pay half the cost of fixing the leakage. Most of the work, as the Member rightly points out, involves waterproofing membrane works for the upper floor unit. For the lower floor unit, you may need to fix some spalling of concrete, because of the leakage problem. So, the Goodwill Repair Assistance scheme also addresses that. For the Member's particular case, let us have a closer look and we will see what aspect of the ceiling has been damaged and whether it is related to the leakage.”
“There may be more complex maintenance issues which may require certain parties with specific competencies, such as the original lift manufacturer, to resolve. HDB upholds a competitive market and will not allow any particular party to abuse its market power, whether it is a part, or whether it is a maintenance regime. If there are any concerns that the Member raises, please let us know specifically, whether the motherboard, the type he is concerned about, let us know.”
“Sir, the Member now raises a couple of issues which were mentioned earlier. On the issue of lift breakdowns, the Member talks about the quality of LUP. In deciding what lifts are put into a housing estate, including in LUP, we process projects by way of a price-quality procurement process where you look not just at price, but also the quality of the lift. So, there are certain specifications that have to be met. As I said earlier, I think we need to really have a proper drill down by the Town Council. If you think there is an issue, raise it to MND and HDB, so that you can assess whether it is an issue of the lift brand, lift model, or is it a specific issue with regard to a particular shaft. Is it a maintenance problem? Is it a usage issue? So, I think beyond speculation, it is better to look at specifics. The hon Member also speaks about motherboards of lifts and that, therefore, he is concerned about whether there is market competitiveness with regard to maintenance of lifts in HDB estates, which responsibilities then fall on Town Councils across the island. As I said earlier, there are many players in the lift supply market and the lift maintenance market. In HDB estates across Singapore, there are easily at least 20 brands of lifts being used. Equally, many players in the lift maintenance market, including the original lift manufacturers and third-party contractors. So, Mr Low Thia Khiang talked about the manufacturer then having proprietary ownership in the technology of the motherboards, but there are also other parts of the lifts. Each of these lift maintenance companies, whether they are manufacturer or third-party contractor, comes in variant profiles and capabilities.”
“I listened to what the Member said and I think it will be better if he raises the specific cases to us, for us to be better able to assess what the problem is. Sir, engagement takes time and effort. Working with diverse stakeholders, especially those with conflicting viewpoints, may not be the fastest way of getting things done, but it is necessary if we are to ensure that we, as Singaporeans, take ownership of the kind of Singapore we want for ourselves and our children, that we hear and understand the differences in views from the diversity of interests making up our plural society and respect the choices then made to create not only a liveable environment but also a sustainable one. I believe the process of engagement, collaboration and joint stewardship can bring us closer together as a national community, as a plural but cohesive nation. This must be the foundation upon which a better, brighter future will be built in the decades to come.”
“Given that lift replacement is a major sinking fund expenditure, Town Councils should monitor their long-term financial sufficiency. MND is also considering ring-fencing part of the Town Councils' sinking fund to cater for such expenditure. Even so, my Ministry has provided Town Councils with additional assistance schemes. For instance, in September 2014, HDB rolled out the Selective Lift Replacement Programme to help Town Councils replace older lifts that lack key features, such as energy-efficient motors, infra-red door safety sensors and vision panels, found in more modern lifts. Mr Low Thia Khiang has also asked about the outcomes of the Greenprint programme. HDB launched the first two HDB Greenprint projects at Yuhua in 2012 and Teck Ghee in 2015 respectively to introduce sustainable living concepts into existing HDB estates. The Yuhua project was just completed last November and we are still assessing the effectiveness of the project, the various components of the project, including the Pneumatic Waste System that Mr Low talked about. Based on HDB's preliminary survey, Yuhua residents welcome the green features, including the secured bicycle parking and hobby farming zones. Mr Low Thia Khiang asked specifically if the Pneumatic Waste Conveyance System will be extended to all suitable HDB estates. We plan to do so in new BTO developments where viable, including in Tampines North and Punggol Northshore. It may be more challenging to do so in existing older estates, due to site constraints and higher costs, but we will assess the performance of the system at Yuhua first before deciding on the next step. Finally, Mr Muhamad Faisal Abdul Manap asked about certain cases involving Goodwill Repair Assistance in his constituency.”
