Masagos Zulkifli B M M
Singapore
“Coordination between Early Intervention (EI) centres, families and preschools is important for the continuity of support for children with developmental needs.”
“The Taxi Subsidy Scheme supports persons with disabilities (PwDs) who are unable to take public transport, by providing means-tested subsidies to offset the cost of taxi travel to school, work and employment-related training supported by SG Enable.”
“The Skills and Salary Guidelines published by the National Council of Social Service (NCSS) guides social service agencies (SSAs) to pay their employees fair and competitive remuneration and maintain the sector's attractiveness. The Guidelines are adjusted so that salaries remain competitive with comparable roles in competing markets.”
“Staff turnover rates vary across social service agencies (SSAs). An individual's decision to leave an organisation is influenced by a myriad of factors, of which pay is only one.”
“Beyond the requirement of a structured daily programme, community-based SCFA administrators have the flexibility to offer programmes and additional enrichment activities that meet the needs of their students. MSF does not track staff salaries and turnover of SCCs in general nor those that administer SCFA.”
“Male preschool educators comprised about 1% of the early childhood workforce in each of the last five years. The Early Childhood Development Agency (ECDA) has not issued guidelines pertaining to the rules set by preschool centres specific to the conduct of male preschool educators.”
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“The answer is yes. When the coastal protection study is ready by 2018, we will see the details. So, the consideration will need to be made when we reinforce or increase the coastal protection that we will have to do over the years.”
“The professional bodies, PUB as well as the industry, came together after the Member raised this issue in 2015 to actually see whether they need to revise the Code of Practice for Water Services (CP)48 to see whether we should actually put a minimum level. Water conservation issue is only one of them. There are many other issues ‒ how reticulation will be laid out, the kind of appliances that would be used, the sizes of the rooms, the number of people in the room ‒ fairly complicated. So, it is not just one factor. It is a number of factors. Therefore, the decision of this body of professionals, engineers, the industry, consultants, as well as PUB, finally decided that we should not put up a particular number. It is just not sound engineering-wise, and let the professional engineer (PE) set it out, design it at the start, and make sure it is right. As a former Town Council Chairman, I have addressed some of these issues in the households who complained about the water pressure, and it can be done. You have to work with PUB, work with plumbers. Sometimes, it is a problem inside, sometimes it is a problem outside, sometimes it is the booster pump. There are many issues that we can try to address for the residents individually. It can be overcome.”
“We thank the Member for the questions. The first question is whether we will revise the target or do we have a target. Yes, we do have a target. We have a target of 140 litres per capita per day, as inferred by Mr Pritam Singh, by 2030. I am glad it is going down, and what we would like to see is that it will go down sustainably and not just episodically. So, over the next one or two years, we will watch this figure. We will put in water conservation efforts to help our residents, our citizens, to save water and then look at whether we need to revise it one or two years down the line. But certainly, there is a lot of scope for us to put in technologies, to put in measures that will, hopefully, get us better than 140 litres per day, as we targeted. Secondly, on whether we should do a national water rationing campaign, right now, what we have started is a school-based water rationing campaign. We started with only about 10 schools. Now, a lot more schools have come on board. And even as we try to do this at both the primary and secondary schools, there are issues in ensuring that it is safe. Basic hygiene is still something we want to ensure, particularly the aged, and, in this case, they are very young. Let us go through that exercise and then, over time, not make a water ration exercise become a disaster for individuals. So, for the moment, let us just do this at the school level first and, over time, if there is ever a need for us to have that national consciousness tilt up again, probably we will need to do that. But not for now.”
“What struck me most was when two little girls, Alyssa and Abby, asked "What if this was our last drop?" Indeed, we must never let our children ask this, or “Why is our air so polluted?" or "Why is our sea level rising?” Our children are the reason why we need to take climate action – now. Taking climate action now is how we shall pass to our children a Singapore that is a liveable city ever more, a city where thriving businesses have low carbon footprints, and a city with environmental solutions that are well sought after. We can do this together. I now hand it over to the Senior Minister of State Dr Amy Khor.”
“We will share experiences and reaffirm the region’s commitment to climate action and the Paris Agreement. We will continue to plug ourselves into the global movement on climate change and work with partners to shape the international agenda. As the saying goes, “If we are not at the table, we will be on the menu”. To get a seat at the table, we must be credible. This means that Singapore must fulfil our international obligations and show leadership on climate action. Already we have been noticed. Christiana Figueres, the former Executive Secretary of UNFCCC, said in an article published locally in Singapore in Business Times: "Fortunately, Singapore is attuned to this urgent turning point. Its Year of Climate Action, backed by concrete steps in the domestic policy sphere, is the kind of leadership the region needs." Let me conclude. To succeed in our climate action endeavour, the Government’s efforts alone will never be enough. All Singaporeans have a critical role to play. We do not want to mandate everything. Instead, Singaporeans must feel empowered to take climate action. This is akin to our Water Story, which was not just the effort of the Government, but that of generations of Singaporeans who partnered us for the greater good. This is why we have designated 2018 as the Year of Climate Action. It is the start of our journey to raise the level of national consciousness to fight climate change. We will pass this consciousness from generation to generation. This will ensure our children do not end up facing a climate change crisis – higher sea levels, frequent swings between intense weather or pestilence. They should never have to face a water crisis like Cape Town. I accompanied President Halimah for the launch of the Singapore World Water Day last Saturday.”
“We have enhanced the public transport network and frozen the growth of our car population. Last year, we announced the new Vehicular Emissions Scheme to promote the usage of new vehicles that are more environmentally-friendly. My Ministry is reviewing how to reduce pollution from older vehicles that produce more pollutants. We will announce our recommendations in due course. The carbon tax is the latest component of the wide-ranging measures that we are undertaking to mitigate GHG emissions. It puts a price on carbon emissions to encourage the usage of technologies that are more energy-efficient and produce less carbon. Environmentally-friendly practices should be a part of the Singapore brand premium. (In English): Assoc Prof Faishal Ibrahim asked what Singapore is doing on the regional and global front for climate action. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has identified the fight against climate change as one of the top priorities for the UN and for the international community. Singapore supports this. In July, I will lead a delegation to the UN, where Singapore will undertake our first Voluntary National Review of the Sustainable Development Goals. We will use our ASEAN Chairmanship to galvanise support for climate action. Singapore will convene a Special ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Climate Action on 10 July 2018, and a back-to-back expanded meeting with ASEAN and Ministers from China, Japan, Korea and the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) of the Conference of the Parties (COP) President and President-designate Fiji and Poland. These will take place in conjunction with the Singapore International Water Week (SIWW) – CleanEnviro Summit Singapore (CESG) – World Cities Summit joint event.”
