The PAP using the tried and trusted pork barrel politics again

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Five-year masterplans announced for Tanjong Pagar, Holland-Bukit Timah GRCs
PUBLISHED 11 MIN AGO

Lester Wong


SINGAPORE - MPs from the People's Action Party (PAP) took to social media on Sunday (June 21) to announce five-year upgrading plans for estates in Tanjong Pagar GRC and Holland-Bukit Timah GRC.

The plans to spruce up estates include senior-friendly amenities, sheltered linkways and drop-off porches. Residents can also look forward to new fitness corners, community and green spaces as well as a fresh coat of paint for their public housing blocks, among other improvements.

The launch of such masterplans were accompanied by physical exhibitions in the past. But in view of the current Covid-19 situation, MPs posted videos and updates of the plans on their Facebook pages instead.

Said Trade and Industry Minister Chan Chun Sing: "Continuous rejuvenation and improvement to our estates - this is our promise and commitment to our residents."

Dr Mustafa Izzudin, a senior international affairs analyst with management consultancy Solaris Strategies Singapore, said such five-year plans are meant to give the electorate an idea of what the ruling party intends to accomplish at both the national and municipal levels between one election and the next.
"(These plans) are meant to demonstrate to the electorate that this is what good leadership looks like, thinking ahead for the mid and long-term," said Dr Mustafa.

"This move has been effective in the past and I think it will be even more effective this time around because of the anxiety and uncertainty over the (Covid-19) pandemic. The election for the PAP will be about how they've handled the pandemic and how they plan to handle the pandemic in the coming years."

Besides the additions to community living spaces, Tanjong Pagar GRC residents also have more public transport options headed their way.

These include new MRT stations on the Thomson-East Coast line due to be ready next year, and on stage six of the Circle Line, which will be completed in 2025.

Mr Chan, who helms Tanjong Pagar GRC, also invited feedback and suggestions from residents on neighbourhood renewal and repair and redecoration programmes in a five-minute video featuring his fellow MPs in the constituency.

Meanwhile, Holland-Bukit Timah GRC MPs Vivian Balakrishnan, Sim Ann, Christopher de Souza and Liang Eng Hwa each posted a video on their Facebook pages outlining the planned upgrades in their respective wards.

For instance, residents in Cashew can look forward to five new covered linkways, two new sheltered ramps and staircases, 12 new roofs over existing ramps and 10 new drop-off porches among other upgrades.

Said Dr Balakrishnan, who is Foreign Minister: "Grateful to the residents of Holland-Bukit Timah and Bukit Panjang for your suggestions over the years that have enabled us to make our neighbourhood a beautiful, unique and inclusive Home that we can all be so proud of."

Mr Liang highlighted improvements to the public transport network in Bukit Panjang, including a $344 million overhaul of the 20-year-old Bukit Panjang LRT line which is on track to be completed in 2024.

The peak-hour bus service BPS1 connecting Bukit Panjang and Chua Chu Kang was also upgraded to a new full-day bus Service 976 from last November.
Residents from other constituencies have also been receiving updates from their MPs on the upgrades planned for their neighbourhoods.

For example, Chua Chu Kang GRC MP Zaqy Mohamad posted on Facebook on Saturday about two new hawker centres in Choa Chu Kang and Yew Tee which will be ready by 2026.

He also highlighted a new Safra clubhouse located five minutes from Choa Chu Kang MRT station that will be completed by 2022.

 

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NTUC FairPrice to freeze prices of daily essentials and extend seniors’ discounts till year-end

Prices of 100 NTUC FairPrice housebrand items will be frozen until the end of the year.ST PHOTO: LIM YAOHUI
PUBLISHED 4 HOURS AGO

Sue-Ann Tan


SINGAPORE - Prices of 100 daily essential items sold under the NTUC FairPrice housebrand will be frozen until the end of the year, as part of a support package to help Singaporeans manage the cost of living during the coronavirus pandemic.

These items include groceries such as rice, oil, beverages and poultry, as well as batteries, toiletries and household cleaners, said NTUC Enterprise on Monday (June 22).

On top of the price freeze, the $50 million support package also includes extensions of seniors' discounts until Dec 31 this year.

"This six-month extension helps cushion Singaporeans against potential price increases, regardless of changes in supply, socioeconomic factors and external factors that could affect food prices, especially during the current volatile and uncertain climate," NTUC Enterprise said in a statement.

"This price freeze of essentials will also act as a benchmark for prices in general of everyday essentials, ensuring they remain affordable."
This initiative was launched in March last year and would have run until June 30 this year, providing customers with savings of approximately $17.8 million.

The six-month extension is estimated to provide an additional $6.7 million in savings to shoppers.

Last year, the cost of 38 of the 100 house brand items saw increases of up to 10 per cent, which means that FairPrice has absorbed over $350,000 as a result of this initiative.

Discounts for those in the Merdeka Generation, Pioneer Generation and senior citizens will also be extended until the end of the year.

Currently these groups enjoy discounts from Monday to Wednesday.

Last year, Pioneer and Merdeka Generation members saved over $5.5 million, while seniors saved $2.2 million through the senior discount scheme.

NTUC Enterprise noted that the extension of both the Pioneer and Merdeka Generation discount schemes is estimated to provide savings of $7.9 million this year.

Savings from the seniors discount scheme are estimated to exceed $2.5 million, bringing the total estimated savings for seniors to $10.4 million this year.

Mr Seah Kian Peng, NTUC Enterprise group chief executive, said: "2020 has been a challenging year with the heavy impact brought about by Covid-19 on the daily lives of Singaporeans. In times like these, our resolve to serve Singaporeans has only deepened.

"We have put in additional resources to ensure that daily essential products and services, including groceries, childcare and eldercare, remain accessible and affordable for all.

"Furthermore, our insurance, learning and skills upgrading services have adapted swiftly to address the needs of the community during this period.

"Through this comprehensive support package, we reaffirm our commitment to moderate the cost of living for all Singaporeans."

There is also a slew of new initiatives for NTUC union members, which provide support including specially priced groceries, complimentary $50,000 LUV term life coverage for the first year, dental care kits and more than 100 complimentary online courses to encourage upskilling.

In line with the recent phase two opening, a reduced price breakfast set at $1 for union members and $1.50 for the public will be available from July 3 to Aug 31 at all NTUC Foodfare and Kopitiam foodcourts and coffee shops from 7am to 11am daily.

The set, which includes a cup of hot coffee or tea, toast and two soft boiled eggs, is usually priced at $1.80 for union members and $2.20 for the public.
This discount is also estimated to bring about savings of $1 million.

