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.”
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“Sir, I would like to thank Members for raising the issues of the elderly and the low-income and their housing needs. It gives me the opportunity to explain how we cater to the housing needs of these two groups. The first starting point is that most Singaporeans do have a house that they own as a result of the Home Ownership Programme and the house that they own appreciates in value as Singapore prospers. We had a survey done in 2005. The Department of Statistics did this study. It showed that HDB households, on average, had a net equity of $154,000. By "net equity", I mean assets minus the outstanding loans. This net equity of $154,000 was the 2005 figure, and I suspect the figure may be higher today. When these households retire, their flat will be an asset that is of significant economic value. They have paid for this house over the years with their hard-earned savings. Now, when they retire, it is a roof over their heads as well as a shield against economic uncertainty. Another statistic - most of the elderly HDB households above 65 years old have no outstanding HDB or bank loan. By "most", I am talking about 90% of HDB households above 65 years old who have fully paid up for their flats. The main issue now is how do we unlock the value that is within the HDB flat so that it can contribute to their retirement income. I do recognise that different households and different families have different ways to unlock or monetise their flat equity, depending on their different preferences, needs, etc. In recognition of this, HDB has put in place a whole array of monetisation options. Let me very quickly just run through them. First of all, very obviously, is subletting. You can monetise by subletting your flat and then moving in with the family. This is an ideal arrangement.”
“We are going to release more sites for operators to build worker dormitories and this will require the successful tenderers to provide a range of amenities within the dormitory sites. Last year, BCA and JTC launched seven new dormitory sites which will provide close to 50,000 additional bed spaces. Here, I would like to appeal for Members' cooperation because you may find that one of the sites that we are going to release will be in your constituency and I hope you will understand why we have to release more sites for foreign worker housing. Sir, let me conclude by assuring Members that my Ministry will take concrete action to address these short-term challenges. At the same time, we have to stay on course. We have to persist with our efforts to develop Singapore into a vibrant and distinctive city in a sustainable way.”
“As at fourth quarter 2007, there was a total supply of 65,000 uncompleted units of private housing. These are projects in the pipeline, out of which 56,000 units are expected to be completed between now and 2011, ie, in the next three years. To put that into perspective, the average demand for uncompleted units over the last few years was 11,000 units per annum. So, 56,000 units over the next three years is equivalent to five years' supply, if we took the last three years average. But I think the latest figures seem to suggest that the take-up rate is slowing down. The Government will continue to monitor the property market closely and we will calibrate the office and private residential supply to be made available via the Government Land Sales programme. We will continue to take market-led approach, meaning, we will have the Confirmed List as well as the Reserve List. Let me now take one last point that was made by Mr Ong Ah Heng. He asked about supply of dormitory facilities for foreign workers. The demand for dormitory facilities has indeed increased very sharply and that comes on the back of big increase in the number of foreign workers needed for our economy. To take some of the heat out of the construction sector, the Government has deferred something like $3 billion worth of projects. So this will result in lesser demand for foreign workers which will also, of course, result in less pressure on dormitories. But there is a shortage of foreign worker dormitory housing at the moment. We have several options that we hope the industry will take up. We have got the dormitories within factory premises, we have purpose-built dormitories and we also have quarters which are provided within construction sites.”
“These measures are going to take some time to filter through to the market. I would suggest that, in the meantime, tenants can look outside the Central Area if they can. They can look at alternative locations. Office rentals vary very widely depending on location and development. We read about record office rentals in the headlines but this reflects the rentals for selected prime locations and Grade A developments. The median office rent in locations outside of the city centre, which accounts for 80% of office space in Singapore, is less than half that within the city centre. With more supply coming on-stream, increase in office rentals will be moderated over the next few years, and that is before taking into account any unforeseen circumstances arising from the sub-prime problems in the financial sector. As for private residential properties, the Government has responded to the price and rental increases by releasing more sites for residential development, more market information and withdrawn the deferred payment scheme to pre-empt speculative activities. The increase in prices and rentals have moderated towards the end of last year. And like office space, the prices and rentals for private residential properties also vary across market segments and geographical locations. So, by the end of 2007, fourth quarter last year, the median rent for non-landed private housing outside the Central Area was about half that for non-landed private housing in the Core Central Area, meaning districts 9, 10, 11, Sentosa and Downtown Core. I would like to inform Members that more supply is coming into the pipeline and this will moderate the price and rental increase over the next few years.”
“But let me say that we cannot place trees and biodiversity above housing and other needs of our people. But through judicious planning and through sensitive development, we can share this limited space of ours with the birds and the trees, including our Albizia trees. Sir, let me now turn to the other short-term challenges that we face. One immediate challenge is supply of office space and private residential property. Demand in these property sectors was very robust in 2007. There is a short-term office crunch, partly as a result of low office development activity in the 2002 to 2004 period when the market was down and when the private sector was hesitant in taking up sites that were actually made available by the Government and some of them were even converting office space to other uses. Then, in 2005 and 2006, there was a faster than expected rise in office demand. These two factors together contributed to the current shortage in office space. In 2008 and 2009, the office market is expected to remain tight due to a continuing shortage of new office supply. However, in 2010 and beyond, some 1.4 million square metres of office space will be completed. 1.4 million square metres of office space is equivalent to about five years of supply on average based on the average demand in the last few years. So this is a longer term development - 2010 and beyond. In the shorter term, the Government has released land for transitional office sites as well as vacant State properties. This will yield about 150,000 square metres of office space. This transitional office space will be available within a year or so. The Government has also temporarily disallowed the conversion of office space in the central area to curb any further depreciation of the stock.”
“I think some of the Members here may be interested in an ultra-marathon on the Eastern Park Connector. But I would like to assure Dr Lim and everybody else that we are very serious about developing the park connector network because this is really one way to leverage on the parks and green spaces that we have and to create more accessibility for all. But infrastructure, park connectors, etc, are not enough. We also need to have more programming. We need to create interest and bring people into the parks. We need to cater to their lifestyle interests. That is the reason why another programme that NParks has been actively promoting, which has started to gain traction and is becoming popular, is what they call the "Community-in-Bloom" programme. This programme is basically for the heartlands and has succeeded in promoting appreciation of gardening and greenery, developing a strong gardening culture and, in the process, also bonding people together in the heartlands. For those Members who have not started the "Community-in-Bloom" programme, I would heartily recommend it to you. 4.30 pm We will also continue to safeguard our natural biodiversity and heritage. We have four natural reserves and 18 nature areas will be reflected in the Masterplan. Mr Sam Tan talked about mature trees. Yes, we have in place legislation, supported by development control measures, to protect trees within designated tree conservation areas along heritage roads and the roadside planting verges, and also in gazetted national parks and reserves. By doing this, by designating them as heritage trees, by prioritising developments, we hope that areas, which are not needed for development, will be kept undeveloped for as long as possible.”
