Syed Harun Alhabsyi
Singapore
“I thank the Member for his supplementary question as well as his deep concern over individuals who may have difficulty completing the SSG courses. Indeed, even after committing to the course, some individuals do have challenges managing the training load, juggling work or study, health complications as well as unforeseen commitments.”
“In 2025, more than 90% of learners completed their SkillsFuture Singapore (SSG) courses. SSG does not process course fee waiver requests for learners who fail to complete their courses. Such waivers are subject to the contractual agreement between learners and training providers.”
“I beg your indulgence, Mr Speaker. Mr Speaker, I do not have the full number, the extent of the collective amount as asked by Mr Pritam Singh. But I can give him some indication in terms of what are the current numbers that we are looking at for specific agencies.”
“I would like to reiterate again to the Member that the nature of the fees that were charged previously was on account of the service that was rendered by the four agencies. The fees were openly prescribed to the extent to where the services were required by Singaporeans, as well as consumers.”
“Chairman, I move the amendment* to clause 20 standing in the Minister's name, as indicated in the Order Paper Supplement. The reason for the amendment has been explained in my Second Reading speech.”
“Chairman, I move the amendment* to clause 2 standing in the Minister's name, as indicated in the Order Paper Supplement. The reason for the amendment has been explained in my Second Reading speech.”
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“After National Service, he reflected on his interests and took up a Diploma in Supply Chain Management at Republic Polytechnic. For his final year project, Hock Yang worked with his team to develop a solution to optimise air freight container space utilisation, a persistent challenge in logistics. He was awarded the LF Logistics Scholarship in 2024 and the prestigious Lee Foundation Scholarship in 2025. Moving forward, Hock Yang now plans to pursue a degree in Infrastructure and Project Management at National University of Singapore, a far cry from his initial interest in Aerospace Engineering. Hock Yang's story is just one of many. Some might not take the most direct route to a work-ready qualification or may return as adult learners to upgrade to a diploma or degree at a later stage in life. This is why we have worked hard to ensure that our education system remains responsive and walks alongside our students at all life stages, as their interests deepen and aspirations evolve. This can only be done with the support of family, community and industry partners. Let us continue to work together to support our children's curiosity and aspirations, and help them fulfil their potential, regardless of family background or starting point in life – for every child learns differently. [(proc text) Question put, and agreed to. (proc text)] [(proc text) Resolved, "That Parliament do now adjourn." (proc text)] Adjourned accordingly at 8.24 pm.”
“Students can use the Opportunity Fund for overseas trips, enrichment programmes like leadership camps and creative arts workshops and personal learning devices. Through MOE's Pathfinder Plus programme, Secondary 3 and 4 students from disadvantaged backgrounds attend workshops that MOE curates according to the students' strengths. These workshops are complemented with job tasters or learning journeys to organisations across various industries. Schools also work with other Government agencies and community partners like self-help groups, Social Service Offices (SSOs) and Family Service Centres (FSCs) to engage such students to develop their aspirations and broaden their perspectives. Under MSF's ComLink+ programme, dedicated SSO family coaches and FSC case workers work with lower-income families with children below 21, to support the child's education while helping the family address broader challenges that may affect their progress towards their long-term goals. Let me come back to something I said earlier, that finding the right post-secondary path does not have to happen all at once, or perfectly, on the first try. Many of us know from our own lives that the journey of learning and discovery rarely unfolds in a straight line. There are moments of clarity, but also moments of doubt, of redirection and most importantly, of growth. I would like to close by recounting the story of Tan Hock Yang, a student who recently graduated earlier this week from Republic Polytechnic. Hock Yang initially wanted to follow in his brother's footsteps into Aerospace Engineering, but soon realised that it was not his cup of tea while pursuing a diploma in that field.”
“This partnership supports students in fostering interest in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields through authentic industry learning experiences, to help make sense of their options as mentioned by Mr David Hoe. Secondary schools also organise learning journeys to organisations and dialogues with community and industry partners. MOE welcomes more school-to-industry partnerships to open more opportunities for our students in our schools. In our polytechnics and ITE too, there are various efforts to help students transition from school to work, with the support of industry and community mentors. One example is the collaboration between Mentoring SG as well as the polytechnics and ITE, under which mentors work with polytechnic and ITE students to guide them on their longer-term career and life goals. Daryl Thoe, a culinary student at Temasek Polytechnic and a young aspiring chef, went through Mentoring SG's programme last year. His mentor, Irene Hamons, a private dining host and creative entrepreneur provided practical guidance on improving his culinary skills and coached him in goal setting. These helped him gain confidence and clarity on his goals that now drive his culinary aspirations. Third, MOE dedicates additional resources to support and empower students from disadvantaged backgrounds in their exploration of options and opportunities. Since 2019, MOE has provided more resourcing for schools with more students from disadvantaged backgrounds. MOE's Opportunity Fund also provides financial support to enable such students to access development opportunities. These include our schools' wide range of co-curricular activities, as well as talent and enrichment programmes.”
“Spanning six broad clusters – Business, Engineering, Information Technology, Hospitality and Tourism, Mathematics and Science, Media and Design – each ApLM module exposes students to at least one related IHL course and industry. In addition, polytechnics and ITE also conduct school visits and open houses, providing exposure to course offerings and an authentic taste of what student life could be like in these institutions. Second, MOE works with a network of community and industry partners to offer a wide range of authentic, real-world experiences in higher education and industry. Our Partnerships Engagement Office actively reaches out to schools and industry organisations to identify and support partnerships that enrich learning for our students. Our partners serve as mentors and role models, offering advice and internship opportunities that indeed expose students to diverse pathways. The Applied Learning Programme connects classroom learning with real-world applications, providing opportunities for students to appreciate the relevance and value of their learning beyond the classroom. Partnerships with community and industry partners help students explore and develop their strengths and interests further in areas such as business and entrepreneurship, engineering and robotics, and journalism and broadcasting. For example, Peirce Secondary School has a partnership with Thales Singapore focused on exposing students to engineering and technology careers. This year, students will experience an assembly career talk, visits and a work shadowing programme.”
