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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“As I announced during the Committee of Supply debate last year, HDB has an arrangement to refer deserving cases to its managing agents, for temporary rental of a room at below market rate. As at 31st October 2009, HDB has referred 809 households for such interim rental housing. 251 of them have taken up the offer while 256 have rejected it. The remaining households are still considering the option. Of the households who rejected the offer of interim rental housing, about a third were adverse to the idea of flat sharing and would rather find their own accommodation. Even though flat sharing may be inconvenient, such an arrangement is essential for keeping costs low for these households in financial difficulty. For those who are willing to share a flat, the managing agent will ensure that they are matched with a suitable family. For the rest of the households who rejected the offer, most had either found alternative accommodation or were unsatisfied with the location of the offered room. The managing agents are charging about $300 to $400 a room, inclusive of utilities and service/conservancy charges, which is below the market rate for such flats. APPENDICES”
“It also suggested facilitating more community interaction among HDB residents, as neighbours familiar to each other will exercise more consideration and tolerance. HDB has released a "HDB Guidebook" providing tips on being a considerate neighbour. HDB and People’s Association have also collaborated to launch an inaugural nation-wide Good Neighbour Award, to encourage residents to recognise exemplary neighbours. These are part of the work by HDB’s Community Relations Department to help foster more caring and cohesive communities in our HDB heartland. However, there is a small number of residents whose deliberate anti-social behavior negatively affect many others, despite repeated warnings and counselling. HDB is reviewing its penalty framework to take more decisive actions against such neighbourhood nuisances. (1) They were SMS(ND), Parl Sec(ND), Dr Lim Wee Kiak, Mr Liang Eng Hwa and Mdm Halimah Yacob. PROTECTION OF MIGRANT WORKERS 33. Ms Irene Ng Phek Hoong asked the Minister for Manpower (a) whether protection for migrant workers has kept pace with the expansion of their numbers in Singapore; and (b) what measures are being taken to ensure that employers and employment agencies do not exploit the foreign workers by imposing high recruitment fees and withholding their passports.”
“From 2006 to 2008, HDB received an average of 1,600 complaints of neighbour disputes every year. This is less than 0.2% of the total number of households living in HDB estates. Consideration and tolerance amongst neighbours is key to harmonious living in HDB estates. When HDB receives a complaint from a resident about a neighbour, it will investigate whether any HDB rules have been breached. At the same time, HDB will advise the residents to be more considerate and cease their inconsiderate behaviour. Where appropriate, HDB will also counsel the complaining party to exercise greater tolerance. If the disagreement persists, HDB will seek the help of grassroots leaders to mediate. Disputing parties can also go to the Community Mediation Centre to resolve their differences. However, recourse to mediation is voluntary. Whether mediation is successful depends on the willingness of both parties to continue to exercise consideration and tolerance thereafter. In more serious cases, the aggrieved party can file a Magistrate’s Complaint. Although HDB tries to assist, it is not possible for Government agencies like HDB to be responsible for resolving private disputes between two neighbours. It is often one party’s word against the other. It is often not clear who is in the wrong. Ultimately, private disputes need to be resolved privately, with the help of community mediation or through the legal process if necessary. MND convened a workgroup involving a few Members of Parliament (1) last year to look into promoting harmonious living in HDB estates. The workgroup recommended promotion of greater public awareness of the "dos" and "don’ts" of HDB living.”
“Singapore has been planned as a pedestrian-friendly city, with an extensive network of covered and underground walkways. At the City Hall MRT Station, the Government has already safeguarded an underground pedestrian walkway from the station to the future development at the Capitol Theatre site, on the other side of North Bridge Road. This underground link will be constructed by the developer of the site, as part of the site tender requirements under the Government Land Sales Programme. From the Capitol Theatre site, pedestrians will be able to use the existing network of covered walkways to reach the other buildings in the area. Along North Bridge Road, LTA is also building a covered linkway to provide a sheltered connection from City Hall MRT Station to the two bus stops along North Bridge Road adjacent to St. Andrew's Cathedral. The Urban Redevelopment Authority will look into ways to expand the network of underground pedestrian links in the locality to connect more buildings seamlessly to the City Hall MRT Station. BUS STOPS WITH ARRIVAL TIME INDICATORS 23. Dr Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim asked the Minister for Transport (a) whether he will consider increasing the number of bus stops with the bus arrival time indicators; and (b) what are the current guidelines for installing such indicators at the bus stops.”
“A family with monthly household income of $3,000 who spends 30% on housing can buy a flat of up to $250,000. This covers all the new 3-room flats in HDB’s most recent BTO projects in Choa Chu Kang and Hougang in Jan 10. They also have a selection of the 4-room flats, where prices start at about $230,000. At $4,000 monthly income, a family can afford up to $333,000 without spending more than 30% every month. They can comfortably buy any of the flats offered in the January 10 BTO. HDB is committed to ensuring a sufficient supply of new flats. In 2009, HDB sold 13,500 new flats, half of which were launched in the last quarter to meet strong demand. These flats were in a variety of towns, across all flat types from Studio Apartments, 2-room, 3-room, 4-room to 5-room, with 4-room making up the majority. HDB is also building more 2- and 3-room flats to cater to the needs of the lower income, even as it continues to provide for other groups. This year, taking into account the expected demand, flat buyers can look forward to about 12,000 new BTO flats if demand is sustained. These BTO flats will also be supplemented by DBSS flats and ECs. HDB will continue to monitor changing demand and will make necessary changes to the BTO programme, in terms of number and mix, to ensure that there is adequate supply of affordable public housing for the various income groups. UNDERGROUND WALKWAYS IN CITY HALL MRT VICINITY 21. Mr Teo Siong Seng asked the Minister for National Development whether his Ministry will consider building sheltered and underground walkways linking the City Hall MRT station with the commercial and Government office buildings along North Bridge Road and High Street for the benefit of many office workers, shoppers and tourists.”
“HDB has progressed from the mass production of basic flats in the 70s and 80s to offering many choices across different locations, flat types, designs and prices. This caters not only to rising aspirations, but also to different segments of flat buyers with varying preferences and budgets within the $8,000 income ceiling. This means that such choices are offered to almost 80% of households in Singapore. HDB remains committed to keeping flats affordable, especially for those setting up their first homes. I am happy to note that about eight in 10 new flat buyers service their housing loans entirely using CPF monies without any cash outlay. This is possible due to our generous subsidy system. All new flats come with a generous market subsidy. Households earning less than $5,000 monthly can apply for Additional CPF Housing Grants (AHG) of up to $40,000. HDB also offers concessionary loans to eligible households. First-timers can also enjoy a CPF Housing Grant of up to $40,000 when they buy a resale flat, DBSS flat or EC. The main supply of new flats is the Build-To-Order (BTO) Exercise, where HDB offers generously-subsidised flats for the mass market. For those with higher income and aspirations, there are premium flats under the Design, Build and Sell Scheme (DBSS), and one-off special projects in mature estates such as the Pinnacle@Duxton. Households earning up to $10,000 per month can buy Executive Condominiums (EC). Further, a wide range of flats is available in the resale market. For those with specific preferences in terms of location, they may have to pay a premium. While HDB provides many choices, flat buyers must play their part too. They should exercise prudence and buy within their means. Let me illustrate.”
