Lam Pin Min
Singapore
“Mr Speaker, on behalf of the Minister for Transport, I beg to move, "That the Bill be now read a Second Time". This Bill, together with the Active Mobility (Amendment No.”
“It is timely for us to put in place a regulatory framework to ensure that active mobility devices being brought into and used in Singapore are safe. This is a key step in helping us put in place a safe and sustainable active mobility landscape in Singapore. Mr Speaker, I beg to move. [(proc text) Question proposed. (proc text)] 1.55 pm”
“Clause 6 facilitates the transfer to and vesting in the financial security provider of a seafarer's rights against a shipowner as a result of any liability arising from the shipowner's obligation to repatriate the seafarer. For example, the liability to pay the seafarer's wages and entitlements.”
“Mr Speaker, to ensure a safe and high-quality blood supply for our patients in Singapore, pre-donation interviews are conducted to screen blood donors for risk factors and blood donations are also tested for blood-borne infections. However, infections can only be detected some time after the blood donors have been infected.”
“I thank the Member for that clarification. As far as I know, not all mental conditions will be excluded from blood donation. In fact, we have checked with HSA. There is a wide spectrum of mental illnesses – from very mild mental conditions to very severe conditions.”
“I think we must be cognisant that the reason why they are inmates is because of certain things that have happened, prior to that. That actually pre-disposes them to some high-risk behaviours.”
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“Mr Speaker, on behalf of the Minister for Transport, I beg to move, "That the Bill be now read a Second time." We have invested substantially in our public transport network and will continue to do so. By 2030, eight in 10 households will be within a 10-minute walk of a train station. The advent of sharing services of active mobility devices, such as bicycles, power-assisted bicycles (PABs) and personal mobility devices (PMDs), has made the journey between the train station and our homes and workplaces even more convenient. Over time, we will reduce our reliance on cars. Today, two in three trips during peak periods are already made on public transport. By 2030, we aim for three in four trips to be so. We will continue to work towards a car-lite Singapore, which will allow us to maximise the use of limited land and free up car park spaces for other uses, such as housing, schools and hospitals. This Bill will support our vision of a car-lite Singapore by making two key changes to the Parking Places Act (PPA). First, the Bill introduces a licensing regime for dockless vehicle-sharing operators, which will cover sharing services for bicycles, PMDs and PABs. While such sharing operations contribute to the attractiveness of our public transport network, it was unfortunate that it has led to pervasive indiscriminate parking of bicycles which degrades our living environment and creates safety issues. A licensing regime will address the problem of indiscriminate parking and allow sharing operations to grow in a more sustainable manner. Second, the Bill will allow the Government to improve the management of parking provision by private developments to support our car-lite vision.”
“Mr Speaker, MOH has put in place the SMF to support seniors to age in place. As part of the SMF, Singaporeans aged 60 years and above can apply for means-tested SMF subsidies to offset the cost of assistive devices, including mobility devices. Our priority is to target SMF subsidies at helping seniors with the purchase of their first device. Nevertheless, we recognise that there may be exceptional cases where seniors may need to apply for a replacement device but have no financial means. In such cases, the Agency for Integrated Care will assess and approve applications on a case-by-case basis, taking into account the senior's circumstances. 11.09 am”
“Mr Speaker, LTA will construct dedicated cycling path networks (CPNs) in all HDB towns by 2030. We have built CPNs in nine towns and will do so in another six towns by 2023. CPNs in the remaining towns, including in Boon Lay and Jurong West, will be ready after 2023. We will keep in mind Mr Patrick Tay's suggestion to connect the CPN in Boon Lay and Jurong West to that in Jurong Lake District.”
“I would like to thank Dr Tan Wu Meng for the two supplementary questions. LTA does take into account relevant factors, such as new developments and road size, when making TIAs. As what Dr Tan mentioned in his supplementary question regarding size of old roads as well as potential congestion, as part of the TIA, the developer will have to identify the development's impact on the surrounding transport network and recommend necessary measures to mitigate some of these potential negative impact, including congestion, as mentioned by Dr Tan. Some of these possible transport improvement measures will include staging the developments to prevent a surge in traffic demand or road widening whenever possible and also to encourage the use of public transport and active mobility modes of transport. As to the second question on how we ensure safety for the pedestrian, whenever possible, LTA will work with URA to build overhead pedestrian networks so that the elderly do not have to cross the busy roads. When overhead link bridges are not possible or not appropriate, LTA will also identify Silver Zones to make our roads even safer for the elderly. To update the Member, we have implemented 15 Silver Zones over the years. We will increase the number of Silver Zones to 50 by 2023. I am happy to work with Dr Tan Wu Meng on the possible plans to make the roads safer for his residents in Clementi.”
“LTA requires developers to conduct transport impact assessments (TIAs) to identify the impact of new developments and redevelopments on the surrounding road network and recommend mitigating measures. This applies to both new and mature estates. LTA publishes guidelines on how developers should conduct the TIAs. First, developers should establish the baseline traffic demand before the development is built by carrying out a traffic survey. Developers also have to estimate the future growth in traffic volume due to external factors, such as the vehicle growth rate and other new developments in the area. Second, developers should assess the additional traffic that will be generated by the planned development. This is typically done via surveying a comparable development and adjusting for a lower vehicle mode share if there are future improvements in public transport and active mobility access to the development when it is ready. LTA does not require the TIA to consider a range of vehicle population scenarios, nor for a specific car-lite scenario. However, by factoring in the vehicle growth rate, which is currently zero for non-commercial vehicles, and enhancements to public transport and active mobility infrastructure in the vicinity, the developments will account for a reduction in the usage of private cars over time.”
“The National Adult Immunisation Schedule was introduced on 1 November 2017 to provide guidance on the recommended vaccinations that persons 18 years and older should receive, and MediSave use is allowed for these recommended vaccinations. Mr Chairman, my Ministry will continue to build capabilities and increase capacity in the future to ensure that we have a future-ready healthcare system. This task cannot be achieved alone. I urge all Singaporeans and healthcare providers to partner us in these initiatives to make our healthcare system better and keep Singaporeans healthier. Thank you.”
“Part of developing a future-ready outlook is the task of preparing for anticipated healthcare challenges. Overuse of antimicrobials, such as antibiotics, in the human, animal and agricultural sectors has exacerbated the problem of infection-causing microorganisms developing drug resistance. Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is an international issue as drug-resistant microorganisms in other countries can easily spread across borders into Singapore. MOH, the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA), the National Environment Agency (NEA) and the Public Utilities Board (PUB) had jointly developed Singapore’s National Strategic Action Plan on AMR, which was launched in November last year to chart out how agencies will work together to detect and arrest AMR through increased surveillance, education, management, research and international cooperation. As a member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), Singapore will continue to promote cooperation and innovative collaboration to strengthen ASEAN's resilience against AMR. Besides AMR control, vaccination is important to prevent infection and reduce the risk of infectious disease outbreaks. Mr Leon Perera has asked about MOH’s approach towards subsidising vaccinations. To ensure collective population-level protection or herd immunity and encourage vaccine uptake, childhood vaccinations against highly infectious diseases with community outbreak potential, such as measles, are fully subsidised at the polyclinics. For diseases with low community outbreak potential, for example, Human Papillomavirus (HPV)-related diseases, vaccination is recommended for personal protection.”