“Through education and career fairs and learning journeys, students are better equipped to make key decisions on subject combinations and post-secondary education pathways. Institutes of higher learning (IHLs) offer flexible pathways to give students time and space to explore their interests and strengths. Our polytechnics offer the Polytechnic Foundation Programme and Common Entry Programme, allowing students to choose a broad cluster, such as the sciences, without deciding on a specific diploma programme when they enter polytechnic. With the opportunity to be exposed to different areas and skill sets in their cluster for up to a year, students can make informed decisions about their specialisations, allaying to some extent Mr David Hoe's concern about the risk of course mismatch and its implications. Beyond the curriculum, MOE provides students with opportunities to get a taste of the next stage of their schooling or working life. As Mr David Hoe has pointed out, a hands-on approach will help students define success for themselves and explore areas that they may wish to grow into and aspire towards. Our ECG Counsellors and Career Coaches stay current with emerging trends through professional development and networking sessions, to better provide our students with the personalised information and guidance to navigate the opportunities available for them. To support students’ transition from secondary school, polytechnics and ITE offer three-day Applied Learning Modules (ApLMs), as highlighted by Mr David Hoe earlier, providing students with authentic and immersive hands-on learning experiences that help them to discover their interests and their strengths, and make informed education and career choices.”
“Mr Speaker, I thank Mr David Hoe for his suggestions on the use of Curiosity Credits 2.0 to empower our students to make informed choices about their education and their future. Experience is indeed a great teacher and we are open to ideas, like Mr Hoe's, that can bolster our existing range of programmes to guide our students in their educational journeys. But I would also like to gently offer a different perspective on one aspect of Mr Hoe's Motion – that is not having the perfect fit at 16 means it could be too late. Certainly, not everyone must have everything figured out in secondary school to succeed in life. In fact, what might look like a suitable pathway at 16 may look very different just several years later. We must, instead, ready our students with resilience and adaptability towards change through developing their 21st Century Competencies. With this goal in mind, MOE has a three-pronged approach in supporting students to discover their interests and strengths, develop their potential and choose their post-secondary pathways wisely. Members will already see some parallels with Mr Hoe's proposal. First, MOE offers exposure opportunities for our students at key junctures in their educational journey to understand how their choices today may shape their options tomorrow. Within the school curriculum, MOE supports students in making informed education and career choices and prepares them for lifelong learning. In secondary school, students explore the diverse pathways available to them through ECG programmes. This exploration allows them to develop a deeper understanding of their sense of purpose, their interests and their strengths.”
“Chairman, I move the amendment* to clause 20 standing in the Minister's name, as indicated in the Order Paper Supplement. The reason for the amendment has been explained in my Second Reading speech. [(proc text) *The amendment read as follows: (proc text)] [(proc text) In page 24, line 10: to leave out “Sewerage and Drainage Act 1999” and insert “Sewerage, Drainage and Coastal Protection Act 1999”. (proc text)] [(proc text) Amendment agreed to. (proc text)] [(proc text) Clause 20, as amended, ordered to stand part of the Bill. (proc text)] [(proc text) Clause 21 ordered to stand part of the Bill. (proc text)] [(proc text) Bill reported with amendments. (proc text)]”
“Chairman, I move the amendment* to clause 2 standing in the Minister's name, as indicated in the Order Paper Supplement. The reason for the amendment has been explained in my Second Reading speech. [(proc text) *The amendment read as follows: (proc text)] [(proc text) In page 4, line 13: to leave out “Sewerage and Drainage Act 1999” and insert “Sewerage, Drainage and Coastal Protection Act 1999”. (proc text)] [(proc text) Amendment agreed to. (proc text)] [(proc text) Clause 2, as amended, ordered to stand part of the Bill. (proc text)] [(proc text) Clauses 3 to 19 inclusive ordered to stand part of the Bill. (proc text)] Clause 20 –”
“I beg your indulgence, Mr Speaker. Mr Speaker, I do not have the full number, the extent of the collective amount as asked by Mr Pritam Singh. But I can give him some indication in terms of what are the current numbers that we are looking at for specific agencies. In terms of the fees charged by HDB, the fees range from $3.27 for the renewal of a policy under the HDB Fire Insurance scheme for owners who default in renewing the policy, to $545 for an application for HDB's consent to sell a commercial property not under the lodgement scheme. We have other administrative fees, which are also levied. But in in total, specific to HDB, as an example, the total annual amount collected — Give me a minute just to make sure my numbers are right.”
“The fees, which were previously considered as administrative charges, it has been advised to MND to ensure, moving forward, requires legislative backing to continue. Because it is in the service of the statutory functions of the four agencies that are part of this amendment.”
“It should have been prescribed and therefore, it was better that it would have been in legislation. An hon Member: [Inaudible.]”
“I would like to reiterate again to the Member that the nature of the fees that were charged previously was on account of the service that was rendered by the four agencies. The fees were openly prescribed to the extent to where the services were required by Singaporeans, as well as consumers. And therefore, to that end, the services were indeed duly provided for by the agencies, and on top of that, it was on the basis of cost recovery. I hope that reassures the Member that whatever fees that were rendered were indeed transacted appropriately through the different agencies, in accordance with their desire to make sure that the services were rendered for the public good, as well as that of the industry.”
“And essentially, it seeks to validate past collections of the same identified fees, which then further ensures that the fees are then subsequently legislated, the agencies are given the legislative backing to further promulgate these fees and going forward, the fees will be regularised through subsidiary legislation under relevant parent Acts.”
