Lee Yi Shyan
Singapore
“When Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong opened the Heartbeat@Bedok on 4 February 2018, we unveiled a locally-installed art work named “Pulses”. Singapore is no Florence but we could still envision our version of renaissance. Given this context, would the Minister enlighten us how MCCY views arts and culture development in the community?”
“Sir, I would like to ask the Minister if the Government has a framework to review and reduce outdated and obsolete regulations on a regular basis to keep the regulatory burden light. Would the Ministry consider applying expiry dates or sunset clauses to newly introduced regulations?”
“How would the Ministry encourage Singapore entities to capture the intellectual property created, so that we can monetise them and invest in our future? Does MOT see the need to champion research and development (R&D) activities in intelligent transport technology?”
“How would a wide range of solutions be coordinated amongst different agencies responsible for service delivery? Mr Chairman, just as the Government rolls out the 23 Industry Transformation Maps (ITMs) to transform our industries, is there a similar masterplan to transform our Public Service to be a smarter Government?”
“Now that the region has caught up, China has risen, we need to make continual and further adjustments to our strategy to sharpen our competitiveness. Being multilingual and deeply connected to the regional hinterlands must be our strategic priority. I support the Budget.”
“It is not just physical connectivity that we need to build, but the psychological bridge to understand the world, to reach out to complex issues and to deal with them tenaciously. There is no silver bullet but hard work aplenty. Mr Deputy Speaker, there is great urgency. I support the Budget.”
The complete record
Every one of 438 lines we hold for Lee Yi Shyan, in date order, each linked to its source. Free to read, in full, without an account. Page 5 of 9.
“Indeed, as shown from our efforts in creating a liveable and inclusive environment for Singaporeans, the task of improving our living environment cannot be the Government's alone. Residents' participation is paramount. To build ownership, it is important to encourage greater community participation and give residents more say in the running of their estates. In 1989, we set up Town Councils precisely to do this. The elected local Members of Parliament are given autonomy and authority to take charge of estate management and maintenance, and to shape the direction and character of their estates. It is an example of local empowerment. To further support resident involvement, MND, in recent years, introduced the Town Councils Management Report (TCMR). The TCMR provides residents with objective information on how their Towns are performing, and performances are graded in simple colour bands of "red", "amber" and "green" for easy interpretation. 7.28 pm”
“Our Studio Apartments are also integrated within communities amidst other flat types and are close to amenities, so the elderly can live side-by-side with young families and children, sharing common spaces and experiences. This is a good example of how we design our flats for specific groups. We will continue to adopt this approach for future flats. Miss Penny Low also asked that we apply design thinking to help build social capital, particularly in our new housing estates. We thank Miss Low for her ideas, and have, in fact, sought her inputs for our community efforts in Punggol. For instance, the National Environment Agency, the Public Service Page: 166 Division, People's Association and HDB, have worked on a joint project with Punggol residents to co-create the Punggol living experience. Called "Project Love Punggol", it aims to develop new ideas that will enable stronger community ownership by Singaporeans of their neighbourhood, community and environment. The enthusiasm of the residents and their readiness to take ownership to create a unique neighbourhood are most heartening. Mrs Lina Chiam spoke about the need to provide adequate community spaces in our towns. We agree. Planning for communal spaces to facilitate social interactions and community bonding is a key consideration in the design of HDB estates. HDB does it at various levels, from the town plazas and neighbourhood parks, to precinct pavilions, rooftop gardens and void decks. We also have the 3-Generation (3G) family playground, consisting of children's playgrounds, adult fitness stations and elderly wellness exercise stations located in close proximity to provide children, adults and the elderly a common space to play, exercise and bond.”
“We believe strongly in resident-centricity as the main philosophy to design and enhance the living environment. HDB will continue, therefore, to build well-designed and community-friendly new towns that are cost-effective and sustainable. At the same time, as emphasised by Er Dr Lee Bee Wah, HDB will work with the relevant agencies to ensure that the amenities, such as childcare centres, kindergartens and supermarkets, are in place at the same time or soon after the residents have moved into the new precincts. Besides pre-planned facilities that are built together with the residential blocks, HDB also safeguards space for future facilities to meet the needs of residents as the community grows and needs change. Miss Penny Low made many suggestions on how we can better cater to different groups of residents and make high-density living more comfortable through thoughtful designs and a better understanding of their needs. We agree. We thank her for the suggestions, too. Today, HDB's Studio Apartments are an example of customised design and purpose-built housing to meet seniors' needs. Studio Apartments are of comfortable size, easy to maintain, and provided with built-in kitchen cabinets and wardrobes in a ready-to-move-in condition. It is also equipped with elder-friendly fittings, such as lever taps, slip-resistant tiles, and support hand-bars. For projects launched from November 2011 onwards, applicants for new Studio Apartments can choose whether they want the kitchen cabinets at the normal height, or at a lowered height catering for wheelchair users. They even have an alert alarm system to enable them to seek assistance during an emergency.”
“The GPC Members have offered to continue to work closely with HDB to engage the local residents on this. I would like to thank Er Dr Lee's GPC for its leadership on this. HDB will work with the GPC on these pilots, and will announce the details when ready. As you can see, we are doing a lot to rejuvenate the mature towns. However, as part of our efforts to build infrastructure and housing ahead of demand, we are developing plans for new towns, too. Unlike retrofitting old towns, which faces many constraints, opening up new towns offers us greater latitude in design and planning. The outcome is often that each new town is better than the old, usually by a few notches. Punggol New Town is a great example. With waterways and boardwalks, green features and solar panels, integrated carpark and pavilions, Punggol has won the praises of many Singaporeans and accolades of many international judges in urban planning competitions. The fact is, we are going to build more "Punggols" whenever possible. Punggol New Town itself still has room to grow. With the next phase of development, Punggol is poised to grow into one of the largest HDB towns, with about 96,000 homes, when fully developed. Later this year, HDB will also unveil its plans for Bidadari and Tampines North. These two developments are expected to yield 32,000 more homes, when fully developed. Page: 165 In the longer term, however, a larger supply of BTO flats will come from our developing of Tengah. Tengah is a large site that offers a sizeable area for township development. With creativity and imagination, Tengah can be developed to be a township of the future with many exciting possibilities. In all these developments, we challenge ourselves to create towns that are even more resident-friendly than we know today.”
“Punggol already boasts the North Eastern Riverine Loop, while the first phase of the tracks in Yishun, which connects Yishun and Khatib MRT stations, has been completed. Two, we will also look into providing more bicycle parks at the void decks and key nodes around the town. Through this supportive infrastructure and the bicycle paths, we hope to make cycling within the HDB town convenient, safe and fun. This will facilitate residents to do short distance commutes to the shops, market or hawker centre on their bicycles. We will involve residents in Page: 164 developing this project. For example, Yuhua residents are coming together to discuss the provision of secured bicycle parking facilities within their housing estate which supports the 24-km cycling network in Jurong Town I have mentioned earlier. Third, we will test-bed and apply new technology to improve liveability. New technologies can help us overcome old constraints, and create new possibilities. One example I will highlight today is mechanised car parking. Last year, the Government Parliamentary Committee (GPC) for National Development and the Environment chaired by Er Dr Lee Bee Wah, offered to lead a study on mechanised car parking. As Members of Parliament on the ground, the GPC Members were keenly aware of the inconvenience caused to residents by localised parking shortages, and wanted to seek new solutions. The GPC set up a team to understand the different technologies available and study the implementation issues. They studied the experiences of Japan and South Korea. Arising from this effort, the GPC has recommended to HDB to pilot mechanised car parking in a few selected sites in existing HDB estates with parking shortages.”
