Tan Kiat How
Singapore
“(In Mandarin): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] Thank you, Mr Speaker. Earlier I spoke about the policy objective of the Speak Mandarin Campaign, and we have remained consistent and united on this objective over the years. The question is our measures – how might we show some flexibility when it comes to movie screenings?”
“Sir, I can take the Member's question first, about the institutional arrangement. IMDA works very closely with different Government agencies including the NHB. In fact, we work closely on films, the classification of films. So, there is no need for an explicit institution arrangement as they are already doing so.”
“These are the primary objectives, but we will continue to see how we can think about meaningful information for family members. I know family members when they put their loved ones in nursing homes, there is a range of factors they consider.”
“These are lessons we have learned and we will make sure that those lessons would be incorporated in our standard operating procedures in our approach next time. Lastly, I just want to thank the Member for coming by at least a few times to my constituency to speak to my merchants, the hawkers, the residents.”
“For example, there are no dialect restrictions for arts performances or content available on the Internet and online streaming services. On free-to-air television and radio, we believe that Mandarin should continue to be the mainstay.”
“If there is more demand, we will discuss it with the film distributor and see how we can provide additional flexibility. But we will take a review as it comes along and it is certainly something for which we will speak to all members, industry partners, community partners about, and take their views on board.”
The complete record
Every one of 514 lines we hold for Tan Kiat How, in date order, each linked to its source. Free to read, in full, without an account. Page 10 of 11.
“Mr Speaker, Sir, the Government has put in place a wide range of support measures to help construction firms cope with the cost pressures brought about by COVID-19. This includes the $1.36 billion Construction Support Package to help firms in the construction industry cope with the cost of implementing safe management measures at worksites, as well as to co-share prolongation costs for public sector projects. Firms have also received support for their manpower costs through the Jobs Support Scheme and Foreign Worker Levy waivers and rebates. The Government has also put in place unprecedented legislative measures through the COVID-19 (Temporary Measures) Act, or COTMA, to provide relief for contractors and to enable equitable co-sharing of increased costs by project parties due to the pandemic. These measures have helped the construction industry tide over the COVID-19 pandemic. About 2,200 construction firms ceased operations in 2021, which is comparable to the average number of firms that wound up annually between 2018 and 2020. There were 2,187 firms that wound up in 2018; 2,347 firms that wound up in 2019; and 2,027 firms that wound up in 2020. We do not take decisions to intervene in private contracts lightly. The COTMA reliefs are meant to be temporary and firms will need to partner one another for long-term sustainability and resilience. However, given the significant impact of COVID-19 on the Built Environment (BE) sector, we have extended the relevant COTMA reliefs several times. This has provided firms with additional time and support to negotiate amicable outcomes between the parties. And we have seen encouraging signs of the sector’s recovery.”
“As I mentioned earlier, while some infrastructure projects may face construction delays in the immediate term and we may need to absorb higher cost to implement those projects in view of the current situation, many of the projects have not been impacted. The overall progress of the Singapore Green Plan is on track. We will press on with this effort and achieve the sustainability targets that we have committed to. Most importantly, many firms and developers see these investments in green and sustainability projects as something that are commercially viable and something that benefit them. Overall, this is a small part of the construction cost and we are committed to achieving those targets by 2030.”
“Sir, I thank the Member for her two supplementary questions. On the first question on the various upgrading programmes, for example, the NRP which the Member has referenced, these tenders are usually scheduled to be called from the second half of 2021 onwards and work should commence in 2022. And for those which have already been called for and work has been scheduled, these are projects that we will be happy to work together with the Town Council on. For these selected NRP projects, the Town Councils have been advised to consider alternative modes to engage the residents for those which need to garner the necessary support for the projects, given that we are in a pandemic. And for those projects which are looking at scope increases and budget reviews, we will look at them on a case-by-case basis. But we encourage the Town Councils to work within their budgets and reduce upgrading items if necessary. And it is something that we will discuss with the Member if there are issues raised for that specific project. On the second question around the 2030 targets, I thank the Member for her question. The Member referenced the targets that we announced at the Committee of Supply (COS) this year. Eighty percent of buildings to be green by 2030, 80% of new developments to be Super Low Energy buildings and achieving 80% improvement in energy efficiency for best-in-class buildings by 2030. We have been in discussion with the various industry partners including construction firms and developers. We are committed to these targets. These are ambitious targets we set for ourselves, for Singapore, under the Singapore Green Plan 2030.”
“The Government also provides funding support for the development and deployment of green technologies and works with financial institutions on the financing of energy efficiency retrofits. The Government remains committed to pursue our sustainable development agenda under the Singapore Green Plan 2030. Some infrastructure projects may face construction delays in the immediate term, but we will press on with our plans and sustainability efforts. We will also continue to monitor the impact of the pandemic on the sector and work closely with trade associations and other partners to support the industry through this crisis.”
“So, we will press on to deliver these projects and maintain a steady supply of public housing to meet demand. The increase in cost will not be passed down to flat buyers. Since August last year, when Build-To-Order (BTO) construction work fully resumed, the Housing and Development Board (HDB) has been working with its contractors and consultants to keep construction progress on track and avoid further delays as much as possible, while ensuring that project quality and safety standards are not compromised. HDB is also supporting contractors to bring in more workers from various countries and working with other agencies to minimise cost increases and reduce construction delays. For upgrading projects, HDB resumed construction works progressively from August last year. HDB has also been similarly working with its contractors and consultants to minimise the delays to these projects, while ensuring that any upgrading works are carried out in adherence to prevailing Safe Management Measures. The rise in construction costs has not adversely affected the demand for green buildings. The Gross Floor Area, or GFA for short, of developments applying for Green Mark certification has remained steady at around half of overall construction demand since 2018. One possible explanation is that the cost premium of fulfilling the Green Mark requirements is small in proportion to overall construction costs, at less than 5% for most projects. Furthermore, the resultant energy savings during the life cycle of a building outweigh the upfront investment costs. For example, a large office building of 15 storeys which achieves the Green Mark Platinum standard can save around $300,000 in operating costs annually.”
“Sir, construction costs in Singapore have increased due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The contributing factors include an increase in foreign manpower costs due to border measures that limit the inflow of our migrant workers, additional costs and reduced productivity due to the Safe Management Measures at the worksite to lower the risk of transmission in the sector, as well as increases in the cost of construction materials. The Government has implemented a suite of support measures to help construction firms cope with the additional costs arising from COVID-19. For example, the $1.36 billion Construction Support Package helps share the costs that firms have incurred for implementing safe management measures, as well as non-manpower related prolongation costs for public sector construction projects. Firms have also received support for manpower costs through the Jobs Support Scheme and Foreign Worker Levy waivers and rebates. We also provided rental waivers for tenants and lessees of Government-owned properties for industrial, office and agricultural use and are sharing the risks for bridging loans to help qualifying Singapore-based companies ease their cashflow. In addition, we put in place unprecedented legislative mechanisms to provide reliefs to construction firms. For example, the COVID-19 (Temporary Measures) Act requires project parties to fairly share the increases in foreign manpower costs due to COVID-19. These measures have mitigated some of the cost increases facing construction firms. That said, tender prices for public sector construction projects, including public housing and upgrading projects, have generally increased this year compared to pre-COVID-19 levels. We recognise that public housing projects are necessary to serve the needs of Singaporeans.”