“First, adaptation to cope with the impact of climate change. We will continue to invest billions of dollars in infrastructure, such as raising our coastal roads, building seawalls, enhancing storm-water systems and diversifying our water supply. Besides climate adaptation, we also need to take mitigation action to reduce emissions of GHGs. We are already using more solar energy. There are more green buildings with more stringent standards in energy efficiency. We have enhanced the public transport network and frozen the growth of our car population. Last year, we announced the new Vehicular Emissions Scheme to promote the usage of new vehicles that are more environmentally-friendly. My Ministry is reviewing how to reduce pollution from older vehicles that produce more pollutants. We will announce our recommendations in due course. The carbon tax is the latest component of the wide-ranging measures that we are undertaking to mitigate GHG emissions. It puts a price on carbon emissions to encourage the usage of technologies that are more energy-efficient and produce less carbon. Environmentally-friendly practices should be a part of the Singapore brand premium. The measures that are implemented to tackle climate change are taken on two fronts. First, adaptation to cope with the impact of climate change. We will continue to invest billions of dollars in infrastructure, such as raising our coastal roads, building seawalls, enhancing storm-water systems and diversifying our water supply. Besides climate adaptation, we also need to take mitigation action to reduce emissions of GHGs. We are already using more solar energy. There are more green buildings with more stringent standards in energy efficiency.”
“Beyond legislation, our people, companies and civic organisations can demonstrate leadership with ground-up efforts. In Singapore, we have closed the water loop and achieved a circular economy in our water sector. We should apply the circular economy to the waste sector. The circular economy is also on the global agenda, where materials are reused and recycled for as long as possible. As a CEO of an African non-government organisation (NGO) said: "There is no such thing as waste, until it is wasted." We will introduce the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) approach as a key strategy in waste and resource management. Traditionally, producers are only concerned about the design, manufacture and use of their products. The EPR approach extends their responsibility to include the proper recycling and disposal of their products at the end-of-life. Manufacturers and importers will take charge of the waste they had produced, rather than the society bearing the costs. By doing so, businesses are also incentivised to design products that last longer and can be more easily recycled. We will start with e-waste. Senior Minister of State Dr Amy Khor will share more details on setting up a national e-waste management system using the EPR approach. As we strive to be a Zero Waste Nation, we will turn brown into gold as we engage in urban mining, as we recover treasure from trash, as we grow and transform a vibrant environmental services industry with good jobs for Singaporeans and, most important of all, as we build a sustainable and liveable home for our children. Mr Chairman, in Malay, please. (In Malay): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] The measures that are implemented to tackle climate change are taken on two fronts.”
“The additional U-Save rebates will help households adjust. My Ministry will also work with the community to help households reduce their energy consumption. Senior Minister of State Dr Amy Khor will elaborate. Mr Chairman, organisations and companies have begun leading the charge. The World Bank will stop financing upstream oil and gas projects from 2019. I am happy that ExxonMobil, a major investor here and a leader in energy efficiency, and one of the companies affected by our carbon tax, has recently pledged to take climate action on MEWR’s webpage. I quote Mr Gan Seow Kee, Chairman and Managing Director for ExxonMobil Asia Pacific, that ExxonMobil "is committed to reducing GHG emissions in its operations, helping consumers reduce their emissions, and supporting research that leads to technology breakthroughs." Many firms, including many of our small and medium enterprises (SMEs), have made their climate action pledges on MEWR's webpage. I am glad we are taking this journey together. I will now touch on waste. Striving towards a Zero Waste Nation is another key focus of the Year of Climate Action. We must reduce, reuse and recycle more. A McKinsey study showed that to make one kilogramme (kg) of fabric, 23 kg of GHGs are produced! We are running out of space to store our waste. If we continue business as usual, we will need a new landfill the size of three Gardens by the Bay every 35 years. Waste does not magically disappear when we throw it down our rubbish chutes! Miss Cheng Li Hui asked how Singaporeans and businesses can play a role in Singapore becoming a Zero Waste Nation. Everyone must play a part. The Government will lead in developing infrastructure and frameworks, including legislation where required. But Singaporeans and businesses must participate.”
“Across the world, young people passionate about our planet will demand this as consumers. An NEA poll showed that close to 70% of the public was supportive of a carbon tax. 2.15 pm Mr Louis Ng asked how we decided on the starting tax rate of $5 per tonne, which we intend to raise to $10 to $15 by 2030. We aim to strike a balance between providing sufficient incentive for companies and Singaporeans to reduce their carbon emissions and giving them enough time to adjust. Our carbon tax will be applied uniformly without exemptions. Other overseas jurisdictions may have significant exemptions for particular sectors. This would lower the effective tax rate. Hence, our starting tax rate cannot be directly compared with those of other jurisdictions. The carbon tax would apply to larger direct emitters – companies emitting 25 kilotonnes or more of GHG emissions a year. Around 40 companies, which account for about 80% of Singapore’s GHG emissions, will be affected. We will introduce a fixed-price credits-based (FPCB) system where companies will purchase and surrender credits to pay the carbon tax. The FPCB system is akin to a carbon tax, but it will allow us and companies to build capability to operate in a linked market with other carbon pricing jurisdictions if we decide to do so in future. Miss Cheng Li Hui asked about the tax revenue, while Mr Louis Ng asked about the Government’s support measures. The Minister for Finance has said he is prepared to spend more than what we collect in carbon tax in the first five years to support worthwhile projects. We will share more details later. Er Dr Lee Bee Wah asked about the estimated impact of the carbon tax on households. We expect it to be small, at about 1% of total electricity and gas expenses on average.”
