Mah Bow Tan
Singapore
“The previous generation of Singaporeans overcame huge odds together to create this improbable nation which we call home. Let this generation work as one to define our country for the next lap of our journey. Sir, on this note, I fully support the amended Motion. Page: 143”
“Like all upgrading programmes, there is a certain budget, and a certain pace at which we will build. We have completed the LUP and now we are going on towards the HIP. The Estate Upgrading Programme (EUP) is ongoing.”
“For those who cannot afford home ownership, we will provide rental flats. For the rest where there is hardship involved, that is where the safety net comes in. I do not think we should make the safety net so wide as to bring in everybody.”
“Building a studio apartment is no different from building any other HDB flat. If a person applies now and the building works start now, he can get it in two-and-a-half years to three years. We have stepped up the building of studio apartments over the last couple of years.”
“Mdm Halimah Yacob asked the Minister for Health (a) how many people have signed an Advance Medical Directive (AMD) and how many have revoked them since; and (b) whether there is a need to review the current rules on AMDs which do not require a person who has revoked the AMD to inform the Registrar, thus causing uncertainty for hospitals t…”
“Parents who wish to exert more control over the maximum mobile service charges incurred by their children may consider service options such as mobile pre-paid cards. IDA is aware of the public's concerns on mobile subscriptions, and will continually review policies and look into measures to further protect the interest of consumers.”
The complete record
Every one of 3,030 lines we hold for Mah Bow Tan, in date order, each linked to its source. Free to read, in full, without an account. Page 10 of 61.
“I think I have already answered the second question. The subsidy is the subsidy given as at that point in time. It is the difference between the market price and what he actually paid for it. If Mr Low goes and buys himself a flat from the private market – I do not know what he would like to buy – let us say a condominium somewhere in Hougang and it is worth $1 million, and the developer tells him, "For you, Mr Low, because you are the MP in this area and you have done such a good job, I will sell it to you for $900,000", do you not agree that that is a $100,000 subsidy? If subsequently that $1 million flat goes down to $800,000, does it mean that the subsidy of $100,000 has disappeared? Surely not. He was given a subsidy as at that point in time because that was the difference between the market price and what he paid for it. That is a real subsidy; he saved $100,000. So to say that it is not a real subsidy, I think he is just trying to make a political point. I understand. [Interruption. ] Let me finish answering his first question. The first question is: what is long term? I think it is very difficult to determine what is long term. It depends on each individual family circumstances. But my advice to flat buyers is always: if you buy a flat suitable for your family, stay in it for the long run. Have your children there, see them grow up and even, preferably, retire there. And this is what majority of HDB flat buyers do. The phenomenon that we saw in recent years, or at least in the 90s or early 2000, where people bought and sold flats very frequently, I think those days should not come back. People should buy a flat that they can afford. If their family circumstances improve and they want to upgrade, by all means. Upgrade if they can afford to do so.”
“In the case where a first-timer who bought a flat from HDB, got a subsidy from the Government and he sold it five years later at a loss, he actually did not get any subsidy in real terms from the Government. So how is it "real" and what does he mean by "real"?”
“The Member is absolutely right. The focus for us is to build more smaller flats, not just to allow more of the low-income families to own flats but also, to a certain extent, to allow some of the families who are facing financial difficulty to downgrade to the smaller flats. So for both these very good reasons, we are indeed building more of the smaller flats. In fact, for the first time, we are building 2-room flats and have also restarted building 3-room flats in the last couple of years. So the Member will be pleased to know that in the course of the next year, these new 2-room and 3-room flats will come onstream, and they will be able to provide a very useful outlet for some of the lower-income families. I just want to reiterate the point that I made in my answer – the bulk of the HDB housing programme is really concentrated on the 3-room and the 4-room flats. Most Singaporean flat buyers would be interested to buy the 3-room and the 4-room flats. The 2-room flats are a small portion because they only cater to a very specific niche in the buyers' market, as are the high-end flats like the DBSS and the Pinnacle-type flats. They also cater to a very specific niche in the market. So the bulk of the flats are in the 3-room and the 4-room category. Mr Low Thia Khiang : I have two supplementary questions for the Minister. The Minister said that the HDB flat, in the long term, will sure to appreciate. I would like to ask him, what is the "long term" that he is referring to – five years, 10 years or 20 years? Sir, second clarification: the Minister said that these are real subsidies, so I would like to ask the Minister what does he mean by "real". Real subsidy, to me, means that you can really benefit when you sell the flat.”
“The store of value today collectively for all HDB flats is well over $100,000, and this is the value which they are able to cash out on when they retire one day. It is a real subsidy that we are talking about. It is not a paper subsidy. It is a very real subsidy that all Singaporeans enjoy when they buy a HDB flat.”
“Sir, the HDB market, like the private property market, will go through ups-and-downs in the short term. Property cycles are well known in the property market and HDB flats, if they are resold on the resale market, have to follow these property cycles. The Member asked, where is the subsidy? As I have explained, when the Government sells a $600,000 value flat at, say, $500,000, that is a subsidy of $100,000. If it sells a $400,000 flat at $300,000, that is another $100,000 subsidy. It does not mean that the $600,000 flat will always be priced at $600,000. In the short term, there may be fluctuations. But in the long run, as Singapore's economy grows, and the Government continues to maintain a stable property market and pumps in money to upgrade the HDB estates, the HDB flat value will go up over time. The HDB flat is not a short-term speculative investment which people buy today and then sell, say, in five years' time when the minimum occupation period is up. It is meant as a long-term store of value. And as a long-term store of value, I have every confidence that the HDB flat price will go up over time as Singapore's economy grows. That is the reason why the Government subsidises HDB flats, so that people can have a stake in this growth in Singapore's economy. The subsidy is what will help Singaporeans to buy their first flat. Whether you are a $1,000 household income or a $8,000 household income, you will be able to afford a flat commensurate with your income. That is the first starting point. Then you will find that, over time, the value of your flat will grow. And, hopefully, when you retire, you will have this substantial store of value. This is not just rhetoric, this has been proven.”
“This is much higher than the subsidised selling price of between $200,000 and $260,000 for new flats in Punggol and Sengkang. If you take it as a whole, over the last three years, all the flats that HDB has built has incurred an average deficit of $530 million per year for its home ownership programme. So this is the cumulative sum of all the pluses and minuses for the whole building programme over the last three years, and this figure is published every year in its annual report. Finally, the Member asked whether HDB flats are affordable. A well-accepted and reliable measure of affordability is how much a household has to pay for its mortgage instalments, relative to its household income. Based on this, HDB flats have remained affordable, even though property prices have risen over the years in tandem with Singapore's economic growth. Currently, HDB flat owners' mortgage payments are on average below 25% of their monthly household income. This is within the international affordability benchmark of 30%. What is more encouraging is that 70% of new flat buyers service their mortgage instalments entirely using their CPF monies without having to touch their cash. We have achieved one of the highest home ownership rates in the world, at 80% of the population. This would not have been possible without generous Government subsidies to ensure affordability of HDB flats.”
