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 5 of 54.
“The Motor Vehicles (Third Party Risks and Compensation) Act requires all motor vehicles, whether private cars, private hire cars (PHCs) or taxis, to be insured against third-party claims on injury and death. Drivers must thus ensure that their motor insurance policies provide the appropriate coverage taking into account the intended use of the vehicle. Drivers who contravene this requirement can 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. In the event of accidents involving vehicles which do not have the required insurance coverage, the victim may initiate civil proceedings against the other party. In addition, PHCs and taxis are prohibited from being used for the conveyance of goods for reward without the Land Transport Authority's approval. PHC and taxi drivers who accept such jobs may have their vocational licences revoked. PHC booking service operators (BSOs) are required under the Road Traffic Act to ensure that only licensed and appropriately insured drivers and cars are deployed on their platforms. Errant BSOs are liable for warnings, fines and, in egregious cases, a General Suspension Order.”
“On 20 July 2018, the Land Transport Authority announced its intention to impose two financial penalties totalling $1.9 million on the Singapore Mass Rapid Transit (SMRT) for the fatal accident which took place on 22 March 2016 near Pasir Ris MRT station, and the flooding incident in the tunnels between Bishan and Braddell MRT stations from 7 to 8 October 2017. SMRT has apologised and accepted responsibility for these incidents. Under the Rapid Transit Systems Act, following the imposition of financial penalties, SMRT has the right to lodge a statutory appeal to the Minister for Transport. As the appeal window has not closed, it would not be in order for the Minister for Transport to comment on this case now.”
“After extensive public consultation in 2015, the Active Mobility Advisory Panel recommended that bicycles used on public paths be subject to a maximum width of 700 millimetres (mm). This is to ensure that there is sufficient space for cyclists to pass other path users, including individuals in wheelchairs, safely on footpaths that may only be 1.5 metres wide. This width limit has been widely publicised by the Land Transport Authority (LTA) since 2016 through numerous platforms, including videos, posters and banners. LTA also works with retailers, interest groups and Active Mobility Patrol volunteers to reach out to the public about this width limit. Participants in the Safe Riding Programme developed by LTA and the Singapore Road Safety Council are also informed of this width limit. It is an offence to use a non-compliant bicycle on public paths, and bicycle owners should proactively ensure that their bicycles are compliant before using them on public paths. Non-compliant bicycles may be seized if they are found to be used on public paths, and users could be liable for a fine of up to $5,000, imprisonment up to three months, or to both.”
“Public transport is affordable for our seniors. First, senior citizens above 60 years old enjoy substantial discounts of up to 57% off adult trip fares. With these discounts, their rail and basic bus fares do not exceed 87 cents. Second, with Differential Fares, senior citizens enjoy a further discount of up to 50 cents off their rail fare if they started their journeys before 7.45 am. Third, senior citizens who travel frequently can buy monthly concession passes at $60, to enjoy unlimited bus and train rides. Fourth, senior citizens from lower-income households receive further assistance through Public Transport Vouchers. The Public Transport Council (PTC) regularly reviews our fares to keep them affordable while ensuring the financial sustainability of the public transport network. In fact, over the past three years, fares for senior citizens have decreased as part of the annual Fare Review Exercise. Today, the total discounts for senior citizens travelling on our public transport network amount to about $80 million every year. Larger subsidies for one group of commuters will mean higher fares for other commuters or a heavier burden on taxpayers. The PTC has to balance these difficult tradeoffs. As for the Member's second suggestion, I am pleased to inform that all new buses will have visual and audio announcements of the next bus stop.”
“To make public transport more accessible, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) has been retrofitting pedestrian overhead bridges near public transport nodes with lifts. We give priority to bridges which are used by large numbers of less ambulant pedestrians. By the end of this year, we will have completed such retrofitting works at 47 sites, including a recently completed one near Block 26 Toa Payoh Lorong 6. As for the pedestrian overhead bridge at 308 Thomson Road, the site will undergo major works as part of the North-South Corridor construction. LTA is taking the opportunity to study the various barrier-free crossing options, including the possibility of a lift, at this site. LTA will engage the Grassroots Advisors and other stakeholders in mid-2019 after the preliminary findings are ready.”
“The Land Transport Authority (LTA) maintains more than 100 kilometres (km) of expressways, more than 700 km of arterial roads, and more than 2,000 km of minor roads in Singapore. LTA conducts inspections regularly to ensure their serviceability, looking out for not only potholes, but also defects in lane markings, signs, kerbs and so on. The frequency of the inspections ranges from once a week for expressways to once every two weeks for major roads to once every eight weeks for minor roads. Defects, such as potholes, are typically repaired within 24 hours upon discovery. Members of the public who wish to provide feedback on road matters can do so by calling the LTA Hotline. LTA also takes additional measures to reduce the frequency of the occurrence of potholes, ranging from patching of localised road sections to resurfacing of entire stretches of roads. LTA is also studying the feasibility of using asphalt preserver and asphalt mix additives to prevent the formation of potholes.”