“One big focus is on energy efficiency for which we enhanced the Energy Conservation Act last year. We are using more solar energy. We have more green buildings with more stringent standards in energy efficiency. Good transport policy will mitigate climate change. This is what the car-lite policy will do. By 2030, eight in 10 households will live within 10 minutes of a train station. We have frozen the growth of our car population starting last month. All these will reduce our fossil fuel use and carbon footprint. Last year, I announced the new Vehicular Emissions Scheme to promote cleaner new vehicles. NEA enforces against smoky foreign vehicles at our checkpoints. We have tightened the turn-back limit since January this year. My Ministry is reviewing how to reduce vehicular pollution from older, more polluting vehicles. We will announce our recommendations in due course. Our industries can do more to mitigate climate change. A KPMG study found that only 17% of local firms have carbon reduction targets. The carbon tax is the latest component of our wide-ranging mitigation measures. Miss Cheng Li Hui asked whether the carbon tax is the most effective way to reduce emissions. Pricing will encourage companies to evaluate opportunities to switch to more energy-efficient technologies and more sustainable processes. Recently, I spoke to Mr Jagadish, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of SSMC, a semiconductor solutions company. I was told that they are committed to a 30% reduction in GHG emissions in their process design. As more companies, like SSMC, reduce their carbon footprint, whether through improved processes or when designing new investments, they also improve the Singapore brand premium and reputation for green practices.”
“Mr Leon Perera asked about coastal protection. Over 70% of our coastline is protected by hard walls or stone embankments. To protect against rising sea levels, we raised minimum reclamation levels by one metre in 2011, to at least four metres above mean sea level. We will build Changi Airport Terminal 5 at 5.5 metres above mean sea level. To address Singapore’s long-term protection needs, BCA is conducting a Coastal Adaptation Study to recommend a national framework. Scientists also worry about pest and vector problems escalating with climate change. The concerted effort by all stakeholders in response to the 2016 Zika outbreak and our vector control actions contributed to the drop in the number of dengue cases in 2017, almost five times lower than in 2016. However, we also observed a significant increase in mosquitoes caught in Gravitraps. We cannot become complacent. While we continue with premises inspections, everyone can play their part by practising the five-Step Mozzie Wipe-out. Climate change may worsen the spread of mosquito-borne diseases, such as Zika and Chikungunya. We are studying how male Wolbachia-carrying Aedes mosquitoes can be used to suppress the mosquito population. We will conduct further studies this year to strengthen our planning for an eventual suppression trial. Climate change can also affect other vectors, such as rodents and houseflies. I encourage all to do our part by practising good everyday habits, such as disposing our food waste properly at home and returning our trays in hawker centres, to prevent pests in our homes and communities. Mr Chairman, besides climate adaptation, we also need to take mitigation action which is what we do to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases (GHGs).”
“Companies can tap on the Water Efficiency Fund and the Industrial Water Solutions Demonstration Fund to support water-saving efforts. PUB is collaborating with industry to use the data collected through the Water Efficiency Management Plans to develop sectorial water efficiency benchmarks and best practices. PUB has worked with the building sector, including offices, hotels and retail, to publish a best practices guide. Growing and right-pricing our water supply go hand-in-hand with managing water demand. The sum of all that we do will prepare us for the future. For now, there is no need for national water rationing exercises. If we can get our policy right, we will avoid Day Zero. Mr Chairman, with climate change, Singaporeans will experience more frequent, intense rain storms. Dr Chia Shi-Lu asked for an update on PUB’s plans to mitigate flash floods. I gave a comprehensive reply in this House on 5 February. PUB has set higher drainage standards since 2011, up to 45% capacity increase, but our drains cannot be built to accommodate every extreme rainfall event. This would entail massive land take and much higher costs. We have thus adopted a holistic source-pathway-receptor approach. These complement continuous island-wide drainage improvement works. The works at Stamford Diversion Canal, Stamford Detention Tank and Bukit Timah First Diversion Canal will be completed in 2018. Work will commence at another 22 locations this year, adding to existing works at 73 locations. As flash floods cannot be completely eliminated, we will help members of the public better cope by providing timely situation updates, including SMS alerts, about water levels. Those who wish to receive alerts from more than one water level sensor can write in to PUB.”
“According to PUB’s latest household water consumption study, more than half of the water fittings and appliances used by households are water-efficient models. This high penetration indicates preference for water-efficient products, especially as the price difference between products of varying water efficiency ratings is insignificant. PUB will continue to work with suppliers and retailers to introduce more water-efficient products. As part of the Smart Nation push, we will also use technology to encourage behavioural change towards water conservation and enhance operational productivity. PUB will be embarking on the Smart Shower Programme. Up to 10,000 new homes will be equipped with smart shower devices under a demonstration project. These devices provide real-time feedback on actual water consumption during showers. A National University of Singapore (NUS) pilot involving 500 households showed water savings of five litres per person per day on average. Mr Gan Thiam Poh asked about the Automated Meter Reading (AMR) system. PUB has been conducting trials on AMR systems, to replace current meters that have to be read manually. AMR meters can be read remotely and provide higher-resolution water consumption data. Results have been encouraging. Let me give Members one example. Ms Jacqueline Chan’s family participated in PUB’s trial in June 2017. Through a mobile app, the Chan family can track and take steps to reduce their daily water usage. They have also saved about 8,000 litres of water after being alerted by their app to a leak in their water closet. We will explore how this system can be implemented nationwide. The non-domestic sector must also play their part.”
“I am encouraged by the drop in Singapore’s household consumption from 148 litres in 2016 to 143 litres per person per day in 2017. I hope that this trend can continue. I said last year that with the permanent additional Utilities (U)-Save rebates, 1- and 2-roomers will not see an increase in water bills even after the full price revision. At this lower consumption rate, many 3-roomers will also not see an increase when the rebates are applied. Water bills after the full price revision will still be within 1% of household incomes. The lower consumption, however, is not solely due to the water price. Our water conservation efforts like the mandatory water efficiency labelling scheme are bearing fruit. Er Dr Lee Bee Wah, Mr Seah Kian Peng and Mr Png Eng Huat asked about water conservation efforts. Our water conservation efforts are yielding results because Singaporeans have a national consciousness to conserve water. As part of PUB’s comprehensive outreach programme, many schools are inculcating this consciousness in our children through education and water rationing exercises. Similarly, Government agencies have committed to improve water efficiency by 5.1%, or 900,000 cubic metres a year, by 2020 under the Public Sector Sustainability Plan. PUB started the water closet replacement project last year to help needy families save water with more efficient fittings. One thousand one hundred households have already benefited and saw a 10% reduction in water bills on average. This builds on HDB's HIP scheme, where participating households can replace their fittings with water-efficient ones. PUB will continue to engage other eligible households. Mr Pritam Singh raised some suggestions on encouraging the take-up of water-efficient appliances, including offering rebates.”
