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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“Mr Speaker, flat owners are responsible for the maintenance and repair of the fittings and fixtures within their flats and can engage their own contractors to carry out the necessary work. As such, the Housing and Development Board (HDB) does not provide repair services for flat owners. Nevertheless, we recognise that some flat owners, such as the elderly or less mobile residents who live alone, may require extra help, so there are various avenues for these residents to seek help. For urgent assistance on maintenance matters, such as power trips that occur after office hours, residents can contact their Town Council’s Essential Maintenance Service Unit, which can provide advice over the phone or recommend an electrician that the flat owner can engage. HDB can also provide general advice on home repair and maintenance, including referring residents to repair contractors that are listed on HDB’s website. Finally, flat owners can approach the community for help and that includes the Community Development Councils and the grassroots organisations.”
“The amount budgeted under the Home Improvement Programme (HIP) for the flats in Hougang SMC that have been selected for upgrading thus far is about $160 million. As for flats built between 1987 and 1997, they will be selected for HIP from next year onwards. Town Councils will be invited to submit their nominations in due course.”
“Since 2014, we have received 1,014 requests from single unwed parents to rent a public rental flat. The individual circumstances of each person were reviewed to understand their housing options and level of family support. Three hundred and eighty single unwed parents were successful in their application for a rental flat. The rest were assessed to be able to stay with family or afford alternative housing options. The annual figures from 2014 to May 2019 are as shown in Table 1 below. We will continue to review every request holistically, with input from social workers where needed, to provide housing assistance to single unwed parents and their children.”
“Since 2014, we have received 121 requests from single unwed parents to apply for a 2-room flexi flat before they turn 35 years old. The individual circumstances of each person were reviewed to understand their housing options and level of family support. Twenty-eight of them were granted flexibility to submit an application to buy a flat. The rest were assessed to be able to stay with family members. After a flat application has been submitted, the Housing and Development Board (HDB) uses a computer ballot to determine the queue order among the flat applicants. The annual figures from 2014 to May 2019 are in Table 1 below. We will continue to review every request holistically, with input from social workers where needed, to provide housing assistance to single unwed parents and their children.”
“The National Parks Board (NParks) provides financial incentives through its Skyrise Greenery Incentive Scheme to encourage building owners to incorporate skyrise greenery, including rooftop and vertical gardens, into their buildings. NParks also gives out Skyrise Greenery Awards to recognise organisations that have implemented well-designed skyrise greenery. Where public sector developments are concerned, the Housing and Development Board and Jurong Town Corporation will do their part to ensure that skyrise greenery is well-integrated in residential and industrial developments. In our public housing estates, skyrise greenery is implemented in common areas, such as rooftops of multi-storey carparks, landscape decks linking residential blocks, as well as intermediate sky terraces. In industrial estates, there are roof gardens, mid-level communal sky terraces, balcony planters and landscape decks. Taken together, these measures have led to an increase in skyrise greenery, from less than 30 hectares to more than 110 hectares over the last decade. NParks also engages volunteers to help manage these green spaces through its Community in Bloom programme. Government agencies will continue to work together to raise awareness of and facilitate the implementation of skyrise greenery.”
“The details of first-timer (FT) families who have been successful in the Build-To-Order (BTO) and Sale of Balance Flats (SBF) exercises launched in the past two years are tabulated as shown below. FT families who are not invited to book a flat after two attempts for a BTO flat in the non-mature estates will be given an additional ballot chance for their subsequent applications for a BTO flat in the non-mature estates. Over the past two years, among the FT families who applied for a BTO flat in the non-mature estates, all have been successful by their third attempt.”
“From 2014 to 2018, the Housing and Development Board (HDB) received about 3,300 cases of feedback on suspected unauthorised flat rentals, disamenities or overcrowding of HDB flats by foreign and non-foreign tenants. HDB investigates every case of public feedback received, on top of the proactive inspections that it carries out. Depending on the severity and circumstances of the infringement, HDB may issue a written warning, impose a financial penalty or acquire the flats compulsorily from the owners. HDB actively promotes gracious and harmonious living in public housing through various initiatives. For example, HDB has a network of volunteers to help spread tips on neighbourliness at community events and door-to-door visits. HDB also gives out the Good Neighbour Awards to recognise individuals who have gone the extra mile with their acts of neighbourliness. Besides HDB's efforts, there are also initiatives undertaken by other Government agencies. For example, the People's Association's nationwide network of more than 1,400 Integration and Naturalisation Champions reach out to new immigrants and help them settle into the community. The National Integration Council works with community groups, immigrant associations, schools and other partners to help foreigners and immigrants understand our local laws, norms and culture.”
