Khaw Boon Wan
Singapore
“Motor vehicle dealerships and showrooms have been closed since the start of the circuit breaker. As COE bidding is done mostly by the motor vehicle dealers on behalf of prospective owners, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) suspended COE bidding for the months of April and May.”
“Though stressed by the financial pain, they press on with the immediate priority of fighting the virus and supporting essential services. Post-pandemic, we will see how public transport evolves. Will demand for public transport services simply return to the pre-pandemic level?”
“Under our rail financing framework, the Government fully pays for the cost of building new rail lines. In other words, we do not recover the cost of building the Cross Island Line (CRL) from commuters through fares. The CRL project is being implemented and the final costs will depend on tender bids.”
“There are around 5,000 private bus operators with a combined fleet of 13,500 private buses. As we do not track the number of private bus trips and passengers, we do not have data on their carbon emissions.”
“There are nursing rooms at 50% of our bus interchanges. We will provide nursing rooms at all new bus interchanges and integrated transport hubs. For the MRT network, we will provide nursing rooms at all new interchange stations. We will also explore providing such facilities when MRT stations undergo upgrading.”
“Over the last three years, Singapore carriers have reported a total of 20 incidents of food allergies on board their flights. None required the use of epinephrine or emergency flight diversions.”
The complete record
Every one of 2,685 lines we hold for Khaw Boon Wan, in date order, each linked to its source. Free to read, in full, without an account. Page 4 of 54.
“As Malaysia knows, the RTS Link was envisioned to be a joint effort to ease congestion at our land checkpoints and boost transport collaboration. Unfortunately, as a result of these delays, the commencement date of RTS Link services will likely be delayed beyond the original target of 31 December 2024.”
“There is urgency to this as, based on Singapore's calculations, the open tender needs to be called by 31 March 2019 so that, as agreed under the BA, the appointed OpCo can procure the Thomson-East Coast Line (TEL) core systems for the RTS Link before these procurement options expire. However, to date, we have not received Malaysia’s response to the draft tender documents. There is, therefore, a real risk that Singapore and Malaysia will not be ready to call a joint open tender by 31 March 2019, which may, in turn, result in the appointed OpCo not being able to procure the TEL core systems before the TEL procurement options expire. Singapore has been diligent in implementing the BA. LTA has assembled close to 70 staff, including civil and systems engineers, to implement the RTS Link. We have called civil tenders to construct the RTS Link infrastructure, including Singapore’s RTS Link Woodlands North station, and our portion of the RTS Link crossing bridge. Singapore remains fully committed to implementing the RTS Link Project and fulfilling our obligations under the RTS Link BA. We have also been reasonable and flexible, because we understand Malaysia's circumstances following the May 2018 Malaysian General Elections. However, missing the agreed deadlines in the BA to appoint the OpCo and thereafter failing to engage with Singapore to take steps to jointly call an open tender to appoint the OpCo has serious implications. The BA is an international treaty that is binding on the countries that signed it, regardless of any changes in the Government. The BA makes clear each country’s responsibility towards the Project, and the consequences of not meeting these responsibilities. We will continue to take a constructive approach to move the project forward.”
“The Johor Bahru-Singapore Rapid Transit System Link (RTS Link) Project is behind schedule and not progressing well. The RTS Link Bilateral Agreement (BA), signed by Singapore and Malaysia in January 2018, sets out certain milestones to track the progress of the Project. Based on the BA, the Joint Venture Company (JVC) comprising Singapore's Singapore Mass Rapid Transit and Malaysia's Prasarana Malaysia Berhad should have been constituted by 30 June 2018, and the JVC should have been appointed as the RTS Link operator (OpCo) through a Concession Agreement (CA) with our Land Transport Authority (LTA) and the Government of Malaysia by 30 September 2018. However, these milestones have been missed. Over the past few months, Malaysia has indicated that they are considering replacing their JV partner, but has delayed confirming their JV partner, first until September 2018, then until December 2018 and, most recently, on 28 December 2018, Malaysia requested to be given until 28 February 2019 to confirm their JV partner. As a result of these delays, the JVC has not even been incorporated to date, let alone signed the CA. Meanwhile, Malaysia has also unilaterally suspended bilateral discussions to appoint the OpCo since August 2018, pending its confirmation of the Malaysian JV partner. Under the BA, if by the original deadlines the JVC has either not been incorporated or not been appointed as the OpCo, then both countries are obliged to jointly call a fair, international and transparent open tender to appoint the OpCo, unless both Governments mutually agree to postpone these deadlines. In line with the intent of the BA, Singapore prepared and sent draft tender documents to Malaysia in November 2018 for their comments.”
“Singapore has not received any official proposal or communications from Malaysia related to the construction of any new road link between Singapore and Malaysia. Singapore's priority is to focus on existing bilateral projects with Malaysia as well as easing congestion at our land checkpoints.”