“So, when the second batch of the Pinnacle@Duxton flats was released for sale, the prices of the balance flats that were released in September 2008 also had to be about 50% higher than the prices in 2004. Nonetheless, the Pinnacle flats are still subsidised flats because they are being sold at lower prices than what they would command in the market. The balance flats that were offered for sale recently had an over-subscription rate of over 700%. In other words, for every flat that was put on sale, there were seven buyers waiting to buy the flat. I think this reflects the sense that these flats are actually good value for money. On the other hand, when the market goes down, new flat prices are reduced accordingly. Members would remember that in the late '90s after the Asian Financial Crisis, the property market suffered a severe downturn. So when HDB sold new flats at that time, the new flats were priced below the market rates. The HDB flat prices moved downwards. So the average prices of 5-room and executive flats, for example, in Sengkang when they were reoffered in 2005, were 30% lower than what they were first offered for sale in 1997 and 1998 because the market in 2005 was much lower than it was in 1997 and 1998. So it is not just the market going up and HDB following, but the market going down, HDB also follows suit, based on the market-based approach. As HDB does not factor cost into its pricing, under the market-pricing approach, it is able to recover costs only in some projects while incurring losses in other projects. For example, a typical 4-room flat in Punggol or Sengkang today costs more than $300,000 to develop, taking into account current land, building and other costs.”
“More than 90% of HDB's building programme are studio apartments, 2-room flats, 3-room flats, 4-room flats and the lower priced 5-room flats. This constitutes more than 90% of the total building programme. Next, the Member asked why HDB sells new flats based on market price instead of cost. Let me explain. In pricing a flat, HDB first determines what is its equivalent market price taking into account various factors such as location, finishes of the flat and other flat attributes, ie, its facing, what floor it is on, etc. This market price is determined by actual transactions of similar flats. It is not a theoretical number, but it is based on what people have actually paid for flats in the surrounding vicinity and it is based on professional valuation principles. So, this is what the flat is worth, this is what people are willing to pay on the resale market for such a flat. HDB then sells this flat to eligible flat buyers at a significant discount to the market price, and this discount is the subsidy that is given by the Government. A market-based approach is the fairest way of pricing new HDB flats because it reflects what the flat is worth at the point of purchase which may have no relation, whatsoever, to what it costs to build. Take, for example, the Pinnacle@Duxton project. Between 2004 when the flats were first released and today, the market price of comparable flats in the vicinity has gone up by about 50%. I am talking about vicinity. I am talking about HDB flats in Cantonment Towers and around Tanjong Pagar area, for example. We are not talking about private developed flats, but HDB flats.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I believe that the Member is referring to recent media reports on the high prices of a small number of flats at prime locations, especially those at the Pinnacle@Duxton or under the Design, Build and Sell Scheme (DBSS). When we discuss affordability of HDB flats, one thing that I would like to point out is that HDB homeownership flats cater to a very wide range of flat buyers. In fact, they cater to over 80% of the Singapore population and, in this range, there are buyers with household incomes as low as $1,000 and buyers with household incomes as high as $8,000 a month. So this covers a wide range of buyers in terms of incomes, tastes and aspirations, and that is why HDB has to offer flats of different prices, locations and budgets to meet the different needs and budgets of this wide range of buyers. For the lower income households, HDB builds smaller 2-room and 3-room flats and these flats range in price from about $77,000 for the lowest-priced new 2-room flat to about $275,000 for the highest-priced new 3-room flat. The prices vary depending on the location. For households at the higher end of the income range, we have the 4-room and 5-room flats, which start from as low as $158,000 for the cheapest 4-room flat and go up to as high as $646,000, again depending on the location. The prices at the higher end of the price range are those located in prime areas such as the Pinnacle@Duxton, or those built by private developers under the DBSS. I would like to inform the Member that the high-end HDB flats such as DBSS flats make up less than 10% of the total annual supply of new HDB flats. For the vast majority of HDB flat buyers, there is ample supply of lower-priced new HDB flats to meet their needs at affordable prices.”
“Both steel and ferroconcrete lift shafts are comparable in their performance as hoistways for lifts. They can be prefabricated and then assembled on site, hence speeding up the construction period and minimising inconvenience to residents. They are also lighter in weight compared to conventional concrete lift shafts, thus reducing the amount of new foundation required and the total cost of construction. ENROLMENT IN LOCAL UNIVERSITIES (Number of rejected Singaporean applicants) 3. Mr Wee Siew Kim asked the Minister for Education (a) what is the number of rejected Singaporean applicants at our three local universities for the past three years (as a percentage of total enrolment); (b) whether these universities have different entry criteria for Singaporeans and non-Singaporeans; (c) if Singaporeans must have at least polytechnic or A-levels certification while some non-Singaporeans may come in at a much younger age through different academic routes with different types of qualifications; and (d) how are comparisons between different overseas academic standards done.”
“From April 2005 onwards, HDB has introduced a 10-year warranty for sold flats against spalling concrete. BUDGET 2008 (Revision) 37. Mr Gautam Banerjee asked the Minister for Finance in light of the global financial crisis and its impact on the global economy and Singapore economy which is now in a technical recession, whether the assumptions, estimates and forecasts inherent in the Budget presented to Parliament on 15th February 2008 need to be re-examined/revised.”
“Spalling concrete is caused by natural wear and tear as buildings age. Flat lessees are responsible for repairing spalling concrete as part of their effort to upkeep their homes. This is no different from private properties, where owners carry out repairs to spalling concrete at their own expense after the defects liability period, which is usually one year after completion of the development. Nevertheless, on a goodwill basis, HDB would assist affected flat lessees by investigating each case, suggesting the appropriate remedial action and providing a list of possible contractors to engage. Over the past 12 months, HDB has assisted 2,300 lessees affected by spalling concrete in this way. In addition, where the spalling concrete occurs in a "wet area" and resembles the effect of a ceiling leak, HDB will share half the repair cost with the affected lessee under the Goodwill Repairs Assistance, or GRA, Programme. For such cases, the lessee typically pays about $40 for his share. Among the 2,300 lessees I mentioned earlier, 1,250 fell into this category and were helped under the GRA. HDB's sharing of the repair cost for "wet area" spalling concrete is an extension of the goodwill co-payment that is offered for ceiling leak repairs that require both the upper and lower floor neighbours to work together. We have no plans to extend the GRA to cover all types of spalling concrete cases. However, as part of upgrading under the new Home Improvement Programme, HDB will repair all forms of spalling concrete at no cost to the lessee. HDB is continually seeking to improve the design and quality of its flats. The use of the latest HDB building methods and technology can further help to minimise and delay the onset of spalling concrete.”