“Thereafter, successful pilots will be mainstreamed under the Healthcare Services Bill with appropriate regulatory requirements. For a start, the sandbox will focus on piloting models in three areas, namely, telemedicine, precision medicine and models of care that support ageing. More details will be announced in the coming months. Mr Low Thia Khiang has asked about how precision medicine can be harnessed for patients' benefit. Worldwide, we have seen how precision medicine treatments can be costly without strong evidence for improved health outcomes. Our end objective must be to support the development of precision medicine for positive health and economic outcomes. To this end, MOH is coordinating a multi-agency effort to develop an integrated national strategy for precision medicine research and its subsequent implementation. This includes looking at enabling infrastructure, regulatory and ethical frameworks, as well as public education. We will provide a thorough update at an appropriate time. MOH also ensures that human biomedical research is carried out ethically. Gene editing is presently used in basic research in Singapore and is governed by the Human Biomedical Research Act, and guidelines issued by the Bioethics Advisory Committee and National Medical Ethics Committee. Mr Low Thia Khiang has also asked about the standards for the provision of clinical genetic testing. MOH conducted stakeholder consultations last September. The feedback provided will be taken into consideration when refining the standards, which are targeted to be rolled out in the second quarter of 2018. The sector will be given a sufficient ramp-up period before the standards become legally enforceable.”
“The public was also supportive of the enhanced powers in the Bill to have "step-in" rights, tighter publicity controls and prohibition of unsafe practices. Specifically, on the mandatory contribution of summary clinical data to NEHR, licensees and members of the public were generally supportive, and provided feedback on aspects, such as the cost of digitisation, opt-out procedures and patient confidentiality issues. Dr Lily Neo has asked about patients who may prefer to opt out of NEHR. I would like to reassure her that patients can choose to have their records logged, which would prevent it from being viewed and accessed. We are also studying a proposal when patient's future records will not be stored in NEHR at all. However, patients should note that this will cause a permanent gap in their medical record history. To support licensees in this journey, MOH and the Integrated Health Information System (IHiS) have introduced financial, technical and clinical support to help licensees. For example, $20 million under the Early Contribution Incentive scheme is available to help licensees defray the cost of upgrading their IT systems to contribute data to NEHR by June 2019. Even with the introduction of the new Bill, current regulations may not be flexible enough for the emergence of innovative care models. To address this, MOH will be rolling out the Licence Experimentation and Adaptation Programme (LEAP), which is a regulatory sandbox that will allow new services to be piloted in a controlled environment. During the pilot, MOH will ensure that these businesses maintain essential safeguards for patient safety, while relaxing certain regulatory requirements or introducing new ones.”
“To future-proof our healthcare system, it is important that our laws stay current and flexible. As announced earlier, MOH is enacting a new Healthcare Services Bill to replace the current PHMCA this year. The Bill will adopt a modular services-based licensing system to allow providers more flexibility in holding licences for any combination of healthcare services provided. It will also appropriately regulate non-premise-based services, particularly as we want to encourage the outreach of community healthcare services, such as home medical services. Regulatory clarity will be enhanced to make it easier for providers to understand and, therefore, comply with the legislative requirements. New requirements and competency mandates will also be introduced, including an additional governance layer called the Clinical Governance Officer, to provide technical oversight over more complex services, such as clinical laboratories and radiological services. Fundamentally, the new Bill will allow MOH to strengthen its legislative powers to achieve our primary regulatory objective of safeguarding patient safety and welfare, as well as continuity of care. Such powers include prescribing a list of prohibited unsafe practices that providers cannot offer, as well as mandatory participation of all healthcare service providers in the National Electronic Healthcare Records (NEHR). I will elaborate more shortly. 6.30 pm We have actively consulted stakeholders on the proposed policies in the new Bill and I am heartened by the generally positive feedback received. Licensees appreciated the flexibility of the licensing approach to accommodate various care models.”
“Ms Sylvia Lim has asked about how hospital complaints on patient care are handled. Hospitals have their own Hospital Quality Service/Patient Relations Office to deal with such complaints, and patients’ inputs are sought as part of the review process. Mediation is another avenue for patients and their families to resolve their disputes with hospitals. Complaints escalated by patients to MOH are taken seriously and assessed in an independent manner for potential breach of the Private Hospitals and Medical Clinics Act. A formal investigation will be initiated by the Regulatory, Compliance and Enforcement Division against the hospital once a potential breach is identified. The independent investigation by MOH will include opinion from the relevant appointed experts, and interviewing all parties related to the case, including the patients and their next-of-kin. Under the Private Hospitals and Medical Clinics Act (PHMCA), institutions are required to report occurrences of Serious Reportable Events (SREs) to MOH and establish quality assurance committees (QACs) to review these SREs. Investigation reports are submitted to the Clinical Quality, Performance and Technology Division under the Healthcare Performance Group of MOH. The priorities of this Division include Quality Assurance, Patient Safety systems and Quality improvement. One of the Division’s foci is to leverage the reported serious events for improvement and cross-institution learning opportunities, similar to the approach of the UK’s Healthcare Safety Investigation Branch. Anonymised information is shared amongst the healthcare institutions, and forums are organised for healthcare institutions to discuss gap closure measures.”
“In 2015, for every 100,000 adult Singaporeans with diabetes, about 180 had an LEA, which is much higher than the OECD average. We must pay attention to this problem. MOH will be setting up a workgroup to develop a strategy to reduce diabetes-related amputations. The workgroup will review the national landscape of the diabetic foot services provided to patients with diabetes, make recommendations for the national care guidelines, and review the roles and training needs of healthcare professionals involved in diabetic foot care. Through improving the quality of care services, we can promptly detect foot problems among patients with diabetes and start treatment immediately to avoid amputations. (In English): Chairman, WoD is a shared responsibility. We have thus provided funding to support cluster-led, community-based diabetes prevention and management programmes. For example, in the Central region, the National Healthcare Group (NHG) has launched a Diabetes Community Intervention Programme (CIP) pilot with Toa Payoh Polyclinic to engage patients with, or at risk of, diabetes to take ownership of their well-being. In the East, CGH has worked with the East Coast Group Representation Constituency (GRC) to train volunteers as Health Peers to motivate residents with, or at risk of, diabetes towards behavioural change. Later this year, NUHS will launch the Patient Activation through Community Empowerment/Engagement for Diabetes Management (PACE-D) programme in the West where patients will be assigned to dedicated multidisciplinary care teams who will support them to take on proactive roles in disease management and lifestyle changes. Even as we develop new initiatives, we need to ensure the delivery of safe and quality care.”
