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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“But some people have argued that we can actually use the land for parks, why use it for golf courses? Sir, I understand these sentiments. I must point out, however, that the Concept Plan must cater to the different recreational needs of many Singaporeans. Golf is one such form of recreation which is in heavy demand. For example, the SAFRA Country Club at Tanah Merah has some 10,000 members, 8,000 of them play regularly on its golf courses, and an additional 3,000 non-members use its courses, bringing the number of golfers at Tanah Merah SAFRA alone to some 11,000. I believe the reason why the SAFRA golf courses are crowded is because membership fees are cheaper than other courses. The issue, therefore, is not just about the number of golf courses, but whether we can have golf courses that are more accessible to the public. 6.00 pm Mr Ong Kian Min suggested that Singaporeans make use of golf courses in our neighbouring countries instead. Indeed, many Singaporeans have purchased golf memberships in Johor, Batam, Bintan and they do play there regularly. Singapore companies have also invested in golf courses there. This is certainly a win-win situation for Singapore as well as for our neighbours, and it should be encouraged. To a certain extent, this would lessen the need for more golf courses here. But where we can, we should provide facilities on our home turf for Singaporeans to indulge in what is a sport of choice for many. We will consider the focus group's recommendation not to provide any more private golf courses. However, we should not rule out providing additional public golf courses on sites which cannot put to more valuable use.”
“If we choose to increase the land provided for parks, open spaces and nature areas substantially, it just means that we will have less land for housing, industries and businesses, or housing will become even more dense and some industries may have to be squeezed out. Mr Lew Syn Pau advocated having more cycling parks connected around the island, to promote cycling for health and to reduce traffic congestion. In case Mr Lew is not aware, cycling tracks have been incorporated into our park connectors. These park connectors are actually intended for recreational purposes, but there is no reason why they cannot be used also as a means of getting from place to place. These park connectors link major parks, nature areas, population centres, as well as coastal areas into one very easily accessible green network. So far, 16 stretches of park connectors have been built, and 18 more will be built over the next four years. Sir, one issue which has received particular attention during the focus group's discussions and, indeed, amongst Members of this House as well, is the issue of golf courses. Sir, here I must declare my interest that I am also a golfer, albeit a very lousy one. The focus group recommended that there be no more new golf courses. This has received the support of even avid golfers like Mr Sinnakaruppan, although other equally avid golfers in this House have stood up to champion the cause of certain groups of golfers. I will come to that later. The planners have explained that most of our golf courses are located in constrained areas, as Mr Goh rightly pointed out - land within catchment areas or land directly under flight paths. So what else do you do with the land?”
“The focus group made a similar point about creating a better geographical balance between resident and worker population. What we will try to do is to build more homes near major employment areas, like the central area and the western region. Similarly, we will safeguard land for commercial and suitable industrial developments in different regions near to population centres. URA is adopting this approach in preparing the Concept Plan, in order to reduce commuting and bring jobs closer to homes. On the issue of parks and open spaces, which Mr Sinnakaruppan also brought up, the focus group supports the planners' target standard of 0.8 hectares per 1,000 persons, which is an increase from the current provision of 0.67 hectares per 1,000 persons. On the ground, these figures do not mean very much. What most people are concerned about is whether there is a park near to their home where they can go to relax and exercise. So we should try to focus on quality rather than quantity, and provide more quality parks and green spaces which would be accessible to more people. Parts of the central catchment which are not currently accessible, could be opened to the public. Where we can, we will integrate nature areas with parks and recreational facilities. While we cannot keep all the nature areas identified by the focus group, we will try to keep them for as long as they are not required for development. In particular, we will take note of the unique qualities of Pulau Ubin and the special place it holds in the hearts of many Singaporeans. Some members of the public have asked why can we not have even more green spaces and parks? Can we not keep more nature areas? This is a question of trade-offs.”
“In our effort to meet the aspirations of Singaporeans to own private housing, the Government has been steadily releasing sales sites for private housing development and, at the end of last year, the housing mix stood at 81% public and 19% private. In other words, more households now live in private housing. In the medium to long term, we intend to stick to a 75:25 public-private housing mix as a planning parameter. However, we will monitor closely the housing aspirations of Singaporeans and adjust accordingly. Sir, I just want to touch on the issue of industries and commerce at this stage, for completeness. The focus group recommended that we also increase the plot ratio for commercial and industrial land. For commercial land, this is not a problem, so long as the necessary infrastructure, like transport and utilities, is able to support such increases. But for industrial land, the dilemma is that many high value-added industries, such as chemicals and life sciences, need low-rise and more sprawling facilities. They cannot be accommodated in multi-storey industrial developments. We have to continue to attract these industries to our shores because they bring tremendous economic spin-offs. So we must find room for them somehow, or our economy will suffer. For such industries which cannot go high-rise, the focus group recommended using the airspace above these industries so as to optimise the land. This is a novel suggestion and we will study it carefully. For selected sites, eg, those nearer MRT stations, intensification to the focus group's recommended GPR of 2.5, or even higher, could be achievable. Mr Sinnakaruppan asked how we could balance housing with workplaces, in order to make sure that people do not have to commute and therefore reduce traffic congestion.”
“Economically, because we can capitalise on existing infrastructure. For example, if we were to increase the capacity and density in some of the older estates where infrastructure is already established, then not only would it be more convenient for those residents who move in, we would not need to spend large sums of money to open up new towns. And, socially, we can benefit because building within the existing new towns means that people would be able to live nearer their families and, as a result, foster closer family and community ties. Sir, Dr Teo Ho Pin and Mr Sinnakaruppan touched on the issue of housing mix, in terms of density of housing as well as ownership, ie, whether it is private or public. I want to say here that we would like to maintain a variety of housing types, ie, low, medium as well as high-rise housing, to make sure that Singaporeans continue to have choices in the type of housing that they want to live in. The focus group proposed a mix of 8% low, 15% medium and 77% high-density housing. This is close to the density mix today. But the percentage of high-density housing would be higher than the 70% proposed in the 1991 Concept Plan. A higher proportion of high-density housing is logical, if we are talking about intensifying the use of housing land. Last year, when I spoke in this House, I said that for planning purposes, we would adopt a 75%:25% public-private housing mix. This mix was guided by what we thought would be a sustainable public housing programme, as well as to meet the aspirations of Singaporeans for private housing. In 1990, the public-private mix was 86% public and 14% private.”
