Lawrence Wong
Singapore
“Sir, we will provide more information. I see the value of getting Ministries to put out more information, to share more about how their resources are being used and what outcomes they have achieved.”
“Sir, I agree fully with Mr Azhar that human capacity, human capital is critical. In fact, I would say the long-term potential of Singapore, how far we go really depends on us being able to maximise our human potential. That is key and that is why we have long invested in education. And it is not just about the investments.”
“Sir, we have been maintaining that commitment of 1% for some time now. I do not think it is about saying that we just have to do more and spend more. As many have highlighted, we want to ensure good outcomes from our R&D spending as well. So, we will continue if the outcomes are good.”
“This has never been the case. Temasek, when it started, was always very clear about its mandate from the very beginning – commercial, not doing national service, focused on commercial outcomes.”
“Sir, the MOF economists when they look at fiscal projections use Government's forecast of the economy, which is also published. We would typically use the mid-point of the range and then, of course, because these are in nominal terms, you have to factor for that. And the projections are done on those basis.”
“Sir, I was relieved that Mr Loh said he only has one question, but he asked the most difficult question. To answer the question, we will continue to monitor cost of living across all segments of society.”
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“I think these are all questions that we are anticipating. It is all part of the package of measures we are looking at to help companies, employers and households as well. So, we will, as I said earlier, put in place a series of measures to help those who are impacted and we will take all this into consideration in our package.”
“Mr Speaker, maybe the last question first. The travel restrictions that we have put in place apply to Mainland China. Hong Kong has fewer confirmed cases than Singapore. Maybe people might want to apply travel restrictions on Singapore then. I think our approach is to be looking at evidence, at the source of where the virus is, how widely it is spreading and which are the at-risk sources. Yes, I think we will not rule out more actions on travel restrictions, as we have said, but it has to be based not just on geographical proximity or distance but based on evidence on the nature of the virus, how widely it is spreading, at the risk. And if there are risks posed to Singapore and Singaporeans, we will not rule out other measures on travel restrictions. On the 30,000 Work Permit holders, I should clarify they are still in China now, they have not come back. Not all of them live in our housing estates. So, we are doing a tabulation, working directly with the employers to identify who they are, which sectors, where are their places of residence today. That exercise is underway now, so that we can be ready when these workers return, be ready to engage the employers, to be ready to engage the landlords. If some of them are living in dorms, be ready to ensure that our dorms are properly fitted out to have these workers living in more isolated areas without interaction and contamination with their fellow workers. That is the work that is happening, already been happening and we are continuing with this process. The question is what happens if employers need help because they say they are impacted by their workers who are coming back and unable to work, what happens if family members need help because somebody is on LOA within their home and then they, too, are impacted.”
“There are designated times to pick up the masks so there are no large crowds at all in any of them. People are just picking up as and when they are free during the designated times. So, based on the exercise that we have done so far, I would say this distribution method is more effective.”
“Mr Speaker, as the Member would have read from the media reports, the Price Controller has, indeed, already a letter of demand (LOD) to one platform provider requesting for more information in order to assess the need for further action under the Price Control Act. Letters of demand (LODs) have also been sent to other e-commerce platforms like Lazada and Carousell to request information on any potential profiteers on their platform. So, we will not rule out any option at this stage. The Price Controller is pursuing, investigating, getting more information and, if need be, more actions can be taken. But, as of now, I would say, looking at the prices, some of these platform providers have cooperated. I heard recently that some of them have even removed some of these listings with very exorbitant prices. So, anyway, the Price Controller is on top of this. It is following up on the matter and it will consider actions that need to be taken against profiteering. On the second supplementary question, we had deliberated over this and we felt that if you were to distribute masks via post, there may well be wastage because some households will not need the masks. Like I have mentioned earlier, even in the collection exercise, when we go around and residents come to us, they say, "Actually, please, I do not need the masks. I am not going to collect it. You save it, either for your stockpile or you give it to someone else." So, in that sense, a collection exercise would be a more prudent way of distributing masks. And to address the concern of people gathering together, we had decentralised the distribution points to void decks, RC centres. It is proceeding in a very orderly fashion. If you go to any of these collection centres now, there are no queues.”
“Mr Speaker, given the way the virus is spreading and the way the situation is unravelling, I believe China understands why some of these restrictions are needed. China itself has restricted its own people from travelling outside of China precisely because they do not want to spread this virus to other countries. So, they, too, see the need and recognise the need for travel restrictions on its own people and to contain the virus in China. So, what we and many other countries that have put in place similar restrictions are doing, are really complementary to China's own actions. It is in all of our interest, be it China, Singapore or any other country. It is in our collective interest to tackle this situation together as a global community in order to limit the spread of the virus and contain it as much as possible.”
“The Member said anti-PRC sentiments are showing up everywhere in the world arising from this virus outbreak. And as I mentioned in my speech just now, we see this in Singapore, too. How can we deal with this? As I mentioned just now, all of us should take a united stand to condemn such prejudices or discriminatory behaviours or actions whenever we see them. For specific cases, let us say it is a landlord that is taking a very irresponsible action to evict a tenant without any basis, then we will see if some actions can be taken against the landlord because, again, doing something like this is not just an individual action. It can have repercussions on our whole containment efforts and can be ultimately harmful to all of us. So, for specific actions, we will look at them and engage the landlord and see if tougher action needs to be taken. But for the overall tone of society, we need everyone to speak up, to voice up and we need every Singaporean to do their part to condemn such behaviour.”