“In addition, AVA has revised the Animals and Birds (Dog Licensing and Control) Rules to require all newly licensed dogs from September 2007 to be microchipped. This will help AVA trace and return lost dogs to owners. Animal abandonment is considered a serious offence under the Animals and Birds Act and carries a maximum penalty of $10,000 fine or imprisonment of 12 months or both. AVA receives about 350 cases of feedback(1) per year on alleged animal cruelty. AVA investigates all feedback and will prosecute an offender if there is sufficient evidence and witnesses are willing to testify in Court to the alleged offence. AVA has successfully prosecuted two cases and fined five other offenders in the last three years. (1) 361 cases in 2009 (January-November), 377 cases in 2008, 292 in 2007. TAX REVENUE FROM TOBACCO PRODUCTS 2. Mr Hri Kumar Nair asked the Minister for Finance how much tax revenue does the Government receive annually in respect of tobacco products in the last three years.”
“The number of abandoned pets reported to the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA) is only a handful each year. This is probably not a complete record as not all cases are referred to AVA. Non-governmental organisations (NGOs) such as the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) and the Action for Singapore Dogs (ASD) also pick up animals suspected to be abandoned. On its part, AVA will follow up whenever it receives feedback of alleged abandonment of pets. Offenders will be prosecuted or fined for allowing the dogs to stray if there is sufficient evidence. It is important to have an effective long-term solution to curb pet abandonment. Since 2001, AVA has conducted school talks to inculcate in students a sense of responsible pet ownership. In 2004, AVA launched the Responsible Pet Ownership (RPO) Public Education Programme. Through its various roadshows, AVA aims to convey the key point that "A Pet is for Life" through the following messages: – People should not buy a pet on impulse, but consider carefully the responsibilities that go with owning a pet; – Pet owners should be considerate and ensure that their pets do not create problems for their neighbours (eg, leash their pets in public place, clean up after their pets and minimise noise pollution); – Pet owners should sterilise their pets to prevent unwanted litters; and – Pet owners should not abandon their pets but be committed to them for life. AVA also works closely with various NGOs such as SPCA on public education to reduce pet abandonment. AVA supports the NGOs in their campaigns to promote sterilisation of pet cats and dogs to reduce the cases of abandonment of unwanted puppies and kittens.”
“Currently, HDB and URA do set aside designated car park lots in their car parks to facilitate the movement of the disabled. The use of such designated lots is restricted to vehicles with authorised parking labels under the Car Park Label Scheme for the Handicapped (CPLS). Caregivers who need to transport passengers with physical disabilities or mobility constraints are allowed to park at these designated parking lots if they have been issued with the authorised CPLS parking labels. However, designated car park lots often result in the sub-optimal allocation and under-utilisation of parking lots. In addition, additional resources would be needed to administer and enforce the correct usage of such designated parking lots. We should therefore keep the number of such designated lots low. It is not practical for HDB and URA to designate parking lots for all groups with special needs. Parents with young children and prams as well as caregivers with passengers in wheelchairs but without special parking labels can make use of designated drop-off points to let their passengers alight first before parking their vehicles in normal parking lots. ENGLISH PROFICIENCY FOR FOREIGN WORKERS 46. Mrs Mildred Tan asked the Minister for Manpower in light of the recent announcement of a lighter levy for skilled foreign workers in the service industry who have proficiency in English, whether his Ministry will consider (i) the language abilities of all foreign nationals when granting them work permits; and (ii) conducting trainings or language tests for these workers to ensure a minimum standard of English for effective communication.”
“Ms Ellen Lee asked the Minister for Health (a) what have the Health Promotion Board and Health Sciences Authority done in the past three years in combating the top five causes of deaths in Singapore; and (b) besides traditional public education on the food pyramid and cutting down on unhealthy foods, what has his Ministry done in terms of research and development to keep pace with new discoveries and studies and to educate the populace contemporaneously on the effects of certain foods such as artificial sweeteners, trans fats, chlorinated water, artificial colouring/flavouring and food additives.”
“URA plans the location of petrol stations in consultation with the relevant technical agencies such as SCDF, NEA and LTA. NEA imposes requirements to ensure that petrol stations do not cause pollution or nuisance to the surrounding residential premises. For instance, the stations are required to install vapour recovery systems to minimise smell nuisance from fumes. Another key potential safety issue posed by petrol stations is fire. While SCDF has guidelines for petrol stations to be sited at a minimum distance of 50 m and 90 m from residences and places of public assembly respectively in the Fire Code, these distance guidelines cannot be strictly met in all instances given the challenges posed by our urban density and site constraints. However, the SCDF also imposes other safety requirements as part of the planning process. For instance, the SCDF requires all petrol stations to apply for a licence to store or keep petroleum. SCDF requires that all petroleum tanks be installed underground in well-protected enclosed concrete or brick chambers. Access to the tanks is also required to be secured and monitored closely. Co-location of petrol stations together with other commercial or residential buildings is also strictly prohibited. These fire safety requirements help to prevent fire hazards to nearby residences. As part of the planning process before a petrol station site is approved, the relevant agencies will carry out the necessary technical assessment to ensure that all health and safety requirements are complied with. Operating petrol stations are also subject to annual inspections by these agencies to ensure continued compliance. Column No : 1807 PROMOTION OF HEALTHY EATING HABITS 5.”
“Dr Lam Pin Min asked the Minister for National Development (a) what are the potential health hazards posed by the proximity of petrol/gas stations to residential areas; and (b) whether there is a minimum safety distance for the siting of these stations to inhabited areas.”
