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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“Various measures have been implemented to mitigate the Urban Heat Island (UHI) effect, via (i) reducing heat absorption, (ii) improving energy efficiency, and (iii) reducing the overall carbon footprint. The Land Transport Authority (LTA) designs our transport infrastructure to meet the Building and Construction Authority’s Green Mark standards to reduce the amount of heat absorbed by transport infrastructure. Planters and inground planting are incorporated at above-ground structures, such as the Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) stations and entrances and also new road viaducts, to reduce accumulation of incoming heat. Transport infrastructure also provides more shaded areas in urban environments, which help to reduce the amount of direct sunlight and heat absorbed by buildings, roads and footpaths, thereby reducing the UHI effect. LTA also improves the energy efficiency of buildings through incorporation of green features in MRT stations and MRT and bus depots. These include solar panels on roofs, use of LED lighting, façade designs which optimise natural ventilation and natural lighting and exploring methods to optimise the use of air-conditioning. In addition, the Ministry of Transport and LTA promote the use of public transport, which reduces an individual’s carbon footprint by 70% or more, compared to driving an internal combustion engine car. We are also pushing ahead with our vehicular electrification efforts to reduce the carbon footprint among our private vehicle population. LTA regularly reviews the design of existing infrastructure, system and materials to ensure that they are environmentally sustainable and may implement additional measures to mitigate the UHI effect.”
“The Thomson-East Coast Line Stage 3 (TEL3) was opened in November 2022. Since then, there have been four train-related faults on the TEL which caused delays of more than five minutes, and one instance in which trains had to travel at a slower speed due to a signalling system fault. Of the five faults, two were due to software issues, which have since been addressed. The other three were due to hardware malfunction and the relevant components have since been replaced. Detailed investigations to identify the root causes of the component malfunction are ongoing. Prior to opening a new stage of a line, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) and the rail operators conduct extensive testing to minimise the risks of service disruption or delay. Nevertheless, as rail systems contain many interlinked hardware and software elements, certain issues may only surface during the early phases of full-scale operation before the system stabilises. We seek the understanding and patience of commuters in such instances, as LTA, the rail operators and the original equipment manufacturers continue to do their utmost to resolve any issues as quickly as possible.”
“In the past five years, we have received a total of 6,470 feedback on road traffic noise and 1,101 feedback on the Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) track noise. We have explained the sources of noise from roads and MRT and our mitigation measures in previous Parliamentary Question (PQ) replies.”
“More potholes were observed in 2021 and the first two months of 2023 when there was heavy rainfall. Conversely, when rainfall was lower, such as in the first two months of 2022, we typically observe fewer potholes. The Land Transport Authority (LTA) monitors and maintains over 9,000 lane-kilometres of roads and checks for road defects, including potholes. LTA analyses data to prioritise roads where potholes are more common for resurfacing. LTA will also be utilising artificial intelligence and video analytics technology to aid this maintenance effort. During periods of prolonged heavy rainfall, LTA dedicates more resources to conduct additional inspections and to expedite pothole repairs. Furthermore, LTA undertakes a range of preventive measures from sealing over minor cracks identified to regularly resurfacing stretches of roads. LTA is also studying the feasibility of using high performance asphalt mixes. Motorists can report road defects through the LTA website, the "Snap and Send" function on the MyTransport.SG mobile application, or the OneService mobile application.”
“Thank you, Mr Chairman. Just on the specific point that Mr Dennis Tan raised, I think the practical way forward is for our chargers to tap off the grid rather than have dedicated solar panels or other sources of energy coming in. The reason is because if we take solar panels, for example, the intermittency means that if there is cloud cover, you will have a problem and how does the charging rate work? Then, you need batteries to store the electricity in order to do this. So, the more efficient way of doing this is to have the diversification and the incorporation of renewable energies at the grid level – which is what the EMA is doing by calling for proposals for renewable energy supply into Singapore. Through that, we will achieve greater renewable energy component in the electricity that is used to charge EVs as well.”
“I am tempted to say that every street is a friendly street. [Laughter.] On affordable electric motorbikes, we are running various trials, as Mr Saktiandi would be aware. There are different models. You have the plug-in charger types, but they are largely the more high-end type of motorcycles. There are the battery-swapping models, which seem to be becoming more common in other markets. Our concerns would, in particular, centre on fire safety type issues, because if they are batteries that can be removed, then, what is the charging arrangement and so on? So, this is the reason why we are conducting these pilots. I think that by learning from them, we will be able to come up with the appropriate regulations on that. In terms of affordability, my expectation is they will probably end up, like in cars, with a spectrum of such electric motorbike solutions available in the market. In fact, you can already see it in other parts of the world. On buses and electric buses, can we speed it up? This is already quite a bit of an acceleration over the last one to two years, because we decided we have to move. What I think I would say is: let us get this first tender out, let us run in the system a bit more, because what we have had up to now are pilots and trials. We now need to do this at scale and understand the implications, because when you ramp up and it goes up to half or more of your fleet, the implications are quite different from running a small-scale pilot. So, let us do that. I just want to assure the Member that we share his enthusiasm for this transition.”
“Mr Chairman, Ms Poh Li San has raised an important point regarding the cost impact. This is why, in coming up with this recommendation on electrification from 2025, it is really about focusing on the replacement of the airside vehicles. As the existing fleet reaches its end of life, the replacement has to be electric. Eventually, perhaps some other variants may emerge. Then, the question of relative cost, I would say that there are a few things happening here at the same time. Even today, based on our discussions with the operators like the larger players, the life cycle cost evens out when you make the switch. So, that is the first point. Secondly, we have to bear in mind that the cost of EVs and solutions, as the scale grows, it is a reasonable proposition that the cost may become even more competitive. We have already seen that over the last several years as EV manufacturing and supply have scaled up. On the other side of it, any cost associated with emissions also has to be factored in. For example, in Singapore, we have already spoken about our carbon tax trajectory. So, when you factor all of these in, take these into account, in general, it is a manageable transition without imposing undue cost, and I think the businesses also see the competitive value proposition of doing so.”