“It has suggested high-rise Manhattan-style housing, with a high average plot ratio of 8, compared to the average plot ratio of 5 that the planners had previously studied. This is physically possible, because the new downtown is not subject to the severe height constraints that other areas are. But, as Members have also pointed out, planners have to consider the implications of such dense developments if we apply it across the board, such as social and environmental impact, traffic congestion and so on. I want to stress that whatever the final adopted average plot ratio, our planners will ensure that high-rise housing means good quality housing, with enough green relief, communal space, amenities, good estate layouts, building designs and so on, all to make sure that we have quality housing for our people. I turn now to some comments made about HDB estates. Indeed, some HDB flat applicants have told us that they would like their new homes in existing areas, because this would allow them to live closer to their families and also to enjoy some of the established amenities there. This is in fact the problem with some of our new estates, because we are rolling out the facilities as the residents move in. And where there is a problem of timing or coordination of these amenities, inconveniences arise, and some Members of this House have raised these issues here. The focus groups have also commented that the continuous creation of new HDB towns and the resulting outflow of younger residents and upgraders have resulted in people losing a sense of identification with the towns, and one suggestion was to build new higher density housing in established housing estates. I think these proposals make good sense, both economically and socially.”
“Of course, the older estates like Bedok, Toa Payoh and Ang Mo Kio have a much lower plot ratio. The question is: would this more crowded environment be acceptable to our people? Mr Ong Kian Min, in fact, expressed his reservations that this is indeed the right way to go. But from the focus group's consultations with the public, it appears that Singaporeans are prepared to accept such higher densities. We will need to study whether the average plot ratios proposed, like 3.65, can in fact be achieved, given some of the constraints that we face, eg, height constraints from flight paths, etc. But I think it makes sense to have higher density housing developments, especially in areas near MRT stations, so that more people can enjoy the convenience of the MRT. In areas where there are height constraints, more flexible guidelines can be considered to achieve the higher density and, in the process, also to encourage more innovative housing forms. I agree with Mr Ong that there is really no need to increase our housing density overnight, as it were. It can be done in tandem with population growth. The Concept Plan, as I said, is a long-range plan, and it is prepared for a scenario 40 to 50 years down the road, which is a long time. So it is likely that the increase in housing density will be incremental and will be realised only over a period of time. Mr Lew Syn Pau spoke about more intensive housing density in the CBD and in the new downtown. In his words, this would make sure that the downtown would not be dead at night. The focus group has a similar proposal to have more residential developments in the central area.”
“For this review, a multi-agency study group which included URA, of course, and HDB, the Department of Statistics, MTI, Ministry of Manpower, Ministry of Health, proposed a population figure of 5.5 million as a planning parameter. Let me emphasise that this figure is not a population target. It is not a target that the Government will set out to achieve or has to achieve. It is a projection based on foreseeable trends in economic growth, fertility rates, migration rates, etc. It is a reasonable assumption upon which to base our physical development over the next 40 to 50 years. 40 to 50 years is a very long time. Projections may be wrong. In fact, when we did the 1991 Concept Plan, we were looking at a population figure of 4 million. But, nevertheless, this is a best estimate of what a population figure could be in 40 to 50 years' time. And we will have a rough idea in 10 years, when the next review of the plan is carried out, whether we are on the right track. So, in the meantime, we make use of this figure of 5.5 million. We asked our planners what if we have a 5.5 million population? How should we cater to our future social and economic needs, given the constraints that we face, particularly in terms of land? 5.45 pm The first question we need to consider, when talking about a larger population, is how do we balance competing land needs. The focus group on land allocation looked at land for major uses like housing, industries and recreational space. One suggestion was to increase the average plot ratio for high-density housing, from a figure of 2.5 today, to an average of 3.65. What does "3.65" mean? Just to give a rough idea: this means that housing estates could be as dense as some of the newer estates that we see today, such as Sengkang.”
“In addition, URA opened up many feedback channels, such as Internet, through public forums, letters to the press, telephone calls, and so on, in order to draw in as much views and ideas as possible. Sir, I must say that I was greatly encouraged by the response to our efforts in the volumes of suggestions received as well as in the depth and the breadth of these suggestions. I would like to acknowledge, in particular, the hard work and dedication of the focus group members, ably led by their Chairman, Assoc. Prof. Vivian Balakrishnan, Mr Tham Tuck Cheong, Mr Philip Ng and Mr Simon Tay and all those whom they co-opted into their discussions. The public consultation process has been of great value to our planners. It has given them plenty of food for thought. It has also given them a better feel of the Singaporean pulse, about how strongly people feel about issues, such as conservation and identity. On the other hand, I am told that many focus group members emerged from the discussions with a better appreciation of our constraints and competing needs in planning for the future. I believe this has been a most valuable experience for all involved. Two focus groups, one on land allocation, and the other one on identity, submitted their final reports to my Ministry last month. URA and the relevant Government agencies are now studying in detail the focus groups' findings as well as the public feedback received. They will give these suggestions serious consideration and, where possible, incorporate them into the draft Concept Plan. Let me now present some of our preliminary thinking on the key findings of the focus groups and address the issues raised by several Members on the Concept Plan. Sir, the starting point for the Concept Plan is population size.”
“Sir, first of all, let me respond to all the Members who have spoken on the Concept Plan Review. Sir, the Concept Plan is an important document, as Dr Teo Ho Pin has mentioned just now. It determines our physical landscape and it guides the way we wish to live, work and play in the decades ahead. The first Concept Plan was prepared in 1971 by UN experts. The emphasis then was on basic housing and, out of that 1971 plan, arose the building of HDB flats around the central catchment area. This sets the tone and the framework for the development of housing estates in Singapore. In 1981 and 1991, the plan was reviewed. So every 10 years, there is a review and this time, the emphasis shifted from basic housing and basic infrastructure to enhancing the quality of life. The 2001 review seeks to update the plan taking into account the changing needs and aspirations of our people, both quantitative as well as qualitative. The Concept Plan is not just about creating a world-class city. It is about building a home for Singaporeans, a home we can be proud to call our own, a home to bring up family. And this is why it was important to involve the public in the preparation of the Concept Plan. First of all, if this is going to be a blueprint for our home, then all of us who have a stake here ought to have a say in how we want this place to develop. And second, the more we are involved in the planning, we are better informed and aware of the constraints we face and the tradeoffs needed to make this place, this little red dot, comfortable and livable for us. To reach out to as many people as possible from different walks of life, URA formed two focus groups.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, the Government is aware that traditional HDB shopkeepers are facing keen competition from big shopping malls, food courts and supermarkets. They have also been affected by a change in the shopping and marketing habits of Singaporeans. As I assured the House yesterday, the Government is currently working out a programme to help HDB shop retailers. And we will announce the package once it is finalized. NEW HOUSING AND DEVELOPMENT BOARD FLATS (Adjustment of prices) 7. Mr Ong Kian Min asked the Minister for National Development, in view of the drop in resale Housing and Development (HDB) flat prices and the large number of new HDB flats available, whether the HDB is considering adjusting the prices of new HDB flats.”