“This is a whole-of-nation effort where everyone has a role to play. MOH is developing a Patient Empowerment for Self-care Framework to empower people with diabetes to initiate and sustain lifestyle changes with the support of healthcare professionals, community-based providers and other forms of social support. Under this framework, there will be a National Curriculum developed with educational materials for patients, caregivers and the public, and resources which healthcare professionals and community-based providers can use for patient empowerment. The first tranche of the materials will be available by mid-2018. MOH is currently enhancing our diabetes management programmes. As part of the Disease Management Workgroup, set up under the National Diabetes Prevention and Care Taskforce, we have rolled out initiatives targeted at eye and kidney complications. We will now address diabetic foot complications, as diabetes is the most common cause of non-traumatic lower extremity amputations (LEAs). In 2015, about 180 diabetes-related major LEAs were performed for every 100,000 adult Singaporeans with diabetes, compared to the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) average of 60. MOH will be setting up a workgroup to review the national organisation of diabetic foot services, make recommendations on national care guidelines, and review the roles and training needs of healthcare professionals involved in diabetic foot care to decrease the lifetime risk of amputation for diabetic patients. Mr Speaker, let me now speak in Mandarin. (In Mandarin): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] If diabetes is not treated early or managed well, there may be long-term complications, such as blindness, kidney failure and LEA.”
“Hospital bed capacity will increase further when the Integrated Care Hub at Novena and the Woodlands General and Community Hospitals open by 2022. In addition, the National Centre for Infectious Diseases will progressively open from end-2018. Aged care capacity will be increased to meet the demands of an ageing population. By 2020, home care capacity will increase from the current 8,000 places to 10,000 places, while day care capacity will increase from the current 5,000 to 6,200 places. There are also plans to increase the number of nursing home beds from the current 14,900 to 17,000. In tandem with the increase in infrastructure capacity is the need to ensure sufficient manpower. Mr Christopher de Souza asked if we are calibrating the training pipeline for specialists to meet medium- to long-term needs. We have increased the proportion of residency positions offered to specialties that are in greater need to address the demands of an ageing population. The number of residency positions taken up in Advanced Internal Medicine, Rehabilitation Medicine and Geriatric Medicine have doubled from 4% of the total residency intake in 2013 to 8% in 2017. MOH does regular reviews to calibrate the number of residency positions for each specialty, based on our projected needs. MOH also periodically reviews the training requirements to ensure relevance to our local context. This includes instituting a mandatory Geriatric Medicine Modular Training Programme to equip residents with the skills to manage elderly patients. However, we cannot indefinitely increase capacity and manpower. We have thus embarked on efforts to improve our care delivery. Mr Chen Show Mao and Mr Baey Yam Keng have asked for updates on the War on Diabetes (WoD).”
“I have shared MOH’s vision for primary care, which is "One Singaporean, One Family Doctor" in previous COS debates. The PCN scheme complements our efforts to encourage trusting, long-term relationships between doctors and their patients. Let me elaborate. Mdm Siti Saujana, a diabetic patient, has seen Dr Kwong Kum Hoong for the past six years. This continuous follow-up has allowed Dr Kwong to gain a deeper understanding of her needs. For example, Mdm Siti’s high blood pressure was detected early as Dr Kwong had advised her to screen for other chronic conditions, as part of the plan in managing her diabetes. Mdm Siti has also benefited from the team-based care offered by the NUHS PCN, which Dr Kwong's clinic is a part of. She received advice on her diet and lifestyle activities from the PCN nurse, as well as utilised diabetic eye and foot screening services provided by the PCN team. The PCN care coordinator also ensured her appointments were well-coordinated. I am heartened by the strong rapport and trust forged among Mdm Siti, Dr Kwong and the PCN care team, and encourage all Singaporeans to have a regular family doctor today. To augment our Primary Care sector, we are also increasing capacity across various settings to ensure appropriate and seamless care. Since 2010, we have opened or expanded five hospital facilities, namely, Ng Teng Fong General Hospital, CGH-St Andrew's Community Hospital Integrated Building, Jurong Community Hospital, Yishun Community Hospital and Khoo Teck Puat General Hospital. The development of three more hospitals are underway. Sengkang General and Community Hospitals will open by the second half of 2018, while Outram Community Hospital will open progressively by 2020.”
“Minister Gan has highlighted efforts to ensure healthcare remains accessible, affordable and is of good quality. I will now elaborate on how we are developing capabilities and capacity for the future, ensuring that Singaporeans have access to good care close to their homes. The cornerstone of a sustainable healthcare system is strong primary care, where patients with chronic conditions are managed well in the community, with better health outcomes. In addition to our newly opened polyclinics in Punggol and Pioneer, there are ongoing polyclinic developments in Eunos, Kallang, Sembawang and Bukit Panjang scheduled to open by 2020. The Minister has announced plans to develop a further six to eight new polyclinics which will enlarge our network to 30-32 polyclinics by 2030. I am pleased to inform Members that two of the new polyclinics are expected to be operational by 2023 and will be developed in the northern region in Nee Soon Central, and the eastern region in Tampines North. Residents in the West and Central regions can also look forward to new polyclinics. We are also renewing our existing facilities. Redeveloped Bedok and Ang Mo Kio polyclinics opened in July 2017 and January 2018 respectively. The redeveloped Yishun Polyclinic will open in mid-2018. Dr Chia Shi-Lu has asked for updates on our primary care transformation efforts. We are investing more resources to support our GP partners, through the PCN scheme. PCNs are networks of GPs delivering care via multidisciplinary teams comprising doctors, nurses and primary care coordinators, who provide holistic care. The PCN scheme commenced in January this year with 10 PCNs on board, involving more than 300 GP clinics. We hope to eventually see 50% of CHAS GP clinics on board the scheme.”
“Mr Chairman, may I have your permission to display some slides during my speech?”
“With regard to the Member's particular suggestion about certain crossing zones, drawing from her example of some concerns outside the school, I think we do have pedestrian-priority zones that can be implemented at areas that the Member has mentioned. Meaning to say that, if you do designate this particular area as a pedestrian-priority zone, then cyclists will have to give way to pedestrians or to slow down whenever cyclists approach such a junction.”
“I would like to thank Er Dr Lee Bee Wah for the passionate plea. To answer the Member's first question on registration of all motorised PMDs, at this point in time, we are going to only require e-scooters to be registered. This is based on the recommendation of the Active Mobility Advisory Panel. They have also studied the possibility of registering other PMDs, especially those that are motorised. But we are taking a risk-based approach because we feel that the speed that can be generated by the e-scooter is actually much faster than the other smaller-scale PMDs like unicycles. We are not saying we will never implement registration for them, but at this moment, we accept the recommendation of the Advisory Panel to start registering e-scooters first. We will monitor the situation. On the Member's second question on the Tanah Merah Coast Road designated cycling lane, it is quite well-utilised and welcomed by cyclists, especially the recreational cyclists, who cycle at a higher speed. But we also do understand that because of the limitations of the size of many roads in Singapore, it is very difficult to implement this islandwide. Although the one at Tanah Merah Coast Road stretches for a whole of 10 km, which is ideal for that sort of cycling purpose, it may not be practical on normal day-to-day roads. You may have certain roads that are wide enough for such a cycling lane, but it may come to a point where certain roads become narrow and not implementable. So, it is not that practical. On the Member's third point on infrastructure developments, yes, we are looking at how to improve the infrastructure to make active mobility more conducive.”