“There is one such site at Jalan Jurong Kechil. The site comes with a shorter lease of 30 years. Why 30 years? It is because we have received feedback that a normal lease would be too expensive and will make it financially unattractive to build such retirement housing development. So we are trying out a 30-year short lease for this site and we will see whether the private sector is interested. Lastly, the MP08 will include more recreational choices and destinations to improve the quality of life. There will be more water-based recreation, new sports facilities and lifestyle destinations. There will be new parks and enhancement to existing ones. Dr Lim Wee Kiak talked about park connectors. I would like to assure him that our park connectors will not lead to nowhere. In fact, we have stepped up our development of park connectors. We are going to develop 200 kilometres of these green corridors all over the island by 2015. This is double what we originally envisaged under the earlier Parks and Waterbodies Plan. These park connectors, as Dr Lim has alluded to, is really to connect up all the different parks all over the island in a network so that all parks eventually will be accessible to everybody, no matter where we are staying. So Pasir Ris Park can be accessible not just to residents of Pasir Ris, Tampines or Bedok but also to those in Marine Parade and even further beyond. Those living in the east will know that, in fact, the Eastern Park Connector has already been completed. The total length of that park connector is equivalent to the length of a marathon, ie, about 42 kilometres. In fact, in a few months' time, we are going to hold an ultra-marathon on this park connector. An ultra-marathon apparently is two marathons, so you run twice around the park connector.”
“These centres are all near existing developed areas, well-supported by road and rail infrastructure, and new industrial estates will also be created near these areas as well as other different regions. All these efforts, when completed, will make getting to work more convenient and cut down on commuting time. The third objective, out of the three objectives that I mentioned just now for the MP08, is to ensure a quality living environment. The MP08 will reflect improvements to our living environment. Members would have heard the Prime Minister in his National Day Rally Address talk about rejuvenation of our HDB estates through the remaking of Punggol 21 and the Dawson Road area. We will also be doing SERS in many of the other estates. We will be doing upgrading programmes, such as the Home Improvement Programme, Neighbourhood Renewal Programme, and of course the Lift Upgrading Programmes. [Mr Deputy Speaker (Mr Matthias Yao Chih) in the Chair] 4.28 pm Dr Fatimah Lateef suggested that we look into providing for retirement villages. As the Member may know, the Government provides elderly housing today in the form of Studio Apartments (SAs). Unlike retirement villages in other countries which are stand-alone retire ment villages, SAs are located within HDB estates. In fact, some of them are located in blocks that also contain other flat types. Why? Because we want to allow the elderly to be integrated within the community. We want them to enjoy access to all the facilities that are available in the HDB estate, eg, the markets, shops, transportation, senior citizens corners, RC centres, etc. But at the same time, I just want to add that we have also set aside land for the private sector to develop private residences that can be purpose-built for the elderly.”
“In other words, there will be extensive underground pedestrian networks, covered walkways at ground level, and all these will link all the developments in the area to the MRT stations in Marina Bay, at-grade as well as underground. For Orchard Road, URA plans to work with the private sector to achieve a comprehensive and seamless pedestrian network, including not only underground links, walkways at street level, but also second-storey links between buildings. This will require incentives and a lot of effort and persuasion on the part of the Government, but I believe it will be done. I think all of us agree that it is not sustainable for all economic activities to be focused in just the city centre alone. Mr Ang Mong Seng specifically asked whether we can intensify land around MRT stations. The answer is yes. Indeed, this has been a key planning policy of the Government. However, I hope Members will appreciate that not all MRT stations can be developed all at once. But land has been set aside for redevelopment into offices, commercial buildings and residential buildings. For example, there is already a vibrant cluster of office and commercial buildings that is coming up around the Novena and Tampines MRT stations. In the new Master Plan 2008 (MP08), we will be developing new commercial centres in three areas: (1) Around the Jurong Lake area and the MRT station; (2) In Paya Lebar; and (3) In the Kallang/Bugis area. All these three areas will help to complement the activities that are currently being undertaken in the city centre and will help to support our economic growth.”
“It will be a seamless extension of Raffles Place, offer high-quality office spaces along a lively waterfront. Let me just give Members of its scale eventually, ie, the amount of space that will be generated within the area located immediately adjacent to the existing financial district at Raffles Place and Shenton Way. This new area will be equivalent to two Canary Wharfs. I think many of you are familiar with the Canary Wharf development in London. So in this new area, there is enough land set aside for two Canary Wharfs. It will provide as much Grade A office space as the whole of Hong Kong's Central. We are beginning to see the new financial district taking shape. We have the new development at One Raffles Quay (ORQ) and the Marina Bay Financial Centre, and we recently sold two new pieces of land at Marina View. These developments are beginning to reshape that particular area of Marina Bay. And URA will make available more sites for development in this area over the next five to six years, in line with market demand. When completed, these new developments will provide more than 1.1 million square metres of office space, in other words, as much office space as there is in total at Raffles Place today. The new financial district is expected to take more than 15 years to materialise, depending on market demand. The Government will continue to release land in a calibrated manner to meet such demand. Mr Zainudin Nordin asked about having more underground connectivity between buildings in the Orchard Road and downtown business area. I would like to inform him that the Marina Bay has been master planned as a pedestrian-friendly district.”
“He encouraged us to share our strategies and programmes, especially in the greening of Singapore, with other urbanised, highly built-up cities around the world. We have promised that we will do so. So, we hope to share this model of sustainable development, a model that is economically and financially viable, replicable and addresses the needs of cities that are in a special environment, that is highly urbanised, densely populated and economically vibrant. To do that, I think one of the keys will be a land-use strategy that will help us in this effort. So we will continue to plan our land-use judiciously to ensure that we can grow comfortably into the future and yet provide an even higher quality of living environment for our people. In the next few months, MND and URA will roll out its land-use plans for the next 10 to 15 years in the Master Plan 2008. This Master Plan is a process that guides land-use planning for the next 10 to 15 years and it is a process that will engage and involve as many people as possible in developing this plan. We will develop this plan with three key objectives in mind: (1) To ensure that we have sufficient land to support economic growth; (2) To reduce commuting by bringing jobs closer to homes or, in some cases, homes closer to jobs; and (3) To provide greater greenery and leisure options for our people. Mr Liang Eng Hwa asked about plans to rejuvenate the CBD and to develop Marina Bay. To meet the future demand for Grade A office space, URA will be releasing land around the Tanjong Pagar precinct as well as redeveloping Ophir/Rochor corridor into a vibrant office cluster. So the existing CBD will not be forgotten. However, Marina Bay will remain the centrepiece of our new development efforts.”
