Vivian Balakrishnan
Singapore
“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs does not issue advisories on wait times at overseas airports. Travellers may wish to monitor airline and airport websites, as well as news reports for real-time information on wait times and potential disruptions at specific airports.”
“When the conflict in the Middle East deteriorated and commercial flights were halted in March 2026, the Singapore Government mounted four repatriation flights from Muscat, Riyadh and Jeddah to bring stranded Singaporeans home.”
“The Government has stepped up public engagement to explain our foreign policy fundamentals and responses to key international developments to Singaporeans and to hear their views. We do this through dialogue sessions across segments of society, including students, youths, businesses and community leaders.”
“And the larger point during the Committee of Supply was that precisely, because the world is in such a difficult, prickly, volatile and dangerous state, actually, if we keep our wits about ourselves, we maintain unity and we continue to have this clear eye-realistic, but principled, approach, there are many opportunities for Singapore.”
“Well, in short, I completely agree with you. And that is why we have indeed been hosting these events and in your own capacity as a national athlete and also as an official now, you have seen how it works in practice.”
“Since 2022, about half of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) employees are women. The proportion of women in senior appointments has remained stable at about a quarter. We recognise that overseas postings are disruptive for officers with families, especially female officers who bear greater caregiving responsibilities.”
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“NEA carries out daily vector control operations in areas where dengue is currently transmitting. When all attempts to contact the owners of unoccupied or Page: 146 untenanted premises through their neighbours, grassroots, the Police and other Government agencies are unsuccessful, NEA officers will exercise its statutory authority to gain entry to these premises to conduct vector inspections after notifying the Police. This is done regardless of whether the private property is owned by a citizen or a foreigner. Outside dengue clusters, residential premises, including unoccupied or untenanted private properties, are inspected regularly based on risk assessment. For example, premises are inspected more frequently based on the number of reported dengue cases in the vicinity, the feedback received on possible mosquito breeding or if they are not properly maintained. Since NEA officers cannot be present everywhere at all times, it is important for owners and occupants to take precautions to prevent mosquito breeding. All potential areas or receptacles that may accumulate stagnant water should be eliminated. All residents should cooperate with NEA officers seeking to access their premises for vector inspection in order to protect their families and neighbours.”
“Bukit Timah Canal Catchment encompasses an area of more than 3,000 hectares and is served by the Bukit Timah Canal from Upper Bukit Timah Road upstream to Balmoral Road downstream, along with two diversion canals. The low-lying stretches may be vulnerable to flash floods during heavy rain. The First Diversion Canal branches off from the main Bukit Timah Canal at Maple Avenue and helps to divert stormwater from the upstream section of Bukit Timah Canal into Sungei Ulu Pandan. Since 2012, PUB has commenced upgrading the 3.2-km diversion canal in phases. Works are ongoing for a 280-m stretch underneath Ulu Pandan Road near the Pine Grove condominium and a longer 1.5-km stretch between Maple Avenue to Holland Green. Both stretches will be completed in 2015 and 2016 respectively, and the rest of the First Diversion Canal will be enhanced subsequently. PUB is also in the midst of upgrading the upstream section of Bukit Timah Canal. The upgrading works for the stretch between Jalan Kampong Chantek and Maple Avenue were completed in 2013. Works for the section from Rifle Range Road to Jalan Kampong Chantek will commence by mid-2015. Taken in entirety, the drainage upgrading works on both the Bukit Timah Canal and the First Diversion Canal will provide developments and premises in the area with better protection against flash floods during heavy storms. As drainage works may impose some inconvenience on the community, PUB will continue to work with the stakeholders to mitigate such inconveniences and to seek their patience and understanding as these are critical for flood alleviation. Residents who wish to receive an update on the status of the upgrading works may also contact PUB's liaison officers or call the PUB hotline.”
“From 15 April 2013 to 31 May 2014, after the three-month advisory period, NEA has booked a total of 15,230 offenders for smoking offences, of which 9,228 were for smoking in the new smoking-prohibited areas at common areas in residential areas, sheltered walkways/linkways, overhead bridges, hospital outdoor compounds and 5-m buffers around bus shelters. NEA's enforcement teams patrol more than 90 hotspots, such as covered linkways close to transport nodes, on a daily basis. Enforcement patrols are also conducted in areas identified through the more than 900 pieces of public feedback received monthly. There were about 5,700 reports from public feedback of smoking offences in common areas of HDB blocks during the same period. NEA has publicised the smoking ban extension in major newspapers, TV and radio, as well as through social media platforms. Posters, banners and "No Smoking" signs have been placed at HDB estates, hospital compounds and bus shelters as reminders. Brochures have also been distributed to smokers at selected retail shops. To further extend the outreach efforts, trained volunteers have conducted community patrols to advise smokers in their estates on the smoking prohibition extension. NEA will continue to ensure compliance with the smoking prohibition in new areas through sustained enforcement and outreach. Changing habits is difficult and we will need the support of the community, schools and non-government organisations to create a conducive environment for everyone and safeguard our public health.”
“I thank the Member for her question. I think we have to take a very, I would say, almost hyper-cautious approach to this. So, in the first instance, when we were aware that such an incident had occurred and we know where exactly it is, the first thing is to ascertain the facts: the severity of the accident, the release of radioactive material, whether it has entered the food chain at the local point. The Member will recollect that, at the first incidence, we put a moratorium on the import of food from the affected zone. With time, depending on the results of on-going studies, those restrictions can either be amended to be even stricter or less so according to risk. I want to give this House the assurance that AVA, which regulates food import – it is not under my Ministry but the MND – takes a very cautious stance. Because we have to make sure that our people are protected from such incidents elsewhere. [(proc text) Question put, and agreed to. (proc text)] [(proc text) Bill accordingly read a Second time and committed to a Committee of the whole House. (proc text)]”
“Operationally, the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority deploys radiation monitoring portals at our major cargo entry points to inspect vehicles and containers for the presence of radioactive material, even if they have not been declared to be such. The officers manning the screening equipment are trained in the use of the equipment and standard procedures are in place to deal with instances when such materials are detected, with particular emphasis on protecting the officers concerned and the public in general. Multi-agency plans are in place to respond to incidents when radioactive materials are released or which may put the public's safety and security at risk. These include the scenarios which Assoc Prof Fatimah Lateef has raised. Page: 89 I hope I have addressed her valid concerns but let me conclude again, Mr Deputy Speaker, by saying that we take the protection of human health and the environment from the exposure of radiation very seriously and that is why we are amending the Radiation Protection Act today to include more stringent measures and penalties. In this regard, I would like to thank the Member for her support and this House for giving me the opportunity to clarify what this Bill means for the safety and well-being of all Singaporeans. Mr Deputy Speaker, I beg to move.”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, I thank the Member for her support of the Bill. I would just like to respond briefly to the points that she has raised. First of all, many countries, especially those in our region, are currently either using nuclear energy or actively exploring using nuclear energy as a source of power. As such, it is crucial that we have the necessary measures to protect Singapore in case there is an accident, for instance, an accident in a nuclear power plant somewhere near Singapore, or an act of terror involving "dirty bombs". It is a valid question that she has posed on whether we are prepared for such incidents and whether our response teams are adequately trained to carry out the necessary protection measures. The second point was whether these precautionary measures are in place to guard against mishaps involving nuclear-powered military vessels when these vessels are in our waters or when they call at our ports. To address these issues, let me first reassure the Member that the import and export of radioactive and nuclear material, which are security sensitive, are already controlled under the current Radiation Protection Act and its Regulations. These are administered by NEA to ensure the safe use and handling of all such materials. In addition, the export of specific radioactive and nuclear material, as part of our support for global efforts to curb the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, is controlled under the Strategic Goods (Control) Act and its Regulations and are administered by Singapore Customs.”