“The Active Mobility Act regulates the use of personal mobility devices (PMDs) and power-assisted bicycles (PABs) on public paths, while the Road Traffic Act regulates the use of PABs on roads. PMDs are not allowed to be used on roads. Under both Acts, it is an offence to ride such devices recklessly or dangerously, whether while using a mobile telecommunication device, under intoxication or under other circumstances. As reckless riding on public paths is already an offence, there are no plans to introduce new offences specifically to cover the riding of a PMD or PAB on public paths while intoxicated or while using a mobile telecommunication device. The Land Transport Authority will continue to step up efforts to further improve awareness of the legislation, rules and code of conduct governing active mobility usage.”
“Since 2009, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) has been organising annual Graciousness Campaigns to inculcate a gracious commuting culture. This includes encouraging public transport commuters to give up their seats to those who need them more, such as the elderly and pregnant women. These campaigns have yielded results. Around 70% of commuters now notice that more seats are being given up, compared to 42% in 2012, based on LTA’s perceptions survey. Promoting a gracious culture is a shared responsibility and requires commuters to play their part, too. As commuters, we need to look beyond our own needs and help fellow commuters in need. Commuters who need assistance should also feel free to seek help from those around them. As part of the recent Land Transport Master Plan 2040 public engagement efforts, we found that most Singaporeans agreed that individual commuters needed to take the initiative to be more gracious. This is the gracious commuting culture which we aspire to foster, that goes beyond relying solely on punitive measures.”
“In 2003, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) conducted a traffic signal countdown timer trial at the junction of North Bridge Road and Rochor Road over a period of six months. The trial showed that countdown timers did not improve road safety. Some motorists accelerated to beat the red light, increasing the likelihood of rear-end collisions at traffic junctions. Over the years, we have continued to monitor the experience in other countries that have conducted similar trials. Overseas jurisdictions that have installed traffic signal countdown timers also did not observe any significant improvement to road safety. Hence, LTA has no plans to install traffic signal countdown timers at traffic junctions.”
“Since 2016, there have been more than 80 fire incidents involving motorised personal mobility devices (PMDs), posing a danger to the users, their immediate families and their neighbours. The Land Transport Authority (LTA) made known its intention to study and apply product safety requirements on PMDs in November 2017. After studying the available international standards, LTA announced in September 2018 that the UL2272 standard will be applied to the sale of motorised PMDs in Singapore from July 2019, and to the use of motorised PMDs on public paths in Singapore from January 2021. To mitigate the impact on PMD retailers, LTA has provided retailers with a transition period of nine months to switch their inventories to comply with the regulations. Retailers can also choose to re-export devices that do not comply with the standard. To support the retailers during this transition period, LTA has been engaging retailers to address their queries and to provide more information on the testing and certification process for UL2272. LTA is also working closely with accredited certification bodies to make testing and certification more easily accessible to the retailers. LTA is also open to considering other safety standards which are found adequate for reducing fire risks for motorised PMDs and are suitable for our local context.”
“This will not be a good use of limited engineering talent, not to mention the higher holding cost of spare parts, loss of economies of scale and greater complication in operations. The Hong Kong incident is unfortunate. Each incident is a reminder that unplanned incidents can happen to the most competent operator. We will continue to monitor the outcome of the investigations of the 16 October incident in Hong Kong and put in the necessary measures to mitigate any similar vulnerabilities in our own rail network.”
“Hence, there is no need to synchronise across different systems from different suppliers. However, the Hong Kong incident is a timely reminder that MRT lines are highly complex engineering systems. We must never let our guard down. Our train operators must develop deep engineering expertise in the systems we procure. They must devote sufficient resources to engineering and give top management attention to operation and maintenance. As the MRT network upgrades and expands, different generations of technology are acquired and have to work seamlessly together. The resignalling of the North-South and East-West Lines is an example of how complicated the project is. The resignalling of the North-South Line was eventful precisely because of such complications. The lack of engineering hours to carry out essential testing added to the already challenging task. After the train collision incident in November 2017, the public supported more engineering hours through ECLO – Early Closure and Late Opening. That has made a significant difference to the resignalling project for the East-West Line, which has been carried out more smoothly compared to the resignalling project for the North-South Line. Another lesson from the Hong Kong incident is the importance of standardisation, I made this point in a recent speech to our engineers. As our rail network becomes more extensive, we need to think about how we can better standardise systems across the rail network. By 2030, we will have eight MRT lines. Is it wise to end up with eight different systems, whether it is for signalling, trains or power? If we do, our engineers will have to learn eight different systems, multiplied by as many different assets.”