“Sir, before I conclude, I would like to add that the Retail 21 Committee, which is chaired by the Singapore Productivity and Standards Board, and which comprises members from the HDB and other public and private agencies, will be releasing its 10-year strategic plan for the overall retail sector very soon. HDB is also looking into specific ways to help HDB shopkeepers enhance their competitiveness. Sir, it is in our collective interest to ensure that the HDB retail sector remains viable and sustainable, so that it can continue to provide good service to HDB residents. Question put, and agreed to. Resolved, That Parliament do now adjourn. Adjourned accordingly at Twenty-Nine Minutes past Four o'clock pm to 23rd February, 2001. WRITTEN ANSWER TO QUESTION GOVERNMENT-LINKED COMPANIES 1. Dr Jennifer Lee asked the Prime Minister (a) how is the search for members of statutory boards and boards of Government-linked Companies (GLCs) conducted; (b) what are the criteria and guidelines for the selection of these board members; and (c) what are the numbers of men and of women on these boards.”
“The Member also suggested that HDB shops band together to form what are called "commercial streets" with distinctive features. I understand that there are certain areas in the HDB estates which have already undergone this transformation, places like Marine Parade Town Centre, Chong Pang City, Tampines N2 Shopping Street, Toa Payoh Town Centre. Shopkeepers in these areas have got together with the town councils and they have made improvements to the pedestrian malls, shopping areas and, as a result, their business has improved and their customers have not only been retained but they have been able to attract new customers. This is an idea that I would also endorse and we should find some way to encourage more of these developments. Turning to the Member's concern on rental cost and prices of HDB shops, I would like to point out that the 16,000 HDB shop lessees and tenants today are still enjoying rental and property tax rebates which we introduced in 1998. The property tax rebates have been extended to June of this year at a reduced rate of 25%. Likewise, the HDB has kept its rental rebates till the end of this year at half the original quantum. The Government will review these rebates before their expiry, whether it is in June or December. On the Member's request to give HDB shop retailers more flexibility in the conduct of their business, HDB tells me that it currently grants approval on a case-by-case basis. I will ask the HDB to consider being more flexible in granting approval for change of trade, except in cases that can cause disturbance to residents. One example would be conversion to an eating shop. HDB will also consider the Member's suggestion to facilitate exit of rental tenants who wish to retire or who are affected by redevelopment.”
“I think that is the kind of friendly, familiar, personalised service that Dr Lily Neo talked about, that is still able to retain the loyalty of customers, even in today's world of mega marts and shopping malls. Also, I think many of us in our visits to hawker centres, neigbourhood shopping centres and so on will have come across many residents or ex-residents who have moved out of the estate but who still come back to the neighbourhood shopping centre, or to the neighbourhood eating shops or coffee houses, just to come back and eat at their favourite stall. So these shops and eating houses are part and parcel of our social landscape. They contribute in some small but significant way and manner towards our collective memory of what it means to be Singaporeans. And I believe we should do what we can to retain them. Let me now comment on some of the Member's suggestions. An underlying principle of the Government's assistance programme for HDB retailers is to encourage them to upgrade, so that they can keep pace with the fast-changing environment. In other words, we will help those who help themselves. Dr Lily Neo has made several good suggestions in the same vein. For example, provide training to enable HDB shop retailers to improve their marketing, presentation and merchandising skills. That is a very good idea. And we should work towards encouraging more of these shopkeepers, not to assume that they know what is happening already, but to try and keep up to date with the various trends and with the changing lifestyles. She also suggested that we should provide a means for them to avail themselves of things like bulk purchasing; in other words, to enjoy economies of scale. Again, this is a good suggestion and we will certainly consider this suggestion.”
“Government helped by subsidising their rentals and the shopkeepers in turn helped to keep the cost of living affordable for HDB residents by passing on the benefits of these subsidised rentals to their customers. In this process, they helped to hold down inflation at a time when many Singaporeans were trying very hard to make ends meet. Today, there are still about 2,000 first-generation shopkeepers; in other words, those who were relocated in the early years, but still plying their trades in the HDB estates. Many of them are now elderly and we should not forget the contributions they have made and overlook them, even as the rest of the country enjoys the fruits of economic growth. Dr Lily Neo, in her diagnosis of the ills facing the shopkeepers, pointed out that changing lifestyles - in other words, more working women, more sophisticated shopkeepers, more competition, easy travel, globalisation, etc - all these have affected the traditional retailers. This is true. But I believe that HDB neighbourhood shops will continue to play an important role in servicing the needs of HDB heartlanders. There will always be residents who, for one reason or another, whether it is convenience, familiarity or simply good value for money, still prefer to patronise these shops, rather than big shopping malls or mega marts. I can still recall the friendly neighbourhood shopkeeper that I used to go to as a child in Kim Keat Avenue. I can still remember the name and the owner of that shop. It was called Ban Heng. It is no longer there. But many years later, when I went back to the shop after my studies overseas, the shopkeeper still remembered me and remembered the things that I used to buy from her shop. And I was very impressed and very touched.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, Dr Lily Neo has articulated very clearly and very comprehensively the concerns of HDB shopkeepers. She has analysed the problems they face and offered several suggestions to help them overcome these problems. Over the last few months, we have also heard similar feedback from many Members of Parliament, from grassroots leaders as well as from participants of feedback sessions. Sir, I would like to take this opportunity to assure the House that the Government recognises the role and the contribution of our HDB shopkeepers. We share the concern that they are not doing well and we will look into various measures to help them. We will have to be guided by certain principles, and one of the principles must be that we must enhance the viability of the HDB retail sector on a long-term sustainable basis, and not just go for short-term quick fixes. We will also be mindful that HDB shopkeepers, like other businesses, must be encouraged to adhere to the fundamentals of business; in other words, serving the needs of their customers, offering value-for-money goods and services, taking risks and being rewarded based on the decisions they make and the risks that they take. In the final analysis, while Government can help to improve their operating environment, it cannot guarantee their viability, survival or profitability. Before I comment on the various suggestions made by Dr Lily Neo, allow me to recollect the role played by many shopkeepers in our nation building. Members will recall that in our early years of independence, many old shophouses were resettled in HDB estates to make way for roads, flats, factories, schools and so on.”
