S Iswaran
Singapore
“The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) has incorporated the requirements of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) 2020 regulation in its Prevention of Pollution of the Sea (Air) Regulations 2022. The Regulations are applicable to Singapore-registered ships and all other ships while they are in Singapore waters.”
“The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) plans to progressively roll out the charging infrastructure for electric harbour craft operations in the Port of Singapore from 2025.”
“Since 2018, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) has imposed minimum bicycle parking provisions covering different types of developments. The requirements are determined by multiple factors, including the developments’ use, location and gross floor area (GFA).”
“I had addressed similar Parliamentary Questions by Mr Gerald Giam on 29 November 2022 and 10 January 2023, as well as in my Ministerial Statement on 8 May 2023. The Member can refer to these past answers and statement as there has been no material change in the allocation of Certificates of Entitlement.”
“To encourage the uptake of electric cars, the Government has rolled out the Electric Vehicle Early Adoption Incentive and enhanced Vehicular Emissions Scheme. When taken together, it provides up to $45,000 off the Additional Registration Fee of an electric car upon registration.”
“The Land Transport Authority studies all potential changes to the Certificate of Entitlement (COE) system carefully, including conducting sensitivity analysis where appropriate.”
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“The RGLs allow short-term essential business and official travel without the need for SHN, but the travellers must be sponsored by a local entity, such as a Government agency or business, and adhere to a controlled itinerary. Currently, travellers may use the RGLs with Brunei and Mainland China, while the RGLs with the Republic of Korea, Germany, Malaysia, Japan and Indonesia are suspended. We also have the Business Travel Pass (BTP) for senior executives based in Singapore with regional or international responsibilities who need to travel regularly for work. Travellers under the BTP scheme are required to abide by a strict controlled itinerary when travelling, undertake testing requirements after returning to Singapore, and comply with other prevailing safe management measures. We are in discussion with a number of countries and regions to explore how we might further reopen our borders, while being mindful of public health considerations. A key element of our commitment to the progressive reopening of our borders is to be nimble in adjusting our measures as and when necessary, to reopen in a safe and sustainable manner.”
“Singapore remains well-connected to the world. At present, Changi Airport operates 602 flights each week to 74 cities. However, travel to/from Singapore remains weak, in part because of the border protections imposed by many countries, especially quarantine requirements. As we move towards becoming a COVID-19-resilient nation, we will gradually reopen our borders to more places. The pace of this reopening will depend on factors, such as the COVID-19 situation and vaccination rates in Singapore and the other country/region. There are several travel schemes that allow travellers from specific places to enter Singapore for general travel without Stay-Home Notice (SHN). First, we have unilaterally opened to travellers from very low-risk places which, at present, include Mainland China, Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan. Second, we are piloting the Vaccinated Travel Lane (VTL) arrangement with Germany and Brunei. There are multiple safeguards, including a robust testing regime comprising four COVID-19 Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) tests pre-departure, on-arrival and post-arrival, as well as strict compliance and monitoring processes, to minimise public health risks to the community. Among these places, Germany is also open to vaccinated travellers from Singapore. This means that travellers from Singapore are able to travel to Germany and return to Singapore whether for business or for leisure, without the need to be quarantined. If the VTL arrangement works well, we can potentially open up to more places, including those that are open to vaccinated travellers from Singapore. Business travellers from specific partner countries can also opt to enter Singapore via Reciprocal Green Lane (RGL) arrangements.”
“Today, we already require lorries ferrying workers in the rear deck to be fitted with roof shelters or “canopies”. This is a safety requirement, which also provides some shelter for workers in inclement weather. As a further step, many employers have also installed rain covers, which complement the canopies, to better shelter their workers. We will work with the relevant agencies to review the Member’s specific suggestion as part of our continuing efforts to safeguard the welfare of workers. We strongly encourage all employers to do their part, including rescheduling trips when there are heavy rains.”
“The implementation of Next-Generation (nexgen) ERP is to replace the existing ERP system, which is more than 20 years old and reaching the end of its operational life. It is not contingent on prevailing traffic conditions. Our priority in the implementation of the nexgen ERP is to ensure a smooth and uninterrupted process once the installation exercise begins for close to one million motorists. In this regard, LTA is working closely with its contractors to take into account the evolving COVID-19 situation. When we switch to nexgen ERP, the existing point and cordon congestion charging framework will remain, and ERP rates will continue to be adjusted according to prevailing traffic conditions.”
“I thank the Member for his question. Please refer to the reply to Question No 64 for oral answer on the Order Paper for 14 September 2021 filed by Mr Dennis Tan Lip Fong. [Please refer to "Measures to Ensure only Fully COVID-19 Vaccinated Visitors Can Enter Singapore", Official Report, 14 September 2021, Vol 95, Issue 38, Oral Answers to Questions section.]”
“These safeguards have been put in place to reduce the likelihood of imported cases and quickly identify and isolate those who do test positive, to minimise the risk of community spread. Irresponsible behaviour, such as false declarations or missing the post-arrival tests, puts the traveller and the community at risk and undermines our ability to expand the VTL to new places. Finally, further reopening. MOT and CAAS are working closely with MOH and the Multi-Ministry Task Force to monitor the outcomes of the VTL. If the pilot is successful, we can consider expanding the scheme to more countries and regions in the coming months. As a small and open economy, our connectivity with the rest of the world is existential. The longer our borders remain closed, the greater the risk of lasting damage to our economy, our livelihoods and our status as an aviation hub. Cross-border travel is also important for many Singaporeans, who have to travel for work or study, or would like to reconnect with loved ones overseas. To safeguard Singaporeans’ lives and livelihoods, we will, therefore, take a careful, calibrated and science-based approach in reopening our borders, adjusting the safeguards when necessary as the COVID-19 situation evolves.”