“On the morning of 16 October 2018, train services on four major Hong Kong Mass Transit Railway (MTR) lines were affected for up to six hours. Train services remained open but had to operate at reduced speeds and lower frequency, resulting in longer travelling times for commuters. Investigations by Hong Kong authorities are still ongoing. Initial findings released by the Legislative Council Panel on Transport indicate that the incident was caused by a signalling system failure. There was a loss of synchronisation among the signalling systems used by the four rail lines. The signalling systems of the four lines are interconnected by design, and are provided by two different suppliers, Alstom and Siemens. The suppliers use different system settings. For normal functioning, the data transmission from these different signalling systems must be seamlessly synchronised at all times to ensure that the two systems communicate with each other for delivering train control commands. Interconnection of the two systems is achieved through the computers which connect the systems. Unfortunately, the synchronisation failed on 16 October. It was rectified only after the operator isolated the connections between the lines and rebooted all computers. These are preliminary findings and are subject to further investigation which is ongoing. The likelihood of a similar loss of synchronisation among the signalling systems of our different Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) lines is low. First, the signalling systems for the Circle Line, Downtown Line and North East Line operate as separate systems. They do not require any synchronisation. Second, although the North-South and East-West Lines share the same signalling system, it is provided by the same supplier, Thales, and have the exact same settings.”
“We open new Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) stations when there is sufficient ridership to ensure that the stations will be well-used. This is to balance between improving connectivity and prudent use of taxpayers’ monies. While there are some existing residential developments around the Hume station box, they fall short of the ridership threshold to justify the opening of Hume MRT station. However, the upcoming development of the first stage of the Rail Corridor will likely inject additional visitorship to the precinct. The Land Transport Authority is reviewing the ridership projection and business case for opening Hume station. We will announce our decision in due course.”
“There are currently about 5,900 public carpark lots in Changi Airport. The full opening of Jewel Changi Airport will add another 2,500 public car park lots. Terminal 5 is in the design stage and the number of public car park lots to be provided has not yet been determined.”
“All contractors are required to reinstate roads after their works, based on standards stipulated in the Land Transport Authority's (LTA's) Code of Practice for Works on Public Streets. These standards include the International Roughness Index which is an international standard that measures the riding quality of roads. However, LTA has observed through its regular audit checks and public feedback, cases where contractors did not carry out these reinstatement works in accordance with LTA's requirements. In such instances, LTA will enforce against these contractors and require them to rectify their reinstatement works. These errant contractors will also be fined up to $500 per infringement and penalised with demerit points. Contractors who chalk up more than 200 demerit points a month will be suspended from carrying out any new works. Members of the public can call LTA's hotline to report instances of poorly resurfaced roads.”
“The Land Transport Authority (LTA) requires new vehicle types to be put through a robust type approval regime to ensure that they comply with internationally recognised vehicle safety standards before they can be allowed for use on our roads. LTA also requires all in-use vehicles to be inspected regularly at LTA-authorised Inspection Centres to ensure that they are roadworthy. These inspections cover key vehicle components and systems, such as brakes, steering, tyres and exhaust systems. Besides these regular inspections, LTA and the Traffic Police also call up vehicles for ad hoc inspections to evaluate their safety and roadworthiness. Vehicles which fail these inspections are not allowed to be used on our roads. Taxis, buses and heavy vehicles are generally subject to more stringent requirements. For example, only new vehicles are allowed to be registered as taxis, and LTA has stringent safety standards when purchasing new public buses. Taxis and public buses are also required to go for vehicular inspections more frequently and are subject to statutory lifespans of eight and 17 years respectively. Separately, when a vehicle model is recalled, LTA requires motor dealers and importers to notify LTA and affected vehicle owners promptly and arrange with owners to rectify the affected vehicles. It is an offence for motor dealers and importers to not comply with this requirement. LTA's electronic Vehicle Recall System also allows vehicle owners to check if their vehicles are affected by the recall, as well as the progress of rectification works.”
“There are about 15,000 car mechanics in the motor workshop industry. The Singapore Motor Workshop Association (SMWA) is leading industry efforts to upskill car mechanics in view of the greater adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) and hybrid vehicles. SMWA is planning to establish a training academy which will offer centralised skills training for mechanics. This will ensure that car mechanics in Singapore continue to have relevant skills in light of changing technologies. SMWA is also planning to enhance local EV diagnostic, repair and maintenance capabilities. This will be achieved through hosting German specialists to train local mechanics and organising overseas attachment programmes for more advanced training. Workforce Singapore will be providing funding support for this initiative under the Capability Transfer Programme. Autonomous Vehicle (AV) technology is nascent and mainstream adoption of AVs is still some time away. In the meantime, the Land Transport Authority is conducting trials to better understand AV technology and determine the eventual concept of operations for deployment in Singapore. These trials will provide a sense of the scale and type of repair and maintenance services required to inform our longer-term manpower development plans.”