“The Standing Committee on Debarment, which consists of representatives from various agencies, decides on all cases of debarment of contractors from participating in tenders by Government agencies. Contractors may be debarred on safety grounds, such as when a contractor had been blacklisted by the Ministry of Manpower due to breaches of workplace safety and health laws. The period of debarment depends on the severity of each case. For land transport infrastructure projects, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) follows the whole-of-Government framework for debarment. In addition, LTA scrutinises contractors’ safety records and may disqualify bids by contractors with poor safety performance.”
“The Ministry of Finance (MOF) has reviewed the tax treatment for taxi and private hire car (PHC) drivers and held a public consultation on the draft Income Tax (Amendment) Bill 2018. The draft Bill proposes allowing PHC drivers, regardless of whether they drive part-time or full-time, to claim tax deductions on car-related expenses against their driving income, under the revised tax treatment. This is because, like taxi drivers, PHC drivers also provide similar point-to-point transport services. With this proposed change, all PHC drivers can enjoy the same tax treatment as taxi drivers. The proposed change will take effect from Year of Assessment 2019, that is, on income earned in 2018. To improve taxi availability, the Land Transport Authority had previously required taxi companies to maintain a certain percentage of their taxi fleets with minimum daily mileage of 250 kilometres. This was removed in 2017 as the introduction of PHC services had boosted the availability and range of point-to-point options for commuters. The Ministry of Transport is currently undertaking a review of the regulatory framework for the point-to-point service sector. More details will be released when ready.”
“I thank the Member for her questions. I have addressed them in my reply at the 9 July 2018 Parliament Sitting. [Please refer to "Update on Kuala Lumpur-Singapore High Speed Rail Project", Official Report, 9 July 2018, Vol 94, Issue 78, Oral Answers to Questions section.]”
“Under the Active Mobility Act, a cyclist or rider of a personal mobility device (PMD) involved in an accident on a public path must stop to render assistance and provide his or her name and address to the injured person. Those who fail to do so will be liable, upon conviction for a fine of up to $3,000, or imprisonment of up to 12 months, or both. Repeat offenders would be liable for higher penalties. Depending on the circumstances of the case, the cyclist or PMD rider may also be charged for speeding or reckless behaviour under the Active Mobility Act or for causing hurt to others by a rash act under the Penal Code. Persons involved in hit-and-run accidents with cyclists and PMD riders should immediately file a Police report. To deter errant cyclists and PMD riders, the Land Transport Authority will also be introducing a mandatory registration regime for e-scooters by early next year. Under this regime, all e-scooter owners will need to provide their personal particulars as part of the registration process and paste the identification stickers prominently on their devices. This will facilitate easy identification and enforcement against hit-and-run accidents. The Active Mobility Advisory Panel is reviewing the active mobility insurance and compensation framework, including the option of compulsory third-party insurance. The Panel will weigh the need for this against the impact on the large majority of responsible users and also take into account the practices of other jurisdictions. The Panel will complete its review and publish its recommendations by the end of the year.”
“All Mass Rapid Transit and Light Rail Transit stations have General Ticketing Machines (GTM) which accept cash top-ups in all common note denominations. Hence, the Passenger Service Centres (PSCs) do not provide cash top-ups. We encourage commuters to adopt e-payment modes at GTMs. With e-payment, commuters can avoid the hassle of preparing exact change for cash top-ups or queuing to withdraw cash from ATMs. It has also allowed PSC staff to focus on their core function of ensuring smooth and safe operations at our rail stations. This will help our operators provide better service in an efficient manner.”
“The Land Transport Authority (LTA) has reached an agreement with Or Kim Peow Contractors (Pte) Ltd (OKP) to mutually terminate the contract to construct the Tampines Expressway-Pan Island Expressway (TPE-PIE) Changi Viaduct. LTA has also appointed an independent Professional Engineer to assess the structural adequacy of the viaduct and will be demolishing any structures that are deemed unsafe, including all the crossheads. OKP has two other contracts with LTA to design and construct covered linkways near Mass Rapid Transit stations, Light Rail Transit stations and bus interchanges under the Walk2Ride Programme. Following the accident last July, LTA has stepped up regular checks and inspections on the worksites to ensure that works are done safely. LTA has not found any non-compliance with our safety standards at these worksites. LTA will continue to work closely with its contractors to ensure that they comply with workplace safety and health requirements. This includes appointing site supervisors to oversee the daily operations at worksites, and monthly and ad hoc inspections. LTA also organises regular dialogues and workplace safety trainings with the contractors' management and staff. The consultancy firms implicated in the incident will be replaced. The consultants are also facing charges under the Building Control Act and the Workplace Safety and Health Act. LTA carefully assesses consultancy firms’ past performance in all Government contracts when evaluating tender bids.”