“We are also in discussion with several other countries and regions on the mutual recognition of vaccination certificates, including the exchange of public keys for the verification of digitally-verifiable certificates and the exchange of specimen copies for the verification of non digitally-verifiable ones. We are also closely monitoring reports about security vulnerabilities related to these vaccination certificates. Next, travel history. Mr Seah Kian Peng asked how we will ensure that passengers under the VTL with Germany do not travel unrestricted within Europe before coming to Singapore. This is a matter that the inter-agency team considered very carefully when we were designing the VTL. All travellers to Singapore today are required to declare their travel history via the electronic Health Declaration Card (eHDC). This declaration is not unique to the VTL and has been in place since March 2020. False declarations of travel history are criminal offences under Singapore law and may be punishable upon conviction by a fine and/or imprisonment. Foreigners may face additional administrative measures, such as the shortening or revocation of their visit pass to remain in Singapore. Conviction may also affect their ability to obtain or sponsor immigration facilities in the future. In addition, travellers entering Singapore under the VTL pilot with Germany must also present proof of their vaccination in either Germany or Singapore. Vaccination certificates issued in other places will not be accepted. All travellers should be responsible when travelling on the VTL and diligent in complying with its requirements. In particular, they should strictly abide by the travel history and testing requirements, including the Day 3 and Day 7 tests in Singapore.”
“In response to Ms Ang, we do not require serology testing under the VTL. Next, vaccination for short-term visitors. Mr Gan Thiam Poh asked about COVID-19 vaccinations for short-term visitors. Since 18 August 2021, MOH has extended the COVID-19 National Vaccination Programme to short-term pass holders who have been in Singapore for at least 60 days continuously. This further improves the protection of our domestic population. Short-term visitors may also visit private healthcare providers offering World Health Organization Emergency Use Listing (WHO EUL) vaccines under the Special Access Route (SAR) framework. MOH does not track the number of short-term visitors vaccinated under the SAR framework. Next, proof of vaccination. Ms Janet Ang and Mr Dennis Tan asked how we recognise and verify COVID-19 vaccination records issued overseas. For the VTLs with Germany and Brunei, non-residents must apply for a Vaccinated Travel Pass (VTP) before their arrival in Singapore. The vaccination status is verified by the airlines before boarding, as well as by Singapore authorities as part of the entry process. Digitally-verifiable vaccination certificates may be read and verified by scanning the QR code with a suitable application to determine if the certificate is valid and authentic. Non digitally-verifiable vaccination certificates will need to contain a standardised set of fields, which will be manually checked to determine if the certificate meets Singapore’s entry requirements. Singaporeans and PRs returning to Singapore under the VTL do not need to apply for a VTP. They should present proof of their vaccination status to ICA officers on arrival at Changi Airport or using an electronic or physical copy of their vaccination certificate.”
“I thank Mr Dennis Tan for the question on border reopening for vaccinated travellers and safeguards in this reopening. Ms Janet Ang, Mr Gan Thiam Poh, Mr Seah Kian Peng and Mr Christopher de Souza filed related questions for the 13 and 14 September Sittings; I will address their questions in my reply. First, relaxation of border measures for vaccinated travellers. As a small and open economy, Singapore’s survival depends on being open and connected to the world. In our transition towards becoming a COVID-19 resilient nation, we need to reopen general travel safely in a carefully calibrated manner. A year ago, we began to open unilaterally to general travellers from very low-risk places. More than 35,000 travellers have entered via this scheme over the past year and it has not resulted in any community spread. The list of places has changed in response to the COVID-19 situation around the world; today only Mainland China, Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan are on the list of Category I places that we have unilaterally opened to. Travellers from these Category I places take a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test on arrival at Changi airport, and self-isolate until their on-arrival PCR test results are known. They are free to move about if their PCR test results are negative, and they do not need to serve Stay-Home Notice (SHN). Next, Vaccinated Travel Lane (VTL). Now that more than 80% of our population in Singapore is fully vaccinated, we have decided to pilot a new VTL, starting with Germany and Brunei. Since last week, that is, 8 September 2021, fully vaccinated travellers from Germany and Brunei have been able to enter Singapore without the need to serve SHN. Instead, travellers take pre-departure, on-arrival and two post-arrival PCR tests.”
“On 2 August 2021, train services between Ang Mo Kio and Yishun stations were disrupted as a commuter had climbed over the Platform Screen Doors (PSDs) onto the tracks at Yio Chu Kang station. I would like to take this opportunity to commend the fellow commuters and SMRT staff for their quick and effective response which brought the commuter to safety. Safety of commuters and public transport workers is our utmost priority. In particular, there are safety features and established procedures to ensure the safety of commuters. At all our MRT stations, we have PSDs to prevent commuters from falling accidentally onto the tracks, emergency telephones for commuters to communicate with station staff, and Emergency Stop Plungers (ESP) to stop the trains in times of emergencies. In the recent incident, commuters activated the ESP and emergency protocols were immediately put into action. After assessing the situation, the Operations Control Centre stopped train service and switched off the power supply along the railway tracks. Station staff responded quickly and persuaded the commuter to return to the station platform safely. For passenger safety and comfort, the height of our PSDs at the above-ground MRT stations have been designed to cater for sufficient airflow. The height of our PSDs is also comparable to those used in other cities, such as Taipei and Hong Kong. There are no plans to raise the height of the PSDs at above-ground stations.”
“I thank the Member for her question. I have addressed it in my reply to Question No 140 for oral answer on the Order Paper for 13 September 2021. [Please refer to "Proposal for New Category of COEs for Motorcycles Used for Delivery Work", Official Report, 13 September 2021, Vol 95, Issue 37, Written Answers To Questions For Oral Answer Not Answered By End Of Question Time section.]”