“Effluent water from wastewater treatment will be used for cooling waste incineration equipment, reducing potable water demand. Through integration, we will save more than 200,000 tonnes of carbon emissions a year. This is equivalent to taking 42,500 cars off our roads. As an added benefit, when DTSS is completed, we will have land savings of 214 football fields which we can give to the next generation to use. Water is entwined with our nation’s survival and our everyday lives. It is not enough that the Government pumps billions of dollars into infrastructure to ensure supply. Policies to manage demand are as important. The right pricing policy is needed to ensure good management of this precious resource. We saw how subsidised water price led to high consumption in Cape Town, despite clear warnings of an impending water crisis. Pricing is, hence, critical to manage both production and consumption. It must allow for long-term investments and reflect the scarcity value of water. These principles shape our pricing policy, where we peg our water price to its Long-run Marginal Cost (LRMC). This has been our consistent policy. LRMC is not a theoretical price. We will actually have to pay it when we spend on infrastructure. Hence, we cannot subject the price of water to market distortions. There are commercial sensitivities to the specifics of our pricing. By not revealing them, we ensure market competitiveness and the best possible bids in tenders. Beyond market sensitivities, water is a matter of national security. We must pay equal attention to water conservation. Prior to the drought, Cape Town was using 225 litres per person per day. Now, they are struggling to cut back to 50 litres.”
“Over the years, we augmented our water supply with weather-resilient sources – NEWater and desalinated water. This year, our third desalination plant in Tuas will come online. By 2020, we will have two more, taking the total to five. Mr Gan Thiam Poh asked about our used water plans. NEWater has allowed us to reuse water in an endless cycle and to keep the water within the system safe to drink. Even with these investments, it does not mean that our water scarcity issue is resolved. It only allows us to stave off temporary water shortages. These sources are also energy-intensive and we do not want to be too energy-reliant in our drive to be weather-resilient. This is why PUB has always been exploring technologies to reduce energy consumption in desalination. There is promise in the use of electrochemical energy, waste heat and biomimicry. But it will take time to realise these benefits. 2.00 pm The climate challenge is not all negative. For example, a carbon-constrained framework has prompted NEA and PUB to take a different approach when they were expanding their capacities. They are looking at leveraging the interconnectedness of water, energy and waste to yield the best outcomes for the smallest carbon footprint. The upcoming Deep Tunnel Sewerage System (DTSS) Phase 2 is not just a superhighway to transport used water. It is a strategic infrastructure to boost our NEWater supply and water security. We are taking it one step further. By combining the Tuas Water Reclamation Plant (TWRP) at the end of the DTSS and the Integrated Waste Management Facility (IWMF), the first in the world from ground up, we will employ the latest technology in combustion to synergise and maximise energy recovery.”
“Its reservoirs stand at 26%. They are scrambling to build desalination plants starting from now. But these take time to build. Residents are bracing themselves for Day Zero, when their taps will be turned off and they are forced to queue to get their water rations. For Singapore, there were concerns regarding Linggiu Reservoir, which supplements the flow of the Johor River, an important water source for both Singapore and Malaysia. Linggiu was full in 2014. But low rainfall, coupled with having to meet the abstraction needs of Malaysia and Singapore, depleted Linggiu to a historic low of 20% in October 2016, barely two years. Saltwater intrusions and pollution required Linggiu to discharge frequently during such a critical period. While the stock level has gradually improved to 63%, it took more than a year, mainly due to good rainfall and the completion of the Johor River Barrage. But the stock level can drop again quickly, and it has dropped in the last few weeks. Should Linggiu Reservoir fail, it will pose major problems for both Malaysia and Singapore. Water is both a sensitive and strategic issue for the two countries. This is why it is often discussed when our two Prime Ministers meet. What Cape Town experienced is not a remote possibility for Singapore. We must not wait for a crisis to take action. Our forward planning ensured that in 2016, when Linggiu was at its lowest, we did not burden our people with water rationing when others had to. The faith of businesses in our water supply was not eroded. Fortunately, the weather turned. But the next dry weather event can come any time, and it could even be longer. We must be ready. We must never believe that our problems are over.”
“Because both are existential issues. This will ensure that Singapore remains the best liveable city for our children and the best choice for companies to base their businesses because we have a successful climate action policy and an active citizenry. We must ensure our policies enable Singapore to tackle climate change as we prepare for the future. As a 17 February Economist article aptly puts it, and I quote "It is not droughts that cause cities to run out of water, it is bad policy". Climate action is taken on two fronts. First, adaptation, to cope with the impact of climate change. We have and will continue to invest billions of dollars in infrastructure, such as raising our coastal roads, enhancing stormwater systems and diversifying our water supply. All these will take time and, hence, we have started early. These are large and long-term investments that must be premised on science. Hence, in 2013, we set up the Centre for Climate Research Singapore to deepen research capabilities on the weather and climate of Singapore and Southeast Asia. Mr Chairman, the Singapore Water Story is one where we strive for sustainability through long-term planning and investing ahead of our needs. This approach is more critical with climate change, where we need to grapple with both extremes of drought and flooding. Last year, I spoke about the Netherlands and Singapore, two countries with different water stories: the Netherlands with too much water, and Singapore, too little. Nonetheless, we both take our situations seriously. This year, let me speak about Cape Town and Singapore, two cities with similar water stories which have taken very different paths. As Mr Seah Kian Peng has said, since 2014, a three-year drought has pushed Cape Town's water system to the brink.”
“Singapore is vulnerable, from rising sea levels to increasing rainfall intensities to longer dry spells. I agree with Er Dr Lee Bee Wah that we need to take climate action now, for the sake of our next generation. If the previous generation left us a clean and green city, we must make our legacy a sustainable city, as we pass on this treasured and precious land to our children. At home, 2017 was the warmest non El-Nino year. We swung to the other extreme in the new year with a "January Singapore winter" and intense rainfall. On 8 January, half the month’s average rainfall fell over four hours in Singapore but little rain fell over Linggiu Reservoir. In February, high tides caused temporary flooding even without rain! With rising sea levels, we could experience more of such phenomena. I would like to assure Mr Louis Ng that the Government is coordinated in tackling climate change. As climate change cuts across various disciplines, the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Climate Change chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean and supported by the National Climate Change Secretariat ensures whole-of-Government coordination. All public sector agencies are committed to taking climate action in 2018 and beyond. Last year, we launched the Public Sector Sustainability Plan, setting out targets to save electricity and water and green our buildings. We will do more by expanding our targets to include waste reduction and solar energy adoption. The Government, however, cannot deal with climate change alone. Everyone needs to join forces to reduce our carbon footprint. This is why Singapore designated 2018 as our Year of Climate Action. We want to embed in Singapore’s DNA the instinct to care for the environment, like our national consciousness of conserving water.”