“Based on experience and user feedback, the National Parks Board (NParks) has found that drawing demarcation lines alone will not result in a meaningful separation of cyclists and joggers along the park connectors or result in improved safety for park users. That is why NParks encourages a "keep left" etiquette on the park connectors, that is, slower users should keep left, while faster users overtake on the right. In areas where there is sufficient space, a better approach is to implement separate paths for the different user groups. In other words, there will be a clear physical separator between the walking and cycling paths, and not just a demarcation line on the ground. This is already done in the recently revamped Lakeside Garden in Jurong, where the paths are 8 metres wide. In tandem, we will continue to introduce additional safety measures, such as lighting, speed regulating strips, and advisory signs at high usage areas. NParks will also continue to work with the Land Transport Authority and the community to promote the safe and orderly use of our park connectors.”
“Many organisations, including Town Councils (TCs), take reference from the National Parks Board's (NParks') tree management contracts when drawing up their own contracts. For instance, their contracts require tree inspections to be performed by arborists certified by the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA). These arborists are able to perform tree inspections and maintenance according to the standards stipulated by ISA, which NParks' standards are based on. The Parks and Trees Act already allows NParks to take action against those who are not maintaining their trees satisfactorily. Authorised NParks officers can enter premises to inspect potentially dangerous trees. If the tree constitutes a danger to any person or property, NParks can issue a maintenance notice requiring the occupier of the premises to maintain the tree or take other specified measures to abate the danger. Non-compliance with NParks' maintenance notice is an offence. Besides regulatory levers, NParks has also been helping to raise the capabilities of landscape contractors and other organisations that manage trees. This includes providing regular training courses on tree inspection and maintenance, as well as conducting workshops and seminars to share best practices in tree management. NParks will continue to work with organisations that manage trees to ensure that all trees in Singapore are well maintained.”
“Since 2014, the Housing and Development Board (HDB) has received about 15,600 cases of feedback relating to disamenities caused by neighbours, or an average of about 2,800 cases per year. Many of such cases are settled privately. We thus do not have statistics on how many of these cases have been resolved. In cases where neighbours are unable to resolve their differences, they can approach the Community Mediation Centre (CMC), which provides trained mediators to help neighbours arrive at mutually acceptable solutions. HDB also refers cases to the CMC. Since 2014, CMC has mediated 40 to 50 of such cases each year, of which over 70% were resolved. For long-standing and intractable cases where neighbours are unable to resolve their disputes by voluntary mediation or other informal means, the aggrieved parties can bring a claim to the Community Disputes Resolution Tribunals (CDRT) as a last resort. The CDRT judge can order parties to attend mandatory mediation in the Courts or at the CMC, to attend counselling, or fix the case for hearing. As for cases where harassment is a factor, the harassed neighbour may apply to Court for a Protection Order. To prevent disputes from arising, we encourage all HDB residents to be neighbourly, considerate and exercise mutual respect.”
“Shopping malls are sited on land zoned by the Urban Redevelopment Authority for commercial use. Restaurants, including eating houses, cafés and food courts, are an allowable commercial use in shopping malls. There are currently no established standards or limits for food-related odours. Nevertheless, to minimise disamenities caused by the discharge of fumes and odours, developers and managing agents of premises with eateries and individual eateries are required by the National Environment Agency and the Singapore Food Agency to install exhaust systems with air cleaning functions. They are also required to direct their exhaust outlets away from neighbouring premises as much as possible and ensure that their exhaust systems are kept clean and properly maintained.”