“Mr Speaker, I thank the Member for the clarification. First of all, it is important that we frame this Bill amendment appropriately. The Member frames it as having those affected, whereby it seems to suggest that there was a mistake made in the past and therefore we are trying to correct it; and something that we have done in the past seem to be egregious in that sense. But the spirit of this Bill is really about making sure that we move forward with the legislative backing and mandate for our agencies. Previously, these everyday charges, with regard to allowing the four agencies to fulfil their statutory functions, were regarded as administrative charges. And services were indeed duly provided by the agencies, and tomorrow, services will still be provided for by the agencies. And in the course of providing these services, they had expended additional resources to deliver the services to the end user, manpower cost, administrative cost, system cost, with a view towards delivering services for the public. And on top of that, these fees were charged on the basis of cost recovery for the provision of such services, and as I have mentioned earlier in my Opening Speech as well as the Round-up Speech, that the review was conducted by the Ministry in 2025 in consultation with AGC, and it was advised that it is better for the fees charged for carrying statutory and regulatory functions to be provided for in legislation, which is what we are doing today. So, the framing of what Mr Fadli is saying that it is something that we are trying to claim back or claw back, it is not the right framing for which we are actually moving this Bill forward.”
“To Mr Abdul Muhaimin's question, NParks will continue to partner agencies, such as the People's Association and Town Councils, on enforcement and surveillance efforts to deter illegal wildlife feeding. We do need appropriate penalties to deter errant behaviours, but our approach is not merely to penalise. NParks will continue its public education efforts and partner with the Agency for Integrated Care, Town Councils and other agencies to engage elderly offenders and those with mental health or psychological needs, to understand their underlying needs and motivations that drive such behaviour to address misconceptions and to raise awareness on the negative impacts of bird feeding. NParks offers feeders with mental health needs nature-based activities, like community gardening and bird watching, as alternatives to feeding. To Ms Hazlina Abdul Halim's question on whether the Government would publish data on illegal bird-feeding, we have previously shared data with this House and will continue to do so where appropriate. Moving on to other miscellaneous amendments, Member Ms Valerie Lee asked about the use of management funds of MCST. To clarify, the present amendments that are part of the Bill had already been passed under the Building Maintenance and Strata Management (Amendment) Act 2017, and do not introduce new policy. The amendments reenact these provisions, moving them into the Statutes (Miscellaneous Amendments) Bill to facilitate staged commencement. The substantive policy intent remains unchanged. Mr Speaker, Sir, although this Bill is largely technical in nature, it does play an important role in maintaining a clear and reliable legal framework to support the work of public agencies and delivery of services. I seek the House's full support for the Bill.”
“This approach aligns to that for validations under previous Bills, such as the Transport Sector (Miscellaneous Amendment) Bill. None of the validated fees were previously subject to legal challenge or adverse judicial comment. Moving forward, the agencies will assess if new fees or charges being introduced are related to the carrying out of statutory or regulatory functions and properly prescribe them in legislation if needed. Fourthly, Mr David Hoe has asked about how the Government will ensure that ordinary individuals do not unknowingly break the law under the expanded endangered species framework. Mr Speaker, NParks' approach is to tackle the issue upstream, through regulating traders and businesses alongside public education and outreach, so that ordinary consumers and hobbyists are not left in the dark. Information is available on the NParks' website and members of the public are welcome to reach out to NParks for clarity on whether permits or certificates are needed. On the amendments to the Wildlife Act, Ms Hazlina Abdul Halim and Mr Abdul Muhaimin Abdul Malik asked about the Government's plans to educate the public about the impact of feeding wildlife and partnership with social service agencies, particularly for seniors. Ms Elysa Chen asked whether the Government would consider alternative penalties for repeat bird-feeding offenders, given that some offenders are seniors whose behaviour is linked to loneliness and a need for social support. As repeat offences will no longer be punishable only with a fine, the Court will have other sentencing options under the Criminal Procedure Code 2010, including community-based orders, such as mandatory treatment orders.”
“I wish to assure Mr David Hoe that the fees were appropriate and charged in good faith for services that were duly provided, based on the principles of cost recovery. We also disagree with how Mr Andre Low and Mr Fadli Fawzi have characterised the issue. MND has chosen to bring this issue to Parliament as we are open and transparent about the matter. The fees charged were appropriate, not wrongly collected and we are validating to ensure that this is, moving forward, aligned with legislation. Mr Andre Low also mentioned that 18 fees were acknowledged as genuinely wrongly charged, collected against policy intent and were subsequently refunded as part of the Goods and Services Tax (Amendment) Bill in 2024. However, in those cases, only the GST was refunded and not the actual fee itself, as they were collected in line with policy intent. In the specific case of compulsory acquisition by the HDB, GST was not charged as part of the fees, and the fees were also collected in line with policy intent. To Mr Muhaimin's point on compulsory acquisition of HDB flats, compulsory acquisition cases are assessed on a case-by-case basis, and some cases are not just due to mortgage arrears, but are due to the violation of the HDB lease, such as renting out the entire flat during the minimum occupation period. On Ms Valerie Lee and Ms Hazlina Abdul Halim's queries, the fees are validated up to the date on which the fees are regularised and not 7 April 2026. The cut-off date of 7 April 2026 is the date of the First Reading of the Bill. If the Bill is passed, legal proceedings with respect of the collection or payment of the fees will be prevented from being instituted between the First Reading and the date which the Bill comes into force.”
“All regulatory, decision-making and adjudicative functions remain solely with the respective Boards. These arrangements allow the Boards to focus on their core functions, while benefiting from BCA's sectoral expertise and the economies of scale from shared administrative resources. The next area is on the recognition of pre-qualification experience for professional engineers and architects. Mr David Hoe asked whether recognition of pre-qualification experience might dilute professional standards. The answer is no. To be clear, this set of amendments allow the Professional Engineers Board and the Board of Architects to consider recognising relevant pre-qualification experience. Before doing so, the Boards will assess whether the pre-qualification practical experience is relevant and adequately contributes to candidates developing the competencies and skills expected of a professional engineer or registered architect. The third theme of questions surround the validation of fees collected by MND's Statutory Boards, which Mr David Hoe, Ms Valerie Lee, Mr Fadli Fawzi, Mr Andre Low and Ms Hazlina Abdul Halim raised. The fees and charges in question were introduced over the years by various Statutory Boards for the provision of specific services to support residents' and industry's needs. The policy intent is clear and consistent with cost recovery principles, but the fees were not formally prescribed in subsidiary legislation or the parent Act at the time of implementation, as they were first regarded as administrative charges. Upon a 2025 review conducted by MND, in consultation with the Attorney-General's Chambers (AGC), MND was advised that it is better for these identified fees to be provided for in legislation.”