“HDB rental flats are heavily subsidised and are meant for those with no alternative housing options. There are eligibility criteria to ensure that only the truly needy are allocated public rental flats. However, we recognise that there are households who are not eligible for a rental flat, but are unable to afford accommodation on their own. At the same time, their immediate family members are unable to help them. In such situations, HDB will exercise flexibility, taking into account the circumstances of the case. In 2008, 649 divorced women with children had registered for rental flats. These include 28 for whom HDB waived the usual eligibility criteria. About 200 have already been allocated rental flats. However, owing to the limited number of rental flats, not all of them are due for allocation yet. HDB will ensure that these households have accommodation while waiting for allocation. It will be good if they can stay with their families temporarily. For those who are unable to, HDB will refer them to its managing agent for interim rental housing (IRH). In situations where the family is in exceptional financial hardship and cannot afford IRH, HDB will exercise flexibility and consider granting them priority allocation of a rental flat. Besides working with the family on a suitable housing solution, HDB will also refer them to the Family Service Centres for help, if necessary. This ensures that the family’s needs beyond housing are taken care of, especially for the children. Column No : 1807 PROXIMITY OF PETROL STATIONS TO RESIDENTIAL AREAS 4.”
“It is implemented on a 'neighbourhood' basis, ie, to two or more contiguous precincts. It allows improvements to be done more comprehensively to the neighbourhood with better coordination and integration and ensures that improvements across neighbouring precincts complement each other. Column No : 1805 RENTAL FLATS FOR DIVORCED WOMEN 3. Mdm Halimah Yacob asked the Minister for National Development (a) in 2008, how many women had applied for rental flats after their divorces; (b) how many were allocated the rental flats; and (c) whether HDB can be more flexible in the allocation of rental flats to divorced women with children who lose their homes after their divorces.”
“HDB introduced the Interim Upgrading Programme (IUP) in 1993 to complement the Main Upgrading Programme (MUP) and bring the benefits of upgrading to more estates. While the MUP is targeted at older flats which were built before 1980, the IUP was rolled out for flats that were built between 1981 and 1986. One hundred and ninety IUP precincts were announced from 1993 to 2001. The budget for the IUP was $4,000 per flat. The distribution of the IUP precincts by Town Councils is: Town Council No. of precincts Aljunied 16 Ang Mo Kio – Yio Chu Kang 29 Bishan-Toa Payoh 3 East Coast 24 Hong Kah 7 Jalan Besar 12 Jurong 25 Marine Parade 11 Pasir Ris – Punggol 2 Sembawang 13 Tampines 16 Tanjong Pagar 9 West Coast 23 Total 190 The IUP Plus was introduced in 2002 to replace the IUP. It is a combination of two programmes: Interim Upgrading Programme (IUP) and Lift Upgrading Programme (LUP). It is also targeted at blocks built between 1981 and 1986. The budget for the IUP component of the IUP Plus is $2,400 per flat. The budget for the LUP component is the same as standalone LUP projects. It varies depending on the block configuration and is subject to the $30,000 per Benefitting Unit cost cap. Eighty-four precincts were selected for IUP Plus from 2002 to 2006. The distribution of IUP Plus precincts by Town Councils is: Town Council No. of precincts Aljunied 8 Ang Mo Kio – Yio Chu Kang 6 Bishan-Toa Payoh 9 East Coast 4 Holland-Bukit Panjang 3 Hong Kah 8 Jalan Besar 4 Jurong 7 Marine Parade 8 Sembawang 12 Tampines 9 West Coast 6 Total 84 From 2007, the IUP scope of works is subsumed under the new Neighbourhood Renewal Programme (NRP). The NRP is targeted at blocks built in 1989 or before.”
“Between 2006 and May 2009, Malaysia approved 178 manufacturing projects with Singapore participation in IM. The total approved investment was 2.64 billion ringgit or around 1.1 billion Singapore dollars. The majority of these manufacturing projects were in the plastics, electronics and electrical, and fabricated metal products industries. Based on industry feedback, Singapore companies have also been actively exploring investment opportunities in IM outside of the manufacturing sector. These include companies from the healthcare services and real estate sectors, amongst others. We will continue to collaborate with Malaysia under the JMC framework to forge a productive partnership. By working together on various proposals in IM, we seek to achieve a win-win outcome that would benefit both Singapore and Malaysia. Column No : 1803 WRITTEN ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS Column No : 1803 LOCATIONS OF INTERIM UPGRADING PROGRAMME 1. Mr Low Thia Khiang asked the Minister for National Development (a) whether he will list the precincts of HDB flats which have undergone the Interim Upgrading Programme; and (b) for each precinct (i) where are they located; (ii) which Town Council's management do they fall under; and (iii) what is the amount of funding given. 2. Mr Low Thia Khiang asked the Minister for National Development (a) whether he will list the precincts of HDB flats which have undergone or are undergoing the Interim Upgrading Plus Lift Upgrading Programme (IUP Plus); and (b) for each precinct (i) where are these precincts located; (ii) which Town Council's management do they fall under; and (iii) what is the amount of funding given.”
“The Joint Ministerial Committee (JMC) for Iskandar Malaysia (IM) was set up in 2007 to promote bilateral cooperation on the IM. Since 2007, Work Groups were formed under the JMC to promote bilateral co-operation in four areas, namely enhancing transportation connectivity, facilitating immigration clearance, promoting joint tourism development and promoting environmental co-operation. At its fifth meeting held on 4th November 2009 in Singapore, the JMC agreed to double the number of cross-border bus services by January 2010 as a means of enhancing transport connectivity. The meeting also noted that the Malaysian Automated Clearance System (MACS) that provided frequent travellers to IM access to "fast track" lanes was extended to all frequent travellers to Malaysia in September this year. A joint study has also been commissioned to assess the feasibility of twinning Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve with nature sites in IM as a joint tourism product. In addition, environmental agencies on both sides have continued to exchange expertise in areas such as river cleaning. As a follow-up to the discussion between the two Prime Ministers in Singapore in May this year, both sides also agreed at the fifth JMC meeting to form a new Work Group to study the joint development of an iconic economic project in IM. The JMC will meet again in the first half of 2010 to review the progress of the Work Groups. In the meantime, the private sector has actively seized the economic opportunities that IM presents. According to data from Malaysia, Singapore is among the top three investors in IM. Most of Singapore’s investments in IM are in manufacturing, particularly by the small and medium enterprises.”
“Void decks form part of the common property managed and maintained by Town Councils (TCs). In managing the use of the void decks, TCs need to ensure that the safety of residents is not compromised. Currently, the respective TCs have their own by-laws to manage and control the use of common property in their Towns. Such by-laws normally include provisions against the unlawful parking of vehicles, including the parking and riding of bicycles at their void decks. Any person who commits a breach of the by-law is liable of a maximum fine of $5,000. Hence, depending on the situation and needs of the residents, TCs have the recourse to take enforcement action against errant bicycle owners and riders, if necessary. At the same time, TCs should also educate residents on the proper use of HDB void decks so that they do not pose a danger or inconvenience to other residents. They can work with grassroots leaders to raise awareness of the dangers of indiscriminate cycling at the void deck. In addition, TCs can put up signages at void decks to deter unlawful parking and riding of bicycles. Column No : 1799 JOINT MINISTERIAL COMMITTEE ON ISKANDAR DEVELOPMENT (Update) 51. Mdm Ho Geok Choo asked the Minister for National Development (a) what were the issues discussed at the Fifth Meeting of the Joint Ministerial Committee for Iskandar Malaysia on 4th November 2009; (b) what is the latest update on Singapore’s investment in this project; and (c) what is the breakdown of industries and businesses from Singapore operating there or committed to operating there.”