“This year, we conducted two exercises, one at Newton MRT station and the other at Holland Village MRT station. The third exercise will be carried out in December at Hougang MRT station. Such exercises are crucial to ensure the security preparedness of our PTOs and relevant agencies, and to help commuters familiarise with security protocols in the event of heightened security.”
“Security screening at Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) stations is not new to commuters. Since 2004, commuters have been subjected to random bag checks at all MRT stations. It is timely to review and update our security measures given that our public transport system has expanded significantly and remains a soft target for perpetrators who wish to do us harm. We are, therefore, trialling person screening using walkthrough metal detectors and X-ray machines. The six-month trial is necessary to allow the Land Transport Authority (LTA) and the public transport operators (PTOs) to finetune the security operations and develop the capability to step up our response against heightened security threats when the situation warrants. During this period, commuters at selected stations will be subjected to the new search process. Security screening will lengthen travel time. This is the balance we have to strike between public safety and efficiency. As commuters become more familiar with the screening process, we expect additional time taken to be kept to a minimum. We have chosen to start the trial over the year-end holiday period so that affected commuters can be sensitised to it before the start of the new year. We are also mindful that there are various groups of commuters whom we need to pay special attention to, including students sitting for their GCE "A" level examinations, so that help can be rendered if necessary. The Public Transport Security Committee (PTSC) constantly reviews security threats to our public transport network and calibrates the security measures accordingly, leveraging technology where applicable. LTA and the PTOs conduct regular security and emergency exercises involving 100% checks to test our preparedness and response against security threats.”
“Express services can reduce travel time for some commuters, but they will require a separate set of tracks and additional signalling systems. This will mean greater land take, pose operational complexities, and cost taxpayers and commuters significantly more. Sharing tracks for express and non-express services is technically possible, but non-express trains have to be held back at stations to allow express trains to pass. This will have significant adverse impact for commuters on the non-express services. Existing lines are designed to benefit the maximum number of people along their routes. Retrospectively implementing express services is not feasible. We will need to build parallel tracks very close to existing live tracks, which poses considerable operational risks. For new rail lines which are being developed, we did study the feasibility of including express lines. Specifically, we assessed the option of an express service between Jurong East and Changi Airport for the Cross-Island Line (CRL). However, less than 5% of CRL users will see significant time savings of at least 15 minutes. Viewed against the much higher cost and land take needed to build two additional tunnels for the express service, we did not pursue the option.”
“We have introduced the Bus Service Reliability Framework (BSRF) to improve the punctuality and reliability of bus services. Under BSRF, bus captains adjust their travelling speeds to maintain consistent headways between buses, so as to minimise bus bunching and improve punctuality and reliability. While speeding up may benefit commuters on the bus, other commuters who arrive at the bus stops based on the scheduled timings will end up missing them and waiting much longer. Nevertheless, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) works closely with the bus operators to periodically review the schedules, so as to better reflect traffic conditions. Long-distance bus services are more exposed to potential delays due to traffic conditions as well as passenger boarding and alighting activities. Hence, it is even more important that these routes remain under the BSRF to ensure service reliability for commuters. Moving forward, LTA will step up publicity efforts on the BSRF, so that the public can be made aware of the reasons for and benefits of BSRF.”
“I thank the Member for his questions. I have addressed them in my written reply at the 1 October 2018 Parliament Sitting. [Please refer to "Requests for More High Sheltered Linkways Across Roads and Crossings", Official Report, 1 October 2018, Vol 94, Issue 83, Written Answers to Questions for Oral Answer not Answered by End of Question Time section.]”
“The Land Transport Authority (LTA) works closely with its contractors to minimise the impact of rail and road works on buildings. For example, prior to the commencement of construction activities, LTA undertakes engineering studies and site investigation works to ascertain the effects of the construction activities on the surrounding areas and pre-emptively carries out any necessary engineering protection works. If damage is caused by LTA’s construction activities, LTA and its contractors will, as a general rule, try to rectify the damage and the issue of compensation, therefore, does not arise. Should there be a need for compensation, the Land Transport Authority of Singapore Act (LTA Act) lays out a framework for different types of compensation claims. The compensation framework is not limited to the types of claims mentioned by the Member. For example, in cases where LTA exercises its powers to enter private land to construct railways or public roads, compensation may also be claimed by owners of buildings which suffer damage, including non-structural damage, or building owners who are displaced. In all cases, LTA will evaluate based on the circumstances and handle each case in consultation with the stakeholders.”