“To Mr Abdul Muhaimin Abdul Malik's question about the maintenance and upkeep of the completed works in EUP, the maintenance of upgraded infrastructure and facilities is undertaken by the respective agencies, such as NParks and LTA. A resident-centred approach is adopted for the evaluation of upgrading works, to assess whether the upgrades make a meaningful difference to residents' daily lives. For example, under the recently launched EASE (Private) programme, BCA has introduced a post-installation feedback process to seek residents' views on their satisfaction with the application and installation process and to identify areas for improvement. To Mr Abdul Muhaimin Abdul Malik's question about the EASE (Private) programme, I wish to clarify that BCA appoints the contractors to install the senior-friendly fittings for eligible seniors to improve mobility and safety within their homes. MCSTs are not involved in this process. After installation, the owners or occupants would be responsible for the maintenance of the fittings. We have announced the details of the programme in February 2026 and the Member may wish to refer to the details of the programme on the EASE (Private) website. Mr David Hoe also asked about the nature of BCA's administrative support to the Professional Engineers Board and the Strata Titles Boards, and the governance arrangements which will be put in place to ensure that the independence and judgement of the Boards is preserved. I wish to assure the Member that BCA's role is strictly administrative. BCA provides routine back-office administrative support to the Professional Engineers Board Singapore and the Strata Titles Boards, such as in book-keeping and payroll processing.”
“These agencies will continue to lead planning and implementation of their development and infrastructure within their respective domains, such as for smaller-scale, municipal infrastructure. For instance, to Mr David Hoe's query, the retrofitting of lifts in overhead bridges will continue to be led by LTA. Agencies will continue to work together to resolve issues which require cross-agency collaboration. With regard to BCA's expanded functions in managing upgrading programmes in private residential estates, Ms Hazlina Abdul Halim asked about how BCA's role will complement that of other agencies, as well as about the resourcing for BCA. Mr David Hoe asked about the criteria for selecting private estates for upgrading, how works are prioritised and coordinated and how their impact is measured. BCA will manage infrastructure upgrading projects in private residential estates. The respective roles of other agencies, such as HDB and NParks, remain unchanged. When needed, BCA will work with agencies to coordinate upgrading works, as well as engagements with residents. And on resourcing, we will resource BCA as necessary to carry out its functions. Private residential estates are selected for upgrading based on a range of factors. For instance, under the EUP which enhances the publicly accessible common areas in private estates, MND considers factors, such as the estates' age and physical condition, the urgency of works needed and whether there is meaningful scope for improvement. The prioritisation of upgrading works is based on the specific conditions and needs of each estate, with a focus on improvements that directly enhance residents' safety, accessibility and liveability.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I thank Members for their support of the Bill, as well as their comments on the Bill. Please allow me to address Members' comments in six broad areas. The first area is on the expanded functions and duties of the BCA and URA. Mr David Hoe asked about URA's expanded coordinating role and how it will interact with existing planning functions of agencies, like LTA, HDB and PUB. First, let me clarify that URA already coordinates infrastructure and land use planning as part of its role as Singapore's national urban planning authority. URA works with different agencies through existing inter-agency platforms and administrative processes to ensure that infrastructure is implemented ahead of time. These are large-scale infrastructure which are planned and implemented to support developments, such as industries, public housing and transport facilities and train lines. URA's role here is to coordinate and resolve differences in priorities and timelines across different projects to ensure quality infrastructure can be delivered in an optimised way. Therefore, what the amendments seek to do is to formally recognise URA's role and give it a clear mandate to coordinate the planning of infrastructure. As individual agencies, each have their own development timelines and priorities, URA will coordinate the planning and implementation of major infrastructure, such as road viaducts and underground utilities, such as water, gas and electricity networks above a certain scale, to ensure underground space is used efficiently and public disamenities, such as repeated road openings, are kept to a minimum. The amendments do not supersede the primary planning responsibilities and functions of agencies, like LTA and HDB.”
“I thank the Member for his supplementary question as well as his deep concern over individuals who may have difficulty completing the SSG courses. Indeed, even after committing to the course, some individuals do have challenges managing the training load, juggling work or study, health complications as well as unforeseen commitments. It remains the case that SSG continues to encourage our training providers to work with learners for mutually acceptable solution. As mentioned earlier, once the payment has been made, any refunds will be subject to the training provider's refund policy, and successful refunds of the SkillsFuture credits will then be reinstated into the learner's wallet if it is indeed the case that it came from the SkillsFuture credits. That being said, we do our level best to encourage a mutually beneficial outcome, whether they be through course deferments, make up lessons or re-assessments and to the extent where that is possible, that is where we try to get the training providers to meet in the middle with the learner who wishes to upskill themselves.”
“In 2025, more than 90% of learners completed their SkillsFuture Singapore (SSG) courses. SSG does not process course fee waiver requests for learners who fail to complete their courses. Such waivers are subject to the contractual agreement between learners and training providers. In circumstances where learners face difficulties completing the course, SSG encourages training providers to work with learners to find a mutually acceptable solution, which could include course deferments, make-up lessons or reassessments. The Ministry of Education (MOE) and SSG track the employment outcomes for placement programmes. For example, of the learners who enrolled in our place-and-train work-study programmes, more than nine in 10 graduates were employed six months after programme completion. These statistics exclude learners who did not complete the programme.”