“Mr Edwin Khew also asked whether the Government will be introducing more financial incentives to encourage environmentally-friendly practices. I do not preclude this. But the IMCSD needs to address sustainable development in a holistic way with a whole slew of measures, including public education, research and development, and, if necessary, legislation. The IMCSD intends to launch a blueprint next year that will provide a comprehensive roadmap of the initiatives and the measures that we need to take to sustain our development for the next 10 years and beyond. Even as we do more domestically, we hope that we can share with other cities our model of sustainable development, and we have started with an important project that Minister for Foreign Affairs Mr George Yeo talked about just now, ie, the collaboration with China on the Sino-Singapore Eco-City Project in Tianjin. This is an important project and we hope that, through this project, we will be able to share with the Chinese authorities and the Tianjian authorities some of the development strategies and measures that we have taken and, at the same time, also learn from them some of the measures that they have taken. Together, we hope that we will be able to create and build an eco-city that we will be able to replicate in other cities, one that will be a viable model for other cities in China. In January this year, the UN biodiversity chief, Ahmed Djoghlaf, visited Singapore. He told me he was visiting Singapore for the first time and could never have imagined such greenness and nature co-existing in the heart of one of the most populated cities in the world.”
“15 pm Going forward, the IMCSD hopes to partner MPs, CDCs, grassroots organisations, NGOs, etc, to further promote and expand ground-up efforts in support of sustainable development. The IMCSD also intends to co-create sustainable development strategy with the people and private sectors for the future by seeking the views and the expert knowledge that resides both locally as well as internationally. I expect that some of these discussions will reflect the inherent tensions between development and environment that face our resource-scarce state, whether it is between conservation, that Mr Sam Tan talked about, and development, or whether it is between conservation of buildings and conservation of green spaces, wooded areas, etc, or whether we need to set aside more space for housing. But I think this kind of discussion debate is essential to foster greater awareness of the challenges we face and greater ownership of the kinds of solutions that we are able to come up with to resolve these challenges, solutions that we have to come up with together. I am greatly encouraged by the various suggestions from Members about how we can further our sustainable development efforts. The IMCSD will study them carefully. In particular, Mr Edwin Khew asked whether we will be looking at encouraging environmental sustainability in our built environment, including public housing, and the answer is unequivocally yes. Apart from the broad strategies, the IMCSD will also look into specific new initiatives in various areas, such as in transport, in our built environment in promoting the green industry, in expanding green spaces to make Singapore the leading eco-global city in Asia.”
“So tough trade-offs between the needs of the economy and housing, between housing and conservation, between development and preservation of nature areas must continue to be made, especially in a small and resource-scarce city state like ours. We also cannot forsake growth, as growth ensures that we have the resources to do even more for the environment. It is only with growth that Singapore will have sufficient resources to implement measures to undertake investments that will help us cut down on energy consumption or will help us to make use of the renewable energy, both of which will help to mitigate the impact of climate change. So we want a virtuous cycle of economic growth and a high quality of the living environment supporting one another, not placing one objective in front of or at the expense of the other. Going forward, how do we make the next leap to become a leading eco-city in Asia? The key is partnership. An eco-city needs eco-residents. Sustainable development is as much about changing lifestyles as it is about new technologies or green buildings. We need to partner the private and the people sector to make fundamental changes to the way we live, work, play and commute at the level of individuals and businesses. So when I heard Mr Sam Tan talking just now about making more efforts to facilitate highest rate of recycling, I was encouraged because it is through such efforts, advocacy from MPs, from leaders in the community which are taken up by the people in the community that we will succeed in our efforts. I am also happy to see the concrete efforts that are being made on energy audits and energy efficiency in the various CDCs. For example, Mayor Teo Ho Pin talked about the efforts made by North West CDC during the Budget debate. 4.”
“In our own unique and holistic way, we have been able to achieve a liveable environment in the context of an economically vibrant, highly urbanised and densely populated city. The Singapore Way is also a highly pragmatic approach to development, or "pragmatic environmentalism". We seek the most viable and cost-effective methods of achieving environmental sustainability outcomes. We focus on measures that are practical, effective and will make impactful contributions to environmental sustainability. Going forward, we will continue to experiment and make investment decisions in green technology, taking into account economic viability and effectiveness. Third, and this is related to pragmatism that I talked about, the Singapore Way is about achieving a sustainable and mutually reinforcing balance between development and environment. We need to remind ourselves that sustainable development is still about development, and that, at the core of the whole concept of sustainable development, is quality of life for our people. We still want growth. We still want good jobs. We want a better life for ourselves and our children. For the years ahead, we will have to do more to achieve greater resource efficiency to support our economic growth. We also need to ensure that our people have an excellent quality of life - that we can continue to breathe clean air, drink clean water, enjoy green places and spaces. This means that we will have to strive to achieve all our development objectives - economic growth, a good living environment, our environmental heritage - in a balanced way.”
“Although the term had been used earlier, it was after this Report was published that the term "sustainable development" came into the vocabulary. But when Singapore became independent in 1965, this phrase was not in the vocabulary. We had not heard of this phrase. But we adopted sustainable development principles right from the beginning, and we consistently practised these principles in the last 40 years of our development. Not by choice, but by necessity, because we are a city state with scarce resources and with no hinterland. We evolved our own "Singapore Way" of sustainable develop ment in the last 40 years, it served us well by achieving both economic growth and giving our people a good quality of life. This Singapore Way is, first and foremost, about a good system of governance. Our sustainable development approach is founded on long-term comprehensive planning, and supported by a set of key policies and best practices and breakthrough innovations in technology. Few cities in the world have an integrated planning framework like ours, where technical agencies, across Ministries, come together to plan the land use and infrastructure needs of our development over a long-term horizon, over a few decades. This allows us to judiciously maximise every bit of our land resources. We have pioneered traffic demand management measures like the Vehicle Quota System and the Electronic Road Pricing system. We have planned self-sufficient townships to reduce the need to commute. We have achieved breakthroughs in waste and water management and developed NEWater to enhance our water security. It is a total system approach that includes both software and hardware.”