“I would like to thank Mr Png for the clarification on some of the concerns at signalised junctions. As it is, like what the Member has mentioned, about 90% of signalised crossings in Singapore have shared green time. Many of them already come with a set of standard safety features. I have already explained in my reply this included integrated pedestrian countdown timers and the turning pockets for cars to stop and wait for the pedestrians to complete their crossing. In addition, we also have added safety enhancements which include things like "Give Way to Pedestrian" signs at the junction, of which some may be static while some may be Light Emitting Diode (LED)-lighted to enhance their visibility. We have also implemented lighted road studs along the crossings, to also increase visibility for drivers and alert them to the possible presence of pedestrians. Like I have also mentioned in my reply, there are special traffic light settings to allow the pedestrians to have a headstart in crossing the road, so that by the time the driver can make the turning, the position of the pedestrian will be more obvious to the driver. We are watching this very closely. We understand the concerns on the ground and we are doing what we can to ensure safety at signalised junctions. That also includes public education on good road safety practices, as well as to remind drivers that it is their responsibility to look out for pedestrians.”
“I would like to thank Mr Dennis Tan for the several clarifications. Indeed, safety is paramount along the Straits of Singapore. Like I have explained in my reply, for the traffic separation scheme, we need to have a balance between safety as well as efficiency and expediency of the vessel traffic. Currently, there are already existing safety measures put in place ‒ code of conduct for the vessels when they do the crossings. But we will continue to monitor this very carefully, bearing in mind, like what Mr Dennis Tan has said, safety is paramount. We do not wish to compromise that. With regard to the turning on of the AIS for government as well as naval vessels, we are abiding by the IMO Convention, and I think this is widely accepted by many jurisdictions. With regard to the enforcement on bikes and PMDs, we take this very seriously. Like I have explained in my last Parliamentary Sitting, there are measures put in place to step up enforcement action. At the same time, together with the implementation of the Parking Places (Amendment) Bill, we will be able to have more teeth in controlling the way the bike sharing operators operate and to put in measures to ensure that users of bicycles and PMDs behave in the appropriate manner, including indiscriminate parking.”
“45 am In the meantime, LTA has started trials for other types of high-accuracy geofencing technology that will further improve the tracking of errantly-parked bicycles. We plan to conclude the first phase of the trials by 2019. Mr Chairman, to conclude, we have come far in making our transport system more inclusive and safer for all commuters. However, we cannot do this alone. I would like to thank the strong support from the industry stakeholders and the constructive feedback from commuters, as well as many Members of this House, to help us develop innovative and effective solutions to improve our transport system. We also need the community’s support in instilling a culture of safety and civic-mindedness so that everyone can enjoy the benefits of active mobility. Used safely and responsibly, bicycles and PMDs offer great convenience, promote a healthy lifestyle and is environmentally-friendly and will also help fulfil our vision of a car-lite society. Like what Er Dr Lee Bee Wah shared yesterday "make this a beautiful dream for all, not a nightmare." With our continued infrastructural enhancements, the use of technology and enhanced enforcement measures against reckless and irresponsible behaviour, I am confident that our future transport system, centred on public transport, will be safe and inclusive, leaving no one behind.”
“These tend to be more costly to set up, so, taxpayers or users would have to pay more for the use of the bicycles. As Miss Cheng Li Hui, Mr Yee Chia Hsing and Mr Lim Biow Chuan have rightly pointed out, we should not just focus on the operators alone. It is also important to ensure that users act responsibly and considerately. We feel that the most effective way of doing so is through the operators. For example, LTA will require all licensed bicycle sharing operators to collectively ban users who repeatedly park the bicycles indiscriminately from using any bicycle sharing service for a period of time. The Bill will be tabled for Second Reading later this month. We will implement the licensing framework in the second half of this year. Mr Png Eng Huat asked about the effectiveness of geofencing. First, geofencing will be done in addition to the other measures that I have outlined earlier. Second, under the proposed licensing regime, LTA will require all licensed operators to complement global positioning system (GPS) geofencing with quick response (QR) code-enabled geofencing. And each designated parking area will have a unique QR code. Operators will be able to match the QR code used with the appropriate or approximate location of the parked bicycle obtained via GPS geofencing. So, if the location of the parked bicycle is far away from the QR code for that particular parking space, the user will not be deemed to have parked in a parking space appropriately and will continue to be charged. It is not a perfect measure but can be implemented quickly to address the urgent issue of indiscriminate bicycle parking. 11.”
“We will start off conservatively in the first instance. If an operator can demonstrate that it is able to manage indiscriminate parking and ensure good utilisation of its fleet, it will be allowed to grow over time. This ensures that we start off right and put in place the appropriate incentive structure for operators to proactively manage indiscriminate bicycle parking. Second, LTA will have stronger levers to ensure operators do their part to manage indiscriminate parking. Under the proposed licensing regime, we can impose standards and conditions, for example, to require operators to remove indiscriminately parked bicycles within a stipulated period. Operators who do not comply with our standards and conditions will face regulatory sanctions, such as financial penalties of up to $100,000, reductions in fleet size, suspension or even cancellation of their licence. These penalties are higher than the $500 per bicycle fine we currently impose on operators. We also intend to implement Er Dr Lee Bee Wah's suggestion of requiring licensed operators to provide a security deposit. This deposit can be used to defray the costs of removing abandoned bicycles of any operator that has gone bankrupt. Er Dr Lee Bee Wah and Mr Lim Biow Chuan have also suggested requiring operators to provide bicycle parking spaces or docking stations. Operators have already helped to provide some of the yellow parking boxes at bus stops, and LTA will be able to impose requirements on them to do more under the licensing regime, if necessary. Mr Png Eng Huat suggested the implementation of docking stations. The experience of other countries is that docked systems tend to be unsustainable without private sponsorship or government subsidies.”
“Many Members, including Er Dr Lee Bee Wah, Miss Cheng Li Hui, Mr Png Eng Huat, Mr Yee Chia Hsing, Ms Foo Mee Har, Mr Zaqy Mohamad and Mr Lim Biow Chuan have spoken on this issue very passionately. These bicycles obstruct other commuters and cause clutter in community spaces. It is the responsibility of every shared bicycle user to park their bicycles appropriately in bicycle racks or designated bicycle parking zones, which are widely available at all MRT stations and housing estates. Over the past year, LTA has stepped up efforts to address the problem. Since March last year, we have significantly increased the number of bicycle parking spaces by implementing yellow boxes at housing estates, MRT stations, bus stops and parks. We now have about 174,000 public bicycle parking lots islandwide and will provide another 50,000 more by 2020. In October last year, LTA, Town Councils and NParks signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the bicycle sharing operators. It sets out guidelines for responsible operation in public spaces. We have also enforced strictly against indiscriminately parked bicycles. Since the middle of 2017, LTA has issued more than 2,100 removal notices and collected about $180,000 in fines and administrative fees from the operators. Unfortunately, the problem of indiscriminate bicycle parking persists. Earlier this week, I tabled a Bill in Parliament to propose amendments to the Parking Places Act. This Bill will enable LTA to regulate the bicycle sharing operators through a licensing framework. Let me elaborate on some of the key aspects of the proposed regulatory regime. First, LTA will be able to manage the size of each operator's fleet by setting a maximum cap for each operator. This is similar to what Miss Cheng Li Hui suggested.”