“In terms of the specific number of hours in terms of SEN, I do not have the exact number of hours that we have for our teachers, but suffice to say, they have the flexibility to look at what lessons they require, what additional modules they wish to be able to have; and they can apply that in turn, because it is readily accessible for them. If they are keen on developing further towards becoming a Teacher Trained in Special Needs, then they will transit into the 130-hour Certificate Module by the National Institute of Education, as I mentioned earlier. 10.31 am”
“I thank the Member for his supplementary questions. On the first question with regard to the guide and whether it is standardised across the schools – indeed, it is something that we endeavour to have. In terms of access for our teachers for their continual education, we do have a variety of platforms which are accessible for our teachers at different levels. First, we have the SEN Resource Portal and this offers schools with the structures, the guidelines and the resources to support students with SEN. Second, we also have the Transition Support Framework for which there is guidance of facilitating students' successful transitions in new settings through a planned, goal-oriented process. And third, we also have the SEN:se Online Professional Development, a series of practice oriented online modules on OPAL 2.0 for teachers' just-in-time learning and also bite-sized, locally produced modules covering perceptions about SEN, support principles on needs and not on diagnosis, as well as strategies on positive classroom culture and behavioural support. So, these are the variety of opportunities for our teachers to look at where their needs are in terms of their teaching, in the classroom and directly, they can apply through the learning process through their CPD. As to the Member's question about parents, there is separate information that we push through our Parents Gateway, to our parents, to be able to allow them to in turn, look towards supporting their children with SEN where the needs apply.”
“The Ministry provides guidelines, information and video resources to schools to support students with special educational needs (SEN). Through Teaching and Learning Guides, all teachers are provided with practical strategies to support the learning of diverse learners, including students with SEN. All new teachers undergo basic training covering how to engage students with SEN during their pre-service training. After they start teaching, they continue to deepen their SEN-related skills through workshops and Networked Learning Communities in areas, such as inclusive pedagogy. Micro-Learning Units offer just-in-time learning opportunities to build teachers' understanding of principles for supporting students with SEN and strategies for an inclusive classroom. Each school also has Teachers Trained in Special Needs who have completed a 130-hour certificate-level course conducted by the National Institute of Education. All mainstream schools also have SEN Officers who work with school personnel to develop customised interventions to support the specific needs of students with SEN, particularly those with higher needs. The Ministry of Education (MOE) facilitates systematic sharing of best practices among mainstream schools, as well as between mainstream schools and Special Education schools. MOE continually reviews our guidelines and good practices through monitoring international research, international good practice and local practice.”
“We are also setting up the research unit. The research unit will look at various aspects of this journey as well, but looking at, in terms of the heritage tradition, the arts and culture and cultural history and Nusantara. Some of these will present opportunities for our people, including non-Malays, to come on board this journey and share the joy of our nation building. So, it is something exciting, something that we have built together. I would like to deepen this journey with the community. My hope is that anyone who visits Malay Heritage Centre or takes part in the programme will know that this is a distinctively unique Singaporean Malay identity that has progressed and something that we should be proud of.”
“Chairman, I thank the Acting Minister for sharing about the revamped Malay Heritage Centre, as well as setting up the research unit. In some ways, we are looking back towards wanting to preserve the heritage and traditions of the Malay community. But I wonder whether there are initiatives to be able to celebrate and also share and showcase our unique Malay identity towards others, so that we can celebrate the diversity that we have here in Singapore. Assoc Prof Dr Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim: Sir, I thank the Member for the supplementary question. You can see the expanded role of the Malay Heritage Centre goes beyond just cultural preservation. It will showcase how Singaporean Malay identity has evolved into something truly distinctive. It comes along with a deeply rooted Malay identity and traditions perspective, but we have to recognise that our identity is uniquely and precisely being shaped by our multicultural environment. And this is where you see many Malays have excelled across many sectors and they come forward to contribute, regardless of race, language or religion, and all these are also being done while deeply rooted to our culture and faith. So, this balance is what sets our Singaporean Malays apart from the rest. And if you look at the Intangible Cultural Heritage Mentorship programme, it will help us to continue this journey. We have built this process of building our community and nation over the years, where you can see certain values in the Malay community that exemplify Singapore as a whole as well, in terms of its self-determination, openness and resilience. And that has enabled the Malay community here to be able to continue, while keeping to its tradition and identity, to strive for success and excel in their life.”
“(In Malay): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] Language, tradition and culture are the pillars that strengthen our ethnic identity. These elements shape how we understand and appreciate our respective heritage, and help us find the balance that enables us to build together strength and unity within Singapore's diversity. Could the Minister update us on the programmes in the works and the current status of the Malay Heritage Centre reopening, which is scheduled this April? How can the Malay Heritage Centre continue to enhance awareness, knowledge and appreciation of Malay culture, particularly among young people, while contributing to wider efforts to strengthen social cohesion and our collective efforts in nation-building for the future? Partnering Malay/Muslim and Indian/Muslim Organisations”
“The Singapore College of Islamic Studies (SCIS) is an investment into the next generation of religious leadership and scholarship for the local Muslim community and builds on the existing work and contributions of our madrasahs and religious institutions here. How will SCIS ensure that its programmes will maintain high standards of Islamic scholarship relative to other institutions around the world, with the aim of producing graduates who not only contribute to the needs of the Muslim community but extend their depth of scholarly knowledge, wisdom and expertise to also benefit wider Singapore society and indeed, the world as a whole? How does the Minister see SCIS' importance, centrality and development in the context of today's global developments and SCIS' potential contributions alongside Singapore's nation building efforts and forward aspirations as a country? Mosque Construction Planning Parameters”
“Much obliged. Just to give a sharper response to Mr Tan. We will be looking to implement the progress for the 40 blocks identified within the next three years.”
“Thank you, Chairman, to give a sharper response to Mr Dennis Tan on his earlier question.”
“With regard to the clarifications from Mr Dennis Tan, I thank him for the clarifications. Unfortunately, I do not have the exact number now, but I can assure you that within the next few years, we endeavour to actually achieve the lift access specific to these 40 blocks. But I will give you a sharper answer as soon as I have it. Yes, that is my commitment.”