“Pigeons, like other birds, are attracted to places where food is easily available. The National Parks Board (NParks) has been working closely with Government agencies and Town Councils on measures to reduce pigeon feeding, which can attract pigeons and cause them to breed quickly. For instance, NParks monitors pigeon feeding hotspots and works with the Town Councils to carry out targeted enforcement operations. NParks also raises public awareness against pigeon feeding via advisories, posters and outreach events. The National Environment Agency (NEA) works with food centres and coffee shops in Housing and Development Board estates to ensure proper food waste management and to enforce against littering. To address pigeon feeding issues comprehensively, we need concerted efforts not just by Government agencies and Town Councils, but also grassroots leaders and residents. One good example is the High-Rise Littering Pigeon Feeding pilot programme in Yio Chu Kang last year. This involved not only multiple Government agencies, but also grassroots leaders who played an integral role in persuading potential pigeon feeders to change their behaviour and encouraging residents to help educate the local community. The pilot demonstrated how an active and engaged community can help to deliver positive outcomes. Agencies are studying how the insights gained from the pilot can be scaled up, starting with the development of more targeted public education messages and materials to change the behaviour of pigeon feeders.”
“In 2016, 2017 and 2018, the number of parking offence notices issued to motorcyclists for illegal parking at Housing and Development Board estates was around 25,000, 28,000 and 21,000 respectively. There is no clear trend of an increase. Motorcyclists making home deliveries should use the loading and unloading bays which are intended for such quick loading and unloading activities. There is, therefore, no need to provide additional motorcycle lots to cater to such uses.”
“The listings on websites like Airbnb typically do not contain specific information on the property and its owner, or the terms of the rental arrangement. So, the key to effective enforcement against illegal short-term accommodation (STA) is not so much by targeting the listings, but by conducting investigations against all suspected cases and taking action against the STA hosts. Over the past year, the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) has been stepping up its investigations of residential units suspected of STA use. Where there is evidence of illegal STA operations, URA will take enforcement action and impose penalties on the perpetrators. For those renting out their homes on a casual basis, and caught for the first time, URA will impose a composition fine of up to $5,000. Since May 2019, URA has issued seven such fines. For repeat offenders and those who undertake STA operations on a commercial scale, URA will prosecute them in Court and seek higher penalties. So far, URA has secured four convictions in Court. With the increase in investigation and enforcement actions, we can expect more cases to be fined and prosecuted in Court over the coming months. There have been a few cases of estate agents who were complicit in illegal STA activities. Besides the financial penalties imposed by URA or the Courts, the Council for Estate Agencies (CEA) will separately bring these errant agents to task by revoking their registration and debarring them for a period of time.”
“Three-Generation (3Gen) flats are specifically designed for multi-generation families who wish to live under one roof. The response to 3Gen flats has been encouraging, with about seven in 10 units booked since such flats were introduced in 2013. In general, the take-up rate of flats in each Build-To-Order (BTO) project depends on many factors, including distance from the city centre, proximity to transport nodes, and amenities in the neighbourhood. Like all other balance flats, unsold 3Gen flats are subsequently offered for sale under the Sale of Balance Flats and Re-Offer of Balance Flats exercises. Unselected units from these two exercises will then be made available for open booking throughout the year. The Housing and Development Board will continue to monitor the demand for 3Gen flats and calibrate the supply accordingly.”
“Seniors aged 55 and above are allowed to buy new 2-room flexi flats on shorter leases, to provide them with an additional option for rightsizing into a home to live out their retirement years. Buyers of these short-lease flats must choose a lease length that can cover them and their spouse up to the age of at least 95, so that they can enjoy a home for life. This is also the reason why shorter leases are not available to younger buyers, as such buyers are more likely to outlive the lease. Buyers who prefer a larger 3-room flat on a shorter lease can buy one on the open market, where there is a wide range of resale flats with varying leases that can meet different budgets and needs. In addition, they can enjoy a Proximity Housing Grant of up to $30,000 if they purchase a flat to live with or near their parents or married children.”
“Private condominiums, many of which are strata-titled, have different features and facilities, and their cyclical maintenance needs and costs may vary greatly. It is, hence, impractical to stipulate a minimum percentage of the monthly maintenance fees to be set aside for the sinking fund, which would be relevant to all strata-titled developments. Instead, under the Building Maintenance and Strata Management Act (BMSMA), Management Corporation Strata Titles (MCSTs) have the flexibility to determine the amounts to be raised by contributions towards the sinking fund based on their development's specific needs. BMSMA requires MCSTs to pass an ordinary resolution at a general meeting. This process allows the management council of the MCST to present the details of the proposed contribution rates and gives subsidiary proprietors the opportunity to seek clarifications before making a collective decision.”