“Sir, may I have your permission to take Question Nos 12 and 13 together, please?”
“I thank Members and the industry stakeholders for their strong support for these measures and to continue to support the sector for staying on its feet.”
“As with other Parts of the Act, the assessor mechanism is designed to provide for a quick and effective practical solution to disputes. The overarching role of the assessor is to make a decision that is just and fair in the circumstances and they have the power to ask for the appropriate information and documents from both parties, including information or documents not sought for by either party to achieve this. Ms Lim raised the concern that a company may be represented by a legally trained employee. In the first instance, we hope to minimise the need for developers and purchases to even require an assessor's determination and we will lay out clearly the qualifying costs that purchasers will be able to seek reimbursement for to make the process more efficient and easy for everyone. The Member will also know that in the ordinary case, if the matter were to go to Court, the company would have a right to legal representation. Therefore, we have taken the position that for assessments, companies cannot be represented by lawyers. But there is a difference if you say that no one who is legally trained should come before an assessor. What if the individual purchaser himself is legally trained? The point is that the assessment framework weeks to give relief on very simple facts when there would otherwise be no relief. So, simple process, simple facts. In the first instance, we hope to minimise the need for them to come before an assessor to seek determination. Mr Speaker, in conclusion, the amendments before the House today seek to provide continued support to the Built Environment sector to ride out the lingering impact of the pandemic.”
“To also to reply Mr Don Wee's query regarding the assessors, similar to Part 2, the assessors making the determinations under Part 8C will be professionals with qualifications and working experience in the relevant fields, such as law, accountancy, finance, or building and construction. There will be mechanisms put in place to ensure that assessors declare any conflict of interest upfront. Ms Sylvia Lim asked why Part 8C is not in operation yet and why amendments to Part 8C are being made at this juncture. There are many urgent Parts to the amendment that we moved in November last year, including Part 8, Part 8A and Part 8B and we have made sure that those Parts are in operation as quickly as we can. For Part 8C, we have been in active discussion over the last few months with the industry and partners that will run and operationalise the relief framework. And we are making amendments now as we incorporate their feedback in preparation for the operationalisation. We aim to streamline the process and help it be implemented more smoothly and more efficiently, given that it will be in effect for a longer period of time as compared to other reliefs under the Act. Ms Lim will be pleased to know that the relief will apply to all affected agreements for the sale and purchase of housing, commercial and industrial property that meet the criteria stated in the Act, regardless of when Part 8C comes into operation. Hence, developers will be able to tap on it after it comes into operation in a few months and purchasers will be able to seek reimbursement then. Ms Lim also asked how we will address the issue of fairness, given that legal representation will be not be allowed as a default under the assessor framework and she spoke in support of it.”
“Let me assure Members that even as we provide relief to developers, we recognise that purchasers face challenges on their end as well, and we have structured Part 8C accordingly. Under Part 8C, developers who face construction delays due to COVID-19 and require relief may serve a notice for an extension of the delivery date by up to four months, or 122 days, which is aligned with the period in Part 8A. Mr Don Wee asked why four months, why 122 days. This was also shared during the Second Reading of the COTMA Bill. It is because construction work stopped for approximately two months due to the circuit breaker period, and works were further delayed by at least another two months as all dormitories were only cleared in early August 2020. Therefore, adding two months together, two plus two, that is four months and 122 days. Should a developer need further relief for the delivery date to be extended by more than 122 days, they can apply for an assessor's determination on the length of construction delay, that is, to a material extent, caused by COVID-19. Mr Don Wee also asked about whether this relief will be applied to developments where HDB is the developer. I would like to share with Mr Wee that for HDB flats, purchasers can similarly claim up to 70% of the prescribed LD formula, which will be aligned with that of the formula stated in the Housing Developers Rules for private residential properties. This allows for co-sharing of such costs between the developer and purchaser. And if there is any dispute over reimbursement, both parties can seek an assessor's determination.”
“Lastly, under Part 8B, contractors can also seek recourse for cost-sharing amounts that are due but not paid, through the existing adjudication mechanism under the Security of Payment Act, or SOPA, which the industry is very familiar with. Mr Don Wee suggested that we inform the industry and banks on extension of period where developers are prevented from calling on the performance bonds of contractors. Mr Wee may be pleased to know that the provisions for deferment of call of performance bonds is already provided for in the Act. MND and BCA have been in close contact with the industry and we have updated the industry on extension of arrangement under the Act, including through a press release. Mr Don Wee also brought up the impact on the construction industry and it has affected home-buyers whose premises under construction have been delayed and who have to make alternative arrangements. And Mr Vikram Nair has also asked about the extent to which these purchasers have been affected. The number of purchasers seeking reimbursement after Part 8C comes into operation in a few months will depend on the number of projects delayed and whether developers need and choose to tap on this relief. It is in the interest of developers for projects to be completed in a timely manner without having to tap on the relief. Currently, based on updates from developers for projects expected to be completed in 2021, most are still on track to meet their respective dates of delivery of possession. We have also been encouraging developers who are unable to meet the date of delivery to first discuss with their purchasers and come to a workable and mutually agreeable arrangement, as this may result in a better outcome for both parties.”
“We are working closely with MOM and MOH on these aspects. Mr Vikram Nair rightly pointed out that cashflow is the lifeline of the construction industry. BCA monitors the progress payments in the industry closely and receives frequent feedback from key developers and contractors. This is also why we need to extend the reliefs under the Act so firms do not get engaged in long-drawn litigations at this point in time. During the circuit breaker period, most works were suspended and contractors received no progress payments. What we did to facilitate the cashflow was for Government agencies – and some private developers have also followed suit – to provide advance payment to help contractors tide through this challenging period. For public sector projects, we have provided at least $665 million of advance payment in total. The Government has also provided financial support, including waivers and rebates of the foreign worker levy, and subsidies for Rostered Routine Testing, or RRT for short. Mr Vikram Nair also asked about co-sharing of additional costs for delays due to COVID-19 under Part 8B and how easy it is for such prolongation costs to be shared. To facilitate such claims, BCA and SCAL have jointly developed a claims template and detailed guidelines, which are available on BCA's website. In addition, BCA has also been working with SCAL and other Trade Associations and Chambers, to streamline the claims process. This includes introducing an accepted method to estimate the delays to projects due to COVID-19. We will continue to work with the various stakeholders, including SCAL and other Government agencies to expedite the claims process.”