“The Malaysian government has plans for two nuclear reactors to be built in the 2020s. Thus, our interests and preparation are crucial. [Deputy Speaker (Mr Charles Chong) in the Chair] The post-Fukushima era is a new era for all of us. It stresses on safety and energy governance. It is also about economic and strategic interests and, in Southeast Asia, these still, primarily, are the drivers of civil nuclear energy. Our checkpoints officers, Sir, need to be vigilant and have a high index of suspicion. Can I enquire how prepared are they and how much training and knowledge do they possess in this area? Do they know about protection and donning protective garments or have exercised these scenarios? How about nuclear-powered military vessels that may dock in our ports and waters? Do we have certain precautionary measures for these cases? These days, it is also very mobile when we have mobile devices and we must be aware that things like "dirty bombs" are often used by people and persons linked to terrorism. Other sources of nuclear materials in Singapore could be related to the medical industry and also in certain Government departments as well as other industrial devices but these institutions would be guarded by rules and regulations and have certain protocol for handling such equipment and materials. Page: 88 Vulnerabilities are, indeed, everywhere today and that is why we need this Bill. The strongest stance and enforcement as well as enhancements of this Bill will be to our advantage. I support the Bill. 5.28 pm”
“This is on account of the fact that some departments of the Government operate or use radioactive material and irradiating apparatuses when carrying out official duties and functions. The extension of these provisions to cover the Government, especially the licensing regime, will allow NEA to monitor and track the use and location of radioactive material and irradiating equipment, and to monitor the radiation exposure level of public officers and ensure that they are adequately protected. Mdm Speaker, it is of paramount importance that we do not take our clean and safe environment for granted. Keeping Singapore safe from the risk of radiation requires stringent and continuous efforts and this Amendment Bill is a key part of such an effort. This Page: 87 Amendment Bill will ensure that we have the necessary measures to protect Singapore from radioactive material and irradiating apparatuses in the light of the new challenges that we face. With these, we will be better able to secure a safe environment for our people and for subsequent generations. Mdm Speaker, I beg to move. [(proc text) Question proposed. (proc text)] 5.25 pm Assoc Prof Fatimah Lateef (Marine Parade): Madam, Singapore does not currently have nuclear power capabilities. But we have an interest in nuclear security and that is why we are debating this Bill. It is our duty as a responsible member of the international community of nations. We may also become victims to any fallout from a nuclear activity or an attack near us. Our neighbours, Malaysia and the Philippines, have indicated their intent to pursue nuclear power plants. Indonesia is still looking for an appropriate site, when previous sites met with public opposition.”
“Mdm Speaker, another key obligation of the CPPNM and its 2005 Amendment is for State Parties to share information concerning any unauthorised acts done to nuclear material, any credible threat, or in order to protect threatened nuclear material, among others. To allow Singapore to do so, clauses 7 and 8 will amend sections 16 and 17 of the Radiation Protection Act. Amendments to section 16 will enable the Director-General of Environmental Protection to require licence holders to provide him with the requisite information or documents if required to be shared under the CPPNM or its 2005 Amendment. Amendments to section 17 will enable information obtained pursuant to the Act to be disclosed without breach of the duty of secrecy if such disclosure is for the purpose of the CPPNM or its 2005 Amendment. Mdm Speaker, I will now deal with various other miscellaneous amendments to the Act. Clause 10 inserts a new section 40A to enable enforcement costs to be recovered from a person convicted of certain offences under the Radiation Protection Act. Clause 12 amends the regulation-making power of the NEA. Regulations may be made for the purposes of implementing the CPPNM and its 2005 Amendment and to enable the screening and decontamination of persons who may be exposed to radiation, for instance, in-bound passengers from places which had nuclear accidents. This is to deal with the legislative gap identified when we were responding to the Fukushima nuclear incident. Amendments are also made to strengthen existing control measures under the Act. We also propose by clause 4 to extend the application of certain provisions of the Radiation Protection Act on the Government.”
“We are most concerned about acts of sabotage directed against nuclear facilities with the intention to cause death or harm. The most egregious acts must be deterred with the most severe of penalties. Therefore, clause 9(2) proposes that the mandatory death penalty be levied for acts done against a nuclear facility which are committed with the intention to cause death and death is caused. For an act against a nuclear facility which causes death and is committed with the intention to cause serious injury, coupled with the knowledge that the act is likely to cause death, the proposed punishment is the discretionary death penalty. Our view is that these punishments send an appropriately strong signal that the Government regards these as very grave offences. The provisions are tightly scoped and I want to assure the House that they do not extend the death penalty beyond Singapore's existing legislation. Mdm Speaker, I would like to reiterate the importance of international cooperation. Further to this, clause 9 inserts provisions to provide for mutual legal assistance and extradition in relation to nuclear offences. To facilitate mutual legal assistance between State Parties to the CPPNM, the new section 26G provides that a foreign nuclear offence is deemed not to be a political offence. This is because the Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters Act (Cap 190A) prohibits assistance if the Attorney-General determines that the Page: 86 offence is of a political character. The new section 26H enables extradition between Singapore and a State Party to the Convention or its 2005 Amendment of persons accused of nuclear offences. Both sections 26G and 26H are common provisions found in many of our anti-terrorism laws.”
“Clause 9(1) provides for the criminalisation of various acts done in relation to nuclear material. The new section 26B criminalises various acts done in relation to nuclear material which cause or are likely to cause death, serious injury or substantial property damage. Given the dangerous nature of nuclear material, the new section 26C enhances the imprisonment terms for various property offences. The new section 26D makes it an offence to threaten to use nuclear material to cause death, serious injury or substantial property damage, or to threaten to commit theft or robbery of nuclear material, in order to compel a person, organisation or government to do or abstain from doing an act. The new section 26E requires a person with information that can help prevent a nuclear offence or in arresting or prosecuting the perpetrator of such an offence to disclose it to the Police. The new section 26F confers extraterritorial jurisdiction for various nuclear offences. This helps to ensure that perpetrators do not escape punishment, regardless of who they are or where the offence was committed, which is a key objective of the CPPNM. Clause 9(2) provides for the amendments needed to implement the 2005 Amendment to the Convention. The new section 26DA criminalises various acts done in relation to nuclear material and which substantially harms the environment. The new section 26DB criminalises various acts done against nuclear facilities. The new section 26DC criminalises the making of threats to commit any of these acts. The new section 26DD gives Singapore jurisdiction to deal with the unlawful export or import of nuclear material occurring in another country.”