“Er Lee Bee Wah asked the Minister for National Development in view of HDB void decks being commonly used by residents for leisurely activities (a) what action will the Ministry take to ensure that cyclists do not pose a danger to these residents; (b) what can be done to deter cyclists from parking their bicycles in ways that are hazardous and a hindrance to the residents or cause damage to public property; and (c) whether the Ministry will consider imposing a ban on cycling at all HDB void decks.”
“HDB’s Studio Apartments (SAs) are custom-built for elderly living. SAs come with elder-friendly features such as support hand-bars, non-slip tiles, lever taps and an alert alarm system. The blocks are barrier-free, and located near neighbourhood centres for easy access to shops, eating places and public transportation nodes. To date, HDB has launched 17 SA developments in both mature and non-mature estates. All have been very well-received, with close to 100% take-up of units. Going forward, HDB will build more SAs to meet the demand. To ensure good geographical spread, they will be built in different estates including mature estates if land is available. Since 2003, HDB has been mixing SAs and other flat types within the same block to promote social interaction across the ages. At the same time, we are mindful that concentration of SA units in one block help service providers like VWOs to better serve the elderly residents by having just one activity centre. HDB will continue to build both mixed blocks and pure SA blocks to provide choice. In both cases, the SA blocks will be built as an integral part of a larger neighbourhood of different flat types. We will work closely with our partner agencies to ensure that both the hardware and software are in place to support healthy, active ageing. Column No : 1797 CYCLING AT HDB VOID DECKS (Enhancement of safety) 50.”
“In the past 12 months, HDB has terminated the tenancies of 185 tenants who illegally sublet their rental flat. They were living elsewhere and had sublet their rental flats illegally. They have abused Government subsidy and deprived the truly needy of a rental flat. We need to send a clear signal that such behaviour is not acceptable. Rental flats are already heavily subsidised. There is no need to revise the rent structure as the rates are low and are affordable to even the very low income. Households with less than $800 in monthly income pay only $30 per month for a 1-room flat. Those earning between $800 and $1,500 per month pay 30% of market rate. Their rents have been frozen at $110 per month for a 1-room flat since 2005. This is a very significant subsidy. Some of those caught for illegal subletting rented out their 1-room flat for as high as $1,000 per month. For rental households in severe financial difficulty, HDB will extend more help, as appropriate. For example, an instalment plan can be worked out to help those in rental arrears. For those earning more than $800 per month but are in hardship due to large family size or medical bills, HDB will not impose the higher-tier rents on them. HDB will also refer needy cases to Community Development Councils (CDCs) or Family Service Centres for help. For example, CDCs offer Public Assistance to severe hardship cases that need long term assistance. Public Assistance covers basic living expenses such as rent. Column No : 1781 CHARGES FOR GIRO TOP-UP OF EZ-LINK CARDS 36. Mr Lim Biow Chuan asked the Minister for Transport what is the reason for EZ-Link to impose charges for GIRO top up of EZ-Link cards despite the Government's push for a cashless society.”
“Sir, our public housing policies are designed for the benefit of Singaporeans. We have reserved new HDB flats for Singaporean households. Only Singaporean households are eligible to buy new HDB flats and receive our generous housing subsidies. Permanent Resident (PR) families are not eligible for housing subsidies that Singaporeans enjoy. They are not allowed to buy a new flat from HDB or enjoy any housing grant. However, PRs need a home in Singapore. Therefore, they are allowed to buy properties from the open market, including HDB resale flats. PRs are subjected to all the same HDB rules as Singaporeans, including the Ethnic Integration Policy (EIP). The EIP was introduced to achieve a healthy racial mix in HDB estates and prevent the formation of ethnic enclaves, regradless of whether they are citizens or PRs. By providing HDB residents of different races with more opportunities to interact as neighbours, the EIP fosters inter-racial understanding and strengthens social cohesion in Singapore. As at 30th June 2009, there were 533,000 PRs in Singapore, making up 14.3% of Singapore's total resident population. PR households own a total of 42,800 HDB flats as at 30th June 2009. This constitutes slightly under 5%, or 4.9% to be exact, of all HDB households. PR households are found in all HDB towns and estates. Sir, assimilation of PRs is an important national objective. As the Member suggest, a good mix of PRs in HDB estates is important. My Ministry will keep a close watch on the distribution of PRs living in HDB estates. Where necessary, we will consider measures to prevent the congregation of PRs and foreigners. 3.00 pm”
“Instead, the survey results re-affirm the key challenge that the LTMP has identified – that of reversing the decline in public transport mode share and the importance of achieving the 70% public transport mode share target by 2020. In other words, increase the public transport mode share from six to seven trips out of every 10 trips. The survey findings also re-affirm that we need to continue to complement improvements in our public transport system with measures to moderate car usage. We have reduced the vehicle population growth rate, from 3% to 1.5% a year, and will assess this again in 2012, to see if a further reduction is necessary. We have also made it easier for drivers who choose to give up their cars to encash their COE and PARF rebates, and will be making improvements to the Off-Peak Car scheme and Park and Ride scheme. While we have already made some immediate improvements to our public transport system, many of the more significant programmes will take time to implement. We are working to double our rail network. New lines and extensions to existing lines will be opened progressively when they are ready. The Circle Line started operations in May this year, and will be completed by 2011. We can look forward to the Downtown Line after that. LTA is taking over the central bus network planning, and we are completing the implementation of through-fares. These are just some of the measures we are taking to improve our public transport system. As the rollout takes place, we will continue to see what else we can do. If we stay the course, we should be able to make progress in reversing the trend and achieve our target of 70% public transport mode share by 2020.”