“I thank Mr Kwek for his suggestion to set up commercial processing facilities overseas to enable testing. Indeed, there are many operational challenges that we need to overcome to ensure reliable testing overseas. But we are actively in discussion with industry partners, including the Singapore Contractors Association Limited, or SCAL, and we are looking at how we can enable and establish better upstream processes to enhance pre-departure testing for workers in source countries. I also agree with Mr Ng that there is value to retain experienced workers in Singapore as much as possible. However, as Mr Kwek has pointed out, there are also workers who want to go back to their families and there are indeed workers who went home and could not return or would not like to return. But however, we are trying to keep as many of our workers in Singapore here in Singapore. In this regard, SCAL, with the support of MOM and BCA, has set up a Manpower Exchange, or SCMX for short, to facilitate a change of employer for construction workers, for workers whose contracts with their existing employers have either expired or terminated. This will help us retain the experienced workers who want to remain in Singapore. On Mr Ng's suggestion to facilitate the re-hiring of workers who have returned to their home countries and want to come back to Singapore to work, we are very pleased to have them back in Singapore. And employers know who they are and have applied for them to re-enter into Singapore. However, the constraint is not this. The constraint now and the challenge we are facing is how to allow these workers to come back, to re-enter Singapore in sufficient numbers to meet the industry's manpower needs, while minimising COVID-19 importation risks, so as to safeguard public health.”
“To clarify to the Member, while the sunset period for Part 3 ends on 19 April 2021, nonetheless, the measures relating to insolvency in Part 3 had already lapsed in October 2020 as the prescribed period was from 20 April 2020 to 19 October 2020. These are exceptional measures that temporarily suspended creditors' rights to provide breathing room for financially distressed debtors to negotiate with creditors and pursue next steps, including for personal bankruptcy, the individual voluntary arrangement and debt repayment scheme; for corporate insolvency, out-of-court work-about schemes of arrangement, judicial management and simplified Insolvency Programme; for sole proprietorships and partnerships, the Sole Proprietor and Partnership scheme. Such exceptional measures should be carefully monitored because the measures also affect creditors and therefore, flow of credit to other businesses. There has been no significant increase in number of personal bankruptcy and corporate insolvency applications, comparing the figures for applications pre-COVID-19 and the post lapse of Part 3 measures in October 2020. We have been monitoring the situation and we will continue to monitor it. Mr Henry Kwek and Mr Louis Ng brought up the immediate challenge of manpower shortage faced by the industry. And I agree with both Mr Henry Kwek and Mr Louis Ng that beyond the temporary relief measures, it is important to address this situation. To alleviate the current labour shortage in the construction industry, we are working closely with MOM and MOH to progressively increase the number of incoming workers, but in a safe way to minimise the risk of COVID-19 transmission in our dormitories and into our wider community.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I thank the Members for their comments and support of the Bill. They have raised a number of issues and let me address them. Mr Louis Ng asked about the impacts of the reliefs and our considerations for extension. Firstly, I have laid out some of the considerations in my Second Reading speech earlier and want to assure the Member that we recognise that the relief measures are interventions into private contracts. The sanctity of contract is fundamental for Singapore and a key aspect of the rule of law. Hence, this is not a decision we take lightly. In this exceptional circumstance, we need to intervene to safeguard and preserve the capacity of our Built Environment sector, by supporting the entire value chain. The industry has also consistently provided feedback to us that the on-going moratorium on legal proceedings during the current COVID-19 pandemic has proven very useful in helping the sector focus on staying on its feet. Mr Ng also asked about the percentage of parties that have been able to resolve their differences amicably and in a beneficial manner. For construction and supply contracts, there have been about 1,100 notifications for relief filed as of 19 March 2021. Of those, only about 118, or about 10%, eventually applied for an assessor’s determination. This suggests to us that the majority were able to come to some satisfactory compromise on their own about contractual obligations affected by COVID-19. The relief provided under this Act, provides a framework for conversations to happen so that firms can amicably settle their differences and move the projects forward if they can do so. Ms Sylvia Lim asked about Part 3 of the Act.”
“The Government is committed to partner the industry to ensure that the ecosystem continues to function, construction work continues to progress smoothly and we do not lose important industrial capabilities, even as we transform the sector. This Bill is an important part of this effort to ensure the sector stays on its feet and emerge stronger. With that, Mr Speaker Sir, I beg to move. [(proc text) Question proposed. (proc text)] 3.20 pm”
“Clause 5 introduces a new provision to empower the Registrar of assessors to, on such terms as a Registrar of assessor thinks just, extend the period within which a person is required under Part 8C to do anything. There may be instances where parties have genuine exceptional circumstances for requiring more time to carry out an action in relation to the relief. And this provision gives the Registrar the flexibility to extend the time for these parties, if the extension is justified. Clause 6 amends the Act to provide that the Minister is to appoint one or more authorised nominating bodies for the purpose of providing assessors to hear and determine applications. As Part 8C will be operational for a few years until the projects of all qualifying current contracts are completed, we can expect personnel changes amongst the assessors. Allowing the authorised nominating bodies the point assessors who satisfy the requirements prescribed will facilitate a more efficient management of personnel turnover. Clauses 8 and 9 deal with miscellaneous matters relating to proceedings before an assessor, including subsequent determinations and the confidentiality of information and documents, and the making of regulations under this part. Sir, let me conclude. The Built Environment sector builds our homes and workplaces, lays our essential infrastructure, like roads and utilities and develops our recreational and green spaces like malls and parks. An impact to the Built Environment sector goes beyond the stakeholders in the value chain and will affect other industries and Singaporeans in one way or another. While the sector has been severely impacted with the onset of COVID-19, it has shown great resilience to get back on its feet.”
“For developers who are unable to come to an arrangement and require help, Part 8C will then allow them to extend the date of delivery of possession up to the universal extension of time provided for construction projects which is four months, or 122 days. Should the developer need relief of more than 122 days, they can apply to an assessor for a determination of the length of construction delay that is caused by COVID-19. And where the developer has extended the date of delivery of possession, purchasers may seek reimbursement from the developer for certain out-of-pocket expenses incurred due to the delay in delivery of the unit, up to a specified cap. This allows for co-sharing of such costs between the developer and the purchaser and if there are any disputes, parties can apply to an assessor for a determination. The assessor will consider the facts of the matter and make a fair and just determination of the cost that the purchaser is entitled to claim from the developer. Let me now just highlight the key amendments. Clause 4 amends the Act to provide for the different manners in which the purchaser may claim and obtain reimbursement of qualifying costs. For example, after the amount has been determined, the developer can directly reimburse the purchaser, or the purchaser can offset the amount of reimbursement against any instalment or other payment payable by the purchaser to the developer under the affected agreement. This will provide more options for purchasers and developers to settle between themselves the reimbursement that is due based on what works best for them.”