“Mr Speaker, I think we should take a step back. As I have said, what we are trying to do is to design a system that best supports the mandate of GIC and Temasek, and that mandate is to secure good long-term returns on their overall portfolio. So, our focus should not be on one or two expense items, but on designing an overall system that enhances and maximises long-term performance, and that is what we have tried to do. As I have explained in this House before, the way we go about this is through a very rigorous process. When we look at expected future long-term returns, there is a thorough assessment of the investment environment, done by professionals. The Ministry of Finance reviews that assessment of the investment environment. The expected long-term returns for both GIC and Temasek, that figure is proposed to the President and the President makes an independent assessment of that long-term expected return, together with the Council of Presidential Advisers. So, that long-term expected return is the basis which both GIC and Temasek work to achieve over a period of time and their performances every year are published in their annual reports. That overall system is designed, as I have said, to maximise and secure our best chances of getting good long-term returns. That is the system we have today which achieves that result.”
“The National Parks Board (NParks) is studying the Court of Appeal's judgment on the acquittal of Kong Hoo Pte Ltd and its director Mr Wong Wee Keong and will review its policies under the Endangered Species (Import and Export) Act (ESA) as appropriate. The Court of Appeal had directed that the rosewood be released to the owners as soon as practicable. NParks will do so in accordance with Singapore's obligation under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna or Flora (CITES). As the rosewood is in transit, local sales of the rosewood will not be allowed, and it must be kept under the control of authorised officers under ESA for the duration of its transit. The international community, particularly countries that are signatories to CITES, will also play a key role in ensuring that the rosewood does not enter their markets illegally.”
“The public consultation on the proposed domestic ivory ban was completed in December 2018. Ninety-nine percent of respondents supported the ban. The National Parks Board is evaluating the feedback and will announce the details of the ban soon.”
“A total of 67 illegal wildlife trade consignments were detected at our border checkpoints from 2016 to 2018. Our enforcement agencies use technology to screen and check travellers and goods at our checkpoints. For example, the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority uses radiographic scanners and hand-held screening devices to ensure that goods that enter Singapore are lawful and legitimate. We also cooperate closely with our regional and international counterparts to combat illegal wildlife trade. For instance, our agencies assess intelligence reports from our partners and work with them to act upon credible and actionable information.”
“If the sole owner of a short-lease 2-room flexi flat passes away before lease expiry, the flat can be transferred to a named beneficiary if that individual fulfills the eligibility criteria to own the short-lease 2-room flexi flat. If the beneficiary is not eligible to retain the flat, the Housing and Development Board will reimburse him/her the value of the residual lease.”
“First-timer households buying a flat from the Housing and Development Board enjoy a subsidised flat price, and may receive up to $80,000 in housing grants, comprising the Additional Central Provident Fund (CPF) Housing Grant (AHG) and Special CPF Housing Grant (SHG). Among the first-timer households that had booked a flat between January 2014 and December 2018, about 48,600 or 61% have obtained the AHG and/or SHG. See details in Table 1 below. The lowest flat prices, after grants, paid by the successful grant applicants are set out in Table 2 below.”
“In 2018, 217 trees were uprooted and fell in public spaces. These incidents were due to strong winds and heavy rainfall. For the two million trees in urban areas under its care, the National Parks Board (NParks) has a rigorous tree inspection regime in place which consists of regular inspections every 12 to 24 months, and additional annual indepth inspections for larger trees. NParks also carries out measures, such as replacing storm-vulnerable species with hardier trees, pruning trees regularly prior to periods of more severe weather conditions, and using technology to analyse risk and improve inspection processes. NParks will continue to ensure that its tree management programme remains robust and comprehensive. There are another one million trees in public housing estates that are managed by the Town Councils. NParks is working with the Town Councils and the Housing and Development Board to set up a nationwide tree registry system to better manage these trees. This system will comprehensively map out trees in public housing estates and allow Town Councils to develop suitable tree care regimes and tree replacement programmes. NParks also provides technical training on tree health and maintenance for stakeholders who manage trees in Singapore, including Town Councils.”