“The current cost challenges that we face are reflective of the pressures on our limited resources as our economy and population grow. Last year, the exuberance in the property market and the construction boom caused construction costs to spike up. And as a small economy, the worldwide increase in energy and food prices - we read yesterday that wheat prices have gone up 25%, just in one day alone - would have a direct immediate impact on us. And as we develop, these pressures are going to become more acute, not less. Therefore, sustainable development must continue to be the key priority of the Government. The Government recently formed an Inter-Ministerial Committee on Sustainable Development, or IMCSD, to review policies and chart new strategies for Singapore's future development. The Committee is co-chaired by Minister Yaacob and myself and also includes members from the Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Trade and Industry and the Ministry of Transport. And this Committee will work closely with the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Climate Change which is chaired by Prof. Jayakumar. This is a strong signal of the commitment of Government to ensure that the growth we strive for is not at the expense of our quality of life. Many MPs have spoken on this issue of sustainable development during the Budget debate. Let me take this opportunity to articulate our philosophy and approach to sustainable development. The term "sustainable development" came into vogue after a very important Commission introduced its report. This was the Brundtland Commission. And they published the report in 1987 called "Our Common Future", and this term was in that Report.”
“Sir, 2007 was indeed a very good year. We had strong economic growth, with employment at a record high. Singapore captured global attention as we continued to transform ourselves into a cosmopolitan, vibrant and distinctive city. In fact, last month, we were listed among the top 20 global vibrant cities for the first time in the 2008 Hub Culture Zeitgeist Cities Ranking. I did not know the meaning of the word "Zeitgeist". So I looked it up in Wikipedia. It is a German word, that means "spirit of the age". So, basically, the Hub Culture Zeitgeist Cities Ranking is a ranking given to cities that, according to them, are places of innovation, places of change, places of vibrancy, all taken together to create a place of the moment. So we are one of the places of the moment. Let us hope that we will remain places of the moment for many, many moments to come. But, for 2008, we have for the first time got into the ranking, and these are just only one of the many accolades and commendations we received. As many Members have pointed out, there are also many challenges because with success, come new challenges. With economic growth, cost pressures have gone up. Many Members have raised issues in the Budget debate and now about rising office rentals, housing prices, etc, and I will deal with these in detail. But I just want to say that even as we address immediate cost concerns, let us not lose sight of our longer-term development objective and focus. Our success today did not come by chance, but through persistent efforts over many years to remake Singapore into a distinctive global city. We have to continue to keep this long-term view and position our city well in the global competition for jobs, investments and talents. Let me start with the longer-term development goals.”
“For each of the past five years, there were on average 630 women below the age of 35 who sold their matrimonial HDB homes as a result of divorce. A divorced person with legal custody of at least one child constitutes a family nucleus. Upon sale of the matrimonial flat, he or she has the option of buying a new or resale HDB flat according to his/her eligibility. Divorced persons without custody of children are treated no differently from other singles. If they are 35 or older, they can purchase a resale HDB flat under the Single Singapore Citizen Scheme if they meet the eligibility criteria. They can also purchase a resale flat jointly with another single under the Joint Singles Scheme. Divorced persons below 35 who are without custody of children are not eligible to purchase a HDB flat on their own. They can choose to stay with family for mutual care and support, or rent a room from the open market. APPENDICES”
“Mr Siew Kum Hong asked the Minister for Trade and Industry for each of the last 15 years up to and including 2007 (a) what was Singapore's Gross National Product; (b) what was the percentage of wages as a component of Gross Domestic Product and Gross National Product; and (c) what were the proportions of wages going to Singapore residents and non-residents respectively.”
“The number of rental flats available under the Public Rental Scheme decreased from 4,600 in 1998 to 1,070 in 2007. This is due in part to the low turnover of tenants. From 1998 to 2007, the number of flats returned to HDB dropped from 4,700 in 1998 to 1,600 in 2007. The flats were returned to HDB mainly because the tenants had purchased homeownership flats, passed away or infringed tenancy conditions. The number of eligible applicants for public rental flats has increased from about 2,300 per year (before 2003) to 4,700 in 2007. The increase is due mainly to the raising of the income ceiling for applicants from $800 to $1,500 in 2003. There has also been an increase in the number of divorcees, elderly households and second-timer households (ie, those who have previously enjoyed housing subsidy through purchase of HDB flats) applying for rental flats in recent years. To address the increasing demand for rental flats, HDB has adopted a two-pronged approach: (a) Increase Supply. HDB has earlier announced plans to provide an additional 2,200 new rental flats. It will continue to review the rental flat supply to meet the housing needs of low-income families without other housing options. (b) Manage demand. Even as we increase the supply of rental flats, we cannot provide a rental flat for every person who wants it. Given the heavy subsidy involved, demand for HDB rental flats will invariably exceed the supply. HDB will therefore be reviewing the Public Rental Scheme eligibility criteria to ensure that our heavily subsidised rental flats are targeted at those who are genuinely poor and without other housing options. More details will be announced when ready. Column No : 425 GROSS NATIONAL PRODUCT 3.”
“In addition, a multi-agency effort has been set up, led by Dr Fatimah Lateef, to coordinate efforts by Government agencies (such as LTA, SLA, NEA and PUB) as well as the grassroots, to improve the conditions in Geylang. New initiatives, such as enhanced street lightings and installation of CCTVs, have been implemented. The key objectives of these multi-agency efforts are three-fold. Firstly, to reduce conditions that could facilitate crime and vice through better lighting and monitoring. Secondly, to enhance the sense of security among residents by reducing the number of streetwalkers venturing into the residential areas. Thirdly, to reduce dis-amenity to residents arising from public entertainment outlets in the area. Column No : 423 WRITTEN ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS Column No : 423 ROAD HOGGING 1. Mr Siew Kum Hong asked the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Home Affairs how many cases of road hogging were there in each of the last five years.”
“In Master Plan 2003, the majority of the sites in the area between Lorong 22 and Lorong 44 Geylang is zoned "Residential". Many of the sites are either zoned "Residential" or "Residential/Institution", with a number of sites fronting Geylang Road zoned "Commercial". (Note: 60% of the sites in the area are zoned pure "Residential".) The URA has no intention of reviewing the land use zoning for this area. For sites zoned "Residential" in the MP03, change of use to non-residential uses, such as for public entertainment uses, would in principle not be supported. This is to retain the residential nature of these areas and helps in "ring-fencing" the area. The "ring-fencing" of the area is also achieved through vigilant enforcement to control vice activities. The Police has and will continue to undertake regular enforcement action in both the odd and even lorongs in Geylang. The Anti-Vice Branch (AVB) conducts frequent checks at the red-light areas and regular enforcement against vice. The Police imposes stringent licensing conditions for entertainment outlets and massage establishments in the area, and also conducts regular checks on the public entertainment outlets to ensure that they operate within the licensing conditions. Although there has not been any serious problem associated with these outlets, Police will continue to monitor these outlets and would not hesitate to suspend or revoke the licence of errant operators. MHA and Police also work closely with agencies such as the Hotel Licensing Board and URA to regulate the operations and development of budget hotels and lodging houses there.”