“How would the Member define "genuine"? But, seriously, we will look into it, as we have always done. Column No : 1707 DROP IN USAGE OF PUBLIC TRANSPORT (Reasons) 9. Dr Lam Pin Min asked the Minister for Transport (a) what are the reasons for the decrease in utilisation of public transport by Singaporeans in 2008; and (b) what measures or new initiatives will the LTA implement to encourage Singaporeans to switch to public transportation. The Second Minister for Transport (Mrs Lim Hwee Hua) (for the Minister for Transport): Mr Speaker, Sir, I believe that Dr Lam Pin Min is referring to the reduction in the public transport mode share indicated by the Household Interview Travel Survey 2008. Between 2004 and 2008, the number of public transport journeys made each day increased by 16%. However, the number of car journeys made each day increased by 31%. Hence, the public transport mode share, which measures the proportion of journeys made on public transport during the morning peak hours, fell from 63% in 2004 to 59% in 2008. This decrease can be attributed to the lack of major infrastructural improvements to the public transport system between 2004 and 2008, while our population and the number of vehicles continued to grow. We had commissioned this survey in 2008 to help us to properly establish the baseline for the Land Transport Masterplan (LTMP), and give us a more accurate assessment of the magnitude of the land transport challenges we face going forward. The timing of the survey is such that its results ought not to be interpreted as feedback on whether the plans and initiatives announced in the LTMP are effective as the survey was conducted before any of the major LTMP measures started to kick in.”
“If they do so, I think they will find that over time, these flats – even those flats on the second floor – will grow in value.”
“" And they said, "Oh, yes, second floor and third floor, what is the difference?" So, is it unrealistic expectations? I think there are grounds to believe that there is. I recently had a conversation with Mr Dhanabalan over dinner and we both talked about our time in Kim Keat Avenue. I was living in a 3-room flat in Kim Keat Avenue – eight of us – with three bedrooms, sharing one toilet and bathroom. It was basic but it was like a palace to us because I just came from a 1-room flat with 10 people in Chinatown. So I think that reflects our expectations at that time and how things were changed. But I do not expect that people want to live in this kind of conditions today. Our standards have gone up. Today, our 3-room flats have got one attached bathroom and an additional bathroom – two bathrooms for even a basic 3-room flat. So our standards have moved. And it is going to move even further. Our new flats are going to be even nicer. We will move over time but we cannot meet certain expectations. I cannot build flats only in the mature estates or city area. I cannot build flats that are only on high floors. I need to have flats on the second floor and third floor as well. And who is going to live on these floors? Our commitment is that we will build and make available flats to young couples at affordable prices in well situated new towns, good transport facilities and good amenities. These flats will increase in value over time. The non-mature estates today will become the mature estates of tomorrow. This is a commitment that we have made and we will continue to make. I urge young Singaporeans to be realistic in their expectations.”
“I am not able to ascertain from the Member's question where he gets the idea that there is a groundswell of discontent. But I do have feedback from REACH and Members of Parliament that there are some people who would like HDB to provide ready-made flats in good locations faster, better and at cheaper prices. Yes, definitely, there is that sense. And this is the reason why I think we have to better communicate our policies. We also have to make sure that our policies are less complicated. But I dare say that there is also a mismatch of expectations – an element of unrealistic expectations. Let me illustrate this point. At one point in time, there was a spate of emails and reports in the media about young couples not being able to get HDB flats after repeated ballots. In fact, some of them said that they balloted 18 times; some 12 or 15 times and they never had a chance to get a flat. They never were called to select a flat as the queue numbers were high. And they asked how they were going to get married and raise a family. So, we dutifully checked each and every one of them, and we found to our surprise that all those emails, complaints and letters to the media were not entirely accurate. Some of them were offered chances once or twice; some as many as seven times – seven chances for them to select a flat – and they did not select a flat. So we went back to them and asked: "Hey, you said you balloted 18 times and you did not get a chance, but my record shows that you had three or four chances. What happened?" And they said, "Oh! I was only given a flat on the second floor. How do you expect me to live in it?" And we went back to them and said, "Oh, yes, but there were some third-floor flats as well.”
“If you ask me to project what happens five years from now, I can only go by what is known today – projected economic demand, projected immigration numbers, and so on. But these things, as Members are well aware, will change over time. And the changes can be quite dramatic. If you look at the change – from September last year to September this year – in the property market, stock market, and people's sentiments, I do not think any committee made up of anybody in Government or the academia could have predicted that change. So, what do we do? I think we can make a projection based on best estimates and then we must have a system that is responsive when conditions change. And this is what we have done under the BTO system. We must also have a system that does not encourage unnecessary demand. Unfortunately, when we had a system where people were queueing up and we built according to that queue, the cost of joining in the queue was virtually nil. Anybody could have joined the queue. We allowed both first-timers and second-timers to join the queue. That is the reason why we had 150,000 people in the queue. Because if you can buy a HDB flat even though you are a second-timer or third-timer, why not? We have taken steps over the years to try to weed out what is genuine demand from frivolous demand. We have also taken steps to institute a system that is more response to genuine demand. I think, today, we have a more stable system which can be more responsive to demand. But I am open to any idea or suggestion from anybody about how we can more accurately predict demand five years down the road, and I will be happy to take a look at those things.”
“Although I said that we do not plan for a buffer, in actual fact, there is a buffer of flats over and above the BTO, which is available, and has shorter waiting times. These are the surplus flats from the other programmes, eg, some flats from SERS and buy-back flats scheme. So, for this year, we have had a surplus of about 2,000 flats which we have sold recently under the sale of balance flats programme. There will be always be surplus flats available. Under the BTO, for example, we will build when the take-up rate is about 70%. So, there will be another 30% of flats in surplus and not taken up. Once the project is ready and launched, we will put this 30% onto the market for sale. The policy is not to deliberately have a buffer but in the scheme of things, we will generally have a small buffer. In fact, it is about the 10% that the Member mentioned. On the planning parameters for new residents, in fact, we do cater for family formation due to new residents coming in. However, not all the new residents actually buy resale flats. The Member knows, of course, that PRs are not eligible to buy new flats. They can only buy in the resale market. Even in the resale market, not all of them actually buy the flats. Quite a lot of them rent. We do have figures on the purchase of resale flats by PRs and they are under-represented as far as purchases are concerned. The answer to the Member's question is, yes, we are aware of the fact that new immigrants (the PRs) do constitute an additional demand, and we have taken that into account in all our projections. This brings me to the second part of the Member's question, which is whether we could have a special committee to try to project more accurately. I think a projection is as accurate as what we know today.”
“Well, if 96% of them are given a chance to select the flat after two tries, I think after three tries, it will be pretty close to 100%. If there is anybody who has not been successful after three tries, to be given a chance to select a flat – note that it is a chance to select a flat, not a chance to get a flat of choice, because I have seen many cases of people who have been given chances to select flats, but who reject those chances for whatever reason. So if you are given a chance to select a flat, please think carefully and choose to select that flat. If you have not been given a chance after three or four tries, let me know. As to whether there are enough interim flats available, the answer is yes. We have an interim rental housing scheme, where if you have already selected the flat and the flat is not built yet, and you are prepared to come in for interim rental, I think we can consider that. But there are also other flats that are available. For example, we have certain SERS blocks which have not yet been redeveloped, that are being made available through a managing agent. These flats have reasonable rentals and they are also available for such couples.”