“Currently, there are 22,000 dementia patients in Singapore and annually 7,000 are being diagnosed with this debilitating illness. In addition to the suffering experienced by patients, their family members also undergo emotional and physical exhaustion. More day-care centres catering to dementia patients, especially those at the early and moderate stages, are needed. More custom built residential institutions will be required in the future, and a good model is the Apex Harmony Lodge. As a first-world nation, we have to be concerned about quality of care offered in our residential institutions. Singaporeans travel more and they visit other countries and their expectations of holistic care, ie, physical, psychological, social and personal, are increasing. This is reflected in the survey conducted by Tsao Foundation on retirement destinations reported (Today, 14th August 2008). Almost two-thirds of the sample said they would consider migrating overseas for retirement.”
“Their medical costs continue to rise, their problems get exacerbated and their mental health deteriorates, for example, they may suffer from depression or anxiety disorders. I wish to recommend the setting up of a fund to be called the Senior Pocket Money Fund, a counterpart to the School Pocket Money Fund. A start-up initial amount could be allocated by the Government and philanthropists, foundations and individual donors could contribute to it. Singaporeans are generous and I am sure there are many who will come forward if it is for the low-income elderly. It could be managed by a private/independent body, for example, C3A, and referrals could be from VWOs, FSCs, CDCs and medical social service departments of hospitals. This Fund would be for the needy older people above 70 years, especially to meet their daily and medical needs. A Committee could be set up to review all applications and the process could be made user-friendly. The Fund would symbolise our society's gratitude to the past contributions of our seniors whilst simultaneously respecting their dignity. I sincerely hope that a champion or organisation takes up this idea. And, here, I quote David Gutman who said: "We do not have elders because we have a human gift and modern capacity for keeping the weak alive; instead, we are human because we have elders." The third and last gap in the social services is in relation to social and health services for people with dementia. The Asia-Pacific report, titled "Dementia in the Asia Pacific Region: The Epidemic is Here" (September 2006), was an eye-opener. It rang an alarm bell for countries in this region to wake up to the need for developing social and health services for this group of people, who are usually elders.”
“The demand for home help services which include personal hygiene, home management such as laundry and housekeeping, escort for medical appointments, meals delivery and befriending has increased. In a report titled "Wither Home Health Care?" in the Straits Times, the demand for such services was noted to have risen from 1,300 in the year 2002 to 1,900 this year. Social and health services are required by frail elders who live alone or they live with family members who are working and therefore unavailable in the day time, or those whose spouses are also handicapped and sick. VWOs have many problems in continuing to deliver these much needed services due to funding and manpower constraints. According to one provider, the funding formula by MCYS and NCSS is not keeping up with the current circumstances such as higher manpower and transport costs. So, the community-based health and social care services are in great need for more support from the Government. Studies abroad have shown that home-based care saves the State thousands of dollars, and it is preferred by the elderly patients as well. The families find it less straining on their savings and time as well. Readmission rates to hospitals also decrease when the continuum of care from acute to home care is smooth. Next, I want to look at reaching out to the lower income elders. This House has debated on the widening income gap and schemes such as Workfare Income Supplements, Growth Dividends, Medisave top-ups, etc. It is the reality that with globalisation, inflation and crisis such as the current downturn, this will aggravate the situation further. In such times, it is the older people who will be hit the hardest.”
“The solution to the multi-faceted and complex challenges ahead is, in my view, a National Council or Institute which will maximise our resources and avoid duplication. We should look at this, in a sense that policy practice and research need to be combined as a major approach in Singapore. It would not only serve to address the issues of fragmentation, but also be a Regional Institute representing South East Asia on the world map. It could be set up by joint funding from MOH, MCYS, MOM and even MTI, for the entrepreneurial activities of the baby boomer generation of the future would possibly be of interest to MTI! The last topic under policies is on family caregivers. We lack a holistic and integrated approach that includes mandatory family leave, informational resources and incentives. Now, I move on to the gaps in services. The first gap is in relation to our community-based care. We have to work towards a system of chronic care that is integrated and comprehensive – medical, personal, social and rehabilitative aspects. In a recent study of Perceptions of Primary Healthcare by older persons in Singapore by Tsao Foundation, it was found that many older people in Singapore dread falling sick. They say "falling sick is worse than death in the Singapore context". The spiralling medical costs, long waiting hours in polyclinics, lack of proper explanation or guidance by the doctors who are rushing against time (like me!), and the inconvenience of seeing a different doctor at every visit – all these make the visit to the polyclinic stressful and frustrating. Caregivers also voiced their need for support from the State. So the first gap is in relation to home health and home help services. In the social services for older people, the VWOs play a major role.”
“Third policy – the current Many Helping Hands approach has served us well for the past few decades but it has its shortcomings. One of the main limitations is that the delivery of services is fragmented, piecemeal and not easy to navigate by end-users. There are many hotlines, such as ComCare hotline, to help alleviate the situation to some extent. However, there is an urgent need to standardise and centralise the services so that the public can use them without experiencing the 'passing the parcel' syndrome. In 1989, the Report of the Advisory Council of the Aged recommended that a National Council on Ageing be established to co-ordinate policies and services for the older population. However, this recommendation was not taken but the National Council for Family and the Aged (NACFA) was set up. In the recent 2004 study which was commissioned by MCYS to the Gerontological Society of Singapore, titled "The State of Gerontology in Singapore" (in which I was involved as a co-Chair), we consulted international experts, Singaporean professionals and reviewed the agendas and approaches of six countries towards tackling the challenges of an ageing population. These countries were UK, USA, Canada, Australia, Japan, and India. One of the key findings was that we lack a national level, cutting-edge Institute or Centre on Gerontology. When the Council for the Third Age (C3A) was set up last year, I thought that it may fulfil the functions of such a National Centre. However, looking at their vision, mission and focus on Active Ageing agenda, I feel that it does not have the iconic focus unless it expands its role in the future.”