“Mr Zaqy Mohamad asked the Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports in light of the recent dispute between triathlete Gino Ng and the Triathlon Association of Singapore (a) if he will provide an assessment of the issue in the selection of athletes to represent Singapore; and (b) what measures will be put in place to prevent similar disputes and ensure the meritocratic selection of sportsmen by national sports associations to represent Singapore in international competitions.”
“Sir, changes to the Animals & Birds (Dog Licensing and Control) Rules were announced in early August last year, and brought into force the following month, on 1st September 2007. Among the changes, the maximum penalty for keeping an unlicensed dog went up substantially from $500 to $5,000. This higher maximum penalty has produced its desired outcome. Many dog owners came forward to apply for the required dog licence. They were given a grace period of up to the end of 2007 to do so. Between August and December, more than 16,500 applications for new dog licences were received, about five and a half times higher than normal. AVA had increased the capacity of the system in anticipation of a higher number of applications, but the surge was higher than anticipated and a temporary backlog resulted. Exacerbating the problem, 60% of the applications received during this period were incomplete, as some existing dog owners did not provide the required details of their dogs or the supporting documents. This lengthened the processing time. AVA deployed more staff to deal with the backlog in applications and has since cleared it. By December 2007, the processing of counter, online and mail applications for dog licences is back to normal. Counter applications are processed on the spot and the licence issued within 10 minutes, although the waiting time would depend on the crowd. Properly completed online and mail applications are processed within a day of receipt and the licence issued within three days. SELECTION OF ATHLETES TO REPRESENT SINGAPORE 41.”
“HDB will continue to work with other agencies such as NParks and the National Environment Agency (NEA), industry partners and tertiary institutions to test out new ideas and improvements. For example, HDB is working with NParks to research on vertical greening for HDB blocks, and with the NEA on the development of a refuse chute with recycling function. Through such efforts, HDB will continue to incorporate cost-effective and proven green technologies and solutions into public housing. DOG LICENCES 40. Mdm Cynthia Phua asked the Minister for National Development in view of the new guidelines on dog licensing (a) how many applications for registration of pet dogs have been received; (b) how many licences have since been issued; (c) what is the average time for a dog licence to be issued from the date of application; and (d) what is the processing time for the issuance of new licences.”
“The Government is committed to ensure that our HDB flats remain affordable to the vast majority of Singaporean families. While HDB adopts environmental sustainability as a major guiding principle in the development of public housing estates, it has always been mindful of the cost implications. To ensure that the green solutions that are being introduced are cost-effective, HDB adopts only proven and viable technologies. HDB carries out extensive research in collaboration with industry partners and academic institutions. It conducts pilot projects to test the solutions before their adoption. HDB takes into account not only the upfront costs, but also recurrent costs and possible economies of scale through large scale implementation. Some of these green solutions include the installation of planting trays to create green roofs, and the adoption of water-saving features and energy-efficient light fittings. HDB has brought together many of its recent green innovations and improvements in the pilot eco-precinct project, Treelodge@Punggol, which was launched in March this year. If the outcome is positive, HDB will extend these innovations to other new projects in due course. Among the 712 premium flats in this project, 600 were four-room units which were offered at a subsidised price of between $210,000 and $250,000. At these prices, the median household with an income of about $4,000 per month can service their mortgage instalment fully with their monthly CPF Ordinary Account contributions. The monthly Service and Conservancy Charges for these flats will be the same as flats of the same flat types in nearby blocks, as the higher maintenance cost of some of the new features will be offset by savings in energy and utility costs.”
“Mdm Deputy Speaker, I beg to move, That Parliament do now adjourn. Question proposed. BULLYING IN SCHOOLS 6.05 pm”
“The National Environment Agency conducts regular checks at the site and will continue with strict enforcement against vendors who operate illegally outside the permitted areas and hours of operation, including seizing the goods of such vendors where necessary. In 2007, the NEA had enforced against 29 illegal vendors at the Sungei Road area, mostly for operating outside the permitted areas. The Police and LTA officers also patrol the site to enforce law and order and traffic regulations respectively. There are currently many privately operated flea markets, such as the ones that are held every weekend at Far East Square and China Square. The Government has no plan to set up a flea market at Sungei Road or elsewhere, as this is a commercial venture best undertaken by the private sector. For the street vendors currently operating at Sungei Road, the relevant agencies will continue to work together to minimise any social, public health and law and order issues arising from these activities.”
“It is an attempt to let the HDB flat buyer have a wider range, more options, and it is also in a way an attempt to get the private sector involved in the HDB market. But the bottomline is that DBSS flats will always remain a small part of the total supply of HDB flats, and that is the best assurance that I would like to give as far as those who do not want the frills are concerned. If they still want a basic three-room, four-room or even a five-room flat, those flats will still be available in the market. STREET HAWKERS AT SUNGEI ROAD VICINITY (Regulation of activities) 11. Ms Denise Phua Lay Peng asked the Minister for the Environment and Water Resources whether his Ministry has plans to (i) regulate the street hawkers at the Sungei Road vicinity so that problems caused by illegal hawkers are reduced; and (ii) work with relevant agencies to set up a proper flea market at Sungei Road. The Senior Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for the Environment and Water Resources (Dr Amy Khor Lean Suan) (for the Minister for the Environment and Water Resources): The National Environment Agency (NEA), Singapore Police Force (SPF) and Land Transport Authority (LTA) have been working closely to regulate the activities of the secondhand goods street vendors at the Sungei Road area. This is to ensure that the place is kept clean and activities are carried out in an orderly manner. The activities of the street vendors are confined to Pitt Street, Larut Road and Pasar Lane where they are allowed to display their secondhand goods for sale. Operating hours are also restricted to 1.00 pm to 7.00 pm daily when the roads are closed to traffic.”
“Sir, on the first question, as I said, the DBSS flats are still targeted at the HDB flat buyers. And that is the reason why we set the income ceiling at $8,000. If we wanted to target a group which is outside the HDB flat buyer group, then, obviously, Ms Olsen's question would be relevant. In other words, let us raise the ceiling. Indeed, this is what we have done. If she recalls, we have a class of housing known as Executive Condominium (EC). The income ceiling for Executive Condominiums is $10,000. So, when we release land for Executive Condominiums, they will be tendered and bid by developers who will buy these lands and build the flats according to the income ceiling of $10,000. In other words, they will take a look at the different target market and they will build accordingly. But for DBSS, the reason that we have set the income ceiling of $8,000 is because we want to let the developer know that he is only able to sell to a buyer who satisfies that income criterion. So, he has to bid for the land, bearing that in mind. He has to build, bearing that in mind. And, lastly, he has to set a price, bearing that in mind. This is what we call Design, Build and Sell Scheme (DBSS). We added an extra "S" to it because, prior to that, HDB itself was developing and building. We had the Design and Build (D&B) Scheme. The D&B Scheme flats were of a slightly higher quality than the normal flat. So you see in Pasir Ris, and in Tampines and in some other newer towns, the Design and Build flats built to a slightly higher standard, but the price is still set by HDB. Here, we are moving one step beyond the D&B, and we have an additional element which is the sell part.”