“Let me say that HDB launched the Greenprint initiative last year. Under this initiative, HDB will introduce the concept of green and sustainable lifestyles, to build Green Neighbourhoods, Green Flats and Green Communities. The first Greenprint pilot is now being conducted in Jurong East to test-bed sustainable initiatives, including energy and water-saving solutions, such as the rainwater harvesting system and rooftop solar panels. We are also piloting a Pneumatic Refuse Collection System that will help to enhance cleanliness of the overall living environment, and increase the productivity of waste collection, as Mr Low Thia Khiang has pointed out, thereby cutting dependence on foreign labour. The system also comes integrated with recycling bins to promote recycling among residents. These pilots are just at the beginning phase. In fact, the tenders are being prepared and called. I could update the House in due course. HDB has also launched a $1 million Greenprint Fund to support test-bedding and seek new ideas for the Greenprint initiative. Another new green initiative is the intra-town cycling project. Our plan is to facilitate intra-town cycling in two ways. One, we will work with LTA to grow and improve cycling connectivity in our towns. For example, as part of the "Remaking Our Heartland" plans for Jurong Lake, HDB and NParks will work with LTA to develop a 24-km cycling network over the next few years. This will connect the main nodes, including the regional town and neighbourhood centres, and transport nodes. Other towns, like Yishun, East Coast and Punggol, will also incorporate cycling networks as part of the "Remaking Our Heartland" plans.”
“Another user-friendly initiative we introduced is the mandatory barrier-free features in the common areas of new buildings and their surroundings. To build a more liveable and inclusive environment, BCA is doing a fourth enhancement to the Accessibility Code to include more Universal Design concepts to address the needs of all age groups and people with different needs. To better understand their needs, BCA formed a User Consultation Group which included representatives from various voluntary welfare organisations, such as the Handicapped Welfare Association, Disabled People's Association, Singapore Association for the Deaf and Singapore Association for the Visually Handicapped, in the review. The team tirelessly went around visiting sites to conduct trials to re-examine existing provisions and proposed new enhancements. The new Accessibility Code will also include child-friendly toilets and lactation room for nursing mothers in buildings frequented by families. To aid those with hearing impairment, the new Code will also spell out hearing enhancement requirements for function rooms, halls and auditoriums in buildings. BCA is also looking at making some basic accessibility requirements, Page: 163 such as entrance ramps and at least one accessible toilet, mandatory in existing buildings. I am glad to announce that BCA will launch a public consultation in March on these proposals. BCA aims to finalise the Code in the second half of this year to give the industry a grace period of at least six months before implementing the new code in 2014. Second, we will make our existing towns greener and more sustainable through the Greenprint initiative. Mr Low Thia Khiang asked for an update on this, and what are the selection criteria and roadmap going forward.”
“In a recent case, Er Dr Lee Bee Wah had contacted HDB regarding a resident who was hospitalised due to stroke and requested for EASE improvement items to be done in his flat so that he could enjoy the benefits of the EASE soon after his discharge from the hospital. I am happy to report that the HDB Yishun branch promptly assisted the resident and arranged for the contractor to carry out the works. Page: 162 While EASE helps make our HDB flats more elderly-friendly, the Lift Upgrading Programme (LUP) aids our elderly in external mobility. Nearing the end, the $5.5 billion LUP has benefited close to half a million households. 7.15 pm For the remaining eligible blocks, the process of polling will commence soon. Mr Zaqy Mohamad asked if we could further extend the programme to blocks for which upgrading is not feasible with current technology. HDB will continue to look out for new technologies to bring lift access to these blocks. Meanwhile, residents who stay in non-eligible blocks, but need direct lift access due to medical conditions, can come forward to seek assistance from HDB. We will see how best to render help. HDB's effort to install and upgrade lifts to make the HDB towns more elderly- and resident-friendly goes beyond LUP. Last year, we introduced a new programme to install lifts in older HDB multi-storey car parks (MSCPs). Mr Pritam Singh asked for an update on this. Following the announcement of the programme last year, HDB has commenced works to install lifts in 76 MSCPs. We will step up the pace of the lift installation in the remaining 445 MSCPs, after the LUP for residential blocks is completed. Given the scale of the project, we expect to complete the programme by 2017.”
“Increasingly, we are involving the community and residents to co-develop these ideas. As in the example of Bedok, we rejuvenate old towns in a number of ways. First, we refresh the old towns through our various upgrading and estate renewal programmes to make them more elderly- and family-friendly. Second, we green our towns through our Greenprint initiative, rooftop gardens and other greening efforts. Third, we test-bed and apply new technologies to improve liveability. Let me elaborate. Estate Upgrading and Renewal. As our population ages, we will need more elderly-friendly fittings in homes. This is why we rolled out the Enhancement for Active Seniors (EASE) programme last July. Since the launch, 40% of the residents living in older flats undergoing the Home Improvement Programme (HIP) have opted for the EASE package. The pilot project to offer EASE directly to flats with elderly in Bukit Merah and Kallang/Whampoa towns have also received good responses. Residents are appreciative of our efforts to make their homes more elderly-friendly. In addition, HDB has received more than 600 applications for EASE from outside the pilot towns. Encouraged by the good response, we will extend EASE nationwide for direct applications from March 2013 – meaning this month. To reach out to seniors who might be at risk of falls, HDB is also working with some hospitals and grassroots organisations to refer to HDB cases that need the EASE improvements most, so that these seniors can get to enjoy the benefits of the EASE programme earlier.”
“Sir, let me first thank all the Members for speaking and making very thoughtful suggestions. I will respond to them accordingly. I have two favourite towns. One is Toa Payoh in which I grew up. Over 20 years, from kindergarten to university, from a 1-room flat to a 4-room flat, I saw a new town created. I knew every lorong of Toa Payoh because, as a child, I used to run around the estate. Life improved significantly for my family in the two decades, and so it was for a whole generation of Singaporeans growing up with our first batch of new towns. Another favourite town of mine is Bedok. Like Toa Payoh, it is also an old town that was deemed too far and unpopular when it was first launched in the late 1970s. But, today, it has become one of the most sought-after mature towns amongst flat buyers. It has great amenities, is very well-linked and self-contained. Yet, under HDB's Remaking Our Heartland plans, Bedok Town Centre will be transformed into a vibrant new hub. A modern shopping mall, a condominium integrated with a new bus interchange next to the MRT station and a hawker centre, are being built as we speak. And not too far away, a new Page: 161 super Community Centre, integrated with a swimming pool, indoor courts, a fitness centre and F&B outlets, is also being planned. We are even working to develop new dedicated cycling and pedestrian paths linking the two major recreational destinations in the East Coast – the East Coast Park with Bedok Reservoir through Bedok Town Centre. Our mature HDB towns may be old but are never outdated. We keep them young by injecting new ideas and amenities into their renewal programmes. Many Members in the GPC and in this House have contributed ideas to the upgrading of old towns, too.”