“The current rules regulating the safety of our public paths were developed by the Active Mobility Advisory Panel after a large-scale public consultation exercise in 2015. These include speed limits on footpaths and shared paths, regulations against reckless riding, and restrictions on the speed, weight and dimensions of devices used on public paths. A code of conduct has also been introduced to guide cyclists and personal mobility device (PMD) users on how to share paths safely with one another. These regulations are coupled with strict enforcement and extensive education efforts. The Land Transport Authority and the Panel will continually review if these regulations are relevant and sufficient. The Panel is currently reviewing the speed limits on footpaths, the behaviour of active mobility users at road crossings, the usage of helmets by active mobility users, and the insurance and compensation framework for active mobility. The Panel will release its recommendations by the end of the year. Ultimately, it is also the individual responsibility of the cyclist or PMD user to have basic respect and consideration for their fellow path users. This will go a long way in ensuring that Singaporeans can continue to use and share our paths safely.”
“There is a minimum age requirement of 16 years to register and use power-assisted bicycles (PABs). This applies to both riders and pillion passengers on PABs, as PABs travel on roads alongside larger vehicles, such as cars. There is no minimum age limit for all personal mobility devices (PMDs), including e-scooters, which cannot be used on roads and can only travel on off-road paths. Rather than banning the young from using such devices, it is more important to educate them about safe riding habits, which is why the Land Transport Authority is engaging with schools to roll out the Safe Riding Programme.”
“Engineering studies for the Cross Island Line are currently ongoing. In determining locations for new Mass Rapid Transit stations, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) takes into account various factors, such as land use plans, transport needs for the areas concerned, as well as construction safety and feasibility. LTA will announce the locations of the stations after the completion of the engineering studies.”
“In February this year, the Active Mobility Advisory Panel (AMAP) recommended introducing a registration regime for e-scooters. AMAP also recommended that there is currently no need to mandate registration of other types of personal mobility devices (PMDs), such as electric hoverboards and unicycles, as their usage is less widespread and their speeds are lower when used. The Government has accepted these recommendations. The Land Transport Authority will be introducing the mandatory e-scooter registration regime from early next year. AMAP is also currently reviewing the active mobility insurance and compensation framework, including the option of compulsory third-party insurance. The Panel will weigh the need for this against the impact on the large majority of responsible users. It will also take into account the practices of other jurisdictions. The Panel will complete its review and publish its recommendations by the end of the year.”
“I thank the Member for her question. I have addressed it in my reply at the 9 July 2018 Parliament Sitting. [Please refer to "Number of Errant Users of Personal Mobility Devices Caught Since Commencement of Active Mobility Act", Official Report, 9 July 2018, Vol 94, Issue 78, Written Answers to Questions for Oral Answer not Answered by End of Question Time section.]”
“The Land Transport Authority (LTA) has reached an agreement with Or Kim Peow Construction Pte Ltd (OKP) to terminate the contract to construct the viaduct from Tampines Expressway towards Pan Island Expressway (Tuas) and Upper Changi Road East, including the recovery of appropriate costs from OKP. LTA will engage a new contractor to complete the construction of the viaduct, including the rectification of any structures which are deemed unsafe by the independent Professional Engineer appointed by LTA. The project timeline and completion date will be reviewed, after the award of the new contract.”
“The Classic Vehicle Scheme (CVS) allows individuals to own cars and motorcycles which are of heritage value to Singapore. To qualify, the vehicle must be at least 35 years old from its original registration date. Vehicles registered under CVS can only be used on the roads for up to 45 days a year. \Motorcycles registered between 1993 and 2003 are currently 15 to 25 years old, which is way below the minimum requirement of 35 years for CVS. Hence, we have no plans to grant any exemption for them to be registered under CVS.”
“Over the last three years, private hire cars (PHCs) have emerged as an important point-to-point mode of transport for Singaporeans. To protect the interests of commuters and drivers, the Land Transport Authority is reviewing the regulatory framework for the point-to-point sector to ensure that the PHC industry remains open and contestable. This framework will be announced later this year. In the meantime, the Competition and Consumer Commission of Singapore (CCCS) has issued the Proposed Infringement Decision to Grab and Uber, which includes proposed remedies to restore market contestability in the point-to-point transport sector. CCCS is currently seeking public comments on whether any of the remedies proposed are sufficient to address the identified competition concerns.”
“Underground tunnels cost substantially more than at-grade sheltered walkways and may involve a lot more disruptive diversion works in mature estates. At-grade sheltered walkways are also more inclusive, as they provide cover to all footpath users, not just Mass Rapid Transit commuters. Under the Walk2Ride programme, more than 200 kilometres of at-grade sheltered walkways will be built by the end of this year.”