“Mr Speaker, we are aware of this feedback from the groups that are under LOA because they are doing this on advisory with their employers or, if they are self-employed, then they are doing it themselves. There is quarantine allowance and they are seeking some help. So, we are mindful of the feedback. We are studying if there are some immediate measures that can be put in place to support and help them.”
“Mr Speaker, anyone coming back from Hubei, Wuhan, basically Hubei province, would be deemed to be of higher risk. And, therefore, anyone coming back, we would want them to be isolated and quarantined. There are these processes in place. Can we improve them, can we make the waiting time shorter? I am sure the agencies are going all out to see how it can be streamlined and improved. But we hope Singaporeans and travellers in this category would understand. First of all, for new arrivals we have already stopped the flow. But Singaporeans, PRs and long-term pass holders can still come back. And if you are coming back from Hubei, you are of a higher risk, and we would want you to be isolated and quarantined. There will be some inconvenience. But please bear with us while we work through the process and see if these processes can be continued to be improved.”
“With all these measures in place, we should continue to assure Singaporeans there is no need to be fearful or to overreact due to fear or panic. In fact, this is critical because if the situation were to escalate, as Minister Gan Kim Yong said, we have to be prepared for things to get worse. We have to be prepared for more cases in Singapore even for community spread. If that were to happen, we do need quarantine facilities and Singaporeans all have to cooperate and we seek their understanding that this is an essential part of ensuring that we can get through the situation together.”
“Mr Speaker, I can confirm to Ms Denise Phua's question that there is no need to fear having a Government quarantine facility nearby or even having somebody within the same apartment block subject to home quarantine. Firstly, we have to be mindful that anyone who is in quarantine is not an infected person. They are not. They have been exposed so they are of some risk. Yes, they have been subject to some exposure perhaps through close contacts, perhaps they have been back home from China recently, particularly in Hubei, so we want them to be quarantined just to be safe. But we should not assume automatically that anyone in quarantine is infected. They are not. Number two, when they are in quarantine, there are strict protocols and procedures to ensure that they stick to, and they remain within the place of quarantine. I mentioned a few things that we do – phone calls, video calls, spot checks, a whole range of things for home quarantine. In the quarantine facilities, there are also strict parameters. These people will be within the location where they are quarantined. They will not be able to wonder about so easily. Thirdly, there are also some fears that, let us say, there is a person nearby under quarantine. Yes, quarantine is safe, but if there is some chance that this person later on is found to be infected, then he may have moved around; then there is fear somehow that I mentioned on WhatsApp, avoid coming to this place. I do not know if I have touched objects or places around me or contaminated, and if I touched them, I might get sick. So, thirdly, whenever there is a confirmed case, there is a thorough cleaning and disinfection process to make sure the place is entirely cleaned and disinfected, and NEA supervises that.”
“That is why I said we are studying this very carefully to develop a series of measures and a strong package in the Budget to help companies and workers. In the interim, wherever we can, we will develop and quickly roll out initiatives to help firms without having to wait for the Budget. STB has already put up one set of initiatives and we are in the midst of studying if more can be done.”
“Mr Speaker, we have been in touch with the Chinese authorities and also with all the Singaporeans who are in Wuhan. Our Beijing Mission is in touch with them. So, in the last exercise, there were about 90-plus Singaporeans and four of them were unable to come back because they had already shown symptoms: one was hospitalised and three of them had shown symptoms and they were deemed not fit to fly. So, 92 came back. That was in the last exercise. The vast majority of this group had come back. We believe that there are still about 140 Singaporeans in Wuhan now. Most of them have spouses who may not be Singaporeans. So, they have either chosen to remain in China for the time being or they would like to come back but we have to work out arrangements because it is not so straightforward, being married to non-Singaporeans. So, we are still in touch with the Chinese authorities to see what else can be done for the group of people who wish to come back, and we are also in touch with the Singaporeans directly. On whether there are any Singaporeans outside of Hubei who have been infected with the virus, we do not know of anyone at this point in time. On the scale of the impact on the economy, we are monitoring this very carefully. I think we are only seeing the initial brunt of it now because, with the viral situation continuing to grow, with the travel restrictions and the situation continuing to escalate, I am sure the impact will not only be for the sectors that are directly impacted, like trade, transport and tourism, but there will be knock-on impacts. China's own economy will slow down and the global economy will slow down. So, there will be an overall impact on the economy.”
“On top of the food, they are helping to pack and deliver welfare packs, including items like snacks and hot drinks. At NUS, I understand that students are even organising a 24-hour e-gaming tournament to keep the students on LOA occupied. We see shining examples of selfless acts by Singaporeans in the Scoot pilots and crew of TR121 who volunteered to fly the 92 Singaporeans from Wuhan despite the risks to themselves. Two Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) officials volunteered for this assignment despite the risks and are being quarantined when they came back. Most of all, we see Singaporeans from all walks of life carrying on with their lives with courage and calmness. In every sector, our friends from the media are busy covering the news. I am seeing them almost every day these days and you see them busy on the ground, correspondents still in China covering the news, providing us with up-to-date information so that we are familiar with the facts and the latest developments. Our frontline workers, those in our healthcare institutions, our healthcare workers, workers at our checkpoints and our airports, our transport workers, all carrying on with their lives quietly, doing whatever they can to fight this virus. So, I want to thank everyone for showing that Singaporeans can rise to this occasion and overcoming this challenging situation together. This is the Singapore Spirit which will enable us to prevail against the virus. At this point, no one can tell for sure how the situation will develop or how long this will last. But I am confident that we will succeed in this fight, if we stand united as an effective Government, a cohesive people and a resolute nation. Mr Speaker, we can and will overcome this challenge together.”