“Thank you, Mr Chairman. With regard to the income ceiling for public rental housing, just to reassure the Member, as well as Members here, that there is no income ceiling for public rental since 2023. Applications are renewed, reviewed holistically and taking into account the individual household income, household size, housing budget, as well as individual circumstances. So, it really rings true with regard to our desire to look at the issue of each and every person and family holistically to then be able to see how best we can lean forward to support.”
“I thank the Member, Ms Nadia Ahmad Samdin, with regard to her two questions. For SRSF, as I mentioned in my speech, the response and feedback have been positive. I think the residents have found that their preferences of having a room to themselves and then, subsequent to that, having shared common facilities, continue to be something that has been well received. That is precisely why we are looking to scale. While some of the limitations that the Member has shared are specific to the current temporary site, some of the feedback will also be taken with us, as we transit into the permanent block as part of the new features. We will continue to develop the space and we will continue to see how best we can improve for our public rental flats. I understand that the question was relating to other vulnerable groups, moving forward, the third question. We will continue to see where the needs are and we will continue to see how best we can align some of our policies to be able to reach out to these vulnerable groups. It remains our intent to make sure that we are able to support as many vulnerable groups, including the divorcees and the single-parent families. We will see how best we need to tweak some of the policies to support in that regard. Mr Chairman, with your permission, I would like to also respond to Mr Fadli Fawzi's earlier clarification. I do have a response.”
“Chairman, I will take the question on the Lift Access Housing Grant. I thank Mr Ang Wei Neng for the question. As far as the Lift Access Housing Grant is concerned, it is meant for citizen households with members who have medical conditions or mobility issues and who need to urgently buy another flat with direct lift access. The eligibility is assessed based on needs rather than the age of residents and one of the requirements is that there must be a medical condition for which this particular family member or this particular owner has difficulty in terms of mobility and navigating the stairs, which present as a limiting factor at this point of time. We currently do not have any plans to expand the Lift Access Housing Grant criteria based on age. It is really about the medical needs. Where there is a doctor who can certify that this individual has an illness or conditions which affect his mobility, among other criteria of the Lift Access Housing Grant, then that is something that we will consider for that individual.”
“I thank the Member for clarifying the question. In terms of targets, we do not set any annual targets with regards to the transition from rental households to home ownership. Why we do this is because our objective is to support as many rental households as possible to achieve home ownership so long as they are ready. As I have shared in my speech earlier, in the last year alone, we have helped 2,000 rental families transit in terms of their plans to home ownership and they are waiting for their flats. Indeed, home ownership is a long-term financial commitment. A family's readiness for the transition to home ownership depends on their very specific circumstances, such as employment stability and their savings. So, we work very closely with each rental family to assess their level of readiness for home ownership and to support them in their journey. In recent years, we continued to enhance this support for them to achieve so.”
“Thank you, Chairman. With regard to the question on when the income threshold was last reviewed, I do not have the information with me at this point of time. I invite the Member to file a Parliamentary Question if he so chooses. But I would like to assure the Member that when it comes to rental households, we do look at wanting to be able to support our vulnerable households as much as possible. It is not merely just about the rental flats but also a wraparound approach with regards to supporting them. Certainly, it is not about just the rental flats, but also about their ability to sustain their income in terms of employment opportunities as well as supporting the entire family, including the educational needs of their children. With regard to the Member's question on — sorry, can I just clarify the second question?”
“If the resident bought the flat from the resale market, whether a flat has direct lift access is an observable physical feature of the property. On offering LUP to all blocks, regardless of cost, I hope Mr Tan appreciates that the Government needs to ensure public funds are spent prudently. HDB will continue to explore new technologies to provide direct lift access to remaining blocks where feasible. We will do our best to cover as many blocks as possible. However, where the cost of providing direct lift access is too high, it is more prudent for the flat owner to move to another unit in the neighbourhood with lift access, using the Lift Access Housing Grant, which we enhanced last year to $80,000. Mr Chairman, Singapore's public housing landscape is constantly evolving and we will do our best to meet the diverse needs of every Singaporean. Whether you need a place to stay as you navigate life's difficult challenges, or whether you have retired and want to age gracefully in place, we are here to support you.”
“The Ministry of Health will also roll out the enhanced Home Personal Care service, which includes 24/7 technology-enabled monitoring to detect falls and incidents. Mr Ang Wei Neng and Mr Dennis Tan asked about our LUP. Since 2001, the LUP has brought direct lift access to 99% of our HDB blocks. Over the years, HDB has piloted and adopted various solutions to bring direct lift access to more blocks. These include machine-room-less lifts and bubble lifts. In 2025, LUP was announced for six blocks and there are plans for LUP to be extended to about 40 more blocks progressively. Residents living in these blocks will be informed in due course. For residents living in blocks without direct lift access, including those in segmented flats, we have enhanced the Lift Access Housing Grant last year. Eligible families and singles can receive up to $80,000 and $40,000 respectively, to move to a flat with direct lift services. HDB continues to explore new ways to bring direct life access to the remaining blocks, such as working with research institutes to develop and test out new solutions. Earlier this year, HDB also called for proposals under the HDB Cool Ideas Enterprise. This is a platform that provides enterprises with funding support, mentorship and access to testbed facilities to co-develop solutions that improve the HDB living environment and residents' quality of life. I would also like to address Mr Dennis Tan's point that his resident at Block 832 did not know that their flat did not have the same floor direct lift access at the point of purchase. If the resident bought the flat directly from HDB, the relevant information would have been provided in the HDB sales brochure at the time.”