“Since oBike's exit on 25 June 2018, its liquidator, FTI Consulting, and the Land Transport Authority (LTA) have removed over 60,000 oBike bicycles. This has not been easy as the oBike bicycles do not have GPS transmitters to indicate their locations. Apart from systematic sweeps of residential areas, major roads and public transport nodes, many were found based on public feedback and reports by agencies. We thank Singaporeans for their feedback. We estimate that there are less than a thousand oBike bicycles left in public spaces. Many of these are likely in less accessible areas within industrial estates or parks. LTA is working closely with FTI Consulting to remove the remaining bicycles by end of this month. Meanwhile, members of the public who come across oBike bicycles are welcome to report their locations to FTI Consulting via obikelocated@fticonsulting.com or LTA.”
“The Land Transport Authority (LTA) has studied the standards available today and determined that the UL 2272 standard is suitable for application for motorised personal mobility devices (PMDs) in Singapore. To improve the safety of motorised PMDs and reduce fire risks, we will require all motorised PMDs intended for use on public paths to conform to the UL2272 standard. We will prohibit retailers from selling motorised PMDs which are not UL2272-compliant from July 2019 onwards. This provides retailers with a nine-month transition period to change their inventories and comply with the new regulation. Existing owners of motorised PMDs which are not UL2272-compliant can continue to use their devices until December 2020. They will thus have a grace period of over two years to make the transition to an UL2272-certified PMD. This takes into account the average PMD lifespan of below three years. Motorised PMDs which are not UL2272-compliant will be prohibited from use on public paths from January 2021 onwards. Meanwhile, we strongly encourage owners of motorised PMDs to switch to UL2272-compliant devices in order to minimise the fire risk of their devices. When purchasing PMDs, consumers should seek out reputable sources and study their fire safety standards. They should not overcharge batteries, modify their PMDs or tamper with the electrical components of their PMDs. We will include such advisory information in the Safe Riding Programme curriculum.”
“The Motor Vehicles (Third-Party Risks and Compensation) Act requires all drivers of vehicles to be insured against third-party claims on bodily injury or death before they can drive their vehicles on our roads. Insurance policies cannot be restricted from paying out for such liabilities incurred from drink driving. This protects innocent third-party victims of drink driving accidents. Neither do they prevent the insurer from recovering the sum paid out from the insured. Drivers who contravene the above requirement may on conviction be fined up to $1,000 and/or be imprisoned for up to three months. They may also be disqualified from holding or obtaining a driving licence for 12 months from the date of conviction.”
“Works on the Thomson-East Coast Line (TEL) are progressing well. TEL is on track to open in five stages from next year. Structural works for Stage 1 were completed in 2017, and architectural, electrical and mechanical works are now about three-quarters complete. We will complete the construction of the TEL Mandai Depot and commission it ahead of the opening of TEL's first three stations (Woodlands North, Woodlands and Woodlands South) by end next year. To meet this schedule, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) has commenced integrated testing between the Depot's Operation Control Centre and the various systems in the three stations. Separately, the first TEL train has arrived at the TEL Mandai Depot, and two more trains will soon be delivered. The remaining 88 TEL trains will be delivered in batches between now and 2023. LTA will continue to work closely with the contractors to ensure that works on Stages 2 to 5 of the TEL remain on track, with the TEL, our sixth Mass Rapid Transit Line, expected to be fully completed by 2024, linking Woodlands to Bedok.”
“Jewel Changi Airport (Jewel) is targeted to open in the first half of 2019. It will increase Changi Airport's capacity by three million passengers a year and enhance Changi Airport's attractiveness as an air hub. Its offerings include airport facilities, a 130-room hotel, gardens, shopping and dining facilities, and play attractions. Jewel is expected to create close to 3,000 jobs. While the new jobs will mainly be in the retail and food and beverage sectors, there will also be jobs in hospitality, customer service and horticulture. We expect the manpower productivity and value-add of each employee at Jewel to be enhanced through leveraging technology and working closely with partners and retailers. Most of the recruitment will be driven by the individual retailers and companies operating in Jewel. Nevertheless, in the lead-up to the opening of Jewel, Changi Airport Group will link up with Workforce Singapore and the Employment and Employability Institute to enable job matching between these retailers and companies and suitable Singaporean applicants.”
“Since 2009, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) has installed automatic circuit re-closer devices in all traffic lights, which serve to safely restore traffic light operations in the event of power trips. This has drastically reduced the number of traffic light breakdowns during heavy rain from over 800 a year to an average of 35 a year. LTA also works closely with Singtel and SP Group to ensure smooth communications and power supply to our traffic light systems. LTA monitors Singapore's road system round the clock. When traffic lights break down, LTA responds within 20 minutes at high-priority locations, and 30 minutes at other locations. Where necessary, LTA and the Traffic Police will work together to assist in traffic management at affected junctions while the traffic lights are being repaired.”
