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.”
The complete record
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“You make sure that all the ancillary equipment needed to "hotswitch" the diesel pumps, filters, and all that, are working, and that your people are practised. The power companies' mandatory practice or drill was once every three months. But if we actually look at the records, they were actually doing it much more often than that. I have personally gone down to a power station and seen with my own eyes that the people are well-trained and they know what to do. But in all these situations, when something really does go wrong, it is often a series of small problems which added up and ended in a catastrophic situation, like what we experienced on 29th June. Will it happen again? I can tell you quite categorically that if the same sequence of events on 29th June, ie, the problem with the valve, occurred today, it would not lead to a blackout. But that is with the advantage of hindsight. In retrospect, we know where the problems are and we will fix them. What we are focused on now is to prospectively look at the system and harden it further. I think we will certainly get better with time, but our target ultimately must be one in which the possibility of failure is infinitely small. It can never be zero and, even if it fails, the impact would be minimised.”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, damage to the reputation is difficult to quantify in exact terms. So I cannot give him a dollar amount. Will this affect investors' confidence in us or attractiveness as a destination? I think the answer to that is that if we do not show resolve and we do not show that we have got a clear and proper plan to fix the problems, then we will really reap the bitter harvest of this. So our approach has been to identify what was wrong and to take all immediate steps to fix operational problems on the ground, and to look at the system, harden the system, build back-up to back-up plans, if need be and, ultimately, to restore confidence on both the part of locals as well as investors who depend on a stable and reliable electricity supply. I think it will be pointless to try to calculate the dollar sums for the damage to the reputation that we have incurred. ConocoPhillips is a commercial company. It has commercial arrangements with the gas suppliers and with the generators that take gas from it. The Government is not involved in it. Has the back-up plan been tried before? The answer is yes. As I alluded to it earlier, in December 2002, despite the valve system at ConocoPhillips failing, the back-up plan kicked in and the generation companies successfully made that transition to diesel, and there was no power disruption. Yes, it failed this time. Clearly, what our take-home point now is that we need to harden the back-up plan further. And as I have said earlier, by resetting the SOP, so you react earlier, and you reduce your gas consumption at an earlier point in time so that there is more gas left in the system.”
“So I want to just reiterate that we have both immediate, short-term and long-term plans to back-up this essential infrastructure. On the question about damage to TV sets, my understanding is that several people noticed some discoloration on their TV screens after the power was restored. I have been informed by the technical people involved that this was due to problems with the degausser within the TV set coming back on when it was still warm, and that the fix for it really was to switch off the TV set and disconnect it, and let it cool down for an hour or two. This is what most people did and most people would by now have realised their TV sets are working fine. But having said that, I recognise that there are some people who may have sustained more long-term damage to their equipment. I believe that, as far as consequential damage to the equipment is concerned, this becomes a legal issue, a contractual issue, which, if they wish to pursue, they can take upon on their own volition. But the Government and EMA cannot warrant that all equipment will never be damaged by any incident, accident or problem like this.”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, we do not have only a single supplier of gas. There are three pipelines bringing in natural gas to Singapore - one from Natunas, another one from Asamera, and the third one comes from Peninsular Malaysia and lands at Senoko. Having said that, his question is a valid question, ie, what is the back-up when, for any reason, the gas fails? As I explained earlier in my answer, the back-up in such circumstances is for our gas plants to switch to diesel of which we have more than adequate reserve stocks of, and for which we can replenish from multiple sources. The problem on that particular day was that the "hotswitch" process failed in five out of six gas plants. If the "hotswitch" process had not failed and, in fact, this occurred in December 2002 when, despite disruption of gas supply, the gas plants made a successful transition on to the back-up field. The result of that is that, I think, practically all Singaporeans were not even aware that there was a problem with the gas supply. So I want to emphasise that there is a back-up, and it uses diesel as a back-up. But having said that, his next question then should be, is there anything else we can do to further harden the system. Our answer to that is yes, and we are working on it. That is why we have been encouraging the generation companies to do so. They, in fact, on their own initiative, have now gone on to have dual pipelines, ie, each company will have two feeds of natural gas. In addition to that, exploring whether we should have on-site or even off-site storage of compressed natural gas gives us another back-up plan and ultimately, of course, would be to consider even LNG, which then immediately increases our potential suppliers of gas.”
“Of course, we understand that these are times when there will be high anxiety and the authorities, EMA and everyone will be scrambling to do two things, ie, to fix the problem immediately and also to push the information out to the public. So I hope the public will cooperate in times like these and use more passive ways of information retrieval which will not clog up the telephone lines.”
“I thank the Member for his supplementary questions. The first issue is on penalties. There is an escalating scale of penalties. If a company repeatedly fails in achieving the required standards, the cumulative penalties will exceed $2 million, just by adding it up. But having said that, it is not just a matter of penalties imposed by EMA. Do not forget that there are also market mechanisms which will punish companies which do not fulfil their contractual requirements and these companies may also be subject to legal action by other parties whom they have contracted to supply power. The next point is about jurisdiction over commercial operators. That is partly the reason why we have decided to bring ConocoPhillips facility under our licensing requirements, to give us more regulatory teeth to ensure that all players in the energy system perform their roles according to specifications. As far as having a Government agency to oversee energy, we have the Energy Market Authority which has the experts to keep an eye on the entire energy system, including alternative sources of supply, new technology changes and, in turn, EMA is supervised by the Ministry of Trade and Industry. The final point is on information flow. I do not believe having another line will solve it because that other line will also become clogged with everyone calling in. I think the most practical means of information flow during emergencies like that would be to use the radio and, in particular, battery-operated radios which will work in almost all circumstances, and to ask the public to make phone calls to emergency services only if they actually need it, and not just to make phone calls to seek more information.”
“Many MPs have filed questions on the recent power failures. The power failure on 29th June, in particular, caused great inconvenience to many Singaporeans and harmed our international reputation. The Economic Development Board (EDB) has reported serious negative comments from our existing and potential investors. We take a very serious view of such power failures, and will do everything possible to minimise the possibility of their recurrence.”