“The Land Transport Authority (LTA) will study the need for bicycle-sharing operators (BSOs) to place a security deposit or performance bond if there are BSOs which require user deposits when the licensing regime is implemented from October this year. Currently, seven BSOs have applied for licences. None of them require user deposits. A number of them are existing BSOs who, even under the light touch approach adopted today, do not require user deposits. To facilitate the growth of this nascent industry and ensure that bicycle sharing services remain affordable, LTA has refrained from over-regulating BSOs as this can increase their compliance costs, which could, in turn, be passed on to users. The licensing regime is primarily targeted at minimising disamenities to the public caused by the indiscriminate parking of shared bicycles. To be licensed, BSOs must put forward a responsible and sustainable bicycle management plan to operate in our local context. Going forward, LTA will monitor and strengthen the licensing regime as necessary, as well as work with relevant organisations, such as the Personal Data Protection Commission, the Consumers Association of Singapore, National Parks Board and the Town Councils on public education and outreach, so as to strike the right balance between the viability of the industry and the interests of users and the general public.”
“Detrainment procedures are designed to ensure the safety of passengers and are similar across all our rail lines. During a breakdown, the first priority for any operator is to resolve the fault and resume service quickly, so that passengers can alight at the platform. If this cannot be done, passengers may need to be detrained to the tracks. During any detrainment, the safety of passengers is the key consideration. Prior to detrainment, train services must be halted and traction power switched off in the affected zone. Passengers will be informed through in-train announcements that a detrainment is necessary, and that assistance is on its way. Customer Service Officers (CSOs) will be dispatched to the affected train to guide passengers to the nearest station safely. Before exiting the train, the CSOs will brief passengers on how to detrain safely, including how to exit the train cabin and where to walk on the emergency walkway in order to avoid trackside equipment. Any passengers with special needs, such as those on wheelchairs, will also be assisted by the CSOs, with the help of fellow passengers. The current detrainment process is safe and has worked well so far. The Land Transport Authority monitors and reviews how our Public Transport Operators (PTOs) respond to each train disruption. The lessons learnt are used to continuously improve incident management plans, including the detrainment process. The PTOs also conduct regular exercises to ensure that staff are operationally ready to manage a detrainment.”
“Where safety is concerned, we are of the view that the number of years of driving experience is more important than age. In this regard, the Land Transport Authority requires a minimum of two years' driving experience for applicants for the Private Hire Car Driver’s Vocational Licence.”
“We know that indiscriminate bicycle parking is a major issue on the ground. The Land Transport Authority (LTA) has stepped up enforcement efforts and has issued more than 3,300 removal notices to date. To more effectively address the issue, LTA will implement a licensing regime for bicycle-sharing operators by end 2018. This will allow LTA to manage the size of each operator’s fleet, require operators to manage indiscriminate parking and encourage responsible user behaviour. Under the licensing regime, operators will be required to implement quick response code geo-fencing and impose a penalty on users who do not park within the designated areas. Users who repeatedly park improperly will be banned temporarily from renting shared bicycles from all operators. Apart from regulatory measures, LTA has worked with the operators on a public awareness campaign to educate users on responsible parking. More parking spaces will also be added to cater to a growing number of cyclists.”
“The provision of chauffeured services puts drivers in contact with a wide range of commuters every day. Hence, private hire car (PHC) and taxi drivers must be able to speak simple English to communicate effectively with all commuters, both Singaporeans and tourists. Drivers must also be able to read basic English, so that they can navigate roads and buildings, the names of which are primarily in English. Nonetheless, we understand that there are Private Hire Car Driver’s Vocational Licence (PDVL) applicants who may have language difficulties. If they wish to look for other jobs or transit to other industries, they can approach the Employment and Employability Institute or Workforce Singapore for employment assistance. For those who would still like to drive PHCs, and who require assistance in preparing for their PDVL tests, they can sign up for remedial classes conducted by the training providers – the Singapore Taxi Academy and ComfortDelGro Taxi. Based on feedback, we understand that these have been useful in helping applicants pass their tests. The Land Transport Authority will also work with the training providers to ensure that language assistance is available to applicants who require them.”
“Of the 54,000 private hire car drivers as of 31 March 2018, about 40% have attained tertiary/post-secondary level qualifications, including degree, diploma and Institute of Technical Education qualifications. The highest qualification attained by another 40% of drivers is secondary school level qualifications. The remaining 20% have attained primary school level qualifications or other qualifications, such as the Singapore Workforce Skills Qualifications, as their highest qualification.”