“Sir, there is a general rule of thumb that before anybody purchases a flat the couple must have a certain amount upfront, either in cash or CPF. But we do recognise that the 20% down payment, for some young couples, especially in cases where the flat is completed early or they are shortlisted for application sooner than they expected, there may be some difficulty in accumulating that 20%, and this is the reason why we came up with the Staggered Downpayment Scheme. The Staggered Downpayment Scheme has got certain restrictions. The flat type must be a smaller flat and, secondly, there must be a certain age restriction as well. But the general principle does apply that you need to have something upfront before you can actually apply for a flat. This is the reason why the scheme is not applicable to the 5-room flats because obviously the question of affordability may not be so relevant there. But the Member did ask whether this scheme would be applicable to resale flats, especially where young couples want to move into certain areas for certain reasons. For resale flats, if you are a first-timer and if you are a young couple, you can avail yourself of the CPF Housing Grant Scheme. I think that already helps to a large extent to make that flat more affordable. Other than that, there are no other schemes at the moment which they can make use of. But if the Member has any suggestions, I would be happy to consider them. FREE TRADE AGREEMENTS WITH UNITED STATES AND OTHER COUNTRIES (Progress of negotiations) 11. Mr Hawazi Daipi asked the Minister for Trade and Industry (a) what is the progress of negotiations over bilateral free trade agreements with the United States and other countries and (b) whether there are problems in reaching agreements with them.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, the average waiting time for a new HDB flat now is about one year for first-timer applicants. This has benefited many young couples who want to set up their homes early. To assist in the purchase of flats, HDB has introduced a Staggered Downpayment Scheme. Under this scheme, first-timer young couples who have booked a 4-room flat can pay only 10% of the selling price at the time of booking, and the balance 10% upon completion of the flat. This gives the young couples more time to save for the downpayment. Applicants for a 5-room flat may also request to switch to a 4-room flat register so as to buy a flat that is more affordable to them. HDB is also looking into other ways to make its flat allocation system more flexible and responsive to the needs of flat applicants. HDB will announce the details once they are finalized.”
“Contractors will have to meet more stringent turnover, financial strength, track records and professional manpower requirement criteria to be registered at the various financial grades. b. Encouraging local large firms to merge or to acquire to grow even larger. A joint study by BCA and SCAL is being planned. c. Facilitating those local contractors who are ready to venture abroad to develop their second wing. ENROLMENT IN MADRASAHS 6. Mr Zulkifli Bin Baharudin asked the Minister for Education (a) how many students have enrolled for full-time primary one education in madrasahs this year and (b) how is this compared to the enrolment in previous years. RAdm Teo Chee Hean: Primary One enrolment figures for 2001 will not stabilise till March. The Ministry of Education has not received the statistics from the madrasahs yet. The Primary One enrolment and the full-time primary enrolment in madrasahs over the last five years were: Year Primary One Full Time Primary Enrolment Enrolment 1996 303 2693 1997 397 2666 1998 442 2630 1999 443 2580 2000 502 2588 The average Primary One enrolment over the last five years is around 400. Appendix A - Petrol Station Sites Released for Sale by HDB as Agent for the Government (1991 to 1999) (Cols 1401 - 1404) Chart 1 - Crude Oil Price vs Petrol Premium (Cols 1405 - 1406) Chart 2 - Crude Oil Price vs Petrol Intermediate (Cols 1407 - 1408)”
“All BCA registered G6 to G8 contractors must also attain ISO 9000 certification. b. Raising the productivity levels of the industry through implementing buildable designs and promoting Design-and-Build arrangements for greater efficiency and integration of the designer and builder. c. Upgrading technology and Research and Development. A $10 million fund managed by BCA has been obtained to finance R&D of innovative construction products and processes. A $10 million Industry Productivity fund has also been made available to raise the general capability and productivity of the construction industry. Other incentive schemes to help firms in capability building and technology upgrading include the Investment Allowance Scheme, Innovation Development Scheme and Local Enterprise Technical Assistance Scheme. d. Giving recognition to firms which had demonstrated leadership, innovation and sustained efforts in adopting best practices through the BCA Construction Excellence Awards, Best Buildable Design Awards and the new Construction 21 Best Practice Awards. This has provided a channel for local construction professionals and firms to showcase their work and benchmark themselves against foreign contractors. BCA is currently working very closely with all players in the industry to implement the various recommendations of the Construction 21 study to propel and upgrade the industry to one that is professional, progressive and productive. In addition, as size and financial strength are necessary to enable construction firms to take on large projects, BCA is looking into the following areas which can help local firms to build size: a. Revamping the BCA Registry of Contractors by raising the registration criteria for the contractors.”
“Singapore is an open economy where both local and foreign contractors compete for our construction projects. This is also in accordance with our WTO obligations. The presence of large foreign firms has provided the competitive pressure for local firms to upgrade and level up over the years. Many of the firms which were once family-run are now managed by professionally trained personnel. Many are also listed on the stock exchange. In terms of the types of work, our local firms are gaining expertise which were previously the domain of the foreign contractors. Several local firms can now build with precast components and be competitive and innovative in winning projects using buildable design and method of construction. The local civil engineering contractors are also winning contracts for the construction of vehicular fly-overs and bridges. In the area of exports, Singapore construction firms secured over S$1 billion worth of contracts each year in the region, except during the years of the Asian economic crisis. Given Singapore's small size of the construction industry, we have to be realistic about nurturing local construction firms to be world-class companies. While most would probably not be able to achieve world class standard, they can still attain high standards of project delivery and able to compete for projects in the region. The Building and Construction Authority (BCA) had implemented several initiatives to upgrade the construction industry. Generally, our local firms had responded well to the initiatives. These include: a. Raising the work quality of the industry through the Construction Quality Assessment Scheme (CONQUAS) and incentives such as the Bonus Scheme for Construction Quality.”
“Petrol stations are allowed to be developed near residential flats provided they satisfy the necessary technical and safety requirements of the Fire Safety Bureau. (d) Whether MND will consider co-locating petrol kiosks along expressways? Any co-location of petrol kiosks along expressways has to be done in consultation with LTA. Petrol kiosks can be located along expressways if the siting does not compromise the efficient operation of the expressways and the safety of the public. Hence, they are commonly found along rural expressways in other countries. The expressways in Singapore are actually urban expressways with close intervals of traffic interchanges, and they carry a very high volume of fast moving traffic. The siting of a petrol kiosk along our expressways is likely to create traffic weaving problems and hence, compromise the safe and efficient operation of our expressway system. Therefore, this is not encouraged. Moreover, there is already sufficient provision of kiosks along major arterial roads to meet the need of our motorists. LOCAL FIRMS IN THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY 5. Dr Teo Ho Pin asked the Minister for National Development (a) what are the key initiatives implemented to nurture local firms in the construction industry to be world-class companies; (b) what are the benchmarks to monitor the progress of these firms; and (c) whether there are further plans to strengthen the capabilities of local firms in the construction industry.”