“This will allow the Totalisator Board and its operating agents which carry out legalised gaming to be exempted from the provisions of the Betting Act. Sir, I beg to move. Question proposed.”
“Singapore Pools will become an operating company under the Totalisator Board. It will continue to conduct 4D, Toto, Singapore Sweep and football betting operations on behalf of the Totalisator Board. The Turf Club, on the other hand, will stop operating 4D. It will instead concentrate on horse racing and totalisator operations. Let me now turn to the main provisions of the Bill. First, the Bill will allow the Totalisator Board to conduct football betting operations and all lotteries. At present, the Singapore Totalisator Board Act allows the Totalisator Board to carry out only 4D and totalisator operations in relation to horse racing, but not other lotteries or football betting. Clause 4(1) of the Bill allows the Board to operate any gaming or betting activities as prescribed by the Minister for Finance. Second, the Totalisator Board Act currently only allows the Board to form companies but not to acquire companies. Clause 5(1) of the Bill provides the Board with the power to acquire companies as well. This will enable the Board to acquire Singapore Pools. Third, clause 6 of the Bill will expand the size of the Board of Directors from a maximum of seven members to 12 members, including the Chairman. This will enable the Board to better carry out its new functions. Finally, I would like to propose consequential amendments to the Betting Act. The Betting Act, as it now stands, allows the Minister for Home Affairs to exempt only racing clubs or associations from the Act. The consequential amendments to the Betting Act will give the Minister for Home Affairs the power to exempt persons and organisations other than the Singapore Turf Club from the Act.”
“The Second Minister for Finance (Mr Lim Hng Kiang): Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, "That the Bill be now read a Second time." The Bill seeks to amend the Singapore Totalisator Board Act so that the Board may acquire Singapore Pools Pte Ltd from Temasek Holdings. At present, the Government grants Singapore Pools, a company under Temasek Holdings, the right to conduct 4D, Toto, Singapore Sweep and football betting. The Singapore Totalisator Board, on the other hand, operates 4D and betting on horse races. Both Singapore Pools and the Totalisator Board each separately manage the donation of the surpluses that they generate from their gaming operations. The Ministry of Finance proposes to have the Totalisator Board acquire Singapore Pools, with the Board then holding the right to operate all legalised gaming activities in Singapore. There will be no change to the donation outreach and commitments arising from the Totalisator Board's acquisition of Singapore Pools. The Totalisator Board will honour all of Singapore Pools' ongoing donation commitments. In fact, the merger will bring together the donation approaches of both organisations for more holistic results. The Board will employ both a "wholesale" and "retail" approach towards disbursements of donations. For the "wholesale" approach, the Board will work with partner organisations, such as our universities, the National Medical Research Council, the Singapore Symphony Orchestra and our community centres, to disburse donations towards strategic areas, such as the promotion of education, health, the arts and community development. The Totalisator Board will at the same time take a "retail" approach to disburse donations directly to smaller organisations and individuals serving unmet needs within the community.”
“There are only a small number of existing companies on these schemes and they will be allowed to complete their current incentive period. Clauses 8, 13, 17 and 21 of the Bill amend the EEI Act to provide for these changes. Consequential amendments Finally, as a result of the various changes to the tax incentives, consequential amendments will be made to the relevant sections of the EEI Act. These amendments provide for the following: Firstly, deletion of the definition of terms relating to the discontinued tax incentives (ie, clauses 2, 10, 12, 14, 15, 18, 19, 20 and 28 of the Bill); and Secondly, allowing tax incentives awarded before the new amendments to continue to have effect (ie, clause 29 of the Bill). Consequential amendments will also be made to the EEI Act arising from changes to the Income Tax Act. These are to provide for the removal of the tax treatment that deems certain dividends as interest and expanding the definition of "concessionary income" under the provisions governing investment allowances. Clauses 6, 11, 18 and 22 of the Bill amend the relevant sections of the EEI Act to provide for these changes. Conclusion Mr Speaker, Sir, in summary, the above EEI Act amendments will enhance and streamline our tax incentive regime, make Singapore a more attractive investment destination, and encourage more Singapore-based companies to expand overseas. Sir, I beg to move. Question put, and agreed to. Bill accordingly read a Second time and committed to a Committee of the whole House. The House immediately resolved itself into a Committee on the Bill. - [Dr Vivian Balakrishnan]. Bill considered in Committee; reported without amendment; read a Third time and passed. SINGAPORE TOTALISATOR BOARD (AMENDMENT) BILL Order for Second Reading read.”
“The criteria for the scheme are stringent, given that the Government in effect underwrites part of the investment. This has resulted in low take-up and approval rates. To enhance the relevance of the OII and encourage more companies to expand overseas, the scheme has now been revised to allow an eligible holding company to defer its tax payments (arising from its profitable operations in Singapore) for two years, if its approved overseas investment incurs operating losses during the first three years of the investment. The deferred payment is proportionate to the Singapore tax impact of the overseas losses. This helps to provide temporary cash-flow relief when overseas ventures incur initial losses. Clause 25 of the Bill inserts a new Part XIIIF in the EEI Act, comprising sections 97ZK to 97ZO, to give legislative effect to the revised OII. Refinements to the Pioneer Incentive I will now touch on the proposed refinements to the Pioneer Incentive to provide greater flexibility in the award of this incentive, as follows: Firstly, to allow Pioneer Incentives to be awarded for a period of less than five years and up to a period of 10 years; Secondly, to allow pioneer companies to undertake non-pioneer activities without prior approval of the Minister; and Thirdly, to delegate the authority from the Minister to the Comptroller of Income Tax to adjust the profit margin criterion of non-pioneer trade downwards in certain circumstances. These changes are reflected in clauses 3 to 5 of the Bill. Repeal of tax incentives Next, it is proposed that two obsolete tax incentives be scrapped, while seven overlapping incentives be streamlined and combined with other schemes. Thus, a total of nine tax incentives will be repealed.”