“Under the CPPNM, Parties are obliged to establish various offences relating to nuclear material to ensure adequate protection of nuclear material in international transport, as well as to share information and coordinate recovery and response operations in the event of a threat posed to a consignment of nuclear material. The 2005 Amendment further strengthens the provisions of the Convention to include the protection of nuclear facilities and material in peaceful domestic use, storage as well as transport. While the Convention is already in force, the 2005 Amendment has yet to enter into force. It will enter into force after it has been ratified by two-thirds of the State Parties to the Convention. The CPPNM and its 2005 Amendment also require Parties to criminalise specific acts relating to nuclear material and nuclear facilities. Therefore, we have proposed amendments to the Radiation Protection Act to criminalise these acts. We have also proposed a second set of amendments to criminalise additional acts as required by the 2005 Amendment. This second set of amendments will be brought into force when the 2005 Amendment enters into force. These amendments to the Act will provide Singapore with comprehensive protection against criminal acts involving nuclear material. Let me outline some details: Clauses 5 and 6 of the Amendment Bill seek to further strengthen the control of various dealings with radioactive material and irradiating apparatuses under sections 5 and 6 of the Act, such as the import, export or sale of them, by increasing the maximum imprisonment terms from two to five years for those who do such acts without a licence or licensees who Page: 85 act contrary to the terms of the licence.”
“As any such nuclear incident could have far-reaching transboundary effects, it is important for Singapore to work closely with the regional and the international community to protect our population and environment from radiological exposure. At the same time, with the increased use of nuclear energy, it also means that the transport of nuclear material across boundaries is occurring more frequently. Hence, it is pertinent that greater attention be given to protecting our population from exposure. As such, there is a need to ensure that the nuclear material is adequately protected during transport. The consequences of nuclear material falling into the wrong hands are potentially disastrous and it is important that there is a global concerted and integrated effort to protect Page: 84 all nuclear material. Singapore has committed to acceding to the IAEA's Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material (CPPNM) and its 2005 Amendment. At the third Nuclear Security Summit held in The Hague in March this year, Prime Minister Lee announced that Singapore would shortly accede to the Convention as part of our commitment to upholding nuclear security as a responsible member of the international community. We have, therefore, tabled a Bill to amend our Radiation Protection Act to allow Singapore to fulfil the obligations under the CPPNM and its 2005 Amendment, as well as to enhance domestic regulations to protect Singapore from the risk of exposure. This will send a signal that Singapore places a strong emphasis on nuclear safety and security and is willing to fulfil its role as a responsible global citizen. Mdm Speaker, I shall now highlight the main amendments and new provisions proposed in this Bill.”
“Mdm Speaker, I beg to move, "That the Bill be now read a Second time." The Radiation Protection Act was first enacted in 1973 to control the import, export, sale, transport, possession and use of radioactive material and irradiating apparatus. The Act was repealed and re-enacted in 1991 to include, among other amendments, the control of non-ionising radiation. In 2007, the Act was again repealed and re-enacted to transfer the roles and functions of the Centre for Radiation Protection (CRP), as the administrator of the Act, from the Health Sciences Authority (HSA) to the National Environment Agency (NEA). The 2007 Act was also enacted to prepare for Singapore's ratification of the Additional Protocol to the Comprehensive Safeguards Agreement under the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). The Act has served us well over the years and is crucial to ensure that radioactive material and irradiating apparatus are stringently regulated and managed. Singaporeans today go about our daily lives without having to worry about the risk of being exposed to unnecessary radiation from the use of radioactive material and irradiating apparatus. This would not have been possible without the Act. However, we must not take the safe and clean environment we enjoy in Singapore today for granted. Many countries are currently using nuclear energy, or are actively exploring nuclear as a source of energy. Nonetheless, given the particular challenges that it poses, the decision to use nuclear energy should never be taken lightly and all countries have to put much thought and effort into their planning.”
“I thank the Member for that supplementary question. I think after our experience last year, Singapore and Singaporeans are far better prepared if anything untoward were to occur this year. Singaporeans are aware that haze can come. It can arrive unpredictably and very quickly. Literally, it takes about six hours from the onset of the plume in Riau to be brought across the narrow straits to us. Masks have been distributed. In fact, Temasek Cares and SingPost have distributed masks to every household. In addition, over the last two weekends, we have been distributing WeCare packages, especially to low-income and needy families. So, they know that if the worst were to occur, preparations are in place. Similarly, amongst the Civil Service, all the different agencies concerned, the Haze Task Force has met; all the plans are in place. We hope, of course, that they would not need to be activated but, if need be, we will do so.”
“Singapore is currently in the Southwest Monsoon season which typically extends from June to September. During this period, the weather is supposed to be generally dry and warm although there will be short-duration thundery showers on some days, and I am sure many Members of this House can attest to that. For the next few months, drier conditions are expected. If there is uncontrolled burning of peat land and forests in Sumatra or Kalimantan, the winds may bring transboundary haze to Singapore. The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) has indicated that there is a 60% likelihood of El Niño being established between June and August this year, and the probability may rise to 75%-80% for October to December this year. This means potentially an extended dry season with a higher risk of transboundary haze. There has, unfortunately, been an escalation of hotspot activities and a corresponding onset of intermittent transboundary haze in Peninsular Malaysia in mid-June 2014. I saw this for myself when I drove from Ipoh back to Singapore two weeks ago. The number of hotspots in Sumatra, mostly in Riau, had increased to as high as 143 on 24 June 2014. Indonesia will have to step up its fire prevention, mitigation and fire-fighting efforts. Singapore has offered our assistance to Indonesia to help them with their fire suppression. The Transboundary Haze Pollution Bill which I will be introducing shortly will also Page: 40 complement regional efforts to address this annual scourge. Any long-term solution to this perennial issue will require political will and effective cooperation amongst all the countries in the region. NEA has been issuing daily haze forecasts since 16 June 2014 and we will continue to monitor the situation and update Singaporeans.”
“The growth of green industries and the creation of good jobs Page: 55 in this sector will build a base from which we can push the frontier further. The Government fully intends to walk the talk. The Public Sector will demonstrate its commitment by enhancing the Public Sector Taking the Lead in Environmental Sustainability (PSTLES) framework. Finally, we recognise that the protection of our environment is, ultimately, a collective responsibility. We will focus on encouraging and inculcating pro-social and pro-environmental behaviour by supporting more community-driven initiatives. We will also study ways to empower volunteers, by having them champion public cleanliness and take on stewardship of our water bodies. There are already many passionate individuals and organisations making a difference and a growing number of companies who embrace sustainability as not just a competitive edge but also as part of their contribution back to society. Therefore, I see great potential for bringing the community together to effect a real and positive change in Singapore. We will complete our SSB review by the end of the year. The Blueprint will flesh out the key elements I have described, serving as a roadmap of what Government seeks to achieve in partnership with the People and Private Sector. Together, we can achieve our vision – a safe and sustainable city, a liveable and endearing home, an engaged and gracious community which takes collective responsibility for the environment that we hold in trust for future generations. Page: 56”
“Increasingly, we need to see both these pillars not as trade-offs, but mutually reinforcing and intertwined. Moving forward, it is imperative for us to approach them holistically. We will step up our efforts to engage and work with companies and industries to improve their resource efficiency and adopt best-in-class practices. Large energy users in the industry sector are now required to submit energy consumption data and develop energy efficiency improvement plans under the Energy Conservation Act (ECA). Starting next year, we will extend a similar requirement to large water users to submit Water Efficiency Management Plans. We will work with large water users in key industrial areas, such as Jurong Island, to identify and implement water-efficient solutions. These could include the use of seawater for cooling purposes and increased localised water recycling. We will also work with industry to reduce pollutive emissions to improve air quality. Through these steps, we hope to enhance our companies' contribution to a sustainable environment, while helping them become even more efficient and competitive globally by saving them money and enhancing their resilience to external shocks. In addition, we are also exploring ways to improve our resource recovery rate. In particular, we will promote the upstream segregation of key waste streams. This will help to reduce contamination and improve the recovery of recyclables. We will further enhance our knowledge base and capabilities and invest in directed research and development of new technologies to help achieve our environmental objectives. New innovations will be fostered through our support for test-beds and the scaling up of successful pilots.”