“Between 2016 and 2018, the Council for Estate Agencies (CEA) received a total of 2,489 complaints against estate agents and salespersons, or an average of about 830 each year. Most of the complaints related to service quality and unprofessionalism, such as no-show at appointments. CEA also received complaints on potentially misleading or inaccurate advertisements, and complaints on alleged misconduct, such as failure to declare conflict of interest. There are three courses of action that CEA can take to punish errant estate agents and salespersons, namely, Court prosecution, action by CEA's Disciplinary Committee, or the issuance of warning letters. Over the past three years, (a) 23 salespersons were convicted in Court for offences, such as the illegal handling of transaction monies, and were fined; (b) CEA's Disciplinary Committee took action against six estate agents and 42 salespersons for misconduct, such as failure to conduct their work with due diligence, and meted out financial penalties and suspended the salespersons' registration status; and (c) finally, about 700 warning letters were issued to deal with minor infractions.”
“Housing and Development Board (HDB) flats are meant for owner-occupation. Notwithstanding this, HDB flat owners are allowed to rent out their flats with HDB's approval after they have met the minimum occupation period. Flat owners are responsible for ensuring that there are no disamenities or overcrowding in the flats during the period of rental. To ensure that the rules are complied with, HDB carries out proactive inspections on an ongoing basis. In addition, HDB investigates every case of public feedback received on suspected unauthorised rental or overcrowding. HDB takes a serious view of such infringements and will take action against errant flat owners. Depending on the severity and circumstances of the infringement, HDB may issue a written warning, impose a financial penalty of up to $50,000, or acquire the flats compulsorily from the owners. In cases where the tenant is found to have sublet the flat to occupants without the knowledge of the flat owners, HDB will debar these errant tenants from renting a whole flat for five years. These measures are adequate deterrents. As part of HDB's community outreach efforts, HDB organises community programmes, such as Heartland Talks, and publicises cases of action taken against flat owners who have breached the rental rules. HDB residents and members of the public can also play an important role by reporting any suspected infringements to HDB.”
“The Design, Build and Sell Scheme (DBSS) was introduced in 2005 to give flat buyers more choice by allowing private developers to design, build and sell flats directly to buyers. While the Housing and Development Board (HDB) sets the eligibility requirements for purchase and provides broad planning parameters, the DBSS developer is responsible for the design, pricing and construction of the flat. Under the Sale and Purchase (S&P) Agreement signed between home buyers and the DBSS developer, the developer is contractually required to build the unit in accordance with the materials, finishes and other specifications set out in the Agreement. The Agreement also stipulates that the developer must rectify any defects within the one-year Defects Liability Period (DLP). Flat owners are responsible for the maintenance of their flats after DLP. From time to time, HDB is made aware of concerns from some DBSS flat owners about the quality of the fixtures in their flats. In such cases, although HDB is not a party to the S&P Agreement between the developer and the buyer, HDB actively seeks to facilitate a fair and satisfactory outcome. For instance, if HDB receives feedback from DBSS flat owners on new or recurrent defects, whether during or after the DLP, HDB will surface the issues raised to the developer and urge the developer to address the issues with the owners. These issues may be complicated due to differences in views on what constitutes a defect. Should disagreements persist, HDB will advise flat owners to seek independent legal advice on their possible options for recourse under the S&P Agreement.”
“Since October 2007, the Government has disallowed deferred payment schemes for uncompleted private residential properties. So, deferred payment schemes are only applicable for completed private residential developments. As with any property transaction, buyers should exercise due diligence and prudence before committing to a purchase under such a scheme. For the purpose of stamp duties, a unit is only considered sold when the Sale and Purchase (S&P) agreement has been executed. The buyer's and seller's stamp duties are based on the date of execution of the S&P Agreement. Likewise, to qualify for Additional Buyer's Stamp Duty (ABSD) remission, developers will have to ensure that all units within the development are sold, with the S&P agreements executed, within the prescribed period of five years.”
“All eligible Singaporeans can purchase two subsidised Build-To-Order (BTO) flats from the Housing and Development Board (HDB), and they have to pay a resale levy for the second purchase. We have also allowed seniors aged 55 and above to buy a flat from HDB for a third time, but this is limited to a 2-room flexi flat on a short lease. We are unable to extend housing subsidies for non-elderly households to buy a third new flat, as this would not be fiscally sustainable. However, HDB does receive such appeals and will consider each one on a case-by-case basis. Over the last five years, HDB received about 790 appeals to buy a third subsidised flat. About 150 were approved, based on exceptional circumstances. In particular, if an appellant and his/her spouse are buying a subsidised flat together, and the spouse is a first-timer, HDB may consider making an exception on account of the fact that the spouse has not yet taken up any housing subsidy.”