“Last month, the Active Mobility Advisory Panel recommended the introduction of a registration regime for e-scooters. After carefully studying the Panel's suggestion, I am pleased to announce that the Government has decided to accept the recommendation and will be reviewing the Active Mobility Act to allow such a regime. Registering e-scooters will help deter reckless behaviour, accord more responsibility to the users, and facilitate enforcement officers in tracking down errant users. We will implement the registration regime by the end of the year and will try to keep the process as simple and low-cost as possible. The Active Mobility Advisory Panel will also take a deeper look at our active mobility rules. Ms Joan Pereira, Mr Zaqy Mohamad, Mr Yee Chia Hsing and Er Dr Lee Bee Wah have given us valuable suggestions for the Panel to look into, such as reviewing the speed limit on footpaths, and the insurance and compensation framework. The Panel will look into these issues, weighing the need for these initiatives against the impact on the large majority of responsible users and taking into account the practices of other jurisdictions. The Panel will publish its recommendations by the end of this year. Our tough stance targets the minority of reckless users to deter bad behaviour. It should not discourage the majority of responsible and considerate users from enjoying the benefits of active mobility. With a safer environment, the benefits of active mobility far outweigh the obstacles we are facing. Next, let me move on to addressing Members' concerns over the indiscriminate parking of dockless shared bicycles.”
“We thank these enforcement officers and volunteers for their tireless efforts to keep our paths safe. In February 2018, LTA also rolled out the Safe Riding Programme. To address Assoc Prof Randolph Tan's concerns, the programme will educate cyclists and PMD users about the appropriate use of our active mobility infrastructure, and safe and considerate behaviour when sharing paths with others. I agree with Mr Dennis Tan that we need to build a right culture for safe riding. And as Mr Dennis Tan suggested, we are already working with schools to educate students about the key active mobility rules and safe riding practices. We will also require cyclists and PMD users caught riding recklessly to attend this programme. Despite our efforts to educate and encourage safe riding practices, Mr Sitoh Yih Pin, Mr Ang Wei Neng, Mr Yee Chia Hsing, Miss Cheng Li Hui, Ms Foo Mee Har and Ms Joan Pereira have shared their concern about the number of accidents involving bicycles and PMDs. Assoc Prof Randolph Tan had also pointed out the danger of PMDs being used on roads. I agree totally with Members that inconsiderate cyclists and PMD users not only endanger themselves, but also pedestrians and road users, and this is very worrying. We have zero tolerance for reckless behaviour and will further tighten up our enforcement efforts. We recently enhanced the penalties for PMD users caught riding on roads. They may face a composition sum of up to $500 for the first offence. Those who ride on expressways will not be offered composition and will be charged in Court. If convicted, they will be liable to a fine of up to $2,000 and/or imprisonment of up to three months for the first offence.”
“Our priority is to build a comprehensive network of off-road cycling paths that separate cyclists from fast-moving vehicles on the roads, as these paths provide a safer environment for all cyclists of different skill levels and ages. We have built cycling path networks in nine Housing and Development Board (HDB) towns and will do so for an additional six towns in the next five years. Moving forward, new footpaths will be at least 1.8 metres wide, which will allow two wheelchairs to pass each other safely. When planning our new towns, we will also prioritise the allocation of space to pedestrians, cyclists and PMD users. However, the rising popularity of active mobility brings new challenges. Let me start by addressing Members' concerns over the safety of active mobility, which can arise from dangerous devices and reckless user behaviour. We have observed a number of fire incidents involving motorised PMDs. LTA is working with relevant stakeholders to study imposing more safety requirements on motorised PMDs, in addition to our existing requirements on their weight, size and maximum speed. In the meantime, users should exercise caution and purchase compliant PMDs from reputable sources and refrain from modifying their PMDs. To deter reckless behaviour, we have enlisted the help of other agencies and community partners in our enforcement and education efforts. Since May 2016, LTA has issued over 3,000 advisories for unsafe riding on paths. The National Parks Board (NParks) rangers and the Traffic Police officers have also stepped up their patrols in parks, on park connectors and on roads. About 900 volunteers from the grassroots are patrolling their neighbourhoods to educate cyclists and PMD users on safe and gracious behaviour.”
“At the Committee of Supply (COS) last year, we announced that we would start allowing families to board public buses with open strollers from 2 April 2017. We have received positive feedback from families that these initiatives have made their journeys more convenient. Some commuters have also given feedback that there may not always be sufficient room for more than one open stroller or wheelchair. Going forward, new buses will be equipped with two wheelchair spaces, to accommodate more commuters in need. All these efforts will make getting around more convenient for families, without the need to own a car. We will continue to listen to commuters' suggestions to make further improvements. My Parliamentary colleague Mr Sitoh Yih Pin, Chairman of the Government Parliamentary Committee for Transport, and Mr Richard Magnus, Chairman of PTC, are leading a Panel to gather feedback and will be making recommendations on how we can make our public transport system more family friendly. The Panel comprises diverse members, from academics to parents with young children. We look forward to hearing their recommendations in the middle of this year. We will continue to push our boundaries and explore creative solutions to make our environment safer and more accessible to all. The growing use of bicycles and PMDs has made first- and last-mile journeys more convenient for many commuters. Dockless bicycle sharing services have also made active mobility more accessible and affordable. I agree with Mr Zaqy Mohamad and Er Dr Lee Bee Wah that our infrastructure needs to keep up with the increasing prevalence of active mobility.”
“LTA and SG Enable have, in the past few months, spoken to and followed commuters with special needs on their journeys to understand the pain-points and challenges in their daily commute. LTA has since installed rest stops with seats that allow pedestrians to rest, and edge markings along the footpaths to help pedestrians, those with low vision especially. Students from the Pathlight School also contributed their artistic talent, putting up unique and colourful signages to help direct the way to the Enabling Village. LTA will also collaborate with industry partners to develop and pilot assistive technologies for commuters with special needs. One of the ideas surfaced is an Assistive Passenger Information System for buses. 11.30 am It includes a mobile application that allows special-needs users to notify bus captains of their intention to board. For visually impaired passengers, there will be internal and external speakers to announce the service number, destination and the next bus stop. It also directly transmits audio announcements via hearing aids to hearing-impaired passengers. The trial will start later this year on bus service 139, which serves the Enabling Village. Earlier, Minister Khaw spoke about the various transport options for families. We are also making public transport friendlier for families with young children. For example, all new bus interchanges, Integrated Transport Hubs and all interchange stations on the Thomson-East Coast Line will be equipped with nursing rooms. In addition, all 35 stations along the Thomson-East Coast Line and Circle Line 6 will have family-friendly washrooms, with diaper changing stations, child-size toilets and barrier-free facilities.”
“We do acknowledge that the elderly, families with young children, and commuters with disabilities may face some challenges. We have, therefore, worked towards building a more inclusive public transport system that caters to all commuters, including those with diverse needs. Today, all MRT stations and bus interchanges are already barrier-free. Ninety-six percent of our public buses are wheelchair-accessible, and we are well on track to achieving our target of 100% by 2020. To facilitate priority boarding for people with special needs, the elderly and families, we have implemented priority queues at 17 MRT stations, seven bus interchanges and two Integrated Transport Hubs. We target to extend this initiative to all MRT stations by 2019 and to all bus interchanges and Integrated Transport Hubs by 2021. I would also like to take this opportunity to commend our commuters for showing care towards one another. At Outram Park MRT Station, the PTC launched the "Heart Zone" and "Heartwheels @ Linkway" initiatives in August 2017. I was there. Commuters who need help getting to Singapore General Hospital can wait at two designated areas for assistance. Wheelchairs are also provided at both ends of the transfer linkway. Many commuters have extended a helping hand to those in need, guiding them to their destinations, or pushing the wheelchairs along the linkway. I am very heartened by the success of these initiatives. We will continue to explore innovative solutions to help commuters with disabilities. Last year, we shared LTA’s plan to collaborate with SG Enable to "adopt" Redhill Station, to improve the first and last mile between the station and the Enabling Village.”