“We have been transforming and adding greenery to our waterways and water bodies and will continue to do so by expanding the ABC Waters Programme. The new hawker centres we are building will not only be a place for affordable, hygienic food in a clean, vibrant and inclusive environment, but also a venue where Singaporeans and non-Singaporeans from all walks of life can interact and form community bonds. Second, we will build infrastructure ahead of demand to support a growing economy, and to improve resilience to climate change. Investments such as the Deep Tunnel Sewerage System (DTSS) Phase 2 and the Integrated Waste Management Facility (IWMF) at Tuas will Page: 54 ensure that capacity keeps pace with our needs. We will expand drainage and water infrastructure to better withstand increasingly unpredictable weather events. We will also do more to integrate our plans upstream and improve operational coordination with other public agencies to optimise the use of scarce resources. The new underground service reservoir to be sited in the new Bidadari town is one such example. NEA's Centre for Climate Research Singapore was set up in 2013 to help keep us current with climate science, and inform our strategies for a climate-resilient Singapore. In addition, we have developed a risk assessment framework which will allow us to systematically identify, assess and mitigate the risks associated with climate change across the whole Government early, as well as a framework to guide our adaptation plans. Third, we resolve to achieve a greener economy. This will be a much greater emphasis in our new SSB, as compared to the last. We have made good progress over the years in maintaining a balance and synergy between economic development and environmental sustainability.”
“The high quality of the environment that we enjoy today is a result of the vision, discipline and hard work of our Pioneer Generation and leaders. We must safeguard this legacy, and pass on an even more sustainable environment to future generations. Our future challenges are significant. This includes dealing with greater urbanisation, coping with climate change, managing epidemics and improving our quality of life. The review of the Sustainable Singapore Blueprint (SSB) this year will set out the vision and strategies for Singapore's sustainable development in the next two decades. First, we want to ensure a clean environment that provides Singaporeans a high quality of life. We will promote and nurture sustainable living by facilitating the adoption of green practices by individuals, households and corporations. We will improve our recycling infrastructure in existing and new housing developments to increase our recycling rate and extend the lifespan of Semakau landfill. We aspire for not just a cleaned Singapore, but a clean Singapore that reflects our intrinsic values – social graciousness, mutual respect and collective responsibility. To do so, we have to uphold high standards of public cleanliness, food hygiene and sanitation; we need as a community to collectively reaffirm the positive social norms and behaviour. As there is still a minority who persists in anti-social behaviour, we will enhance our enforcement efforts to deter these recalcitrant offenders. We will further tighten our vehicle emission and fuel quality standards in order to enhance air quality. Growing our social capital also improves our well-being. We will create more social spaces for people to enjoy and bond with the community.”
“I thank the Member for those comments. First, there is domestic legislation in Indonesia that makes it a criminal offence to burn the forests. So, it is not for lack of legislation. My sense is, it is the lack of political will to investigate and to enforce. On the second point about international law: that is precisely the reason why we decided to appoint an international panel to advise us. We will await their deliberations and their recommendations. We will keep our options open.”
“All 44 km on park connectors; only a few places where we had to dismount to cross roads. The point is our park connectors and cycling networks will continue to expand and, of course, there are plans for the railway corridors. The Sustainable Singapore Blueprint has to be forward looking. We have to generate practical and ambitious targets, and pragmatic plans. This will flesh out over the next few months as we embark on the public consultation exercise, and I hope Members will support us on this. Let me just conclude, Madam. Today's Singapore is a thriving, liveable, clean, green and beautiful city, but it did not come about by chance. Singapore has been very fortunate because our founding Prime Minister Mr Lee Kuan Yew was a pragmatic environmentalist even before going green became fashionable. He understood and pursued a philosophy of growing our economy whilst protecting the environment. He saw these two pillars as mutually reinforcing; not a zero sum game. It was Mr Lee who oversaw the launch of the "Keep Singapore Clean" campaign in 1968. I was struck by the obituary for Mr Chua Sian Chin, the former Health Minister. He was asked about his most significant contribution to Singapore and replied that it was to start the "Keep Singapore Clean" campaign. What we have now is a legacy built over many decades. I thank all Members of the House and the public for their support over these decades, and I look Page: 32 forward to your continued support and commitment in the decades to come.”
“Thank you, Mdm Chair. In the interest of time, let me quickly address the questions by Dr Teo Ho Pin and Miss Penny Low on Sustainable Singapore Blueprint (SSB). First, let me state that this is not a purely environmental project. The Sustainable Singapore Blueprint requires the whole-of-Singapore approach. It involves MEWR, MND, MTI, MOT and a whole lot of agencies. I just want to highlight the excellent speech by Mr Desmond Lee yesterday on the work that is being done by NParks on the Central Catchment Area, the Bukit Timah Nature Reserve and Pulau Ubin. Recall the work that PUB has done; Ms Grace Fu has just showed Members the ABC Waters projects in which we now have 959 hectares of water bodies and 93 km of waterways open to the public for recreation. We intend to progressively open more of that. We have also seen progress in skyrise greenery, green space, and the expansion of Page: 31 park connectors. 12.45 pm We have worked with MTI and MOT on reducing pollution. We are also working with industries to upgrade their energy efficiency and reduce smoke stack emissions. With NEA, we have various schemes in place to promote better conservation of resources and also to incentivise recycling. Our overall recycling rate is around 60%, but at the domestic level, it is only around 20%. Members would have noticed that we have recycling bins progressively placed in every single block in HDB estates. To promote recycling, certain new precincts even have double chutes – one chute for general waste and another chute for recycling. Talking about park connectors, I was very glad that on Saturday, I cycled with another 1,000 cyclists. We covered 44 km. We went to East Coast, Changi, Pasir Ris, Punggol, Bedok, Tampines, Bedok and back to East Coast.”
“The Second Minister for the Environment and Water Resources (Ms Grace Fu Hai Yien): Mdm Chair, may I start my speech in Mandarin? Also, may I have your permission to show some visuals?”
“Since 2008, we have progressively introduced labelling, standards and outreach programmes to encourage the adoption of energy-efficient appliances, which have helped households save money. Both consumers and suppliers have responded positively. In fact, energy-efficient appliances are also becoming more affordable. In 2012, a four-tick fridge cost about the same as a two-tick model, on average. In order to protect consumers from being locked into the high operating cost of inefficient appliances, we have tightened efficiency standards further. We will also be enhancing energy labels to give more information so that consumers can make informed choices. In industries, we want to promote energy-efficiency. We enacted the Energy Conservation Act. It came into effect in April last year. One hundred and sixty-six of the most energy-intensive companies are now registered with NEA under this Act. Mr Seah Kian Peng asked for the efforts in the public sector to improve energy efficiency. We also have to lead by example. Since 2006, public agencies have been actively carrying out energy efficiency improvements to their buildings under the Public Sector Taking the Lead in Environmental Sustainability (PSTLES) initiative. Nineteen large public sector buildings have retrofitted, or are in the process of retrofitting, their chiller plants for greater efficiency. Such retrofits typically reduce the building energy consumption by 16% and the retrofitting of these 19 buildings will lead to at least $7.3 million in annual savings. I am now going to take a break and ask Second Minister Grace Fu to share with you our efforts in food safety and affordability, and a clean and sustainable Page: 22 environment.”