“Thank you. Since our Independence, Singapore has pursued sustainable development on a long-term basis, never compromising our environment for development or growth. Mr Erik Solheim, Executive Director of the United Nations (UN) Environment Programme, cited us as a model for other countries. Our Pioneers cleaned up the Singapore River. They built sewers to improve sanitation. They resettled street vendors to hawker centres to clean up our streets. They built rubbish chutes to handle our waste efficiently. They planned carefully so that industries did not pollute our environment. Our Pioneers had the foresight and gumption to plan long term even if critical measures were difficult and unpopular. Their steadfastness left us this liveable environment we enjoy today. They laid the foundation for the next generation to build on. Our clean waterways allow us to harvest stormwater on a large scale. Our sewer networks join up through the Deep Tunnel Sewerage System (DTSS) to maximise NEWater production. Because we have always processed our sewage for safe discharge, NEWater was possible on a national scale and cheaper to produce. Our hawker centres have evolved into vibrant social spaces. Pneumatic systems will transform waste collection, where sanitation workers would not see our rubbish from end to end. We can continue to be proud of our living environment. I hosted 150 international environmental scientists and UN officials last month. Many have never been to Singapore. They were amazed by how Singapore can be an urban, clean and green city, all at the same time, and always looking new! What our Pioneers bequeathed us has put us in good stead to tackle a bigger upcoming challenge: climate change. This is an existential issue for our planet.”
“Chairman, may I have your permission to distribute a handout to Members, and also to use slides to accompany my speech?”
“Under the mandatory waste reporting requirements, owners of certain premises which generate large amounts of waste must report their waste and recyclable tonnages, waste reduction plans and waste reduction targets to NEA. This is to encourage them to improve their waste management systems, by drawing attention to the amount of waste produced and the potential for improvement. Currently, only shopping malls with a net lettable area of more than 4,600 square metres and hotels with more than 200 rooms are subject to these requirements. Supermarkets located in malls would have their waste data accounted for under the malls’ tonnage. There are no plans to introduce mandatory waste reporting requirements specifically for supermarkets. We will continue to monitor the waste generation of premises subjected to mandatory waste reporting. We will also consider extending the reporting requirements to other premises that generate large amounts of waste, such as industrial premises, bearing in mind the compliance costs.”
“To reduce the risk of pipe leaks, including those caused by uneven soil settlement, PUB has been laying pipes made of more resilient materials, such as ductile iron and steel, and has adopted enhanced pipe-laying practices, such as pipe bedding, for better pipe support. Furthermore, we have put in place regulations to ensure that contractors take proper measures to prevent damage to our pipelines during construction activities. Besides these measures, PUB proactively replaces older pipes or pipes which are in less satisfactory condition under its Pipeline Renewal Programme and is targeting to replace 50 kilometres (km) of such pipes this year, a 20-km increase from last year.”
“The water pipe leak at Somerset Road on 16 January 2018 was due to stress to the pipe caused by uneven soil settlement. We have isolated the leaking section of the pipe and put the rest of the pipeline back in service. The affected stretch of pipeline is in the process of being replaced under the Public Utilities Board's (PUB's) Pipeline Renewal Programme. As part of its operation and maintenance regime, PUB carries out checks for leaks on its entire pipe network at least once a year, or more frequently where necessary. The pipe at Somerset Road, which is made of cast iron and laid in 1973, was last checked for leaks in December 2017, with no leaks found. We have not observed any correlation between rainfall and the number of leaks. When leaks occur, PUB seeks to fix them in the shortest time possible, as permitted by site conditions while minimising the disruption to customers and the public. PUB officers need time to identify the pipe and the valves that need to be shut so as to isolate the leak, identify the customers who are potentially affected, and set up the appropriate alternative supply provisions. For the leak at Somerset Road, temporary supply connections to these customers were set up in tandem with the repair works to limit the disruption to the public. The repair works had to proceed carefully due to the need to minimise road closures and the presence of several other buried services belonging to the electrical and telecommunications companies near the site. PUB worked together with these companies to ensure that its repair works did not affect other critical services.”
“The Government has committed to building 20 new hawker centres by 2027, focusing on new Housing and Development Board towns, such as Punggol, Bidadari, Sengkang and Choa Chu Kang. So far, announcements have been made for 17 of these new hawker centres, of which seven have started operations. The remaining hawker centres, which include a new centre at Choa Chu Kang, are at various stages of planning and development. We will announce the location and development timelines for these centres as soon as they are ready.”
“The National Environment Agency (NEA) launched the Community Volunteer (CV) programme in 2013 to foster greater ownership of the environment. There are currently about 350 active individuals in the CV programme. The primary role of CVs is to educate environmental offenders to stop the offending acts and encourage greater ownership of the environment. To enable the CVs to perform their role more effectively, they are empowered to request the particulars of offenders who fail to heed their advice. The particulars are sent to NEA for follow-up action. Given that the vast majority of the offenders had responded positively to the advice of CVs, such as by picking up their litter and no further action was taken against them, there are currently no plans to equip CVs with body-worn cameras. Nevertheless, the CVs are trained to disengage from any abusive offenders. Under the law, our CVs are considered public servants when exercising powers of enforcement. This makes it an offence for anyone to exhibit any indecent, threatening, abusive or insulting behaviour towards a CV in the execution of his duty. It is also an offence for anyone to assault or use criminal force to prevent or deter a CV from discharging his duty. CVs who face verbal or physical abuse in the course of their duty should seek the assistance of the Police and inform NEA of the incident. Depending on the outcome of NEA's investigations, NEA may charge the offender in Court for obstruction of duty, in addition to the principal offence, to send a deterrent message that such behaviour will not be condoned.”
“Contractors, in preparing the site, have to submit to PUB their plans for diverting drains, for keeping the original drain design, for taking away the water from the site intact so that rainfalls or the design capacity of the drain will not affect the surrounding areas. This has worked most of the time. Where we have found flash floods occurring in areas where we know do not frequently occur or rarely occur, it is usually because the contractors have not implemented what they are supposed to do or implemented something else in order to make their worksite either accessible or easier to work on. When this happens, as in the recent case of Tampines Avenue 12, we will take action against the contractor, bring them to Court and fine them.”