“Ensuring the safety of our public transport workers and commuters has been our top priority. One way to achieve this is through a high vaccination rate to keep frontline staff and commuters safe. Our public transport workers were one of the first groups to be offered vaccinations early this year. More than 96% of them have been fully vaccinated. Since the start of the circuit breaker period last year, we have enhanced safe management measures and the cleaning regimes of our buses, trains and public transport nodes, especially high contact areas. These have enabled public transport operations to run smoothly and safely over the past 18 months. As the virus mutates, we have continually reviewed the adequacy of our measures in consultation with public health experts. MOH's preliminary investigations indicate that, given the high number of cases in the community, it is likely that the infections amongst bus workers originated from the community. When community cases rose sharply in July, the public transport operators implemented regular testing for their employees working near COVID-19 clusters, to pick up and isolate COVID-19 positive cases early. This proactive testing, coupled with community surveillance testing by MOH, helped to quickly detect and isolate about half of the current bus frontline workers who tested positive for COVID-19. In addition to the seven-day Fast and Easy Test (FET) Rostered Routine Testing (RRT) regime which commenced on 1 September, we are also conducting swab tests at interchanges with a higher number of cases to detect cases and quickly contain further spread.”
“The preliminary assessment showed that the existing crest protection levels for MRT stations are sufficient against more intense rainfall under the future projected climate change scenario. Site checks are currently being conducted and the full study is expected to be completed by 3Q 2022. Beyond designing infrastructure to mitigate the risk of flooding, Operation Control Centres (OCCs) for MRT lines monitor water level and the frequency of pump operations. Drainage equipment at these underground facilities, such as pumps and flood protection barriers, are maintained regularly and inspected annually, in line with equipment manufacturers’ recommendations. During rainy seasons, the maintenance teams also step up their frequency of physical checks as an additional layer of assurance. Emergency flood response plans are also exercised regularly by agencies and operators, such as flood barrier installation refresher training for MRT station staff twice a year, to maintain staff currency. To minimise obstruction to traffic flow during intense rainfall, PUB will identify low lying areas and roads which will have to be raised. In the event of bad weather causing passengers to be stranded on board vehicles, SCDF will lead evacuation efforts, with the safety of passengers as its top priority. If roads need to be partially or fully closed depending on the severity and extent of the flood, LTA will work with the SPF to minimise impact to traffic. This includes disseminating real-time traffic and road closure information to the public. We will continue to invest in our public transport infrastructure to strengthen the resilience of our rail network and make journeys more convenient and seamless for commuters.”
“All existing transport infrastructure are required to conform to minimum platform and crest levels stipulated under PUB’s Code of Practice (COP) on Surface Water Drainage, which sets out drainage and flood protection requirements for all developments. The COP is reviewed regularly to ensure that the drainage system remains robust in light of urbanisation and changing weather patterns. To address the impact of climate change, PUB raised drainage design standards in 2011, which required an increase in drain capacities by up to 50% to cater for more intense rainfall events. LTA has ensured that all rail, road tunnels and bus infrastructure meet the enhanced flood protection requirements to mitigate flood risks. These include designing the platform level for bus interchanges and depots to be 0.6 metres above the adjacent road, and the minimum crest level for underground MRT stations to be 1.3 metres above adjacent road or ground level. Similarly, the entrances to all developments which are linked to underground MRT stations are required to be built at least 1.3 metres above the adjacent road or ground level. For stations built before 2011 where crest levels do not meet the latest requirement, LTA has enhanced the flood protection of these stations by putting in place mitigation measures, such as flood barriers, to reduce the flood risk. These flood barriers are inspected on an annual basis to ensure their structural integrity. LTA will continue to work together with agencies and rail operators to review flood protection measures to ensure that they remain effective amidst increasing weather uncertainties. As climate change will bring about more frequent and intense storms, LTA and PUB are currently reviewing the flood risk of MRT stations and depots.”
“Between 2016 and 2020, there were three cases of disposal or discharge of refuse, garbage, waste matter, trade effluent, plastics or marine pollutants in packaged form from ships into Singapore waters investigated by the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA). There were two cases in 2017 and one case in 2018. MPA issued composition fines for all three infringements. The number of inspections and verifications of the Garbage Management Plan (GMP) on ships conducted by MPA between 2016 and 2020 is provided in the table below.”
“As a major transhipment hub port and international maritime centre, Singapore supports the International Maritime Organisation’s efforts to set up a global network of seaports in facilitating the vaccination of international sea crew. This initiative provides additional protection for sea crew against COVID-19 and enhances global supply chain resilience. Under the Sea Crew Vaccination (SEAVAX) Initiative, Singapore is offering eligible groups of non-resident foreign sea crew the option of receiving COVID-19 vaccinations from 30 August 2021. These sea crew are either working in the Port of Singapore for a prolonged duration, engaged in the supply of essential goods, or engaged in ferrying passengers. The Singapore Shipping Association, maritime unions and PSA are also working out the necessary protocols for transient sea crew who are signing on to vessels at the Port of Singapore to receive their vaccinations as part of the established crew change process. Currently, such sea crew are required to undergo stringent pre-arrival isolation and testing, and strict bubble wrap protocol under our crew change process. Sea crew who are signing on to vessels should be prioritised for vaccination because they will be at sea for long periods aboard vessels calling at ports around the world and will hence be at higher risk of exposure to COVID-19. Sea crew who sign off at the Port of Singapore may receive their vaccinations upon returning to their home countries. The vaccination of sign-on sea crew will commence once the arrangements for this industry-led effort are ready and the necessary approvals have been obtained.”
“Under the Road Traffic Rules, an individual who wants to undergo training to obtain a Class 4A driving licence, which allows for the driving of public buses, must first obtain a Class 3 driving licence. A Class 3 driving licence allows the holder to drive Class 3 motor vehicles, such as cars and small vans, with either manual or automatic transmission. Some applicants for bus captain positions have Class 3A driving licences, which allow them to drive Class 3 motor vehicles with only automatic transmission. These applicants are required to obtain a Class 3 driving licence, before they are allowed to undergo training to obtain a Class 4A driving licence. There is this requirement because public buses in the past used to operate on manual transmission. Over the years, our bus fleet has fully shifted to automatic transmission. Given this change, the Traffic Police has approved requests from Public Transport Operators to allow bus captain applicants who have a Class 3A driving licence, to undergo training to obtain a Class 4A driving licence. Between April 2019 to July 2021, 57 out of 60 of such requests were approved. The remaining three requests were rejected as the applicants had outstanding driving offences. We have received feedback from the National Transport Workers’ Union (NTWU) that the current licencing rules could affect bus captain recruitment efforts, as some applicants could be deterred from applying because they have a Class 3A licence and not a Class 3 licence. MOT agrees with NTWU’s feedback. We are discussing with MHA to review the requirement, as this would provide greater clarity and certainty to potential bus captain applicants and encourage them to sign up.”