“R&D and IP Management Hub Scheme The second tax change is the introduction of the Research and Development and Intellectual Property Management Hub Scheme, or R&D and IP Management Hub Scheme in short. The objective is to increase the amount of funds for R&D activities conducted in or controlled from Singapore. These R&D activities will generate a healthy pipeline of intellectual property for commercialisation, contribute to a vibrant IP hub in Singapore and create economic value for our companies. Under this scheme, an approved Singapore-based company is granted tax exemption for a period of five years for foreign-sourced royalties and interest income that are received in Singapore and channelled to R&D activities. At least 20% of the foreign-sourced income remitted to Singapore must be expended on R&D activities conducted in Singapore, and all the resulting intellectual property of these R&D projects shall be owned and commercialised in Singapore by the approved company. The scheme encourages companies to fund and conduct their R&D activities in Singapore, as well as manage and exploit the IP rights here. This creates a sustainable cycle that reinforces both IP management and R&D activities in Singapore. Clause 24 of the Bill inserts a new Part XIIIE in the EEI Act, comprising sections 97ZF to 97ZJ, to give legislative effect to the R&D and IP Management Hub Scheme. Overseas Investment Incentive The third tax change is the revision to the Overseas Investment Incentive, or the OII in short. Currently, the OII allows an approved Singapore company to deduct losses arising from the sale of shares or liquidation of an approved overseas investment against its income.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, "That the Bill be now read a Second time." The Bill will amend the Economic Expansion Incentives (Relief from Income Tax) Act, or the EEI Act in short. It will give legislative effect to three tax changes which were announced in the 2003 Budget Statement, refine the Pioneer Incentive, as well as remove and merge several existing tax incentives. It will also make some consequential amendments to the EEI Act. I will now describe each of the proposed amendments in turn. Integrated Industrial Capital Allowance Incentive The first tax change is the introduction of the Integrated Industrial Capital Allowance, or the IICA in short. Currently, capital allowances are granted only on plant or machinery that is used in a company's own trade or business in Singapore. We recognise that there is a growing trend for corporate groups to base their headquarters, marketing and other high value-added activities in Singapore, and have their regional subsidiaries perform other activities like manufacturing. To accommodate this business model, the IICA allows Singapore companies to claim capital allowance on equipment such as plant and machinery that is used by their wholly-owned subsidiaries outside Singapore. The IICA will offer a seamless tax regime for companies that have manufacturing activities in the region, and encourage them to base their headquarter functions in Singapore, even as they internationalise and tap new markets. Clause 23 of the Bill inserts a new Part XIIID in the EEI Act, comprising sections 97ZA to 97ZE, to give legislative effect to the IICA.”
“To ask the Minister for National Development what is the Government's policy with regard to budget hotels, which seem to have mushroomed all over the island for the purpose of promoting tourism but which could also breed prostitution and other undesirable activities.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, the AVA's team of dog catchers routinely scout various potential sites around the island, for instance, vacant land, industrial estates and residential areas, for stray dogs. In addition, upon receiving reports, the officers will survey the area and the vicinity where the stray dogs are reportedly seen. This is done in the day and at night, to establish the dogs' tracks and resting sites. The strays are caught using a lasso. Baited trap-door cages are also used for feral dogs and those that shy away from people. I am sure that Members will understand that it may take several days or even up to a month to trap the more elusive ones. On average, AVA receives over 2,700 feedback on dog nuisance a year. AVA is able to resolve 97% of the cases within five days. Catching of stray dogs is not an easy task. The strays are often wary of people and keep a distance from strangers. They often hide out in thick under-growth or semi-forested areas, and appear mostly in the night. In spite of these difficulties, AVA manages to impound over 4,000 dogs annually. AVA has received feedback from residents of Sembawang New Town about stray dogs at the vacant land mentioned by Dr Lee. Although these dogs are very elusive, so far, AVA has succeeded in impounding five of them. I would like to assure Dr Lee that AVA will continue to intensify its efforts to impound the remaining stray dogs in the area. I would also like to inform the House that AVA is stepping up its public education efforts on responsible pet ownership so as to minimise the abandonment of pets and thereby, the consequential stray animals problem. BUDGET HOTELS The following Question stood in the name of Mdm Cynthia Phua - 5.”
“This is an issue which is currently being considered internationally. AVA is working with other countries on the Codex Alimentarius Commission to arrive at internationally accepted norms for the labelling of GM food. The Committee is currently studying various aspects of this and will arrive at a comprehensive decision. Once that decision is made, Singapore's decision will follow in due course, taking into account the developments, both on the technical as well as on the regulatory front internationally. AGRI-FOOD AND VETERINARY AUTHORITY (Efforts in catching stray dogs) 4. Dr Warren Lee asked the Minister for National Development (a) if he will state the effectiveness of Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority's efforts in catching stray dogs; (b) whether it is true that the Agency officers' efforts are severely hampered by the stray dogs hiding away whenever the dog-catcher's vans arrive; and (c) can some assurance be given that packs of stray dogs frequenting land that has been cleared for development and adjoining newly built flats in Sembawang New Town will be effectively caught and prevented from menacing residents in the area.”
“I will certainly take the Member's warnings on board. Thank you.”
“No, I do not have any firm estimates on potential revenue and jobs but, as the Member has correctly stated, these should be part of our points for consideration before we make any final decision.”
“I thank the Member for that question. Members will recall a statement made by the Minister for Home Affairs that they would obviously take a very close look at any other potential criminal or undesirable behaviours which may accompany such a development. Again, I would stress to the House that, in our own pragmatic Singaporean way, we will find ways to minimise the impact of such negative activities or vices. Assoc. Prof. Ngiam Tee Liang (Nominated Member): As part of the feasibility study, I am just wondering whether we have estimates of the potential revenue impact on the Government and the potential job growth rate for such a project to see if we are really talking of a sizeable potential investment that has a lot of benefits for Singaporeans at the end of the day.”