“" The magazine's comment is worth pondering. We must not repeat the ways of Taiwan. (In English): Mr Deputy Speaker, the release of the White Paper and Land Use Plan has evoked many reactions. People are concerned with crowded buses and trains, congestions on the road and competition for housing and jobs. Their concerns are understandable and not unfounded. We do have to address these growing pains quickly, and effectively. However, Singapore is not operating in silos. The world around us will continue to move forward regardless of Singapore's demographic and internal problems. In fact, many Asian cities will grow, attracting talents, ideas and capital from their hinterlands. It is against this dynamic and larger picture that Singapore has to define its path forward. The experiences of other countries in coping with low fertility, ageing population and rising social expenditure are instructive. Let us learn the lessons well. At the end of the day, we are working very hard for a better Singapore, to benefit Singaporeans wholeheartedly and single-mindedly towards Vision 2030 and an inclusive Singapore. Mr Deputy Speaker, I support the White Paper with Page: 139 the amended Motion. 6.58 pm”
“In recent years, all their political slogans were correct, intentions were well, but they were not backed by financial resources and execution capacity. Madness 3: the welfare programme becomes a means for vote buying. But this generous act of the government is piling up debts for the children and grandchildren. Page: 138 Madness 4: high welfare is inducing fake claims. Every interest group in Taiwan has different definitions for "low-income groups". Accommodating all, the definition has become so relaxed that it created new "low-income groups". Social and welfare spending expanded like a rising tide. An official estimated that of Taiwan's 1.22 million elderly farmers and fishermen, as much as 30% were "false claims". The benefits were too good to miss out: everyone could receive a subsidy of NT35,000 every year. We should study Taiwan's experience seriously. Taiwan started off as one of the four dragons with good prospects. It has a well-educated workforce and several world-class industry clusters. It has a culture that embraces hard work, thrift and savings for the future. Its people are known to be self-reliant and entrepreneurial. To top it all, it has the kind of "democratic vibrancy" that some Members in this House admire. What went wrong? The magazine summarised Taiwan's problems this way: "In the last 20 years, for every election, politicians kept topping up welfare grants and subsidy while reducing taxation. Taiwan has become a small tax revenue country but large welfare state. With less and less economic spending, how are we to develop Taiwan? Taxpayers' money has become the tool for vote buying. The welfare programme has become fake welfare (empty promises). When the country declines and goes bust, who will attend to our old age?”
“] A Taiwanese magazine called Global Monthly Views has a recent story entitled "Who will provide for my old age when the government's retirement insurance programme goes bust". The report asserted that the Taiwanese government has created four "madnesses" because it was daring in "spending but incapable of earning". Madness 1: steep rise in welfare spending, overtaking economic spending. Twenty years ago, Taiwan started issuing a "Senior Citizen annual grant". Then in 1995, it went on to subsidise elderly farmers. Since then, the two subsidies have been rising every year. Now, each eligible elderly will receive NT7,000 per month. It was NT5.6 billion in the beginning, now it has grown to NT50 billion. In 2002, another monthly subsidy of NT3,000 called Elderly Citizens' Welfare Living Allowance was added. By the time one adds up military, public service and teachers' insurance, employment insurance, childcare subsidy, Taiwanese welfare has become so attractive that even European countries are going to Taiwan to learn from them. As a result, Taiwan's welfare spending has been rising steadily from 14.7% in 1982 to 28.2% in 2012. In the same period, the percentage of Taiwan's annual budget for economic development has declined from 24.9% to 14.3%. Some Taiwanese scholars are beginning to question: for an economy with per capital GDP of US$20,000, Taiwan is preoccupied with dividing the pie before growing it larger. It has fallen into the trap of "attempting to narrow the income gap without having the means to do so in the first place". Madness 2: government's debt has been rising. The last overall budget surplus was in 1998.”
“This is why it makes sense for the nation to maintain a sustainable and a stable Singaporean population while we are still young, and while external conditions are favourable. We have to anticipate; we have to save up; we have to prepare ourselves; we have to build ahead the physical and social infrastructure. A country that seems to have run out of time to save is China. With 6 million people joining the pool of 100 million elderly every year, China's pension system will grow by RMB100 billion annually. Some studies estimated that China has underfunded its pension liability by as much as 150% of its GDP. Scholars described this phenomenon as "ageing before getting rich", or 未富先老. In the community, China is beginning to see the "4-2-1" phenomenon. "4-2-1" is not a soccer formation. It is one child having to look after two parents and four grandparents. This inverted pyramid means a heavy burden for the children. When both parents and grandparents are retired, there is also the "aged caring for the aged", or 老养老 phenomenon. And this is becoming common in our communities. Mr Deputy Speaker, coping with the silver tsunami requires a calibrated approach that strikes a balance between spending and earning, consuming and investing, catering to the present needs and saving up for the future. In Singapore, over the last five years, social spending has increased from $13 Page: 137 billion in 2006 to $21.5 billion in 2011. Economists expect a further increase, from the current 14% of our GDP to as much as 25%. Are we ready for this? At this juncture, let us take a leaf from the experiences of Taiwan. In Mandarin, please. (In Mandarin): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.”
“The huge silver tsunami is destabilising Japan, so why does it not increase its working population to maintain a vibrant economy? The answer seems simple and yet inherently intractable: Japan could not build a consensus to allow immigration to boost their workforce. As our own population ages, our old-age support ratio will fall drastically from the current 5.9 to 2.1 in 2030. When that happens, our young people may find the heavy burden unbearable, physically and financially. And is this sustainable? For one, Mr Deputy Speaker, the 2.1 support ratio presented here also assumes that our young ones do not leave us. But is this a valid assumption? Page: 136 In the case of Japan, after a two-decade-long recession, companies are now reluctant to hire new school leavers. Even if they do, they would only do so on a temporary or contract basis. For such "casual workers", as they call it, job benefits are minimal, training and development are spared. There is no job security, let alone career development. When the population ages, the young actually suffers more. To make things worse, competition for talent and capital will intensify going forward. In a study by McKinsey, by 2025, 136 new cities – all from the developing world – will take their place amongst the world's leading urban centres. Many of them will be in Asia. With buoyant economic prospects, these cities will attract the young and the talented from around the region. They will compete directly against Singapore for talents and capital. We might even lose our young and the talented if our economy stagnates. Mr Deputy Speaker, the picture of an ageing society is a sobering one. Without higher childbirths and immigration, our citizen population will start to shrink in 2025. This is just 12 years away.”