“Bus stops are designed to facilitate the safe boarding and alighting of public bus commuters. Their capacities are sized based on the volume of public buses and commuters they serve. If other vehicles, such as cars and motorcycles, are allowed to freely pick up or drop off passengers at all bus stops, it could result in congestion at the bus stops and affect the service reliability of public buses. It is an offence for vehicles apart from public buses to stop at bus stops which are heavily used, such as those located along bus lanes during bus lane operation hours or at bus stops where there are “No Stopping Except Public Buses” signs. Motorists are allowed to make quick stops at other bus stops. However, parking or waiting at bus stops is prohibited as it could disrupt public bus operations. Enforcement action will be taken against motorists who do so.”
“Piracy and sea robberies are transboundary problems that require collaboration among regional partners to combat effectively. To that end, our agencies will continue to work closely with the maritime authorities and enforcement agencies of our neighbouring countries, and to share information and conduct coordinated patrols. Singapore has also contributed actively to cooperative regional efforts to combat piracy and sea robberies. Singapore has hosted the Regional Cooperation Agreement on Combating Piracy and Armed Robbery (ReCAAP) Information Sharing Centre (ISC) since its inception 15 years ago. The ReCAAP ISC is a vital part of the regional anti-piracy architecture, facilitating information sharing, capacity building and cooperative arrangements between its contracting parties. In addition, the RSN hosts the Information Fusion Centre (IFC), a regional Maritime Security centre which shares information on hotspots and locations with higher concentrations of vessels with authorities of neighbouring countries, to aid them in making decisions on the appropriate actions against possible perpetrators.”
“Between January and July 2021, there were 22 reported sea robbery incidents in the Strait of Singapore, which includes the territorial waters of Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia. None of these 22 cases occurred within or originated from Singapore’s territorial waters. The 22 reported incidents represent a slight increase over the 19 cases reported over the same period in 2020. Maritime security agencies respond swiftly and robustly to any suspicious activities within our territorial waters. For example, should a vessel encounter a sea robbery incident in Singapore territorial waters, the Police Coast Guard (PCG) will board the vessel and conduct checks onboard to search for unauthorised personnel and ensure the safety of the crew. The PCG will also do the same upon request by the ship captain if a vessel subsequently enters Singapore territorial waters after encountering such an incident. To support these enforcement actions, the Singapore Maritime Crisis Centre (SMCC) maintains our overall maritime situational awareness. Through the use of data analytics and intelligence, the SMCC detects and deters maritime security threats, and coordinates responses at the national level. The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA), the Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN) and PCG use technology to monitor vessels around and within Singapore’s territorial waters. For example, MPA uses its Vessel Traffic Information System (VTIS) to monitor the safe navigation of ships. MPA also issues alerts to vessels passing through areas with recent piracy or armed robbery incidents, to remind them to stay vigilant. The RSN and PCG leverage on a network of cameras and coastal surveillance systems to detect and track suspicious activities within Singapore’s territorial waters.”
“PSA worked with shipping lines who had to skip ports to enable them to catch up on their operations in Singapore to make up for lost time. As our port is highly digitalised, stakeholders in the logistics sector and supply chain ecosystem receive real-time information about vessel arrivals and departures from PSA terminals through a system called Portnet, allowing them to quickly respond to schedule changes. PSA has also been supporting shippers and cargo owners to track their cargo closely through digital platforms and expedite connections for urgent cargo. Through these efforts, Singapore has not been too badly affected by the disruptions. Customers have benefited from our connectivity and reliability, which further strengthens our position as a hub port. Singapore’s container throughput grew by 4.8% from January to July 2021, compared to the same period in 2020; and by 2.8% compared to 2019 before COVID-19 began.”
“The global maritime industry has remained resilient during the COVID-19 pandemic which has allowed for cross border flow of goods to continue. However, the outlook remains fluid in the short to medium term as the pandemic situation worldwide is still evolving. Containment measures for COVID-19 by overseas ports to bring the COVID-19 situation under control contributed to port closures and congestion, causing further vessel delays and exacerbated the situation in many ports which are already facing tight capacity constraints. As the world’s largest transhipment hub port, Singapore is affected by these global disruptions. Congestion in upstream ports resulted in vessels arriving off-schedule in Singapore. This has led to bunching and more peaks and troughs in port operations. In addition, due to changes in the connections for transhipment cargo, PSA and the shippers need to re-plan and execute additional container movements. The terminal closures in the Port of Shenzhen in late May to mid-June and the Port of Ningbo-Zhoushan in August this year had compounded the problems of delays and capacity for sea freight. Fortunately, the closures were time-limited and both terminals have since reopened. These two ports collectively accounted for approximately 8% of Singapore’s imports from China. Their closures did not have a significant direct impact on Singapore as our supply chains are sufficiently diversified. PSA has taken firm action to minimise the impact on Singapore’s port operations and logistics. For example, with support from the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) and the unions, PSA opened more berths and yards for operations and deployed more port workers to handle surges in container volumes.”
“LTA is committed to upholding public sector procurement requirements and high safety standards when carrying out all projects. These include projects such as the Thomson-East Coast Line and Cross Island Line. To meet our stringent safety standards, construction works are closely monitored by a team of LTA officers. There are also independent checks conducted on the safety of construction works, with the independent reviewer reporting directly to BCA, as required by law. All procurement activities also adhere to standards of good governance, which include multiple layers of checks and eventual endorsement by a panel with senior officers from a non-user department to ensure all proposals are evaluated rigorously and impartially. In other words, no officer is able to singly approve variation orders or to sign off on completed works. The persons who have been charged in relation to the corruption offences committed by Henry Foo have been made public by CPIB through their press release and names reported by the press. The Standing Committee of Debarment (SCOD) decides on all cases of debarment and CPIB will only be able to make its recommendations to the SCOD after the current proceedings have completed.”