“We have observed a 70% decrease in the number of accidents involving the elderly in the completed Silver Zones. We will complete another six Silver Zones this year and expand the programme to 50 by 2023. As and when the need arises, we will look into providing more Silver Zones. We will also strive to make everyone’s journey to public transport more comfortable. This starts from your doorstep. In 2012, we embarked on the Walk2Ride programme to build a comprehensive network of covered linkways, connecting public transport to nearby developments. As mentioned by Mr Ang Wei Neng, and I agree totally, LTA usually consults the grassroots advisers and grassroots leaders before determining the alignment of the covered linkways to best serve the needs of pedestrians. I am pleased to announce that we are on track to meeting our target to have more than 200 km of covered linkways by the end of this year. We have also received feedback from the elderly and persons with disabilities that they have encountered difficulty climbing the stairs of pedestrian overhead bridges in order to cross the road. By the end of this year, we will complete lift installations for 47 pedestrian overhead bridges near public transport nodes. We will extend this programme to about 50 more overhead bridges, starting with those within walking distance from hospitals and polyclinics. We will do our best to meet the needs of the less mobile. However, we need to prioritise our efforts, given the high costs of about $4 million per pair of lifts. In this regard, I would like to reassure Mr Ang Wei Neng that we will be prudent in our efforts, focusing on locations which most benefit those commuters who are less ambulant. We also believe that everyone should be able to travel independently on public transport.”
“So, even as we create more good jobs and opportunities for our workers and companies, we are also working to enhance the quality of life for all Singaporeans. Minister Khaw Boon Wan spoke about a more reliable and smarter land transport system. I will now share MOT's plans towards a more inclusive and safer land transport system. Our land transport system should serve all Singaporeans, from the young and mobile, to the elderly, families with young children and persons with disabilities. We have made significant strides in our journey towards a more inclusive transport system but there are still areas where we can do better and in making the journeys more comfortable and convenient for Singaporeans from all walks of life. We will, therefore, need to continue to make our roads and paths safer for all, not just for the young and active, but also for those who are less mobile. We will also need to ensure that our transport system is accessible to all commuters, including those with diverse needs. Let me first elaborate on our initiatives to make our roads and paths safer for all, which both Mr Ang Hin Kee and Mr Png Eng Huat have spoken about. On Mr Png Eng Huat's concern about signalised junctions with shared green time, LTA has adjusted traffic light timings to give pedestrians a headstart in crossing the road, and installed lighted road studs, additional road markings and signs at higher risk junctions to remind motorists to give way. We will continue to study the situation and do more where we can. Mr Ang Hin Kee asked about the progress of Silver Zones. These are special areas with modified road designs and lower speed limits to make our streets safer. We have implemented 15 Silver Zones and the results have been very encouraging.”
“Moreover, if vessels are only allowed to make U-turns at these two designated areas, it may also result in bunching and congestion, potentially increasing the risk of incidents. So, this will affect the efficiency of our port and prevent vessels from proceeding to their next destination expeditiously. Instead, areas are demarcated within the TSS where vessels, taking necessary precaution, may make their crossing. Vessels have to play their part in ensuring safety. They must also comply with the rules of crossing. Mr Dennis Tan also suggested that MPA review the location of our pilot boarding grounds to minimise the risk of ships drifting when waiting for pilots. Indeed, we regularly review this. Most recently, in 2014, MPA worked with the industry to revise the locations of our pilot boarding grounds to reduce the risk of incidents. MPA also introduced a scheduling system for vessel arrivals. This reduced waiting time for ships and enhanced safety of navigation. Beyond rules and regulations, we seek to improve the practice of good seamanship and advocate a safety-first culture at sea. MPA established the National Maritime Safety at Sea Council in 2015 to drive such efforts. MPA also holds safety conferences, workshops and briefings under its Safety@Sea campaign. The Third International Safety@Sea Conference will be held in June this year. Mr Chairman, this is an exciting time for Maritime Singapore. Our maritime sector is not only growing but transforming fast. In the next few years, we expect many rewarding jobs to be created and new growth opportunities to emerge. The Government will continue to work closely with our partners so that we stand ready to seize these opportunities and ensure Singapore's continued success as a leading global maritime hub.”
“Let me assure Mr Dennis Tan that maritime safety remains an important priority for MPA. This is especially since the Singapore Strait is a very busy waterway used for international navigation, with 83,000 vessels transiting through it last year. Despite the heavy traffic, the number of major accidents in Singapore waters has dropped over the years, from 13 in 2011 to just two in 2017. To maintain navigational safety, MPA operates the Vessel Traffic Information System (VTIS) to monitor shipping traffic in the waters around Singapore. With the capability to concurrently track more than 10,000 vessels, VTIS enables MPA to provide timely information and advice to help vessels transit safely through the Strait. MPA carries out regular enhancements to its VTIS, which was installed in 2011 and upgraded early last year. In addition, MPA has built on the International Maritime Organisation's (IMO's) International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, and required all vessels, except for government and naval vessels, to turn on their Automatic Identification System (AIS) when calling at our port. Regulations also play an important role in ensuring safety. I thank Mr Dennis Tan for his several suggestions. Mr Dennis Tan proposed to ban crossings over the Traffic Separation Scheme (TSS) for ships leaving or entering our port and, instead, require them to make U-turns at the eastern and western ends of Singapore. We have looked into this and assessed that it is not that practical. Let me explain. Vessels that are east-bound via the Straits of Malacca will have to travel all the way to the east of Singapore, make a U-turn before calling at our port. This will require additional travel time.”
“For those who aspire to join the sector, MPA's Global Internship Award (GIA) offers students the opportunity to intern with international maritime companies in Singapore and overseas. For example, GIA was vital in helping Ms Melisa Yeo decide on embarking on a career in the maritime sector. In 2015, she completed a 10-week internship at shipping company Oldendorff, including a two-week stint in Lubeck, Germany. Melisa enjoyed the experience so much that she joined Oldendorff full-time upon graduation. She is now an operations trainee based in Singapore. Going forward, MPA will be enhancing the GIA to strengthen the relevance of the internship experience, and more details will be released ahead of the next run of the programme. For those in the sector, we will help them progress in their careers. MPA will roll out a new Global Talent Programme (GTP) to groom Singaporeans for leadership roles in the maritime sector, by offering them opportunities to hone their skills through structured rotations and overseas exposure. For seafarers who wish to upgrade themselves beyond their captain or chief engineer positions, MPA will also provide more progression pathways for their sea-to-shore transition. More details will be announced later this year. To implement these new manpower programmes and other initiatives in the Sea Transport ITM, MPA will top up its Maritime Cluster Fund by $100 million. The funds will also be used to grow non-traditional players in the maritime space, and support pilot projects to test new business concepts. But as we push on with these ambitious plans to grow Singapore as a maritime hub, we cannot neglect the basics. Mr Dennis Tan expressed his concerns about vessel traffic safety in the Singapore Strait.”