“But before I move on, I wish to mention that the appointment of Mr Lim Boon Heng as Minister-in-charge of Ageing Population at the PMO's Office last year was a very important step. The setting up of the Ministerial Committee on Ageing, which Mr Lim chairs, signals the Government's recognition that a coordinated approach is necessary. The first policy I want to address is a National Registry of Elders living alone or living as a couple. This has been mentioned in the past but, to my knowledge, it is still not a reality. In the study of four countries by Prof. Hermalin of University of Michigan, those considered vulnerable in Singapore are elders living alone, childless, poor, above 70 years, and those who are frail. Women tend to be a substantial proportion of this group; hence, this term "feminisation of poverty". We need a Registry of vulnerable older people that includes referrals from the Ministry of Health, MCYS as well as community-based agencies such as CDCs, Resident Committees and FSCs. Targeted help such as financial assistance, health screening, help-in-kind such as transport and meal vouchers, could be efficiently rendered to these Singaporeans who have sacrificed their lives to help build our nation. Second policy – the formulas of means testing are currently inconsistent between MCYS and MOH. MCYS sets two tiers, ie, 50% and 75%, while MOH has three tiers, ie, 25%, 50% and 75%. For example, someone who is eligible and receives financial assistance at a Day Rehabilitation Centre, when he is moved to the Social Day Care Centre, he may suddenly find that he has no more financial aid. It is strongly recommended that the means testing formulas between these two Ministries be streamlined so that the schemes are more user-friendly.”
“This is a rise above the 2006 number of 41 and the 2005 number of 32. This topic reminds me of an Indian elderly man I had interviewed for my Doctoral thesis. He was very poor and on Public Assistance. When I asked him if he would like to return to India, he said he preferred to stay in Singapore. I quote his words, "The Government is like my father. If I die alone, I know the Government will take care of my body and will give me a proper funeral." These words representing the sentiments of the older generation of elders have much significance. The amount of faith that that generated had and still has, leads one to look at whether the Government is living up to their expectations. With the gloomy economic scenario that we are facing in the near future, will the elderly poor be able to manage with their meager Public Assistance of $330 a month? The aim of discussing these social indicators and the message they convey to the public at large, including policy-makers, is that while the country is getting more and more affluent, our social fabric is getting less cohesive and the elderly in the middle and lower-income classes are being marginalised. When an economic downturn occurs, they are the first to be retrenched. When inflation hits, they feel the pinch more because their income has dwindled, and when their children go away overseas, many are left to fend on their own. These are not the minority as figures of Singaporeans migrating overseas are getting substantial. I now move on to shortcoming or gaps in policies, after which I will discuss the gaps and services. I wish to highlight four gaps in policies.”
“More than two ElderCare Masterplans have been drawn up, and more than six national surveys conducted by various Ministries on the older population in the last two decades. Relevant changes have been made to the various legislation. Many changes have been introduced to the CPF, eg, ElderShield insurance scheme, and more to come, such as CPF LIFE Annuity. In the light of these structural changes in the political economy of our country, what is the trickle down effect on the ground? Statistics show that although suicides among seniors have dropped at the turn of the century, they are on the rise again (Straits Times' article, 6th September 2008). In 2007, the rate was 27.6% per 100,000 population. In terms of numbers, 87 elders killed themselves, the majority being males. The risk of suicides among people above 80 is explained by loneliness, medical problems and physical disabilities. Let us look at another social indicator – crime against older people. Robberies and snatch thefts targeting those aged 60 and above jumped up 25% according to the January-June statistics to hit 145 cases this year. The statistics for the same period last year was 116. Why are elders being targeted by criminals in a country that supposedly respects its elders? Is it to do with changing mindsets of the public? Or is it related to the economic downturn and inflation? Or is it that vulnerable people will be targeted for crime, given an opportunity? And therefore we will have to step up neighbourly vigilance and educate our elders. A third social indicator is the rising numbers of elders dying alone, and no one coming forward to claim their bodies. According to a report in the Straits Times, titled "Dying Alone" in 2007, 45 persons' bodies were unclaimed despite police appeals.”
“I hope that my input will have some relevance and bearing upon the preparation of next year's Budget as well as the next ElderCare Masterplan by MCYS which will be forthcoming after 2010. We all know that the speed at which Singapore's population is ageing. It is one of the fastest in the world. What took other developed countries 150 years to evolve, we will shoot through within about 20 years. Currently, people above 65 years form about 9% of our population but they will reach 20% by the year 2030. They will be assets as well as liabilities on the economy. The recent episode of DBS High Notes 5 and Minibonds have highlighted dramatically the retirees' need for financial literacy and how they are easily influenced. At the same time, the Singapore public realised the political and social ramifications of such incidents. Not only is our population ageing at full speed but the aged, ie, those above 80 years, are also increasing in greater numbers. The elongated life expectancy of the population is unprecedented! At birth, a woman born in 2006 can expect to live to 82 years and a man till 78 years. What are the major implications of longer average lifespans? While it can be seen as the success of mankind in keeping the human species alive, it is also a drain on family, community and state resources, health services in particular. Let us take stock at this point, and examine what we have done so far and where we are going in the future. What are the achievements and what are the shortcomings in our efforts to prepare our nation for the full onslaught of a greying population? We have included ageing policies in our national agenda, and we have given some priority to this issue.”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, That Parliament do now adjourn. Question proposed. POLICIES AND SERVICES FOR AN AGEING POPULATION 6.01 pm Assoc. Prof. Kalyani K Mehta (Nominated Member): Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, I would like to speak on the motion: "Policies and Services for an Ageing Population". Before starting, I would like to declare my interest as a member of the Board of Council, National Council of Social Service and Vice-President of the Gerontological Society of Singapore. 19 years ago, I applied to do my PhD at the Department of Social Work, NUS, on the subject of "Dynamics of Adjustment of the Very Old in Singapore". The very old referred to those above 75 years. I studied their cross cultural patterns of ageing – were there similarities and differences between the way a Chinese elderly person ages as compared to his or her Malay and Indian counterparts? The research led me to understand the psychological, physical, emotional, social and spiritual changes that occur in the ageing process, the caregiving load carried by family members as well as the impact of an ageing population on the society at large. I also asked my respondents for suggestions on policies and services. Hence, what I said today is a culmination of 19 years of reflection and analysis of the views of the end-users of our eldercare and family-oriented services drawing from several research projects. Since older people are frequent users of our healthcare services, ie, polyclinics, hospitals and home-based care, I would touch not only on the social services but the health aspects as well. Given the time constraint, I will only briefly speak on the importance of family caregiver policies.”