“After flat buyers join the rank of flat owners, they will enjoy the benefits of owning an asset which is not only a roof over their heads but also a place they call home and a store of value that will grow over time as Singapore grows. Er Lee Bee Wah (Ang Mo Kio): Thank you, Minister. I have seen young couples – first-time flat purchasers – and they told me that they are not successful after two tries. I would like to ask Minister, can we assure them that the third time should be 100% successful. The next question is that for those who need a temporary flat while waiting for the BTO flats, do we have sufficient temporary flats for them?”
“Let me explain that HDB does not price its flats based on cost plus profit, but on market price less a generous discount. Together with the additional Housing Grant, which various from $5,000 to $40,000, depending on household income, on average, the subsidies amount to about 20% of the market price for a 4-room flat. It will be even more for smaller flats. This is a subsidy given to all first-time buyers to keep HDB flats affordable. Sometimes, HDB's selling price is more than the total development cost to build the flats. Other times, it is less than the cost, especially when construction costs are high, as in the last few years. Overall, HDB incurs a large deficit in building and selling flats every year, and this is reflected in its audited annual accounts. In its latest audited accounts, FY 2008/09, HDB incurred a deficit of $1.5 billion for the home ownership programme alone. What is important to note that we heavily subsidise the home ownership programme, to ensure HDB flats remain within reach of Singaporeans. Eighty percent of new flat buyers today service their mortgage loans entirely with their CPF contributions, without any cash outlay. The proportion of family income used to pay the mortgage is a comfortable 21%, on average, for BTO flats in non-mature estates. In conclusion, I could like to reiterate the Government's commitment to ensuring sufficient supply of affordable flats. We will help young couples to buy their first flat but they must do their part. They have to be prepared to live in the new estates and plan in advance if they want a new flat faster.”
“With effect from the BTO launches in November 2009, HDB has increased the proportion of new flats set aside for first-timers, from 90% to 95%. Even before this change, first-timers applying for BTO flats in non-mature estates, already had a very good chance of selecting a flat within two tries. In BTO exercises in 2007 to this year, 96% of first-timer applicants were given a chance to choose a flat within two tries. You have to be unlucky not to be successful after three or four tries in the BTO exercise. And if Members have any such applicants among your residents, I am prepared to look into their case and see how HDB can help. Dr Muhammad Faishal asked about waiting time in the Fiance/Fiancee Scheme. HDB takes about three years to build its flats, no different from any other flat, including private flats. Flat buyers should not expect to walk into HDB and buy a ready-to-move-in flat as soon they get married. However, with some careful planning, they can shorten the waiting time. They can book a new flat ahead of their marriage, under the Fiance/Fiancee Scheme, once they get engaged and move in once they get married. Forty percent of first-time flat buyers make use of this scheme today. For those who do not and want the flat straightaway upon marriage, they can buy a resale with generous Government CPF Housing Grants, but they will be subject to market forces, such as the COV. Mr Chiam asked about the cost of building HDB flats. The total cost varies depending on when we build, where we build and what we build. It includes the cost of land as well as the cost of construction of the flats and ancillary services. It varies from $230,000 for a 3-room flat in Punggol today, to $530,000 for a 5-room flat in Tiong Bahru. He also asked the profit margin HDB adds on.”
“HDB also takes into account resale flat transactions as they form part of the total housing supply to meet demand. In the next five years, HDB estimates that it would need to offer between 10,000 to 12,000 new flats per year to meet demand. But bear in mind that this is only a projection. What actually happens a few years down the road is not known. Demand is also not constant, it varies from year to year depending on economic and other factors. This medium-term projection serves as a guide for our BTO system, which is flexible, transparent and responsive to actual demand. Under the BTO system, HDB will start a project immediately when a significant number of applicants confirm that they will buy the flats. It does not build ahead of demand and run the risk of ending up with the large stock of unsold flats which is exactly what happened when the Asian Financial Crisis hit in 1997. The queue was 150,000 and this dissipated overnight, and HDB ended up with 31,000 unsold flats. As a result, there was a lot of concern in this House about the huge number of unsold flats, waste of taxpayers money, flat prices being depressed, and so on. I had to repeatedly assure Members that HDB was taking urgent steps to clear the unsold stock. Today, the stock of unsold flats is largely being sold. Nevertheless, there is no lack of supply for first-time flat buyers. As I said earlier, HDB has ramped up supply, ramped up the number of BTO projects sharply. For BTO projects, first time buyers get double the chances in the ballot, they get two tickets, compared to second timers. And four tickets, four chances, if they live near their parents or with their parents. I have asked HDB to do even more to help first-time buyers.”
“Members have raised concerns in these four questions about the pricing and the supply of public housing. These are valid concerns, so I thank Members for giving me yet another opportunity to address them. Mdm Cynthia Phua and Er Lee Bee Wah asked about demand and supply of flats. Let me right at the outset repeat or re-assure Members of this House that there are sufficient flats available for first-time buyers in Singapore. The Government has been and will remain committed to this. Er Lee Bee Wah asked how many Build-to-Order (BTO) flats are available presently. HDB has increased the BTO supply to 5,000 units in the last quarter of this year. If we include the recent sale of balance flats that was announced in October, HDB will offer over 7,000 flats in three months, and a total of 13,500 flats in 2009. Now, just to put this number into perspective – what this means is, half the number of flats in Bukit Panjang or Pasir Ris town. At this rate, HDB would be offering enough flats to build another Bukit Panjang or another Pasir Ris in just two years. HDB is able to quickly increase supply when demand is strong. We started the year with a planned flat supply of 6,000, and that was when we were in the midst of a severe recession. The unexpected turnaround in second half of the year caused a strong rebound in demand. HDB was able to swiftly respond with a 50% increase in flat supply. If take-up of BTO flats remains strong, we will continue to push out more flats under BTO next year, at least one every month if necessary. In response to Mdm Cynthia Phua's question about projecting HDB flat demand, HDB projects a supply of new flats based on various demand factors, in particular, new households formed from marriages and immigration.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, may I have your permission to take Question Nos. 5, 6, 7 and 8 together as they are related?”
“Mr Chiam See Tong asked the Minister for National Development (a) what it costs the Government to build a 3-room, 4-room and 5-room HDB flat; (b) what is the profit margin which HDB adds to the cost for each of these categories of flats when it sells them to the public; and (c) whether HDB bases the selling price of flats on the prevailing market price of these flats.”