“Of the total land area of Singapore, approximately (a) 8% is used for public housing; (b) 7% is used for private housing, largely in areas zoned for low-rise and low-density land use; (c) 13% is used for industry; and (d) 14% is used for parks, nature reserves, nature areas and waterbodies.”
“As of March 2019, there were 268 and 116 applicants on the wait lists for the heavy vehicle parks at Batok East Avenue 2 and Bukit Batok (Jurong Road) respectively. The waiting time will vary depending on how many drivers give up their parking spaces, the length of waitlist and the number of spaces for each parking place. However, there are vacant heavy vehicle parking spaces in the area. Based on the information on the Land Transport Authority one-motoring website, as of February 2019, there were 353 available lots in Bukit Batok, Clementi, Jurong East and Jurong West. The nearest available lots are about two kilometres away.”
“Dakota Crescent estate will be redeveloped for public housing. The plans and design are being worked out, and more details will be shared when ready. Agencies are also in active discussion with potential community users on the usage of the six former Singapore Improvement Trust blocks that will be retained. The ground level could be activated for community uses, while the upper storeys could be used for accommodation, for example, as a students' hostel. Interested parties are conducting feasibility studies on the suitability of these blocks. We will share more information with stakeholders after these studies are completed.”
“The Housing and Development Board offers 2-room flexi flats on shorter leases under the Fresh Start Housing Scheme to make home ownership more affordable for second-timer families with young children who are living in public rental flats. Many of these families already face challenges in affording the 2-room flexi flats, even with the shorter leases and the Fresh Start Housing Grant. Hence, it would be even more difficult for them to purchase a bigger flat. We want to encourage home ownership for these families, but this has to be done in a sustainable way without overstretching their finances.”
“Under the Price Quality Method framework, the assessed productivity of the contractor accounts for 10% of the overall evaluation score. A major part of this assessment is based on the contractor's track record in employing productive construction methods in past projects. In addition, a small weightage is assigned to the contractors' take-up of the relevant schemes under the Construction Productivity and Capability Fund, which serves as a proxy for their investments in productivity improvements. The Building and Construction Authority will continue to review and update the evaluation criteria, including the use of other suitable indicators.”
“The Housing and Development Board (HDB) sets aside a high proportion of the public flat supply of 2-room flexi flats for elderly applicants aged 55 and above. The Build-To-Order application rates for elderly applicants have been stable at below two times the flat supply set aside for them, with almost all elderly applicants invited to book a flat. Elderly applicants can also make use of the Senior Priority Scheme (SPS) to improve their chances when they apply for a two-room flexi flat near their current home or their married child. So, eligible seniors can apply under SPS to be neighbours with one another in a new project.”
“The Additional Buyer's Stamp Duty (ABSD) is intended to moderate demand for private residential properties. Any changes to the ABSD regime will have an impact on the property market. So, we cannot look at this matter in isolation. The Government continues to monitor the property market closely and will take the necessary measures to ensure a stable property market, with prices moving in line with economic fundamentals. This will ultimately benefit more Singaporeans, including Housing and Development Board upgraders.”
“They conduct regular inspections on the external façade wall and, where necessary, they will engage a Professional Engineer to follow up on any repairs that are required. Nonetheless, to supplement this, HDB conducts annual audit inspections of selected blocks, with a focus on buildings with more facade elements.”
“Cracks observed on internal and external walls are usually plaster or skim coat cracks. They are primarily caused by the natural expansion and contraction of building materials, vibration from nearby construction works or renovation activities when residents first move into their flat. They are non-structural and will not affect the structural integrity of the building. Over the years, the Housing and Development Board (HDB) has undertaken several steps to reduce the incidence of wall cracks. First, all HDB flats are inspected at the end of construction to ensure that there are no visible cracks on their internal and external walls before they are handed over to residents and Town Councils. Second, HDB's adoption of precast technology in the mid-1980s has reduced the need for plastering. Instead, skim coats are used, which are less susceptible to cracks. Third, to reduce the occurrence of cracks at joints between precast panels, HDB has also improved the design and detailing of the joints over the years. Finally, new methods of construction, such as large panel precast elements and prefabricated prefinished volumetric construction, have reduced the number of joints where cracks can occur. The Member has also asked about the inspection and maintenance of wall cracks. First, for cracks on internal walls, during the one-year Defects Liability Period (DLP) for new flats, flat owners can feedback on cracks observed to their precinct’s Building Service Centre and they will be rectified accordingly. After the one-year DLP, flat owners are responsible for the inspection and maintenance of the interior of their flats. Second, for cracks on the external walls of HDB blocks, Town Councils are responsible.”