“Take, for example, Xjera Labs, a local startup that has ridden on the digitalisation wave to design AI-based solutions for the sector. With funding support from MPA, they worked with Jurong Port to develop a proof-of-concept that uses video analytics to automatically track container vehicles at the port. With this system, Jurong Port will be able to streamline security checks and improve operational efficiency, resulting in manpower savings of about 15%. To give more startups like Xjera Labs a helping hand, MPA will launch the Maritime Technology Acceleration Programme (MTAP) to help startups translate their ideas into marketable solutions. Under MTAP, promising startups and entrepreneurs will receive tailored mentorship from industry partners, and networking opportunities with potential investors. The Government will do its part as a convenor, demand aggregator and facilitator to help catalyse innovation. But ultimately, companies must take ownership in rethinking their operations to pursue higher productivity and new opportunities. We, therefore, encourage more companies to come on board MPA's schemes and projects under the Sea Transport ITM. Last but not least, a skilled maritime workforce is critical to meet the needs of the industry and set us apart from our competitors. Through our Sea Transport ITM efforts, more than 5,000 new jobs will be created in the sector by 2025, the majority of which will be professionals, managers, executives and technicians (PMET) jobs. To equip Singaporeans with the necessary skills and experience to take up these good jobs, we will introduce new and enhanced training programmes.”
“MPA’s Living Lab, which was set up last year, aggregates lead user demand and allows for the test-bedding of technologies in real operational conditions. Several projects have been initiated. These include the development of a remote-assisted pilotage system for harbour pilots to steer vessels from shore, and the testing of vessel traffic management solutions. To spur the development of more of such solutions, MPA will set up the new Singapore Maritime Data Hub (SG-MDH). For a start, the SG-MDH will make available to the industry and the public real-time access to MPA’s port and ship-related data. Over time, other kinds of industry data will also be shared. With this rich information resource, anyone will be able to analyse or even overlay the data with their own datasets, opening up possibilities for the development of new applications, services and products. At the same time, the new Maritime Transformation Programme (MTP), which was announced by the Minister for Finance during his Budget Statement this year, will further strengthen research and innovation efforts in the sector. Supported by the National Research Foundation (NRF) and MPA, the MTP will co-fund, with matching investments from industry players, the development of technologies with high potential for industry application. With its focus on automating and digitalising port and shipping operations, and enhancing maritime safety and security, MTP will be pivotal in driving industry transformation, making our port smarter and safer, and our IMC more competitive. 11.15 am To ensure that our companies and workers benefit from the sector’s transformation, we will grow and build the capabilities of local enterprises.”
“Building up our physical connectivity alone is not enough. We must also build a more interconnected and vibrant network, to be a node for maritime business activities and information flows. Today, Singapore's IMC is home to over 5,000 establishments and offers a comprehensive range of maritime services. Looking ahead, we will continue to grow the diversity of our services. Besides encouraging established companies to venture into new business activities, we will catalyse the growth of non-traditional players. These include maritime technology enterprises, such as Alpha Ori and Metcore, and digital platforms like VesselsValue. To facilitate expertise and resource sharing among companies in the sector, the Maritime Port Authority (MPA) will also co-fund the costs of shared workspaces and services. In the longer term, we will explore setting up a port and logistics cluster at Tuas to encourage collaboration and co-innovation with related sectors. This will open up new growth areas for our companies and enable us to leverage Singapore’s hub connectivity to enhance our value-capture. For example, co-locating logistics firms near the port could spur more efficient supply chain management and allow them to experiment with fresh concepts, such as inter-modal logistics. Second, we will create a vibrant and innovative maritime sector to help drive industry transformation. Singapore’s maritime sector is already on the steady pathway of innovation and experimentation. But more needs to be done. Mr Lee Yi Shyan asked about our plans to champion R&D in transport technology. We will continue to provide an enabling environment for innovation to facilitate the development of smarter solutions.”
“Pasir Panjang Terminal Phases 3 and 4 will be fully operational by the end of this month. Significant investments, such as in the Next Generation Tuas Port, will ensure that Singapore retains its leading position as a global hub port. Reclamation works for the first phase of Tuas Terminal are progressing well. As of last month, more than 70% of the 200-plus caissons have been installed, and the remainder will be completed by early next year. We will also strengthen our connections to the region to enhance Singapore's position as a key node in the region's maritime network. I spoke about how we can pursue opportunities under China’s BRI. Under the Chongqing Connectivity Initiative, which is the third government-to-government (G2G) project between Singapore and China, we have developed the Southern Transport Corridor (STC), the maritime route linking China’s overland Silk Road Economic Belt and the Maritime Silk Road. This will strengthen our position as China's gateway to Southeast Asia and create new opportunities for our local companies to venture overseas. We are working on enhancing and growing the STC. In fact, many of our companies are already participating in BRI. To tap on growing trade from Western China, PSA operates many ports along the BRI, including Qinzhou in the Guangxi-Beibu Gulf, which provides direct access by rail to Chongqing, a gateway to China's vast inland area. Local shipping line, Pacific International Lines, has similarly invested in logistics facilities in the region and runs shipping routes between the Guangxi-Beibu Gulf and Singapore. Back home, PSA has also entered into a joint venture with China Ocean Shipping Company (COSCO) Shipping to operate three berths at Pasir Panjang Terminal, which will help bring trade volumes through Singapore.”
“And as Mr Ang Wei Neng noted, several developments have sparked talk about the emergence of alternative trade routes in the region. China is investing in ports and transport infrastructure across Southeast Asia under its Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). These include several ports and the East Coast Rail Line in Malaysia. Interest in the Kra Canal has also recently surfaced, but it remains uncertain whether it will be built. We will continue to monitor these developments. As the region develops, it is inevitable that our port will face greater competition from alternative ports and trade routes. Thus, while we are well-placed, we cannot be complacent. The only way for us to stay ahead is to continue to innovate and look for new growth opportunities. For instance, with our strong connectivity, we are in a good position to contribute to and pursue opportunities under BRI. In the longer term, the growth in trade and networks in the region will also benefit Singapore. To build on our strengths to meet new challenges, we have set out new growth strategies for Singapore’s maritime sector, which are in line with the IMC 2030 Advisory Committee's recommendations to grow Singapore as a "Global Maritime Hub for Connectivity, Innovation and Talent". These strategies will prepare our companies and workers for the future. Let me speak about each of them in turn. First, we will continue to enhance Singapore’s connectivity. This will enable us to remain plugged into the regional and global economy and continue to be relevant as a hub for maritime activity and businesses. To boost our physical connectivity, we are investing in long-term port capacity and infrastructure to meet the industry’s needs.”