“I thank the hon. Member for that question. No, it is not a fundamental pillar of our tourism industry. If indeed it was, I would be very, very worried. But what we are saying is that we are at a point of our development when we need to have our options open, and we need to broaden that spectrum of attractions which we have. And if this is one end of that spectrum which we can tap, and tap carefully, then we should consider it. But it is not the centrepiece of our strategy. And that is why I said we have no intention of becoming the Las Vegas of Asia. We have no intention of transforming Singapore into a Macau. Singapore must remain uniquely ours, with certain attributes which have brought us thus far. But if we can add on other attributes and thereby broaden our appeal and accelerate the pace of our development, then we will go ahead. So, I want Members to have no doubts in their mind that this is not a panic reaction or a hastily-conceived idea. This is just one of many proposals which we are considering carefully.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, we run a free economy in which people's access to goods and services consumed are affected by their earning potential or the assets that they have. This is an immutable fact of a free economy. So, we are not doing this to set up class consciousness. We are doing this, as I said earlier, if at all we do decide to go ahead with this, to broaden our tourism appeal to a wider segment of people. As far as tourists are concerned, I have also said that we are trying to attract a wide spectrum of tourists. We will build more 2- and 3-star hotels, because we recognise that, with the onset of low-cost carriers, it is quite likely, indeed we hope, that more tourists of perhaps a humbler background will also choose to come to Singapore. But we also have to recognise that there are other types of tourists who have, in a sense, money to burn or money to lose. And if they are going to lose that money, and lose it our way and in that way create jobs and help strengthen our own economy, then this is something which we should not, as a matter of reflex, ignore. If we do so, we do so at our loss. So, all I am saying is that there are strong arguments, both for and against. There are good reasons to be cautious, but let us go into this with our eyes wide open, being very clear of our objectives, being very clear of the dangers, and also being very clear that there are some practical measures which we have to take. This is not a time to indulge in creating or highlighting class consciousness or looking for social dispartity or creating cleavages within our population. I think if we adopt this in our uniquely Singaporean manner of being pragmatic, realistic and sensible about it, we might be able to fashion a win-win solution, although that is not typical of gambling.”
“There are two parts to this question. I will deal with the latter part, about London. I am not aware of the detailed regulations there, but I presume that, to a large extent, these are licensing impositions made by the authorities. The earlier part of his question refers to alternatives which, unfortunately, exist even today as we talk about it. People can go to cruise ships, they can go across the causeway to Genting, they can go to Batam or travel overseas and do it. There is a limit to how much we can protect, insulate or prevent people from making these decisions. We can do our best to educate, advise and immunise, but we cannot have an absolute barrier. The follow-on question to that line of reasoning then is that since there are alternatives, why bother to put any resistance at all in the way of Singaporeans. I must say I am not totally persuaded by that line of argument because, although something is available, it does not mean we need to go out of our way to facilitate it. Given the fact that we know that some people would be more susceptible, and perhaps unwisely so, I have made it very clear in my answer that our objective, if at all we do embark on this, is to address the tourism market and, therefore, it is focused on tourists and not on our local market. As far as our local population is concerned, our chief preoccupation has been and remains the social impact of gambling on some susceptible members of our population.”
“The decision will be made, hopefully sometime in the next two or three quarters, but I cannot be more definite about that. As far as consultation is concerned, she would have read a lot in the press. The press tends to indulge sometimes in speculation. We are still having internal discussions first. Of course, we would also be seeking the advice of Singaporeans who have had ˆ’ I am not sure whether it is the advantage or disadvantage of actually patronising casinos ˆ’ but we have not entered into any formal consultations with any casino operators to date.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, we are all painfully aware that there are potential social implications and, as I alluded to earlier in my answer, when we construct the rules and regulations around any potential casino that we have in Singapore, our key objective must be to minimise the potential negative social impact on the more susceptible members of our population.”
“Codex Alimentarius Commission is the international reference for foods ---”
“Sir, AVA requires food labels to carry the product names as well as the name and address of the manufacturers or importers. In case of any problem, the information facilitates product recall and trace back to the supply source for further investigations. An errant establishment will be suspended until satisfactory remedial action has been taken, in order to ensure that they comply with the requirements. Food labels are also required to list the ingredients of the product for the benefit of people who may be allergic to some ingredients, for example, nuts. Infant food and products with a limited shelf life, for instance, perishables like dairy products and tofu, must be date-marked. The issue is not whether it is canned or not. The issue is the durability of the food. Retailers are held responsible and will be prosecuted and their products will be seized and destroyed if they are found to sell unwholesome products. AVA checks the labelling of food products at retail outlets, warehouses and food factories. Importers, manufacturers and retailers are subject to enforcement actions if their products do not meet these requirements. AVA has found that the pre-packed bread sold at supermarkets meets the labelling requirements because such requirements do not apply to loosely packed bread and pastry products sold at bakery shops. But AVA will be pleased to look at any other feedback received by CASE concerning food labelling. Very briefly, on genetically modified food. GM foods are currently available on the international market and these are considered safe. They have passed pre-market risk assessments before approval, and so far there have been no adverse effects on human health documented from consuming these foods.”
“This is an existing private residential estate and the shops along Jalan Kayu are located within the western part of Sengkang Town. This town is expected to grow as more residential developments are built and this will inject more life, more catchment and, ultimately, more shops for the residents in Jalan Kayu. 12.45 pm”
“Sir, Fernvale is part of Sengkang Town. In a new HDB town like Sengkang, commercial facilities are provided at three levels. First, we have the precinct level where there will be a local cluster of shops to cater for the daily needs of residents. At the second level above there are commercial centres where you get a wider range of commercial facilities such as supermarkets, fast food outlets and food courts, and these will have to serve a larger catchment of residents. If they did not have a larger catchment, the merchants and traders who are there would not be viable. At the third level is the town centre which serves as the commercial and transportation hub of the town. It provides a wider range of commercial facilities and transport connectivity within and outside the town. There will only be one town centre in each HDB town. In the Sengkang Town Centre, it is co-located with the Sengkang MRT station and the LRT system exchange station. The shopping needs of Sengkang residents are served by Compass Point Shopping Centre, a major shopping complex that is integrated with the MRT, LRT and bus interchange. And to better serve residents, a community building to house the community centre, a polyclinic and a neighbourhood police centre is currently under construction. To cater to the needs of residents at Fernvale, a few clusters of shops at Blocks 403A, 405C and 408B Fernvale Lane have recently been tendered. These facilities include minimarts, eating establishments and a clinic, and they are expected to be operational in the next one or two months. Additional shop clusters and a commercial centre are also planned in tandem with future housing developments. Mr Wee mentioned the Jalan Kayu area.”