“So, I think it is a subjective discussion, one that we need to take into account, we need to take serious consideration of, in terms of the circumstances. But we should also make sure that if we are going to make a systemic change, it is one that we can then not just defend, but also make sure that we can sustain it in the long run, because it is warranted, in the manner that we have just discussed. On the possibility: so, now, it is beyond MTI; it has gone to the cooperatives and whether we can ask them. I will dutifully convey the message. But I just want to come back to what I said at the start, which is that, in the end, there are various market mechanisms. We should encourage it; I fully agree with that. As the Leader of the Opposition said, if there is an arbitrage possibility and if the market is functioning well, then somebody would take advantage of the arbitrage and come in – whether it is a cooperative or another finance business or whatever. So, I just want to make that point.”
“Mr Chairman, on the point on re-allocation, some data points are useful. Over the last 10 years, the population of motorcycles in Singapore has been around 130,000 to 140,000. So, it has been at about that level. It has not been so volatile. And when we talk about allocation to Cat E, it is not just from Cat D. And we continue to have allocation from Cat A, Cat B and Cat C into Cat E, which then gets recycled. So, if we talk about changed circumstances that warrant considerations specifically for motorcycles, because of, say, delivery, the same might apply to Cat A cars, for example, because they are used for Grab, or those kinds of platform services. What I am trying to illustrate is, I do not think we have a disagreement in terms of wanting to help. But we have to be very clear that in our desire to do so, we do not throw the baby out with the bathwater. Because it is a system that, in general, has worked. But let us also be clear: why we are discussing this today is because the prices have gone up. When the prices were lower, we were not debating these issues in the same way. So, we have to understand clearly what is the driver or what is causing it, and be prepared to respond if, in fact, there are structural or systemic issues that we think need to be resolved. I am just advocating having a care and also trying to present the larger perspective. The second point is, the point has been made, on "equity and fairness", and I think "equity and fairness" depends on where you stand and whom you are advocating for. And I can assure the Leader of the Opposition that I have had many who have advocated for other groups with equally meritorious claims for favourable allocation.”
“And the mission in LTA and for MOT is to make sure that we have agreed on a policy for managing the population of vehicles and we have an allocation mechanism through the COE, and we should ensure that that is working to the best of our ability. Having said that, financing is essential because most buyers of vehicles, generally, do need financing assistance. Whether we can study further, whether there are any other alternatives, I would say that this is actually better left to the market and to industry players to respond. Because in the end, LTA or the Government is not in a unique position in any way, or even in a position where we have special insights into this. The Member himself has highlighted this, there is a cooperative and so on – the practices, the mechanisms exist, in other contexts perhaps. And it is really best left to the market. What we will do, however, is that even though the Hire Purchase Act is under MTI, if there are issues about practices that contravene the regulations, these are areas that we will want to make sure they are investigated thoroughly, because they do affect the effective functioning of the COE market.”
“We have to take it from some other category in order to give it to a more critical category. The Leader of the Opposition's proposal is to take it from, I think, Cat E, or – I cannot remember where. But there have been similar arguments made in this House for other categories – whether it is for Cat A, whether it is for Cat C, commercial. So, how do we decide then where to take it from, where to allocate it, how much to allocate and how do you measure that the outcome has been successful? Because, clearly, the intent here is that – and I am reading into the Member's comment – unless prices soften, the desired objective has not been served. But we have to look at any change we make to the COE system holistically, for all the reasons I have just highlighted. To propose one particular dimension for modification without looking at the systemic implications, I think would be remiss on our part. But, as I have said, having said that, we have been prepared to take measures. We have, not only the systemic measures to help motorcycle owners in terms of costs, but also some of the more recent measures to curb any potential speculative behaviour on the part of motorcycle dealers. And we remain ready to do more. As I have pointed out, the most recent couple of months have been quite telling because there have been 450 TCOEs that have been forfeited. Which means at a certain point, there was pushback in the market and now the dealers have had to let the TCOEs go; and these re-enter the supply. And, as I said, I hope buyers and dealers will take note of this when making their decisions on bidding and buying for Cat D. The first point that he raised was the financing elements. First, we should all be very focused on our core mission.”
“Mr Chairman, I thank the Leader of the Opposition for his questions. Actually, these two questions straddle the gamut of almost all the issues; so, they are deceptive in their apparent simplicity. But let me endeavour to respond. Perhaps, I will start with the second point on COEs and allocation. I think what the Leader of the Opposition is driving at is whether there is a way to re-allocate some of the old COEs. I think that was the point he made earlier because of the old system, which was discontinued in 2017. 12.30 pm First, let me say and I want to reiterate this point, I omitted to mention Mr Fasial Manap's Adjournment Motion, but as I said, I do not think any one party here has a monopoly on the care and concern for motorcycle owners. We all do, we are all endeavouring to help and the question is: how to best achieve that. Secondly, let me make the point that we need to be clear about what is the overall intent and structure of the system. So, I start with the vehicle growth rate. We have taken an important, albeit difficult decision, that the vehicle growth rate will be zero. We have done this because of the overall interest in terms of the liveability of our city and ensuring that even our roads, the flows, the vehicular flows can be sustained going forward, taking into account road development and all the other modes of transportation that we are developing. So, that is the first and important consideration, the baseline point: that vehicle growth rate is zero. Why is that important? It is important because the moment we agree on that – and I am assuming the Leader of the Opposition agrees with that as a principle – then any mechanism to re-allocate COEs is basically a zero-sum exercise.”