“For example, MOM produces a guidebook in nine languages for distribution to all foreign workers when they arrive in Singapore. The Police has also produced posters and a video in various languages to enhance crime prevention awareness among foreign workers here. These are shown at dormitory roadshows and other events involving foreign workers. NEA has also stepped up educational outreach to foreign workers on public health issues, including putting up banners in the native languages of the foreign workers at areas where they gather and broadcasting anti-littering messages in the buses that ferry foreign workers. Where necessary, the Police and NEA have stepped up enforcement efforts to deter crime and public health offences. Third, we engage and involve the community. Under the Community Safety and Security Programme, the Police appoint foreign workers as Crime Prevention Ambassadors in residential areas near dormitories. These ambassadors perform foot patrols together with grassroots volunteers to deter crime and socially irresponsible acts near their dormitories. The People's Association's grassroots organisations, such as Community Clubs and Residents' Committees, also organise community activities to promote understanding among residents. During community events, exhibition booths are set up with messages on harmonious living. MOM and other Government agencies will continue to work with local communities to address their concerns about the presence of foreign workers in the community. By working together in partnership, we can make our communities a better place for Singaporeans, as well as foreigners who are here.”
“Mdm Ho Geok Choo asked the Acting Minister for Manpower given that there is an increase in the number of foreigners being housed in HDB housing estates: (a) how can we ensure that foreigners comply with good housekeeping and security standards; (b) how are orientation and induction programmes carried out for these foreigners living in the midst of our heartland estates; and (c) what special programmes are being organised to socialise and integrate these foreigners. The Acting Minister for Manpower (Mr Gan Kim Yong): Mr Speaker, Sir, as the Minister for National Development has explained, foreign workers make a significant contribution to our economic growth and, indeed, we do face a shortage of these workers today. Therefore, I think it is more important for us to have sufficient housing capacity to accommodate foreign workers here, while reducing the impact on residents. We do this in several ways. First, we work through the landlords or dormitory operators. HDB flat owners who wish to sublet their whole flat must apply to HDB for approval. They must ensure that their tenants maintain and upkeep the flat and avoid causing nuisance and disamenities to others. If their tenants do not comply with these conditions, HDB will revoke the approval. HDB conducts half-yearly flat inspections for approved subletting cases to ensure that the subletting is in order. For dormitory operators, we require them to provide basic amenities and recreational facilities within the dormitories, to minimise the need for foreign workers to leave the dormitories. We have also broadened the range of amenities, in response to ground feedback. Second, we reach out to foreign workers to educate them on Singapore's laws and social norms.”
“That would, in fact, have impacted the cost of living because when they come in, there is a reduction in the cost of doing business and, hence, the cost of living. It also meant higher construction cost and delays. So when MPs and residents ask us for upgrading projects, "When is it coming? When is the lift upgrading coming? Where are the flats? Why are we not building enough flats?", all this ultimately boils down to whether we have the resources to build and to upgrade. And what are the resources? It is the foreign workers. So, to say no would have created other problems for our economy and our general cost of living. So, we decided to say yes. We decided to go for growth, and then to find ways and means to solve the down-stream problem of looking for housing for them. It is not an easy issue to tackle. It is a challenge. It requires residents to bear with some inconvenience and to make some adjustments. It requires advisers to work the ground to try to convince their residents that overall, on balance, there is a benefit to the economy, to the country and to them ultimately. Sir, I submit that this is still the best policy for us, that we go for growth, grab the opportunities when we get them, and where there is a resource constrain, we find ways and means to try to work through the problems. Column No : 493 FOREIGN WORKERS IN HDB ESTATES (Integration programmes) 2.”
“So what do we do? Do we leave it vacant or do we look for alternative use? There are several alternative uses. We find which is the one that is the most compatible. That is the reason why we decided to – after looking at all the feasibility studies – allocate it for foreign worker dormitory. That is the reason why we go for temporary uses even though we have a more permanent planning intention in mind. The Member also asked whether there was miscommunication between MDA and MOM. We do have a long-term planning framework in place which takes into account demand for foreign worker bed spaces and housing, which in turn, is related to economic growth in the various sectors. So this planning framework allows us to plan in advance – which is all very fine if the planning parameters or assumptions are as indicated. But in this particular case, the economic growth in the last few years was more robust than anticipated. Just to give Members some figures, construction demand in 2006, when we just came out of the recession, was $17 billion. This year, we expect construction demand to be something like $30 billion, in the space of two years. The number of foreign workers in 2006 went up by 55,000. In 2007, it went up by 102,000, in the space of just one year. And this is not just construction, this is across all sectors – manufacturing, processes, services. We could have said, "Let us not allow the foreign workers to come in, because this is not what we have planned for. We do not have the space for them to come in. Let us say no to foreign workers." What would that mean? If we did not have the number of foreign workers that came in, that would have impacted our growth. That would have impacted the cost of doing business.”
“As Mdm Cynthia Phua said, we do have a long-term land use plan, ie, the Masterplan, which is reviewed every five years. What the Masterplan does is to stipulate the land use plan for various sites in Singapore. But, at the same time, even with the Masterplan, because land is so scarce in Singapore, we do consider short-term uses for state land. Why do we do this? Because (a) it provides flexibility in land use; and (b) more importantly, it allows us to make better use of the land. If you leave the land empty and do not use it at all because there is no urgency for the longer-term use of the land, then obviously that land is going to waste. So there is a wastage or under-utilisation of land on the one hand, and there is a demand on the other hand. If we match the two together, this is where we try to get the compatibility that Mdm Cynthia Phua talked about. I will give Members several examples. There was a shortage in office space a few years ago. We realised that we were not able to generate the additional office space in such a short period of time due to a huge surge in demand for office space in the last two years. So the solution was to tender out sites for temporary office space, for use as transitional office space and, hence, make use of vacant state properties. These are the short-term uses that I am talking about. So while the Masterplan reflects the longer term planning intention of the site, it does not preclude us from making better use of the land, if it is still vacant, for short term use. This is precisely the situation for the Serangoon Garden site. The Serangoon Garden site's long-term land use planning intention is for it to be a residential site, but there is no need to tender out the site for residential use. There is no urgency for it.”
“But I can say that as at this moment, and, in fact, for next year, because the demand, especially for construction workers, is still going to be there because projects are still ongoing, I do not foresee that there will be a drastic drop in the demand for foreign workers.”
“We do try to house the foreign workers as close as possible to their worksites. That is the reason why I said earlier that for construction workers, the first choice is really to provide on-site housing for them. But, again, you must realise that if the construction site is actually quite close to a residential area, there is a limiting constraint there. In the case of Jurong Island, you will be pleased to know that we actually do have dormitories on Jurong Island. In fact, there are two dormitories on Jurong Island and they cater to about 10,000 bed spaces. These are mainly for the process workers, the workers involved in building the petrochemical industries on Jurong Island itself. That is obviously the most sensible thing to do and where it is feasible, we will do it. Just to give Members another example. A huge number of foreign workers are working on the Marina Bay and also on the Sentosa IRs, and so we try to find dormitory space at or near the sites. In fact, some of them are staying on-site, and some of them are staying just slightly away from it. So this is our first choice. But having exhausted this first choice, we now need to go on to the other choices. When we talk about looking for temporary dormitory spaces, we are actually looking at the third or even the fourth alternative. On his second question: do we need such a number of bed spaces if the economy slows down? The demand that has been generated now is due to the exceptional surge in the numbers over the last two years. That is the reason why we need these temporary dormitory spaces. Going forward, of course, we would have to monitor the situation very closely and, if necessary, we would be adjusting the number of bed spaces to deal with it.”