“With the public sector leading the way and closely partnering the industry, I am confident that our vision of a highly integrated, advanced and skilled built environment sector is achievable. Let me now briefly address the remaining cuts. On the Lift Upgrading Programme (LUP), Mr Png Eng Huat had mentioned some concerns at Block 314. I presume it is in his area. Please raise it to HDB or to MND so that we can have a better look at it. Mr Low Thia Khiang spoke about lift maintenance, lift parts and lift breakdowns. On the point on lift breakdowns, there is a tele-monitoring system in every lift in HDB, which provides data remotely to the Town Council, so you can establish what the cause of the fault is. So, I would urge the hon Member to take a look at the Town Council data and have a sense as to what the causes of these frequent breakdowns are. Some of it could be the nature of the use of the lift, some of it could be the frequency of the Town Council's maintenance regime or the capability and competence of the engineers they engage, among other reasons. So, I think it is good to drill down and analyse what your problems are. As for the cost of maintenance which Mr Low Thia Khiang said is high because some original parts are owned by the lift manufacturer, this is something that will depend on the complexity of the part. There are over 20 lift brands used in HDB estates. So, there are a variety of parts, from smaller parts, simpler parts that can be manufactured by others to those that are more specialised and specific to the lift. Mr Low Thia Khiang also talked about the high cost of lift maintenance and replacement. MND is reviewing ways to help Town Councils better manage the lifts and to plan ahead for the lift replacement needs.”
“To encourage the wider adoption of DfMA and Virtual Design and Construction (VDC) and smoothen their implementation, we have taken the lessons learnt from the early adopters and set up a taskforce to look at building up an ecosystem. Dr Teo Ho Pin spoke earlier about having a whole-of-ecosystem steering committee. Here, we have set up a task force to drive the entire ecosystem. The industry will be consulted on its recommendations as part of the process. We have also reviewed regulatory requirements where necessary. For example, SCDF has relaxed height requirements for the majority of CLT building-use types from 12 metres to 24 metres. To facilitate optimal design for prefabrication and modularisation, LTA is reviewing requirements for the escort of oversized loads being transported, without compromising road safety. We are also considering setting aside land for PPVC production in Singapore. To fast track the regulatory approval process for innovative technologies new to Singapore, we have set up the multi-agency Building Innovation Panel since 2011. For the long term, we are scanning the horizon for potential technologies and new ideas. A Construction Productivity R&D Roadmap is currently being developed together with industry players and will be launched in the second half of this year. Promising areas include 3-D printing, robotics, infocomm technology (ICT) and data analytics in the built environment sector. The roadmap will help guide our R&D efforts for the sector and can provide valuable insights to the Committee on the Future Economy. 6.15 pm Just like how prefabrication and precast have now become prevalent, we can expect DfMA and VDC to become the norm in future.”
“Workforce upgrading, regulatory hurdles and logistics issues are some of the teething problems that the early adopters have faced. We value the industry's feedback and will do what we can to help the industry quickly overcome this learning curve. So, let me share some of the work in progress. First, we have set up the Construction Productivity and Capability Fund (CPCF), and set aside a total of $885 million, over two tranches, to help firms raise their capability in the immediate term. Today, over 8,000 firms have already tapped on this fund to either invest in more productive technologies, mechanise their processes or up-skill their workforce. BCA has also formulated a Sectoral Manpower Plan to ensure that future manpower demand can be met. With the support of our firms, we will continue to attract, retain and upgrade our workforce. For example, companies can partner BCA in its suite of scholarship and sponsorship programmes which aims to bring in new Singaporean entrants to the built environment sector. More than 2,000 students and jobseekers have been brought in through these programmes since 2010. Further, through our Earn and Learn Programmes under SkillsFuture, our diploma and ITE graduates can continue learning while working, through on-the-job training, mentorship and upgrading courses. BCA also works closely with the industry associations, such as the Singapore Contractors Association Limited (SCAL), to conduct regular Productivity Clinics since 2011. About 350 companies have benefited from these one-on-one sessions with BCA as they embarked on their productivity journey.”