“Online, you can see posts directed against PRC nationals. On the ground, you hear reports of discrimination against PRC nationals, whether it is landlords denying them their tenancy or service providers denying them service. Such actions are not helpful and they have no place in our society. We are bigger than this in Singapore and I hope all of us here in this House, regardless of political party, and every Singaporean will stand together and we will all do our part to confront and condemn such prejudice and discrimination wherever they exist. But I am glad that these behaviours are still in the minority. They are not representative of the vast majority of Singaporeans. There are many more out there who have been showing us the best of Singapore at work. They are quietly helping their fellow citizens in their own ways. For example, at a recent house visit, I met a resident and asked if he had collected his masks and he replied that he did not need them and asked for his package of masks to be given to others who are in greater need of them. I am sure many Members here would have encountered similar residents giving such feedback. Over the weekend, too, we have seen residents who have spontaneously stepped forward, volunteering either by themselves or even with their children alongside them, to man the mask collection points as well as to distribute the masks to the homes of their more vulnerable neighbours, especially those with mobility issues. Many Singaporeans are also doing their part through many selfless acts to support those who are affected. In the National University of Singapore (NUS) and Nanyang Technological University (NTU), the students are helping their friends on LOA by delivering food three times a day to them.”
“In fact, the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) has already announced the first set of measures for this sector, including the waiver of licence fees for hotels, travel agents and tour guides. Besides these specific sectors, we recognise that there will be knock-on impacts on related industries in the event of a broad-based slowdown. So, we are working out a package of measures to help viable companies stay afloat and to help workers stay in their jobs. This package of measures will be announced during the Budget. As I have said at the start, we need all Singaporeans to stand united in this fight against the coronavirus. In a situation like this, fear is sometimes as great a threat to us as the disease itself. We must not allow such fears to paralyse our society. We must never allow our prejudices and fears to pull apart our society or foster greater division and suspicions. As we did in SARS and other previous challenges over the years, let us find strength and confidence in one another – the strength to carry on with our lives and to support one another and defeat this virus together. I cited some examples of irresponsible behaviours earlier by landlords chasing out tenants on LOAs. Unfortunately, there are other examples, too – people hoarding and profiteering from the sale of masks; people spreading falsehoods online. Recently, a WhatsApp message has been going around with a list of places to avoid, completely ignoring the fact that any place exposed to a confirmed case will be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected, under supervision by the National Environment Agency (NEA). But, still, a list of places to avoid is spread, and that creates fear and a perception that people should avoid these places. Anti-PRC sentiment has also emerged amongst some groups.”
“I would like to record my thanks to the SAF, to PA and all who have been involved in the smooth and speedy execution of this ongoing exercise. Let me reiterate once again that there are sufficient supplies of masks in Singapore, as long as they are used responsibly. So, let us all do our part to ensure the sustainability of our mask stockpile, so that our frontline healthcare workers will have the necessary supplies to carry out their work. It has been slightly over a month since the virus outbreak in China, and businesses are already feeling the impact – businesses here in Singapore. Depending on how the situation evolves, the impact to the economy can further broaden and intensify. The Government will, therefore, extend support and help for our companies and workers. We already provide a quarantine allowance to Singapore-based businesses to cover their employees who are quarantined, and to self-employed Singaporeans and Permanent Residents (PRs) who are in quarantine. the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) and National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) will also work closely with employers to support any affected workers and to protect their livelihoods. In addition, the Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) is working with the community and grassroots organisations to reach out to Singaporeans and PRs under quarantine. We will provide ComCare financial assistance and social support to those in need to tide through this difficult period. Finally, as Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat said on Saturday, the Government will provide targeted support to the sectors that have been more directly impacted, including tourism and transport, and related industries and firms.”
“Producers around the world are struggling to keep pace with the demand. And some places like Taiwan have even banned the export of masks. We have existing contracts from various producers to replenish our stockpile. But in light of the current situation, we have to seriously consider the risks of our supply lines being disrupted. Because of the rapid consumption rate that we had seen earlier and the potential threat to our supply lines, we decided to change the method of distribution of masks from our national stockpile. And that is why, firstly, we slowed the supply of masks to retailers and prioritised the masks for essential services, namely, our frontline healthcare workers. Secondly, for the general public, we decided to release masks directly from the stockpile to households, so that every family will have access to a mask should someone in the family fall sick and need to use one to see a doctor. The nationwide distribution of masks was a major exercise in its own right. We mobilised the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) and People's Association (PA) for this task and they all did a sterling job. Within a very short turnaround time, the SAF had completed the packing of over five million masks and delivered them to our collection points. Our PA staff and grassroots organisations then took over to set up collection centres at CCs and Residents' Committee (RC) centres and to man the collection counters. Even the Government Technology Agency (GovTech) chipped in and came up with a "maskgowhere" website, where you can just key in your postal code to get information on where and when to collect the masks. The collection of masks started on 1 February, on Saturday, and, to date, more than 200,000 packs, or 15% of the total, have been collected.”