“Sir, I thank Mr Seng for his advice on marketing. I just want to emphasise that the so-called space adding item does not necessarily have to be an extra room. It could be a balcony; it could be a space for utility; it could be an extension of the current living room or used as a bedroom, kitchen or as an additional toilet. So, the reason we chose space adding item, not really imaginative, but it is factually accurate. It is an additional space.”
“It is not possible for AVA to check every pau that you have got - it may have come across the Causeway in somebody’s plastic bag - and there will be times when things breach our defences. But I would urge Singaporeans to use common sense. If you want to take the risk, then in the spirit of shared responsibility, you must be prepared to face the potential consequences. But if all of us play and do our part, I think we will be able to enjoy our food which, after all, is a key ingredient of our life down here, to enjoy our food and to do it in a safe way.”
“Interested parties can bid for this land in an open tender. The land will be awarded to the highest bidder and who is able to make the best use of the land. I would now move on to the issue on ensuring food supply safety. I am glad Mr Tan Soon Khoon enjoys his otah, his pau and his oysters. Our objective is to allow him and other Singaporeans to continue enjoying these delicacies. How do we ensure food safety? We have an integrated food safety system. It starts from the farm all the way to the fork. We have first to accredit the supply sources, and a lot of AVA officers have to spend time going to farms or factories overseas to make sure that these sources are producing things in a wholesome way and in a safe way. We also expect health certification by the exporting authorities in the countries which are exporting the food to us. We have a system for the inspection of import consignments on arrival, and this is backed by advanced food testing capabilities. Our system enables trace-back to identify and recall if any products are found to be defective, and to also remove the suppliers from this pre-approved list of supply sources. 12.30 pm If contamination of food poisoning is discovered, AVA will work closely with MOH to identify whether it is due to contamination at source or contamination due to handling. And unsafe food products will also be recalled in that context. Basically, by staying vigilant and keeping abreast of emerging food safety issues, the AVA will be able and has been able to respond effectively and rapidly to prevent unsafe food from reaching our consumers. Sir, the final point I want to make also is that it is an issue of shared responsibility.”
“Our approach is to say that we will share the pain and we will help bear the cost that they will incur in controlling that outbreak. The Government will make ex-gratia payments to the farmer for the live poultry which are culled, based on the estimated market value of the flocks. In the case of Tekong, I am glad to say that all, or almost all, the chickens were sold and they were sold at the market rate and, therefore, the issue of compensation does not arise. He mentioned the increased cost associated with providing bio-security, like bird-proofing the farms. This, we believe, is the cost of doing business and, properly, it should be paid for by the people who choose on a voluntary basis to embark on chicken farming. Prof. Low also asked about our long-term policy on farming in Singapore. Sir, Singapore has a very limited land resource. It is not possible for us to be totally self-sufficient in food. Our approach towards a resilient food supply is to ensure that we diversify our sources of food supply. As far as local farms are concerned, we will allow farming to occur in Singapore so long as land is available and, so long as the private sector finds it commercially viable to use the land for this purpose. Ms Braema asked if cheap farm land could be set aside for retirees. I think it follows from my earlier point that the private sector, including Ivy-Singh Lim, must find it commercially viable to run these farms on available land. We will not subsidise the land for these purposes. Incidentally, we have six agro-technology parks set aside, zones that are reserved sites in Singapore. This can be used for farming but I would also add that it can also be used for other compatible activities, like horse-back riding, spa resorts, camping sites, etc.”
“In our context, once this has occurred, we believe in a deliberate and systematic eradication of all the infected and potentially infected flocks, rather than to wait on tenterhooks and worry when is the next outbreak going to occur. Our policy objective is to eradicate the disease, to safeguard public health, to maintain confidence in Singaporeans and visitors alike. I would also remind him that in 1997, Hong Kong embarked on a total eradication policy and the WHO has stated that this measure by Hong Kong in 1997 averted a potentially disastrous global outbreak. I want to touch on the allegation of double standards. Let us put things again in context. Avian Influenza affects mainly poultry. Why poultry? Because they are the most sensitive, the most susceptible to this particular infection. So far, all major outbreaks in the world have occurred only in the context of poultry farms, not in the context of pet birds, not in the context of bird parks. In the case of Singapore, if an outbreak were to occur in a susceptible species, for some reason we suddenly found that it has mutated and a certain species in the Bird Park is susceptible, of course, we will eradicate and take all the measures needed to contain that outbreak. So let me assure the House that there is no commercial or policy reason to have double standards. Next, I want to touch on the issue of compensation. If Avian Influenza breaks out in Singapore, it will be a disaster. It will be a disaster financially to the people involved in the trade. Let us not pretend otherwise. But, let us also be honest enough to accept that there is no way the Government can fully compensate for all the immediate and consequential business losses.”
“We are running out of time. Let me try to gallop through these cuts. The most important question, in my opinion, was Dr Teo's: is eating chicken safe? I want to assure this House and, indeed, all Singaporeans, that eating chicken, certainly in Singapore, is safe. It is very, very safe, and nobody needs to have any second thoughts or any reservations on that point. Prof. Low said that the Avian Flu outbreak is almost over. I just want to put things in context. Avian Flu has been around for 100 years. It is not a new disease in that sense. What is new is that in 1997 it crossed the species barrier and affected human beings. And, he has quite rightly said the most feared sub-type is H5N1. But other sub-types as well can occasionally cross, and cause problems. So, the correct attitude is that whilst we must not over-react, we must not be complacent either. And the key is to have a responsive and proper system, so that we can make the appropriate reactions when a threat emerges. The key thing here is to remember that it is very contagious. Secondly, to also remember that early detection and effective eradication of the infected flocks or the potentially infected flocks is the most effective way to stamp out the disease. He asked why we would cull all the flocks in all the chicken farms. Let me put it to him in context again. In Singapore we have seven poultry farms. All these farms are at close range to each other. Furthermore, they share resources in the sense that certain service trucks, certain transport and logistics arrangement, even certain feed sources, would be shared in common. So, if an outbreak occurs in one farm, can he, or AVA, or indeed anybody, be sure that the same breach in virus security has not occurred in any other farm?”