“(a) What are the considerations for allocating land for petrol stations? The planning of the required number and siting of petrol stations is carried out at the local area level when the Development Guide Plan (DGP) for each Planning Area is prepared. The planning considerations include ensuring that there are sufficient petrol station sites to meet the demand from motorists within that Planning Area. The actual location of each new petrol station site has to be studied carefully with the relevant agencies like FSB and LTA. For instance, sites chosen for such use should not cause traffic problems in the area and hence, it should not be sited at major traffic junctions. Currently, petrol station sites are confined mainly to areas which are zoned Transport Facility in the Master Plan. MND/URA will be working with MTI to study the feasibility of allowing more petrol pump facilities on suitable sites which meet fire safety and environmental requirements. (b) What are the tender prices for land of petrol kiosks from 1991 to 2000? HDB has released for sale 19 land parcels for petrol kiosks development since 1991. The successful tender prices were between $6,524 psm and $19,045 psm, depending on the year of sale, the location, size and configuration of the site [see Appendix A (Cols 1401-1404)]. In 1999, two sites were offered for sale but the response was poor and the tender prices were well below the market value as assessed by the Chief Valuer. Hence no award was made. Appendix A - Petrol Station Sites Released for Sale by HDB as Agent for the Government (1991 to 1999) (Cols 1401 - 1404) (c) Whether it is safe to co-locate petrol kiosks near residential flats?”
“Dr Teo Ho Pin asked the Minister for National Development (a) what are the considerations for allocating land for petrol stations; (b) what are the tender prices for land of petrol kiosks from 1991-2000; (c) whether it is safe to locate petrol kiosks near residential flats; and (d) whether his Ministry will consider co-locating petrol kiosks along expressways.”
“This is achieved through the following housing policies/schemes : i) Flexibility on Income Ceiling Assessment Policy, which facilitates a married child and his parents to live together in one HDB flat by setting a higher monthly income ceiling at $12,000 for the extended family as compared to $8,000 for a nuclear family; ii) Multi-Tier Family Housing Scheme, which accords priority allocation to a multi-generation household to buy an HDB flat; iii) Joint Selection Scheme, which gives the families the option to select flats on priority so that the married child and his parents can stay in separate flats but near to each other, either within the same housing block or estate; iv) CPF Housing Grant Scheme, which provides a higher family grant of $40,000 for eligible applicants buying a resale flat near their parents, as compared to the $30,000 grant for other families; v) Conversion Scheme, which allows the lessee of an existing 3-room or smaller flat to buy over another similar adjoining flat from the neighbouring lessee for conversion to a bigger unit so that more space is made available for a growing or an extended family; vi) Mutual Exchange of Flat Scheme, which enables the parents or a married child currently living in different estates to live near to each other in the same estate through mutual exchange of flats with the other lessees; and vii) Studio Apartments for the Elderly Scheme, which accords priority allocation to eligible elderly lessees of HDB flats to buy a custom-built studio apartment, if they have children living in the same electoral division or Group Representation Constituency. LAND FOR PETROL STATIONS 4.”
“a) The number of new flats sold in the last 3 years in FY97, FY98 and FY99 were 33,300, 34,700 and 28,700 respectively. The breakdown by flat type is as follows: Year 2-Room 3-Room 4-Room 5-Room Exec/MG Total FY 1997 200 1,500 14,500 12,900 4,200 33,300 FY 1998 200 1,500 15,200 14,400 3,400 34,700 FY 1999 200 2,200 12,800 11,400 2,100 28,700 TOTAL 600 5,200 42,500 38,700 9,700 96,700 b) The number of resale transactions processed and completed in FY97, FY98 and FY99 were 37,300, 60,500 and 57,700 respectively. The main reason for the surge in resale transactions completed in FY98 and FY99 was due to the lower resale prices which had fallen as a result of the economic downturn. The breakdown by flat type is as follows: Year 1&2-Room 3-Room 4-Room 5-Room Exec/MG Total FY 1997 600 13,100 14,400 6,400 2,800 37,300 FY 1998 700 22,100 22,100 10,600 5,000 60,500 FY 1999 500 19,400 20,800 11,100 5,900 57,700 TOTAL 1,800 54,500 57,300 28,100 13,700 155,400 c) Besides providing affordable homes for Singaporeans, HDB's public housing programme supports the Government's social policy to encourage extended-family households to live together or close to each other for mutual care and support.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, since the BSE was detected in these countries, Singapore has acted promptly together with other similar countries. As to whether we can test for BSE, I believe that, based on what the experts tell me, there is no such test available. EDUCATION OFFICERS (Disciplinary action) 12. Mrs Lim Hwee Hua asked the Minister for Education (a) how many Education Officers have been disciplined by his Ministry or referred to the police, from 1996-2000; and (b) how many of these cases related to the molestation or abuse of students.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, the Agri-food and Veterinary Authority (AVA) and the Food Control Department (FCD) of the Ministry of the Environment (ENV) have taken several steps to ensure that our food supply is free from BSE. Singapore was among the first countries in the world to impose restrictions on beef and beef products from BSE-affected countries. Only countries that can certify that they have been free from BSE for at least six years are allowed to export beef and food containing beef to Singapore either directly or through third countries. Food containing beef in this case include sausages, canned beef, beef soup stocks, instant beef noodles and gelatin. Why the six years? The 6-year period was determined from the incubation period of the disease in cattle, which can be up to five years. AVA checks all consignments of beef and beef products at the point of entry. It also works closely with the Customs and Excise Department to detect smuggling of beef and beef products. ENV conducts regular checks on the retailers to ensure that the processed food containing beef or beef ingredients are imported from the BSE-free countries. AVA and ENV will continue to closely monitor the BSE situation around the world to prevent BSE from entering our food supply.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, we received a preliminary proposal from the Malaysian side in August this year to replace the existing Causeway with a bridge. We are studying the proposal and we have not reached any agreement with the Malaysian government on this matter. TRADITIONAL CHINESE MEDICINE PRACTITIONERS BILL Order for Second Reading read. 1.05 pm”
“However, any postal items that are suspected to contain prescription drugs from overseas are referred by the Customs and Excise Department to the National Pharmaceutical Administration for inspection. NPA will continue to monitor local internet sites and take appropriate action against sites found to be offering prescription drugs for sale. My Ministry has not received any application for the registration of the abortion pill, Mifepristone, widely known as RU 486. All drugs are evaluated for quality, safety and efficacy before they are registered for use in Singapore. The Ministry considers all the scientific and clinical data submitted, including information available from other established drug regulatory agencies. We also consider the clinical applicability of the drug to our local population and its potential side effects. Local clinical experts and the Medicines Advisory Committee, an expert committee appointed under the Medicines Act, are consulted. While we take note of decisions made by overseas regulatory agencies like the FDA, the decision to register a pharmaceutical product in Singapore will need to take into consideration our local clinical context and our healthcare practices. TEENAGE ABORTIONS 6. Mdm Claire Chiang See Ngoh asked the Minister for Health, in view of the recent demand from the community for parental consent in teenage abortions, whether he will (i) seek broader discussions and consensus on this matter by forming a review committee to reappraise the issues and (ii) adopt a fresh look in reviewing the Termination of Pregnancy Act to strengthen some level of monitoring on teenage abortions.”