“The latest number shows that there are about 60,000 units available, either already sold but not yet developed or built, or about to be sold. And about 35,000 of them are not yet sold. The message must be that there is a lot of supply out there, at different prices and different locations. I would urge Singaporeans to do their sums but also to look around and not to be rushed into buying something. Column No : 1696 BUILD-TO-ORDER AND NEW HDB FLATS (Supply and demand issues) 5. Er Lee Bee Wah asked the Minister for National Development (a) how many new Build-To-Order flats are presently available for selection; and (b) how do the supply and demand factors influence the cost of these flats. 6. Mdm Cynthia Phua asked the Minister for National Development (a) what is the projected supply and demand of HDB flats in the next five years; (b) what are the parameters that are taken into account in the projection of the supply and demand of flats; (c) whether the Ministry has considered an annual buffer number of ready flats and, if so, what is the number and the parameters in arriving at that number; and (d) what measures will the Ministry consider in ensuring that first-timers get a new HDB flat within three years. 7. Dr Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim asked the Minister for National Development what is the current waiting time and the number/percentage of couples applying for new HDB flats under the Fiance/Fiancee Scheme 8.”
“Well, we do monitor the number of sub-sales. If somebody buys a property and then sells it before the property is completed, say, within the first six months, we would loosely define them as sub-sales and, generally speaking, regard them as speculative activity. The records that we have so far indicate that the number of such sub-sales are not as high as they were in the heydays, at the height of the property speculation when the market was getting out of control and a bubble was forming. Currently, there is no such evidence. I mean there are sub-sales but the number of sub-sales are not as high as they were before. So I would say that the schemes that we have introduced have helped to dampen some speculative demand. But I think the thrust of the Member's question is whether these schemes also affect genuine buyers. I think if you are a genuine buyer, if you are buying for owner occupation, my advice has always been, "buy within your means" and if you do your calculations, do your sums, you will find that there are homes available, even in the private property market that are within the range of these buyer. But, ultimately, it comes back to the point that I have made to the Member, Assoc. Prof. Paulin Straughan, just now. For first-time buyers in Singapore, we do have a very generous housing scheme, which is the HDB Public Housing Market. There, it is very clear that first-time buyers are well able to afford a very good home in Singapore. If they want to take part in the private property market, there are other schemes available, of course, not Government schemes but private schemes, which allow them to do so and the interest rates are currently low. There are also properties available in various parts of Singapore, not just in the central area.”
“I would not agree that the schemes that we have implemented are blunt, in fact I would suggest that they are more targeted. We actually have many other weapons in our arsenal that are actually more blunt but I think the two schemes that we have removed or disallowed are actually rather targeted and they are mainly targeted at the speculators, who would make use of these schemes in order to flip or to turnover properties quite rapidly. So we have, as I have said, taken a calibrated approach to the property market. The idea is to cool the market, not to crash it. And this is the reason why we have been very careful in our approaches. As for first-time buyers in the market, if you are referring to the private property market, we do not distinguish between first-time buyers and second-time buyers. However, as the Member knows, the bulk of first-time buyers are able to buy HDB property. So, in fact, the HDB market is completely available to them and this is where we do make this distinction between first- and second-time buyers and we do have a lot of assistance measures, whether it is in the form of an upfront grant or in the form of concessionary interest loan to help Singaporeans to own their own homes.”
“Sir, I think at this point in time, there are several uncertainties in the market. First of all, of course, the uncertainty in the economic recovery. Secondly, there is also uncertainty about what is the longer term impact of the measures that we have introduced. We have only removed these two schemes, the IAS and the Interest-Only Loans recently in September, so, it will take some time for us to really gauge the response and the impact of these schemes. If I look back on a historical basis, we actually have had occasions where we have introduced measures to curb excessive speculation and then subsequently over time when the market has stabilised, or when the market was weakening, allowed some of these schemes to be restored. So I would not say that we will never restore these schemes but I think it is a little bit too early to make a call on that. Assoc. Prof. Paulin Tay Straughan (Nominated Member): Thank you, Sir. A follow-up question, Minister. These schemes that you have in place, they tend to be very blunt and they affect everybody with the same kind of measures. Does your Ministry have plans to roll out schemes that are differential so that there will be more help given to the low income first-time buyers, for example?”
“We want to curb erratic spikes in prices due to excessive speculation, inaccurate information or market manipulation. But we must let market forces determine prices, based on genuine demand from home-buyers and investors. The Government will continue to adopt a calibrated approach to promote a stable and sustainable property market, in the interest of all Singaporeans.”
“Mr Speaker Sir, on 14th September 2009, I announced in this House a package of property market measures to temper the exuberance in the market and pre-empt a property bubble from forming. One of the measures was the removal of the Interest Absorption Scheme (IAS) and the Interest-Only Loans (IOL), which was effective immediately. Another was the resumption of land sales on the Confirmed List for the first half of 2010. URA recently released details of the first half 2010 GLS programme, there will be eight sites, which can yield about 2,900 private residential units for sale on the Confirmed List, another 18 sites on the Reserve List. Overall, the sites in the Confirmed and Reserve Lists can generate about 10,600 units, which is the highest from any half-yearly GLS Programme since the Reserve List system started in 2001. All the sites in the first half 2010 GLS Programme are located in the Outside Central Region (OCR) or areas in the Rest of Central Region (RCR) where more affordable private housing can be built. These include five Executive Condominium (EC) sites. These measures appear to have had some effect in tempering the exuberance in the private housing market. URA's monthly data shows that sales of private residential properties by developers fell month-on-month by 37% in September 2009, and by a further 29% in October 2009. The Government will continue to monitor the property market closely and assess the market's response to the measures introduced before deciding whether further measures are necessary to promote a stable and sustainable property market. Our key interest is to ensure that property prices and rentals remain competitive and move in line with economic fundamentals.”
“Under the Sale of Recess Area Scheme, flat owners can buy the space fronting their flat, provided certain conditions are met. HDB reviews these conditions regularly to ensure that other residents are not affected or inconvenienced by such sale. In August 1995, the sale of recess area to flats next to corner units was ceased to minimise potential disputes between next-door neighbours. In September 1997, HDB discontinued the sale of recess area for certain point blocks, as there was feedback that other residents were being inconvenienced by the reduced corridor space. The last review was in April 2001, when the technical criteria were tightened to take into account the requirements of the Fire Safety Code. HDB will continue to review the conditions for sale of recess area on a regular basis. This is to protect the wider interests of residents while giving some flat owners the option of purchasing the recess area where feasible. LIVING CONDITIONS OF THE AGED DESTITUTE 42. Mr Terry Lee asked the Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports (a) what recent studies have been done on the day-to-day living conditions of the aged, especially those in destitute; (b) what are some of the difficulties they face daily and whether the Public Assistance Scheme addresses the majority of it; (c) what other plans are there besides encouraging procreation or increasing the labour force to prevent the decline of the old-age support ratio; and (d) what other financial assistance programmes are there to help such elderly destitute families.”