“We have to ensure at the source or the receptor of where this rainfall happens, the developers and the people who own this part of land, must also play their part. So, it is not easy to answer just because the drains will be ready by this time, the flash floods will be gone. For example, right now, there are about 500 submissions for plans to do retention tanks for those developments above 0.2 hectares. Of this, only 158 have been completed. Now, together with the drain and the receptor, source and completion of all the projects there, we will have a better chance of avoiding the flash floods. But like I said, it is impossible to totally eliminate them because this will occur. It is more important for us to give as much timely warning as possible to our public to ensure that they do not traverse these flash floods, which will usually go away within 50 minutes to 60 minutes. Perhaps, take a detour.”
“Before I answer that question, I would like Members to recognise that PUB must also manage extremities of weather in both directions. We have to take care of intense drought, prolonged drought, that challenges or may affect our water supply. At the same time, we have to take care of extreme weather, such as rain of higher intensity and frequency, which will bring about floods. Therefore, when we talk about floods, we must also remember to ask questions about the other extreme. What should we do and how much resources do we have for both extremities? Climate change actually has brought extreme weather conditions in many parts of the world. Many of us would have read that Paris has just experienced one of the worst floods because of the rising Seine River, prolonged rain for two weeks that recently has closed even the Louvre Museum. At the same time, down south, Cape Town is experiencing drought condition for three years, just like us. But they were not ready. They did not put in the right things at the right time and now may run out of water within two to three months. Cape Town is now racing to look at solutions to solve their water problem. Therefore, when we look at our problems, we have to look at conditions of what we need to do and how fast we can do what, and which we should put priorities on. We have 8,000 kilometres (km) of drains, canals and rivers. If you put this end to end, from the surface of the earth, it will go through the centre of the earth with 2,000 km to spare. That is how long our drains, canals and rivers are. So, we have to be cautious about making commitments that everything will be settled quickly. We also have to ensure that drains are not the only ones that will solve the problem.”
“Mr Speaker, as flash floods cannot be completely eliminated, PUB seeks to help members of the public better cope with a flash flood by warning them and providing alerts and timely situation updates. Members of the public can subscribe to NEA's and PUB's short message service (SMS) alerts or mobile apps for updates on impending heavy rain and the water level in drains at designated locations. While PUB strives to give early warning to the public, the weather systems in our equatorial region pose a forecasting challenge. These weather systems comprise mainly convective thunderstorms which tend to be localised, develop rather suddenly, and are of short duration. This limits the lead time of our warnings of heavy rain and consequently of the flash floods. During flash floods, members of the public can stay updated through radio broadcasts, PUB's Facebook and Twitter pages, mobile apps as well as LTA's Expressway Monitoring Advisory System (EMAS). Our approach to flood management is a comprehensive one that seeks to alleviate flood risks while minimising disruption to the public. We will continue to take all necessary steps to enhance flood resilience in Singapore and keep the public informed of flash flood incidents.”
“Under this approach, other than improving the pathways, or the drains, we also manage the source, which refers to where the rain falls. Measures include detention tanks to slow down surface runoff and reduce the amount of storm water entering the drains during peak rainfall. For instance, the Stamford Detention Tank and the Stamford Diversion Canal are constructed to protect Orchard Road against floods. These are still under construction. Built beneath a nursery and coach bay of the Tyersall Learning Forest, the Stamford Detention Tank will temporarily hold excess storm water from the drains. After the rain subsides, the storm water will be pumped back into the drains for subsequent discharge into Marina Reservoir. For areas that are most at risk of flooding, PUB stipulates that buildings must have receptor features, such as higher platform levels, crest protection and flood barriers to prevent floodwaters from damaging them. Apart from structural interventions, PUB places equal emphasis on non-structural measures, such as the maintenance of drains. PUB and the National Environment Agency's (NEA's) Department of Public Cleanliness carry out regular inspections to remove debris, litter and leaves from the drains. We encourage everyone to keep our environment litter-free. Any obstruction in the drain reduces its capacity and impedes water flow, which could lead to or aggravate a flash flood. We urge developers and contractors to ensure that the drains in and around their work sites function well. Members of the public are encouraged to provide feedback on drain conditions through PUB's MyWaters app or the Municipal Services Office's (MSO's) OneService App or call PUB's 24-hour Call Centre.”
“2 billion on these works and has set aside another $500 million for the next two to three years. However, it is not feasible to build our drains to accommodate every extreme rainfall event as this would require massive land take and much higher costs. Let me just take one example. Bedok Canal, which serves some of the affected areas, is being widened at a cost of $128 million to expand its width from 38 metres to 44 metres, wide enough to accommodate an expressway of 10 lanes, five lanes each way. Even with this widening, we cannot guarantee that there will be no floods in future, as rainfall events of even higher intensity could still occur that exceed the design capacity. This is especially so with climate change. To deal with the most extreme historical rainfall events, the Bedok Canal would need to be widened to at least 62 metres, displacing the Bedok Park Connector and community spaces adjacent to the canal, and possibly even affecting the surrounding residential areas. This will look like a 16-lane expressway. Given competing needs for other land uses, such as housing, parks and roadsides, we have to be practical in our drainage expansion in Singapore. We have to design with practical considerations and not for extreme conditions all the time for all places. Building our drains for extreme conditions would mean that much of the capacity would be extremely costly but not needed most of the time. We will, however, ensure our critical infrastructure is well-protected from such extreme rainfalls. This is achieved through the "source-pathway-receptor" approach which was developed based on the recommendation of the Drainage Expert Panel to implement a holistic range of interventions. Let me elaborate on the "source-pathway-receptor" approach.”
“Although the flood waters affected only certain stretches of the roads, and subsided within 15 to 60 minutes, we acknowledge that members of the public were inconvenienced and a number of cars were stalled. When flash floods occur, we urge members of the public to exercise caution and avoid traversing in submerged areas even if they appear safe. Flash floods are usually of short duration and it is better to take a detour or wait for them to pass before continuing the journey. To aid the public, PUB, together with Traffic Police and the Land Transport Authority (LTA), will help divert vehicles at the earliest possible. Let me go back to drain design. PUB takes into account terrain, the extent and type of developments in the area, catchment area served by the drain, as well as the design rainfall intensity over the catchment. This is standard international practice. However, with climate change, we can expect more intense rainfalls to be the norm in the future. A study by the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research found that flood risks from rainfall changes will increase in the next two to three decades, due to global warming from greenhouse gases already emitted into the atmosphere. The need for adaptation is significant, even in countries with good infrastructure, such as Singapore. To prepare for this, PUB has raised the drainage design standards since 2011, so that our drains can handle up to 45% higher rainfall intensities. These new standards were endorsed in 2012 by a Drainage Expert Panel comprising local and international specialists. Since 2012, PUB has commenced and completed drainage improvement works at 327 locations. There are another 73 locations undergoing similar works, with 22 more planned this year. The Government has invested $1.”