“To date, more than 300,000 have signed up for the service and I encourage anyone who has not done so to subscribe and to get the latest verified information and advisories. As the situation continues to evolve, we ask Singaporeans to continue turning to official or credible sources for accurate and up-to-date information. We ask Singaporeans to be discerning and share only verified information. Together, we can help prevent misinformation and falsehoods from sowing fear and causing panic in our society. At the individual level, it is also essential that all of us continue to uphold good personal hygiene, as emphasised by Minister Gan Kim Yong just now. Wash our hands regularly with soap, do not touch our face with our hands, cover our mouths when we cough or sneeze. If you have flu-like symptoms, avoid public places and wear a mask on your way to the clinic, so that you do not risk infecting others. We have said these repeatedly. But we should all continue to emphasise these points to get the message across. This now brings me to the topic of masks – face masks. To prepare for any emergency, stockpiles of essential items are critical. Over the years, and learning from the experience of SARS and other crises, we have built up a stockpile of surgical and N95 masks. But no stockpile is sufficient if we do not use the supplies judiciously. In the nine days leading up to end of 29 January, the Government released more than five million masks from our stockpile to the retailers. All were snapped up in a matter of hours. But still, there were people who were not able to get access to a mask. At the same time, with the virus spreading to countries all over the world, there is now a global scramble for masks.”
“The whole-of-Government officials are going all out to tackle this. But all that is not enough. We need every Singaporean to play their part, to take all necessary precautions and to exercise individual and collective responsibility. For example, employers can help by ensuring their employees who have just returned from China stay at home under LOA. If anyone in the office is sick, employers should immediately ask them to see a doctor and stay at home to recover. We also have a responsibility, in this time of heightened alert, not to spread unverified information or false news which can cause needless panic and fear. Unfortunately, in recent times, there have been various online posts and articles containing various falsehoods, for example, that we have run out of masks, that someone in Singapore has died from the virus, that Woodlands Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) station was shut for disinfection. These are all false – fake news – and fortunately, we now have the Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Act (POFMA) to deal with such fake news. The Government has used POFMA to correct them and clarify the facts swiftly and we will continue to do so to avoid unnecessary panic and anxiety. Even as we address false information, we have stepped up our efforts to provide everyone with timely and accurate information. We try to reach all segments of society through various platforms, including broadcast media, display panels in Housing and Development Board (HDB) estates, Government websites and social media. We have been using Gov.sg WhatsApp to provide timely updates to Singaporeans in all our official languages.”
“We have put in place measures like the Quarantine Orders and LOA to protect Singaporeans from the spread of the virus. Singaporeans must also do their part to cooperate. Some residents, upon learning that there is a person under home quarantine or LOA in the same apartment block, have asked that this person be moved elsewhere. We have also heard feedback of landlords stigmatising tenants based on their nationality, or worse, evicting PRC tenants who are taking their LOA. I can appreciate that Singaporeans are very concerned about the well-being of themselves and their family members. But if landlords start turning tenants away, then our overall containment efforts will be much harder and we end up in endangering ourselves and others. The outcome would be completely counterproductive. So, we should not condone such irresponsible actions that will end up putting Singapore and Singaporeans at greater risk. In such difficult times, we should not let our fears overwhelm us and cause us to overreact. Instead let us support one another and look out for one another, so that we can all get through this together. This brings me to the third line of defence on community and individual responsibility. The Government will do everything we can in this fight against the virus. Many of our officials are going beyond their usual duties to focus on this challenge. They include our healthcare and medical personnel at the frontline; ICA officers manning the checkpoints; Police and Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) officers and Auxiliary Police screening incoming travellers and safeguarding persons under quarantine as well as the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) and the Maritime and Port Authority (MPA) officers at airport and cruise terminals; and many, many more.”
“For each case, we will assess whether to quarantine the person at the GQF or to do so at the person’s home. In cases where the home is found to be suitable by MOH, then home quarantine would apply and we would use video calls, phone calls and regular spot checks to ensure that they remain in their assigned quarantined location. These are protocols that we have all worked out through SARs and finetuned over the years, as I mentioned. Persons who do not have a suitable residence for quarantine would then be housed in GQF and there are severe penalties for non-compliance of the Quarantine Order, including fines or jail. Besides quarantine for close contacts and high-risk groups, we have also taken precautionary measures for recent travellers from other parts of mainland China, outside of Hubei, as I mentioned just now. Our assessment is that they are of lower risk compared to those who were recently in Hubei. So, for all such returning residents and long-term pass holders, we ask them to take a 14-day Leave of Absence (LOA) from the date of their return. This is one way to reduce their exposure when they are back and thus reduce the risk of community spread in Singapore. Those on LOA are expected to remain in their residence as much as possible, minimise visitors and maintain a record of persons they come into close contact with. They also need to minimise time spent in public places and contact with others, monitor their health and temperature daily, and avoid crowded places or social gatherings. We have put out guidelines on what an LOA means just to ensure that anyone who is on LOA knows what they are expected to do. They may resume normal duties or activities only after they have served their LOA, if they remain well.”
“This is necessary to reduce the flow of people coming from the source of the virus outbreak and to limit the number of imported cases coming into Singapore. That is our first line of defence at the border. Beyond border controls, our second line of defence is to identify and isolate the people with the virus, as well as all of the close contacts of the infected persons. We have a well-established contact tracing procedure, which we put in place during SARS, and have continued to finetune through emergency exercises and through experiences dealing with previous outbreaks like MERS and H1N1. As of 8.00 am today, we have 18 confirmed cases of the virus, all with recent travel history in Hubei, as Minister Gan Kim Yong mentioned earlier. Sixteen are PRC nationals, mostly here on short-term passes and the other two are Singaporeans who were among the 92 who came back recently from Wuhan after the city was locked down. Beyond the confirmed cases, we have tested a broader group of 240 suspect cases, all of whom are negative; and then there are another 43 suspect cases, for which test results are pending. All of the outstanding suspect cases have been isolated. The close contacts of the confirmed cases are also now on quarantine. In addition, we have been contacting the recent travellers from Hubei who are presently in Singapore and putting those of higher risk on quarantine. As of last night, there are 524 persons under quarantine. Two hundred and twenty-two are in Government Quarantine Facilities (GQF), and 302 are serving quarantine at home. Persons under Quarantine are required to stay in their designated location at all times during the quarantine period. They cannot physically interact with others living in the same premises.”