“I thank the Members for their questions. I will address them at the 14 September 2021 Parliament Sitting.”
“On the other hand, the tourism- and aviation-related sectors are likely to see a slow recovery due to ongoing global travel restrictions and weak travel demand. Looking ahead to 2022, MTI expects the Singapore economy to continue to recover as global growth is projected to remain positive. MTI will announce Singapore's 2022 GDP growth forecast in November 2021.”
“Mr Speaker, on behalf of Minister Gan Kim Yong. In August, the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI) projected that the Singapore economy would expand by 6% to 7% in 2021, taking into account several developments. One, the global economic recovery has remained largely on track, notwithstanding the risks posed by the pandemic. High vaccination rates in key advanced economies such as the United States and Eurozone have allowed them to press on with reopening even amidst a rise in infections. While regional economies have had to reimpose tight restrictions to curb a resurgence in cases, they are also ramping up vaccination efforts, which should facilitate the resumption of economic activities in the coming quarters. Two, Singapore's gross domestic product (GDP) growth in the first half of the year came in at a better-than-expected 7.7% on a year-on-year basis. In particular, the outward-oriented sectors continued to grow strongly, with the manufacturing and finance and insurance sectors achieving growth of 14.5% and 7.4% respectively during this period. At the same time, our vaccination programme has made good progress, which will allow for the progressive easing of domestic and border restrictions over the course of the year. Barring a major setback in the global economy, the growth of outward-oriented sectors will remain healthy in the second half of the year. The progressive easing of domestic and border restrictions will also help to support the recovery of consumer-facing sectors such as food and beverage services, and alleviate labour shortages in sectors that are reliant on migrant workers such as construction.”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, I thank the Member for his question. Firstly, as the Member would know, in our larger chemical, petrochemical ecosystem in Singapore, we already have players, like Neste, who focus on the bio-fuels aspect. I think that is an important part of our development going forward, because we have always proactively wanted to anchor some of these more sustainable options as part of the broader fuel mix available in Singapore. Secondly, the Member's point is well taken. In fact, it is something that our agencies are studying; how we can not just produce these sustainable aviation fuels for our own needs, but also be available for export. In a manner of speaking though, firstly, I want to highlight that the supply side of it is still constrained. As I had mentioned, in this study, one of the things we need to look at is how we can not just make it available in sufficient quantities, which in itself is a challenge, but also do so in a manner that is cost-competitive. I would add that it is something that we are focused on as part of the process going forward. Secondly, if, in fact, we are able to develop this in a very strong manner, then, it is not just for Singapore-based carriers, but potentially other carriers who come to Singapore may also be able to use these sustainable aviation fuel options. Therefore, that is also a manner of export. So, long before we talk about physically exporting them to other locations, there are (a) supply chain developments already taking place in Singapore; (b) our focus is on costs, viability and adequate supply; (c) that once we are able to work on this and implement this, then it will be available to aviation players in Singapore, based out of Singapore using Changi as a hub and, potentially, also for the region.”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, sustainable aviation fuels, which are produced from resources such as waste oil, can reduce carbon emissions by up to 80% compared to conventional jet fuel, on a life-cycle basis. However, it is important to note that today, sustainable aviation fuels are two to five times more expensive than conventional jet fuel. The Singapore Government and our industry partners have conducted a study of the operational and commercial viability of sustainable aviation fuels at Changi Airport. The study presented options to integrate these fuels with traditional jet fuel at Changi Airport, such as at existing jet fuel facilities, or at tank terminals in the existing supply chain; in other words, where it is the most efficient way to integrate this within the supply chain for jet fuels. It also identified viable feedstock-technology combinations for sustainable aviation fuel production in Singapore, based on the availability of feedstock in the region, cost and life-cycle assessments. The report also suggested various options to facilitate uptake and production of sustainable aviation fuels in Singapore. Our agencies are reviewing the findings. Despite COVID-19, Singapore is participating in the voluntary phase of the International Civil Aviation Organization’s (ICAO) Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA), which aims to cap the international aviation sector’s emissions. The Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) and Singapore-based carriers, namely Jetstar Asia, Scoot and Singapore Airlines, are monitoring and reporting the airlines’ emissions under CORSIA.”
“The PPSA sets out the penalties for illegal discharge of waste and hazardous materials to be applied on the master, owner and agent of the ship, as follows: (a) The penalty for any disposal or discharge of refuse, garbage, waste matter, trade effluent, plastics or marine pollutant in packaged form from any ship into Singapore waters is a fine not exceeding $20,000, or imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months, or both. (b) The penalty for any discharge of oil or oily mixture from a Singapore ship into any part of the sea or from any ship into Singapore waters is a fine of not less than $1,000 and not more than $1 million, or imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years, or both. Over the last 10 years, 49 ships were penalised for illegal discharge of waste and hazardous material into Singapore waters.”
“The National Environmental Agency (NEA) regularly monitors the water quality of Singapore’s coastal areas along the Straits of Johor and Straits of Singapore. Coastal water samples are collected monthly and analysed for physical, chemical and microbiological parameters. In addition, a network of eight-buoy-based monitoring stations continuously monitor key water quality parameters in coastal waters. These measurements provide an assessment of the overall coastal water quality and enable unusual variations or anomalies to be detected. The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) deploys patrol craft in our port waters to ensure that vessels navigating and anchored in our waters comply with regulations on discharging of waste and hazardous materials. Random inspections are conducted on board ships to ensure that shipboard pollution prevention equipment, such as the oily water separator and sewage treatment plant, are in working condition. The Singapore Police Coast Guard, harbour pilots and the shipping and harbour craft community also assist to report waste and hazardous material in the water or illegal discharge of such material from ships. The Prevention of Pollution at Sea Act (PPSA) regulates the discharges of oil, noxious liquid substances in bulk, harmful substances in packaged form, sewage, garbage and air pollution from ships. The PPSA implements Singapore’s obligations as a party to the International Maritime Organization’s Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships.”