“For the 50 years after World War II, Japan went from ruins to Page: 135 riches, adding 37 million people to its labour force to a total of 87 million. Yet, in the next 40 years from 1996, Japan's population will shrink back to where it started in 1950. A declining population and workforce mean less consumption and reduced demand for real estate as well. Land and property prices in Japan have reduced by more than half since its peak in the early 1990s, evaporating the life-long savings of many individuals and corporations. So, for many people who believe that rental and property prices will always be on the climb, think again. It can fall significantly, as in this case. The effect of two decades of economic stagnation has led to the Waniguchi effect. Waniguchi in Japanese is crocodile's mouth. In local terms, it is buaya. It describes the soaring public expenditure coupled with a drop in tax revenue. The Japanese government has so far resorted to domestic borrowing to finance its social expenditure. But now that its public debt has piled up to 220% of its GDP, and there are going to be fewer young people and profitable Japanese companies to tax and borrow from, how Japan continues to finance its social programmes for the elderly remains a very big question. The next chart shows the rising social expenditure of an ageing population. [A slide was shown to hon Members. Please refer to Annex 4.] Members can roughly see the kink started to kick in from 1990, starting the steep climb. This chart shows Japan's increasing debt to GDP ratio. [A slide was shown to hon Members. Please refer to Annex 5.] It more than quadrupled from 55% in 1982 – the elderly population is like ours – to 211% in 2012.”
“The city centre literally decanted. Families moved out. The elderly population made up one-quarter of the city's population now. Some scholars described Gifu city as a "super-ageing society". Gifu is not alone in ageing. Across Japan's countryside, there are many such small- to medium-sized cities that have shrunk too. In Hokkaido, there is a small town called Yubari. While it has only 11,000 people today, it used to be a town of 120,000 in its heyday. Mine closure and lack of economic opportunities have forced young people and families out. Today, half of Yubari is above 65 years old and the consequences are dire. Yubari's small working population means a measly tax base. Four years ago, the city government went bust, owing a debt of US$315 million. The city was forced to embark on an 18-year austerity drive. It retrenched half of its civil servants. "The Town Hall is like a morgue, with few lights on", The Economist declared. Public service in the city was badly affected. The public library was gone. Six primary schools merged into one. The general hospital closed down two-thirds of its facilities to save utilities. It also halved the number of ambulances and asked its elderly patients to walk to the hospital by themselves. Yubari is hardly a picture of happiness visitors often associate with Tokyo Disney or Osaka Universal Studio. Yet, Japan is full of such Yubaris. Between 2000 and 2005, the number of people living in small towns across Japan fell by 10 million. Of the 28 million over 65 in Japan, many live alone. Young people left their parents for bigger cities looking for economic opportunities. Low fertility and lack of immigration have caused the Japan workforce to shrink since 1996.”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, the Population White Paper challenges us to contemplate Singapore's future. In the projection, one thing is certain. The number of elderly citizens will rise to 900,000. But how we are going to cater to them and muster enough resources to support them is not so apparent. An ageing population exerts a huge impact on society. Scholars use terms, such as "demographic time bomb" and "silver tsunami", to describe its ramifications. Making it worse is low fertility. Taiwanese President Ma Ying Jiu described Taiwan's "shrinking and ageing population" as a "National Security Issue". Many European and Asian countries alike are greying like never before in human history. Japan is ageing most rapidly. Following close behind are its Asian neighbours, with about a 25-year gap, as shown in the Chart. [A slide was shown to hon Members. Please refer to Annex 3.] This chart shows that from around 2010, Taiwan, South Korea, Singapore and China will begin this uphill trend of rapid ageing. As Japan is way ahead in Page: 134 the curve, it serves as a useful reference point for us to anticipate our problems going forward. In terms of degree of ageing, Singapore at 11.1% today is like Japan in 1984. Many of us are familiar with large cities such as Tokyo, Osaka and Sapporo in Japan. Three years ago, however, I had the chance to visit a mid-sized city outside Nagoya called Gifu. It was home to 400,000 people. What I saw in downtown Gifu city left an impression on me. A number of shops on the main street were closed for good. Amongst those which were open, they carried mostly merchandise for the elderly. Before long, I found out that the Gifu population had been shrinking since 1985, alongside the decline of stores and industrial enterprises.”
“Sir, right now, the blocks that have the PV solar systems installed will enjoy about $500 to $800 savings per month per block. So, compared to the entire block consumption, it is not a huge sum of money. That is why it is still a pilot phase. The benefit is directly accrued to the TCs. The TCs can mitigate part of the operating costs and perhaps the rising costs, so the TCs can delay adjusting the tariffs to the residents to a further date. The economics of PV solar system is such that even with some form of Government subsidy today, it would still take another 19 or 20 years. Over time, we hope that the prices of PV cells would come down. Indeed, it has come down. From last year to this year, it has come down almost by half. If the cost of production of PV cells continues to go down, we hope, one day, the economics would be favourable to us implementing PV system on a wider scale. Having said that, we have to keep it in perspective because, worldwide, in most countries, if PV applications can reach 1% of the country's overall power generation, it is considered to be very good. If it is 2% nationwide, it would be a very successful implementation. Page: 1343”
“Sir, under HDB's Solar Capability Building Programme, about 100 HDB blocks have been installed with solar PV systems. These blocks are scattered in different geographical areas in about 15 locations to enable HDB to study the impact of the microclimate on the performance of the solar panels. The solar power generated is used to power the lighting at the common areas, water pumps and lift operations. Initially, the implementation of the solar PV systems was fully funded by the Government. Later on, in order to stretch the budget to benefit more estates, HDB adopted a solar leasing model to tap on private enterprises to carry out the design, financing, installation and maintenance of solar panels in HDB buildings. HDB funds a small percentage of the initial start-up costs, and the remainder is funded by the contractor. The contractor recoups its investment from selling the generated solar electricity to the Town Councils (TCs). Under this model, the Town Councils will enjoy monthly savings of up to 5% off the prevailing electricity tariff rate. To-date, HDB has installed solar PV systems at 40 blocks in Punggol through this solar leasing model. The payback period for the latest phase of the solar leasing model is 19 years. The savings derived from the installation of solar PV systems will help TCs to mitigate rising operating and estate management costs. Residents will, in turn, benefit, as this helps to keep the cost of maintaining the common areas low.”
“Our focus right now is to complete the rest of the eligible units by 2014. So, for the very few cases, as the Member mentioned, that are affected by severe mobility and handicap, we will look into them. But what formula to use, what is the benchmark and how we do it, we are still looking at the options. We thank the Member. We appreciate his suggestion. Page: 1329”
“Our plan is to complete by 2014, so I think we can look at the Member's specific cases to see what is being held up. Suffice to say that most precincts will find the consultation period useful. Because after the announcement, the consultants would be engaged to draw up the designs and facade and solutions. Using that, they will go and consult the residents and residents will give feedback. Sometimes, certain modifications are required or deemed beneficial and the consultants will take in these and then they would proceed to the next stage to conduct the formal polling. Typically, the first period of one year for consultation is quite useful, but we will look into the Member's request specifically. Page: 1329”
“Sir, the scale and complexity of each LUP project are different, thus affecting the time taken for each project. For most precincts, it typically takes about one year between announcement and polling. So, there are two parts. From announcement to polling, typically this would take a year. During this period, a Working Committee is formed to study the design solutions, residents are consulted, and sometimes, shown samples, and the relevant tenders are then called for consultants and contractors. From polling to completion, it generally takes another two and a half years. During this time, the works include diversion of underground services, which by themselves can take up to six months. And, then, foundation works, such as piling, construction of lift shafts, lobbies, link bridges to opening to the balcony. Finally, there will be the installation and testing of lifts to ensure performance and safety standards. HDB tries to expedite LUP works without compromising quality and safety. Where feasible, LUP works are phased to minimise inconveniences to residents. On the Member's question on trying to help blocks that are not selected for LUP, in my reply to Mr Zainuddin Nordin earlier, I have explained that we will try and continue to look for technical solutions. And for people with mobility and health problems, we will look into the cases, on a case-by-case basis.”