“On the morning of 8 January 2018, the prevailing Northeast Monsoon, aggravated by the development of a Sumatra squall, gave rise to intense rainfall across several parts of Singapore. The highest recorded total rainfall on that morning was 118.8 millimetres. This means that about half of Singapore's average monthly rainfall in January fell in just over four hours. Eight of the nine locations that experienced flash floods that morning are low-lying and, therefore, susceptible to flash floods. Two of these, Tampines Road, opposite Jalan Teliti, and Arumugam Road, have a history of flash floods. The Public Utilities Board (PUB) is already carrying out drainage improvement works in these eight locations to enable the drains there to discharge more water in a shorter time when completed. During drainage improvement works, PUB ensures that the drainage capacity of the area is maintained at the original level before works commence. Drainage works did not cause the flash floods in these locations. For the ninth location at Tampines Avenue 12, apart from intense rainfall which exceeded the drain's design capacity, a temporary construction access road built by the contractor had obstructed the earth drain in an adjacent worksite. This aggravated the flash flood. PUB has worked with the developer to improve the drainage at the earth drain and this will help to improve the situation at Tampines Avenue 12 in an event of an intense storm. The longer-term measure is the permanent drainage system which will be built in tandem with the upcoming development project at the adjacent worksite. The flash floods were caused by the intense rainfall temporarily exceeding the existing design capacity of the drains.”
“Mr Speaker, with your permission, may I take Question Nos 5 to 9 together, please.”
“The primary role of a Community Volunteer (CV) is to educate environmental offenders to stop the offending acts and encourage greater ownership of the environment. To enable the CVs to perform their role more effectively, they are empowered to request the particulars of offenders who fail to heed their advice. The particulars are sent to the National Environment Agency (NEA) for follow-up action. Since 2016, our CVs have engaged more than 3,500 individuals for environmental offences, such as littering in public spaces and smoking in prohibited areas. The vast majority responded positively, such as by picking up their litter and hence no further action was taken. A small number of around 60 individuals were non-compliant and, therefore, subjected to enforcement action by NEA, such as summonses and advisory letters.”
“Vehicle emissions are a source of air pollution locally. Pollutants in vehicle emissions affect our living environment and can harm our health. Combating vehicular pollution is a high priority for my Ministry and our partners across the Government and industry. We currently have no plans to specify a date to ban petrol and diesel fuelled vehicles. Countries like the United Kingdom and France have adopted this approach, and we are closely monitoring developments. Singapore's vehicular emission policies are technology-neutral and we seek to ensure that our air quality targets can be met in cost-effective ways. Our air quality targets are benchmarked against standards set by the World Health Organisation. We have policy measures to achieve these targets, and these include incentives to encourage the purchase of newer and cleaner vehicles, investment in public transport, support for trials of electric and hybrid vehicles, as well as mandatory requirements, such as tightened vehicular emission standards. We will continue to strengthen our policies while ensuring the availability of feasible vehicle models to meet our transport needs.”
“The samples are tested at laboratories to ensure no abnormality. Online sensors have been installed at our reservoirs, at each stage of the treatment process and also at strategic locations in the network to keep a close watch on water quality. Over 400,000 tests are conducted annually on physical, organic, inorganic, radiological, bacteriological and microbiological parameters. As an additional layer of checks, PUB submits their water safety and sampling plans to the National Environment Agency's (NEA's) Drinking Water Unit and is required, under the Environmental Public Health (Quality of Piped Drinking Water) Regulations to report any deviations in water quality to NEA's Director-General of Public Health. PUB takes the issue of drinking water quality and safety very seriously and will continue to do their part to keep safe and secure our water supply. I call upon the public to help by being vigilant and to call the Police or provide feedback via the SGSecure app, if they suspect or observe anything suspicious with regard to our water.”
“The Public Utilities Board (PUB) takes the safety and security of our water supply very seriously. PUB has stringent security measures to ensure that the water supply from our water treatment plants to the water tanks in each building is safe. All of PUB's water supply installations, such as the water treatment plants and service reservoirs, are designated as protected installations which are physically secured, with tight access control and surveillance. Treated water from the water treatment plants and service reservoirs is conveyed through a network of buried and pressurised pipelines to customers' premises which prevents attempts to contaminate it. At the customers' end, PUB works with Town Councils, Management Corporation Strata Titles and building owners to implement measures that ensure the security of their water service installations, including water tanks. These include tight measures to secure water tank covers, as well as restricting water tank access to authorised personnel. PUB conducts regular spot checks on all buildings with water tanks to ensure compliance. Our checks showed that the vast majority of our tanks are properly secured. When we detect non-compliance, we take swift enforcement actions against the building management. To signal the seriousness, penalties amount to a fine not exceeding $10,000, or imprisonment of not more than 12 months, or both. From 2014 to 2017, there were 22 such cases and errant parties have since rectified the lapses. To complement our security measures, PUB has a comprehensive water sampling and monitoring programme from source to tap. This will ensure that the water supply to customers is safe. Daily water samples are collected from reservoirs, waterworks, distribution systems and customers' taps.”
“Vehicular and industrial emissions are significant sources of air pollution in Singapore. To enhance the National Environment Agency's (NEA's) capabilities in addressing air pollution, NEA is seeking technological solutions for remote real-time monitoring of emissions from diesel vehicles and industries. Regarding vehicular emissions, studies have shown that the pollutive emissions from diesel vehicles on the roads, mainly nitrogen oxides and particulate matter, can be higher than those measured in laboratory emission tests. The real-time vehicle emission monitoring system will enable NEA to more efficiently and effectively assess the extent and impact of emissions from diesel vehicles. The system will also support the review and enhancement of air pollution control measures. As for industrial emissions, NEA is seeking sensing devices and solutions to detect and monitor odours, characterise chemicals in the air and identify the sources of industrial odours. These will enhance NEA's current suite of sensors.”