NTUC Enterprise added that its organisations have also introduced coronavirus relief measures worth $8.8 million to help mitigate the impact of the pandemic on the community.

These include mobile grocery vans to bring daily essentials to seniors at selected mature estates with low-income older people.
From July, five additional vans will join the fleet, bringing the total number to 10 vans.

 

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ERP to stay free for another month until at least July 26

ERP gantries have been switched off since April 6, 2020.ST PHOTO: GIN TAY
PUBLISHED 2 HOURS AGO

Clement Yong

SINGAPORE - Electronic Road Pricing (ERP) charges at all gantries will stay suspended for at least another month until July 26, after which new rates might take effect.
The first review of ERP rates by the Land Transport Authority (LTA) after the circuit breaker period showed that road conditions did not warrant road charges to be reinstituted.

The transport authority said upon the review's completion on Monday (June 22): "Based on LTA's monitoring of traffic conditions, traffic speeds on expressways and arterial roads in early June have remained optimal.

"ERP rates at all gantries will therefore remain at zero until the next ERP rate review."

The outcome of the next ERP rate review will be announced in the fourth week of July and new rates, if any, will take effect on July 27.
ERP gantries have been switched off since April 6, as activity across the island was slowed down by circuit breaker regulations to curb the spread of the coronavirus.

Traffic volume shrank by an average of 60 per cent since January between April and May.

Accidents had also fallen by more than 40 per cent since April 7 by May.

Transport Minister Khaw Boon Wan said traffic statistics so far suggest that most employees in the Central Business District are still working from home as far as possible.

"And among those who need to go to their offices, many are adopting staggered work hours," he said.

"The evidence is in the MRT data of commuters going to (and) from CBD. Road traffic, during traditional peak hours, has recovered somewhat but has remained manageable."

He said he expects more people to begin using the roads in the coming weeks and for some congestion to emerge.

The LTA will monitor closely and make the necessary adjustments to ERP rates, he said.

Rate reviews are usually done every quarter but are now held more frequently - every four weeks - to be more responsive to changes in traffic conditions amid the pandemic.

The review frequency will return to the pre-Covid-19 quarterly timeframe at an appropriate time, the LTA has said.

Singapore is now in phase two of its three-stage approach to resuming economic and social activities.

Almost the entire economy is now estimated to have restarted, with safe distancing measures in place, although employees who can work from home are required to continue to do so.

 

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180 lifts under AHTC to be upgraded over 15 months

Among the safety features that the Building and Construction Authority recommended installing in lifts, to bring them up to date, are high-tech sensors to monitor lift speed as well as an emergency communications system. ST PHOTO: ALPHONSUS CHERN
PUBLISHED JUN 10, 2020, 5:00 AM SGT

Plans proceeding for second group of lifts after circuit breaker disrupted works on first batch
Michelle Ng


Around 180 Housing Board lifts under the Workers' Party-run Aljunied-Hougang Town Council (AHTC) will be upgraded with better safety features over the next 15 months.

Upgrading plans are proceeding apace for this group of lifts, even as works on a first group that were due to be completed in April have yet to be finished because of the halt called on most building and construction work during the coronavirus outbreak.

Altogether, 1,500 lifts under the town council will be enhanced under a 10-year national plan, which started in January last year, to upgrade more than 18,500 lifts across all HDB estates.

"We are still working closely with the lift contractors to complete all the lift works planned for the last 15 months, as works were affected over the past few months due to work restrictions in place," a spokesman for AHTC told The Straits Times yesterday.

The other 17,000 lifts to be upgraded under the $450 million Lift Enhancement Programme (LEP) are managed by the People's Action Party (PAP) town councils.
The LEP is substantially funded by the Housing Board.


Dr Teo Ho Pin, the coordinating chairman of PAP town councils, told ST on Monday that a total of 1,200 lifts in the 15 PAP town councils have been upgraded since January last year.

In January last year, the PAP town councils had said that 1,500 lifts would be upgraded in the next 15 months.
Dr Teo, who leads the PAP Lift Taskforce that is spearheading the programme, added that work is in progress for about 700 lifts.

A second batch of 3,231 lifts will be upgraded this year.

ST has contacted both AHTC and Dr Teo for more details.

Under the LEP, lifts will have eight safety features installed, in line with the Building and Construction Authority's (BCA) safety and efficiency standards.

The features include high-tech sensors to monitor lift speed as well as an emergency communication system.
The programme was first announced in September 2016, following a spate of HDB lift accidents which prompted the BCA to recommend the eight features to bring the lifts up to date.

Dr Teo told ST yesterday that lift complaints and breakdowns have "declined over the last three years" based on "overall statistics", although he did not specify the figures.

He said: "Overall, our lifts are performing better since the (installation) of the lift surveillance system and LEP. Vandalism and abuse of lifts have dropped significantly."

 

[zhihau]

So erections will be in Jurai?

 

[shittypore]

So plenty plenty goodies for Sinkies coming Erection.

 

[shittypore]

 

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Singapore GE: Plans for more active-ageing facilities in Jalan Besar, new green projects in Chua Chu Kang and Hong Kah North

Jalan Besar GRC MPs (clockwise, from top left) Yaacob Ibrahim, Denise Phua, Heng Chee How and Lily Neo speaking about the new masterplan in a video posted on the town council’s website.PHOTO: JALAN BESAR TOWN COUNCIL
PUBLISHED JUN 23, 2020, 12:00 AM SGT
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Cara Wong

SINGAPORE - Elderly friendly amenities such as ramps, lifts and additional fitness corners are on the cards for the Housing Board estates in Jalan Besar GRC to meet the needs of its ageing population.
Another key development slated for these estates is mixed-generational facilities, like a park with a playground for the young and pebbled paths for seniors, commonly used for reflexology.
These are among several major amenities in the new five-year masterplan for the group representation constituency in central Singapore, unveiled by the Jalan Besar Town Council on its website on Monday (June 22). Augmenting it is a video of the GRC's four MPs describing the major projects.
In northern Singapore, however, many of the prospective improvements in Chua Chu Kang GRC and single-seat Hong Kah North are geared towards families with growing children.
One highlight of the five-year masterplan for the two constituencies, which are run by the Chua Chu Kang Town Council, is a "mega playground" in Keat Hong.
In addition, more parks, sports hubs and wider cycling tracks and footpaths, as well as two new hawker centres, are among the communal and entertainment facilities in the pipeline for the two constituencies.

Active-ageing is a key focus of the new masterplan, said Senior Minister of State for Defence Heng Chee How, who is part of the four-member Jalan Besar GRC team.
"In our town, we have many seniors. We want them to age actively, age successfully and age happily. This is something we want to put an effort in," he said in the video.
For example, in the Rochor and Outram estates specifically, those aged 65 and older make up more than 20 per cent of all residents.