“I would be happy to convey your feedback to MHA which is overseeing the Civil Defence Shelter Act. Page: 1324”
“Sir, it may be useful to go back a little in time to visit the purpose of bomb shelters. In 1987, the Government first introduced a comprehensive shelter programme, beginning with public places. Beyond the obvious underground MRT stations, at that time, public shelters were built in Secondary schools, community centres and other public buildings. In 1994, household shelters were incorporated in new HDB flats. In 1998, when the Civil Defence Shelter Act was reviewed, the Act specifically required that all residential units must have shelters, either in the form of household shelters or in storage shelters. At the same time, the practice of building shelters at void decks and underground in HDB precincts were discontinued. This is so that within 40 metres of the entrance of each household, they can get to the shelter. In peace time, home shelter space is used as store rooms and maybe to put other items, but, in crises, this is really the place that will give protection to the households in terms of either preventing direct shock or collapse. Or even in the case of tremors from earthquakes. This is like buying an insurance policy. You only realise its usefulness when the time comes. Having said that, HDB has improved the layout of the home shelters over time. It has reduced the setback requirement. In the past, it used to be four metres from the edge of the building, very specific as to where you can locate the home shelter. But now, the distance is shortened. So, it can be placed in different parts of the house. Over time, the internal space of the home shelter has been reduced, but yet, still satisfying the Civil Defence Shelter Act. So, it is a necessary balance between practical use and against war-time, tension-time scenarios.”
“Sir, the Civil Defence Shelter Act requires all residential developments to be provided with a shelter. Developers or owners have the option of providing household shelters within each residential unit or storey shelters to be shared by residents on each floor. Storey shelters could also take the form of a staircase shelter. This requirement applies to HDB flats as well as non-public housing, including private apartments, condominiums and landed houses. HDB has built household shelters for most of its flats as they offer some advantages. For example, household shelters offer immediate protection as the residents do not need to leave their flats to search for shelter protection. Such shelters can also be used as a store room during peace time. While some private apartments and condominiums provide staircase shelters, for HDB to do likewise requires it to fully enclose its staircases. This will incur high maintenance costs due to the need for 24-hour mechanical ventilation. Further, unlike private condominiums, HDB precincts are not gated. Hence, such an enclosed space may also pose security issues, and give rise to illicit activities within the space. Due to the high maintenance costs and potential security issues, HDB has, therefore, not adopted this option and has not incorporated such staircase storey shelters in HDB blocks. Page: 1323”
“Sir, the LUP is a huge programme. It covers 5,000 blocks with a budget of $5 billion. By necessity, we have to set a financial cap on how much we can build and spend on each benefiting unit. This is so that we spend prudently, and maximise the budget. When this programme was being executed, initially, we encountered about 1,000 blocks which are very difficult to deal with because of the way that the flats were laid out and the tight site constraints. Over time, we have found technical solutions to some of these blocks and we have managed to reduce the number of difficult blocks to about 200 today. We will still continue to look for technical solutions that can be cost-effective and still address the needs of the residents. But some of these technical solutions will take time to test whether they are feasible. For residents with medical conditions and with severe handicap in physical movements, let HDB know. We will see how best to assist them. Page: 1322”
“For instance, a retiree household staying in a HDB 3-room flat will receive $960 on average each year from the GST Voucher Scheme. Page: 1304 The Government will continue to monitor inflation closely, and is prepared to introduce additional measures if necessary. Page: 1304”
“We share Mr Lien’s concerns over the rise in inflation. Over the past nine months, CPI-All Items increased by 4.8% on a year-on-year basis. However, a large part of the increase in CPI-All Items was due to imputed, rather than actual housing rentals and a surge in the Certificate of Entitlement (COE) premiums for private cars. COEs contributed 0.9 percentage points to the increase in CPI-All Items. Other Government fees and charges have not experienced large increases. Indeed, they accounted for only 0.2 percentage points of CPI inflation over the past nine months. Over the same period, public transport costs similarly contributed only 0.2 percentage points to CPI inflation. The Government will continue to invest heavily in improving public transport, which will help to keep transport costs in check. The Government is committed to keep public housing affordable. It has taken significant steps to boost the supply of new Build-to-Order (BTO) flats. In terms of pricing, BTO flats enjoy substantial market discounts, and the subsidies are regularly reviewed to ensure that HDB flats are affordable, especially for first-timer buyers. The Government has also implemented a number of demand management measures, and will continue to monitor the public housing market closely. In addition, the Government has taken a few initiatives to directly help households with their costs of living. For example, we have provided subsidies for healthcare, child-care and education, all of which benefit lower-income families more. Public transport vouchers are also given to needy families to offset bus and MRT fare increases. The GST Voucher Scheme, which was introduced in this year's Budget, will also benefit lower-income households significantly.”
“The Government remains fully committed to help willing SMEs on their restructuring journey. Together, we will be able to make the transition into a vibrant and highly competitive economy. I echo Mr Teo Siong Seng's optimism. We have done this before and we can do it again. Page: 1131 [(proc text) Question put and agreed to. (proc text)] [(proc text) Resolved, "That Parliament do now adjourn." (proc text)] Adjourned accordingly at 7.03 pm. Page: 1132”
“Yes, the process of change and restructuring can be painful. But as we benchmark industries in other leading economies, we know for a fact that others have achieved productivity 30%, 50% or 100% more than ours. Hence, we are not trying to do the impossible. On the contrary, raising productivity is achievable. This is why I am leading an F&B business delegation to study the best practices in Taiwan in January 2013. We have to learn from others and reinvent ourselves. Mr Speaker, Sir, let me end by way of a success story. Putien Restaurant Group operates a network of Chinese restaurants serving Heng Hwa cuisines. For many years, Putien operated as a single restaurant at Kitchener Road. In recent years, Putien started modernising and adopted a different business model. It started to increase the number of outlets. Soon, with SPRING's help, it set up a central kitchen, adopted Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP), and introduced the 5S Housekeeping Initiative. Investing in a central kitchen and technology enabled them to reduce by an average of four staff strength per outlet, and free up 10% of each outlet kitchen space for more seating capacity. Putien also embarked on an eight-month rebranding exercise, re-positioning its value propositions with a new menu. In fact, it also started in-store merchandising by selling their popular "La Ma" (Spicy Mum) chilli sauce from their outlets for customers to enjoy at home. So the central kitchen and ERP system helped reduce costs. Increased outlets and merchandising helped increase sales. Doing both helped Putien raise productivity and profits. (In English): Mr Speaker, Sir, there are many other success stories in addition to the ones I have shared. Restructuring for higher growth and productivity is challenging but achievable.”