“There was another suggestion to try to block the disamenities, arising from building the road, ie, to try to block some of the noise, the dust or fumes from the road to the residents. This, we have accepted. So NParks will be planting some trees. So where the concerns are valid and where the mitigating measures are doable, we will certainly take them into account. But I must come back to the fundamental point which is really that over the last couple of years, we have seen this very sharp rise in the numbers. These numbers are here and we have to accommodate them, and to accommodate them we need to look at not just permanent sites but also temporary sites, and where the temporary sites are chosen and where they cause some inconvenience and disamenities, then let us look at how we can minimise those inconveniences. But it will not go away totally. I think this is something that we all have to accept.”
“Let me explain the process by which we select these premises and also the process of consultation which is relevant to Mdm Ho's question. First of all, when we scan through the list of sites that are available in Singapore, we take into account, not just the availability, but what are the competing uses because there are many other competing uses for these temporary state properties. Having decided that that particular site is suitable for a dormitory, we then go through the process of evaluating the technical feasibility of it. What this means is that we consult the different agencies, like LTA for traffic amenities, NEA to check whether their health or safety buffers are already in place, which means that we would not be able to make use of it, or other facilities or amenities like sewerage, power, and so on. Having gone through the technical consultation and if we find the sites suitable and feasible, we then consult the advisors and also the grassroots leaders. This is the stage where the grassroots leaders are brought into play and this is where any concerns are brought up, and we look at ways of minimising those concerns. I agree that it is important for us to take that step, to take into account as far as possible the concerns and also put in the mitigating measures. I do have to highlight however that not all the proposals are doable, either because they are too expensive or physically it is just not possible. For example, in the Serangoon Garden case, there was a suggestion to divert the road to another area. We studied it, LTA looked at it, and came to a conclusion that from the traffic safety and traffic hazard point of view, it was not a good idea to redirect that road.”
“The Serangoon Garden Technical School was one such facility. It was ready for occupation in a short time. The facilities are there. There is sufficient space for us to put in all the amenities that I talked about earlier. So, yes, I think it is important for us to provide proper housing for all our workers, not just from the point of view of humanity, as Ms Ng put it, but also because there are basic standards of fire safety and basic standards of health and sanitation that we need to take into account. But, at the same time, I think we want to make sure that as we roll out these dormitories, the disamenities to the surrounding areas are minimised. That is a balance we have to strike. Hence all the additional features and facilities that we put in, like the road which, by the way, is not just going to serve the dormitory. In future when the site is used for other purposes, once the dormitory moves out, that road will still be relevant and useful. So it is something that will be useful even beyond the lifespan of the dormitory.”
“I think there is a responsibility for us to make sure that the foreign workers, and indeed all workers, just like all Singaporeans, are housed in decent conditions. That is the reason why we have utilised several ways in order to provide proper housing for the workers. First of all, they can rent private residential premises. But we have a limit on these premises. We do not want overcrowding in these premises. And that is the reason why we have to look at other alternatives. So construction workers are housed on-site as far as possible. There is, again, a limit to the number of workers that we can house on-site. And this is why we need to have another option, which is allowing foreign workers to live in some of our industrial estates. We have allowed factory owners to convert some of their industrial premises into dormitories. Last but not least, we provide purpose-built permanent dormitories for these workers and, in these dormitories, amenities are put in place which will provide the workers with a very decent standard of living. There are minimum living space conditions, living space requirements as well as provisions of all the basic amenities and indeed more than that. Some of the modern foreign worker dormitories, in fact, have fully equipped gymnasiums, cinemas, games area, and so on. So they are actually very adequately provided for. It is precisely because we want to provide proper housing for these workers that we are now seeking to convert some of the vacant state properties into temporary premises. There is currently overcrowding in some of the private residential estates, including HDB, and that is a fact that we have to deal with. So we are now trying to quickly bring up to speed some of these temporary accommodation.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, allow me to answer part (a) of Ms Denise Phua's Question first. In land scarce Singapore, it is not possible to totally segregate foreign workers from the local community. If Singaporeans do not want to see foreign workers near their residential areas or using common facilities, this will set a physical limit on the number of foreign workers we can accommodate, which will, in turn, limit our economic growth, raise our business costs as well as the cost of living generally. If Singaporeans do not want foreign workers in their residential areas, then there may be more illegal housing, that is, many foreign workers will continue to overcrowd in improper housing premises within or near residential areas. This may create even greater health and safety risks, not just to the workers, but also to the surrounding community. Due to the exceptional increase in foreign worker numbers in the past years, there is a current shortage in foreign worker housing. Hence, MND is exploring temporary measures, such as housing them in vacant state properties or temporary dormitories built on state land, that may be nearer to residential areas. The temporary dormitories are needed as many of these workers are already here and living in overcrowded conditions. Nevertheless, going forward, we will monitor the economic situation closely and adjust our longer-term dormitory supply according to the changing demand for housing. The Acting Minister for Manpower will be addressing part (b) of the Member's Question in his reply to the next question.”
“HDB has been continually exploring the use of new materials and technologies to ensure that the Lift Upgrading Programme (LUP) is carried out in a cost-effective manner. To this end, we have switched from the use of conventional concrete to lighter materials such as ferroconcrete and steel in the construction of new lift shafts. The weight reduction for both ferroconcrete lift shafts and steel lift shafts results in substantial savings in terms of foundation design and piling cost. The cost of a ferroconcrete lift shaft in a typical 11-storey LUP block is about $386,000 (1) each. The cost of a steel lift shaft is about $350,000 each. This is about 6%-15% lower than the cost of a conventional concrete lift shaft, estimated to be around $410,000. Since the steel lift shaft is cheaper than ferroconcrete lift shafts, HDB has used only steel lift shafts for its LUP works since March 2007. (1) Including piling, substructure, superstructure, roof, reinstatement and general site works, but excluding services diversion. HEALTH CARE FACILITIES AND SERVICES (Utilisation rate) 6. Dr Fatimah Lateef asked the Minister for Health in view of the high inflation rate we have been facing the last year, whether there has been any change in the rate of utilisation of health care facilities and services, such as the usage of private versus restructured hospitals and outpatient polyclinics versus private general practitioners.”