There are also plans for more community gardens, covered walkways and upgrades to existing communal facilities like community halls.

More than 150 projects are in the offing.
Dr Lily Neo, the town council's chairman, urged residents to continue giving feedback and suggestions to improve the estates.
"In the next five years, you will see some of your ideas become a reality," she said in the video.
"Let us work together to create an even more caring and inclusive Jalan Besar. A vibrant place to live, work, play, and build our future together. A special place that embraces our stories, our hope, our home," Dr Neo added.
The other two MPs in the GRC, which has a total of 106,578 voters, are Mayor Denise Phua and Professor Yaacob Ibrahim.
Said Prof Yaacob, formerly the minister for communications and information: "You and your family will see a substantial improvement in your quality of life."
CHUA CHU KANG GRC, HONG KAH NORTH SMC
Apart from building more active living facilities, the four-member Chua Chu Kang GRC and Hong Kah North single-member constituency have set their sights on becoming an "eco-town", with green features such as solar panels and community gardens.
The Ministry for the Environment and Water Resources has earmarked Chua Chu Kang Town to be transformed into an eco-town, said a statement on Monday.

An artist’s impression of The Arena Sports Hub in Keat Hong. Many of the prospective improvements in Chua Chu Kang GRC and single-seat Hong Kah North are geared towards families with growing children. PHOTO: CHUA CHU KANG TOWN COUNCIL

Planned green initiatives include a new park in Bukit Gombak, and the installation of solar panels on the roofs of almost 600 buildings.
The savings in carbon emission from the solar panels are estimated to be equivalent to taking 4,000 cars off the road, said the statement.
More than 9,000 ageing flats will also be upgraded, with plans to replace or enhance more than 1,000 lifts in the HDB estates.
There are 103,231 voters in the GRC, whose MPs include Health Minister Gan Kim Yong, Senior Parliamentary Secretary Low Yen Ling, Minister of State Zaqy Mohamad and Mr Yee Chia Hsing. There are 23,519 electors in Hong Kah North SMC, which is helmed by Senior Minister of State Amy Khor.
In a Facebook post on Monday, Ms Low, who is also the town council's chairman, said the new masterplan will take residents into a "new age of healthy and active living, with opportunities to connect, work and live better".
"This is a place we can continue to build our hopes and dreams. Together, a better home for all," Ms Low added.

 

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Singapore GE: Tampines Town Council rolls out five-year masterplan for eco-friendly town

A pond at Tampines Eco Green on June 11, 2020.ST PHOTO: KELVIN CHNG
PUBLISHED 1 HOUR AGO

Audrey Tan


SINGAPORE - Plans to transform Tampines into an eco-town are shaping up, with a raft of projects completed and in the pipeline, the Tampines Town Council said on Tuesday (June 23).

When these plans are rolled out in the next five years, residents will be able move around more easily without a car as more cycling paths will be built and footpaths widened.

They will also get to enjoy more greenery, with a new park slated to be built by 2022, and more nature is infused into grey structures like on the rooftops of multi-storey carparks.

The announcement of the five-year masterplan by the Tampines Town Council, chaired by People's Action Party (PAP) MP Cheng Li Hui, is the latest in a slew of similar announcements last week by other PAP MPs helming estates in areas such as Tanjong Pagar GRC and Holland-Bukit Timah GRC.

It also comes as President Halimah Yacob on Tuesday (June 23) dissolved Parliament, setting in motion a widely-anticipated general election which will see Singaporeans heading to the polls on July 10.

In a statement, the Tampines Town Council said it had planned to launch its five-year masterplan with an exhibition in March.

But, it added: "Due to Covid-19, Tampines will announce its projects via its social media platforms and digital noticeboards. In addition to the regular estate enhancements, Tampines residents can look forward to many large-scale, town-wide projects in the next five years."

There are about 151,000 eligible voters in Tampines GRC.
The other MPs in the five-member GRC are Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Heng Swee Keat, Minister for the Environment and Water Resources Masagos Zulkifli, Mr Desmond Choo and Mr Baey Yam Keng.
"The Tampines five-year master plan focuses on the development of an inclusive, sustainable, and green town with community spaces and amenities for everyone to enjoy," said the town council.

Other sustainable features that will be rolled out include fitting all suitable Housing Board blocks with solar panels, and by painting some blocks with "cool coating" to reduce the amount of heat absorbed by the building.

Such coatings include paints that contain pigments that can reflect heat.

For a start, some 200 blocks will be coated with the cool coating during repainting works from around 2022, said the town council.

Another sustainability initiative in Tampines is Sustainability @ Tampines Park - Singapore's first community-based circular ecosystem.

A circular ecosystem refers to one in which the by-products from one process are channelled into another, reducing the need to use fresh resources at each step.
In this initiative, residents segregate food waste generated at home and feed it to black soldier fly larvae.

The larvae break down the food waste into fertiliser, which can be used in a vertical vegetable farm. The pupa of the black soldier fly can also be processed and fed to tilapia fish reared in the Tampines Park pond.

"As a result, we will reduce food waste and more significantly, strengthen the community's food resilience," said the town council.

 

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1.4 million Singaporeans to get $570 million in GST vouchers in August

Cash payouts for GST vouchers will amount to around $410 million, while Medisave top-ups will total $160 million.ST PHOTO: KELVIN CHNG
PUBLISHED 59 MIN AGO

Cheryl Tan

SINGAPORE - About 1.4 million Singaporeans will benefit from $570 million in goods and services tax (GST) vouchers in August, in the form of cash payouts and Medisave top-ups.

Eligible Singaporeans will receive text messages or letters to inform them of their benefits by July 3, the Ministry of Finance (MOF) said on Wednesday (July 1).

Around 1.4 million Singaporeans will receive cash payouts of up to $300, credited directly into their bank accounts from Aug 1.

Those who have not provided their bank account numbers can do so at the GST Voucher website by July 22, and they will receive their payouts via bank transfer on Aug 1. The rest will receive cheques sent to their official address by Aug 17.The MOF added that a small number of citizens qualify for the benefits of the GST Voucher scheme, but have not signed up for the government payouts in the past. They will be invited to do so via SMS or a letter before May 31 next year.

Singaporeans aged 21 and above, whose assessable income for year of assessment 2019 did not exceed $28,000, will get $150 or $300 depending on their home's annual value as at Dec 31, 2019. Those who own more than one property are not eligible for the GST vouchers.