“In this regard MOM will continue to work with community and non-governmental organizations to conduct safety courses for domestic workers. Employers who are criminally negligent in unnecessarily exposing their domestic workers to work hazards will be prosecuted under the Penal Code. Employers also have a moral responsibility to ensure that their domestic workers work safely and are not exposed to unnecessary work hazards. This responsibility cannot be passed on to a third party including the Government. Employers would have to be prudent in using a safe method when they or their family member or domestic worker clean the window. MIFEPRISTONE 5. Mdm Claire Chiang See Ngoh asked the Minister for Health (a) since Mifepristone is not dispensed in Singapore, whether the Government sees a need to adopt appropriate measures to stop any transaction of this drug through the Internet; and (b) whether the Government has the intention of legalising this drug in due time to be consistent with FDA guidelines in the United States. Mr Lim Hng Kiang: Under the Medicines Act, importers and distributors of medicinal products must be licensed by the Ministry. Buyers of unregistered medicinal products such as Mifepristone can be prosecuted for importing or procuring medicinal products without a proper licence. The Ministry of Health has strongly advised the public not to purchase unregulated medicinal products through the Internet as the quality and source of such products cannot be vouched for. Given the nature of e-commerce, it would be difficult to prevent Singaporeans from buying prescription drugs through the Internet.”
“For strata-subdivided buildings, windows installed in the external walls of the buildings, unless otherwise specified, are common property and the Management Corporation (MC) is responsible for the maintenance. However, the MC may, under a resolution, decide on how to discharge this responsibility. For example, they can pass a by-law to make the owners responsible for cleaning the windows in their units. Nevertheless, owners have sometimes taken it upon themselves to clean the external windows when they are dirty, since they have the access from inside their flats. The MCs may have difficulty stopping the owners from doing so. Although there are some domestic workers who have fallen to their deaths from heights, the number is small in relation to the population of more than 100,000 domestic workers working in Singapore. Nevertheless, the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) is very concerned with the matter. There are many reasons why domestic workers fall from heights. Hence, it is not possible to solve the problem using any single solution. MOM has adopted a multi-pronged approach in dealing with the issue. It has mounted several initiatives to educate both employers and their domestic workers on the importance of safety at work in the home environment. These include producing an information kit for the employers, an orientation video for the workers and the recently launched "Handy Guide for Foreign Domestic Workers". MOM will be coming out with new programmes to enhance the level of professionalism of employment agents in Singapore, including a review of our existing regulatory framework. It has also worked with CDCs to help organize safety courses for domestic workers.”
“The Minister of State for National Development (Dr John Chen Seow Phun) (for the Minister for National Development): Mr Speaker, Sir, the roof-top floors of multi-storey car parks that are accessible but not used for parking are meant as a provision for additional parking lots when the need arises. Before allowing recreational facilities to be built on the unused roof-top floors, HDB has to study whether the technical constraints such as design load of the roof deck can support such uses. HDB also has to consider whether the recreational facilities would create noise and lighting nuisance to nearby residents. HDB will study each individual case should the MPs and residents request for such facilities.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, HDB considers various factors in the pricing of new flats for sale. These include affordability of the flats to the buyers, prevailing resale prices of comparable HDB resale flats, the locations and attributes of the flats and the overall development cost. Generally, HDB flats which are in more popular towns/locations with more developed amenities and facilities, such as MRT/LRT stations, bus interchanges, shopping centres, and sport complexes, are priced higher than those in the less developed towns. The selling prices of flats may therefore vary from quarter to quarter, depending on the factors that apply to the flats offered. For example, the prices of some new flats offered in the 4th Quarter 2000 are higher than those of flats offered in the 2nd Quarter 2000 because the new flats are in the more developed Bukit Batok Town within the Town Centre and next to the MRT station. On the other hand, prices of new flats offered in Punggol town in 4th Quarter 2000 are priced lower than those offered in 2nd Quarter 2000, to reflect their location nearer to the expressway. HDB will continue to use these factors to set the prices of HDB flats and to ensure that they remain affordable. From time to time, HDB will make some adjustments to the prices of flats offered to reflect the location and attributes of the flats. MULTI-STOREY CAR PARKS IN HDB ESTATES (Conversion of unused roof-top floors to recreational facilities) 20. Dr Wang Kai Yuen asked the Minister for National Development whether he will consider converting those unused roof-top floors of multi-storey car parks in Housing and Development Board estates to recreational facilities such as tennis courts.”
“Sir, this matter came to the attention of the public recently by way of media reports that HDB was downsizing its flats. Over the last 10 to 15 years, there is no doubt that there had been several demographic changes taking place, not least of which is the downsizing of the family unit. So the average household size over the last 10 to 15 years has come down, to around four today and, if the trend persists, to something less than four. That is one of the changes that is taking place that HDB has taken into account in its building programme. But having said that, there is no intention at this point in time for HDB to further downsize its flats. It has already done so slowly over the last many, many years. And currently, the intention is for HDB to continue to build flats of this size because this is the level of comfort and the level of public housing that we believe is affordable for Singaporeans and also affordable for the state. I think HDB has made it quite clear that there is no intention to further downsize the flats at this point in time. SINGTEL SHARES (Probe on spurt buying) 6. Mr Low Thia Khiang asked the Deputy Prime Minister whether the Singapore Exchange (SGX) has completed its probe on the last minute spurt buying of SingTel shares on 13th October 2000 resulting in the sudden upward surge of STI index.”
“Sir, as I said, it is a question of affordability. And if it is a matter of not being able to build enough balances in the CPF for a 5-room flat, then I would suggest that the young couple consider a 4-room flat instead where together with the split, delayed or deferred instalment, I think affordability would no longer be an issue. Dr Wang Kai Yuen (Bukit Timah): In meeting the demand for housing of Singaporeans, may I ask the Minister to clarify the HDB's position on the building of smaller and smaller flats while it seems that Singaporeans have a great energy for retaining the existing flats or even bigger and bigger flats?”