“Foreign workers from the various industries have a number of housing options. They can rent residential premises or stay in permanent dormitories, factory-converted dormitories and dormitories at construction sites. These are located all over the island. There are currently 25 permanent dormitories and these are located across the island, mainly within and near the fringe of industrial estates in the West, East, North, Northeast and Central planning regions. The Government has released 11 sites for dormitory development since Feb 2007. Majority of these sites are located in the West and North regions. To meet the immediate housing shortage, we are studying a number of vacant state lands and vacant state properties for the development of temporary dormitories. These are also located across different regions in Singapore. When identifying sites for workers' dormitories, we have to take into account the land use context and technical feasibility of the available sites. While we have sought to spread the dormitory developments in various parts of the island, it is not possible to work towards a totally equal distribution of these dormitories across various constituencies in Singapore. LIFT UPGRADING PROGRAMME (Options for lift shaft design and construction) 5. Dr Lim Wee Kiak asked the Minister for National Development besides the conventional concrete cover for the lift shaft as part of the Lift Upgrading Programme (a) what are the other different options for lift shaft designs and construction methods; (b) what is the difference in each of these designs and methods; and (c) what is the difference in the construction cost for each of these designs.”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, "That the debate be now adjourned." Question put, and agreed to.”
“The community can also help by working closely with the police and dormitory operators on joint projects to further enhance the safety and security of their neighbourhoods. In the final analysis, the larger issue is about a choice that we have to make collectively as a nation. Since the early days of industrialisation, we have relied on foreign workers to augment the workforce and also to take up jobs that Singaporeans avoid. However, there is a social cost to be paid. In land scarce Singapore, they will have to share our common space and facilities. The presence of a large group of people, with different habits and customs, and unfamiliar with our social norms, can create suspicion and anxiety. So we have to make a choice. If we want more foreign workers, we must collectively make adjustments to resolve the social problems. If we want fewer foreign workers, we must be prepared for slower growth, higher costs, lower service level, and delays in the completion of our flats, roads and rail lines. We have decided to go for growth because it is good for Singapore and for Singaporeans. But, going forward, we may need to review if a new balance is needed. 00 pm”
“MND will also work with the relevant Advisor and grassroots leaders on specific measures to reduce disamenities, with reference to the specific characteristics of the site. For instance, at Serangoon Gardens, we will construct a new access road to serve the temporary dormitory so that the development is completely segregated from the local traffic network of the estate. Sir, in land scarce Singapore, it is a challenge to house an increasing foreign worker population. I do not believe that it is a good idea to completely isolate the foreign workers from the local population. In practice, even if we wanted to do that, there is a limit to such a policy. As Singapore becomes more built up, it is likely that these developments will be closer to residential areas over time. For instance, even if we locate these facilities within industrial areas, many new industrial estates are already located in closer proximity to residential areas. If the demand for worker housing grows over time, we will build permanent dormitories to a higher density in order to optimise land. These will not be "townships" on the same scale as HDB towns. But these will be more intensive developments which will be equipped with more comprehensive amenities to make them self-sufficient. But, Sir, this issue cannot be resolved by Government alone. We must each play our part. While the Government will seek to ensure adequate housing facilities and step up enforcement against any crime and littering problems, employers must take on the responsibility of planning for adequate housing for their employees and educating them on the social norms here.”
“As these sites are in more remote areas, time is needed to put in the necessary infrastructure such as sewerage, roads, and so on. Notwithstanding these efforts, there is still a shortage of housing for foreign workers in view of the exceptional increase in numbers in the last few years. The number of foreign workers, excluding domestic maids, increased by 55,000 in 2006. But, in 2007, the number increased by another 102,000, in other words, double or almost double the increase between 2006 and 2007. So even as more permanent dormitories come on-stream, temporary dormitories are needed urgently to meet the current shortage of worker housing. We will build temporary dormitories on vacant state lands. We will also convert vacant state properties, vacant buildings, into temporary dormitories. The Serangoon Gardens Technical School site is one such site for a temporary dormitory development. These state lands and state properties are generally nearer to residential areas and will cause some inconvenience to residents living nearby. However, they are meant as temporary measures only, until permanent dormitories are available. For all dormitory developments, whether temporary or permanent, we will seek to ensure that the disamenities are kept to a minimum. We have asked the dormitory operators to provide amenities within their premises to reduce the need for workers to access facilities outside. They are also required to put in place a set of security measures, including access control, visitor registration and perimeter fences. All these measures will serve to curb unauthorised access into the dormitories and deter illegal activities.”
“Let me start by putting the foreign worker housing issue in context. After a number of years of slow growth, the economy picked up sharply in the past two to three years. The strong economic rebound in turn resulted in a spike in the demand for manpower, therefore more foreign workers had to be allowed in. If we did not do so, business costs and costs of living would have increased even more sharply. These foreign workers were needed to fuel our economic recovery in various sectors – to support property and infrastructural development, to keep our manufacturing sector competitive against lower cost countries and to support the growth in our services sector. My Ministry has adopted a range of measures to address the downstream housing needs of the foreign workers. First of all, we facilitate on-site housing for construction workers. We allow industrial premises to be converted into dormitories and we provide permanent dormitories for these workers. Foreign workers can also rent residential premises for their housing needs. In identifying sites for dormitory development, we consider a number of factors, for example, whether the sites are in health and safety buffer zones and therefore could pose health risks to workers, whether there is adequate infrastructure to support the development, and so on. As far as possible, worker dormitories are located further away from residential areas. There are currently 25 dormitory developments providing close to 100,000 dormitory bed spaces. These are in various parts of Singapore, and many are located within or at the fringe of industrial estates. The Government has released 11 sites since February 2007 that can provide up to 65,000 new beds by 2010.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, may I take Question Nos. 17 and 18 together?”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, I would like to ask whether the hon. Member is allowed to speak. I am not saying that his views are not important but, just as a matter of procedure, whether he is actually allowed to seek clarification after the mover of the motion has already spoken.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I would like to point out to Members of the House, under Standing Order 37(1), it says that, "Unless Standing Orders otherwise provide, when any motion is under consideration in Parliament, or in a Committee thereof, an amendment may be proposed to the motion if it is relevant thereto." Sir, I would like to emphasise the words "if it is relevant thereto". Mr Speaker, Sir, I submit that the amendment that has been proposed by the Non-Constituency MP, as distributed to the House just now, is not relevant to the original motion. The original motion is talking about by-elections and the circumstances under which by-elections should be held, including the timing of such a by-election. Whereas the amended motion seeks to talk about GRCs, especially the abolition of GRCs and reverting to a system of Single Member Constituencies. Sir, this is an entirely different matter. If the Member would like to debate the issue of GRC, then I would suggest that the Member file another motion on this topic so that the House can have a full debate on GRCs. But, as it stands at the moment, the amendment, as distributed, is not relevant to the original motion and therefore should not be accepted.”