“As both Er Dr Lee Bee Wah and Dr Teo Ho Pin have rightly pointed out, the Government has to very closely partner the industry and the entire ecosystem, if we are to effectively change the way we build, because there are different industry players involved in every project – developers, consultants, architects, contractors, sub-contractors – and there are many moving pieces. Jobs will have to be redesigned, and processes will have to evolve or change, as part of the transformation. Critically, there needs to be more collaboration among key stakeholders upstream, as Er Dr Lee Bee Wah quite rightly pointed out. Everyone has to play our part and be prepared to break out of our comfort zones. To date, we have seen a handful of projects in the public and private sectors adopting the Design for Manufacturing and Assembly (DfMA) approach and embracing game-changing technology. The Nanyang Technological University’s (NTU) North Hill Hostel and OUE's Crowne Plaza Extension were the first projects to adopt Prefabricated Prefinished Volumetric Construction (PPVC) in Singapore. Such projects can be built quite quickly, with less disamenity to people living and working in the surroundings because the modules, the entire rooms, so to speak, are prefabricated, sometimes with all finishes and fittings complete, before being brought onto the site for installation. But besides PPVC, there are many other productive technologies on the DFMA spectrum that the industry can adopt, as Er Dr Lee Bee Wah mentioned. These include advanced precast, structural steel and cross-laminated timber (CLT), which can bring about productivity gains and a reduction in manpower, as compared to traditional methods. At the same time, we recognise that there are challenges.”
“Over the years, we have progressively raised the professionalism, safety and quality in the sector through initiatives, such as licensing builders, regulating buildability and raising workmanship quality through CONQUAS and Quality Mark. From 2010, we have also put in significant effort and resources to raise construction productivity. The transformation that we are seeking is slowly taking shape. The level of prefabrication for building structural systems and wall systems has increased significantly. Safety and quality will also be enhanced with more prefabrication. Site productivity, or the amount of floor area completed per man-day, has steadily increased by an average of 1.3% per year since 2009. In fact, for the last two years, we saw a 2% annual improvement. While this is positive, we should make a big push for even higher productivity gains over the next five years. Our vision of the future built environment sector is one that is efficient and collaborative, where industry stakeholders jointly go through the design and construction of a project in virtual reality first to finalise details and minimise abortive works. The building components are then manufactured and prefinished offsite in factories and then transported onsite for clean and quiet assembly. Meanwhile, autonomous drones are used to complete other tasks concurrently. Our built environment sector of the future will be one that is highly advanced, highly skilled and highly integrated. Buildings will be constructed faster with higher quality and lower impact on the surrounding neighbourhood.”
“Some of these gardeners have gone the extra mile, contributing their harvests to disadvantaged families in the neighbourhood. Others use the gardens as an outdoor classroom to teach the younger generation about nature and how life used to be in the past, passing down knowledge and values along the way. The CIB programme is no longer just about spreading the love of gardening, but also the spirit of neighbourliness. They are about how communities come together to generate a greater social good. We have seen organic communities form at other parks, too, such as brisk-walkers, joggers, exercise groups, cyclists, nature lovers, heritage buffs, educators and so on. That is why NParks launched the Friends of the Park scheme two weeks ago. Through this, volunteers can be even more involved in our parks, for example, by organising their own activities and partnering NParks in park management. We are happy to have some of our long-time volunteers step up to lead these communities. For example, Mr Sivasothi will chair the community for the Friends of Chestnut Nature Park, which we just opened. Well-known in the nature fraternity, he has been volunteering for over 20 years, conducting coastal clean-ups and nature walks, and is also an avid cyclist. We are grateful to have him onboard. Over time, I believe we will see more people like him coming forward to jointly create and sustain a green and liveable environment for all Singaporeans. Coming to the third plank of my speech, Sir, this spirit of partnership, which I spoke about earlier, to rejuvenate our heartlands and enhance our green spaces also extends to our ongoing efforts to transform our built environment sector and how we will build our city of the future.”