“But, as the Member has rightly said, there is a joint responsibility in which the residents, the owners of the HDB flats, have to play their role, whether making sure that the place is painted, that cracks are sealed, that spalling concrete is addressed and treated before it becomes a major problem, maintaining their windows, and so on and so forth. I am afraid this is something which we will have to repeat and repeat ad infinitum. The Member has quite rightly identified that, sometimes, because we do too much, a sense of entitlement creeps in. I think we have two choices. We can either give in to that sense of entitlement and do more and more, in which case, we will then end up in a situation where less and less responsibility is borne by the residents, or we can take the harder route which we have taken, which is to honestly and openly share with residents that, yes, maintenance is a joint responsibility; yes, maintenance costs money, we will help on a goodwill basis for some measures and, for those who really cannot afford, there are other means to assist them. But let us accept the fundamental point that this is something which we do together and, if we do it properly, we will have HDB blocks, communities which survive the test of time. Estate Maintenance”
“To some extent, that could also replicate a kampong corridor but, of course, as time has moved on, people wanted more privacy and we have to have fewer units per corridor. In addition to the common space on each floor, do not forget that HDB does provide areas for interaction and activities, both at the block level and precinct level. For instance, we have void decks, playgrounds, landscaped areas, social/community facilities, child and student care centres, and these cater to the residents of all ages, both young and old. It also allows for residents from different floors and blocks to congregate and interact. In addition to that, we have also constructed precinct pavilions, landscaped roof decks, and the latest thing which HDB is trying out is the new community mall concept where community facilities, such as the Residents Committee Centre, childcare centre, etc, can all be clustered together. And we will continue to look for ways to optimise the design and, as I said earlier, we will take the Member's suggestions on board as well. I am glad Mr Zainul Abidin agrees that, on the whole, the quality of our HDB flats has been good. I want to emphasise that HDB blocks are built to last. We sell purchasers a 99-year lease, and I can tell you categorically that, as far as the structural components of the blocks are concerned, they should survive well past that. However, this is predicated on appropriate maintenance. And maintenance, as the Member has quite rightly said, is a joint responsibility. HDB has to play a role and will continue to play a role, especially when it comes to upgrading. As far as routine maintenance is concerned, the town councils have to play their role.”
“We want to help, but there is a limit to how much we can help. Let me move on to Dr Amy Khor's points. I am glad she agrees with our latest move to have studio apartments integrated with other housing types and, as she said, this will allow ageing in place. I will take her suggestion about using the children's CPF to pay for the flat. It is something which we will have to consider, but consider carefully. There, again, I would hasten to add that there are implications and we will have to be very careful before we proceed in that direction. BCA already does have a guide on best practices to ensure barrier-free access, not just for older residents, but also for others who are handicapped or disabled. For instance, in HDB flats, I think you are all aware - you will see a proliferation of ramps and covered walkways. Within the flat itself, we try to make sure that there are non-slip tiles and, in some cases, hand-hold grips which are at lower levels so that the elderly can use them. So, to the maximum extent that it is possible, practical and viable, we will continue to ensure that both in HDB flats as well as indeed even in private housing, the features cater to the older residents and to others who are disabled. I next move on to Prof. Ngiam's points. I agree wholeheartedly with him that when we build flats, we are not just building a household, but we are hoping to build communities. I also agree with him that the design of the flats and of the precincts can make a difference. He has made many useful suggestions which we will certainly take back to study. But having said that, I also want to share with Members that HDB has actually been doing rather well so far. For instance, in the old days, we used to have these large slab blocks.”
“Madam, I thank Prof. Chin for his observations. I want to stress, first of all, that whilst we want to encourage marriage, we want to encourage families, we must not put the cart before the horse. We do not expect someone to get married just because he wants an HDB flat. Our reason for giving priority to families is because it is a question of relative need. We hope that when they get married, they will have children and, therefore, they will have greater need for space and for privacy. On the issue of divorce, if a couple breaks up and they have children, the divorcee with his or her children will constitute a family unit and can certainly retain the flat. If they are young and they are singles, then I think you would agree with me that, from the point of view of fairness, they should be treated no differently from any other single who is under 35. For the argument as to why 35 years, why not shift it, I think, again, let us come back to the fundamental principle of relative priority. Top priority is for families, and second priority for older singles. For younger singles, the options are to stay with the families - we hope they will have good relations with their families - or to consider renting or make other alternative arrangements. This is a system which we have run successfully so far, and we will continue to do so. 5.45 pm As far as families which have grown too large, the options there are for families to upgrade, and that is why, for instance, we also provide a second concessionary loan for families to upgrade to larger flats. As far as estrangement is concerned, you will agree that, beyond a certain point, the HDB and the Government cannot be the provider of last resort and the resolver of all family problems.”
“Dr Teo Ho Pin asked about the initiatives to promote it in Singapore. I would say again, back to my earlier answer, because we have already been practising this, and we have been practising it successfully through a tripartite model, we do not believe that legislation is necessary at this point in time. But I would encourage CASE, the NTUC as well as the Centre for Corporate Social Responsibility to continue their good work to raise the profile of CSR in Singapore. I think with growing awareness and advocacy, I am confident that more companies in Singapore will appreciate the need to be socially responsible and to be environmentally conscious as they make money for their shareholders.”
“But we also expect companies to do so in a way which is socially responsible to its workforce and also take into account its impact on the environment. Singapore is a small densely packed country. It is one in which the company's behaviour beyond the economic realm has great impact. Secondly, as a country which trades with the rest of the world, we are also very mindful that we do not want to allow CSR to become an excuse for the erection of non-tariff barriers. Having said all that, I want to remind this House that Singapore actually has an excellent record in CSR, way before the term was coined. We have shown the world what tripartism means, that employers, unions and Government working together can ensure a viable business model in which workers' interest are cared for and in which the environment is looked after. So for those who are asking how much we have done, I would say we have already done a lot. Secondly, the Member asked about our companies going overseas. The International Labour Organization (ILO) establishes international labour standards, and the level of adoption varies from country to country. But in helping our companies invest abroad, IE Singapore will provide market and country information, including the labour laws and practices of the country. And we would encourage our companies to adopt good corporate social responsibility practices, because it will enable them to gain greater trust and acceptance as they establish themselves overseas. At the end of the day, this is about enlightened self-interest. And we encourage our companies who behave so well in Singapore to behave the same way overseas. That is part of the Singapore brand name and the value to a Singapore company overseas.”