“The purpose of this is two-fold: one is that it acts as a trap, so we are also trying to reduce the population; secondly, it gives us early surveillance of where the mosquitoes are, the type of mosquitoes and just as important, the type of viruses that the mosquitoes are carrying. These Gravitraps have both an eradication function as well as a surveillance function. We are rolling them out on a pilot basis. We started first in Bukit Panjang because Dr Teo Ho Pin has been championing this, and in Clementi. I appeal to the other Town Councils that as and when you feel that there is a need in your area, please cooperate with the NEA officers and allow the deployment of these Gravitraps in your areas. Members will also be glad to know – and I think Ms Sylvia Lim brought it up – that there is an active local research scene on dengue immunology, on vaccines and on anti-viral drugs. The institutions involved in this include the Singapore Immunology Network of A*STAR, Tan Tock Seng Hospital, NUS, Page: 21 Duke-NUS and Novartis Institute of Tropical Diseases. NEA will fully support all these research efforts; we share all our data, epidemiologic data as well as our biological samples with them. We hope that the breakthroughs would arise from this work in Singapore. 12.15 pm Mdm Chair, let me quickly move on now to the issue of self-reliance in an uncertain world. And I agree with Miss Penny Low on the importance of engaging and educating the community in building resilience. If you have seen what has happened in haze, dengue and flash foods, we have to inform and educate the public and provide real-time information. We also need to have more efficient use of resources, such as energy, to enhance our resilience.”
“I am glad to say that the most recent figures for breeding at construction sites have Page: 20 dropped to about 4%. But I think we can still continue to make improvements. I would also like to assure Ms Faizah Jamal that there have been concerted efforts to improve coordination amongst different Government Ministries. I totally agree with her. We have an Inter-agency Task Force set up in 2005, which comprises 27 different Government agencies as well as private associations like the Singapore Contractors Association. This Task Force meets regularly to review the dengue data as well as to roll out best practices in each agency's area of responsibility. NEA typically would inspect the premises of other Government agencies every three months – the longest gap we would accept is up to six months. If breeding is found, we take action, we levy fines on them. Yesterday, I told my Permanent Secretary that maybe we should consider adding mosquito breeding into the KPIs of the individual officers concerned. Maybe if it impacts their bonuses rather than just the fines, it would get even more personal attention and accountability. Anyway, we would not absolve Government departments of their responsibility to protect the environment. The dengue outbreak is not over yet, although the numbers have come down significantly. For now, we are hovering at about 200 cases or so a week. We will continue to deploy new tools to enhance our operations. One example is Gravitraps. These are containers with water to attract gravid, or pregnant mosquitoes to come and lay eggs; and when they lay the eggs, they are then trapped by these contraptions.”
“We all owe them a debt of gratitude for the hard and thankless job which they do. But, after 5 million inspections, we discovered that in fact the increase in breeding was not that significant. It was an increase of about 10% only. But this 10% increase in breeding, superimposed with the new virus which we have very low immunity against, led to this explosive situation which we have now, which comes to my point. At this point in time, the main area where we have any leverage on is source eradication. That is why we have been pushing so hard to eliminate breeding sites. Even if NEA continues to do 5 million, or 10 million inspections in a year, we know that the mosquitoes only need one week to breed. It is not possible for NEA officers to inspect every single premise in every single home and site every single week of the year. Therefore, it still means we as home owners, as premises managers, as Town Councils, have to do our part. We cannot leave it entirely to the NEA officers alone. Let me also state that construction sites have been one area of particular concern. In 2013, 10% of the 12,000 inspections conducted in construction sites were found to be breeding mosquitoes. That is an unacceptably high number. Because of that, we had to take strong enforcement actions. We have levied fines: I think the total fines levied on contractors exceeded $3.5 million in 2013. We have had to impose tougher penalties. We issued 55 stop-work orders and we took 26 contractors to Court. The message we were trying to send to the contractors was that we need to strengthen our housekeeping and our environmental management onsite and that we will not hesitate to take strong and tough action because 10% is an unacceptably high rate of breeding.”
“Mr Charles Chong, Mr Gan Thiam Poh, Ms Faizah Jamal and Ms Sylvia Lim also asked about the actions that we have taken or need to take. Let me deal first with the point of vaccine – Ms Lim brought that up. The problem with dengue is that there are at least four different serotypes. Right now, what is infecting us is DENV-1. The problem is that your vaccine has to be equally effective against all four. Otherwise, if you have partial immunity, you might put the patient at higher risk. What we do know from a medical point of view; if you have been infected by one serotype, you have immunity against that. But you can be infected by the second, third or fourth serotype. In fact, it is your second or third infection where you already have partial immunity to another serotype which may put you at higher clinical risk of dengue shock syndrome or dengue hemorrhagic fever. The point I am trying to make is that I agree with you the long-term solution is the vaccine. But in the short term, no safe vaccine is available yet, and I cannot in good conscience promote vaccination at this point in time. Nevertheless, it is Page: 19 something which we have to keep an eye out for. That is the ultimate long-term solution. So, if we cannot affect immunity on one hand and we have got this new DENV-1 sweeping through us, on the other hand, what can we do about it? There is still one more parameter which we can do something about and that is source eradication – breeding of mosquitoes in our homes and our neighbourhoods. One question I asked NEA, is this outbreak because we are suddenly having a lot more Aedes aegypti breeding spots? I looked at all the figures. Our NEA officers have conducted 5 million inspections and identified 20,000 breeding spots last year. These are not small numbers.”
“Currently, we only regulate the content of sulphur and lead in petrol and vehicle. But we know that other parameters also affect vehicle emissions. For instance, benzene is carcinogenic and there are other elements like polyaromatics and olefins and Page: 18 other contaminants and pollution within petrol and diesel which also impact human health. Therefore, we have decided to regulate the other parameters of petrol and diesel, and we would impose these new changes by 2017 in order to further improve the tailpipe emissions of all vehicles in Singapore. With all these initiatives and the measures that we will put in place, I am optimistic that we will achieve our 2020 targets and then continue to make improvements beyond that. Let me now turn to dengue. Last year, we saw a historic high, 22,170 cases, or 50% more than the previous peak in 2005. From the beginning of 2014 until last Friday, we have an additional 3,075 cases. Unfortunately, eight persons died last year. Each one is one too many, and we extend our condolences to the families of these eight. Let me put the situation in context. We are in a dengue endemic region. The threat of dengue cannot be eliminated totally. Even if we were to at one point eliminate it totally, it would continue to come in because this is in the region. When we are dealing with dengue, there are three parameters: the virus, the mosquito and human immunity. In this particular outbreak, this is due to a switch in the virus that is infecting us, in particular, a new DENV-1 virus has emerged and swept through Singapore like wild fire. Because we have very low immunity against it, right now, if you take 100 patients with dengue, 85 of them will be infected with this new Dengue Type 1 virus.”