“They can expect more intra-town paths that will aid first- and last-mile connectivity to the major transportation nodes and key amenities. For longer commutes, we are exploring cycling trunk routes to connect cyclists to more places. Senior Parliamentary Secretary Baey Yam Keng will give more details. Fourth, we will also look at ways to expand the range of choices in the transport system, to meet needs that may currently be underserved. And in this regard, I am happy to share that the Government accepts the Active Mobility Advisory Panel's recommendations on the rules and guidelines for cargo bicycles, tricycles and recumbents. Senior Parliamentary Secretary Baey will elaborate further. Mr Chairman, three years ago, we were confronted by a crisis, unprecedented and unimaginable for this generation. Today, steeled by the experience of the pandemic and having emerged stronger, we are building for the future with optimism and confidence to drive the next bound of growth across our air, sea and land transport sectors. Even as the challenges and resource constraints become more complex, I would like to conclude by assuring Members that the MOT and our stakeholders and partners remain resolutely committed in our endeavour to build a resilient, sustainable and inclusive transport system for all Singaporeans.”
“The Public Transport Council is reviewing the fare adjustment formula and mechanism guided by the need for a balance across these three factors. To Mr Lim Biow Chuan's query on the progress of this review, the council will announce its recommendations by the second quarter of this year. Another strong sentiment that emerged from our engagements was that inclusiveness should be at the heart of our social compact. And we agree fully. First, we can be more inclusive in our road design. Hitherto, much of the focus in road planning has been to meet the needs of vehicular flows. However, our local streets are also an integral part of our daily lives and the pedestrian network in our communities. We use them to visit neighbourhood centres, markets, polyclinics and schools. It is where we might meet our neighbours and friends. And there was a strong feeling amongst the dialogue participants that we should make our streets more conducive for such everyday pedestrian use, especially with an ageing population. LTA will, therefore, pilot an initiative to design such streets with local communities. They will be called "Friendly Streets", which I think aptly captures the intent of this effort. Senior Minister of State Khor will elaborate on this. Second, where at-grade road crossings are not possible, we will incorporate lifts in all new pedestrian overhead bridges (POBs) built by Government agencies where suitable and cost-effective. In tandem, we are pressing on with our works to retrofit lifts at existing POBs. Senior Minister of State Khor will share more on our plans. And third, in addition to pedestrians, we will also place greater emphasis on the needs of those who use active modes of transport, such as cycling.”
“The Hire-Purchase Act provides for regulations governing such agreements. Our agencies will take action if there is evidence of practices that contravene these regulations. Mr Ang Wei Neng and Mr Lim Biow Chuan asked about the Forward Singapore (ForwardSG) engagements that we launched in 2022. We brought together Singaporeans from all walks of life to discuss our aspirations for future urban mobility, the trade-offs and what our renewed social compact should be. I was heartened that many participants recognised and appreciated the improvements to our public transport system over the last decade, making it more accessible, reliable and inclusive. Ms Poh Li San asked about the cost of running public transport. Over the last decade, operating costs for public transport increased by about 7% per year on average. This was not matched by revenue growth. As Members would be aware, fares have gone up by an average of about 1% a year over the last decade. Hence, Government subsidises public transport operating costs by more than $2 billion annually and that is about slightly more than $1 per journey. While we aspire to have a high-quality, world-class public transport system, we must also ensure financial sustainability, and this is the shared responsibility of Government, operators and commuters. Where we land on the balance between quality, affordability and financial sustainability is driven by what we value as a society. We believe that commuters and taxpayers must share the financial burden equitably, because ultimately, we do not want a financially unsustainable system with a large fiscal burden for future generations of Singaporeans to bear.”
“And in March last year, we took additional measures to curb any speculative bidding by dealers for motorcycle COEs. We halved the temporary COE (TCOE) validity period from six to three months and increased the bid deposit from $200 to $800. More broadly, to reduce volatility in the COE cycle for all categories, we have also smoothened the supply by basing the quota on the rolling average of the de-registrations from the preceding four quarters instead of just one quarter. Following the changes in March last year, the TCOE utilisation rates have remained high, close to 100%, in the ensuing months which reflects strong underlying demand. It is noteworthy that in the last two months, about 450 TCOEs, secured when Cat D prices were close to or above $13,000, have been forfeited along with the deposits. However, the market subsequently corrected itself with prices easing and utilisation rates going up again. And this indicates that the system is working as intended with corrections where the market cannot support the levels of prices. The forfeited 450 TCOEs will be reinjected into the May to July quarter's Cat D supply. This would constitute an additional 15% above the projected supply from de-registrations. I trust that motorcycle buyers and dealers will take this into account when making their decisions to bid or buy. And we will monitor the market closely and will make further moves if warranted, including a further reduction in the TCOE validity period or a further increase in the bid deposit, as Mr Saktiandi and Mr Singh have suggested. Mr Singh also suggested reviewing motorcycle financing, specifically in-house financing. Such financing agreements are not new. They are a part of industry practice providing a service for prospective buyers.”