“The Taskforce is expected to complete its work next month and, thereafter, MTI will study the recommendations and propose any amendments to the Hire Purchase Act in Parliament by the third quarter of this year. I take note of Ms Penny Low's comment that the various consumer credit transactions in Singapore are regulated under various pieces of legislation. We would need to study this very carefully to ensure that the relevant legislation is carefully crafted before we make a decision on whether to rationalise or consolidate them, because we have to take its impact on businesses into consideration. The Hire Purchase Act Review Taskforce is currently looking into the pros and cons of linking credit and sales transactions, and providing for joint liability of merchant and financier. It will take into consideration Ms Penny Low's inputs before putting up its recommendations. Mr Yeo asked about guidelines for the travel industry. The STB is working with the National Association of Travel Agents (NATAS) to implement a Code of Business Practice among travel agents, and this will be closely aligned to the Consumer Protection (Fair Trading) Act. In cases of commercial disputes with travel agents, consumers may take up the case with NATAS or CASE, and where necessary, to the Small Claims Tribunal in Singapore. I agree with Ms Penny Low that the value of trust marks is critical for the Singapore Brand name and this is an area which we would support the various agencies out there who are issuing trust marks and which would encourage and promote better behaviour by vendors in Singapore. Let me quickly touch on corporate social responsibility. The first duty of a company is to be viable and to make money for its shareholders.”
“Mr Ong asked whether ordinary households can be allowed to buy from the pool. I think this would be very risky because of the volatility. You just need one large buy to wipe out all your potential savings. I think the more important point is that in the liberalised electricity market, households have already benefited, as electricity tariffs have come down by 9.5% compared to December 2001, keeping oil prices constant. At the same time, the system of SP Services buying at vesting price for households protects them against undue fluctuations in pool prices. Remember, the vesting price is set to recover the total cost of operations of the generation plant using the most economically efficient technology available. In this way, consumers are already benefiting from the presence of new and improved technology as and when it comes along. I will quickly move on to consumer protection. Mr Yeo Guat Kwang has asked what roles SPRING, STB and the Retail Promotion Centre would play in making the Consumer Protection (Fair Trading) Act a success. I think Members are aware that the Act was passed in November 2003 and came into force on 1st March this year. STB and SPRING have worked very closely with the various business chambers and associations to educate the traders. A business guide on CPFTA has also been produced and, generally, we are satisfied with the progress so far. 12.00 noon Mr Yeo asked for an update on the Hire Purchase Act. This was announced at last year's Committee of Supply debate. MTI has established a Taskforce to gather industry and consumer feedback, and to advise on the review. It is chaired by MTI, and comprises representatives from CASE, as well as relevant business associations and Government agencies.”
“EMA also conducted several seminars to address concerns raised in November 2003 by consumers about the contracts they had entered into. But more can be done, and we will be improving the level and quantity of communication between all the stakeholders in the electricity market. EMA is going to review the quantity to be vested in 2005, and I have asked EMA to ensure that any revisions will be announced by the third quarter of this year, so that all stakeholders will have adequate time to prepare their contracts. I would now turn to the Member's third question on the impact on non-contestable small households. This group of consumers faces a very different set of economics in the electricity market. While there are many of us, about 1.1 million small accounts, we only comprise 25% of total electricity sales. Individual households do not have the same bargaining strength to secure favourable retail prices from the electricity retailers. It is also more expensive for electricity retailers to service the hundreds and thousands (actually 1.1 million) of small individual customer accounts, compared to a single customer using a large amount of electricity. Hence, we need to do this very carefully. The market design must allow small customers to aggregate demand so that they will achieve economies of scale as well as bargaining clout. EMA is working on the details of opening the remaining segment of the market to contestability. This approach is likely to be an opt-in voluntary system and allow for demand aggregation. The system will need to be developed, rigorously tested, and tried out for smooth roll-out to the general population. Full implementation is likely to take place about three to four years.”
“However, those who chose the contracts indexed to vesting today are bearing the cost of the vesting debit pass-through. I want to emphasise it is not vesting per se that caused a price increase for these companies. Vesting does not mandate the pass-through of these debits to the customers. It is up to the customers and the retailers to negotiate the terms of the contract on a commercial basis, and whether or not they accept the pass-through is something for them to decide, not for EMA to stipulate. Consumers must shop around for the best deal in a competitive market. A number of companies caught with higher electricity bills have approached us for help. I would state that it would not be right for EMA to intervene in commercial contracts entered into on a commercial basis - willing buyer, willing seller basis. But EMA has approached the electricity retailers to see whether they would be prepared to be flexible, and some retailers have indeed been flexible. With the correct pricing signals from the pool, companies will negotiate future contracts with the competitive wholesale price as a reference point. They can then decide which retailer offers the most competitive package, or opt to buy from the pool at the wholesale price, which is currently cheaper but potentially more volatile. The second question Mr Ong raised was whether there was adequate market information. I agree with him absolutely that education and timely sharing of information are invaluable. We need to be as transparent as possible in order for a market to function. Companies were informed by EMA about vesting in early 2003, and they were briefed by retailers on the types of contracts that were available and the implications of these contracts.”