“Minister of State Teo will announce the recommendations when ready. Mr Teo Siong Seng also highlighted that some SMEs have faced difficulties in claiming under the Productivity and Innovation Credit (PIC) scheme as their equipment do not fall within the list of the equipment approved. Besides the approved list of equipment, companies can also apply for PIC for their equipment on a case-by-case basis. Where shown to be helping in work processes and improving productivity, IRAS will allow the claim for PIC. Mr Teo gave two examples of the PIC claims which were not approved. MOF and IRAS will be happy to work with the Member to look into the claims upon more information being provided. Sir, I would like to speak in Mandarin. Page: 1130 (In Mandarin): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech on Pg 1186.] Sir, for our economy to continue growing and remain competitive in the global economy, we must restructure and position themselves for higher productivity and growth. This is not just a challenge facing SMEs. Many multinationals, some of whom used to be global leaders in their sectors, are facing relegation to obsolescence and insignificance because they have failed to adapt and improve. In the context of Singapore, we will not have the luxury of land and manpower, as we used to enjoy, in our next phase of growth. To be sure, we will have sufficient land resources for future use, and can accommodate a calibrated inflow of foreign workers and talents to support our growth. But we have to make use of these resources judiciously. Our growth strategy must be fundamentally sound, market-competitive, and underlined by constant value-creation and innovations. Sir, towards this goal, we must re-double our efforts in restructuring our economy.”
“Leveraging on SPRING's Technology Innovation Programme, Lintec developed a fully-automated robotic welding system for repair jobs. Because the system runs completely unmanned, welding control personnel are now able to concurrently perform other tasks. The automation has led to faster and higher quality welds with less consumables used. Overall, the firm raised its labour productivity by 300%. Page: 1129 Recently, SPRING and IE Singapore have also raised their grant support level from 50% to 70%. SMEs can make use of the programmes to build new capabilities in many areas – process automation, IT adoption, product branding, service quality development, human resource development, and export market development. The programmes are flexible and can be customised to meet the specific needs of the individual SMEs. We agree with Mr Teo's emphasis for our assistance programmes to be user-friendly. Currently, our agencies use a number of in-person and online channels to cater to the different needs of SMEs. The channels include public seminars and workshops as well as the EnterpriseOne portal and call centre to assist SMEs in the enquiry and application process. In addition, we also partner trade associations and chambers to reach out to their SME members. In 2011, the five enterprise development centres assisted more than 12,000 SMEs, 14% more than the year before. In all, SPRING and its partners served more than 112,000 SMEs in 2011. But we want to do better. My colleague, Minister of State Teo Ser Luck, is currently chairing a review effort to ensure that our strategies, schemes and programmes remain SME-friendly. The review will consider ways to streamline existing schemes and simplify application processes and reimbursement procedures.”
“This is higher than the historical demand of 140,000 square metres for office space and 70,000 square metres for shop space over the last five years. Mr Teo also spoke about rising manpower costs and difficulties in applying for and renewing work passes. To give our businesses ample time to adjust, the Government has since three years ago signalled the need to tighten the inflow of foreign workers. In fact, MOM announced a two-year schedule for foreign worker levy increases in Budget 2010. The qualifying criteria for the Employment Pass and S-Pass have also been raised. Earlier this year, Deputy Prime Minister Tharman also announced the tightening of the dependency ratio ceilings. We have to manage the pace of manpower tightening carefully to make sure that the changes are gradual and companies have enough time to adjust and that it strengthens our competitiveness, and does not stall growth. In short, we need to re-position ourselves for the future. We need to usher in a new phase of productivity-driven growth. To do so, the Government has established the National Productivity and Continuing Education Council (NPCEC) to champion and coordinate our productivity efforts. Already, $950 million of the $2-billion National Productivity Fund has been committed to support a wide range of productivity measures. These include the 12 sectoral maps jointly developed with the key stakeholders, including companies themselves. We are encouraged by the fact that many companies have come forward to participate in productivity improvement initiatives. One example is Lintec Engineering. Established in 1988, Lintec has grown to be a firm specialising in oil and gas engineering, welding and repair.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I would like to thank Mr Teo Siong Seng for introducing this Motion. Indeed, SMEs are a lifeblood of our economy. Although individually small, they are collectively a very key part of our economy. Our growth is closely tied to the success of our SMEs. Our goal is to have a vibrant, resilient and innovative SME sector. My Ministry and the other Government agencies pay close attention to the needs and challenges faced by our SMEs. Recently, as Mr Teo pointed out, some SMEs have expressed concerns about the cost of doing business here, particularly increasing rental and manpower costs. Overall business costs have indeed risen in Singapore. The Unit Business Cost Index for the manufacturing sector increased by 4.6% in the first half of this year compared to a year ago. Given our size, the stage of our economic development and the aspirations of Singaporeans, we cannot expect to compete on costs. Indeed, we must compete on value and develop new markets for our exports. We monitor our international competitiveness very closely. Mr Teo expressed concerns about rising rentals for commercial space. While commercial rentals have increased since 2010, the increase has been moderating since the beginning of 2011. Commercial rentals remain below the previous peak in mid-2008. Our objective is to maintain a stable and sustainable market where rentals are competitive and affordable for businesses. We do so by injecting adequate supply of commercial space to meet the medium- to long-term demand. MND had earlier announced that based on committed projects we will have about 200,000 square metres of new office space and 90,000 square metres of new shop space per annum over the next five years.”
“Well, on an on-going basis, HDB does conduct briefings to the local MPs, and the entire GRC sometimes, to update them on key projects that will take place or are scheduled over the next few years. I personally attended a number of such briefings. I find them very useful. What may be useful, going forward, is to make available some of this information publicly, to the residents. We have to do so carefully, because as soon as we make it public, we also lose some flexibility on subsequent fine-tuning or adjustments or acceleration or push-backs on some of the plans. We will discuss with the local Member of Parliament and see how best to have meaningful communications with the residents. Page: 721”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I thank the Member for her questions as well. The co-ordination meetings are on-going. In the recent ramp-up of BTO flat construction, we have learnt a lesson internally that we also need to plan on a longer time horizon. In other words, some of the major infrastructures, such as vehicular network and rail access, will take a much longer time than construction of HDB flat precincts. That co-ordination for short-term construction projects and longer term planning are on-going, and we would intensify them as and when necessary. In the Member's particular area, we would suggest that we continue to stay closely co-ordinated, in terms of bringing the various pieces of infrastructure to take place at about the same time, so that the inconvenience on the ground can be minimised and shortened. We will convey the Member's concerns to MOT and LTA.”
“Certainly, I do not agree that there is good co-ordination. For example, in Yishun South, I have six BTOs, but the road network that you are going to provide to serve the residents in that area will be completed only in 2015, whereas I will have five BTOs completed by 2014. So, there will be a big jam along Lentor Avenue. The other aspect is the bus services. Definitely, bus services are grossly inadequate. Is this being discussed, when was it discussed, and how will it be resolved?”