“After the Chinese imposed outbound restrictions on 23 January, this number came down sharply by more than 80%, just through the Chinese measures alone. Despite these measures, we recognised that there was still a flow of travellers coming in from China on a regular basis. We monitored this flow carefully and considered what additional actions were needed based on the evidence and risks. Early last week, when we saw the sharply accelerating trend of infection among the population of Chinese nationals from Hubei province, we knew we had to move. And that is why on 28 January, we decided to disallow all new visitors with recent travel history in Hubei. But shortly after that, the situation changed again. While the majority of confirmed cases in China were still linked to Hubei province, it was evident that the virus had spread to every region of mainland China and there was a high risk of widespread community transmission in other parts of China. And so, on 31 January, last Friday, we decided to take the additional precaution of disallowing all new visitors with recent travel history in the rest of mainland China. As part of these travel restrictions, the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) is no longer issuing new visas to those with PRC passports and suspending all such visas. That is because the vast majority of such travellers coming in for short visits would have been in China recently. But if there are PRC passport holders who have not been in China in the past 14 days, then ICA will be prepared to issue them a short-term visitor pass or to extend their short-term pass. And that is why I had emphasised earlier that the travel restrictions are not tied to nationality but are meant to restrict all travellers with recent travel history in China.”
“And we have to be extra vigilant on this front because Singapore is an international travel hub, with more than 68 million people using our airport last year. So, a virus that comes through our airport will not only impact Singapore, but it can also easily spread through us to other countries in the region. That is why we have to be extra vigilant. To protect against such an infectious disease outbreak when it happens outside of Singapore, we have a series of drawer plans and measures at the border. They range from the screening of in-bound travellers, to placing high-risk travellers into quarantine, as well as restricting travel for those who have recently been to high-risk countries. And then, depending on the nature of the outbreak, we will assess the risks and put in place the appropriate measures. This is the approach the Taskforce has taken in dealing with this virus. We first implemented temperature screening at Changi Airport for flights from Wuhan. And then, we expanded the screening to all flights from China, and also to our land and sea checkpoints. As an additional precaution, and because not all who are infected will show symptoms, we deployed healthcare teams at the aerobridge for all incoming flights from China to identify and pull aside passengers who look unwell. At the same time, it helped that China had moved swiftly to impose restrictions on its own outbound travellers. It cancelled outbound tour groups. All of these measures helped to reduce the flow of people from China to Singapore. Typically, there will be about 14,000 People's Republic of China (PRC) travellers flying in from China to Singapore every day.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, the Minister for Health has spoken about the 2019 Novel Coronavirus situation and explained how we have prepared for this since SARS, as well as the public health measures that we have taken so far. I will now elaborate on the other aspects of the work of the Multi-Ministry Taskforce. The Taskforce was formed just about two weeks ago, and we have been meeting almost daily since then to deal with a very fast moving and constantly changing situation. The novel coronavirus is a new virus, and medical experts everywhere are rushing to understand more about how it spreads, how severe it is and how it can be treated. So, we constantly update our risk assessments based on the latest information and expert advice. We also look ahead to anticipate as best as we can how the situation will evolve and prepare for the possibility that things can worsen. That is why over the past week alone, we have had to adjust and update our measures several times. We owe it to every Singaporean to do our very best to protect all of us from the virus. So, in all that we do, the overall health and well-being of Singaporeans have been and will be our top priority. As Minister Gan Kim Yong highlighted earlier, the measures we put in place are part of a broader system with multiple lines of defence. Our first line of defence against an infectious disease that occurs outside of Singapore is to put in place controls at the border to limit the spread of the virus and the number of imported cases here. Infectious diseases do not respect borders. The world is more connected than before, with more people flying around and travelling than ever.”
“The Housing and Development Board's (HDB's) pet ownership policies have to strike a balance between residents who are pet lovers and those who are not. Irresponsible pet ownership can lead to disamenities in the community and cause unhappiness. In the case of cats, disamenities include shedding fur, defecating/urinating in public areas, and caterwauling by roaming cats. Notwithstanding these concerns, HDB recognises that there are many residents who are cat lovers and who would like to keep cats in their flats. Hence, HDB will continue to review and update its pet ownership policies, together with the National Parks Board/Animal and Veterinary Service which is responsible for the broader issue of animal welfare and licensing. While we would like very much to accommodate the wishes of all pet owners, we also have to take into consideration the views of other home owners and take a holistic and balanced approach in addressing this issue.”
“Assessing the health and structural integrity of trees is best carried out by trained personnel with the requisite experience and expertise. For instance, natural features on certain types of trees could be mistaken by the public as signs of tree decay or disease, when these trees are, in fact, healthy. Members of the public who have feedback on public trees can contact the National Parks Board at 1800-471-7300, or through the OneService app of the Municipal Services Office.”
“The Executive Condominium (EC) Housing Scheme was introduced to provide an affordable option for higher-income Singaporeans who aspire to own private housing. That is why ECs offer similar design features and facilities as private condominiums and are treated as strata-titled private housing after 10 years. Given this objective, it would not be possible for the Housing and Development Board to take over the development of ECs. The Government has put in place various measures to ensure that ECs remain affordable. For example, initial eligibility and ownership restrictions, such as an income ceiling and a minimum occupation period, are imposed on EC buyers. This helps to reduce the land cost of the EC projects, as well as their selling price. Currently, the prices of ECs are about 25% cheaper than private condominiums of similar size and location. EC buyers also benefit from the Central Provident Fund Housing Grant when making their purchase. We will continue to monitor the situation and ensure that the EC Housing Scheme serves its original intent and meets the aspirations and needs of potential home buyers.”