About 545,000 Singaporeans aged 65 and above in 2020 will also receive GST vouchers in the form of Medisave top-ups of up to $450 each from Aug 1.
They will receive between $150 and $450, depending on their age and annual value of their home.
Cash payouts for GST vouchers will amount to around $410 million, while Medisave top-ups will total $160 million.

The GST Voucher scheme was introduced in 2012 to help lower- and middle-income Singaporeans offset some of their GST expenses.

The annual scheme comprises three components: cash, Medisave and U-Save.

The cash payouts help lower-income Singaporeans with their immediate needs, and are paid every August.
Similarly, the Central Provident Fund Medisave top-ups paid every August help support Singaporeans aged 65 and above with their medical needs.
The U-Save vouchers provide lower- and middle-income Housing Board households with a rebate to offset their utilities bills every January, April, July and October.
Eligible HDB households will receive double their regular U-Save vouchers this year, through a one-off special payment. Eligible households with five or more members will receive 2½ times their regular U-Save rebate in 2020.
Other benefits that Singaporeans can receive this year, as announced in last year's and this year's Budgets, include the following:
For Singaporeans:
- Five-year Medisave top-up scheme: Singaporeans aged 51 and above in 2020 who do not receive Pioneer Generation or Merdeka Generation benefits will receive a Medisave top-up of $100 credited into their accounts in end-August.
- Solidarity Payment: Singaporeans aged 21 and above would have received a cash payout of $600 in April.
- Care and Support - Cash: From June, Singaporeans aged 21 and above would have received a cash payout of $900, $600, or $300 each, depending on their income and the number of properties that they own.
- Workfare Special Payment: All Singaporean workers who received Workfare Income Supplement payments for work done in 2019 will receive a cash payout of $3,000. This will be paid in two equal payments of $1,500 each, in July and October.
- Grocery Vouchers: All Singaporeans aged 21 and above, who live in one-room or two-room HDB flats and do not own more than one property, will receive grocery vouchers worth $300 in 2020 and $100 next year.
For Households:
- Solidarity Utilities Credit: All households in Singapore with at least one Singaporean member will receive a one-off $100 utilities credit in their July or August utilities bill.
- Service and Conservancy Charges Rebate: Around 940,000 Singaporean HDB households will receive 1.5 to 3.5 months of rebates between April and next January, depending on their flat type.

 

[fanta]

They didn't offer the pork barrel to East Coast?

 

[LITTLEREDDOT]

Chencharu area in Yishun to get new park, integrated development with hawker centre, bus interchange​

By 2040, about 10,000 homes will be built on the 70ha site bounded by Yishun Avenues 1 and 2 and Sembawang Road. PHOTO: HDB

Isabelle Liew

Jun 12, 2024

SINGAPORE – A colonial-era plantation house in Bukit Sembawang will sit atop a new park, which is among the amenities to be built for the residents of an up-and-coming housing area in Yishun.
Chencharu, bounded by Yishun Avenues 1 and 2 and Sembawang Road, will also have an integrated development comprising a hawker centre, bus interchange, shops and residential units.
Other new amenities planned include an educational institution and nursing home to cater to residents of different age groups, the Housing Board said on June 12.
Chencharu was made up of plantations and farms in the 1900s and was subsequently redeveloped for recreational and commercial uses – it housed plant nurseries and the former Bottle Tree Park, which later became Orto leisure park. The area was identified for residential use in the Urban Redevelopment Authority’s 2019 masterplan.
By 2040, about 10,000 homes will be built on the 70ha site, at least 80 per cent of which will be public flats, National Development Minister Desmond Lee announced in March.
The first Build-To-Order (BTO) project in Chencharu, comprising 1,270 units, including two-room flexi, three-, four- and five-room flats, will be launched before the end of June, HDB said. It will progressively launch the rest of the projects in the coming years.
The board said its plans for the area will pay homage to Chencharu’s history and heritage, while incorporating smart and sustainable features into the developments.

Precincts will have convenient public transport links and be connected to recreational spaces to encourage people to walk and cycle as part of their commutes.
At the centre of the estate will be a footpath that connects the new park in the west to the existing neighbourhood park near Khatib MRT station in the east.
A new bus-only road called Chencharu Link will run from the north to the south of the estate to provide “dedicated road space for smoother bus journeys”, HDB said.

There will also be walking and cycling paths that link to neighbouring towns like Sembawang and to recreation nodes such as Khatib Bongsu Nature Park, Lower Seletar Reservoir and the upcoming North-South Corridor.
HDB said the first BTO project in Chencharu will incorporate features of the more than 100-year-old bungalow at 50 Bah Soon Pah Road. The two-storey bungalow, a plantation house built in the early 1910s by Bukit Sembawang Rubber Company, was preserved by the authorities for the new residential area.

The first BTO project in Chencharu will incorporate features of the more than 100-year-old bungalow at 50 Bah Soon Pah Road. PHOTO: HDB
Taking inspiration from the bungalow’s architecture, with its floors raised above ground on masonry piers and columns, the BTO project will have a black outline on the first few storeys and a red, black and white facade that mirrors the colours of the house, it said.
The new park will be built around the bungalow, which will be repurposed for community uses.

HDB said the park, located adjacent to the BTO project, will have playgrounds, fitness corners with exercise equipment, open lawns and hard courts for sports, and a therapeutic garden.
It will also have a heritage trail with a series of gardens and storyboards for residents to learn about the area’s history.
“Together, these features aim to promote social connectedness, active lifestyles and mental wellness among residents,” HDB said.
Two tenants in Lorong Chencharu that were popular with the public, and have to vacate their premises to make way for the new developments, will be relocated to a nearby site adjacent to HomeTeamNS Khatib.
They are Ground-Up Initiative, a non-profit organisation known for its focus on sustainability and community building, and the Live Turtle Museum.

HDB said: “This will not only enable existing community activities in these unique recreational spaces to continue, but also create opportunities to forge strong social bonds with new residents of Chencharu, thereby enhancing the identity of Chencharu as a vibrant contemporary kampung.”
HDB said the homes will also have features that allow for the owners to adopt smart home solutions.
It will implement initiatives such as a smart lighting system – which allows HDB and town councils to monitor lighting in common areas in real time, reducing the need for manual checks – and rainwater harvesting systems, where applicable.
Mr Mohan Sandrasegeran, head of research and data analytics at Singapore Realtors, said he expects firm demand for the first BTO project in Chencharu, given the high application rates for previous launches in Yishun.
Across three BTO projects in Yishun launched in November 2022, there were more than 1,400 applicants vying for the 917 four-room flats, and another 1,400 applicants for 795 five-room units, he noted.
“In addition, the amenities planned for the area are likely to garner positive interest among potential home buyers looking for a self-sufficient town that meets their daily needs and offers convenience,” he said.