“Well, I thank the Member for his questions. I see that there are immediate worries but also longer term happiness because his town would be transformed in three to four years' time. When HDB plans for any major expansion, they would do so by taking advantage of existing infrastructure that are being laid out well ahead of time in that particular estate. So, in Bukit Panjang, I would assume that the entire town is planned in such a way that it is to house a certain density or population and the resulting vehicular density and so on. On that basis, while residents may see empty land parcels in their neighbourhood in the last few years, they should expect the parcels to be filled up in a way that will be supported by a certain housing density when built up. On that premise, HDB will go forward to launch new projects onsite. As Minister has said, some of these sites are built so that they can take advantage of the existing amenities. I would like to assure the Member that in his particular location of Bukit Panjang, where eight BTOs have been announced and are under construction, HDB keeps a close eye on what is happening on the ground to make sure that as and when the project is executed, mitigating measures on pollution will be taken to ensure that inconvenience to the residents is minimised. On the Member's second question: HDB will remain the co-ordinating agency on the ground. If there are local bottlenecks that he observes, even at this stage of construction, we will be quite happy to call for inter-agency meetings to see how we can "de-bottleneck" some of these choke points. Page: 720 Er Dr Lee Bee Wah (Nee Soon): Mr Speaker, Sir, I would like to ask Minister how often does he has these inter-ministry meetings.”
“While we are ahead of many countries in adopting Green Standards, we certainly can and should do more. Let us work together to achieve our vision of a more sustainable and even greener built-up Singapore. [(proc text) Question put, and agreed to. (proc text)] [(proc text) Bill accordingly read a Second time and committed to a Committee of the whole House. (proc text)] [(proc text) The House immediately resolved itself into a Committee on the Bill. – [Mr Lee Yi Shyan]. (proc text)] [(proc text) Bill considered in Committee; reported without amendment; read a Third time and passed. (proc text)] Page: 634”
“It has also profiled engineers in various industries to highlight their versatility and empowerment in their jobs to contribute and make changes. These efforts have resulted in higher first-choice applications for engineering courses at our Polytechnics in their recent enrolment exercise. EDB, together with the Manpower and the Education Ministries, also worked with the National University of Singapore, Nanyang Technological University and the industry to review our engineering curriculum. The aim is to improve the structure and the relevance of the courses such that graduates are equipped with the skill-sets that meet both students and employers' needs, taking into account global trends in engineering education. Similarly, our construction sector plays a critical part in attracting more into the engineering profession. BCA works with the industry to jointly offer undergrad scholarships to young people interested in a career in the built environment. Just last month, BCA launched its first diploma scholarships. In total, about half of the scholars under the undergrad and diploma schemes are taking up engineering courses. BCA also engages the industry to offer internship programmes to graduating "A" level students to expose them to diverse career options within the construction industry. In addition, BCA organises career talks involving successful industry young leaders sharing the exciting engineering career and achievements in the built environment industry to inspire the students. Hopefully, this will spur the young's interest in the engineering profession. Mr Speaker, Sir, in conclusion, let me say that the proposed amendments will further enhance our existing standards in mandating and promoting Green Mark and Best Practices.”
“I would like to assure the Members that when the specialist is not a QP, he will not be allowed to practise in his own right, but can only work under the direction or supervision of the QP. Er Dr Lee asked if serving notices by fax is still relevant as a way of serving notices under the Building Control Act. I believe facsimile is still one of the communication tools used by businesses and building owners. In other Acts, such as the Amusement Rides Safety Act and the Building Maintenance and Strata Management Act administered by BCA, the service of notices by facsimile is allowed. As for Er Dr Lee's concern whether BCA would take action against building owners if they did not receive the fax from BCA, I would like to point out that by providing their fax numbers as a means of contact, the building owners should be prepared to receive fax. Notwithstanding this, the primary mode of serving notices will still be by mail. Service of notice by facsimile will be a secondary mode when necessary, for instance, when the mail is returned. Page: 633 Lastly, Er Dr Lee has expressed concern on the lack of interest among young Singaporeans in studying engineering. Trained as an engineer myself, I fully agree with her on the important roles played by engineers in our society. I would like to thank Er Dr Lee for raising this issue as it gives me an opportunity wearing my other hat in the Ministry of Trade and Industry to share with Members that the Economic Development Board's efforts have been to promote the study of engineering. EDB has reached out to students of secondary schools and junior colleges to shape positive perceptions about engineering and encourage them to pursue this course of study.”
“The principal consideration behind BCA's registration of the energy auditors is to ensure that they are competent in carrying out the audits. To this end, some registration criteria could include the relevant engineering or building related degree and work experience. Er Dr Lee also asked whether the specialists in the alternative solutions should be registered by PEB if there are Professional Engineering works involved. Let me first reiterate the intent of clause 4 of the Bill. Currently, if there is a technology or knowledge which is new to Singapore, it is not possible to deploy it as an alternative solution if we were to insist that a Qualified Professional (QP) who is either a Registered Architect or Professional Engineer is allowed to design and certify this solution. So, the only choice left is to abandon the alternative solution. This is not good for the industry's development and progress. Clause 4 would give the QP flexibility to get a specialist in the alternative solution but who is not a QP to certify it. The QP can, of course, continue with the current arrangement to get another QP who is a specialist in alternative solutions to certify it as well. Let me illustrate it with an example. In a multi-storey car park, due to height constraints, it may not be possible to install ducts all over the car park to remove carbon monoxide from car exhaust, which is the standard method to comply with the requirements under the Singapore standard. In this situation, a QP may seek a specialist who is not a QP or one who is a QP to design and certify an alternative ventilation system for the car park.”
“The energy auditor is responsible to verify that the building's cooling system is performing in accordance with its design specifications, which meet the minimum system efficiency standards. This is done by taking readings from the instrumentations installed and preparing the audit reports to be submitted to BCA. As you can see, the energy audit does not involve any upgrading, design or professional engineering work. The audit has no direct impact on public health or safety such that it warrants a degree of supervision by a Professional Engineer. Energy auditing is also not a new concept in Singapore. Many building owners engage facilities managers to manage and maintain the performance of their premises. Some of their functions, such as monitoring the performance level of the cooling system, are similar to what we are proposing the energy auditors to do. In fact, for many years, energy service companies whose personnel may not be Professional Engineers are already providing energy audit services to building owners. These personnel are Singapore-certified energy managers by NEA. Page: 632 Thus, in our view, it is not necessary for the PEB to approve or to carry out the registration of the energy auditors since no Professional Engineering services are involved in all these. More importantly, by allowing suitably qualified professionals to carry out the energy audits, we will be able to expand the pool of energy auditors available to the building owners, which can help keep the audit costs competitive in the long run. Going forward, BCA will consult the professional bodies, such as PEB, Association of Consulting Engineers and the Institute of Engineers, to draw up the registration criteria for energy auditors, which we made into regulation under the Building Control Act.”