“In particular, in view of the impact of the COVID-19 situation on the economy, it will assist purchasers who require more time to sort out their finances and make their payments. Clause 2 of the Bill will amend the sunset period under Part 2 of the Act, so that the reliefs under that part can subsist beyond the sunset date of 19 April 2021. Specifically, we propose to extend the sunset period for another year, until 19 April 2022. This will allow for the extension of the relief periods for construction and supply contracts, options to purchase, and agreements for the sale and purchase of properties beyond the current sunset date of 19 April 2021. Next, this Bill also introduces a number of amendments to Part 8C of the Act to facilitate the implementation and the delivery of the relief when it comes into operation in a few months. We have been working very closely with the relevant agencies and industry stakeholders on the operational details. We want to ensure that the process of tapping on the relief is efficient for both the purchasers and the developers, given that this will be in effect for a longer period as compared to the other reliefs under the Act. Let me first briefly recap the Part 8C relief before dealing with the specific amendments. Part 8C is intended to assist developers who are facing construction delay due to COVID-19 and are unable to meet the committed delivery date of possession to purchasers. We have been encouraging developers who are unable to meet the date of delivery of possession to first discuss with their purchasers and come to a workable and mutually agreeable arrangement.”
“First, for construction and supply contracts, we intend to extend the temporary relief measures for a period of six months, to 30 September 2021. The construction industry has long and complex value chains, with multiple tiers of sub-contracting. Given the cascading chain nature of construction and supply contracts across the multiple tiers, an expiry of the relief could result in a wave of contractual disputes, especially during this time when the sector is still stabilising. If firms embroiled in legal disputes are forced to wind up, this could lead to a domino effect where multiple firms along the value chain would wind up successively. This ripple effect could result in further construction delays or uncompleted projects. Therefore, in consultation with industry partners, we believe that it is prudent to extend this cost-sharing relief under Part 8B for another six months. Contractors who incur additional cost as a result of COVID-19 would also benefit from this extension. However, the cost-sharing under Part 8B will still remain at 50% of the qualifying costs and will still be subject to a monthly cap of 0.2% of contract sum per month, and a total 1.8% of the contract sum. That is for construction and supply contracts. For options to purchase and agreements for the sale and purchase of residential, commercial and industrial properties with developers, including those with HDB, we intend to extend the temporary relief measures under Part 2 for a further period of three months, to 30 June 2021. This will provide more time for developers and purchasers who are unable to perform any of their contractual obligations to negotiate and reach a compromise.”
“However, despite this steady progress, firms in the built environment sector continue to face significant pressures in the near term. Construction projects have to manage with lower productivity on site due to safe management measures, which are needed to keep our workers and the broader community safe. Firms face shortages of manpower and labour cost increases as we need to continue to limit the inflow of migrant workers into Singapore for good public health reasons. BCA and MOH are reviewing the safe management measures at worksites, taking into account the need to balance the risk of on-site transmission and other considerations including the vaccination of our migrant worker population. We have commenced COVID-19 vaccination for migrant workers. To date, 97% of some 9,000 COVID-19-naïve workers from five largest dormitories have received their first dose of vaccine. A further 30,000 migrant workers across 30 dorms are scheduled to get their first dose in the coming weeks. The take-up of the vaccination has been encouraging and we aim to make significant progress by the end of the year, in lockstep with the nation’s vaccination programme. Therefore, Mr Speaker, Sir, while the sector is slowly getting back on its feet, we are not out of the woods yet. It is in this context that I am introducing the COVID-19 (Temporary Measures) (Amendment No 2) Bill. First, the proposed amendments to the Act will allow us to extend the existing reliefs for the sector provided under Part 2 of the Act. This will have the effect of extending the period for cost-sharing in construction contracts under Part 8B of the Act. Second, the proposed amendments will also allow us to better administer Part 8C of the Act. Let me step through these in turn.”
“To recap, Part 2 of the Act provides temporary relief from stipulated types of legal actions and also provides firms with a defence against breach of contract and damages due to COVID-19. Under Part 8, we provided a mechanism for firms to seek relief from additional rental costs that are incurred due to construction delays caused by COVID-19. Under Part 8A, we legislated for a universal extension of time of four months, or 122 days, for construction contracts. Under Part 8B, we required the players in the value chain, from builders to contractors to sub-contractors to co-share additional costs for delays also due to COVID-19. Under Part 8C, developers who face construction delay can seek relief on the date of delivery of possession. We also provided for the co-sharing between developers and purchasers of the out-of-pocket costs incurred by purchasers where developers are not able to deliver the units by the committed delivery date due to delays caused by COVID-19. We are working closely with industry partners to get the sector to get back on its feet. I am pleased to share that almost all our construction S Pass and work permit holders have returned to work, although the numbers have decreased by about 15% in January 2021 compared to the year before. The last infection case for construction S Pass and work permit holders in our dormitories was more than 30 days ago. Construction activities at the worksites have largely resumed, to approximately 85% of pre-COVID-19 levels. Construction demand is expected to rebound to some extent in the next few years. The Building Control Authority (BCA) estimates that $23 billion to $28 billion worth of projects will be awarded this year.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, on behalf of the Minister for National Development, I beg to move, "That the Bill be now read a second time". Sir let me first sketch out the context of this Bill before outlining the key amendments. The Built Environment sector, especially the construction industry has been severely impacted by COVID-19. Almost all construction work stopped during the circuit breaker period last year. Many companies, particularly our SMEs were hard hit as no work meant there was no progress payment. Even when works restarted, companies had to adapt to new requirements, such as ensuring our workers attend their rostered routine testing and adhering to safe management measures at the worksites. In response, the Government has intervened very significantly to support the sector. Amongst other measures, we introduced a $1.36 billion Construction Support Package, extended waivers and rebates of the Foreign Worker Levy, and provided wage subsidies under the Jobs Support Scheme. The most recent measures announced last week include the waivers for foreign worker levies for construction Work Permit and S Pass holders during their SHN period of 14 to 21 days upon entry into Singapore, for the period between 1 January 2021 to 30 September 2021. We have also put in place legislation through the COVID-19 (Temporary Measures) Act to provide temporary relief to businesses and individuals who are unable to perform their contractual obligations due to COVID-19. This ensured that no one single part of the built environment value chain has to bear a disproportionate share of the burden brought about by the pandemic.”
“Mr Speaker, copies of the Bill have been provided to the Clerk, who will now distribute it to the Members. [Handouts were distributed to hon Members.]”