“Ms Ng Ling Ling asked how we will encourage the aviation hub to step up its sustainability efforts. The Government will establish a $50 million Aviation Sustainability Programme to support feasibility trials and research studies and bring stakeholders together to create innovative solutions for a more sustainable air hub. CAAS will be releasing more details, and I encourage companies to make full use of the funding. More broadly, CAAS is studying the recommendations of the International Advisory Panel (IAP) on the Sustainable Air Hub and will publish the Sustainable Air Hub Blueprint in the second half of this year. Mr Chairman, I would now like to focus on the way forward to meet our evolving urban mobility needs, as well as the undergirding social compact. Let me first address the questions from Mr Pritam Singh and Mr Saktiandi Supaat about motorcycle Certificates of Entitlement (COEs). Our COE system aims to efficiently allocate our limited vehicle quota. Prices inevitably increase when demand is high relative to supply. The cost of Cat D COEs and its impact on motorcycle users is an issue that has been raised by Members from all sides of the House. Besides Mr Saktiandi and the Leader of the Opposition, Ms Mariam Jaafar asked a Parliamentary Question earlier this week. Mr Murali Pillai and Mr Abdul Samad did so at the end of last year, and indeed many other Members have raised this point. And we fully understand the concern especially for those who rely on their motorcycles for their livelihoods. This is why motorcycle owners receive preferential treatment under the current vehicle ownership regime. The Additional Registration Fee, Road Tax and Electronic Road Pricing (ERP) charges for motorcycles are all lower compared to other vehicle types.”
“Moving to the maritime sector, the harbour craft sector will be required to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050. This will apply to about 1,600 harbour craft currently licensed by the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA). To achieve this transition, from 2030, all new harbour craft operating in our port waters must be fully electric, be capable of using B100 biofuels or be compatible with net-zero fuels, such as hydrogen. MPA will partner industry, financial institutions, harbour craft operators and manufacturers to help lower the cost of adoption and mobilise support for early adopters. MPA will launch an Expression of Interest (EOI) in the second quarter of this year to call for proposals for the design and development, demand aggregation and green financing for new electric harbour craft. The pleasure craft sector and domestic tugboats will also be required to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050. MPA is studying the timelines for the transition given their different power requirements and will provide an update next year. Senior Minister of State Chee will share more about our initiatives to support the transition for the maritime sector. Ms Poh Li San asked about international partnerships to catalyse our sustainability initiatives. As a major international aviation and maritime hub, we actively support the efforts of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and the International Maritime Organization (IMO) to reduce emissions from international transport. We are also working with like-minded country partners to create sustainable international aviation and maritime ecosystems through "green lanes" for flights powered by Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF), as well as green and digital shipping corridors.”
“But based on the experience of the e-bus fleet trial, the higher upfront costs are expected to be offset by lower-operating costs in the long run. I should also add that, as announced at the launch of GreenGov.SG in July 2021, from this year, all new cars procured by the public sector will be electric, or alternatives with zero tailpipe emissions. Electrification will also be a key lever to reduce domestic emissions in our air and sea transport sectors. Let me first outline our ambition for Changi Airport. Currently, close to 20% of around 2,500 airside vehicles at Changi Airport are electric. We want all vehicles on the airside to run on cleaner energy by 2040. This would include electrification or the use of biofuels. To drive this transition, we will embark on three initiatives. First, all new airside light vehicles, such as cars, vans and minibuses, must be electric from 2025, as they already have viable electric alternatives, which can progressively replace existing diesel models. We will also require certain new heavy vehicles, like forklifts and tractors, for which viable electric models are available, to be electric from 2025. Second, we will enhance the charging infrastructure on the airside. To date, CAG has installed about 100 EV charging stations, and this will increase to more than 300 over the next few years, in tandem with the needs of its airport partners as they electrify their airside fleet. 11.15 am Third, we will commence trials on the use of renewable diesel, especially for specialised airport ground handling vehicles for which there are no electric models. These trials will inform our evaluation of renewable diesel as a complement to electrification, to achieve the goal of cleaner airside vehicles by 2040.”
“By way of comparison, a typical ICE car user will pay about $1,000 a year of fuel excise duties, assuming that they use the 92 or 95 octane petrol. Separately, the total cost of ownership for EVs has been reduced through Government initiatives, such as the EV Early Adoption Incentive and the reduction in road tax for mass-market EVs, our adjustments in power-rating. We will continue to review road tax as part of the overall vehicular tax structure, taking into account the transition to electric, as well as other cleaner energy vehicles and technological developments, while staying true to our objectives of controlling private vehicle ownership and usage. Thirdly, we have brought forward the islandwide deployment of EV chargers to address range anxiety. One in three Housing and Development Board (HDB) carparks will have EV charging points by the end of this year. We have also supported the installation of EV chargers in private developments through legislative amendments and the EV Common Charger Grant. Senior Minister of State Khor will give more details. Our efforts to green the public transport sector are also gathering pace. Mr Gan Thiam Poh and Mr Ang Wei Neng asked about the electrification of our public buses. This month, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) will launch a tender for about 400 electric buses, to replace diesel buses reaching end-of-life from December 2024. New bus depots will be completed in tandem to support e-bus operations. This will help achieve the goal of electrifying half our bus fleet by 2030 and a 100% cleaner-energy bus fleet by 2040. Several Members asked about the cost impact of switching to e-buses. We are in the early stages of electrifying our bus fleet.”
“Attracting talent to the aviation and maritime sectors is a key thrust as highlighted by Mr Melvin Yong and Ms Janet Ang. We are collaborating with our partners to do so through student outreach and work-study programmes, mid-career conversions and skills upgrading for workers. We will also provide career guidance and employability support through touchpoints, such as the OneAviation Careers Hub portal. Senior Minister of State Chee will elaborate on our plans for the maritime sector. Thirdly, Mr Chairman, sustainability is central to the growth of our transport sectors. Hence, we have partnered the industry to develop sustainability pathways in all three domains. Last year, I highlighted our plans to drive electrification in the land transport sector. We made good progress in 2022 with Electric Vehicles (EVs) accounting for 11.8% of new car registrations last year, up from 3.8% in 2021. So, more than threefold increase. Of all EVs registered in 2022, 20% were from Category A (Cat A), 50% from Cat B and 30% from Cat C. We can attribute this to several factors. First, we have established clear regulatory milestones. We have announced that diesel cars and taxis cannot be registered for use from 2025, nor Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) cars and taxis from 2030. Second, we have financial incentives to encourage the adoption of EVs. Ms Sylvia Lim asked why EVs incur an Additional Flat Component. As the then-Minister for Finance explained in Budget 2020, fuel excise duties are significant contributors to Government revenue, yielding around $1 billion annually. The Additional Flat Component for EVs – of $700 a year – was introduced to partly account for this loss in fuel excise duties.”