“The Housing and Development Board (HDB) is committed to helping Singaporeans, particularly first-timers and lower- to middle-income families, to own a home. The income ceiling helps to ensure that housing subsidies are prioritised for those who need them most. The current income ceiling of $12,000 covers the majority of Singaporeans. Nonetheless, for families which exceed the income ceiling but face difficulties, such as heavy financial commitments to support family members' medical and living expenses, HDB will review these cases to see how best we can assist them. In addition, households earning more than $12,000 a month can purchase a flat from the HDB resale market, where there is no income ceiling restriction.”
“Mr Speaker, I should clarify. I think Mr Louis Ng is mistaken. We do have surveys of income other than work in the household expenditure survey. It is not part of the Gini coefficient computation. So, that income is covered in the household expenditure survey which is done once every five years. As I have said just now, collecting data on income other than work is always fraught with issues, not just for us but for other countries as well. But we are continuing to see how the data can be better captured.”
“Mr Speaker, as part of credit assessment for housing loans, the Housing and Development Board (HDB) and financial institutions will only consider flat buyers' incomes because they are the ones who are borrowing and will be servicing the mortgage. For parents who co-own their HDB flats with their children and wish to purchase another flat when the children move out, they can consider right-sizing to a smaller unit that is within their budget. This may be more sustainable in the long term, compared to having their children service both the mortgage on their parents' flat as well as their own home. Nevertheless, in the circumstance where the sales proceeds are not sufficient even for a right-sized unit, then HDB would be prepared to exercise flexibility and extend a housing loan to the parents on a case-by-case basis. As each family may have unique circumstances, I would suggest that they approach HDB to explore the possible options so that they can sustain their housing arrangements.”
“Flat owners should ensure that their flat and its contents are insured against damage caused by fire. If there is no insurance coverage, then any compensation claims for repairs to the flat are a matter for the neighbours to resolve amongst themselves privately. The Housing and Development Board will assist to provide temporary accommodation to affected flat owners if they need this while their flat is being repaired. Needy flat owners who need assistance with the cost of essential repairs can also approach their Community Development Councils for help.”
“For private estates, we have EUP, and we are happy to see if more can be done and whether the scope of works in the EUP can be enhanced.”
“Mr Chairman, on singles applying for 3-room flats, I would say that MND considers all these options continuously as we review our policies. But let us now start by clearing the demand for 2-room flexi flats first. That is the priority for now, and I would not want to commit to another extension of the 3-room flats, and then have another backlog building up, and we will be running after so many different queues with insufficient supply to meet the demand. We have already brought it down to an application rate of just above four. We will focus on that before we think about any further changes. On the HIP schedule for the flats built from 1987 to 1997, I said we would make the announcement in 2020, which actually means we will be inviting all the Town Councils to select and nominate the first batch of 1987 to 1997 flats by later this year, so that the announcement can be made next year. So, that is how the process will start, and in the year following that we will continue with this process. How fast it can be done really depends on fiscal space and the availability of funds. So, I really cannot commit to a schedule today, but if you were to look at the previous round when we did the HIP for flats built before 1986, it took more than 10 years to complete. Er Dr Lee Bee Wah has been following and tracking this very carefully, she tells me 13 years. So, I think residents must have some context. In that previous round, it took about 13 years, and I would think, barring unforeseen circumstances, it will take more than 10 years to complete this batch of 1987 to 1997 flats as well. On the large-scale town-wide projects, under the CIPC, they were designed specifically for public housing estates.”