“Mr Speaker, on behalf of the Minister for National Development, I beg to introduce a Bill intituled "An Act to amend the COVID-19 (Temporary Measures) Act 2020." [(proc text) Bill read the First time. (proc text)]”
“Mr Speaker, I have a Certificate of Urgency signed by the President in respect of the COVID-19 (Temporary Measures) (Amendment No 2) Bill, to be laid upon the Table. [(proc text) Certificate of Urgency signed by the President in respect of the Bill, laid upon the Table by the Minister of State for National Development. (proc text)]”
“However, the Member also pointed out a very important point about not just R&D but translating it into use on the ground, working together with our private sector partners and our companies. To achieve meaningful impact, we are stepping up efforts to support deployment of innovative urban solutions. In September last year, we launched the Built Environment Living Laboratory Framework or Living Lab Framework to facilitate the test bedding of innovative proposals in "government living labs", such as designated areas within Punggol town and the Jurong Lake District. The Living Lab Framework helps to strengthen partnerships between the public and private sector, and creates opportunities to harness and trial new, emerging technologies to jointly develop cities for tomorrow. This is achieved by providing a convenient one-stop service for submission of test-bedding proposals and reducing regulatory burden on firms. The Living Lab Framework will be supported by the existing inter-agency Building Innovation Panel to facilitate multi-agency regulatory clearances for more complex solutions, and I encourage more firms to tap on this Living Lab Framework to come forward with good proposals.”
“Mr Chairman, I thank the Member for his question. As Minister Desmond Lee has pointed earlier in his speech, investing in innovation to spur growth and transformation is an important part of building a resilient Built Environment sector and we will continue to invest in R&D and innovation to drive growth for our sector, particularly in transformative technologies. A key focus area is the development of technologies that will help us to build faster, safer and using less manpower. I think Minister Indranee Rajah spoke about the Cities of Tomorrow R&D programme, and we support R&D efforts through that programme on advanced construction techniques, particularly for robotics, automation, 3D concrete printing and digitalisation. These are some of the areas, I think, Member Ms Poh Li San spoke about just now in her cut. Minister Indranee Rajah spoke about the noise cancellation window just now. And let me give another example of some of the innovation and R&D work that our colleagues have been doing. This is called the anti-sway device – "sway" is S-W-A-Y; not "suay" for bad luck in Hokkien! HDB and BCA are collaborating with researchers from NUS, A*STAR SIMTech and industry partners, such as Precast Concrete and Dragages to develop an anti-sway device to stabilise the movement of prefabricated pre-finished volumetric construction, or PPVC modules during hoisting operations. The anti-sway device which will be fitted on cranes and hooked onto the PPVC modules includes a self-balancing system that reduces the manpower required to manually stabilise the modules. It does not sound as exciting compared to the noise cancellation windows, but an important investment in R&D in the Built Environment sector. Just one example to share with the Member.”
“So, we are bringing new entrants into the Built Environment sector by making the effort to train our local workforce and the existing workforce in new skills and new job roles. I urge more firms to tap on these training programmes to upskill their mid-career staff to take on these roles. Through these collective efforts, we aim to train 80,000 professionals in the key transformation areas under the ITM by 2025. And we are making good progress. The Government is committed to working hand in hand with our tripartite partners, industry associations, firms and unions to transform the Built Environment sector. We envisage a high-tech and integrated construction eco-system, led by progressive local firms with a strong local core, poised to capture even more opportunities abroad as we transform our sector. We hope, and I personally hope, that when we come to talk about jobs in the construction sector, we are no longer associating them with the "three Ds" of "dirty, dangerous and demanding", but a refreshed set of three Ds: desirable jobs, in-demand skills and dynamic careers, allowing us to tap on the imagination, passion and capabilities of our firms and Singaporeans to build a much greener, vibrant and sustainable Singapore for tomorrow.”
“We are also investing in our local workforce to acquire the relevant skills in many areas, especially those that are in demand – green buildings, DfMA and IDD. In September last year, we rolled out the Skills Framework for the Built Environment. The framework promotes recognition of skills development to enhance career progression opportunities. BCA is working with the various Trade Associations and Chambers (TACs) to align accreditation schemes with the various progression pathways and skill requirements for the various job roles. We will continue to build a strong talent pipeline through our iBuildSG Scholarship and Sponsorship Programme. As of January 2021, we have awarded more than 3,600 scholarships and sponsorships to local students. But we are not just only focusing on new entrants into the sector. We are taking pains and effort to upgrade our existing workforce as well. I had the privilege of speaking to Ms Kartini, a 45-year-old lady who has been working as a 2D drafter at infrastructure consulting firm, AECOM Singapore, for the last 18 years. She was bubbly, passionate. With the support from her firm and her supervisor whom I spoke to as well, Ms Kartini enrolled in the Professional Conversion Programme, or PCP, for BIM Professionals to upgrade her skillsets for 3D drafting. Today, Ms Kartini is redeployed as a BIM modeller at AECOM. When I spoke to her, there was a palpable sense of satisfaction and pride in having achieved the skills upgrade. She shared with me that her children are very proud of her, and she was very proud of herself. She learnt valuable skills from 2D drafting to 3D modelling, and she shared that 3D modelling enabled them to troubleshoot problems early in the construction process compared to previous ways of doing things.”
“It is common to associate jobs in the construction sector with the "three Ds": "dirty, dangerous and demanding". However, as part of this transformation effort, the industry has made strides in redesigning existing jobs and creating new and higher-skilled jobs with better working environments. There are many exciting career pathways in areas such as Digital Delivery Management and Smart Facilities Management. Many of these job roles did not even exist a decade ago. I recently met Mr Lee Kong Jian, a bright NTU graduate with a background in Civil Engineering. He is working at an Integrated Construction and Prefabrication Hub (ICPH), operated by local contractor Soilbuild Construction Group. Kong Jian is a DfMA engineer in ICPH. His day-to-day job, or day-to-day work, involves using various digital platforms to manage the prefabrication production and delivery of precast concrete components, optimising the process for efficiency while maintaining quality standards for his clients. His job will not be out of place in a high-tech manufacturing factory. So, think about it – creating good, exciting jobs for Singaporeans. And we are stepping up our efforts to attract local PMETs and more tech-savvy young Singaporeans to join the Built Environment sector. As at end 2020, there were about 7,500 jobs and training opportunities in the construction industry under the SGUnited Jobs and Skills Package. Please take a look at it, there are many exciting job roles, for example, Digital Delivery Specialist, Logistics Supply Chain Planner and Environmental Specialist. Exciting job roles for Singaporeans. Good jobs, high skills in demand.”