“The increased pace of digitalisation in the maritime sector will also result in greater efficiency and integration of the global supply chain. These disruptions could affect future demand for seaborne transport and our port services. We thus monitor these developments closely and are prepared to make strategic changes when warranted. For instance, PSA has ventured into the wider supply chain ecosystem to develop cargo solution initiatives, both physical and digital, that create resilience, agility and flexibility for cargo owners. The modular design of Tuas Port also allows us flexibility in staging its construction to respond to changes in demand. To stay ahead and remain valued by the shipping lines and global supply chains, the Port of Singapore will continue to provide world-class port efficiency and reliability and offer a comprehensive suite of value-added port services by leveraging technology and automation.”
“The construction of Tuas Port has continued amidst COVID-19 whilst adhering to strict safe management measures. Tuas Port will be developed in four phases. The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) is on track for the completion of land reclamation works for Phase 1 of Tuas Port, which will create 400 hectares of land to support the operation of 21 berths handling 20 million TEUs a year by 2027. Reclamation works for Phase 2 are also progressing well and the planning for Phase 3 has commenced. PSA is on target to operationalise the first two berths in Phase 1 by the end of the year. The development of Tuas Port will sustain our port’s competitiveness and secure Singapore’s connectivity to the world. With an eye to the future, Tuas Port is designed to be able to handle the mega container vessels of tomorrow. Its location also allows it to be integrated into an extensive and well-connected port logistics ecosystem in the Tuas industrial area, which will further improve Singapore’s value proposition to manufacturers. When fully operational in the 2040s, Tuas Port, with a design capacity to handle 65 million TEUs per annum, is expected to be the world’s largest fully automated container terminal. Amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, our port has stayed open and provided critical connectivity to the region and the world. Container throughput in the first six months of this year increased by 5% compared to the same period last year. Due to COVID-19, companies are re-evaluating and strengthening the resilience of their supply chains, balancing between “just-in-time” and “just-in-case” to benefit from adequate resilience while achieving efficiency and competitiveness.”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, the number of new electric car, taxi and bus registrations between January 2021 and June 2021 is 1.3% of total new car, taxi and bus registrations in that period. This is higher than the registration rate of 0.3% for the whole of 2020. The Electric Vehicle (EV) Early Adoption Incentive and the enhanced Vehicular Emissions Scheme, both launched earlier this year, help to narrow the upfront cost gap between electric cars and internal combustion engine cars. With the launch of these schemes, as well as lower battery costs and more EV models from car makers, we expect that this number will continue to grow in the coming years. We aim to put in place 60,000 charging points by 2030. There are around 2,000 charging points in Singapore today. We will add another 600 charging points at 200 public carparks by next year through the Government’s pilot tender on EV charger deployment. In addition, we are encouraging private premises owners to install charging points at their premises, such as condominiums or retail malls. Overall, the combined efforts from the Government and the private sector to improve coverage of our national charging point network will be able to meet EV charging needs. On public buses, the Government has committed to buy only cleaner energy buses since 2020. As public buses are replaced after being in service for 17 years, this means that there should be no more pure diesel public buses on our roads before 2040. Cleaner energy buses bring significant benefits, such as cleaner air and less noise pollution. We would have deployed 60 electric buses on our roads by the end of this year. In the years ahead, we will continue to adapt our infrastructure and operational processes to support a much larger bus fleet that runs on cleaner energy.”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, I thank the Member for his question. In fact, there is another Parliamentary Question later on about EV adoption rates and we can go into it in more detail then. But the short answer is, yes, we are looking at also what can be done in terms of EV motorcycles. Some of the ideas being explored include swappable batteries and so on. This, again, is an area of work that is being undertaken in consultation with the industry.”
“An 11-kilometre-long Sky Corridor will also seamlessly connect pedestrians and commuters from the nearby JRL stations to all other destinations in the vicinity via walking and cycling without having to interact with vehicles at ground level. Second, we will substantially reduce emissions from our vehicle population. We envisage all vehicles to run on cleaner energy by 2040. Since 2020, all new public bus purchases have been fully electric or hybrid models. Additionally, all new bus infrastructure, such as depots and interchanges, will be designed and built to support these cleaner energy buses. For private cars and motorcycles, growth rates have been capped at zero since 2018. To encourage the take-up of cleaner vehicles, we have a suite of measures to incentivise the adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) and we will be significantly expanding public EV charging infrastructure. JID and the Jurong industrial estate area are part of the Jurong West and Tengah towns, which are designed and designated to be EV-ready towns. Come 2025, residents and commuters in these towns can look forward to charging points in every HDB carpark. Finally, we will expand green features in public transport infrastructure where practicable. For instance, the JRL's Tengah Depot will integrate solar panels, with the electricity generated helping to offset the power consumption of both the depot and the JRL.”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, sustainable transport is a key pillar of the Singapore Green Plan 2030. Domestic land transport accounts for approximately 15% of Singapore's total carbon emissions. We have thus embarked on a major effort to reduce the net carbon emissions of the land transport sector. First, we will sustain our efforts to make Walk-Cycle-Ride the preferred way to get around Singapore. This includes commuting via buses and trains, which are the cleanest and most sustainable forms of public transport. It also includes shared transport services, such as taxis, private hire cars, car sharing, as well as active modes, such as walking and cycling. We have set ambitious national targets: increasing the peak-period mass public transport modal share from 64% today to 75% by 2030 and 90% of all peak-period journeys to be made by Walk-Cycle-Ride modes by 2040. To support these goals, we will continue to invest in expanding and renewing our rail and cycling networks and take an integrated planning approach to promote Walk-Cycle-Ride. In addition to the existing East-West Line that serves the Jurong industrial estate area, the upcoming Jurong Region Line (JRL) will also serve both the Jurong Innovation District (JID) and the Jurong industrial estate area. The rail network will also be complemented by a comprehensive public bus network and it will be supported by integrated transport hubs to encourage greater use of public transport. Further, JID will also be a car-lite district, with tighter vehicle parking provision norms of 50% of the usual standards.”