“Existing flat owners who are collecting the keys to a new or resale Housing and Development Board flat have up to six months to sell or transfer their interest in the existing flat. The number of households unable to do so today is around 600, similar to 2017.”
“The total number of reported cases of dislodged floor tiles has come down in 2019 compared to the previous year. On a monthly basis, there were indeed more cases reported in December compared to the other months of the year. Specifically, the Housing and Development Board (HDB) received about 580 reported cases in December compared to the monthly average of 247 cases for 2019. This was likely due to the colder weather and temperature fluctuations during that month, which could have caused the tiles and the substrate to contract and expand at different rates, resulting in the loss of adhesion between the tiles and the substrate. Flat owners are responsible for the maintenance of their flats, including repairs for general wear and tear. Nevertheless, HDB will help flat owners repair dislodged tiles originally provided by HDB for a period of up to 15 years. For cases beyond 15 years, flat owners will need to do their own replacement of tiles. HDB can provide owners with a list of registered repair contractors, who they can then engage on a private basis. HDB can also help owners with the removal and disposal of the affected tiles and, if necessary, with the laying of protective sheets over the affected area. Residents who need financial assistance with the cost of dislodged tile repairs can seek assistance from grassroots organisations and Community Development Councils. HDB will assist such residents by referring them to these community organisations.”
“While Executive Condominiums (ECs) are built by private developers, they are sold with initial eligibility and ownership restrictions. These restrictions include an income ceiling and a minimum occupation period, similar to those applicable to Housing and Development Board (HDB) flats. Taking these into account, developers put in lower bids for Government land sales for EC sites. This reduces the land costs and thus the selling prices of EC projects, compared to private condominiums of similar size and location. Since second-timer EC buyers benefit from this subsidised price, they are subject to a resale levy like second-timers who buy a new flat from HDB. This reduces the subsidy that second-timers receive compared to first-timers, thus ensuring a fairer distribution of housing subsidies. The resale levy payable depends on the prevailing policy applicable to a second-timer buyer at the time they sold their first subsidised flat. Those who sold their first subsidised flat before 19 May 1997 but opted not to pay a graded resale levy at the point of sale would have to pay a premium on the purchase price of their next subsidised HDB flat or new EC unit.”
“Agencies will continue to work closely with the Nee Soon Town Council to manage the myna situation at Yishun. The public must also play its part by maintaining the overall cleanliness of the environment and not feeding wild birds.”
“The National Parks Board (NParks) only started localised surveys on the myna population at hotspots in 2019, so we do not have historical data to compare. But based on this survey, we estimate that there are currently about 800 to 900 mynas roosting at hotspots near Yishun Avenue 3. The 2016 pilot in Yishun found that tree fogging had limited long-term effects as the mynas returned once the fogging stopped. Instead, NParks has been working with various stakeholders to implement a sustainable myna management strategy. This involves a holistic suite of measures, such as habitat modification and the reduction of food sources made available by humans. Habitat modification involves the directional pruning of trees to discourage mynas from roosting in the affected areas and shepherd them away from residential areas. Roost trees may also be replaced with tree types that are less preferred by the mynas. These are trees with crowns that are less dense but will still provide greenery and shade. These measures have been effective in reducing myna roosts in Potong Pasir and Ang Mo Kio. NParks is working with the Nee Soon Town Council to implement similar measures at Yishun. Food made available by humans is also a key driver of myna population growth. In this regard, NParks monitors bird feeding hotspots and works with the Town Councils and the National Environment Agency (NEA) to carry out targeted enforcement operations. This includes the use of video surveillance to catch offenders in the act. In 2019, NParks issued 145 enforcement notices to bird feeders. NEA also works with food centres and coffee shops in Housing and Development Board estates to ensure proper food waste management, as the presence of improperly disposed food waste exacerbates the situation.”
“Residents can also do their part to reach out to their new neighbours and help them settle in.”
“Private residential estates located in the central region of Singapore tend to house a higher proportion of non-citizen residents on average, given that the region is closer to many workplaces. The nationality proportions of non-citizen residents in such estates are dynamic and will change constantly as tenants move in and out. We recognise the importance of having diverse and well-integrated residential estates across the island and are looking at various ways to achieve this. Imposing a quota on private estates, as suggested by the Member, is an option. But this is not something that can be easily implemented and will have major implications for the property market and for all private property owners. Aside from this, we are using other urban planning levers to achieve a better mix in our private estates. For example, we intend to inject more public housing in the city centre, which largely comprises private residential estates today. In addition, our strategy to inject more industry and jobs outside the city centre will also help to spread out the non-citizen resident population across the island. We also have various integration strategies to facilitate harmonious relations between Singaporeans and foreigners, not only in neighbourhoods but also at workplaces, schools, shared public spaces and through volunteering or community work. The National Integration Council works with community groups, immigrant associations, employers, trade unions and schools to help foreigners understand our local laws, norms and culture, and encourage interactions with Singaporeans. There are more than 1,400 Integration and Naturalisation Champions under the People's Association reaching out to new immigrants in the neighbourhood to help them settle into the community.”