“At last year's National Day Rally, Prime Minister Lee announced that we have restarted the T5 project. We are working with the consultants to incorporate lessons from the pandemic and update the design to be more modular, resilient and energy efficient. We plan for T5 to be operational in the mid-2030s. Land preparation and drainage works at Changi East have been completed, and construction is expected to commence by 2025. The third runway will also be ready towards the later part of this decade. As shared by Deputy Prime Minister Wong in his Budget round-up speech, it is important that we set aside some resources whenever we have the means for projects with large and lumpy expenditure. In this regard, the Government will inject a further $2 billion into the Changi Airport Development Fund (CADF). Meanwhile, the CAG and airport stakeholders have worked out operational plans to manage the anticipated growth in flights and passengers at Changi in the run-up to T5. Ms Janet Ang asked about the development of Tuas Port, which will be completed in four phases by the 2040s, with an annual handling capacity of 65 million TEUs. Reclamation for Phase 1 has been completed and Phase 2 is at about 60%. When the berths in both phases are fully operational, Tuas Port's annual handling capacity will be more than 40 million TEUs. Second, to strengthen our capabilities, we will invest in our workforce, redesign jobs and deepen skillsets. Our upcoming rail lines will create about 800 good jobs. We will use the Rail Manpower Development Incentive to equip our workers for these jobs. More than 2,900 have already been trained in skills, such as data analytics and condition-based monitoring since 2020. This year, we are committing a further $12 million to this effort.”
“Our maritime hub was resilient and performed well through the pandemic. In 2022, we achieved our second highest container throughput of 37.3 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) and remained the world's largest transshipment hub. More recently, due to global economic headwinds, international container trade and container freight rates have softened from the exceptionally high levels of 2021, but the mid- to long-term outlook remains positive. Overall, our air, sea and land transport sectors are back on track. Capitalising on the recovery, as well as learning from the pandemic, we are now gearing up for growth. We have three priorities – capacity, capability and sustainability. First, a core focus of my Ministry is to invest in our transport infrastructure capacity to meet future needs. Our major projects are progressing well. In January, we held ground-breaking ceremonies to commence work on the Jurong Region Line and the Cross Island Line. We are on course to expand our rail network by a further 100 kilometres over the next decade, with eight in 10 homes within a 10-minute walk of train stations. To Mr Gan Thiam Poh's query, these lines will have several points of intersections with our existing rail network, thereby enhancing the resilience of the system and convenience for commuters. Our land connectivity with Malaysia will improve with the Johor Bahru-Singapore Rapid Transit System Link, which is expected to be completed by the end of 2026. As for Mr Gan's question about a possible high-speed rail (HSR) link, I would like to reiterate what we have said before, that Singapore remains open to discussing any new proposal from Malaysia, starting from a clean slate. Mr Melvin Yong and Mr Dennis Tan sought an update on Terminal 5 (T5).”
“Today, the sector's workforce is at about 90% of pre-COVID-19 levels and we expect a full recovery by this year. But beyond recruitment, we must ensure that the new hires gain the requisite experience to meet the demands of the job and, also, to ensure their safety, welfare and morale, as Ms Ng Ling Ling has highlighted. Second, though Singapore is in now in Disease Outbreak Response System Condition (DORSCON) Green, we must remain alert to new threats from the virus and other similar threats. We are, therefore, closely monitoring the situation with the Ministry of Health (MOH) and must be prepared to respond quickly should the public health risk assessment change. This is the new normal for aviation. Third, the recovery of air travel will have to contend with uncertainties in the global economy and rising energy and manpower costs. Against this backdrop, Ms Poh had asked if there was room for airport charges to be raised. Last September, the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) and the Changi Airport Group (CAG) announced increases to the airport charges for passengers and airlines. We will review these charges periodically, so that CAAS and CAG can continue to invest in capacity building and essential infrastructure, while ensuring Changi remains competitive. Turning to land transport, our public transport ridership reached 90% of pre-COVID-19 levels in January this year. However, this recovery has been uneven. Public transport journeys to the Downtown Core in the morning peak are at about 70%; whereas journeys to other areas, like Queenstown, are at 90%; and Woodlands and Tuas are already back to pre-COVID-19 levels. We are tracking these travel patterns, which have yet to stabilise because of various adjustments to work practices.”
“Mr Chairman, I would like to thank all the Members who persevered till 8.00 pm last night to speak on the Budget of the Ministry of Transport (MOT). And many have made it back to the Chamber this morning. In responding to Members' questions and suggestions, my colleagues, Ms Amy Khor, Mr Chee Hong Tat, Mr Baey Yam Keng and I will elaborate on how my Ministry is working to build a resilient, sustainable and inclusive transport sector. My response will focus on three broad themes: recovery, growth and sustainability; and our social compact. Our air and land transport sectors have recovered strongly from the debilitating impact of the pandemic. Let me start with aviation, about which Mr Saktiandi Supaat and Ms Ng Ling Ling have enquired. At its lowest point in 2020, Changi's passenger traffic was less than 0.5% of pre-COVID-19 levels. Today, Changi's passenger traffic volumes, flights and city links stand at about 80% of pre-COVID-19 levels. To Mr Gan Thiam Poh's query, flights at Seletar have fully recovered since January this year. Based on the current trajectory, Changi should return to pre-pandemic levels by 2024, possibly earlier. One determinant, as Ms Ng Ling Ling noted, would be how quickly air connectivity with China is restored. Weekly services to China have more than doubled since January, from 38 to nearly 100. That is about a quarter of the number we had in 2019, with Chinese and Singapore carriers expected to resume even more services in the coming months. Ms Poh Li San asked about our aviation hub's challenges amidst the recovery. Let me highlight three. First, our aviation stakeholders must continue to ramp up their workforce to sustain the recovery.”