“For the household sector, the Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources and the NEA have put in place awareness programmes to inform and educate households of different types of ways to save energy. There are also regulatory measures, such as mandatory energy labelling schemes and the minimum energy performance standards, to ensure the use of energy efficient appliances in the households. On the proposed energy audit, Dr Teo asked why we imposed a three-yearly audit on the cooling system only. From BCA's experience in assessing the performance of green buildings, the system efficiency of central air-conditioning plants can deteriorate quickly if it is not operated and maintained properly. Hence, it is critical to conduct regular audits on the efficiency of air-conditioning plants. We are mindful that other electrical and mechanical components, such as lightings and lifts, do consume a significant portion of the buildings' energy. But the efficiency of such equipment is not likely to deteriorate significantly during actual usage. For instance, a 28-watt fluorescent lamp would continue to draw 28-watt of electrical energy over its life-cycle. While it would still be a good practice to audit the efficiency of other building components, we must balance this with the cost and benefits, and the burden imposed on building owners. This is why we propose to start with the audit of the cooling system. We could consider extending these to other building components in future. Er Dr Lee asked whether the registration of energy auditors should be approved or carried out by the Professional Engineers Board (PEB). Let me first explain the duties of energy auditors.”
“For Gold buildings, building owners will enjoy 35% of co-funding, GoldPlus is 40% and for Platinum buildings, up to 50% co-funding. Dr Teo asked why we are starting the minimum standards only for buildings in the three sectors, office, hotels and retail. My short answer is prioritisation is to achieve the most impact for the staff. We have adopted a phased approach starting with these building types because they collectively consume up to 50% of the total energy used by the building sector. By targeting these buildings in Phase 1, the sector would have solved half its problems. Page: 631 Next, developments where commercial components have Gross Floor Areas of 15,000 sqm or more, are also included in Phase 1. We have also taken a pragmatic approach so as to ensure a smooth implementation of the new legislation. There are different energy conservation considerations for different building types and sizes. Experience from implementing Phase 1 will help us calibrate our policy and requirements for the subsequent phases which could cover other building types as well as smaller buildings below 15,000 sqm, as mentioned by Dr Teo. BCA will be collecting energy and building data from Phase 1 buildings as well as other energy intensive buildings, including the smaller hotels, office and retail buildings not covered in Phase 1 to better understand these buildings' energy use patterns. The data then would guide us in determining the possible approaches to address their energy efficiency. BCA will enlarge the scope of data collection to other building types at a later stage. Dr Teo also mentioned that 1.1 million residential dwelling units should warrant our attention. This, we agree.”
“For instance, we enhanced the Green Mark incentive scheme for existing buildings in July – just two months ago this year – in response to industry feedback. Previously, the scheme covered only 20% to 35% of the cost of energy efficient equipment. Since July, we have raised the co-funding level to 35% to 50%, and expanded the funding scope to include the supply and installation cost of energy efficient equipment. In return, building owners have to meet higher energy efficiency standards that is Green Mark Gold and above, to enjoy these incentives. BCA is also piloting a Building Retrofit Energy Efficiency financing scheme, which involves co-sharing of the risk of loan default by BCA and the participating financial institutions. This will help tackle the barriers cited by Dr Teo and unlock more commercial loans to building owners for their retrofitting purposes. I thank Dr Teo for suggesting different types of incentives. As I said, we will study them further. I want to emphasise that under this Bill, the building owners are only required to meet the minimum Green Mark standard as and when they install and replace their buildings cooling systems. As even if there were no incentives available there is an inherent motivation for building owners to install more energy efficient equipment when they retire the old equipment, in order to enjoy energy savings for the next 15 to 20 years the life span of the new equipment. For buildings going on to achieve higher Green Mark ratings, we have deliberately calibrated the incentive levels to speed up Green Mark adoption. Under the Green Mark Incentive Scheme for existing buildings, the incentive levels would be correspondingly enhanced.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I would like to first thank the Members Er Dr Lee Bee Wah and Dr Teo Ho Pin for speaking on the Bill. They shared our vision for a greener and more sustainable built environment. They both commented that with this Bill, we are heading in the right direction. I would also like to thank them for their very thoughtful suggestions, some of which we would need to further study their implications. Page: 630 Before I address their specific questions, let me just make a few general points. To realise our vision, all our stakeholders must play their roles and work together. Members of the public at large must understand the need to care for our environment. Building owners must also own the initiatives to adopt energy efficient and green solutions in their buildings. Engineers, architects, facility managers and other professionals must constantly look out for and present cost-effective, technically advanced and commercially viable green solutions. The Government can come in to provide an overall conducive environment, one that would encourage the adoption of best practices, implement innovations and support standard-raising efforts. We do so by public educations, appropriate incentives and regulations. Let me now address some of the specific points that the Members have raised. Er Dr Lee has highlighted the importance of incentives and education in encouraging industries' stakeholders to green their buildings. Dr Teo suggested that MND enhance the Green Mark Gross Floor Area scheme and consider other incentives like a green grant, tax incentives, green-sharing loans to help remove barriers faced by building owners. Sir, we already have several incentives for building owners to cap on in greening both new and existing buildings.”
“Engineering faculties are now populated by foreign students and have even lowered their admission grades. This is a worrying trend. It would be too late if we wait until one generation later when we discover the consequence of lacking leaders who truly understand technology and engineering. I quote a Chinese saying, "十年树木，百年树人". It takes a very long time to nurture our own pool of talents. We cannot be dependent on foreign students, nor can we expect to import foreign engineers to fill the important need when it arises. We need to encourage local students to take up engineering. We need to impress upon our youngsters the career prospects and satisfaction of serving mankind that comes with engineering. We need to embrace the indispensable nature of engineering. We can start by acknowledging that professional engineers are irreplaceable in the Building Control Act and I would like to suggest to the Minister to work with the Professional Engineers Board for any engineering related registers to ensure consistency and that engineers' efforts are truly recognised. With that, I support the Amendment Bill. 4.51 pm”
“People often mistake engineers to be some sort of scientist or technologist. They are not completely wrong in identifying the relevance, but they are also not entirely right. The work of an engineer does not stop there. Allow me to quote Sir Eric Ashby, a British academic who has described the work of an engineer with great accuracy, and I quote, "The engineer is the key figure in the material progress of the world. It is his engineering that makes a reality of the potential value of science by translating scientific knowledge into tools, resources, energy and labour to bring them into the service of man. To make contributions of this kind the engineer requires the imagination to visualize the needs of society and to appreciate what is possible as well as the technological and broad social age understanding to bring his vision to reality." Engineering to society is like collagen to our body. Engineering races alongside technology to keep society mobile and progressive. Without engineering to strengthen the health and sustainability of our environment, we will eventually experience a slowdown and lots of problems. We need engineering to cushion the consequences of technology, just as we need collagen to cushion the consequences of our daily activities. As such, given the essential role that engineers play, I am disappointed to learn that none of the five President Scholars awarded this year will be studying engineering. This is the sixth successive year that no engineering student has received a President Scholarship. Mr Matthias Chew made a sound observation on the online political wing of The Straits Times Singapolitics. Young Singaporeans are less interested in engineering.”