“Sir, this change or revision to the policy of allowing the deposit of 20% to be split into two instalments was primarily to allow younger couples who are not able to afford the 20% downpayment to therefore get the HDB flat, as it were. The reason why the decision was taken to restrict this concession to the 4-room flats was that if you are actually applying for a 5-room flat and therefore your deposit is larger, then affordability should not be in the picture. Therefore, in so far as this being a concession is concerned, the relaxation is only for the 4-roomers. It is a question of affordability as well as being able to get their flats faster.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I think the Member's point is a valid one. In fact, we have been receiving quite a lot of feedback from Members of Parliament that, where in the past, applicants had to wait for a long time for their flats, now they are actually getting their flats faster than they want them, primarily because they have not been able to accumulate enough savings in their CPF in order to pay for the downpayment. I think it is a happy state of affairs, in some ways. But it is also incumbent upon the HDB now, with slowing demand and with greater control over the building programme, to be able to monitor more closely the progress of the building programme and to therefore give a more accurate assessment, as the Member has mentioned just now. HDB will be looking into ways and means of matching supply and demand more accurately.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, in the first nine months of this year, HDB received 9,600 applications under its Registration for Flats System (RFS). The average monthly application for new flats this year therefore works out to about 1,100 per month, compared to about 800 in 1999 and 700 in 1998. As at September 2000, there were 35,600 applicants on the waiting list for HDB flats. HDB will continue to monitor the demand closely and adjust its building programme according to the demand.”
“To soften the impact and to avoid being adversely affected by the slow down in the building workload, local contractors should consolidate, merge or diversify their operation to participate in large scale infrastructure works. They should also use this time to improve their productivity, skills and competitiveness to prepare for the recovery of the industry. NOISE POLLUTION 12. Dr Ker Sin Tze asked the Minister for the Environment whether he will consider installing sound barriers to reduce traffic noise pollution along expressways. 13. Mr Goh Chong Chia asked the Minister for the Environment, as vehicles and MRT trains are additional sources of noise when they pass near residential areas and schools, whether he will consider introducing acoustic barriers to reduce the impact of the noise to the residential areas and schools.”
“In terms of contract value, construction demand in Singapore has dropped from its peak of $23.5 billion in 1997 to $15.3 billion in 1998 and $11.7 billion in 1999. For 2000, however, the Building and Construction Authority (BCA) has forecasted that construction demand would rise to $17.3 billion, an increase of $5.6 billion from 1999. This increase is mainly due to two Government reclamation projects. However, the volume of building works is expected to remain stagnant. As there is a time lag between the award of contract and the progress payments made, the construction industry could move into positive value-added growth towards the end of 2001. This is provided that the good performance of the economy is maintained over the next two years. To boost the construction demand and to take advantage of the competitive tender prices, the Government has been looking at ways to advance some of the infrastructure and institutional projects. The number of projects awarded by the public sector rose by 25% in 1999, although the total value of projects still fell. This is mainly due to lower tender prices. The Government will continue to look at ways to advance the public sector projects, particularly those that are nearing the tender calling stage. However, as construction projects would need a few years to complete, any action taken now will not lead to immediate results. Local contractors would inevitably be affected by the fall in construction demand. According to BCA's records, local contractors have been concentrating their activities mainly in building projects.”
“The Government registration system is incidentally also used by the private sector but it is primarily a list of contractors which are registered with the BCA and from this list, public sector construction projects are tendered out. Contractors which fall short of certain requirements, which fail to deliver the goods as it were, or which deliver shoddy goods or shoddy workmanship, will be delisted. They will no longer be allowed to tender for Government projects. So it is in the interest of all the contractors to make sure that they deliver a high standard of construction workmanship and that they do not tender frivolously for Government jobs. Only contractors with good track records are registered and the list is updated every few years. So in the first place, we do have a pre-qualification system which would require the G-registered contractors to qualify to tender. Contractors are also regularly and vigorously screened. The point I want to make really is that it is not just price alone. There is a pre-qualification process which makes sure that there is a certain minimum standard. But having said all that, once you are on the list, and once you are invited to tender, then it is only fair that the tender price would be one of the factors, if not the main factor, in deciding whether tenders are awarded or not. In the interest of transparency and fairness, this must be so. And there are only very few exceptional cases where the tender is not awarded to the lowest tenderer. So it is not correct to say that tenders are based on the lowest price alone. But it is also correct to say that if they meet the minimum standard of pre-qualification, then price should be one of the most important factors.”
“If the qualified person makes a wrong design and the contractor carries out the construction according to that wrong design, then it is the QP who is at fault, and not the contractor. And if the QP's design is correct, then it is the job of the QP to make sure that the contractor carries out his work according to that particular design and according to proper construction methodology. So in this particular amendment to the Bill, we are looking at making sure that the design in the first place is carried out properly and, secondly, of course, make sure that there is a second level check on that design. This is in response to his point about why the contractor is not responsible. However, that does not absolve the contractor if the contractor himself is guilty of contravening any of the construction safety regulations or construction practices. For example, in the Compassvale incident, if I may cite an incident, the contractor was also fined because he did not perform certain works according to that design. So specifically, he was fined for not doing work up to a certain standard. When we are talking about the design of the building, which is the subject of this particular amendment, it is the qualified person, the design engineer as well as the AC who should be made to exercise full diligence and responsibility. Mr Lew also asked whether the public sector bids which are based on the lowest price would affect the quality of the design. If I may explain the process for public sector works, the public sector contracts are awarded only to contractors which are pre-qualified. They are listed with the Building and Construction Authority (BCA), what is known as the "G" List, or Government List.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I thank the three speakers for their support of the Bill, including Mr Chiam's support. However, I would just like to clarify one point with Mr Chiam and, that is, this Bill has nothing to do with construction site accidents. Construction site safety is actually under the Factories Act which is administered by a separate Ministry. Although he supports the Bill, I think in his speech he gave the wrong reasons for supporting the Bill. I thought I should clarify this before we continue. Let me now turn to the other two speakers. Mr Lew Syn Pau mentioned that the renewal of registration on an annual basis may be too onerous for the QPs and the ACs. I did mention in my Second Reading speech that we will review this renewal period, and if it is most suitable to have a longer period, we will amend it. If three to five years are considered to be more reasonable, we will certainly amend it. However, just let me say that the requirement for having an annual review is to make sure that the qualified persons are aware that they must be at their best professional behaviour and they are subject to a review. Therefore, in this process, hopefully, they will be able to exercise even greater due diligence in their work. Having said that, of course, we will ensure that in the review process, we will make it as simple as possible in order to make sure that the administration costs involved are kept to the very minimum. Mr Lew asked why contractors are not responsible. Indeed, contractors are not responsible when you are talking about a building design. Because in the construction of a building, the contractor actually works under the supervision of a qualified person (QP). He is responsible to the qualified person.”