“Mr Chairman, Maritime Singapore is a thriving ecosystem, anchored on our global hub port and vibrant international maritime centre (IMC). Overall, the maritime sector remains a strong pillar of Singapore’s economic growth, contributing about 7% of our GDP and more than 170,000 jobs in over 5,000 maritime establishments. Let me now provide an update on the performance of Singapore’s maritime hub and our efforts to ensure its continued competitiveness. Singapore's port registered a strong performance in 2017. Our container throughput rose significantly by 8.9% to 33.7 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs). We also handled a record total of 626.2 million tonnes of cargoes, an increase of 5.5% over the previous year. Our IMC also performed well and was ranked the world’s top international shipping centre by Baltic-Xinhua for the fourth consecutive time. We welcomed new players, such as Ocean Network Express, which will set up its global headquarters in Singapore this April. Existing players like Maersk, CMA CGM and Thome also expanded their presence in Singapore with the establishment of their new vessel monitoring hubs. We have done well. However, we are mindful that the sector’s landscape is evolving rapidly and remains challenging. Digitalisation is already transforming global transportation and supply chains, blurring the boundaries between the shipping and logistics sectors. Emerging technologies, like blockchain, are paving the way for new business models, forcing companies to rethink the way they do business or risk being disintermediated altogether. The external environment is also changing. Faced with structural problems like slowing trade growth and shipping overcapacity, the outlook for the global maritime sector remains uncertain.”
“With your permission, Mr Chairman, may I display some slides on the LED screens during my speech?”
“Mr Speaker, based on the Land Transport Authority's 2017 Household Interview Travel Survey, about a quarter of households own bicycles and about 125,000 people use them for their daily commute. Our Walk Cycle Ride aspiration is for Singaporeans to choose to walk, cycle and ride public transport, instead of driving. We have set a target of 75% of peak hour trips to be on public transport by 2030. The mode share of public transport has risen from 64% in 2013 to 67% last year. We expect it to rise further as more rail lines are launched. The increasing use of personal mobility devices as a first- and last-mile mode of travel has also contributed towards this vision. 10.17 am”
“I would like to thank Ms Thanaletchmi for the supplementary question. Indeed, she is right that there is a bit of unevenness amongst the various providers. That is why MOH felt that it is probably not the right time to have an ILTC association as such. With AIC being the sector developer and coordinator, we are able to help each and every individual operator to level up. I would like to assure Ms Thanaletchmi that we have not precluded the idea of an ILTC association in the future. We will watch this space very closely.”
“Mr Speaker, institutions providing intermediate and long-term care services can, indeed, benefit from the sharing of best practices, standards, staff training as well as pooling of resources for better economies of scale. Today, there are already representative bodies that organise such efforts, sometimes in collaboration with the Ministry of Health (MOH) and the Agency for Integrated Care (AIC). Examples include the Singapore Hospice Council and the Association of Private Nursing Home Operators. In addition, most of the voluntary welfare organisation (VWO) providers in this sector are members of the National Council of Social Service (NCSS). NCSS' key roles include raising the capabilities of the VWO members and strengthening partnerships among them. These representative bodies are complemented by AIC, which plays the roles of sector developer and coordinator. AIC convenes regular sector-wide platforms to raise the quality of care, build up competencies and facilitate effective practices across the sector. In recent years, AIC has promulgated standards, such as the Enhanced Nursing Home Standards and Guidelines for Home and Centre-based Care, and convened industry committees to develop strategies and initiatives in quality improvement and manpower development. AIC has also brought providers together for better economies of scale in areas, such as procurement of consumables and organisation of transport services, and intends to extend this to new shared services, such as security and waste management. The current structures are serving us well. We will continue to assess how we can better promote the interests of the Intermediate and Long-Term Care (ILTC) sector and to raise the level of industry practices and professionalism of ILTC sector workers.”
“Mr Speaker, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) has entered into partnerships with Nanyang Technological University (NTU) and ST Kinetics (STK) to develop autonomous buses. These autonomous bus projects are progressing well, with NTU and STK on track to commence trials in 2019. The trials will initially be carried out in a controlled environment at the CETRAN Autonomous Vehicle (AV) Test Centre, before expanding into designated areas with lighter traffic, such as NTU, CleanTech Park and Jurong Island. The lessons learnt will be useful when LTA subsequently deploys the autonomous buses to public roads. Separately, LTA has also issued a request for information (RFI) on the deployment of AV buses in Punggol, Tengah and the Jurong Innovation District. We hope that the RFI returns will help us gauge industry’s readiness and interest in AV pilot deployment, as well as give us inputs on concepts of operations, such as management of AV fleets and infrastructural requirements. The pilot deployment is expected to provide important insights into commuter acceptance of AVs and how we can scale up their deployment across Singapore.”
“Mr Speaker, I would like to thank Ms Joan Pereira for the supplementary question. Currently, health supplements and the dealers are not required to be approved for licence by HSA, and health supplements are allowed to be sold on the Internet but must not contain harmful substances or western pharmaceutical drugs or prohibited substances. While I understand the concern, it is not possible to police online sales of health supplements completely. Therefore, HSA takes a risk-based approach in monitoring the online sales of health supplements through the following modalities. Firstly, HSA conducts routine surveillance and monitors online sites based on feedback and complaints. Secondly, HSA also works closely with our international counterparts which include information exchange and sharing of alerts to strengthen the detection of unsafe and poor-quality health supplements sold locally. In addition to that, HSA administers a post-market surveillance programme to monitor the safety of marketed health supplements and to initiate timely product recalls when necessary. Last but not least, the post-market surveillance testing is further complemented by our adverse reaction monitoring programme to pick up early safety sickness, thereby, facilitating timely intervention to protect the public.”
“Mr Speaker, most Singaporeans can meet the Recommended Dietary Allowances for key nutrients, such as dietary fibre, iron, calcium, vitamin A and vitamin C, from their usual dietary intake. Certain groups of people may be at risk of deficiencies, such as pregnant women and those with restricted diets or certain medical conditions, and they can benefit from some dietary supplements. The best way for most of us to get the nutrients we need is to eat a balanced diet of a variety of foods. This includes plenty of fruits and vegetables, sufficient grains as well as dairy and non-dairy sources of protein, and keeping food and drinks high in fat and sugar to the minimum. Health supplements cannot and should not replace a balanced diet. Supplements should not be used to treat or cure diseases in lieu of appropriate medical intervention. The Health Promotion Board (HPB) consistently advises the public against self-medicating using health supplements and to always consult a health professional before taking any health supplements. In addition, the Health Sciences Authority (HSA) issues consumer advisories to educate and advise consumers to be more savvy and discerning in their purchase and consumption of health supplements. These are published through media releases, media articles and consumer guides on the HSA and HPB's Health Hub websites. For products sold locally, HSA administers a post-market surveillance programme to sample and test these products for harmful ingredients, contaminants or adulterants. Over the last five years, more than 900 health supplements were tested. Eight products were found to contain western pharmaceutical drugs or toxic heavy metals and were removed from the market.”
“I would like to thank Mr Ang Hin Kee for the supplementary question. The deployment of autonomous vehicles will be done in phases. We do understand the concerns on the ground with regards to displacement of bus captains as well as taxi drivers, for the project in PDD is going to be confined to within the district where it will provide the last-mile and the first-mile connectivity. But, of course, the technology of autonomous vehicles is advancing very quickly and we are watching the space very closely. Eventually, in years to come, it may extend to other parts of Singapore as well.”