“The number of stray cat-related feedback has remained relatively stable since 2017. The National Parks Board (NParks) works with stakeholders, such as Town Councils, animal welfare groups (AWGs) and other public agencies, to jointly manage stray cat-related feedback across Singapore. NParks works with its AWG partners to humanely manage both the stray dog and cat populations. Similar to the Trap-Neuter-Release-Manage programme for dogs, the Stray Cat Sterilisation Programme sterilises and microchips stray cats in Housing and Development Board (HDB) and private estates, as well as industrial and commercial areas. Pet licensing primarily serves to enable the traceability of animals for the purposes of disease control and to protect public health. At present, NParks only requires dogs to be licensed as they are the most common cause of rabies transmission from animals to humans globally. All pet dogs, whether they reside in HDB flats or otherwise, must be licensed for this reason. NParks is intending to strengthen the traceability of pets, including cats, as part of its broader review of the pet sector. It recently concluded a public consultation exercise that invited suggestions from stakeholders and members of the public on this issue and will review its licensing policies accordingly.”
“The Housing and Development Board's (HDB's) pet ownership policies have to strike a balance between residents who are pet lovers and those who are not. Irresponsible pet ownership can lead to disamenities in the community and cause unhappiness. In the case of cats, disamenities include shedding fur, defecating/urinating in public areas, and caterwauling by roaming cats. Notwithstanding these concerns, HDB recognises that there are many residents who are cat lovers and who would like to keep cats in their flats. Hence, HDB will continue to review and update its pet ownership policies, together with the National Parks Board/Animal and Veterinary Service which is responsible for the broader issue of animal welfare and licensing. While we would like very much to accommodate the wishes of all pet owners, we also have to take into consideration the views of other home owners and take a holistic and balanced approach in addressing this issue.”
“In the last two years, the Housing and Development Board (HDB) has given approval to about 2,400 households to sell their flats before they had fulfilled the Minimum Occupation Period. The reasons for such exceptions include financial hardship, divorce or the demise of the owner. Approvals are given on a case-by-case basis, after HDB has assessed the specific circumstances of the flat owners and their families.”
“A large part of the Park Connector Network (PCN) will be subdivided between footpaths and shared paths. Currently, we have marked out these separated paths on about 30 kilometres (km) of the PCN and expect to complete the rest by this year. In line with the latest active mobility regulations, the National Parks Board (NParks) will not allow personal mobility devices to be used on footpaths on the PCN. They will only be permitted on the shared paths. NParks will also update and harmonise the markings and signage on the PCN with those of the Land Transport Authority's (LTA's) cycling path network. This will provide clarity and consistency to all users. NParks will also continue to work with LTA and the community to promote the safe and orderly use of our PCN. In particular, NParks will continue to implement safety measures, such as additional lighting, speed regulating strips and advisory signs at high usage areas. Where there is sufficient width in the PCN, NParks will also implement physical separators, such as grass verges, between the footpaths and shared paths.”
“Families who wish to buy a new Housing and Development Board (HDB) flat to live with or near their parents already enjoy priority in their flat application under the Married Child Priority Scheme and the Multi-Generation Priority Scheme. This includes those who wish to buy flats in the mature estates. Flats in the mature estates tend to be more popular and limited in supply. Flats in the Sale of Balance Flats and Re-offer of Balance Flats exercises are similarly limited. Hence, we are unable to extend additional ballot chances to families who apply for these flats. Besides new flats, families who wish to live with or near their parents may also buy a resale flat and qualify for the Proximity Housing Grant of up to $30,000.”
“Since 2013, more than 50 public and private sector projects have adopted the Prefabricated Prefinished Volumetric Construction (PPVC) method of construction. We have taken a multi-pronged approach to promote the adoption of productive construction methods like PPVC. The intent is to help lower the cost premium of adopting such technologies in the long term. First, we have generated lead demand by stipulating productivity conditions as requirements for selected Government Land Sales sites and requiring public sector projects to adopt productive construction methods, such as PPVC. Second, we have provided incentives to help defray the higher cost of PPVC adoption and build industry capabilities. The Productivity Innovation Project (PIP) scheme, which funds up to 70% of the qualifying cost for innovative technologies, is one such initiative. To date, nine firms have tapped on the PIP scheme to support PPVC-related projects, with more than $15 million disbursed. We have also provided $5 million for PPVC-related training. Third, we have built up our supply base to increase our local production capability. We have 32 approved PPVC suppliers now, as compared to three suppliers six years ago. Fourth, we have built industry capabilities in PPVC adoption. This is a joint effort with the industry and the institutes of higher learning, led by the iBuildSG Tripartite Committee. Besides training, the Building and Construction Authority also conducts regular workshops, seminars and site visits and publishes guides on PPVC adoption for the industry.”
“The Housing and Development Board (HDB) requires two singles to share a rental flat under the Joint Singles Scheme (JSS) to ensure prudent use of our limited land and fiscal resources. This allows our rental flats to serve more low-income Singaporeans who require housing assistance. There are multiple complex issues behind homelessness, and co-tenancy is not the only contributor. In fact, HDB's recent survey indicates that the vast majority of its single tenants under JSS are able to live together amicably. Many of these tenants have no family support. By living together, they can benefit from companionship and provide mutual support. Rent is also more affordable, as it is shared. HDB offers partitions in the JSS rental flats to provide more privacy for the single tenants. For the few who are unable to get along, HDB will assist with mediation with the help of Grassroots Organisations and the Community Mediation Centre or facilitate a change in co-tenant or flat if required. HDB will continue to work with the Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) and the Partners Engaging and Empowering Rough Sleepers (PEERS) Network to find sustainable housing options for homeless persons, based on their individual circumstances.”