“The maximum penalty for a breach of this duty is a fine of up to $100,000 or an imprisonment not exceeding 12 months or both. This is more severe than the maximum penalty that the accredited checker could face in order to reflect that the primary responsibility of the building design rests with the qualified person. Site Supervisors Mr Speaker, Sir, I turn now to the amendments in this Bill that concern site supervisors. Site supervisors were introduced into the Building Control Act when it was first enacted in 1989. The intention was, and still is, for the site supervisor to assist the qualified person in his supervisory duties of construction work. The current section 8 of the Building Control Act stipulates that construction works can only be carried out under the full-time supervision of a site supervisor. However, there has been some misconception that site supervisors can work independently of the qualified person. Clause 3 of this Bill seeks to eliminate this ambiguity by making it clear in section 8 of the Act that construction works are to be supervised by the qualified person, or a site supervisor appointed by the qualified person and working under the qualified person's control and supervision. Conclusion In conclusion, Sir, the amendments to the Building Control Act in this Bill will strengthen the legislation on the structural safety of buildings in Singapore. It will re-emphasize the proper roles and responsibilities of the various professionals involved in the design and checking of buildings. Finally, it will ensure that the highest standards are observed by all who are involved in the building and construction industry. Sir, I beg to move. Question proposed.”
“Currently, the maximum penalty for a design offence committed by the qualified person is a fine of not more than $5,000 or an imprisonment of not more than six months or both under the Building Control Regulations. On the other hand, an accredited checker who fails to detect the same design offence will face a penalty of up to $50,000 in fines (10 times the amount for the qualified person) or an imprisonment of not more than one year or both under the Building Control Act. The difference in the penalties suggests that, in the design of a building, the accredited checker carries a much heavier responsibility than that of the qualified person. This clearly cannot be so. Mr Speaker, Sir, the qualified person must carry the primary responsibility of ensuring the integrity of his design, as he is the one doing the design in the first place. He must not be lulled into a false sense of complacency that the accredited checker will be there to spot his mistakes, and therefore there is no need for him to check his own work for errors. The qualified person must exercise due diligence in ensuring the integrity of his work. The accredited checker only acts as the final mechanism in the system to check and detect any lapses in design. Ideally, if the qualified person exercises due diligence in his design, the accredited checker should not detect any design faults. The amendment to section 9 of the Act therefore seeks to make clear the importance of the role of the qualified person in his design duties. It proposes to impose a duty on the qualified person to take reasonable steps and exercise due diligence in ensuring that the structural design of a building meets the specified requirements.”
“These provisions include the registration procedures, suspension or cancellation of registration procedures, the avenues for appeals against decisions taken by the Commissioner of Building Control and the requirement to maintain professional and financial independence in the building works being checked. Exemption of Government buildings The new section 18B allows the Minister to exempt buildings and building works carried out by the public authorities from certain requirements of the revised accredited checkers system. With the exemption, public authorities with the necessary qualified accredited checkers in-house need not appoint an accredited checking organisation for building works above the prescribed value. These in-house accredited checkers will also not be subjected to the requirement of checking only plans of building works below the prescribed value. Sir, as I have mentioned earlier, the accredited checking organisation is introduced to ensure that the accredited checker has adequate and appropriate staff and resources. Public authorities like the Housing and Development Board and the Land Transport Authority already have the professional support staff and resources, and good internal control and disciplinary measures to ensure that their in-house accredited checkers carry out proper checks on designs. However, if the public authorities appoint external accredited checkers, they will be subjected to the relevant provisions in the Bill. Design Duty of the Qualified Persons Besides the accredited checker, it is also very important that the qualified person be appraised of his duties and responsibilities under the Building Control Act and its Regulations, and carry out such duties with professionalism and due diligence.”
“Sir, I would like to emphasise that the accredited checker is still personally responsible for the checking of plans and design calculations, whether he operates individually or within an accredited checking organisation. He cannot delegate this responsibility to his assistants. Review of the Accredited Checker's performance Another area that should be strengthened relates to the need for a regular review of the performance of an accredited checker. Under the present system, the registration of an accredited checker is valid for life, unless he breaches his duty. There is no provision to review his performance regularly after his registration. Sir, the amended section 16 and new section 16A will require the accredited checker or accredited checking organisation to renew their registration periodically. The registration will be valid for one year, but this period can be reviewed in the future if some other time frame for renewal is deemed more suitable. The amendment also allows the Commissioner of Building Control to suspend or cancel the registration of an accredited checker or accredited checking organisation. These offences could include situations where the accredited checker has been censured, fined, suspended or de-registered by the Professional Engineers Board, where he has failed to meet the prescribed requirements for registration and where his performance failed to meet the standards prescribed in the Regulations. During the period of suspension, the accredited checker or organisation will not be allowed to practise. The new sections 16A, 16B, 16C and 18A extend the existing provisions relating to the individual accredited checker to the accredited checking organisations.”
“In its review, the BCA concluded that the current system of accredited checkers remains valid and is an efficient and cost-effective way to achieve an independent check on the building design. However, the BCA highlighted two areas in the present system which should be strengthened. Mr Speaker, Sir, I will elaborate on these areas. Resources of the Accredited Checker Currently, an accredited checker can check any project, regardless of its size and complexity and the amount of technical supporting resources that he has. BCA's view is that an accredited checker taking on a large and complex building project should have more specialised technical support staff and resources. Clause 7 of the Bill addresses this issue by requiring an accredited checker undertaking large projects to be registered and to operate within an accredited checking organisation that has certain resources as required by the Commissioner of Building Control. The requirements will be prescribed in the Regulations. These include minimum staff strength, amount of professional liability insurance and an ISO certification. Only accredited checking organisations will be allowed to check plans of building works above a prescribed value. The value is set at $10 million initially but it may be adjusted from time to time to allow for changes in construction cost. Individual accredited checkers will only be allowed to check building works below this value. They will be required to be covered by a minimum amount of professional liability insurance. The insurance is intended to provide for financial claims made by the public who may suffer personal injury or loss caused by the negligence of the accredited checker.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, "That the Bill be now read a Second time." This Bill before the House seeks to revise and strengthen the law in respect of building control by: (a) strengthening the system of accredited checkers in their role in checking structural plans submitted to the Commissioner of Building Control; (b) imposing, on the appropriate qualified person, a duty to ensure that the structure of a building is designed according to prescribed requirements; and (c) clarifying the intended role of site supervisors. Mr Speaker, Sir, following the collapse of the roof of the uncompleted Compassvale Primary School hall in June last year, the Building and Construction Authority (BCA) conducted a review of its accredited checkers system. The system requires all structural plans and calculations to be checked by an independent accredited checker before they are submitted to BCA for approval. BCA also examined the provisions of the Building Control Act to evaluate their adequacy in ensuring that our buildings are designed to safe standards and that these plans are checked. The main provisions of this Bill arose from the review. Sir, let me now explain the proposed amendments in detail. Strengthening the Accredited Checkers System The accredited checkers system was introduced into the Building Control Act in 1989, following the Commission of Inquiry on the collapse of the Hotel New World. The Commission had recommended that there should be a mandatory requirement to check the structural plans and design of a building, so as to minimise the risk of errors arising from lapses on the part of the designer. A system of independent checks by an accredited checker was put in place since then.”