“As a major transhipment hub port and international maritime centre, Singapore strongly supports the International Maritime Organization’s efforts to set up a global network of seaports to facilitate the vaccination of international sea crew. This initiative provides additional protection for seafarers against the virus, reduces the risk of exposure for port workers working on board vessels in our port and enhances global supply chain resilience. The Singapore Shipping Association, PSA, maritime unions and MPA are working out the necessary protocols for seafarers to receive their vaccinations as part of the crew change process when they sign on to their vessels at the port of Singapore. This approach minimises public health risks as seafarers undergo stringent pre-arrival isolation and testing under our crew change process. We also reduce the risk exposure for our healthcare professionals, as they would not need to board visiting vessels. It is therefore more prudent to start with this arrangement, before reviewing how we can extend to other categories of international seafarers.”
“The Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS)’s role as the Air Traffic Services authority for the Singapore Flight Information Region (FIR) is to ensure the safe and efficient flow of air traffic within the Singapore FIR. In the event of any unidentified aircraft operating within the Singapore FIR, CAAS will take steps to establish the identity of the aircraft, in accordance with the applicable International Civil Aviation Organization rules. This includes attempting to establish two-way communication with the aircraft and to obtain information on the aircraft from adjacent ATS authorities and other aircraft in the area. In order to ensure flight safety of other aircraft operating in the area, CAAS will also provide information on the unidentified aircraft’s location and flight path, where available, to pilots of these aircraft and advise them to exercise caution.”
“Cycling is a healthy and an environmentally friendly way to travel. The key is to facilitate cycling while ensuring the safety of pedestrians, cyclists and other road users. Where possible, we will build more off-road cycling paths, which are safer for cyclists of all proficiencies. We plan to triple our cycling path network from about 460 kilometres (km) today to 1,320 km by 2030. However, it is not always possible to have separate paths for cyclists in land-scarce Singapore. To enhance road safety, it is important to have clear rules for motorists and cyclists, and for all road users to follow these rules. The Active Mobility Advisory Panel (AMAP) is reviewing the safety rules and regulations for on-road cycling, including areas such as licensing, registration and third-party liability insurance (TPLI). AMAP has adopted a fair and balanced approach by consulting widely and hearing from different groups of stakeholders. Some are in support of licensing and bicycle registration, so that errant cyclists can be more easily identified. Others have expressed concerns that such measures would increase costs, pose entry barriers for cycling take-up and affect the livelihoods of Singaporeans who use bicycles for work and commute. The experiences from other countries also show that most jurisdictions do not impose licensing, registration and mandatory TPLI. Road safety is a collective responsibility of all road users. Besides ensuring compliance with rules, we will also look at ways to enhance public education and encourage gracious behaviours on the road. AMAP is studying the different options and trade-offs carefully and will publish the outcomes of its review in due course.”
“The six-month trial for on-demand public bus was conducted from December 2018 to June 2019 in Joo Koon, Marina-Downtown and Central Business District to Bedok and Tampines. During the trial, commuters could request via a mobile app to be picked up and dropped off at any bus stop within a pre-specified area. There was low take-up for these on-demand buses. The average ridership per kilometre ranged from 14% to 27% of the scheduled bus services operating in the above areas. Due to the nature of their operations and lower ridership, on-demand public buses require substantial amounts of public subsidies to remain commercially viable. These are resources which could be used to serve a wider segment of commuters, such as feeder buses to connect residents of new BTO projects to key transport nodes in their towns. For new residential towns such as Tengah, there are plans to provide residents with good public transport connectivity. These include feeder bus services to the rail network, such as the future Jurong Region Line which will serve Tengah town. If there are proposals from service providers on further ways to enhance the first-and-last mile connectivity in new towns, LTA will be happy to explore these ideas together with the industry.”
“As at end June 2021, there are about two million valid public transport concession cards. The majority of the concession cardholders are senior citizens and students, who account for 47% and 31% of the cards respectively. Child concession cards make up 6% of the cardholders while adult monthly travel cards and full-time NSF concession cards each make up 3% of the concession cards. These travel/concession schemes are subsidised by adult-fare paying commuters. The remaining 9% and 1% of cardholders are beneficiaries of the Workfare Transport Concession Scheme and Persons with Disabilities Concession Scheme respectively. These two schemes are subsidised by the Government and depending on the number of cards issued and travel pattern that year, the subsidy ranged from $14.5 million to $18.3 million per year since their inception in 2014.”
“As announced last week, the EV Common Charger Grant will be open for application from 29 July 2021. The Grant will co-fund the cost of installation for up to 2,000 electric vehicle chargers at non-landed private residences in Singapore, such as condominiums and private apartments. Eligible cost components will receive 50% reimbursement, subject to an overall cap of S$4,000 per charger. Up to 1% of residential parking lots per development can benefit from the Grant. More details can be found on LTA’s website. Interested parties may apply via the Government’s Business Grants Portal from 29 July 2021. MOT will monitor the take-up and effectiveness of the Grant, and review if there is a need to extend the Grant in due course.”
“The Transport Safety Investigation Bureau (TSIB) has launched a marine safety investigation into the fire onboard the X-Press Pearl, in accordance with the IMO’s Casualty Investigation Code. The investigation report will be made public. As the flag Administration, MPA has commenced a separate investigation into the X-Press Pearl incident under the Merchant Shipping Act. MPA will share any relevant lessons learnt with the owners and operators of Singapore-registered ships.”