“The Grab-Uber merger impacted several groups of workers and drivers, but to different degrees. First, about 300 former employees of Uber were given paid leave of up to three months while Grab identifies suitable positions for them. Those who are not placed within Grab will be compensated in accordance with the Tripartite Advisory on Managing Excess Manpower and Responsible Retrenchment. Second, Uber used to have 300 to 400 contract workers. Grab has committed to take over and honour the terms and durations of their contracts. Third, Uber had about 10,000 drivers driving exclusively for it at the point of merger. More than 9,000 of the affected Uber drivers have since joined Grab. For those who do not, Workforce Singapore and the National Trades Union Congress' (NTUC's) Employment and Employability Institute are helping them secure new employment. The Ministry of Manpower and the Land Transport Authority (LTA) are also working with the National Private Hire Vehicles Association (NHPVA) and National Taxi Association (NTA) to help them resolve any outstanding payments or contractual disputes with Uber. The point-to-point transport sector is still evolving. The industry is not yet at its steady state. The Ministry of Transport and LTA are monitoring the development and will intervene as necessary, including instituting a fair regulatory framework, to ensure that it stays open and contestable, so that no one single market player can dominate the industry to the detriment of commuters and drivers.”
“Cyclists and personal mobility device (PMD) users are subject to a speed limit of 15 kilometres/hour (km/h) on footpaths, and 25 km/h on cycling and shared paths. For motorised PMDs, there is a device speed limit of 25 km/h. The Active Mobility Advisory Panel (AMAP) is currently reviewing some active mobility regulations, including the speed limit on footpaths, and will release its recommendations later this year. The speed limit on shared and cycling paths is not under review as such paths are much wider and there have been far fewer accidents occurring on them. Thus, we will maintain the maximum device speed of PMDs at 25 km/h, which is the maximum speed they can travel on cycling and shared paths.”
“Personal mobility devices (PMDs) have been a convenient mode of first-and-last-mile transport for many Singaporeans, and some of them are designed to carry passengers. Rather than banning the carrying of young children as passengers, it is more important for all PMD users to take responsibility for riding safely. PMD users should not carry more passengers than the PMD is designed to carry, and should ride slowly to ensure safety for themselves, their passengers and other path users.”
“I urge all cyclists and PMD users to show respect and consideration for their fellow path users. This will go a long way in ensuring that Singaporeans can continue to share our paths safely and harmoniously.”
“In 2017, there was a total of 128 reported accidents on public paths involving personal mobility devices (PMDs). Unfortunately, nine of these resulted in major injuries. The Active Mobility Act (AMA) empowers the Land Transport Authority (LTA) to enforce against active mobility offences. LTA’s Active Mobility Enforcement Officers have stepped up efforts to strictly enforce against active mobility offences, such as the riding of non-compliant devices, reckless riding and speeding. Since the AMA commenced on 1 May 2018, 297 errant PMD users between the ages of 14 and 80 have been caught for active mobility-related offences. Those who are found guilty of active mobility offences are liable for fines and/or imprisonment. Those caught riding non-compliant devices may also have their devices seized and forfeited. LTA will introduce a mandatory registration regime for e-scooters from early next year. This will help deter reckless behaviour and facilitate members of the public and our enforcement officers in identifying and tracking down errant users. The Active Mobility Advisory Panel (AMAP) is also reviewing the active mobility regulations, including the speed limit on footpaths, the behaviour of active mobility users at road crossings, the usage of helmets by active mobility device users, and the insurance and compensation framework. AMAP will release its recommendations by the end of this year. LTA has also stepped up efforts to further improve awareness of the rules and code of conduct governing active mobility usage, including launching publicity campaigns in different languages, leveraging Active Mobility Patrol volunteers to engage the public on safe and gracious path-sharing behaviours, and launching the Safe Riding Programme.”
“Where possible, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) installs speed regulating strips on cycling paths when they approach a pedestrian crossing, such as zebra crossings and signalised pedestrian crossings, to remind users of personal mobility devices to slow down when approaching crossings. These are coupled with other signs, including "Watch Out for Vehicles", "LOOK" boxes with a bicycle logo, and "Give Way to Pedestrians" to guide the behaviour of users of personal mobility devices. It is currently a code of conduct for active mobility device users to stop and look out for on-coming traffic when approaching any pedestrian crossing and to cross only at walking speed. The Active Mobility Advisory Panel is conducting a review of active mobility device user behaviour at road crossings and will release its recommendations by the end of the year.”
“The investigations by the Ministry of Manpower, the Building and Construction Authority and the Singapore Police Force on the collapse of the viaduct from Tampines Expressway towards Pan Island Expressway (Tuas) and Upper Changi Road East have been completed. The Attorney-General's Chambers has filed charges against various parties. Separately, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) has appointed an independent Professional Engineer to investigate the cause of the collapse. This matter is now before the Courts. At this time, it is inappropriate for me to comment on the proceedings. LTA has reached an agreement with Or Kim Peow Contractors (Pte) Ltd to mutually terminate the contract to construct the viaduct. LTA will engage a new contractor to demolish any structures deemed unsafe, including all the crossheads, and complete the construction of the viaduct. The project timeline and completion date will be reviewed, after the award of the new contract. LTA will continue to work closely with its contractors to ensure that they comply with workplace safety and health requirements. This includes appointing site supervisors to oversee the daily operations at worksites, and monthly and ad hoc inspections. LTA also organises regular dialogues and workplace safety trainings with the contractors' management and staff.”