“As mentioned by Minister Indranee Rajah, the Digitalising Built Environment Alliance for Action or AfA has identified common data environment (CDE) data standards as a key enabler to drive digitalisation across the entire value chain. The common data standards specify what information is required for a project and how it can be structured. Wide adoption of these common standards will facilitate information flow across platforms and enable seamless collaboration amongst the various supply chain partners. Ms Poh Li San asked about the support we are providing to local SMEs. SMEs make up 98% of our construction firms and play a very critical role in our sector. Our firms, especially SMEs, can tap on the Construction Productivity and Capability Fund (CPCF) for support to adopt productive technologies and develop their workforce. For example, the Productivity Innovation Project (PIP) scheme, helps to defray the costs of adopting DfMA and IDD technologies. Techniques Air-Conditioning & Engineering Pte Ltd, which I mentioned earlier, is a very good example. Since its launch in 2010, we have supported over 10,000 firms and disbursed close to two-thirds of the approximately $850 million we have been allocated in funding. To support our firms, especially our SMEs, we will extend the CPCF by another year till March 2022. We will also continue to enhance co-funding support of 80% under the PIP scheme. I encourage all firms to make full use of the CPCF to undertake productivity improvements. Mr Henry Kwek talked about the difficulty in encouraging Singaporeans to join the construction industry. Mr Xie Yao Quan also asked what types of new jobs in the sector that Singaporeans can look forward to.”
“This will allow building owners to benchmark their buildings against others at no additional cost, and spur them to improve their energy efficiency. We are also exploring other ways to encourage building owners to conduct energy audits and retrofit their buildings to improve energy performance. We will continue to engage the industry and public to ensure that our plans remain relevant over time as we transition to a more sustainable, low carbon Built Environment. Next, let me touch on raising productivity in our sector. We have seen good productivity outcomes from adopting DfMA and aim to make DfMA the default building method for larger projects. Under the Buildability framework, projects with Gross Floor Area or GFA of at least 5,000 sqm, are required to meet minimum Buildable Design Scores or B-scores through the adoption of labour-efficient designs and technologies. To drive DfMA adoption, we have raised the minimum B-score for large residential, non-landed developments with GFA of at least 25,000 sqm from December 2019. We will raise the minimum B-score for large commercial, institutional and industrial developments with GFA of at least 25,000 sqm next year, starting from April 2022. This means that, eventually, around 80% of the GFA of all projects submitted for approval will be subject to the higher minimum B-score. BCA will consult the industry in the coming months before firming up the enhanced standards. This move will help us achieve our target of 70% DfMA adoption by 2025. We are also working closely with the industry to step up our digitalisation and IDD efforts.”
“This is equivalent to our current Green Mark Platinum standard. These requirements will apply to new developments submitted for planning approval from the fourth quarter of this year. Additionally, we will update the Green Mark scheme. The scheme recognises buildings that pursue sustainability standards beyond the minimum requirements. As Mr Henry Kwek has pointed out, our Green Mark scheme is amongst the world’s leading green building certifications, and a go-to standard for green buildings in the tropics. The Green Mark scheme already encourages reduction of not just operational carbon, but also embodied carbon, through the use of low-carbon materials and sustainable construction. Mr Henry Kwek will also be pleased to know that it already promotes the use of natural ventilation as a passive strategy to cool buildings and improve energy savings. The revised scheme will raise energy performance standards and place greater emphasis on other aspects of sustainability, such as health and well-being, and how the buildings are designed for long-term maintainability. We intend to trial these new standards from the second quarter of this year, and will take into account industry feedback before we implement the revised scheme. BCA will provide more details in the coming months. We will also continue our efforts to green our existing stock of buildings. An important step is to enhance data transparency on building energy performance. Currently, we collect and publish the energy performance data of our commercial and institutional buildings. Going forward, we will identify all buildings in the data that we publish, beginning with commercial buildings from the second half of this year.”
“5 years old. The managing director lamented to me that it was increasingly difficult to attract young people into the sector, even with competitive wages. Even fewer of them wanted to come and work in Singapore. Like what we are doing in Singapore, the firm is ramping up its investments in DfMA automation and digitalisation in China so as to reduce its reliance on manpower and to build with sustainability in mind. Mr Chairman, Sir, these are long-term structural shifts confronting our Built Environment sector, accelerated by COVID-19. In the spirit of emerging stronger, we have to seize this window of opportunity to transform. Let me elaborate on how we plan to do so. First, we will raise standards of sustainability and productivity. Mr Henry Kwek and Mr Xie Yao Quan asked about the Green Building Masterplan and how we plan to curb building emissions. 6.45 pm Over the past year, BCA and the Singapore Green Building Council have engaged over 5,000 stakeholders, ranging from developers, consultants, builders, members of the public, especially our young people. There is strong support for our Green Building agenda, and a collective desire to ramp up our efforts to combat climate change in Singapore. But green buildings make commercial sense too. Green buildings reap net savings over their life-cycle, despite the higher upfront cost. For example, a large office building of over 15 storeys can save around $300,000 in operating costs annually by achieving the Green Mark Platinum standard. Last year, we announced that we would raise minimum energy performance requirements for new buildings and existing buildings that undergo major retrofitting. Under these revised requirements, all new buildings will be 50% more energy-efficient than the 2005 baseline.”
“We are making a greater whole-of-nation push on environmental sustainability – with the Singapore Green Plan 2030. The Built Environment sector plays an important role in achieving our vision of a greener and more sustainable Singapore. There is also greater urgency to strengthen the resilience of our sector, particularly in reducing reliance on foreign workers. In the near term, we expect our foreign manpower situation to remain in flux, while COVID-19 travel restrictions are still in place. To alleviate the current labour shortage in the construction industry, we are working closely with MOM and MOH to progressively increase the number of incoming workers but in a safe way, to minimise the risks of COVID-19 transmission in our dormitories and into our community. At the same time, we want to ensure that migrant workers who are already in Singapore can continue to work here if they choose to. We have invested significantly to keep them safe and they are familiar with our local work culture and environment. In this respect, we are working closely with the Singapore Contractors Association Limited, or SCAL, to facilitate a change of employer for construction workers whose contracts have either expired or were terminated through the SCAL Manpower Exchange. However, even as we work closely with our firms to overcome near-term challenges, we recognise that COVID-19 has hastened the shift towards a manpower-lean approach to construction, not just in Singapore, but across many other countries. Recently, a local subsidiary of a large Chinese construction firm shared with me that the Chinese construction industry is facing a labour crunch. Imagine, even in one of the world's largest labour markets. The median age of the parent company's few million workers in China is 46.”
“A good example is Techniques Air-conditioning & Engineering Pte Ltd, an SME specialising in the installation of mechanical services. When I spoke to them earlier, they shared they have tapped on BCA's Productivity Innovation Project, or PIP scheme. They have switched over to a prefabricated mechanical, electrical and plumbing, or MEP system. Techniques shared with me that onsite works involving the installation of pipes and ducts took about two to three weeks in the past. Time was needed to erect the scaffolding, perform welding and insulation works and conduct regular tests on the installation. Today, with the use of prefabricated vertical riser modules, such works are done well within a single day onsite. Techniques has also leveraged the Building Information Modelling (BIM) and automation through its use of computer numerical control, or CMC machines to raise productivity. Cutting instructions to the machines can be automatically generated from a 3D building model, allowing changes to be made quickly and accurately. What used to take one-and-a-half hours using manual templates can be done in just 15 minutes, and precision is much better than previously. Furthermore, Techniques shared with me that they have been able to remotely coordinate with other firms and reduce the number of workers required onsite, making it easier to adhere to safe management measures, especially during this period. Techniques' experience is not unique. Without these earlier investments, many of our firms would have been more severely disrupted during the challenging COVID-19 period. As many Members, like Mr Henry Kwek, Mr Xiao Yao Quan and Ms Poh Li San have pointed out, although we have made good progress, we need to pick up the pace of transformation.”