“As we implement these plans, we want to involve people who live, work and play along the Corridor, and create opportunities for them to lead community-based initiatives along the Rail Corridor. This is why URA recently embarked on an unprecedented effort to consult residents along the Rail Corridor, from Tanjong Pagar Railway Station in the south to Kranji in the north, through a series of local exhibitions and dedicated workshops. Residents told us about the types of trails and landscapes they wanted to see and how to retain its rustic character while making improvements so that it can be enjoyed by all Singaporeans. Many workshop participants also tried their hand at master planning, drawing out their own ideas for each area. So, different residents with different interests had to debate, discuss with one another and then decide what to put where, what to have and what not to have. With such localised feedback, URA and the designers will review and refine our current plans to make the Rail Corridor an inclusive green space, with the community as active stewards. Another is the Sembawang Hot Springs. Dr Lim Wee Kiak asked if it can be developed into a park. As he rightly pointed out, the springs have an interesting history and are currently on the Ministry of Defence's (MINDEF) land. We are studying if we can sensitively enhance the area, in line with existing natural features, heritage and land use. Where possible, we want to retain and enhance such places, with the community, for everyone to enjoy. Beyond creating new green spaces with the community, we also want to support ground-up greening efforts. Today, we have about 1,000 Community in Bloom (CIB) gardens and 20,000 community gardeners.”
“Not only do we have an extensive network of parks and park connectors, we have also incorporated greenery wherever we can, from walls to rooftops, to make it pervasive. But we can do even better. Let me outline, briefly, some ways. First, we will make our parks more community centric. In the next few years, we will continue to roll out inclusive playgrounds in our parks. They enable all kids to have fun together, whether they are physically able or have disabilities. The first was launched last year at Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park, with the support of the National Council of Social Services. NParks will launch eight more in the next few years. We will also use greenery as therapy, especially for seniors. A study conducted by NParks and the National University Health System (NUHS) showed improved mental health in participants who participated in "horticultural therapy". Seniors and their caregivers can look forward to an upcoming network of therapeutic gardens, with contemplative spaces and activity zones, to support dementia and post-stroke patients. Second, with rapid urbanisation, we recognise that Singaporeans are also concerned about green spaces rich in our cultural and natural heritage. One such space is the Rail Corridor. Ms Low Yen Ling had asked about URA's plans for the development of the old Bukit Timah Fire Station as a key attraction and gateway to the Rail Corridor. Indeed, the winning proposal for URA's Request for Proposals last year shows how we can sensitively adapt the former Bukit Timah Fire Station as a hub for nature activities, providing seamless access to the nearby nature parks and the Bukit Timah Nature Reserve.”
“So, for instance, we are collaborating with the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI) and SPRING to explore other areas of support for our local HDB heartland shops. We are also studying very carefully whether to introduce a requirement for polling for ROS upgrading. Let me explain. Mr Ang Wei Neng makes a valid point that one of the challenges preventing a higher take-up of ROS upgrading is the need for unanimous or near unanimous support from shopkeepers or shop owners before upgrading works can commence. One possible solution is to set a threshold so that a certain percentage of shop owners polled want ROS upgrading, then this binds all the shops in the neighbourhood centre. On the other hand, some retailers have also shared that upgrading works are less useful to them. Therefore, while they understand that it could benefit other retailers and residents, they were less inclined to support the programme. So, we are looking carefully at whether we should make legislative amendments to make polling a requirement. Miss Cheryl Chan said we should ensure a right mix of businesses in the heartlands and asked whether SMEs and startups can be encouraged to set up shops there. In fact, we are already seeing a trend of an increasing number of young entrepreneurs setting up shops in the heartlands, such as ice cream parlours, artisan bakeries and hipster cafes. HDB is also partnering MTI and SPRING Singapore to tap current schemes to better support these young entrepreneurs. Let me now move on to the second of my three points. Sir, as we rejuvenate our heartlands and develop our urban spaces, we must also remember that we are special because we are a City in a Garden.”