“For foreign-registered diesel vehicles, we make sure that they comply with a strict smoke opacity limit test and this is imposed on all diesel vehicles. We pay special attention at the Causeway and the Second Link, and turn away pollutive foreign vehicles. We believe this is needed in order to safeguard the air quality in Singapore. My Ministry and MOT implemented the Early Turnover Scheme last April to encourage the early replacement of old diesel commercial vehicles and we wanted them to replace these old vehicles with the newer and less pollutive Euro V diesel models. The Finance Minister announced in his Budget Statement that we will enhance the scheme to improve the take-up rates. Let me share some details at this point. With effect from tomorrow, the COE bonus for light commercial diesel vehicles will be doubled from 10% to 20% of the remainder of the vehicle's 20-year lifespan. For heavy commercial diesel vehicles, the COE bonus will be increased from 30% to the maximum 100%. In other words, one full year's worth of bonus COE for every year of the vehicle lifespan remaining. Let me simplify and give you an example. Based on the last Category C Prevailing Quota Premium which I think was about $50,000, an owner of a heavy goods vehicle that has, say, about five years of lifespan and a remaining COE life of three years, would only have to pay $10,000 to get a brand new full 10-year COE if he upgrades to a more environmentally friendly Euro V vehicle. We will also extend the duration of this Early Turnover Scheme by one year, until 30 April 2016. NEA and LTA will release more details on the enhancements later this afternoon. Pollution from vehicles is also affected by the fuel that they burn.”
“In addition to revising the PSI, I have also asked NEA to publish the raw one-hour PM2.5 concentrations every hour. In summary, we will simplify the reporting system, but we will also publish far more raw data. I believe this raw data will be useful to academics and scientists who are studying this problem, and it also demonstrates complete transparency on our part. These changes will be made in May 2014. My Ministry will publish more details in a press release later today. 12.00 pm To improve our air quality, we also need to reduce our own local emissions. My Ministry and MTI have worked with the major emitters to reduce their sulphur dioxide emissions in Singapore. For instance, the refineries and power plants – the generating companies that generate our electricity – have been very cooperative and they understand that it is in their own self-interest to also ensure that their operations in Singapore are "best-in-class". For example, our power plants have increasingly switched to using cleaner natural gas. I believe over 90% of electricity is produced using natural gas, and this is the cleanest fossil fuel available. We will continue to work with these major emitters to Page: 17 further reduce and improve our sulphur dioxide profiles. For the transport sector, diesel vehicles are major contributors to PM2.5. Tighter emission standards for diesel vehicles as well as for petrol vehicles and motorcycles are being mandated in the course of this year. We are also considering tightening the standard for petrol vehicles to Euro V or perhaps even Euro VI by 2017. To answer Mr Charles Chong, these emission standards will apply to new and locally-registered vehicles.”
“It will consist of distinguished legal experts both locally as well as from abroad and we look forward to receiving their recommendations, including the options available to Singapore under International Law, later in this year. Few of us think about air quality until the haze comes and affects our daily activities. Indeed, air quality is an essential part of our quality of life. It is the reason many companies or the executives of many companies prefer to relocate Page: 16 and bring their families here rather than in other cities. In August 2012, even before the onset of last year's haze, we announced stricter air quality standards for 2020 and beyond and we benchmarked our targets against the WHO Air Quality Guidelines (AQG). We also started reporting PM2.5 concentrations – the exact raw concentrations – alongside the Pollutant Standards Index (PSI) because the PSI already reflected five other pollutants, including PM10 and sulphur dioxide. This was, in fact, our first step in the journey towards integrating, improving and simplifying our air quality reporting system. That is why Members will have noticed that since August 2012, when you look at our air quality reports, you will see two sets of figures. There is the PSI and there is the PM2.5. Well, we have decided to simplify the system further, and we will incorporate the PM2.5 into the PSI. This revised single index will reflect whichever of the six pollutant parameters is the worst. In reality, in our current context, we expect therefore that the PSI will actually be determined almost all the time by the levels of PM2.5. And as a doctor, I think this is reasonable because, in fact, it is PM2.5 that we are most concerned with as far as its impact on health is concerned.”
“As Mr Yee Jenn Jong has pointed out, there will be challenges even if we pass this law because we still the need the cooperation of authorities elsewhere to gather sufficient evidence to enable conviction in court. Nevertheless, despite the difficulties, I would encourage Members of this House to support the Bill when we do bring it to this House because we need to send a clear and unequivocal signal that we will not condone irresponsible commercial actions that put the health of Singaporeans at risk. I invite all you to peruse the draft version of the Bill which is on the REACH website and please send me your considered opinions directly. The haze episode also underlies a wider global concern about the transboundary environmental impact of actions of other countries. At the International Conference on Transboundary Pollution that was organised recently – two weeks ago – by the NUS Centre for International Law, the legal experts agreed that clearer international rules are necessary and we also need effective institutions on the ground. We also need strong regional cooperation mechanisms. As such, the Government has decided to appoint an International Advisory Panel on Transboundary Pollution. Let me just share the Terms of Reference of this panel. This panel is to study and advise the Government on the following: (a) on the trends and developments in international law relating to transboundary pollution; (b) on the issues arising under international law from the impact of transboundary pollution; and (c) on the related solutions and practical steps which Singapore can adopt. Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean has asked Prof Jayakumar and Prof Tommy Koh to co-chair this international panel.”
“And we will prosecute them to the maximum extent of the law. We still need to work with our neighbours. We need to work with them because we need maps, we need evidence, we need investigation, we need enforcement on the ground. We hope to sign a Memorandum of Understanding later this year which will enable us to renew our bilateral collaborations with Jambi Province in Indonesia. We have previously collaborated with them; we focused on capacity building programmes and on joint projects that could reduce forest and land fires by also teaching the local farmers more sustainable methods of land clearing and of agriculture. We need to continue to encourage the Indonesian Parliament to ratify the ASEAN Agreement on Transboundary Haze Pollution. Indonesia is the last member of ASEAN which has signed but not ratified the agreement. We believe that ratifying it will be a strong signal of the Indonesian government's commitment. But that said, ratifying an agreement on its own will be insufficient if ground measures at the source remain weak. We agree with Assoc Prof Faishal's view: the root cause of haze is commercial. Simply put, it is cheaper for companies to clear land by illegal burning than to do so with any other method. Therefore, last month, Members will recall that we announced plans to enact a new law on transboundary haze pollution. We have published this; we have asked for public feedback; in due time after considering the feedback, I will bring it to this House. Page: 15 This law, if approved by the House, will allow us to take to task, not only local companies, but foreign companies that cause transboundary haze in Singapore.”