“To ensure public safety at high-rise buildings, our Building Regulations require the installation of a safety barrier where there is a vertical drop in height of 1 metre or more. This barrier can be in the form of a masonry wall, railing or glass panel. This barrier should have a minimum height of 0.9 metres below the window edge and at least 1 metre for open balconies and corridors. Our Building Regulations also stipulate that these barriers cannot have openings larger than 100 mm or climbable features so as to prevent young children from climbing and falling over the barriers. There is no mandatory requirement for the installation of grilles for windows or balconies above the minimum safety barrier height. It is not the international practice to mandate grilles for windows and balconies of high-rise buildings. Instead of imposing excessive regulations which may not be practical, I urge all households and building owners to take reasonable precautions and responsibility to enhance the safety of their premises, especially for young children. Column No : 1423 WRITTEN ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS Column No : 1423 ACCIDENTS AT TRAFFIC JUNCTIONS 1. Dr Teo Ho Pin asked the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Home Affairs (a) over the last five years, how many accidents occurred at traffic light junctions and how many motorists were booked for red traffic light violations; and (b) whether the Ministry will consider installing countdown timers at traffic light junctions for motorists.”
“(1) This is based on the report by PricewaterhouseCoopers' Global Entertainment and Media Outlook 2009-2013. Column No : 1417 GAMING ADDICTIONS AMONG STUDENTS (Correlation with gang involvement) 45. Ms Joscelin Yeo asked the Minister for Education (a) what plans does his Ministry have in place to deal with the emotional effects of gaming addictions and gang involvement of students; and (b) whether a similarity has been observed between the root causes of these two issues.”
“"CarneyVale: Showtime", for example, was developed by a group of Singaporean students from the Singapore-MIT GAMBIT Game Lab, and became the first made-in-Singapore game to be published on Microsoft's XNA Community Games Channel. This is encouraging for Singapore's game industry and we look forward to more locally developed games made available to the global audience. Whilst promoting the local games industry, the Government is also mindful of the detrimental effects of excessive gaming on youths. Education is the key in our efforts to address this issue. In schools, the topic of games addiction is covered at the primary school level and this is expanded to Internet addiction at the secondary level. The MDA works closely with the Internet and Media Advisory Committee (INMAC) to educate not just youths but also educators, parents and the general public, on the core aspects of cyber wellness. Among its efforts, MDA commissioned a Public Service programme "Once Upon a Cyberspace" to raise awareness among 10-14-year olds and their families on the importance of cyber-wellness. Community groups like the Touch Community Services also run workshops for parents to help them understand and address issues on gaming and their children. The Inter-Ministry Cyber Wellness Steering Committee (ICSC) was established earlier this year with funding of $10 million over the next five years. Co-chaired by the Deputy Secretaries of Ministry of Information, Communications and the Arts (MICA) and Ministry of Education (MOE), the ICSC will coordinate the Government's efforts as well as work with the people-private sector organisations to implement a national strategy for cyber wellness public education in Singapore. Gaming addiction is one of the issues that the ICSC will look into.”
“In the meantime, HDB will consider appeals on a case-by-case basis. Column No : 1415 RISE OF GAMING INDUSTRY (Impact of excessive gaming) 44. Ms Joscelin Yeo asked the Acting Minister for Information, Communications and the Arts what action is his Ministry taking to balance the rise of the gaming industry with events such as the World Cyber Games (WCG) and the social effects of excessive gaming. RAdm [NS] Lui Tuck Yew: I thank the Nominated Member for her interest in the Government’s efforts to balance the rise of the gaming industry and the social effects of excessive gaming. First, let me talk about the games industry. According to global estimates(1), the video game market in Asia-Pacific will be the fastest growing region over the next five years, with a 9.4% compounded annual growth rate, and increasing from US$15.7 billion in 2009 to US$24.7 billion in 2013. The Media Development Authority (MDA) and the Infocomm Development Authority (IDA) have been working together to position Singapore as the hub for the games industry in the Asia-Pacific region. They have supported events such as the Games Convention Asia and World Cyber Games as these provide opportunities to further develop our people in this sector and for our games companies to network and form possible collaborations with those from overseas. Today, the local games industry comprises close to 30 home-grown game development companies such as Mikoishi and Nabi Studios, and some locally developed games have gone on to gain international recognition. In addition, initiatives such as Singapore-MIT GAMBIT Game Lab provide avenues for Singaporeans to be engaged in areas of innovative and multi-disciplinary research projects focused on games development.”
“In conjunction with the launch of the Lease Buyback Scheme (LBS) in March this year, the Housing and Development Board (HDB) has embarked on an extensive outreach programme targeting the eligible group of elderly HDB lessees in 2-room and 3-room flats. To date, HDB has received more than 2,000 public queries on LBS. This indicates good interest in the scheme. It also shows that lessees are finding out more so as to make a considered decision whether LBS is suitable for them. As at end August, HDB has received 409 applications for LBS. So far, 82 applications have been approved. All these 82 approved applicants have received their upfront LBS payout of $5,000. They will also be receiving a lifelong stream of monthly annuity payouts. Their average monthly payout is $570. Seven percent of the 409 applications have been rejected. Most of the rejected applicants have either enjoyed more than one housing subsidy, or they have previously owned bigger flat types or private properties. As such, they do not meet the eligible criteria for LBS, which is a subsidised scheme targeted at the less well-off elderly. Another 17% of applicants have been asked by HDB to delay their LBS application until after the upgrading works in their blocks or estates are completed. This is to ensure clarity in the flat valuation, which affects the payout quantum, and is in the interest of the applicants. However, if they need LBS payout urgently, HDB will be flexible so long as they understand the implication of their decision. The Lease Buyback Scheme is a new scheme. HDB will continue with its public education programme to reach out to the eligible elderly lessees so that they can make informed decisions. Going forward, HDB will review whether LBS target group should be expanded.”
“As some Members may recall, under the formula, fare adjustments are determined by overall economic indicators, namely, the change in the consumer price index (CPI) and the national wage index (WI), and not the operators' specific costs. As such, the costs of buying new buses and operating additional bus trips will not affect fares, though I should add that in raising Quality of Service standards, the PTC has to be mindful of the impact on the financial viability of the operators. Dr Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim (Marine Parade) Sir, I would like to ask the Minister, in view of the various changes made to improve the provision of public transport in Singapore, whether there has been any significant change in the modal share with regard to the daily usage of the transport mode as well as public transport mode here in Singapore.”