“Water is precious and everybody needs to do his or her part to conserve it. I would like to assure Members and Singaporeans that PUB engineers will continue to put in their best effort to maintain Singapore's water supply network and ensure good water supply to customers round the clock.”
“In addition to continuous monitoring using more than 300 sensors, all pipes in PUB's 5,500-kilometre network are checked physically for leaks at least once a year, or more frequently where necessary. However, as almost all our water pipes are buried between one metre and 40 metres underground, it is challenging to assess the condition of buried pipes and detect minute leaks. PUB is thus test-bedding new technology, such as acoustic sensors, to monitor the pipelines and identify those which are not in satisfactory condition. PUB is also using pipes that are externally coated with polyurethane. These pipes are more corrosion-resistant than pipes laid in earlier years. However, despite regular monitoring and inspection, leaks do occur, due largely to localised corrosion, uneven soil settlement or damage from construction work. Whenever pipes are found to be in unsatisfactory condition, they are either repaired or replaced under PUB’s Pipe Renewal Programme. As I have announced earlier this year, PUB is increasing its pace of pipe replacement. We are on track to replace 30 kilometres of pipes this year and will be able to replace 50 kilometres a year from next year onwards, one year ahead of schedule. While we aim to replace all faulty pipes before they fail, leaks like the ones which occurred in Bukit Batok will happen from time to time. PUB seeks to respond and fix the problem quickly, and most incidents are resolved within a few hours. Occasionally, due to the need to ensure that water supply to residents is not disrupted when leaking pipelines are isolated from the rest of the network, additional time is required to switch residents over to an alternate supply pipeline before the affected pipeline can be shut off.”
“The pipes in Bukit Batok were last checked in January this year and found to be in good condition then. They were next due for inspection in January 2018. Following the recent leaks in Bukit Batok, the Public Utilities Board (PUB) brought forward and completed the inspection of all 100 kilometres of water pipes in the estate. We did not detect any additional leaks. Our engineers have also investigated and concluded that the leaks at Bukit Batok West Avenue 6 and Bukit Batok East Avenue 3 were unrelated. Both pipes were laid about 35 years ago in the proper manner and met the material specifications required by PUB. At the time that they leaked, they were well within their design lifespan of 70 years. The leaks were determined by PUB engineers to have been caused by localised corrosion. This can occur in places where the soil condition is harsher to the pipe material and when the water table is particularly high, which accelerates corrosion. We have replaced the leaking section of the pipe at Bukit Batok West Avenue 6 and are replacing all 170 metres of water pipes at Bukit Batok East Avenue 3. We expect the work to be completed ahead of schedule by end-November. PUB operates a network of 5,500 kilometres of potable water pipes to deliver water to 1.4 million customer accounts. It continually monitors, inspects and, if need be, repairs or replaces pipes to minimise the loss of water due to leaks and to ensure good water supply round the clock. Today, Singapore experiences about six leaks per 100 kilometres of pipes per year, which is among the lowest incidences in the world.”
“The National Environment Agency is studying the lifecycle assessment of single-use carrier bags and disposable food packaging materials commonly used in Singapore. The studies analyse the cost and environmental impact, including emissions, of these materials. We will release the results of the study on single-use carrier bags by the end of this year. As for the study on disposable food packaging materials, we should complete it by end-2017 and release the results in the first half of 2018.”
“The National Environment Agency (NEA) takes action against illegal hawkers, particularly if there is sale of food, as it poses a risk to public health and causes public disamenities. Under the Environmental Public Health Act, those caught hawking illegally can be fined up to $5,000 for the first offence, and $10,000 for subsequent offences. Their goods may also be seized and disposed of. Since January 2017, we have received 15 instances of feedback concerning illegal hawking activities at Lucky Plaza. NEA has carried out several checks and taken enforcement actions against nine offenders for illegal hawking activities. My Ministry will continue to monitor the situation in Orchard Road closely. We will not hesitate to take enforcement action against anyone found hawking illegally. However, to better tackle the problem, we need the cooperation of members of the public not to patronise illegal hawkers and to report any illegal hawking activity through NEA's 24-hour call centre.”
“The safety threshold of most VOCs is available only for occupational exposure, that means, when you are working in a situation where there are a lot of these VOCs, and you will be exposed to at least around eight hours of hazardous levels. Those studies are available. Studies which are connected with low constant exposure to these VOCs are not yet available or have not been done, so we cannot rely on such reports to produce any guidelines for our authorities to implement.”
“I thank the Member for the supplementary question. Yes, air is constantly monitored and tests are conducted for hazardous levels of VOCs to ensure that we are breathing air that will not be deleterious to our long-term health. Certainly, we have enough of these and if we find that we need to build more of such monitoring stations on the advice of consultants or otherwise, we will do so.”
“Members of the public can learn to prepare an IPP kit, as well as how they can apply IPP against a chemical gas attack. More information on IPP can be found in the Civil Defence Emergency Handbook, which can be downloaded from the SCDF website. These are among the measures that NEA and SCDF have put in place to safeguard the health and safety of Singaporeans.”
“These control measures are similar to those adopted in other jurisdictions, with each country adapting them to local requirements. Let me now address incidents involving terrorist attacks using chemical gases. Our agencies are prepared for such a scenario. The SCDF regularly conducts exercises simulating chemical agent attacks where responders are tested for their proficiency in detection, monitoring and mitigation operations. In incidents involving toxic gases, the response of the public is equally important. Those in the affected area may feel unwell or experience symptoms, such as giddiness and shortness of breath. SCDF’s advice is that they should quickly leave the affected area and, where possible, help evacuate others, before seeking medical attention. For those who are unable to leave the affected area, they should go to the nearest indoor area and adopt In-Place Protection Procedures (IPP) by shutting the doors, windows and ventilation systems, like fans and air conditioners, and sealing the gaps with masking tape to minimise the infiltration of hazardous vapours. SCDF will also send out alerts to notify the public to take the necessary precautionary measures. This alert will be sent out through all the public warning platforms, including social media, the SGSecure app and all the free-to-air frequency modulation (FM) radio and television channels. The "Important Message" signal of the Public Warning System may also be activated. To learn more about how to respond in the event of an incident involving toxic gases, the public is encouraged to participate in the SCDF’s Community Emergency Preparedness Programme (CEPP). CEPP trains about 40,000 participants each year, and IPP is one of the advanced programme modules.”