“The Land Transport Authority (LTA) has used closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras since 2014 to deter motorists against illegal parking. This has proven to be effective, reducing the number of illegal parking offences by as much as 90% at some locations. LTA's CCTV system will automatically detect parking offences from the recorded footage, which will then be further reviewed by LTA's enforcement team daily.”
“All these are terms which are covered within the BA. I cannot speak in much detail because I am also bound by the confidentiality clause within the BA. But certainly, compensation is not a penalty. Compensation is for expenditures which are already spent on the project or incurred as a result of fulfilling the obligations. So, these are, as I said, all taxpayers' money. And we, as a Government, have to be accountable to our people. As for the budget for Singapore's portion of the civil engineering work, the agreement is structured this way: for the civil engineering works, each Government takes care of the bill and foot the expenditure of the portion within its borders. How much will it be? It depends on actual tender bids in due course when we receive and award them. It is not our practice to disclose those sums so as not to bias the tenders.”
“These measures have helped to alleviate the congestion, but they are not the complete solution. We look forward to the completion and operation of the RTS Link, which will be able to transport 10,000 travellers per direction per hour between Singapore and JB. Mr Speaker, Sir, cooperation between Singapore and Malaysia is mutually beneficial for our peoples. But it has to be based on the cardinal principle of respecting the sanctity of international law and international agreements. For Singapore, we also need to safeguard Singapore’s hard-earned reputation as a credible and consistent partner, and a country that abides fully by our international obligations. Both Malaysia and Singapore urgently need to answer the questions from interested bidders for the HSR AssetsCo tender, and we await Malaysia’s clarification so that, as responsible partners who have called the tender, we can do so. Meanwhile, we continue to incur costs on the HSR Project as we conscientiously fulfill our obligations under the HSR BA. These costs will add to the compensation which Malaysia would have to pay, should it cause the project to be terminated. It is, therefore, in Malaysia’s own interest to clarify its position early.”
“When completed, the RTS Link will ease congestion significantly at our land checkpoints and make it much more convenient for people to travel between Singapore and JB. On 30 May, Malaysian Transport Minister Mr Anthony Loke told Channel NewsAsia that “the RTS will proceed”, although Malaysia would “have to re-study the project in terms of cost and so on”. The following day, he also told our Shin Min newspaper that he hoped the project could be accelerated. However, we have not heard anything officially from the Malaysians on their intentions on the RTS Link. To proceed or, indeed, speed up the project, many implementation issues have to be sorted out. As with HSR, we also have an RTS Link BA with the Malaysians. It was signed in January this year. Under the terms of that agreement, Singapore’s Singapore Mass Rapid Transit (SMRT) and Malaysia’s Prasarana Malaysia Berhad needed to incorporate a Joint-Venture Company to become the RTS Link operator by 30 June this year. That did not happen, as Prasarana had suspended discussions with SMRT after Malaysia’s General Elections. This means that both countries should now proceed to call an open, international tender to appoint the RTS Link operator, unless we mutually agree on a postponement of the deadline. In the meantime, we will continue to work with Malaysia to reduce congestion through other means. Earlier this year, both Singapore and Malaysia lowered the tolls during off-peak hours at Tuas Checkpoint to encourage motorists to travel outside the peak periods. We also agreed to Malaysia’s suggestion to increase the number of KTMB Tebrau Shuttle services from 26 to 31 daily, which has been implemented since the middle of February.”
“Besides costs incurred by Singapore, rail consortia from China, Japan, Europe and other interested parties, such as international financial institutions, have also been incurring costs preparing their bids for the HSR AssetsCo tender, which was jointly launched by Singapore and Malaysia last December. These companies have taken the HSR Project very seriously, including working with their governments to seek clarification on the requirements of the HSR AssetsCo tender over the past seven months. Following the recent statements by Malaysian leaders, the bidders have sought urgent clarification from Singapore and Malaysia on the status of the HSR Project. I understand their deep concern. It is not tenable for them to proceed with their bids without knowing if the project is off, or to put their consortia and resources on hold indefinitely with the attendant opportunity and financing costs. The Singapore Government will continue to press for official clarification from the Malaysian government. There are appropriate processes at law in case Malaysia should wish to propose changes to the BA, or to terminate it. These due processes should be followed. If the Malaysian Government fails to provide an official response, then we cannot ignore the public statements made by the Malaysian Ministers, and Prime Minister Dr Mahathir himself, on the termination of the Project, and Singapore will act according to its rights. Let me now update Members on the Johor Bahru (JB)-Singapore Rapid Transit System Link, or RTS Link for short. Every day, several hundred thousand commuter trips are made between Singapore and Malaysia through our land checkpoints.”