“The National Parks Board (NParks) does not encourage the practices of declawing cats and debarking dogs. Such procedures should only be performed as an absolute last resort, or as an alternative to euthanasia. NParks has a framework in place to regulate these practices. The Code of Ethics for Veterinarians requires veterinarians to advise their clients of non-surgical alternatives and to ensure that all reasonable efforts have been made to manage the problem prior to performing such surgeries. Failure to do so can result in written warnings, composition fines, or even suspension or revocation of veterinary licences. This regulatory approach remains relevant. NParks will continue to educate pet owners and raise awareness on alternatives to declawing and debarking.”
“Encouraging good neighbourliness is not something that the Housing and Development Board (HDB), as a housing authority, can do on its own. That is why the Government has a multi-pronged effort to promote neighbourliness, including through the People’s Association, grassroots leaders and community partners. For its part, HDB actively promotes neighbourly behaviour through various initiatives. These include public education exhibitions at community and school events, as well as outreach by volunteers who share tips on gracious living during door-to-door visits. HDB's Good Neighbour Award also recognises individuals who have gone the extra mile with their acts of neighbourliness. HDB recognises that the design of housing estates and flats can help shape and promote social interactions among neighbours. Hence, it has also paid more attention to such design details, including setting aside more community spaces like playgrounds and gardens, which have been effective in bringing neighbours together. HDB introduced the Lively Places Programme to facilitate and support ground-up community projects. Through the Programme, HDB hopes to encourage more residents to take greater ownership of place-making initiatives within the estate. These will promote greater collaboration amongst residents and help in building closer neighbourly ties.”
“From 2015 to September 2019, the Housing and Development Board (HDB) received about 10,300 requests from divorcees seeking to rent a flat from HDB. HDB does not specifically track whether rental applicants are bankrupt, in financial difficulties due to business failure or gambling, or facing family disputes. HDB has helped rental applicants with sufficient budget to buy short-lease 2-room flexi flats on an exceptional basis, for example, by exercising flexibility on the age requirement. HDB will continue to offer public rental flats for households which have no other housing options and no family support.”
“So, we still fundamentally have to build more flats and stabilise the situation before we can consider any priority for that matter, for first-timer applicants who are singles.”
“Mr Speaker, let me take the second question first. I think there was a similar question that Mr Gan Thiam Poh had asked. In fact, that is related, which is, for young couples buying their first BTO flat in non-mature estates, whether we will give an additional chance, which we do, and whether that gives them assurance that within three times, they will be able to purchase a flat in a non-mature estate. The answer to that is, indeed, through that additional chance, we are able to assure first-timers buying a flat in a non-mature estate, virtually all of them are able to do so within three tries today. That commitment continues. We will continue to ensure that for first-timers buying a flat in a non-mature estate, within three tries, through the processes that we have, they should be able to get an HDB flat. If the Member knows of any applicant or if Members know of any applicants who are unable to do so, please let us know because, based on our data, based on our checks, virtually everyone can do so already today. Many times, they will tell you they cannot, but when you check through their applications, very often they have tried for a mature estate or they have tried for a balance flat. Those do not count. If you look at BTO applications in non-mature estates, within three tries, virtually all of them get it. The first question that the Member raised: can this apply to singles, too? This goes back to my earlier point that we have just opened up the market to singles. We are still dealing with a backlog. We have brought the application rate down to three, and I acknowledge it is still on the high side.”
“Mr Speaker, the overall Build-To-Order (BTO) application rate for 2-room flexi flats was 1.6 times in the first half of 2019, while that for singles was three times in the same period. On the second question that the Member raised, singles who wish to live with their parents can, indeed, form a family nucleus with their parents and jointly purchase a BTO flat of any type together. As for the request for singles to buy a larger 3-room flat, that is something we will have to consider very carefully, bearing in mind the impact it will have on the longer-term overall demand-supply balance of the public housing market. I would remind Members that we only opened up the BTO market for singles to purchase 2-room units not that long ago. I remember when I started in the Ministry of National Development in 2015, application rates were in the double digits. Now, we have managed to bring it down but it is still slightly on the high side and I think we will need time to ensure that the situation is stabilised before we consider any further moves.”
“The Housing and Development Board's (HDB's) tenancy agreements require outgoing tenants to reinstate the premises before returning the premises to HDB, as all of these units will be released back to the market and taken up by new tenants. So, the reinstatement allows the incoming tenants to take over the premises quickly and gives them the flexibility to renovate the shop space based on their unique needs and requirements. Nonetheless, to reduce wastage and costs, HDB is prepared and has allowed outgoing tenants to retain fixtures and fittings which are (a) in good and tenantable condition; (b) approved by the relevant authorities; and (c) deemed to be of use to the next tenant. Generally, these include common fixtures and fittings, such as floor tiles, power points and toilet fittings and fixtures.”
“Development Charge (DC) is a tax payable on any enhancement in land value arising from the Urban Redevelopment Authority granting planning permission for a development application. The DC system allows the state to channel the gains from the enhancement in land value to offset the costs of developing public infrastructure, for example, roads and utilities. DC rates are broken down in nine broad use groups and 118 geographical sectors. Hotels and backpackers' hostels are under the same broad use group, as they both provide short-term accommodation and are allowed on sites zoned "Hotel" under the Master Plan. However, landowners and developers who think that the prevailing DC rate overstates the value of their land can request for a spot valuation. In such an instance, the Chief Valuer will then look at the specific proposed use of the land and determine the valuation based on that specific use.”