“Assoc Prof Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim and Mr Charles Chong asked for updates. Let me state right at the onset that given the transboundary nature of it, this is not something we can solve in Singapore on our own. It requires a bilateral and multilateral approach. Most importantly, we need effective investigation and enforcement on the ground at the source of these fires. If that is not done, all the efforts that we make at international fora, as well as the precautions that we take here, will not be sufficient. We need to emphasise this point: that we need effective investigation and enforcement on the ground, at the source. To be honest with you, progress on this front is not as good as we would hope for it to be. The fact that the situation in Riau and Sumatra is worse Page: 14 this year than last year is a warning sign. At the 23rd ASEAN Summit last October, our ASEAN leaders agreed to adopt the ASEAN Sub-Regional Haze Monitoring System (AHMS) which would help us pinpoint companies that practise illegal land clearing activities. However, let me also be brutally frank with Members in this House, we have not yet received the concession maps from the Indonesian authorities. Without these official concession maps, the ASEAN Haze Monitoring System will not be able to achieve its intended purpose. We have made formal requests to Indonesia to share evidence and name the companies involved in illegal land clearing practices. So far, deafening silence. They give hazy media interviews, but when we ask for clarity, that is not available. We have stated the Singapore Government's position that regardless of who those companies are, regardless of who owns those companies; give us the evidence, we can use that evidence to take action, we will.”
“PUB will do its best Page: 13 to provide timely alerts on rising water levels and flash floods to the public through our various channels, for instance on radio, Twitter, Facebook, various mobile apps both on the Apple and as well as the Android platforms. You will see data being made available in real time. You will even see "live" video feeds from PUB available in real time. The purpose of all these is, first, to demonstrate transparency; secondly, to allow people to take adequate precautions to react to dynamic situations; and, third, to allow everyone to generate collective solutions. Be part of the solution, do not just complain about the problem. Let me move on to air quality. We suffered our worst episode of transboundary haze in June last year. This year, unfortunately, the haze situation has begun even earlier. The slash and burn activities have led to a resurgence of hotspots in Sumatra. It is worrying that the current levels of haze experienced in Sumatra, in particular Riau, even today, is worse than it was in June last year. Right now, we are just lucky that the winds are not blowing the haze from Sumatra to us. Right now, there are about 86 hotspots in Peninsular Malaysia, so the northeast wind is bringing some of that smoke to Singapore. On top of that, you may recall I posted a photo of a fire in MacRitchie Reservoir last week, probably due to someone carelessly throwing a cigarette butt, and that leading to the dry underbrush and the grass catching fire. That is why even now our air quality has gone into the moderate range and many Singaporeans tell me they can smell a burning smell in the air. This indicates that haze pollution is a recurrent problem that will continue to plague us in Singapore and, indeed, in the region.”
“These drainage improvement works involve constructing new drains, upgrading existing drains to meet the higher design standards. The Geylang River is one example. It is one where we have increased the flow capacity. There are also on-going projects at 165 other locations across the island, most of which will be completed within the next three years. In addition, projects at 32 more locations will commence later this year. This is a massive distributed upgrading programme across our drainage network. Just bear in mind that we have over 7,000 km worth of drains to work on. Construction of the Stamford Detention Tank, which is located at Tyersall Avenue, next to the Botanic Gardens, has started and it will complete by 2016. You will recall that this tank, together with the Stamford Diversion Canal, will raise the level of flood protection for the entire Stamford Canal catchment, which includes the Orchard Road area which was previously affected by flash floods. I acknowledge that there will be some inconvenience; you will see many obstacles and construction work at many places across Singapore. I appeal for tolerance and support from members of the public in order to let us get these projects done quickly. Let me also state that we cannot totally eliminate all floods. Despite our best efforts, flash floods may still occur in certain locations during intense storms. We have seen some evidence of a rising trend over the past 30 years towards higher rainfall intensities and more frequent intense rains. Anecdotally, Members would also have observed that in their daily lives.”
“To support these large users, PUB has enhanced the Water Efficiency Fund in March 2013, in which up to 90% of the cost for water audits and meter installation, subject to a maximum cap of $30,000, can now be co-funded by the Water Efficiency Fund. Page: 12 With these mandatory submissions, PUB will also be enhancing the Water Efficiency Fund to better support companies on efforts such as recycling or the alternative uses or re-use of water. Every drop of water saved through these measures will enable our limited water resources to go further and to strengthen our long-term water security. 11.45 am Let me now turn to the issue of flash floods. Mr Seah Kian Peng asked for an update on PUB's efforts. PUB has adopted a comprehensive "Source-Pathway-Receptor" approach to managing storm water and we have been actively upgrading our entire drainage system. In 2012 and 2013, drainage improvement projects at 105 locations were completed. With your permission, Mdm Chair, I would like to display some slides on the LED screens.”
“That is why Members would notice that when you receive the water bills, we also let you compare your bill as benchmarked against comparable homes. I would urge all members of the public, if you notice that your bills are somewhat larger than your neighbours', check and see whether you can improve your water usage at home. There are many aspects in our daily life both big and small. One example of a scheme we launched is the Minimum Water Efficiency Standards Scheme (MWES). We will state that only washing machines with at least one tick of efficiency will be allowed for sale in Singapore from 1 April 2014. We intend to raise the minimum standards to at least two ticks in 2015. The general point here is that we are trying to save both water and money for Singaporeans. The non-domestic sector currently consumes 55% of Singapore's total water demand. This 55% will grow to 70% by 2016. PUB has started by encouraging the voluntary submission of Water Efficiency Management Plans (WEMPs) by companies since 2010. We believe that these plans will help companies become more aware of their water usage patterns, that they will identify ways to reduce consumption and raise their efficiency. To date, about 35% of large water users submitted their water management plans to PUB on a voluntary basis. We will have to go further. We will mandate the submission of these plans by all large water users with effect from June 2015. Companies which are consuming 5,000 or more cubic metres of water each month will have to install a private water meter within their premises and to submit their WEMPs annually to PUB. This requirement will apply to all large water users initially. We will progressively expand the category of companies and premises which will be included in this plan.”
“I want to give Members this assurance that our top and paramount concern is public hygiene, safety, security and the peace of mind of our people. Let us not rush into this. We owe a great debt to our founding leaders and the Pioneer Generation in PUB for their vision, foresight and their hard work that led to the development of the Four National Taps for Singapore. Just bear in mind that the most recent desalination plant with a capacity of 70 million gallons per day was only completed six months ago. We commenced building this plant in 2011. In 2011, PUB was being heavily criticised for floods and not for droughts. This is a good reminder that flash floods come and go but droughts can be prolonged and are of much greater strategic threat to our well-being. We are reasonably secure for now but we should not be complacent. As I have said earlier, we do not know whether this will turn out to be an El Nino year and, if so, how severe, and the implications that it will have for droughts not only in Singapore but for the region and, even worse, for agricultural producers. This would have a knock-on impact on food prices and other related issues. Page: 11 The point is we cannot afford to waste water. We need to be very careful to emphasise conservation and to insist on an efficient use of water across all sectors. That is why PUB has sent advisories to 25,000 non-household users at this point in time, in order to promote water-saving measures. We are also visiting households with high water usage to promote good water-saving habits, remind them to check on taps, look for leakage, and look for any bad habits. Sometimes, people may not even be aware of it.”