“If the HSR Project is terminated because of the actions of country A, then country A should compensate country B for expenses that have already been incurred by country B, in accordance with the BA. It would not be fair for the taxpayers of one country to bear the cost of another country’s actions. Compensation is not a penalty imposed on the other country. Thus, should Malaysia cause the HSR Project to be terminated, we will deal with the question of compensation from Malaysia for costs incurred by Singapore in accordance with the BA and international law. The Singapore Government has a duty to all Singaporeans to be accountable for the substantial public funds spent on the HSR Project. Because the costs that we have incurred will add to the total amount of compensation, it is in Malaysia’s own interest to officially inform us of its position on the HSR Project early, to minimise the amounts involved. I highlighted this consideration to Economic Affairs Minister Dato’ Seri Mohd Azmin bin Ali when he called me on 6 June 2018. Dato’ Seri Azmin Ali suggested that both countries’ officials meet to discuss the HSR Project. I welcomed the suggestion. I asked him for details on the scope of the discussion so that the meeting could be productive. He agreed and promised to send me a letter on the details. Our High Commissioner in Kuala Lumpur has also conveyed the same points to Malaysian Transport Minister Mr Anthony Loke and Finance Minister Mr Lim Guan Eng. However, we have yet to receive the details from Malaysia.”
“Based on preliminary estimates, the total cost incurred by the Singapore Government for the HSR Project has already exceeded S$250 million by the end of May 2018. This is actual money that has already been spent, our taxpayers' money. We can recover value for some of the expenditure, even if the HSR Project does not proceed. But the significant amount which has been spent will be completely wasted expenditure, if the project does not proceed. The BA provides for how compensation is to be dealt with. This is why we sent a diplomatic note to Malaysia on 1 June 2018 to seek immediate clarification on Malaysia’s position. To date, Singapore has still not received a reply from the Malaysian government. The public statements made by the Malaysian Ministers and Prime Minister Dr Mahathir himself on the termination of the Project have not been followed through with any official communication to us. At this point, therefore, we have been left with no choice but to continue performing in accordance with the BA and thus continue to incur more costs. In the month of June, we incurred more than S$6 million. For the month of July, this month, we expect to also incur more than S$6 million. These costs will increase rapidly with time. From August to end of this year, we will need to spend at least S$40 million more. These include our ongoing manpower costs, operating expenses and contract costs. It will be most unfortunate if Malaysia has, in fact, decided to terminate but delays in notifying us, because there will be further wasted expenditure. The HSR BA is a fair treaty, with equal rights and obligations on both sides. It is worth noting again that it was Malaysia which had suggested the HSR and Singapore agreed to the joint project.”
“Ninety minutes is significantly less than the travel time by road or by the existing railway and is competitive with the 50-minute flight time between Changi Airport and Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA), plus airport transfers. To achieve the 90-minute travel time, trains operating the HSR's international Express Service between Singapore and Kuala Lumpur have to run at speeds of 300 km/h or more on a dual track line designed for a top speed of 350 km/h. This requirement is essential, as otherwise it would make less sense for a traveller to make a day trip from Singapore to Kuala Lumpur, or vice versa, using the HSR rather than by air. After signing the BA, Singapore acquired land to facilitate the construction of HSR, passed legislation in Parliament, and set up an Infrastructure Company, SG HSR Pte Ltd under the Land Transport Authority. We have formed a team of more than 100 specialists in the company to build, own, fund and maintain the HSR civil infrastructure in Singapore. These staff have worked hard to fulfill our obligations to meet a challenging implementation timeline. The tenders for the HSR civil infrastructure in Singapore, as well as the joint tender with Malaysia to appoint an Assets Company (AssetsCo) are underway. By May this year, SG HSR had called five tenders to construct the HSR civil infrastructure within Singapore. We have also started engaging potential bidders for the remaining major tenders. All these works cost money, including costs for consultancies to design the civil infrastructure, costs for dedicating manpower to oversee and deliver the Project, and costs for land acquisition.”
“Malaysian Transport Minister Mr Anthony Loke and Finance Minister Mr Lim Guan Eng later told the press on separate occasions that they, together with Economic Affairs Minister Dato' Seri Mohd Azmin bin Ali, would visit Singapore to discuss the HSR Project. Various other reports then appeared in the Malaysian media citing an "alternative" proposal to the Malaysian Council of Eminent Persons to utilise the existing double-track of Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad (KTMB) to run trains at 200 kilometres per hour (km/h), which would take 130 minutes to travel from Kuala Lumpur to Singapore. According to these media reports, the 'alternative' plan would purportedly mean that Malaysia would "not need to renegotiate with Singapore". Malaysian social media also carried articles stating that Singapore has a "moral responsibility" not to "bully" Malaysia, and to cancel the HSR Project with minimum penalty. Mr Speaker, when Malaysia proposed the HSR Project to Singapore in 2013, Singapore agreed because we were convinced of the benefits of the Project to Singapore. After several years of discussion, Singapore and Malaysia signed the HSR BA in December 2016. This BA is an international treaty that is binding on the countries that signed it. In other words, both Singapore and Malaysia are legally bound to perform our obligations under the BA, regardless of any changes in the government. The HSR Project agreed under the BA is a high-speed rail that would allow travellers to commute from Jurong Lake District in Singapore to the Bandar Malaysia development in Kuala Lumpur in 90 minutes. The key success factor of this Project is the 90-minute travel time that provides greater convenience for travellers.”