“Of the cars registered from 2010 to 2022, the proportion in each Open Market Value band, on average, is as follows.”
“Commuters who need to travel with young children are able to select from various family-friendly services provided by our ride-hail operators, or request for a child car seat when booking private hire cars (PHCs). Over the past three years, there have been about 415,000 trips per year on family-friendly PHC services. The Ministry of Home Affairs tracks the number of violations of the Road Traffic Rules. According to the Rules, passengers below the height of 1.35 metres travelling in PHCs, like most other vehicles, must be properly secured by an approved child restraint appropriate for their height and weight, or a body-restraining seat belt when seated on a booster seat. The number of PHC drivers who were found to have violated this rule decreased from 66 in 2018 to 29 in 2019. This fell to one to two cases between 2020 and 2022, though the Traffic Police’s enforcement priorities and protocols have remained unchanged.”
“The CoopeRative and UnIfied Smart Traffic SystEm (CRUISE) project is intended to trial the use of artificial intelligence and multi-sensor data integration across multiple traffic junctions. The focus of the trial is to adjust traffic lights dynamically to optimise travel time for vehicles and other road users, such as pedestrians and cyclists who use pedestrian crossings. For CRUISE to be used to detect cyclists on roads, the Land Transport Authority would have to enhance the algorithms and conduct more trials, which would in turn make the system more complex and costly. With the increasing popularity of on-road cycling, the Government implemented various initiatives to improve road safety, such as new regulations following the on-road safety review conducted by the Active Mobility Advisory Panel and introduction of an on-road safety handbook for motorists and cyclists. We will continue to study ways to improve road safety for all users.”
“The Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) administers the Singapore Airworthiness Requirements 145 – Maintenance Organisation (SAR-145), which prescribes the standards and requirements to which any Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul company will need to achieve and maintain, in order to provide maintenance-related services to an owner and/or operator of a Singapore-registered aircraft. Under the SAR-145, approved companies are required to appoint a senior person as the quality manager, to ensure the company's full compliance with SAR-145 requirements. The quality manager should possess qualifications, including holding an aircraft maintenance engineer's licence or equivalent, and having relevant quality assurance experience. Members of the public may provide feedback via the CAAS website. They can also make use of CAAS' "Tell Sarah" portal, an online voluntary safety reporting system, to report safety hazards and unsafe practices. All "Tell Sarah" reports will be anonymised and kept confidential.”
“The Land Transport Authority (LTA) has been progressively installing noise barriers along the MRT viaducts fronting residential developments. So far, 21.5 kilometres of noise barriers covering 45 locations along our MRT viaducts have been installed; works are ongoing to install a further 5.5 kilometres of noise barriers at another 16 locations. These locations were selected following island-wide noise measurement studies conducted in 2011/2012 and again in 2018, to identify locations near above-ground MRTs where the noise level exceeded the National Environment Agency's (NEA) recommended threshold of 67 decibels averaged over an hour. These studies took into consideration potential increase in noise levels due to wear and tear of older tracks and increase in train frequencies. Since July 2016, NEA also requires conduct of Traffic Noise Impact Assessment (TNIA) for new developments if they result in residential areas being within 70 metres of above-ground MRT tracks and stations. LTA would study potential land traffic noise impact prior to construction of new above-ground MRT tracks and implement mitigation measures to ensure compliance with NEA’s noise guidelines. Reducing train speed is not advisable as it will increase journey time and reduce the carrying capacity of MRT lines. LTA works with train manufacturers and operators to mitigate noise in other ways. These include fitting trains with noise-dampening wheels, using ballast and concrete sleepers on the elevated tracks to better absorb vibration and noise, and servicing train wheels and tracks more frequently.”
“This question was addressed in the written reply issued for Question 15 for written answer for the 6 February 2023 Parliament Sitting. [Please refer to "Reasons for Continued Increase in Armed Robbery Cases Onboard Commercial Vessels in Singapore Strait", Official Report, 6 February 2023, Vol 95, Issue 81, Written Answers to Questions section.]”
“As at 31 December 2022, there were about 50,000 registered lorries. All lorries can be used to ferry workers in the passenger cabin. Lorries used to ferry workers on the rear deck are a subset of this number and need to meet additional requirements, such as having canopies, higher protective side railings, and rain covers. The Land Transport Authority (LTA) does not track the number of lorries that are actively used to ferry workers on the rear deck. About 34,000, or two-thirds, of lorries have Certificates of Entitlement (COEs) expiring within the next five years, while the remaining have COEs expiring in the next five to 10 years. Owners may choose to renew their vehicles' COEs up to the end of the statutory lifespan of 20 years.”
“To ensure that limited public funds are optimally utilised to benefit more people and those who need the facility more, the retrofitting of lifts at pedestrian overhead bridges (POBs) are prioritised based on two key considerations: first, the number of seniors and commuters with mobility challenges that will benefit from the lifts; and second, whether the lifts will facilitate barrier-free access by connecting these commuters to public transport nodes and healthcare institutions. Based on these criteria, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) has retrofitted the POB near Block 2 of Hougang Avenue 3 with lifts in 2018, as it would serve a high number of senior residents and those visiting the eldercare facility in the vicinity. The seven remaining POBs along Hougang Avenue 3 will be included in LTA’s future reviews. Four of them will be accorded higher priority than the other three which are located within an industrial estate and would serve a low number of seniors.”