 

[LITTLEREDDOT]

New shuttle bus service to serve residents in Marine Parade GRC, MacPherson, Mountbatten​

The free service will ply the roads from 10am to 4pm on weekdays, excluding public holidays. ST PHOTO: ONG WEE JIN
Therese Soh

Jun 30, 2024

SINGAPORE - A new shuttle bus service will be rolled out from July 8 to connect residents living in areas such as Marine Parade and Joo Chiat to amenities including MRT stations, polyclinics and hawker centres.
The free service will ply the roads from 10am to 4pm on weekdays, excluding public holidays, and serve residents in Marine Parade GRC, MacPherson and Mountbatten.
Each of the seven wards in these constituencies will be served by one shuttle bus, which can seat 22 passengers and will arrive at intervals of about one hour – the time it takes for the buses to complete their route.
The initiative, which will be reviewed after one year, is by the People’s Association and MPs of Marine Parade GRC, MacPherson and Mountbatten.
Minister for Culture, Community and Youth Edwin Tong said the aim is to improve connectivity for residents in the various constituencies.
The bus routes and stops were planned based on feedback from residents garnered through engagements such as dialogues and walkabouts, he added.
“Even with a very widespread (transport) system of public buses and MRTs, there is sometimes a gap, and that gap can translate into something that is quite difficult, especially if you are a senior,” said Mr Tong, who is MP for the Joo Chiat ward of Marine Parade GRC.

Each route makes five to seven stops at places frequently visited by residents like polyclinics, as well as destinations that seniors and individuals with mobility issues might find hard to reach because of walking distance, he said.
The shuttle service in Joo Chiat, for instance, will include stops at Eunos Polyclinic, Marine Terrace MRT station, which opened on June 23 along with six other Thomson-East Coast Line stations, and Kembangan MRT station.
A signboard will be placed at all stops along the routes so that residents can identify them.

Manpower Minister Tan See Leng said that besides improving accessibility to different areas, the initiative aims to encourage social connectivity among elderly residents, given Singapore’s ageing population.
“In terms of productive longevity, it is about getting our elderly residents out of their houses (and to) build relationships and social spheres around them,” said Dr Tan, who is MP for Marine Parade in the GRC.
Stops located on more than one route will allow residents to transfer between services so that they can travel to different constituencies. For instance, Eunos Polyclinic is a stop on four of the seven routes.
From June 30, residents can register for the service via the app TongTar Riders, which will generate a barcode that they must scan upon boarding a bus.

Residents can register for the service via the app TongTar Riders, which will generate a barcode that they must scan upon boarding a bus. ST PHOTO: ONG WEE JIN
During registration, residents must use their postal codes to verify that they live in eligible constituencies.
They can also register for a physical card – for tapping a card reader upon boarding the bus – at nine community centres or clubs.
These are Braddell Heights Community Club, Geylang Serai Community Club, Joo Chiat Community Club, Kampong Ubi Community Centre, Katong Community Centre, MacPherson Community Club, Marine Parade Community Club, Mountbatten Community Centre and Siglap South Community Centre.

Residents can register for a physical card -- for tapping a card reader upon boarding the bus -- at nine community centres or clubs. ST PHOTO: ONG WEE JIN
The app will display the real-time location of the buses and the amount of time they will take to reach a stop.
A colour-coded system will signal how crowded buses are – with green indicating a high number of vacant seats. Amber means the bus is moderately filled, while red means most seats are taken.
While residents will get priority for the buses, non-residents, such as those who are the caregivers of residents, may be allowed to board the buses, depending on factors like the availability of seats.
Retiree Noeline Gomes, who lives in Kembangan-Chai Chee, said she plans to use the service to explore stops along the route for leisure.
Retiree Maggie Cheng, 73, who lives in Geylang Serai, said the shuttle bus will make visits to Eunos Polyclinic more convenient and save time. She would otherwise have to spend 20 minutes walking there, as no buses go from her home to the clinic.
“I hope next time, they extend (the operating hours of the service),” she said.

 

[LITTLEREDDOT]

1.5 million Singaporeans to get up to $850 in August to cope with rising costs​

Those living in homes with annual values of up to $21,000 will get $850. ST PHOTO: CHONG JUN LIANG

Ang Qing

Jul 04, 2024

SINGAPORE - About 1.5 million eligible adult Singaporeans will receive $450 or $850 in cash in August to help with their daily living expenses, the Ministry of Finance (MOF) said on July 4.
Those living in homes with annual values of up to $21,000 will get $850.
Those with homes with annual values of more than $21,000, and up to $25,000, will receive $450.
“This means that all eligible recipients will receive an additional $150 or $100, as compared to last year,” said MOF.
The payments will be made to Singaporeans aged 21 and above who have an assessable income of up to $34,000 for the year of assessment 2023.
Those who own more than one property are not eligible for the payout.
About 650,000 Singapore citizens aged 65 and above will also have up to $450 credited to their Central Provident Fund MediSave accounts in August.

These disbursements are part of the GST Voucher (GSTV) scheme, which helps to permanently defray GST expenses for lower- to middle-income Singaporeans as they cope with the hike in goods and services tax over the past two years.
In January 2023, the GST rate increased from 7 per cent to 8 per cent, before jumping to 9 per cent at the start of 2024.
The 2024 GSTV disbursements, which were first announced by Prime Minister Lawrence Wong in February 2023, will amount to $1.4 billion, which is around $200 million more than in 2023, according to the ministry.

Those who have not previously signed up for the GSTV Scheme can do so at the govbenefits website by July 9. Citizens who sign up after this date and by June 20, 2025, will receive their payments by the end of the following month.
The ministry encouraged citizens to link their NRIC to funds transfer service PayNow by July 22, as this would allow them to receive their handouts in early August. Twelve banks here, including DBS Bank and UOB, are linked to PayNow.
Those without PayNow-NRIC linked bank accounts can update their bank account information at the govbenefits website by July 26.

Meanwhile, people receiving payments via Giro will receive them from Aug 12.
Eligible citizens who have not linked their NRICs to PayNow, or provided a valid bank account, will receive payment via GovCash, which allows them to withdraw their cash disbursements at OCBC ATMs around the island.
To receive the cash, they will need to enter a payment reference number and their NRIC number, and pass a facial verification. The payment reference number will be available at the govbenefits website from Aug 22.
They will be notified in August after their cash or MediSave disbursements have been credited.
To safeguard against scams, an SMS notification sent by gov.sg will inform citizens of their benefits. They do not need to reply to the SMS, click on any links, or provide any information to the sender.