“Mr Sitoh Yih Pin, Miss Cheng Li Hui and Mr Ang Wei Neng have asked about the status of the Kuala Lumpur-Singapore High Speed Rail Project (HSR). Many Singaporeans are asking the same question following numerous statements by Malaysian leaders on the HSR Project over the past two months. These statements suggest that Malaysia no longer intends to continue with the Project in accordance with what both countries agreed under the HSR Bilateral Agreement (BA). Let me briefly recap what they have said. On 28 May 2018, Malaysian Prime Minister, Dr Mahathir, announced in an interview with the Financial Times that the HSR Project would be "dropped", and that it was "a final decision" but that this would take time because Malaysia had an agreement with Singapore. Dr Mahathir was also quoted as saying that "It's ["it" refers to the HSR Project] not beneficial. It's going to cost us a huge sum of money, we will make no money at all from this operation". He also said that Malaysia may have to pay "almost 500 million" as a "penalty" although he was unsure of the currency. On 1 June, Dr Mahathir reiterated that the decision to cancel the HSR Project was done by the Pakatan Harapan government, because from "the very beginning, we campaigned on that issue and we won't go away from the decision of the party". On 3 June, Johor Menteri Besar, Dato' Osman Sapian, was quoted in the Malaysian media as saying that "short-term losses of RM500 million" from terminating the HSR Project were better than for the Malaysian government to "bear the debt burden of more than RM100 billion" if it continues the HSR Project. On 11 June, in an interview with the Nikkei Asian Review in Tokyo, Dr Mahathir then said that the HSR Project was "postponed".”
“Sir, may I take Question Nos 2, 3 and 4 together, please?”
“As of 31 March 2018, there are approximately 54,000 private hire car drivers. More than 90% of them are male. About 70% of the drivers are Chinese, 17% are Malays, 8% are Indians and 5% are Others. About half the drivers are between 20 and 39 years old; 40% between 40 and 59; and the rest between 60 and 74. We do not have the breakdown between drivers who drive full-time, and those who drive on an ad-hoc basis.”
“But 成事在天, is it not? But 我 不是天! But Bombardier knew that there is huge pressure from all of us to improve the service as quickly as possible. So, the order for new trains is firm, it is committed. How fast they can build, whether there is a way to shorten it, they will try. But still it is years, not months. For the existing trains, we can do something, especially the air-conditioning system. Surely, we can do something about it, and we shall fix it this year if we can.”
“Or even years. Here is Er Dr Lee Bee Wah speaking as an engineer! And I confirm what she has just said. So, unfortunately, it is not possible. Long term, is it possible? I hope so, because if our car-lite Singapore vision arrives – not immediately, but in 20 years' time – when the next version of the BPLRT will also run out of economic life in another 20 to 25 years. Hopefully, by that time, Singapore is largely car-lite, few cars, on the roads, then the roads can be handed over to buses and we can tear down the viaducts, redo them and run buses on top of them, or have cyclists cycling on the viaducts – which is a suggestion from Minister Vivian Balakrishnan. He envisages the day when you can cycle on the LRT tracks. Or there may be other ideas. Maybe theme parks might adopt it to do something else, I do not know. But I think those are further down the road. It is not my job. We leave it to the future Minister for Transport.”
“As I said, you cannot just simply take the existing viaducts, buy the buses and just run them on it. You cannot do that. You actually got to do extensive civil engineering work on the viaducts, which means closing the LRT service, tear down the viaducts, major sections of it, and redo, which means no BPLRT service for months.”
“Sir, as I said in the reply, such proposals or options were considered. But you cannot simply take the existing viaducts and then run buses on it. You got to do extensive civil engineering work on the viaducts. We got to pull down, rebuild and reconfigure – months of suspension of the BPLRT. We have studied, and I was game for a completely new system – close it down and have all buses either running on existing roads or on the viaducts. But the roads just cannot take the peak-hour load unless you throw out all the cars, in other words, no cars at all in Bukit Panjang Town, and every lane will become a bus lane. Even then, it is barely sufficient. That is why, after extensive discussions and simulations, we decided that it is not viable. So, we are back to LRT. But we will make sure that it is a much better LRT.”