“Furthermore, by restricting the debt servicing ratio to 20%, what this means is that families can service their housing loan entirely from their CPF Ordinary Account contribution, without any cash outlay. However, I recognise that there has been much anxiety of late among flat buyers about rising HDB resale flat prices. Let me assure Members that HDB is closely monitoring the situation. Although resale flat prices are rising, they are still generally affordable to buyers in the HDB mass market. Those who find resale flats too expensive or cannot afford to pay the Cash Over Valuation (COV) should seriously consider postponing their purchase or applying for a new HDB flat instead. I would like to take this opportunity to remind flat buyers to be realistic in their expectation and prudent in their decision to buy a HDB flat. For many Singaporeans, buying a property or, indeed, a HDB flat, is the single most significant investment they make in their lives. It is wise to be careful and patient. The property market in Singapore is currently experiencing an upswing. So, it is inevitable that the prices of HDB flats will similarly go up. However, as we all know, the property market goes through cycles and prices do go up and go down. As the purchase of a flat is a long-term financial commitment, I would advise buyers against overstretching themselves financially - work out your sums carefully and buy a flat within your means, even if it means having to start off with something more modest in size or less than ideal in location.”
“As a result of the stronger demand, DBSS flats may be priced higher, instead of becoming more affordable. However, let me assure Ms Olsen that as DBSS is a new scheme - the flats were only sold in 2006, and this is the second project that is being sold - HDB will continue to monitor its implementation closely and we will refine the scheme in future, if necessary. Let me now turn to Dr Muhammad Faishal's question on the affordability of public housing. As I reiterated at the beginning of my reply, the Government remains committed to providing affordable public housing to Singaporean families. This is achieved through the disbursement of significant public housing subsidies to eligible first-timer households, either directly by way of the CPF Housing Grant for resale flats or indirectly through a market subsidy for new HDB flats. On top of this, the Government provides more help to the lower income first-timers through the Additional CPF Housing Grant (AHG) scheme. Last year, we raised the income ceiling for the AHG from $3,000 to $4,000, and increased the quantum for the various income tiers by $10,000. So, now, the highest tier is at $30,000. This is over and above the CPF Housing Grant Scheme. Since the scheme was introduced in March 2006, more than 4,600 households have benefited from the AHG. As a result of the housing grants as well as market subsidies, HDB flats have remained affordable. I say this because HDB records show that recent buyers of new HDB flats typically use about 20% of their monthly household income to service their housing loans. This is significantly lower than the 40% debt servicing ratio which is generally used to gauge affordability.”
“They cater to those flat buyers who are looking for something different, in terms of features and design, and yet are still affordable to those within the income ceiling of $8,000. That is why we have invited private developers to take on DBSS housing projects, with the understanding that these flats can only be sold according to HDB rules, in other words, income ceiling, family nucleus, ethnic quotas, minimum occupation period, and so on. Private developers have tendered for the land on this understanding. They are free to decide on the level of finishes and frills they provide. They are also free to set the price of the flats, bearing in mind the restrictions on the type of buyers they can sell to. In summary, I wish to assure Dr Ong that HDB is not shifting its mission. Neither is it abandoning its role of directly providing the standard HDB flats – the 2-, 3-, 4- and 5- room flats. DBSS flats constitute a small part of the total supply of flats catering to HDB buyers, and will remain so. It serves to fulfil the needs of a niche segment of the HDB market – those with higher aspirations and who can afford a higher price. HDB will monitor the market response to this new scheme. We will put up selected plots of land for sale for DBSS flats only if there continues to be a demand for such flats. I turn to Ms Olsen's question. Ms Olsen asked if HDB can consider raising the income ceiling of new DBSS flats beyond the current level of $8,000. Should DBSS flats cater to those who are earning more than $8,000 per month? At this point in time, my answer would be no. If Ms Olsen's concern is with affordability, raising the income ceiling may, in fact, have the opposite effect. Those earning above $8,000 a month may also join the queue to buy DBSS flats.”
“Thank you very much. Sir, let me begin by stating very clearly, in answer to Dr Ong's question, that there is no shift in HDB's mission of providing affordable public housing. I would like to assure him and all Members of this House that the Government remains committed to providing affordable and quality public housing. That is why we continue to heavily subsidise our HDB flats, to the tune of hundreds of million dollars a year. Let me now explain why we have introduced a new housing option known as Design, Build and Sell Scheme (DBSS). Our public housing programme is an extremely generous one. It covers about 80% of our population. It caters to a wide spectrum of families, ranging from lower-income families with household incomes of about $1,000 to $2,000 a month, as at one end of the spectrum, to the higher end of the spectrum where households are earning up to $8,000 a month. They are also eligible for public housing. So, there is a need to have a wide range of housing options to meet the varying needs and aspirations of these different households, if our public housing is to remain relevant and attractive. HDB has in recent years introduced new 2-room and 3-room flats. These are targeted at households with income of less than $3,000 a month. It continues to build 4-room and 5-room flats to cater to the middle and higher income households earning up to $8,000 a month. There is also a sizeable stock of Executive flats in the resale market. As Members know, HDB no long builds new Executive flats. The DBSS flats, which were piloted in 2005, are intended to complement the existing range of flat types that are offered by HDB - the 2-room, 3-room, 4-room, 5-room and Executive flats.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, may I have your permission to take Question Nos. 8, 9 and 10 together?”
“In respect of the staff of Parliament, since 2003, the existing Parliamentary Scheme and the Language Executive Scheme (Parliament) had adopted a salary and performance-based framework similar to the Management Executive Scheme in the Civil Service. Following the revisions for the Civil Service, the Commission recommends that a new Parliamentary Scheme (2008) and Language Executive Scheme (Parliament) (2008) be adopted, following the new Management Executive Scheme, with effect from 1st January 2008. The recommendation of the Commission has received the support of the Public Service Division and is contained in paragraph 7 of its Report to Parliament. Madam, I ask the House to accept and approve the recommendation of the Commission. Question put, and agreed to. Resolved, That this Parliament, noting the Report of the Commission on Parliament Staff as contained in Paper Misc 5 of 2007, accepts the recommendations of the Commission as contained in paragraph 7 thereof and resolves in accordance with such recommendations. ADJOURNMENT Resolved, "That Parliament do now adjourn to a date to be fixed." - [Mr Mah Bow Tan]. Adjourned accordingly at Twenty-two Minutes to Seven o'clock pm. WRITTEN ANSWER TO QUESTION FOR ORAL ANSWER NOT ANSWERED BY 3.00 PM BODY ART TATTOO (Medical complications) 15. Dr Lam Pin Min asked the Minister for Health whether (i) there were any reported cases of medical complications related to body art tattoo; and (ii) regulations are necessary in the body art tattoo industry to prevent the possible transmission of infectious diseases through unhygienic practices.”