 

[LITTLEREDDOT]

Can't wait to make the announcement closer to 2030.
Got to make the announcement now, before the General Elections.

Clementi Stadium to be redeveloped by 2030, to feature baseball and softball fields: Desmond Lee​

Set for completion by 2030, the new stadium will feature softball and baseball fields, and other sports facilities. ST PHOTO: KELVIN CHNG

Ng Wei Kai

Jul 06, 2024

SINGAPORE – After more than 40 years of use, Clementi Stadium will be redeveloped along with the vacant site of the former West Coast Recreation Centre, said Minister for National Development Desmond Lee.
Set for completion by 2030, the new stadium will feature softball and baseball fields and other sports facilities, including a running track and activities for the public to learn a sport, said Mr Lee on July 6.
The stadium and the site of the former recreation centre, which is currently an empty field after the centre was demolished in 2020, sit alongside each other on a plot between West Coast Road and the Ayer Rajah Expressway.
Two other stadiums of similar vintage – Yio Chu Kang and Bedok stadiums – are also being studied for redevelopment.
Mr Lee, who is an MP for West Coast GRC where the stadium is located, also announced that the authorities are exploring building a new mixed-use development integrated with the upcoming West Coast MRT station.
The new station, which is scheduled to be open by 2032 on the site of the former Tanglin Secondary School, will be fully underground along with the rest of the line connecting Jurong to Changi via the Central Catchment Area.
Mr Lee said the new development, if built, will give residents easy access to shopping, amenities and other services.

He was speaking at the first event of the PAssionArts Festival in 2024, an annual series of community events organised by the People’s Association, which will run from July to September.
The event, held at West Coast Community Centre, featured arts activities such as painting and weaving, as well as a guitar ensemble performance by over 100 residents.
Mr Lee added that Clementi Stadium has been a key landmark in West Coast for many years since opening in 1983, but the time has come to refresh its infrastructure and facilities.

The redeveloped stadium will support training for Singapore’s softball and baseball national teams, he said.
Mr Lee also invited suggestions from the public on the kinds of sports courts they would like – basketball or tennis – and what sports they would like to learn there.
He added that the Clementi Sports and Recreation Centre, which is located across the Ayer Rajah Expressway from Clementi Stadium, will remain open while the stadium is being redeveloped, and that SportSG is working on detailed plans and timelines, and will provide more details when ready.
The stadium, which has a grass football pitch and a running track, once served as home field for several local football clubs, including Clementi Khalsa and Tanjong Pagar United.
Mr Lee also spoke about ongoing developments in the constituency, such as efforts to enhance parks in the area, including West Coast Park, HortPark and Labrador Nature Reserve.
In September 2023, the Government announced plans to rejuvenate and connect 13 parks, including these three, in southern Singapore as part of the revamp of the Greater Southern Waterfront and the Southern Ridges.

The stadium and the site of the former recreation centre sit alongside each other on a plot between West Coast Road and the Ayer Rajah Expressway. ST PHOTO: KELVIN CHNG
He said: “We are also seeing how we can showcase the heritage of the park and the activities that used to take place in the past.”
Improvements to both private and public housing estates are also in the works, Mr Lee said.
These include the Neighbourhood Renewal Programme for Housing Board flats, as well as improvements to play and fitness corners in neighbourhood parks.
Efforts are also being made to make the area more senior-friendly as residents age, he added, including health fitness trails and barrier-free access ramps.
West Coast resident Su Bao Zhuang, 59, said she is looking forward to changes which maximise West Coast’s greenery and access to nature.
Madam Su, who has lived in a condominium in West Coast for 26 years, said that as someone who is environmentally conscious and enjoys spending time in nature, linking the parks in Singapore’s south is an exciting prospect.
The retired pre-school teacher, whose adult daughter also lives in the area, said: “Hopefully, we can keep improving the environment and greenery, which may help young people feel like they can raise children here.”

 

[LITTLEREDDOT]

Most civil servants to get yearly $500 ‘well-being’ benefit; more health subsidies for all public officers​

An annual benefit called FlexiGrow is intended to empower civil service officers to take charge of their longer-term well being and growth. ST PHOTO: KUA CHEE SIONG
Wong Pei Ting
Correspondent

Jul 10, 2024

SINGAPORE – From October 2024, eligible civil servants will receive $500 every year that they can use to support their health, well-being and individual growth.
On top of this annual benefit called FlexiGrow, the Public Service Division (PSD) will also raise medical and dental benefits for all public officers starting from Jan 1, 2025.
Public officers’ medical subsidies at private clinics will go up from $20 to up to $50 per visit, while dental subsidies will rise from $120 to up to $250 per year.
Announcing the news on July 10 to applause from the audience at the opening of the Public Service Week at ITE College Central, Minister-in-charge of the Public Service Chan Chun Sing said that operating in an environment of constant change can be unsettling, even exhausting, for public officers.
“We have a saying in MOE (the Ministry of Education) and in the public service: All of you pour your hearts out to serve, but you cannot keep pouring your hearts out to serve if you are not growing, if you are not being taken care of,” said Mr Chan, who is also Education Minister.
“We need to take care of ourselves. We need to take care of each other in this long journey, and this is what our public service is committed to.”
The public service comprises 152,000 public officers working in 16 ministries and more than 50 statutory boards. The civil service is part of the public service. It has about 86,000 officers working in government ministries.

FlexiGrow is intended to empower civil service officers to take charge of their longer-term well-being and growth, based on their diverse needs, while medical and dental benefits have been stepped up to better support public officers’ health, Mr Chan said.
In a statement, the PSD said officers can use their FlexiGrow benefit flexibly, based on their own needs, such as courses for personal development and fitness programmes.
Asked who will be eligible for the benefit, a PSD spokesperson told ST: “We intend for most officers to benefit from FlexiGrow.”

PSD also said that the medical and dental benefits were enhanced after close consultation with the unions, and will apply to re-employed officers and statutory board employees as well.
With the benefits, the PSD hopes officers can proactively manage their health, in line with the national focus on preventive care, it said.
These come on top of the public service taking the lead to extend its officers’ retirement age to 64 years and re-employment to 69 from July 1, 2025, one year ahead of the national schedule.
The move recognises that with higher life expectancy, many older officers may want to stay active, including being meaningfully engaged at work for longer, Mr Chan said in his speech.