“Competition has incentivised the generation companies to install more efficient gas plants, which have resulted in significant reduction in the wholesale price of electricity. Using gas plants is only the first step. The generation companies are still looking for other technologies and squeezing productivity gains in order to stay competitive. In the long term, this will put, we hope, a downward pressure on prices and it can only be good for consumers. What is critical in a competitive market is that we must allow price signals to come through, unimpeded by regulatory interventions or the exercise of market power by players. Price level must rise when supply runs short, because this signals the need for new investments. Similarly, price level must fall in a market with excess supply, and this signals the need to trim capacity. Mr Ong Kian Min commented that the introduction of vesting has resulted in the wholesale price of electricity falling by about 10%. It appears that this may not have benefited all large consumers, and a lot of people are asking themselves why. When consumers began negotiating contracts with electricity retailers in 2003, they had several choices. They could opt for a contract where vesting credits and debits were passed on to them, in other words, a variable contract. Or they could opt for fixed price contracts that gave certainty. Or they could opt to buy directly from the wholesale electricity pool. There are three options. And the option that you choose is one which each company has to make on commercial considerations. Of the contestable companies, 50% opted to buy from the wholesale market, and today they are enjoying the benefit of the lower wholesale price at the pool.”
“" I agree with Mr Tan Soo Khoon that we do need to be bolder, and allow experimentation at the edges. But we will ensure that even as we do so, there are sufficient safeguards to minimise any domestic social impact or erosion of moral standards. For example, the 24-hour licensing for night-clubs only applies to clubs that are located within designated zones, away from residential areas. While there is some flexibility in censorship for plays and cabarets, these events ultimately have a limited reach, and we will ensure that they do not offend racial, linguistic and religious sensitivities. We will continue to have safeguards, such as artistic merit requirements, setting of minimum age limits, restrictions on location, as well as compliance with rules on advertising and promotion. We want to be a family-centred attraction, but we want to be one with the full spectrum of attractions which can appeal and address different needs, different tastes. We need to learn to live and let live, and to accept that different people will have different tastes, different strokes. Let me move on to the issue of market liberalisation in the electricity market, brought up by Mr Ong Kian Min. There has been much progress so far. We separated the grid, which is a natural monopoly, from the competitive power generation and retail components. Starting from July 2001, we began retail competition in phases. We set up a real- time wholesale electricity market in January 2003, and introduced vesting in January 2004 to curb market power of the generation companies. The outcome so far has been positive. Within a short span of two to three years, 70% of our electricity market is contestable.”
“For instance, I know that there has been some discussion in the Chinese press that our Chinese translation for the brand name - so far, I think, it is called 如 此 独 特 新 加 坡 (ru ci du te xin jia po) - does not have emotional impact. And I will say, yes, this is just a working example, a work-in-progress, and we will certainly seek the opinions of the Chinese press as well as the Chinese intelligentsia to come up with a label that resonates with the Chinese. I promise this House we will not create another "Hungarian Ghost Festival"! Turning next to the comments of Ms Irene Ng and Mr Ahmad Khalis on social values, I agree with them that as we step up efforts to promote tourism, we must not lose our values, and we must not lose our compass. There was an article that Professor Richard Florida wrote, entitled "The Rise of the Creative Class". This was reviewed in the Harvard Business Review and also in the Straits Times recently. His research found that cities which are able to embrace diversity are able to attract and foster a bigger creative class. These are key drivers in a knowledge-based economy. The larger lesson for us in Singapore is that we need to shift our mindset so that we can be more tolerant of diversity. To achieve this, we have begun to take small but important steps to signal that we need a new respect for diversity and openness to ideas. So these examples that the Members cited, eg, night spots to open 24-hours, bar-top dancing, and bungee jumping, are just part of that signalling process. Last year, the International Advisory Council for Tourism in Singapore fed back to us. And they said, "You know, the problem for Singapore is that Singapore is so middle-of-the-road that it is in danger of being bypassed; the cheese has moved on for Singapore.”
“Whilst browsing, it struck me that this was the nerve centre of Sun Yat Sen's revolutionary movement in South East Asia. It played perhaps a small but a critical role in the creation of the modern Chinese nation. Consequently, we should not be surprised that Chinese visitors find this resonates with their history and at an emotional level for them. So we need to look in the whole of Singapore and find much more of such gems which will appeal and attract our visitors, wherever they come from. India, for example. The Indian tourists like Singapore because they find that we are cosmopolitan, modern and have a clean and safe environment. We have an interesting and varied cuisine that suits the Indian tastebuds. Some of my Indian friends tell me that they want to come here because there is such a great variety of Indian restaurants, sometimes even greater than what you can find in any single city of India alone. They like our shops because there is such a wide range of jewellery and electronic products at competitive prices. Mohd Mustafa is a household name even in India. But beyond food and shopping, you must understand that Singapore captures the Indian imagination because they see Singapore as a working example of what a future modern Indian metropolis can be. Historically, we used to be part of the East India Company, governed out of Calcutta. But, today, when an Indian comes to Singapore, he says, "Hey! I can do that back home." And that is why if you visit India today, if you go to Hyderabad or Bangalore, certain aspects of it are familiar, because they have modelled what we have in Singapore. The "Uniquely Singapore" branding platform is therefore a very important initiative and one in which there will be controversy.”
“Ms Irene Ng is right that there is nothing particularly unique about reverse bungee jumping on its own or bar top dancing or crazy horses. In fact, in Singapore, we have few attractions which are purely unique in themselves. But what makes Singapore truly unique is our ability to mix and match, to create unique diverse packages that appeal to people from diverse corners of the globe. Each tourist, whether he be from China, India or from the West, comes with a different expectation of Singapore. But we must ensure that we will package for him or her a unique package which will leave him or her emotionally fulfilled, but not fully satiated, because we want them to come back again. 11.45 am "Uniquely Singapore" is therefore a unifying theme to capture the special mix of traditions, cultures and history of Singapore, and it is a platform to showcase different aspects of Singapore to different segments of visitors. In this respect, STB is working hard to customise and position ourselves for this. If we want to do this well, we need first to understand what our visitors want, what does the market want. It will also require us to be sensitive to the nuances of languages, traditions and cultures of our target market. For instance, let us come back to China. The Chinese view Singapore as the "daughter who is married out of the family" - a different surname, a different household, making our separate way in the world, but still related. Chinese visitors, therefore, expect Singaporeans to show them a certain familiar warmth, the warmth that you reserve for relatives. This link, both at an emotional and historical level, must be kept in mind. Two weeks ago, I visited the Sun Yat Sen Villa.”