“In 2022, there were 55 reported sea robbery incidents in the Strait of Singapore, which includes the territorial waters of Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia. This was an increase from 49 incidents reported in 2021. Similar to previous years, most of the incidents in 2022 occurred outside Singapore’s territorial waters. Most involved petty thefts of items such as engine spares and ship stores. As the Strait of Singapore includes the territorial waters of Malaysia and Indonesia, Singapore works closely with both countries on initiatives such as coordinated patrols and information-sharing to combat sea robberies. Singapore has also been playing a pivotal role in international cooperation to combat piracy and sea robbery, such as through the Regional Cooperation Agreement on Combating Piracy and Armed Robbery against Ships in Asia (ReCAAP). In addition, the Republic of Sinapore Navy (RSN) has hosted the Information Fusion Centre (IFC) since 2009, which shares real-time information on maritime security incidents with authorities of neighbouring countries through their deployed International Liaison Officers and other operational channels.”
“Malaysia-registered motorcycles require a valid Vehicle Entry Permit (VEP), Autopass card and insurance to cover third-party death or bodily injury to be used in Singapore. As of January 2023, there were about 100,000 Malaysia-registered motorcycles with valid VEPs. About half the number enter Singapore on each weekday.”
“Public transport services currently operate almost 18 hours daily, including on weekends and public holidays. In deciding whether to further extend these services, we need to strike a balance between meeting travel demand versus keeping the cost of public transport affordable for the majority of commuters and taxpayers. Night bus services were provided in the past on Fridays, Saturdays and eves of public holidays. However, the ridership was low, even prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. The average loading level even during the busiest hour was only 13%, which was far below that of regular bus services. The same consideration will apply to train services. In addition, we need to allow time for regular maintenance every night, outside operating hours, to ensure our trains run smoothly. The Land Transport Authority (LTA) will continue to monitor ridership demand after regular public transport operating hours and make adjustments where necessary, while paying careful attention to public transport operating costs. We are open to proposals from commercial operators who wish to provide after-hours services for certain locations and routes. For example, LTA has approved a trial by a private bus operator to run two night bus services from end-January 2023.”
“All public transport operators (PTOs) have training programmes, developed in consultation with various social service agencies, to equip their staff with the skills to look out for and assist commuters with disabilities, including those with invisible conditions. The "May I Have A Seat Please" identifier is an initiative that also helps staff look out for and assist commuters in need when required. Furthermore, PTOs often share updates on commuter inclusivity to all staff through their communication channels to reiterate its importance. Since 2016, training on commuter inclusivity has been included as part of the Enhanced Vocational Licence Training Programme conducted by the Singapore Bus Academy. All bus captains (BCs) undergo this training and over 6,450 BCs have graduated from the programme. Training materials are regularly reviewed based on feedback received from public and various social service agencies. In addition, the Land Transport Authority works with PTOs to ensure that the Bus Operation Control Centre staff are trained to advise BCs on how to assist commuters with disabilities if BCs require advice on the job. PTOs’ customer service hotlines are fully manned during the hotlines’ operating hours, and appropriate levels of manpower are planned for peak periods. PTOs also have in place other contingencies, such as training existing employees to answer hotlines when required, providing alternative channels for feedback and the option to leave a message for a return call.”
“On average, about 2% of motorcycles registered in Singapore were owned by Malaysian work pass holders over the past five years and there has been no discernible trend over the years. The Government does not track and collect data on rental of motorcycles.”
“From 2018 to 2022, there was on average of around 2,000 illegal modification offences by motorcycles, around 3,600 offences by passenger cars and about 2,200 offences by commercial vehicles. As illegal modifications are not differentiated by the weight class of commercial vehicles, this last category includes both light and heavy goods vehicles. All of these offences were detected through the Land Transport Authority (LTA)’s regular enforcement patrol. There is no discernible trend over the years, except that the number of illegal modification offences detected across the board dropped in 2020 due to lower overall vehicular traffic during COVID-19. Besides enforcement, there are other measures to deter illegal modifications. All vehicles are required to undergo regular inspections; if vehicles have been modified and do not meet inspection standards, they will need to make the necessary rectifications and have their vehicles re-inspected. Owners of vehicles that fail to pass the inspections will not be able to renew their road tax and use their vehicles on our roads. LTA has also recently increased the composition sum for first-time offenders who conduct illegal exhaust modifications which have the highest safety risks, from $500 to $1,000. Offenders of more egregious cases can be taken to Court, even if they are first-time offenders.”
“Covered linkways are built by various parties including the Housing and Development Board (HDB), Town Councils (TCs) and the Land Transport Authority (LTA). LTA’s priority is to benefit as many commuters as possible, including seniors. Hence, covered linkways are constructed near high trip-generating clusters so that commuters are connected between major transport nodes and key amenities such as schools, libraries, community clubs, healthcare and eldercare institutions. Over the years, the network of covered linkways built by LTA has expanded significantly to over 200 kilometres today. Moving forward, LTA will continue to focus on covered connectivity near high trip-generating clusters to serve commuters’ needs at public residential estates. Covered linkway requests sent to LTA which are not close to major transport nodes and key amenities are considered in consultation with other agencies on a case-by-case basis. Factors considered include pedestrian traffic, the needs of vulnerable pedestrians, and the possibility of connecting to the covered linkway network provided by HDB, Town Councils and private organisations, including Management Corporation Strata Titles (MCSTs), to provide commuters with greater overall sheltered connectivity.”