Minister-in-charge of the Public Service Chan Chun Sing said that operating in an environment of constant change can be unsettling, even exhausting, for public officers. ST PHOTO: AZMI ATHNI
These and other benefits are “just hygiene factors”, which the public service intends to get right for its officers, he added. That said, the minister recognised that these hygiene factors alone “will not make (the public service) an attractive value proposition that can attract the best and most committed people to come and join (it)”.
Instead, it is the public service’s sense of mission, values and gumption that will inspire good people to join, he said.
These three factors are what the public service “cannot lose” if it wants to continue being successful in being “the pride of our nation and the envy of others”, he stressed.
Retaining a sense of mission involves never going on “auto-pilot maintenance mode” despite the public service’s accomplishments thus far, Mr Chan said, as he noted that foreign guests sometimes compliment Singapore by asking if they can borrow its public service for a year.
“Indeed, as every one of you know, every day brings new challenges to our public service in our generation. Every new challenge requires us to re-examine our assumptions and approach to overcome, and to transcend the challenges,” he said.
Pointing out that public officers had become familiar with 3Fs, namely, the “fragmenting global order”, the “fractious social order”, and the “fragile economic order”, Mr Chan said they need to start asking how they can turn the 3Fs into 4Cs – a “connected global order”, a “cohesive social order”, a “competitive economy” and a “confident people”.
For those in the foreign affairs, financial, defence and security pillars, this entails asking what are the ideas to bring like-minded countries and companies together to uphold existing rules and develop new ones to strengthen Singapore’s chances of survival and to thrive, said Mr Chan.
“We never sit back and accept the world as it is passively. But what can we do within our powers to work with the like-minded to shift the global order which is to Singapore’s favour,” he added.
And for those in the social sector, it would entail asking how they can lead by maintaining cohesion amid a more contested socio-political environment, a less trusting media environment and a public with higher and more diverse aspirations, he said.
Across the board, public officers should also think about how they can inspire Singaporeans and assure Singaporeans that everyone can have their place in society, to make contributions, regardless of one’s abilities, he said.

Reiterating that the public service’s mission is to build a thriving Singapore that provides hope and opportunities for all Singaporeans, Mr Chan said “build” refers to being action-oriented. This is not about being passive or reactive, neither is it to just preserve what has been achieved thus far, he added.
In adhering to this, public officers must take on the role of a builder, a hunter or a pioneer, he said.
This is one who is “always on the lookout for opportunities to score and create new value propositions, not only when we are forced by circumstances to do so”, Mr Chan added.
To not lose gumption is, among other things, to admit that Singapore is at risk of complacency, and that many others are working to overtake the country, he added.
Public officers should also have the gumption to engage other stakeholders when they do not have all the answers or capabilities themselves, he said.
Mr Chan, meanwhile, said it will become harder for public officers to jettison what has worked in the past.
Like many Fortune 500 companies – only 49 of which have consistently made the list in the last 70 years – success can be the albatross where Singapore risks seeking perfection to irrelevance, he said in illustrating this.
“If we do not check our blind spots and maintain our relevance, we risk falling into a downward spiral. And if we’re not careful, we will have our Xerox, Kodak or Nokia moment,” he said.
These businesses were once successful and pioneering, but are no longer Fortune 500 companies, he pointed out. They “should alert us to the dangers of complacency and how doing the right thing is often more important than just doing the same things well”, he said.
Mr Chan also said the success of the public service cannot be without the larger context of stability, partnership between the public service and political leadership.
In closing, he said the crux is not that Singapore has a perfect public service “which can get 100 marks in everything we do”.
“The crux of the public service is that we have officers who will get things right, even if the chips are down, and get the right things done, even if there are negative voices,” he said.
To do so, public officers must keep their ears close to the ground, while minding to never be “populist” or “sacrifice our long-term sustainability for short-term expediency”, Mr Chan said.
“It is a delicate but important balance – to govern responsively for the short term, and responsibly for the long term, so that Singapore and Singaporeans will be here and be able to thrive for evermore,” he said.
Public officers welcomed the new FlexiGrow benefit for civil servants and enhanced medical and dental benefits for all.
Mr Aaron Ong, a manager in workforce development at PSD, said it is heartening to know that the civil service considered feedback from officers in updating the benefits package. The 30-year-old, who has worked in the civil service for three years, said he will use the FlexiGrow benefit to try out wellness programmes or fitness classes, such as yoga.
He is also thinking of using it to pick up some non-fiction books that could help futureproof and spark innovation that will be useful in his career, he said.
Mr Muhammad Al-Fateh Mohamed Shafi, 31, a correctional unit officer with the Singapore Prison Service, said he is already given $700 annually for learning and personal development needs, which he has been using towards his gym membership.
If he gets another $500 under FlexiGrow, he intends to pick up basic counselling, he said, noting that the prison service has been moving towards rehabilitation.
A State Courts officer who wanted to be known only as Haikal said the enhanced medical and dental benefits will be helpful for officers with more dependants, as medical costs have risen over the years.
“Small things like these might not seem like much, but go a long way in making the public service more attractive,” said the 39-year-old.

 

[LITTLEREDDOT]

So many outstanding offences and and amount of fines not pursued until before the General Elections.

S’pore agencies recover more than $460k in outstanding fines from foreign motorists over 3 days​

Between July 1 and July 3, 188 foreign motorists who entered Singapore via the Woodlands and Tuas checkpoints were stopped and told to pay their outstanding summonses. PHOTO: ST FILE

Sarah Koh


Jul 13, 2024

SINGAPORE – More than 180 foreign motorists paid over $460,000 in outstanding fines for vehicular and traffic offences over a three-day operation in July.
During the July 1 to July 3 operation, 188 foreign motorists who entered Singapore via the Woodlands and Tuas checkpoints were stopped and instructed to pay their outstanding summonses.
The operation was led by the Traffic Police and supported by officers from the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority, Housing Board, Land Transport Authority, National Environment Agency and Urban Redevelopment Authority.
“The Singapore authorities regularly conduct operations against foreign motorists who commit offences in Singapore and do not settle their fines,” said a joint statement issued on July 12.
“Foreign motorists with outstanding fines for traffic, parking or vehicular emissions offences may be denied entry in Singapore.”
Motorists are urged to adhere to speed limits, obey traffic signals, park where it is legal, drive vehicles with allowable emission levels, and pay for Electronic Road Pricing, parking and fines.
Motorists are also advised to check for any outstanding fines at www.axs.com.sg. Fines can be paid at AXS’ kiosks, website and through mobile app. They can also be settled via the websites or customer service counters of the respective agencies.