“Under its Walk2Ride Programme, The Land Transport Authority (LTA) has completed 200 kilometres of covered linkways last month. These include around 900 high covered linkways across roads of up to three lanes wide. LTA has also received requests for high covered linkways over roads with four lanes or more. As these linkways are longer and span across roads more frequently used by faster vehicles, they need to be properly reinforced to prevent a collapse of the linkway should a vehicle hit its supporting columns. The additional reinforcements take up more space and require more civil works and diversions. As a result, these linkways are more expensive to construct, costing around $550,000 each. This is six times more costly than high covered linkways over two- or three-lane roads. LTA will need to carefully assess and prioritise the construction of such linkways, taking into account inputs from the local communities.”
“Under the Protection from Harassment Act (POHA), it is an offence to use any threatening, abusive or insulting words, or behave in such a manner that is likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress to the victim. Commuters who contravene an offence under POHA may be liable upon conviction to fines and/or imprisonment. We will continue to work with the National Private Hire Vehicles Association and the private hire car (PHC) booking service operators to ensure that PHC drivers can work in a safe environment.”
“Sir, there was a strong interest in the joint AssetsCo tender, but the AssetsCo tender had not closed yet – at that time. We postponed the closing date to end of this year but now that the project construction has been suspended, on the same day, we have informed all the bidders that the tender has been aborted. But the Member's question was what were the bids that we had received. So, the tender has not closed yet. The tender's closing date is end of this year.”
“That was in my answer, that during this rail suspension period, once the activities that need to be wound down are done, there will no more HSR-related works to be done during the suspension period.”
“LTA does not recommend further shortening the construction timeline, even if additional resources are available, but we will try.”
“The Jurong Region Line (JRL) will be our seventh Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) Line, after the Thomson-East Coast Line. It is scheduled to open in three stages between 2026 and 2028. It will cover 24 kilometres with 24 stations, of which, five are interchange stations. Its planning and design works have commenced since March 2014. This is a complex project, and its 10-year project implementation timeline has been carefully adopted to ensure the safety and quality of construction. The Land Transport Authority (LTA) is adequately resourced to meet this challenging timeline. First, the JRL will run along existing road corridors where there are many underground utilities and services, such as high voltage cables and large diameter water pipes. All these need to be carefully diverted before JRL construction can commence. Second, the JRL main construction works are complex. For example, the JRL will interchange with existing MRT lines at Jurong East, Choa Chu Kang and Boon Lay. The new JRL stations will have to be built to safely and seamlessly interface with these existing stations, which are running live operations with heavy commuter loads. In particular, works at Jurong East Station will involve removal of the existing steel roof structure and the construction of a new roof above live tracks and operating platforms. Third, some parts of the JRL have tight construction corridors. Extra care needs to be taken for works in these constrained areas, so as not to damage or disrupt existing buildings and structures. There needs to be close coordination with surrounding land and building owners. All these require time. In short, safety in construction is our top priority.”
“Ms Foo Mee Har may disagree. The reality is that within LTA, within Singapore, we have many Mass Rapid Transit (MRT)-related projects and the skillsets which are being exploited and applied for the MRT projects are totally applicable for HSR as well. So, within the suspension period of two years, we have enough work to keep them usefully occupied and we will do so. Sir, if you agree, I can take Ms Foo Mee Har's question now.”
“If Mr Speaker permits me to reply to this question, which is ordered further down the Order Paper. I could.”
“This is a fair arrangement for both countries. It protects Singapore’s interests, while reasonably accommodating Malaysia’s request. It also shows that we can manage our bilateral ties on the basis of mutual respect, and resolve issues amicably in accordance with binding agreements and international law. Singapore looks forward to continue working with Malaysia to see through the HSR Project. Both sides recognise the mutual benefits of the HSR Project, which will bring both countries closer together by improving connectivity, deepening people-to-people ties and catalysing further economic cooperation. Meanwhile, the suspension affects many stakeholders. SG HSR, Singapore's Infrastructure Company (InfraCo) which is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Land Transport Authority (LTA), has hired many staff who have worked hard on the Project. During the suspension period, they will be offered alternative job roles in LTA. I thank them for their good work and dedication to this Project. I am confident that they will continue to contribute in the LTA family, and to the HSR Project if and when it resumes. The two HSR InfraCos, SG HSR Pte Ltd, and MyHSR Corporation, have jointly notified registered bidders for the AssetsCo tender that the AssetsCo tender has been aborted as of 5 September 2018. SG HSR and LTA have also informed all their contractors of the Project suspension, and are engaging them to discuss further details.”