“Mr Chairman, I will now elaborate on the Ministry's plans on how we are transforming the construction industry to create more jobs and opportunities for our firms and our local workforce. Mr Henry Kwek and Mr Xie Yao Quan spoke about the Construction Industry Transformation Map, or ITM. The ITM was launched in 2017 to rally the construction sector around the shared goal of developing future-ready capabilities that would transform our Built Environment. We have made steady progress. We have greened over 40% of our buildings. This has involved making use of sustainable technologies and designs, such as more energy-efficient systems to cool and ventilate our buildings. The overall energy use intensity of our buildings has improved by 10% over the past decade. At the worksite, we have seen a 7% improvement in productivity since 2017. This is driven by the adoption of innovative building approaches like Design for Manufacturing and Assembly, or DfMA for short, and digital technologies like Integrated Digital Delivery, or IDD. DfMA allows building components to be prefabricated off-site in automated facilities and subsequently assembled on-site. This raises productivity, improves workmanship and reduces disamenities to residents near construction sites. DfMA adoption has doubled over the last three years, from 19% in 2017 to 39% in 2020. IDD connects the various parts of the building lifecycle together via a digital spine. This facilitates coordination among project stakeholders which improves accuracy of design and planning and reduces abortive work downstream. We have built up IDD competencies in more than 150 firms through 48 demonstration projects over the last three years.”
“Mr Speaker, the National Parks Board's (NParks’) study has affirmed that food made available by humans is a key driver of wild bird population growth. These findings have highlighted the importance of food source reduction, which are part of NParks’ population management measures for wild birds. This is multi-pronged, including habitat modification and population control. To reduce the availability of food sources, NParks has been working closely with the Singapore Food Agency, National Environment Agency and Town Councils to encourage proper food waste management at food establishments and to enforce against littering and illegal bird-feeding. NParks also partners agencies and Town Councils to educate the community on proper refuse management. As part of its outreach and education efforts, NParks launched the islandwide “Say No to Feeding Wildlife” campaign in January 2021 to raise awareness on the negative impact of feeding wildlife, including birds. We would like to remind the public to be socially responsible by not feeding wild birds, and by keeping public areas clean and free of food waste, to help manage wildlife population. 11.00 am”
“Mr Speaker, the Housing Development Board (HDB) launched the open booking of flats in June 2019. This allows home seekers to apply for a flat online and get their flat selection appointment on a first-come-first-served basis, which can be as early as the next working day. As of 22 February 2021, a total of 1,521 flats, comprising 46 2-room Flexi flats, 273 3-room flats, 601 4-room flats, 597 5-room/3Gen flats, and four Executive flats, have been booked under open booking. At present, HDB suspends open booking twice a year to inject a fresh supply of flats. The majority of flats offered under open booking comes from the pool of flats that remain unselected after the twice-yearly Sale of Balance Flats (SBF) exercises. HDB has been exploring ways to offer more flats through open booking. For example, since February 2020, HDB has ceased the Re-Offer of Balance Flats exercises, so that more of the unselected flats from the SBF exercises can be offered directly for open booking. HDB will continue to refine its sales processes to better meet the needs of home seekers.”
“Thank you to the Member for her query. As the Member pointed out, it is indeed operationally complex to have the entire system with strict Infection, Prevention and Control measures (IPCs), from the moment the travellers arrive at the checkpoint, how to identify the Persons on Stay-Home Notice (PSHN), to assign them to the SDF, to assign them the transport arrangements to the SDF, managing the PSHNs in the SDF itself, and finally, the in situ exit processes before we release the PSHN. These are complex operations and issues, with many moving parts. That is why we take a lot care to make sure the robust measures are in place. But we understand the points that the Member has raised, especially when the Member has talked about foreign domestic workers, different circumstances. We will look at those cases on a case-by-case basis, in addition to the present arrangement of having different tiers of SDFs. There is an economy tier catered to many of the profiles or archetypes that the Member talked about – workers from the construction, marine process industries as well as foreign domestic workers. So, we do have different tiers of SDFs for different archetypes of travellers coming in. At the same time, like I have said, we will look at those issues on a case-by-case basis, and we will continue to refine the system to cater for various flexibilities, without compromising the operational safety of our operational staff and our community”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, the current Stay-Home Notice Dedicated Facilities (SDF) system was set up in March 2020 to isolate returning travellers until they were found to be free of COVID-19. Protecting the community from imported cases is our key priority, and multiple agencies and hotel partners work closely together to implement health, security, transport and accommodation arrangements to do so. The system has served about 190,000 travellers since its formation. Travellers are “bubble wrapped” from the moment that they arrive at the checkpoints, all the way to the SDFs, with strict infection prevention and control measures maintained throughout the process. To minimise operational complexity, travellers are assigned to SDFs when they arrive at the checkpoints. As travellers cannot choose their SDF and the cost structure is largely similar, a standard fee is charged regardless of the SDF that they are assigned to. At the same time, we recognise that certain travellers may have specific needs. For instance, those who require elderly or disability-friendly facilities, or those travelling with children or minors may require specific room arrangements. We consider appeals on a case-by-case basis, based on the travellers’ financial or personal circumstances. We understand that travellers would like to have more choice and flexibility for their SDFs. We are constantly reviewing our system and studying ways to provide travellers more options to meet their preferences and budgets, without compromising the safety of travellers, operational staff and importantly, the community.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, there has indeed been an increase in the number of visitors to our public parks, including nature parks, during the COVID-19 pandemic. To actively manage visitor levels, the National Parks Board (NParks) carries out real-time crowd monitoring and control, and closes crowded parks or park areas for a period of time if needed. NParks also provides real-time updates on park visitor levels online via its Safe Distance@Parks portal so that visitors can check crowd levels before going to the parks. For popular parks that are located near residential areas, NParks has implemented measures to reduce potential disamenities to residents. These include increasing patrols during peak periods and displaying signs to remind park users of proper park etiquette and regulations. Organised group activities are also not allowed during peak periods at selected parks to manage the visitor levels. NParks also works closely with other Government agencies and grassroots organisations where relevant, to address the residents' feedback. We would like to remind park users to be socially responsible towards other park users as well as residents living in the surrounding areas, so that all of us can continue to enjoy these public spaces. NParks will continue to expand the network of parks, including nature parks, so that more Singaporeans can enjoy nature-based recreation. This will also help to spread out the demand for such recreational experiences. 12.30 pm”
“We will continue to consult and engage with Singaporeans, consider their feedback and suggestions seriously as we balance the various needs. I am confident that we can do so if all Singaporeans continue to see ourselves as stewards for what we have and for the future. [(proc text) Question put, and agreed to. (proc text)] [(proc text) Resolved, "That Parliament do now adjourn." (proc text)] Adjourned accordingly at 9.13 pm.”