“As planned, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) will commence works on the Silver Zone at Bedok Reservoir Road by end-2023. These works will be constructed together with the planned cycling path to minimise inconveniences to residents. This is part of the planned 50 Silver Zones that will be completed islandwide by end-2025.”
“Many of LTA's vehicle-related fees have been unchanged over many years. The 25 fees have not been increased in at least five years, and in some cases more than 10 years. However, operational requirements, such as enhancing data security measures, have increased. Fees therefore have to be adjusted to ensure that we are able to recover the administrative costs of providing these services. The full list of services with adjusted fees is available on OneMotoring. The dollar increases range from $1.07 to $130, with most fees experiencing about a 10% to 40% increase, depending on the base rate of the fee. The details are as follows. The fees collected are to cover the higher administrative costs of providing these services, which would otherwise be borne by taxpayers.”
“LTA will continue to evaluate and implement measures to reduce noise along stretches of expressways near residential areas. For the stretch of Tampines Expressway that intersects the estates of Sengkang and Punggol, LTA has plans to implement the low-noise pavement mix in 2025.”
“As of 30 November 2022, about 15% of car-owning households own two or more cars, and the number of such households is roughly the same across HDB, condominium and landed property.”
“To safeguard Singapore’s air quality, the Government stipulates emission standards for foreign vehicles entering Singapore, similar to the practice for local vehicles. For instance, foreign motorcycles and passenger vehicles are not to emit any smoke or visible vapour. From 6 April 2023, foreign motorcycles will be required to meet the same minimum in-use limits on carbon monoxide and hydrocarbon emissions as local motorcycles. Foreign commercial vehicles are not to emit smoke with opacity exceeding 40 Hartridge Smoke Units. Motorists found to be non-compliant with the above regulations will be issued with composition fines. They may also be turned back at the checkpoints if they accumulate outstanding composition fines for various offences, including non-compliance with vehicular emission standards. The Government will continue to work with neighbouring countries, such as Malaysia, to encourage the adoption of cleaner energy vehicles and to address cross border vehicular emission issues. We are already doing this through various bilateral platforms, such as the Joint Ministerial Committee for Iskandar Malaysia and sectoral mechanisms on environmental protection.”
“LTA deploys enforcement officers daily to detect and enforce against active mobility offences on public paths, such as using non-compliant personal mobility devices (PMDs). LTA also conducts targeted operations against retailers who display non-compliant devices, including illegally modified ones, for sale. From January 2020 to November 2022, 295 riders were caught riding registered PMDs that were non-compliant, while 70 violations were detected from operations against retailers. Non-compliant devices are immediately seized and enforcement actions are taken against errant users or retailers found to have contravened the law. In addition, since April 2020, e-scooters are required to undergo inspections every two years to ensure their continued compliance with regulations. E-scooters that are found to be non-compliant are automatically deregistered and are no longer allowed to be used on public paths. Since May 2022, about 4% of e-scooters undergoing periodic inspection failed the inspection and were automatically deregistered. We will continue to press on with our enforcement and public education efforts. I urge PMD businesses and users to play their part in complying with device regulations, for their own safety and the safety of those around them.”
“The Land Transport Authority (LTA) has assessed that traffic signal countdown timers do not necessarily improve road safety. LTA has studied the experiences of other countries and found that installing traffic signal countdown timers did not lead to any significant improvement in road safety. In fact, some jurisdictions that implemented traffic signal countdown timers eventually phased them out. This could be due to motorists speeding up to try to beat the red light, and such findings were corroborated during a six-month trial conducted by LTA at the junction of North Bridge Road and Rochor Road. Nevertheless, LTA will continue to monitor and study this and other developments in traffic design, to improve road safety for all users.”
“From January 2020 to November 2022, two notices have been issued for the use of Personal Mobility Aids (PMAs) on roads and in both cases, the offenders were fined. PMA users convicted of riding on roads may face a fine of up to $2,000 and/or jailed up to three months for first-time offenders. Where the offence is egregious, for example, where the offender has committed multiple offences, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) will investigate and where appropriate, prosecute the offenders in Court.”
“From 2020 to 2022, there has been a decrease in the number of offences detected where Personal Mobility Devices (PMDs) were ridden on roads/footpaths, and for non-compliant PMDs on public paths (Table 1). Non-compliant PMDs are seized if they do not comply with the device criteria for use on public paths, and PMDs detected on roads are also seized for safety reasons. As such, the number of PMDs seized would be the sum of these two figures. Offenders convicted of riding on the wrong paths or riding PMDs on roads may be fined up to $2,000 and/or jailed up to three months for first-time offenders. The Land Transport Authority (LTA)'s Active Mobility Enforcement Officers also conduct checks on active mobility devices, for example, PMDs, to ensure that the devices meet the requirements stipulated by LTA. Where the offence is egregious, for example, the offender committed multiple offences, LTA will investigate and where appropriate, prosecute the offenders in Court. LTA will not hesitate to take enforcement action against errant riders, and will continue to inculcate safe riding behaviours, rules and guidelines through sustained public education and outreach efforts.”
“SBS Transit launched the Travel Buddy Programme in December 2022 for passengers in wheelchair to navigate a public transport journey with the help of a trained travel buddy. As the initiative is newly launched, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) will work with SBS Transit to evaluate its effectiveness progressively. The Ministry has been working with public transport operators on inclusive transport initiatives under the Caring SG Commuters Committee. Initiatives that receive positive feedback have been expanded network wide. One example is the "May I Have a Seat Please" lanyard for commuters with invisible disabilities, which started out as a trial under Go-Ahead Singapore. A second example is the listing of public transport nodes as Dementia Go-to Points which was initiated by SMRT Corporation Ltd (SMRT). LTA will continue to work with public transport operators to explore new initiatives and expand those found to be effective, to create a more inclusive public transport system for all commuters.”