“Mdm Deputy Speaker, I beg to move, That this Parliament, noting the Report of the Commission on Parliament Staff as contained in Paper Misc 5 of 2007, accepts the recommendations of the Commission as contained in paragraph 7 thereof and resolves in accordance with such recommendations. Madam, in accordance with Article 51(6) of the Constitution, a Commission consisting of the Speaker, the Minister for Defence and Minister-in-charge of the Civil Service, the Second Minister for Finance, the Chairman of the Public Service Commission and myself was set up to consider proposals for salary revisions to the schemes of service of the Parliamentary Service arising from the Civil Service pay revisions announced on 25th October 2007. The Commission has presented its Report to Parliament on 30th October 2007. The Commission considered the revisions made to the Civil Service's Management Executive Scheme, which will introduce a salary structure that is more responsive to market wage movements and performance-based adjustments with effect from 1st January 2008. As announced by the Public Service Division, these revisions include an increase of up to 6% to the base monthly salary for eligible officers, a market-based merit increment framework, a new Growth Bonus and increased performance bonus rates that will better recognise and reward outstanding performance. The performance bonus rates for good performers will increase by up to one month while that for better performers will increase by up to 2.75 months. There will also be a High Potential Programme put in place which will provide more training and developmental opportunities and incentive payments to retain high potential officers.”
“Member (Mr Hri Kumar), Thomson CCC, Sin Ming Court and Sin Ming Garden grassroots leaders throughout the process of planning. Mr Hri Kumar and the grassroots leaders have conveyed to us the concerns of the residents and have given us many useful feedback and suggestions. We are giving their feedback and suggestions serious consideration. For instance, we have brought forward the development plan of the adjacent industrial site so that it will serve as an effective buffer between the funeral parlour site and the nearest residential areas and school. We will not commence development of the funeral parlour until after the industrial site is developed. Taking into consideration the feedback from the stakeholders, we have also shifted the proposed site further away from the nearest residential areas. We are increasing the provision for car parking lots. The tender conditions for the proposed funeral parlour development will also impose the necessary mitigating measures, to ensure that concerns of disturbances can be adequately addressed. These conditions include requiring fully enclosed and air-conditioned premises, with all activities confined indoors to ensure privacy and minimise noise pollution; allowing only indoor incense burning facilities and processions within the premises and screening off all services and activities from public view through design and use of landscaping within the premises. Finally, let me assure the Member that all necessary measures will be put in place to reduce disturbances as much as possible, before we proceed with the development. We are still studying the feedback received, and I hope that the stakeholders can continue to work together with the Government towards a constructive solution in the overall interest of Singapore.”
“Today, the majority of funeral wakes are held at temporary premises such as HDB void decks or in tentages along streets and in car parks. These wakes cause noise pollution, traffic congestion and other disturbances to residents living in the area. With a fast ageing population, the demand for funeral services is expected to increase. We can learn from other major Asian cities like Hong Kong and Tokyo in this area. They have purpose-built funeral parlours that are well designed and regulated to minimise nuisance to surrounding residents. Hence, these funeral parlours can be situated in accessible locations, such as in mixed residential/commercial and industrial areas or at the fringes of new towns. The Government plans to introduce such purpose-built funeral parlours in Singapore. In considering where to site such a funeral parlour, our key considerations are accessibility and minimising disturbances to residents. On the one hand, the site should not be so remote as to be inaccessible to bereaved families and visitors. An inaccessible location can also make the funeral parlour non-viable. On the other hand, the site should be sensitive to the needs of the various stakeholders and, where possible, minimise disamenities to the area. We have identified the Sin Ming site for such a purpose-built funeral parlour for a few reasons. It is located within an industrial estate and the access to the funeral parlour will not be taken through residential areas but through the industrial estate. On the other hand, it is still accessible to the public as it is centrally located, and there is convenient public transport access to the area. My Ministry is mindful of the concerns of residents in the area. We have engaged the hon.”
“Mr Speaker, if every newly-wed couple bought a flat and stay there for the rest of their life, I do not think that would be an issue. But you and I know that that is not the case. After they have bought it, they would want to sell, they would want to downgrade or upgrade, and when their family grows big, they want to split up, and so on. At the same time, as there are new flats coming on stream under the HDB building programme, there are also resale flats in the market. We have 850,000 HDB flats in Singapore. Every year, some of these 850,000 flats are up for sale in the market. Some of this supply is being taken up by new flat owners, not just simply because there are no new flats available. Some of the resale flats are much more attractive partly because of their location, timing, size or for whatever reason. So there are two ways for us to supply the newly-weds and, also, the second-timers. One is through new flats and the other is through the resale flat market. Our position is that we should continue to provide some new flats for the newly-weds but we should at the same time encourage them to also look at the resale market. FUNERAL PARLOURS (Criteria in determining site) 4. Mr Hri Kumar Nair asked the Minister for National Development what are the relevant criteria used in determining the site for funeral parlours and, in particular, whether they should more appropriately be located in industrial or other areas away from housing estates. The Minister of State for National Development (Ms Grace Fu Hai Yien) (for the Minister for National Development): Mr Speaker, Sir, let me first explain the need for purpose-built funeral parlours.”
“For this year, under the BTO programme, we have announced that we are going to add another 4,000 units from now onwards to the middle of next year, which is much higher than the building programme that we have been undertaking up to now.”
“In fact, we have already announced that we are going to ramp up the programme very sharply this year and next year. But, at the same time, we have also made it very clear that this is not going to meet the demand from every single newly-wed couple wanting to own a flat, particularly when they want to own a flat in a desirable location. This is where we have to continue to educate our flat buyers.”