“We have to pay contract breakage costs to contractors for terminating ongoing contracts and to safely wind down operations for the duration of the suspension period. For example, ongoing excavation works cannot simply be abandoned; they need to be safely wound down. The excavation must be backfilled to render the site safe, and re-excavated once the project resumes, increasing costs. These are abortive costs, which cannot be used for the HSR Project after it resumes. They are separate from the project implementation costs which we have already incurred for work done which will still be useful if and when the Project resumes. Malaysia has agreed to reimburse Singapore for the abortive costs of S$15 million, to be paid by end-January 2019. After the ongoing works have been wound down, no new HSR works will be undertaken during the period of suspension. Malaysia also requested that during the suspension period, both sides discuss the way forward for the HSR Project, with the aim of reducing costs. Singapore is open to such discussions. We are not obliged to accept automatically any proposals offered, but we will assess any proposals from Malaysia carefully and objectively. By 31 May 2020, we expect Malaysia to resume constructing the HSR Project, either as specified in the HSR Bilateral Agreement, or as amended if there is mutual agreement to do so. There will be no further suspension beyond 31 May 2020. If Malaysia does not proceed with the HSR Project by then, the Project will be deemed to have been terminated by Malaysia, which will reimburse Singapore for the project implementation costs incurred by us up to the point of suspension. These were the terms of the legally binding documents which Minister Azmin Ali and I signed on 5 September 2018 in Putrajaya.”
“Minister Azmin Ali explained that Malaysia did not want to terminate the Project but needed to suspend construction for a specified period, with the intention to resume the Project thereafter. He sought Singapore’s understanding for Malaysia’s predicament. He asked us to give the Malaysian request serious consideration, which we did. We could have turned down the request to defer the Project, enforced our legal rights on termination and sought compensation from Malaysia. This would have been fully in accordance with the Bilateral Agreement. After that, if and when Malaysia was again ready to pursue such a project, we could discuss a new Bilateral Agreement for it. However, in the spirit of bilateral cooperation, we decided to work out an alternative resolution to the problem, especially since Malaysia reassured us that it did want to resume the HSR Project, albeit after a delay. After several rounds of discussions, both sides reached agreement to suspend the construction of the HSR Project up to 31 May 2020. This will be two years from the formation of the new Malaysian government. Beyond two years, the current cost estimates would likely be no longer valid, which would affect the viability of the project and its business case. A longer suspension period would also impact our development plans for the Jurong Lake District, which will host the Singapore HSR Terminus and many transport, commercial, residential and recreational developments. As it is, with the two-year suspension, the projected commencement date for the HSR Express Service will be pushed back by four years to 1 January 2031, as both countries will need additional time to call fresh tenders, if and when the Project resumes. Project suspension is not without costs to Singapore.”
“The Kuala Lumpur-Singapore High Speed Rail (HSR) Bilateral Agreement commits the Government of Malaysia and the Government of Singapore to build the HSR Project and to start the Express Service linking both cities by end-2026. Since the Bilateral Agreement was signed in December 2016, both Governments have expended significant resources to implement the Project according to the prescribed timeline. As I explained in this House on 9 July this year, Singapore, on its part, had already spent more than S$250 million by the end of May 2018 in implementing the Project. These are costs for consultancies to design the civil infrastructure, costs for manpower to oversee and deliver the Project, and costs for land acquisition. I added that Singapore would continue to incur costs, more than S$6 million in June, another more than S$6 million in July, and at least S$40 million from August to the end of this year. We expected Malaysia to also fulfil its Bilateral Agreement obligations, as the Bilateral Agreement is a legally binding treaty between two countries. However, on 11 August this year, the new Malaysian government, through its Minister of Economic Affairs Mohamed Azmin bin Ali, made an official request to Singapore to defer the HSR Project by three or four years. Malaysia acknowledged that it would require Singapore's consent for such a deferment. The HSR is a major long-term bilateral project. It requires close cooperation between both Governments to succeed. The Bilateral Agreement makes no provision for project deferment. When either party is unable or unwilling to continue with the Project, it can terminate the Project and compensate the other party for costs incurred, in accordance with the terms of the Bilateral Agreement.”
“Sir, may I take Question Nos 2 and 3 together, please?”
“All personal mobility devices (PMDs), including e-scooters, that are used on public paths cannot exceed 20 kilogrammes in maximum unladen weight, 700 millimetres in maximum width and 25 kilometres per hour in maximum device speed. Persons with non-compliant devices may wish to approach retailers to check if these devices can be modified to become compliant or traded in for compliant devices. Persons who wish to recycle their devices may contact e-waste or metal recyclers for assistance. A list of recyclers can be found on the National Environment Agency's (NEA's) website at www.nea.gov.sg/our-services/waste-management/3r-programmes-and-resources/collectors-traders-and-local-recycling-facilities.”
“There are about 50 incidents each year of senior citizens who were injured after losing their balance on public buses. The majority of these incidents happened when the buses moved off from a stationary position or stopped abruptly to avoid vehicles cutting in. To reduce such incidents, bus operators are installing telematics systems which enable bus captains to review and improve their driving patterns, such as minimising sudden movements. To date, about 70% of public buses are equipped with telematics systems. However, it is not possible to eliminate all abrupt movements by buses. For example, bus captains may have to apply emergency brakes to respond to unanticipated traffic incidents. To enhance safety for senior citizens, we will continue to encourage younger commuters to give up their seats to them.”