“LTA has replaced hard copy road tax renewal notices with electronic notifications from 1 July 2019. The electronic renewal notices are sent via SMS one month prior to the expiry of road tax, followed by three reminders, including a final one on the date of expiry. The overall on-time renewal of road tax has increased from 93.1% in 2019 to 94.6% in 2020 following the introduction of electronic notifications. LTA has retained the option for vehicle owners to receive physical letters. Vehicle owners can opt to receive hardcopy notices via LTA’s OneMotoring website or make a request via LTA’s hotline.”
“As vaccination gets underway in many countries, multilateral forums such as the International Civil Aviation Organisation and regional forums including ASEAN and APEC are exploring the development of global or regional mechanisms for the recognition of vaccination certificates. Singapore participates actively in these discussions, sharing our approach and contributing our expertise. These discussions will likely take some time, as countries and regions are at different stages of progress in vaccinating their respective populations. Nonetheless, these multilateral and regional discussions are useful in laying the groundwork for us to reopen travel for vaccinated individuals between Singapore and these countries when we are ready to do so. Concurrently, Singapore is in bilateral discussions with several countries on establishing mechanisms for the mutual recognition of vaccination certificates, including with Australia, Malaysia and Republic of Korea. We have set up inter-agency bilateral working groups with these countries and are exchanging information on how we may mutually verify the authenticity of each other’s certificates. This includes the exchange of public keys for the verification of digital certificates and the exchange of specimen copies for the verification of physical ones.”
“The Account-Based Ticketing (ABT) system allows commuters to pay for their trips by tapping their contactless bank cards, credit cards, mobile wallets or their account-based EZ-Link cards on the fare reader. In May 2021, approximately 19% of all adult trips were paid for using ABT payment methods. We do not have a breakdown of sign-up rates by age group as the ABT users are not required to sign up or register. LTA and EZ-Link will conduct a pilot for ABT concession cards later this year to gather feedback from seniors and other concession cardholders. We will take in feedback from the pilot and develop measures to help seniors and other concession cardholders transition smoothly to ABT.”
“Our transport workers’ mental well-being is an important priority for the Ministry and our transport operators. Working with the unions, our transport operators provide and publicise channels through which transport workers can seek assistance. For example, taxi and private hire car (PHC) operators have set up driver relations teams to provide support and assistance to drivers. Supervisors are also trained to closely monitor the well-being of our bus and rail workers. Transport workers will be referred to medical professionals for psychological support and counselling if they are stressed or troubled, particularly those who may have experienced trauma such as serious accidents during their course of work. The Health Promotion Board (HPB) partners the transport operators and unions to provide customised workplace safety and health programmes. For example, HPB collaborated with the National Transport Workers’ Union (NTWU), the National Taxi Association (NTA), the National Private Hire Vehicles Association (NPHVA) and the transport operators to organise mental well-being talks, workshops for transport workers, and training for leaders to build a supportive workplace environment. Our transport workers can also access public mental health resources, such as Mindline.sg and other community-based hotlines, for further support and assistance.”
“The Certificate of Entitlement (COE) is a market-based mechanism to allocate limited vehicle supply. The quota premium for COEs is thus determined by market forces of supply and demand. The overall supply of Category D COEs has remained stable since 2018. This is as we have ceased the contribution of Category D to Category E quota in 2017. Also, the vehicle growth rate for motorcycles, like for cars, has been 0% since 2018 in line with our car-lite policy. Therefore, at each bidding cycle, the supply of motorcycle COEs available is simply based on the number of motorcycles deregistered in the previous quarter. Since the resumption of COE bidding after motor showrooms and dealerships re-opened, Category D COE prices have increased, but there is so far no evidence of speculation. The vast majority of COEs at these prices have been taken up and used to register motorcycles. The number of utilised temporary COEs has been high at approximately 99%, as compared to the historical average of about 91%. Motorcycles are also subject to much lower Additional Registration Fees, road taxes and ERP charges compared to cars. We will continue to monitor the situation and study if any further measures ought to be taken.”
“The COVID-19 Driver Relief Fund (CDRF) is a targeted relief scheme to support active taxi and private hire car (PHC) drivers through this period of low ridership due to COVID-19 so that drivers can continue to provide taxi and PHC services for commuters. A minimum trip criterion is stipulated to ensure that the CDRF is provided to existing drivers who are dependent on driving as their main source of income. Drivers need to have completed an average of 200 trips per month during the qualifying periods in order to qualify for the CDRF. Between January and May 2021, LTA received appeals from 850 drivers who did not qualify for the CDRF and acceded to about 190 of them. Of the about 660 appeals that were rejected, around half could not provide valid reasons for failing to meet the minimum trip criterion, and another about 300 were new drivers who recently joined the sector after December 2020 and were not active drivers during the qualifying months for previous tranches. Some of these drivers, however, may qualify for the payouts under the extended CDRF starting in July. LTA takes into consideration several factors when assessing appeals, including the impact of the prevailing COVID-19 situation on taxi and PHC ridership during the qualifying months. As part of the appeal process, factors such as the number of delivery trips performed by drivers, as well as medical and compassionate grounds are considered.”
“Mr Speaker, can passengers take taxis or private vehicles to their homes? As I said, the protocols that we have in place are for the higher risk countries. So, those who are from, say, some of the countries deemed to be less risky, they still, on arrival, have to undertake what we call an on-arrival PCR test. And then thereafter, they can take the relevant form of transport to their home and then they have to wait for the results and so on. So, there may be instances of that which the Member may be referring to. But the key point I would make is that for those who are from the higher risk countries, based on the categorisation we discussed earlier, the approach is to have dedicated transport from the airport to the SHN facility, so that the mode of transport is as secure as possible from a health perspective. Have taxi drivers caught COVID-19? I believe there have been some cases but is it because of the passenger they ferried or not, I do not have an answer for that. I am quite happy to have it verified if the Member wishes to file a question. But I do know that in many cases, it is more because of some other community link that they have, because of a place they went to in the community and so on, and that is how they were linked to the COVID-19 virus.”