“They first use the recycled water to top up the reservoirs or to top up the aquifers, and then, this is mixed with raw water and re-treated a second time using conventional treatment methods. This is what we call "indirect potable use". We can also think of this as creating an environmental buffer. The water from reverse osmosis, which is very pure, contains hardly any minerals at all. This water is mixed with raw water in the reservoir, and it is subject to the usual ecological processes that occur in a reservoir, and then it undergoes Page: 10 conventional treatment all over again. I note Er Dr Lee Bee Wah's query yesterday – her question was if we need to double handle the water. Let me spend a little time going through this in detail. So far in the world, I only know of one water authority which since 1968 has been piping recycled directly to the potable water supply. This is the water authority in Namibia from a place called Windhoek. They have been doing this since 1968. We all know NEWater is safe to drink. All of us in this House have drunk it. At a National Day Parade, then Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong raised a toast to Singapore and we all drank it. As a doctor, I know it is safe to drink. But to dispense with the environmental buffer and to make it routine is a big step. It is not one which I want to rush into. First, we have to make sure that Singaporeans understand that it is safe and accepted. Secondly, we have to be doubly, triply, quadruply sure that all the fail-safe mechanisms are in place. My paramount concern must be the safety and health of our people. Therefore, I accept that there is some merit in Er Dr Lee Bee Wah's suggestion, but this is something which I will study very, very carefully.”
“The second principle is that we need to manage our scarce resources carefully and to assiduously avoid pollution. As a society, we need to learn or relearn the traditional values of not wasting, of re-using, of recycling, of being careful with the way we consume and we also have to avoid locking ourselves into an unsustainable trajectory. We cannot afford to squander our precious resources that we can never recover. Because we are so small, your backyard is my front yard. We cannot afford to pollute any corner or any part of Singapore. Third, we are all in this together. We breathe the same air; we drink the same water; we eat the same food at the same hawker centres; and we enjoy the same parks. All of us have a collective responsibility to be good stewards of our environment for our own sake, our families' sake and that of our grandchildren. I will cover four main areas: first, on water; second, on our air quality; third, on the dengue outbreak; and fourth, on pursuing resource efficiency – both water and energy. First, let me touch on the current dry spell. We have been able to meet our water needs confidently throughout the dry spell so far. That is because PUB has been running our desalination and NEWater plants at almost full capacity. Most of our NEWater is used by industries that need a very pure source of water. In addition to that, we have been able to put about 35 million gallons per day of NEWater to top up and maintain our current reservoir stocks. This NEWater mixed with the raw water in the reservoir ultimately enters PUB's portable water supply. Nearly all water authorities that use recycled water for human consumption do something like this – I am answering a Member's question from yesterday.”
“We also have had many others – thousands of people – who helped us convey dengue messages as well as helped keep our neighbourhoods clean. Apart from these immediate crises, we also have had to plan long term. This was something that came across in many of the speeches which Members made yesterday. In fact, our immediate crises are a bellwether of our future challenges in an increasingly dynamic, complex and interconnected world. Let me share three key principles that underpin my Ministry's approach. First, we need to take a long-term perspective in the way we plan and approach our challenges. Singapore is already a very dense, very built-up highly urbanised environment. This makes it particularly challenging for us. We have to bear in mind both the current and the future risks that may arise from decisions that we make today. The decisions and the trade-offs we make today will lock us in for decades to come. We also have to prepare well in advance, to future-proof our environment and to upgrade our infrastructure. For example, we are now in the midst of our longest prolonged dry spell; this is likely to be an El Nino year, which means it can even go on into a full scale drought. Yet, in the midst of all this, we have a buffer of safety. This did not come about by accident. It came about because of 50 years of detailed planning, meticulous implementation and the support of our people and the willingness of this House to provide the funding to invest in our infrastructure for the long term. Similarly, at this point in time, we also have to plan for the next 50 years and beyond. I do not need to remind Members of this House that our Water Page: 9 Agreement with Malaysia will expire in 2061.”
“Mdm Chair, my colleagues in NEA, PUB and MEWR have had a very busy year. In the space of 12 months, we have had to confront the worst haze episode ever; the worst dengue outbreak ever; we even had a couple of localised flash floods to deal with, and now we have the most prolonged dry spell ever. February has been the driest month on record and also the windiest month on record. We seem to be bent on breaking new records all the time. We have had to deal with these multiple challenges, sometimes simultaneously. Often, these have occurred concurrently, and my staff and I have learnt to multi-task in stressful times. Let me begin by thanking all my staff who have laboured tirelessly under sometimes very stressful conditions. I would also thank all Members of Parliament and members of the public who have supported us with suggestions, affirmation and, most important of all, action on the ground. Page: 8 I was struck yesterday that even the comments from the Opposition Members of Parliament – Ms Sylvia Lim, Mr Yee Jenn Jong and Mr Low Thia Khiang – were also supportive. At least, I am glad to say that on the environment front, we seem to have bipartisan consensus. All these immediate crises remind us of our fundamental vulnerabilities. They remind us of the need to stay vigilant and also of the need for us to stay united and to remain cohesive. We have seen how resilient Singaporeans have been during the crises. For instance, during the haze last year, volunteers on their own organised themselves to distribute masks and make herbal tea. Some people even opened their homes to provide air-conditioned places of refuge for people who may not have had such facilities.”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, I beg to report that the Committee of Supply has made further progress on the Estimates of Expenditure for the financial year 2014/2015, and ask leave to sit again tomorrow.”
“May I seek your consent to move that progress be reported now and leave be asked to sit again tomorrow?”
“They say, "Even if you do not have an operational need for rationing, perhaps you should consider some exercises as a means of public education". This is a suggestion that I am thinking seriously about, to remind people the Page: 10 value of water. It may not be a bad idea for us to rehearse procedures and processes which are needed if we ever got to a point where water rationing is needed. I am looking at it right now as more of a public education tool. Fortunately, we are not at a point where it is an operational necessity. 11.41 am”
“I thank the Member for the very useful comments. First, the emphasis on conservation: the Member is right that we need to step up on publicity. We have actually already commenced on that. About a week or so ago, we issued letters to over 25,000 establishments in the non-domestic sector to remind them of the importance of water conservation. The mass media has also helped. Apart from the reports, there has also been an editorial in The Straits Times today. On our part, we need to get this message out at an individual and at a collective level. As I said earlier, every drop is precious and every action helps. I am glad the Member brought up the point on water rationing. This illustrates one of the uniquely peculiar challenges that Singapore faces. On the one hand, we are in an extremely fortunate position but it is fortunate not because of luck; it is because of decades of planning, which we have been able to implement effectively. On the other hand, we have what I define as a margin of safety; but I am also equally aware that conveying to Singaporeans that there is a margin of safety carries a risk of complacency. In particular, if during a dry spell, our water usage goes up – and in fact, it has gone up. According to our latest water demand figures, we are currently consuming about 420 million gallons of water a day. If the demand figure continues to increase, then certainly, I will have to re-evaluate the adequacy of our current practices. Assuming all of us do our part, and we can keep a lid or even better, bring down the demand, then I can tell you, that for the foreseeable future, there will be no operational need for water rationing. I have also received feedback from other well-meaning members of the public.”
“All of us can do more to save water. Even small adjustments in our daily life can make a difference. For instance, we may not be aware that each minute that you leave the shower running, it is nine litres of water used. Similarly, making sure that we only wash clothes when the machine is full in order to optimise economies of scale or even things like washing dishes in a container rather than leaving the taps running – all these little measures add up and can save a significant amount of water for us. This current dry spell is a stark reminder for all of us not to take our water for granted. It is a reminder for us to be more conscious to save water; and it is also a vindication of the decades of planning, hard work, enforcement and significant investments that have been made into our water supply Page: 9 infrastructure, in order to give us the security that we currently enjoy.”