“Since 2007, the scheme has benefited about half of all HDB shops in town and neighbourhood centres, with upgraded shop fronts and funding support for business promotional activities. Last year, we announced that we would revise or review the ROS scheme. HDB shops play an important role in building our heartland communities and we want to support them better. As Mr Saktiandi Supaat said, they make our estates a much livelier place to live in. They are where we buy our daily necessities and groceries, get our nasi lemak, chicken rice or kopi-o. The shopkeepers in our heartlands are often familiar faces that we grow up with. In carrying out the review, we consulted the heartland retail community. We set up the Revitalisation of Heartland Shops Committee comprising representatives from various merchants associations, retailers and grassroots organisations, to tap on their experience. We also conducted focus group discussions with merchants associations across the island, to hear their views. I thank the committee, previously under the leadership of Mr Lee Yi Shyan, for their many suggestions. We have evaluated the suggestions carefully, and this is what we plan to do. 6.00 pm First, for upgrading works under ROS, we will adjust the co-funding ratio among the Government, the HDB shopkeepers and the Town Councils. What this means is that our shopkeepers pay less, while the Government and Town Councils pay more. Second, we will provide some startup funding to support the formation of new merchants associations. HDB will announce the details before launching the next batch of ROS soon. Our review is still continuing and there may be more in the pipeline.”
“Last year, we shared our plans to rejuvenate Woodlands, Pasir Ris and Toa Payoh under the Remaking Our Heartland 3 programme. Over the course of one year, HDB connected with some 400 residents and local stakeholders in these towns to consult them on preliminary concepts. It was a very fruitful exercise. Some residents from Woodlands hoped that their town remains green and asked for a larger community space within Woodlands Central. Pasir Ris residents requested for a rejuvenated town centre and for the existing parks and commercial spaces to be upgraded. Toa Payoh residents desired a balance between older and newer developments, and for a greener and even more senior-friendly environment. HDB has been refining the proposals based on these ideas and suggestions. The preliminary proposals are exciting, and cover three broad themes, namely, Identity, Public Spaces and Connectivity. Let me briefly elaborate. For Woodlands Town, residents can look forward to a transformed Woodlands Waterfront with interesting landscaping. In addition, within Woodlands Central, there will be a town plaza, which will offer a sizeable space for various large-scale activities, including those for the community. For Pasir Ris, we plan to introduce a mixed-use development integrated with a new bus interchange in the town centre and upgrade the parks in the town. In Toa Payoh, we are looking to revamp the pedestrian mall in Toa Payoh Town Centre with more greenery, rest areas and covered shopping streets at selected stretches for residents to enjoy, even when it rains. We will also introduce dedicated cycling paths throughout the town to improve connectivity. Let me now move on to our HDB shops and the Revitalisation of Shops (ROS) scheme, which a number of Members have asked about.”
“Thank you, Sir. I will focus on three areas. First, working with the community to rejuvenate and transform our heartlands; second, enhancing greenery in our City in a Garden; and third, partnering the construction industry to transform the way we build our city. Let me start with the first. Minister Lawrence Wong earlier described how newer HDB towns, such as Bidadari, Tampines North and Tengah, will be better designed. At the same time, we have been Remaking Our Heartland under a programme started in 2007 with that name, to rejuvenate and transform our older estates. At Dawson Estate in Queenstown, one of our oldest HDB towns, new public housing is set within a park environment, but heritage elements of old Dawson are being preserved. For example, the former wet market at Block 38 Commonwealth Avenue has been conserved and will be refurbished to house retail shops. Over in Yishun, residents can look forward to a new integrated development comprising shops, an air-conditioned bus interchange, a community club and town plaza, all of which will add greater buzz to the town centre. In Bedok, with the Outdoor Play Corridor, residents and park users will be able to cycle seamlessly from East Coast Park, through the Bedok Town Centre, all the way to Bedok Reservoir by next year. If you have been to Jurong East recently, you would have seen the transformation of the Jurong Gateway area, with the opening of commercial malls next to the MRT station, and two hospitals, Ng Teng Fong Hospital and Jurong Community Hospital. The Jurong Lake Gardens West, part of our third National Gardens, will also be completed in two years' time. Miss Cheryl Chan suggested that agencies involve local communities more during town design, especially for mature towns. We fully recognise this.”
“Sir, in the course of my presentation, may I have your permission to show some slides?”
“Last year, TP reached out to more than 77,000 pre-schoolers and Primary school students through road safety talks and sessions to impress upon them the importance of looking after themselves on the roads. Mr Tay pointed out that besides schools, there are also other places like childcare centres and also enrichment centres where children frequent. It may not be practical for us to replicate school zones everywhere because these centres are everywhere. But let me assure the Member that we will continue our efforts to keep our roads safe and secure through a whole range of efforts. I hope that addresses the Member's concerns.”