“The practice in the motorcycle trade is for the dealers to bid for Category D Certificates of Entitlement (COEs) under their names and to hold a stock of Temporary COEs (TCOEs). This allows their buyers to take delivery of the motorcycles immediately. This is the business model that our motorcycle dealers have adopted. This is unlike the motor car trade where the dealers only bid for TCOEs upon confirmation of demand. Under the current motorcycle business model, the dealers take some risk that they may not be able to use up all the TCOEs at the end of the six-month validity period. Over the past three years, Category D TCOEs which expired at the end of the validity period made up about 3%. There is no evidence of market speculation at play.”
“The Land Transport Authority (LTA) regularly inspects our roads to ensure their serviceability and will resurface roads if their surfaces are found to be in poor condition. Road resurfacing may also be required on an ad hoc basis to repair damage caused by accidents, or to rectify defects, such as potholes, that require immediate rectification. Finally, road resurfacing is also required after utility laying works are conducted. LTA adheres to international standards when resurfacing roads, such as the International Roughness Index, which measures the riding quality of roads. The Road Opening Coordination Committee (ROCC), which is chaired by LTA, centrally coordinates all road resurfacing works among different agencies to minimise repeated road resurfacing works along the same road over a short period of time.”
“About 13,300 power-assisted bicycles (PABs) have been registered so far. The registration regime for PABs commenced in August 2017. We will implement a registration regime for e-scooters early next year. Other types of personal mobility devices (PMDs), such as hoverboards and unicycles, will not be subjected to the registration regime as their usage is less widespread and their speeds are lower when used. Since the start of the year, there were about 650 offences involving PABs, including the use of non-compliant PABs. After the Active Mobility Act commenced on 1 May 2018, which provided for enforcement powers, there were over 700 offences involving PMDs, including the use of non-compliant PMDs and speeding offences. The Land Transport Authority does not have records on the number of offenders charged.”
“Currently, commuters can travel between Boon Lay Place and Jurong West via a direct public bus service, that is, Service 99, or within one bus transfer. As the area is adequately served by existing bus services, there are no plans to roll out new services or to amend existing services. The Land Transport Authority has to be mindful that many commuters could be negatively affected if existing bus services are amended.”
“In June 2018, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) announced the completion of Site Investigations for two underground alignments being studied for the Cross Island Line (CRL) in the vicinity of the Central Catchment Nature Reserve (CCNR). These investigations took place between May 2016 and September 2017, and were the first steps in assessing the feasibility of the two alignment options under or skirting round the CCNR. Site Investigation works included drilling of boreholes. As some of the drilling was conducted in the ecologically sensitive CCNR, a fauna monitoring programme was developed by LTA, in consultation with the National Parks Board (NParks) and Nature Groups. This consisted of camera traps, which are motion-activated sensors, and transect surveys, which are manual surveys of animal sightings in a specified region. The data collected is being analysed by a professional Environmental Impact Assessment consultant. Initial findings have also been shared with NParks and Nature Group representatives, whose comments are being incorporated to further improve the analysis. LTA will share the results of the analysis, when ready, after consulting the Nature Groups. In addition to fauna monitoring, environmental monitoring for water, noise and light pollution and waste management were put in place. Project management protocols and impact mitigation measures were strictly followed, with compliance monitored weekly to ensure that the environmental impact of Site Investigations was minimised. While the full impact of site investigations is being studied, the camera traps picked up the presence of animals like the Sunda Pangolin and Lesser Mousedeer after the completion of Site Investigation works.”
“The Land Transport Authority implements Silver Zones at areas where there have been senior pedestrian accidents and at areas with a high proportion of senior residents and senior amenities, such as medical establishments. Silver Zones improve road safety for seniors by slowing down traffic and alerting motorists to keep a lookout for pedestrians. Features include a reduced speed limit of 40 kilometres per hour, speed bumps, ramps and barrier-free crossings, enhanced street lighting and longer green man timing. Silver Zones also have centre dividers to narrow lanes and reduce traffic speeds. The results from the existing 15 Silver Zones around the island have been very encouraging, with a 75% drop in the accidents involving the elderly. We target to complete another six Silver Zones by the end of this year and will aim to have a total of 50 Silver Zones by 2023. As and when the need arises, we are also prepared to provide more Silver Zones.”
“The Land Transport Authority encourages all users of personal mobility devices (PMDs) and vehicle drivers to be considerate and gracious to others. As individuals, we should also be prepared to advise and nudge one another against ungracious behaviours.”