“Some called for the preservation of the Ulu Pandan site, while others supported using the site for public housing to meet the needs of Singaporeans. For those who supported the development of the site, they called for it to be developed in a way that allows for their children and grandchildren to continue enjoying the greenery. We welcome more Singaporeans to give their views and inputs, as we consider our plans for the Ulu Pandan site. HDB will extend the public consultation period for another four weeks. We will carefully consider all the feedback received and share our plans when ready. We take this approach of consulting stakeholders and balancing the different needs of Singaporeans seriously. Because land is scarce in Singapore, we have to plan judiciously. It is not just about balancing the various needs of Singaporeans today but, importantly, it is also about balancing the needs of today’s generation with those that come after us. We put in just as much thought and effort into conserving nature. The lush greenery we see today is the result of dedicated and sustained efforts by generations of Singaporeans who have been greening our cities and planting trees year after year, for over 60 years. It is the result of deliberate decisions made by earlier terms of Government who have safeguarded our green spaces even as they developed our urban landscape and built homes for Singaporeans. These decisions have provided the solid foundation in our vision to transform Singapore into a City in Nature. (In English): In conclusion, we are committed to act as responsible stewards for Singapore and Singaporeans, for today’s generation and those that come after us, striving to make good use of our limited land, preserving as much of our natural heritage as we can.”
“The lush greenery we see today is the result of dedicated and sustained efforts by generations of Singaporeans who have been greening our city and planting trees year after year for over 60 years. It is the result of deliberate decisions made by earlier terms of Government, who have safeguarded our green spaces even as they developed our urban landscape and built homes for Singaporeans. But we are not done. We have a vision to transform Singapore into a City in Nature. We will continue to identify core biodiversity areas and their surrounding buffers, and retain these sites where possible. We will also continue to strengthen ecological connectivity through enhancing our network of ecological corridors, such as the Bukit Batok Nature Corridor. This will better connect habitats in nature reserves and nature parks to that in gardens and parks. And we are committed to do more. We will intensify greenery and integrate nature into our built environment, for example, through partnering the community to plant one million trees by 2030 and to implement more skyrise greenery in our buildings and infrastructure. These efforts will help us mitigate the impact of urbanisation and climate change and provide a high-quality living environment for Singaporeans, with greater access to nature’s benefits. Mr Speaker, let me speak in Mandarin, please. (In Mandarin): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] Mr Speaker, Sir, I can understand the concerns and wishes of Mr de Souza’s residents. The Ulu Pandan site which some referred to as “Dover Forest”, was rezoned for residential use as part of the Master Plan 2003. HDB engaged a consultant to conduct an Environmental Baseline Study before it proceeded with its planning. We received a wide range of views from different groups.”
“We will carefully consider the feedback received and share our plans when ready. We take this approach of consulting stakeholders and balancing the different needs of Singaporeans seriously. Minister Desmond Lee spoke about this important stewardship role earlier. Because land is scarce in Singapore, we have to plan judiciously. We recycle our limited land, for instance, through selling it on a leasehold basis, allowing us to refresh our land use and renew our cityscape and neighbourhoods. We optimise our limited land supply by co-locating uses, increasing the density of land plots, redeveloping existing sites and, where it makes sense, going underground. For example, the East Coast Integrated Depot, will incorporate three MRT depots and one for buses. Doing so will save 44 hectares of land, which is about twice the size of Changi Airport Terminal 4. With careful planning, we can safeguard some of our ecologically important sites as green spaces, such as the Kranji Marshes. And where we have to develop greenfield sites, we do so after careful deliberation, seeking to preserve and integrate natural elements into the developments. At the heart of these decisions, it is not just about balancing the various needs of Singaporeans today, but, importantly, it is also about balancing the needs of today’s generation with those that come after us. And that is why I am very heartened that despite the differing viewpoints we received on the Ulu Pandan site, there was a common thread running through the feedback: there was a strong desire to be responsible stewards for future generations. And we put in just as much thought and effort into conserving nature. It is part of our DNA, deeply intertwined with our Singapore Story.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I thank the hon Member, Mr Christopher de Souza, for raising this matter. Mr de Souza shared that the Ulu Pandan site, which some refer to as the “Dover Forest”, is close to the hearts of his residents and he spoke up very passionately about this topic. As someone who grew up in the area and spent much time exploring the spaces there, I can well appreciate these sentiments, and the way that Mr de Souza described the regions that he has in Ulu Pandan gives me a tinge of regret for moving out. Sir, first and foremost, I want to acknowledge the concerns and wishes of Mr de Souza’s residents. The Ulu Pandan site used to be a rubber plantation before it was abandoned. It was re-zoned for residential use under the Master Plan 2003. We were mindful of this characteristic when planning for its development. Hence, the HDB engaged a consultant to conduct an environmental baseline study to inform our plans. Nature groups were consulted and many residents living in the area provided feedback when the report was published online and we received a wide range of views. Some called for the preservation of the Ulu Pandan site and asked HDB to consider alternative sites in the area instead, and Mr de Souza mentioned a number of these sites in his speech. Others supported using the site for public housing so as to meet the needs of Singaporeans. However, these respondents also called for the site to be developed in a way that allows for their children and their grandchildren to continue enjoying the greenery. We are studying the feedback and welcome more Singaporeans to provide their views as we refine plans for the Ulu Pandan site. HDB will extend the public consultation period for another four weeks.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, NParks actively manages the capacity of our parks and nature reserves. For example, NParks carries out real time crowd monitoring and control, and has closed park areas temporarily when needed, in view of increased visitorship and safe distancing requirements during the COVID-19 period. Visitors can check the visitorship levels via NParks' Safe Distance@Parks portal to avoid potential crowds, before heading to the parks. NParks is very mindful of the potential impact that increased visitorship may have on our biodiversity. In this regard, NParks deploys officers to remind visitors not to venture off the designated trails. In addition, there are signs around our nature areas and parks to educate visitors on park etiquette and regulations. NParks will continue to expand the network of parks, including nature parks, so that more Singaporeans can enjoy nature-based recreation. This will help spread out the demand for such recreational experiences, and alleviate the pressure on core biodiversity areas, including our nature reserves. To manage the trash generated by visitors at our Southern Islands specifically, SLA has installed trash bins and signs to encourage visitors to bring their trash with them when they leave. Besides clearing the flotsam and litter daily, SLA and NParks also work together with the community on initiatives such as beach clean-ups at the islands. We would like to remind all park users to be socially responsible, and help keep our parks and natural spaces clean so that we can all continue to enjoy these public spaces together.”