“Mr Chairman, we do see some of these cases. There are not many of them, fortunately. But from time to time, we do have examples of home buyers who, very unfortunately, during their waiting period, something happens to them before they could collect their keys. HDB tries to be as helpful as possible. One way is to see how best to support them still with the loan quantum. Even if their incomes have somewhat come down, so long as they have the means to service the loan, then we will try to, perhaps, even with lower incomes, still consider maintaining the same quantum or not reducing it so much, so that they can still afford the flat that they had earlier purchased. The qualification here is that we do not want, as I said earlier, to end up with them overstretching themselves and their finances. So, we will assess each individual case and see how best to support them, firstly, on the loan. Secondly, if truly the circumstances are so dire that even with the help on the loan side, they cannot continue with the transaction, then we will assist to see if, perhaps, changing to a smaller flat might be a better option for this person or couple.”
“Mr Chairman, we have tiered the CPF housing grants simply to make it a more progressive measure. So, for those who are buying 3- or 4-room flats, they will get a larger grant, and if you are buying a bigger flat, we size it a bit smaller. So, we have increased for both, but we have tiered it compared to the past. Having that progressivity in the grants can be helpful, given the considerations that we have in wanting to address some of the concerns about social inequality that we face in society. So, the tiering of the grant was a move in that direction. I do not think it will deter those who have the means to buy a bigger flat and, if anything, we want to also send a right signal that home-buyers ought to be prudent and do not overstretch themselves unnecessarily, but buy a flat that is suitable within their means.”
“Mr Chairman, the short answer to the question is yes. This is certainly an important issue which we will share with Singaporeans when ready. As I mentioned, we are now doing very detailed studies around the coastal areas in Singapore, that is, which are the more vulnerable areas, how will rising sea levels impact these coastal areas and beyond within Singapore itself. And then, on top of that, what are the appropriate protective measures to take? And there are a range of different measures that are necessary and all of these will require major investments. We have time to do it, but we are planning well ahead. And when we are ready, we will certainly share this information with Singaporeans.”
“Mr Chairman, as Mr Murali Pillai highlighted, the intent behind the income ceiling is really to ensure that we manage our fiscal resources prudently and we ensure that there is public housing for at least 80% of the population. And the income ceiling continues to be updated over a period of time. We will continue to see how it can be updated as incomes grow so that more Singaporeans can benefit. In the meantime, for those who exceed the HDB income ceiling, there are options like the Executive Condominiums (ECs) which they can apply for as well.”
“Mr Chairman, certainly, where you see HDB flats today in the central area, be it rental or sold flats, at some point in time, when we redevelop, we do intend to continue injecting public housing in these same areas. We have already been doing so in small pockets and will plan to do so in a bigger way with long-term rejuvenation. Assoc Prof Theseira highlighted a concern about pricing. And as he said in his cut earlier, it is very difficult to get this balance right because if you price it to market, then only the very well-off can afford. On the other hand, if you want to make it affordable, then the only way is through a big discount to the BTO price but that leads to a lottery effect and the lucky guy who gets the flat get a so-called "windfall", compared to others who buy flats elsewhere. And that is not a fair distribution of housing subsidies. Assoc Prof Theseira did talk about various options to try and think about different ways of selling HDB flats in these central locations. I will take on board these suggestions and we will continue to study what is the best way forward.”
“Our homes, transformed from kampongs to beautiful high-rise buildings with sky gardens, surrounded by playgrounds and parks. Our city, transformed from overcrowded slums to a green and vibrant metropolis. To our founding Prime Minister Mr Lee Kuan Yew, this transformation from mudflat to metropolis was a unique opportunity. As he put it in an interview with the Centre for Liveable Cities, “I’m pleased that we redeveloped the city when there was a chance to do it… ...That was a chance of a lifetime”. That was a chance for his lifetime. But now, we have the chance of our lifetime to reimagine and to remake our city. This is much more than just having bigger and taller buildings. As Mr Lee once said, Singapore is more than just a place on the map. Our city must reflect who we are as a people – our spirit and our values. We want to make Singapore an outstanding place where all can strive for a better life even in an uncertain and volatile world. We want to create new versions of urban living, each more fulfilling and sustainable, more beautiful and fun than the previous one. This is where the human spirit will flourish and inspire. So, we invite all Singaporeans to join us in this exciting journey. We are definitely not done building Singapore. Our best days are ahead of us. There is much more we can achieve together. [Applause.]”