“In each Age Well Neighbourhood, we will improve access to healthcare services and upgrade senior-friendly amenities. This will add to the housing and care options available for seniors. We will continue to review and refine these options for seniors as we go along. We are also heartened to hear Mr Cai Yinzhou's interest in senior-friendly fittings for residents to age in place. Even if you are not in an Age Well Neighbourhood, you can still benefit from the many improvements through our upgrading programmes. These include the Neighbourhood Renewal Programme and Silver Upgrading Programme for HDB precincts and our Estate Upgrading Programme for private estates. Four precincts in Chong Boon will be the first to benefit from the Silver Upgrading Programme when the works are complete later this year. By next year, works will complete for another 12 precincts in Ang Mo Kio, Bukit Merah and Toa Payoh. Mr Fadli Fawzi asked about schemes for improvements within the flat to enable seniors to live more comfortably and securely. Seniors can tap on the EASE to receive subsidies to install items that improve mobility and safety. This is offered as part of HIP and EASE (Direct Application). From April this year, private estates can also benefit from EASE (Private). 2.30 pm Mr Cai Yinzhou also mentioned technologies, such as fire and fall detection. We have installed Home Fire Alarm Devices in over 80% of our public rental flats, with the remainder being progressively equipped at no cost to tenants. Home Fire Alarm Device installation is also offered under EASE and in flats that have fire-rated doors installed under HIP. On fall detection, HDB partners commercial vendors to offer optional fall detection packages that residents living in sold flats may subscribe to.”
“These are personal decisions and we will support Singaporeans regardless of the option they choose. For those who prefer to age in place, you can sell part of your flat's remaining lease to HDB under the LBS. The proceeds will be used to top up your CPF Retirement Account and provide you with monthly lifelong payouts under CPF LIFE. LBS also provides owners with up to $30,000 in cash bonus. From 2021 to 2025, for a 4-room flat, the average LBS proceeds, including the portion used to top up the CPF Retirement Account, plus the LBS bonus received was over $200,000. Alternatively, you can right-size to a smaller flat and use the sales proceeds to support your retirement. Seniors who right-size to a 3-room or smaller flat can qualify for the Silver Housing Bonus of up to $40,000. For instance, seniors can consider applying for a new 2-room Flexi flat from HDB or right-sizing to a Community Care Apartment. A Community Care Apartment integrates housing with care services and comes with preinstalled fittings and senior-friendly designs. Activities are regularly organised for seniors to interact and seniors receive custodial support through a community manager, providing a peace of mind. We have launched five Community Care Apartments since 2021. The next one is in Toa Payoh later this year. We will continue launching more Community Care Apartments across various towns, depending on the need. But there is a limit to how many Community Care Apartments we can build. That is why we are also doing more to make our living environment more senior-friendly and ensure that our seniors can age in place comfortably. Mr Henry Kwek and Mr Liang Eng Hwa will be pleased to hear that agencies are working together to roll out Age Well Neighbourhoods, starting with the first one in Toa Payoh.”
“Under the JSS-OR, applicants can apply individually and the social service agency that is appointed as the operator will help them to identify a suitable flatmate. Mr Lee Chwee San is one such applicant. He applied alone back in 2022 and New Hope Community Services, the operator for the Bukit Batok JSS-OR site, helped him to find a suitable flatmate. The operator also helps to manage tenancy matters, mediates among tenants where necessary and organises activities to bring tenants together. This has made a difference for Mr Lee, whom I met recently. He had attended a lohei session organised by New Hope and shared that such activities, which also include games sessions and other festive celebrations, were welcome opportunities to interact and bond with other tenants in the block. We further expanded options with the Single Room Shared Facilities (SRSF) pilot in 2024. Under SRSF, tenants have individual bedrooms but access to shared facilities. Both pilots cater to different preferences and both have received positive feedback. That is why we launched the first purpose-built SRSF block in October last year and will scale up both typologies in the coming years. More details will be shared when ready. Another group that we are paying increasingly close attention to is our seniors. As Ms Nadia Ahmad Samdin highlighted, your housing needs will evolve as you age. Some seniors want to monetise their flat, either by renting their flat out or by selling part of the remaining lease of their flat back to HDB. Others may prefer right-sizing to a smaller flat, notwithstanding the good memories of their current home. With a smaller flat, maintenance is easier and the proceeds can supplement their retirement needs.”
“They benefitted from the ComLink+ programme, where MSF works with agencies, including HDB, to provide integrated support to families with children under 21 years old. It encompasses assistance, such as in employment, education and housing. Things improved further when HDB's Home Ownership Support Team reached out to them. The Home Ownership Support Team guided them to examine their home purchase budget and flat options and prepared a clear plan towards home ownership. Through stable employment, joint efforts and consistent savings, Mr Nazri and Ms Nurfitrah, are now proud owners of a new 4-room flat in Yishun. Their journey was not easy, but it was made easier with strong and continuous support. Many other families experience similar life struggles. Throughout 2025, more than 2,000 HDB rental households have already booked HDB flats and are waiting for their completion. We are expanding our efforts to support HDB rental households. Last year, the Fresh Start Housing Grant for eligible Second-Timer ComLink+ rental families was increased from $50,000 to $75,000. Additionally, the Fresh Start Housing Scheme was also extended to First-Timer ComLink+ rental families, enabling them to buy a 2-room Flexi or 3-room Standard flat on a shorter lease. These measures will give opportunities to more HDB rental families to achieve their dream of owning a home and therefore improve their family's well-being. (In English): While most of our rental households are families, a substantial 40% are singles. Under the Joint Singles Scheme, single applicants must find co-applicants before they apply. We recognise that this can be challenging. That is why we introduced the Joint Singles Scheme Operator Run (JSS-OR) pilot in 2021.”
“In 2025, more than 2,000 of our existing rental households have booked a flat and are awaiting its completion. We have been doing even more to support rental households. Last year, we increased the Fresh Start Housing Grant for eligible second-timer ComLink+ rental families from $50,000 to $75,000. Sixty thousand dollars will be dispersed upfront to help the family reduce the mortgage loan required for the flat purchase and the remaining $15,000 will be dispersed over five years after key collection to support their mortgage payments. We also extended the Fresh Start Housing Scheme to first-timer ComLink+ rental families. They are now allowed to buy a 2-room Flexi or 3-room Standard flat on a shorter lease, which will be more affordable compared to those on a 99-year lease. As first-timers, they are eligible for the Enhanced CPF Housing Grant up to $120,000 in lieu of the Fresh Start Housing Grant. These enhancements will help empower even more households to achieve home ownership. HDB will also continue to work with rental households individually as home ownership is a long-term financial undertaking that is best informed by understanding each family's unique circumstances. Mr Chairman, in Malay, please. (In Malay): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] For many vulnerable families, HDB's rental flat scheme has been an important source of support that provides protection and relief when they face hardship. Take Mr Nazri and his family for instance. I met them recently when they were making preparations to celebrate Hari Raya. In 2020, Mr Nazri Zakaria, his wife Ms Nurfitrah Yahya and their four young children moved into a 2-room HDB rental flat.”