“Sir, in the same way that we are monitoring the private housing market, we are also monitoring the public housing market. And we will similarly make sure that there is sufficient supply coming on stream in terms of public housing. But having said that, I must also caution that it is not a good idea for us to be building new HDB flats in order to cater for all the demand that is coming on stream. Let me explain. Part of the demand that is coming on stream from newly-wed couples, for example, should rightly be met not only by new flats but also by going into the resale market. If we were to build only new flats in order to cater to this demand, then we are building up an over supply situation in the long term. Because, one day, there will be a need for these couples to sell off for whatever reason. Then there would be an over supply situation if we are not careful. So there is a need for us to balance - whether it is private housing or public housing - the supply/demand situation, not just in the immediate term but also in the longer term. If the Member will recall, when we were building new flats to cater for demand, there was a lot of pressure for us to build new flats as there was a long queue by first-timers as well as second-timers. When we did so, eventually, when the market turned, what happened? The queue disappeared and we ended up with a stock of unsold flats, which took HDB many years to clear. So we have to learn a lesson from this. We have to make sure that when we build new flats, we take into account the longer term demand situation, and we also take into account the fact that one day, there will be a turnover of flats. But, just to assure the Member, yes, we are ramping up the new flat building programme.”
“I think that is the right way to go about it, and that is what we intend to do. Of course, in so far as demand is concerned, if there is excessive speculative demand, then there is really no need for us to encourage it. We may look at ways in which to diminish it, and this is the context in which the decision to withdraw the DPS was taken. The DPS, while necessary 10 years ago in order to encourage people to come into the market, is no longer relevant today. Mdm Ho also asked whether we will talk to the other agencies, like the MAS, to see how we can influence property prices. The various Government agencies do get together and we monitor the market very closely. And if there is a need for us to act, obviously, we would take the necessary measures. But, as I said in my reply, at this point in time, there is no need and there is no intention for us to take any further action.”
“Of the 65,000 units that are in the pipeline, either being built or with planning permission to build - in other words, the developers have already applied to build these units - approximately two-thirds of the 65,000 units, or around 40,000 units, are likely to be built and made available over the next three years. If Singaporeans are aware of these figures - and these are the numbers that we put out regularly and constantly - there is really no reason for Singaporeans to panic and to feel that there is a real shortage in the medium term. Mdm Ho asked what is going to happen in the next three years, whether we are going to ease property prices. First of all, we make known what is the supply situation as far as we can see - what has been committed for building, what is likely to be built. We also put out information like how much land is going to be made available for the private sector to bid for. And, cumulatively, we hope to build up a store of information, of knowledge among the community, so that people will make informed decisions about purchases of property, rather than to be swayed by newspaper headlines or by property agents or by friends who are talking around the coffee table. That is the position that the Government takes. We will provide information on the supply and demand situation. We will put out supply as much as we can, taking into account the medium and long term positions. Our bias is really not to over regulate or to interfere in the market if we have to. We want to make sure that the market grows in a healthy and sustained manner. We monitor the growth rate of the market in relation to the growth of the economy, and we make sure that growth is supported by economic fundamentals.”
“Sir, first of all, on the supply, there are two ways that supply comes into the market. One, of course, is from the private developers and, two, through Government land sales. Private developers would have to decide based on the land banking that they have undertaken, how much land to release and when. The Government land sales (GLS) programme is conducted twice a year. Every six months, we review the demand/supply situation and we put out a slate of lands for sale under the GLS, on the reserve list as well as on the confirmed list. For example, in the second half 2007 GLS programme that was announced not too long ago, we put up 20 new sites just for private residential development alone, and these 20 new sites would yield something like 8,000 units, including EC sites. So, if there is a necessity and if demand continues to be strong, we will be prepared to release even more sites in the first half 2008 GLS programme. Of course, we have to be mindful that we take not just a short term but also a medium and a longer term view of the market. We must therefore be mindful that we do not also create an over supply situation in the longer term. Let me also remind Singaporeans that the stock of private residential units in the pipeline is not insignificant. As at the end of the third quarter 2007, there was a supply in the pipeline of about 65,000 units and this, in fact, was higher than the supply in the pipeline as at the end of the second quarter of about 56,000 units.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, the Deferred Payment Scheme (DPS) was introduced in 1997. If Members will recall, that was at a time when the economy was in recession and the property market was in the doldrums. It is no longer relevant given the strong property market conditions today. As the DPS was withdrawn only on 26th October 2007 - slightly over two weeks ago - it is too early to ascertain the overall impact of the withdrawal. However, I believe that, over time, the withdrawal of the DPS will encourage home-buyers to be more financially prudent, and dampen some of the speculative activities in the market. The withdrawal of the DPS should not unduly affect genuine home-buyers as they should be able to obtain home loans from banks. In the longer term, the withdrawal of the DPS will encourage the property market to grow in a more healthy and sustained manner. The Government will continue to closely monitor the property market to ensure that our prices are supported by economic fundamentals. In addition, the Government will ensure that there is sufficient supply to meet the demand for private housing. There is no need and we are not considering any new measure for the property market at the moment.”
“In addition, the TC is also in discussion with the supplier to see whether the cap can be more tightly secured to the wheel handle. I would like to take this opportunity to remind users of the exercise and play equipment in public parks and playgrounds to exercise appropriate caution and to report any defects to the authorities. 1Interim Upgrading Programme (IUP) Plus or Neighbourhood Renewal Programme (NRP). Column No : 2303 WRITTEN ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS Column No : 2303 SINGAPORE CITIZENS, PERMANENT RESIDENTS AND NON-RESIDENTS (Figures) 1. Ms Sylvia Lim asked the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Home Affairs if he will provide a breakdown of the numbers and percentages of the total population in the years 1990, 2000 and 2006 classified as (a) Singapore citizens; (b) Permanent Residents; and (c) Non-Resident Foreigners.”
“Exercise and play equipment are found in public parks and playgrounds located both within and outside HDB housing estates, and their maintenance is the responsibility of the Town Councils and NParks respectively. Town Councils and NParks generally conduct checks on the working condition and safety of the equipment at least once a month. Through such regular inspections as well as based on residents’ feedback, any defective equipment that has been identified would be repaired or even replaced. Besides the regular maintenance, Town Councils and NParks also upgrade the exercise and play equipment based on assessed needs or when the equipment is due for replacement. They can also be upgraded as part of a precinct upgrading programme1 in HDB housing estates and the Estate Upgrading Programme (EUP) in private estates. Incident at fitness corner in Circle Green Park on 19th September 2007 I believe the Member's question may have arisen from the recent incident at the fitness corner at Circle Green Park, where a resident hurt her palm when using the exercise equipment. In that particular case, the equipment had been inspected and checked by Sembawang Town Council on a weekly basis. In fact, the last check prior to the incident was made the day before, and the equipment was found to be in serviceable condition. Based on Sembawang Town Council's investigation, the resident's palm was cut by an exposed retaining pin, as the protective cap was missing. As the cap could not have been removed without the use of tools, it appears that the equipment had been vandalised. The TC has since improved the positioning of the retaining pin and further tightened it.”