“HDB estates are not fenced to allow residents to move about and interact freely. Unfortunately, this means that stray cats in housing estates can also roam about freely. Locating such "cat cafes" in housing estates may compromise the estates' cleanliness and hygiene. Furthermore, the sentiments of HDB residents have to be considered. While some are cat lovers, others are more sensitive to the disamenities they cause. Every year, HDB receives about 530 complaints from residents on cats. There are, therefore, measures in place to manage the stray cat population. They include selective culling and public education to promote responsible pet ownership. JOB DESCRIPTION OF SCHOOL COUNSELLORS 4. Dr Fatimah Lateef asked the Minister for Education (a) what is the exact job description of school counsellors; (b) if schools may draw up their own guidelines or insert modifications to the one suggested by the Ministry; and (c) whether duties such as patrolling and policing the area outside the school perimeter are covered in the job description.”
“HDB rental flats are heavily subsidised and meant as a last resort for needy families without other housing option. Illegal subletting of HDB rental flats is an abuse of housing subsidies meant for the poor. One rental flat that is illegally sublet means one less unit to house a needy family. My Ministry takes a serious view on illegal subletting. HDB has stepped up its enforcement since 2007. Where there is evidence of abuse, it will not hesitate to recover the rental flat and re-allocate the unit to a family in need. Tenants who illegally sublet will be barred from buying or renting another flat from HDB for five years. The tenant’s spouse will also be debarred for five years, while all other authorised occupiers will be debarred for 2.5 years. HDB will monitor the situation closely. If need be, we will impose stricter penalties to further clamp down on illegal subletting. SAFETY OF TAXI DRIVERS 49. Dr Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim asked the Minister for Transport, in light of the recent rise in robbery cases on taxi drivers, what measures are taken by his Ministry to enhance the safety of taxi drivers.”
“We should accept their presence in our midst. Employers and dormitory operators must also play a part in educating the foreign workers on our social norms and way of life in Singapore, and ensuring that the workers are properly housed. SMALL VEHICLES (Compulsory wearing of seat belts/lap belts) 31. Assoc. Prof. Kalyani K Mehta asked the Minister for Transport when his Ministry intends to make wearing of seat belts/lap belts in small vehicles other than cars, compulsory for all passengers.”
“(2) BCA’s TPI tracks mainly manpower and equipment cost, and excludes piling, M&E costs, etc. DORMITORIES FOR FOREIGN WORKERS (Supply) 30. Dr Lim Wee Kiak asked the Minister for National Development in view of the increasing number of foreign workers entering Singapore in recent years (a) whether he can provide an update on the supply of dormitories for foreign workers; and (b) if these facilities are able to cater to the needs of these workers. Mr Mah Bow Tan: Since February 2007, BCA and JTC have released 11 new dormitory sites, providing some 65,000 additional bed spaces. These will be completed progressively by 2010. Among these dormitory sites are vacant Government buildings that will be converted into transitional dormitories to meet the immediate demand for dormitory facilities in the next one to two years, while more permanent dormitories are being developed. For the new permanent workers' dormitories, the Building and Construction Authority (BCA) and the Jurong Town Corporation (JTC) will require tenderers to provide a range of amenities within the dormitory sites. Apart from adequate living space, the dormitories may also contain various facilities such as mini-marts, barber shop, remittance services, TV room and sports facilities. This will help to make the dormitories more attractive and self-contained, insofar as daily living and recreational needs are concerned. Given that Singapore is becoming more built up, it will be an increasing challenge to find suitable sites for foreign workers. Residents may find more foreign workers living in their midst, or dormitory sites located near to their premises. We hope that Singaporeans will be more understanding and accommodating in this aspect. Foreign workers are here to contribute to our economic growth.”
“It is an important thrust to support the larger goal of sustainable development, and also a means to help manage overall construction cost. “Sustainable construction” requires the adoption of building designs and construction methods that optimise material usage, and enable the use of recycled materials, as well as materials that have sustainable supplies. This concept is relatively new in Singapore, but we have made progress. For example, the use of dry partition wall systems, which can help builders save on materials compared to conventional concrete or internal brick walls, is becoming more popular. HDB has also recently adopted such systems for the conversion of some rental flats. Sustainable construction methods also include prefab construction using structural steel and pre-cast concrete. While steel prices have risen considerably, there are savings on productivity, manpower, materials and construction time which could offset the higher upfront costs. Prefab construction can potentially offer a better construction solution for developers and builders, and industry stakeholders should weigh the pros and cons to decide if it is a viable option for certain types of projects such as commercial buildings. BCA is also advocating more efficient concrete design to reduce concrete usage, and promoting the use of recycled materials in construction. To facilitate the use of recycled materials, a new Singapore Standard was launched to allow the safe and appropriate use of manufactured and recycled aggregates in place of natural aggregates in concrete production. In addition, BCA is working with demolition contractors to encourage the sorting of demolition waste and looking into the accreditation of recyclers to raise the standard of the industry.”
“However, projects that are essential to meet Singapore’s economic and social needs, such as key infrastructural development, will proceed as planned. We will continue to monitor the situation closely and work with the key industry stakeholders such as developers, builders and quantity surveyors to mitigate the cost increase as much as possible. Mdm Phua asked about the impact of rising construction costs on HDB’s building programme and the prices of flats. As new HDB flats prices are not based on cost, they will not be directly affected by the construction cost increases. New flats will continue to be priced at a discount to their equivalent market prices, so that buyers enjoy a generous subsidy. As I had mentioned earlier, overall construction costs had gone up by 20% to 30% in 2007. In comparison, new flat prices had increased by a slower pace, in tandem with the prevailing market trends. For example, comparing two BTO projects next to each other in Sengkang, the project launched in November 2007 was on average about 14% higher than the one launched a year earlier in November 2006. Nevertheless, the construction cost increase poses a strain on HDB’s budget for new building projects. HDB has already implemented various measures to mitigate the extent of cost increases as far as possible. For example, HDB is stepping up overseas promotional efforts to attract more foreign contractors to participate in HDB tenders. HDB also purchases cement and sand in bulk to cushion HDB contractors against price increases of these raw materials. Mdm Phua also asked about the use of sustainable materials in construction. “Sustainable construction” is about the efficient use of materials.”