“Back then, home ownership felt unattainable. But agencies stepped in to lend a hand. Their family benefitted from the ComLink+ programme, where MSF works with agencies, including HDB, to provide integrated support to families with children under 21. Alongside this, HDB's Home Ownership Support Team reached out to Mr Nazri and Ms Nurfitrah to help them along their journey towards home ownership. Mr Nazri and Ms Nurfitrah shared that the assistance from the Home Ownership Support Team has been invaluable. While Mr Nazri had secured stable full-time employment as a bus driver to help his family regain their financial footing, home ownership still felt like a distant possibility initially. This was because the decision to purchase a home is indeed a big one. The Home Ownership Support Team worked through the purchase price of their possible flat options, explaining how much downpayment would be required as well as the anticipated monthly mortgage repayments. By breaking down the cost, the couple had better awareness of how this could fit within their budget. Home ownership started to seem more attainable. The Home Ownership Support Team then guided Mr Nazri and Ms Nurfitrah in their flat selection process and remained an important resource for the family all the way until they collected the keys to their new 4-room flat in Yishun recently. Today, Mr Nazri and Ms Nurfitrah are happy homeowners and I was privileged enough to meet their family at their new home. I am heartened by Mr Fadli Fawzi's support for the Government's efforts in helping lower-income families accelerate their transition to home ownership. Indeed, Mr Nazri and Ms Nurfitrah's story is one of many.”
“Mr Chairman, I thank Members for their questions and cuts. 2.15 pm Building an inclusive and cohesive society has always been at the heart of Singapore's public housing story. As Minister Chee mentioned, I will share how we have been and will continue to strengthen housing support for the more vulnerable Singaporeans. Let me start with the Public Rental Scheme, a vital social safety net for our lower-income and vulnerable households. Over the years, we have been improving HDB flat designs, including for our public rental flats. Newer rental blocks have better ventilation and natural lighting. We have improved the layout of each unit to maximise usable space. Rental blocks are also better integrated within each estate to facilitate access to precinct facilities. In fact, today we have rental flats in the same blocks as sold flats. We call these integrated blocks. They create more opportunities for families living in rental flats and sold flats to interact and contribute to our broader vision of building a more inclusive society. HDB has completed eight such integrated blocks and another 36 are under construction. Integrated blocks will form part of the approximately 6,300 public rental flats that will be completed over the next five years. This will increase our total supply of rental flats while also helping to refresh some of our existing rental stock. It will also further bring down waiting times for rental flats, which has already improved from a high of 11 months during COVID-19 to an average of three months today. For many of our vulnerable families, the public rental scheme has been an important source of support. Take Mr Nazri's family for instance. Mr Nazri Zakaria, Ms Nurfitrah Yahya and their four young children moved into a 2-room public rental flat in 2020.”
“I imagine that the time is ripe for AI to be included in such work and there is much to be harnessed in this regard. Second, the immediate impacts of climate change are indeed already felt by the public and these have implications on further outcomes, such as health and well-being. For example, undertaking prolonged outdoor activities, such as outdoor work or school physical education lessons when there is high heat stress, could increase the risk of heat-related injuries. As we enhance our weather forecasting capabilities, how can we better equip the public with timely information to make proactive and informed decisions on their daily activities, in an effort that protect their well-being against the backdrop of extreme weather changes? Heat Resilience”
“Chairman, climate change poses a serious and undeniable challenge for Singapore, carrying profound consequences for both present and future generations. As stewards of today's resources, we bear the responsibility of ensuring a sustainable and habitable environment for future Singaporeans. Singapore's Third Climate Change Study (V3) provides climate projections for Singapore and the region, attempting to cover the present till the end of the century. Even as we take a science-based approach to climate adaptation, informed by climate projections, there will surely be some margin of error and a range of uncertainty for these projections. Among other factors, they are contingent on the world's carbon emissions. Given the uneven pace of emissions reductions globally, we could indeed face adverse climate impacts earlier than projected, and with more devastating and extreme effects than initially anticipated. Therefore, we must continue to adapt. A key part to this adaptation is to build our capabilities today to be climate resilient, in order to safeguard our country and our people. First, how is Singapore enhancing its climate monitoring and forecasting capabilities so that we can have more accurate projections, as well as anticipate the effects of climate change, such as extreme weather events before they occur? How would MSE harness the latest technologies to support our efforts? Has the Ministry explored leveraging on artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance Singapore's climate resilience initiatives to sharpen our projections? I imagine that the work of climate monitoring and forecasting depends on a multitude of factors that can have many permutations and combinations, with potentially extreme consequences if we do not read the forecast right.”
“I thank the Member for his clarification question. Indeed, we do want our MTLs to be as accessible as possible, especially to our students who may have different inclinations as well as different abilities in the MTLs. So, at the level of primary school I mentioned there is a foundation MTL for those who may find themselves a bit weaker. We also have G1, G2 MTLs in secondary school, but at the other end, we also want to be able to stretch those who have the potential and ability in Mother Tongue. So, there is also higher MTLs in secondary school. But noting that there might be some who see MTLs as a strength, you can actually take higher MTLs now, regardless of your PSLE AL score. For those who want to further their studies, they can also go on to the language elective programme. So, to answer the Member's question, we do have different types of curricula to be able to allow for different abilities in our students and the intent is for them to be able to appreciate and learn to love the language of their own Mother Tongue at depth and to as high level as possible.”