 

[LITTLEREDDOT]

75 low-income families get cash with no strings attached in trial​

President Tharman Shanmugaratnam and his wife Jane Ittogi meeting guests and beneficiaries of AWWA's FEP on July 17. PHOTO: LIANHE ZAOBAO

Ng Wei Kai

Jul 18, 2024

SINGAPORE – Exhausted and hopeless was how Ms Irawati began 2022 as the then jobless mother struggled to put food on the table.
Her husband’s income as a delivery rider was unstable, and she was often disappointed in herself for being unable to provide the best for her five children, who are between two and 16 now.
But things got better when she began receiving $550 each month for a year and a half, money which gave her the confidence, motivation and breathing room to find full-time work, said the 37-year-old who goes by one name. She is now working as an office cleaner.
Her household was one of 75 low-income families who received between $300 and $550 a month between May 2022 and November 2023 through social service agency Awwa’s Family Empowerment Programme.
The cash assistance came without any strings attached, meaning that they did not need to secure employment or meet other conditions to receive the funds.
The programme was run as a randomised control trial – the first on such unconditional cash transfers in Singapore.
Similar programmes have been conducted overseas, including cash transfers to low-income New Yorkers during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Awwa’s project found that the cash improved participants’ mental health and job security, compared with a control group of 95 households.
The organisation announced these results at an event held on July 17 at Awwa Home and Day Activity Centre in Pasir Ris, with President Tharman Shanmugaratnam attending as guest of honour, accompanied by his spouse, Ms Jane Ittogi.
To qualify for the cash assistance, households must have had a monthly income equal to or less than $1,000 per person, or a total income equal to or less than $3,600 before Central Provident Fund deductions.

They must also have at least one Singapore citizen or permanent resident in the household, and at least one adult capable of work aged between 16 and 65, and must have been known to Awwa’s Family Service Centre or transitional shelters for at least a year.
By the end of the programme, 60 per cent of participants who received the cash were classified “well” in terms of their level of psychological distress, compared with 36 per cent of those in the control group.
When the project concluded, 27 per cent of those receiving the cash also reported better job security than before, higher than 15 per cent of those in the control group who said the same. This meant landing more secure contracts, from part-time to full-time work, for example.
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More of those who received the cash – 57 per cent compared with 51 per cent for the control group – also reported that they had better training and advancement opportunities in their current jobs than before the programme began.
Awwa started the project as part of its efforts to better serve disadvantaged families earlier, said Ms Huixia See Toh, its director of family services.
Awwa wanted a solution which empowered families to make their own decisions, she said in a presentation at the event.
She said: “Research has shown that individuals in chronic poverty are stuck in a cycle of addressing their own needs and urgent need which affects their cognitive functioning...
“This lack of mental bandwidth and financial resources really reduces their ability to plan and invest for the future.”
Awwa worked with Tri-Sector Associates, a social impact firm, to structure the programme which received its first round of funding of $750,000 from Standard Chartered Bank.
If specific outcomes – focused on education, skills upgrading and employment – were met, Temasek Trust would come in to fund a second round of the project with another $750,000.
As these requirements were met, Temasek Trust will fund a second leg of the project, Awwa said.
There was initially pushback against the idea of unconditional cash transfers, said Tri-Sector’s chief executive Kevin Tan at a panel discussion towards the end of the event.
There were concerns that people would not be incentivised to work, or would waste the money, he said.
But the trial found that positive effects of lifting the mental strain of financial stress far outweighed any of these effects, he added.
Such cash transfers are powerful because of their flexibility and, because more than resources, they also grant their recipients autonomy, said Dr Ng Kok Hoe, senior research fellow at the National University of Singapore’s Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy.
Dr Ng, who was also speaking at the panel discussion, added that such assistance gives recipients a sense of dignity because it indicates respect and trust in their capacity to make decisions.

Ms Irawati's household was one of 75 that benefited from AWWA's Family Empowerment Programme. ST PHOTO: MARK CHEONG
Ms Irawati found that receiving the cash gave her a new outlook on life. While she had received other forms of support in the past, receiving it in the form of cash gave her a sense of hope and empowerment, she said.
She used it to buy healthier food and textbooks for her children, and also to get a motorcycle licence, allowing her to work as a food delivery rider for some time.
She said: “I was able to tell my kids, ‘Yes we can go out to eat; Yes mummy can buy you this’, and that gave me the motivation to work and be successful, and to go out and help others.”

 

[LITTLEREDDOT]

Pasir Ris Mall to have polyclinic by end-2024, air-conditioned bus interchange in 2025​

The new Pasir Ris Mall in Pasir Ris Central and its adjoining facilities, are part of efforts to upgrade amenities and expand healthcare and transport facilities. ST PHOTO: CHONG JUN LIANG

Anjali Raguraman
Correspondent

Jul 23, 2024

SINGAPORE - Pasir Ris residents now have a brand-new mall on their doorstep housing a yet-to-open polyclinic, and they will also get better transport links to the rest of the island with the opening of an integrated transport hub.
The new Pasir Ris Mall in Pasir Ris Central and its adjoining facilities are part of efforts to upgrade amenities and expand healthcare and transport facilities in the eastern neighbourhood.
The mall marks a major milestone in the rejuvenation of Pasir Ris town under HDB’s Remaking Our Heartland (ROH) programme, said Senior Minister and Coordinating Minister for National Security Teo Chee Hean, speaking at the mall’s official opening on July 22.
The ROH programme aims to renew older estates to make the heartland more sustainable and vibrant. It was announced for Pasir Ris in 2017, an estate that saw its first flats built 35 years ago.
“As our town has developed, the needs of our residents have also evolved,” noted Mr Teo, who was joined by fellow Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC MPs Desmond Tan and Sharael Taha, as well as representatives of the mall’s joint developers Allgreen Properties and Kerry Properties.
“For example, many residents have asked for more shopping and eating choices, and for our facilities and neighbourhood spaces to be refreshed... but our residents also enjoy the greenery and serene surroundings in Pasir Ris.”
The 34,900 sq m mall has more than 150 retail, food and beverage and entertainment offerings over four floors, including one of the largest Cold Storage outlets in the heartland, a 24-hour Snap Fitness gym, as well as brand-name shops such as Japanese clothing retailer Uniqlo and Canadian cafe chain Tim Hortons.
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Pasir Ris residents have welcomed the new addition to the neighbourhood.
“Before the mall opened, White Sands was the only option in the area and I had to go to the malls in Tampines instead,” said Mr Rovan Navor, an auditor who has lived in the area for 15 years.
“But now the offerings are competitive and there’s so much variety... I’ve even (had friends) from outside of the neighbourhood coming here,” said Mr Rovan, who has frequented the mall four to five times a week since its soft opening in June.

Next in line is the opening of Pasir Ris Polyclinic, which will move from its current location in Pasir Ris Drive 4 to its bigger premises in the mall by the end of 2024.
The mall is also connected to the upcoming Pasir Ris Integrated Transport Hub. Besides an air-conditioned bus interchange opening in 2025, it will provide access to three MRT lines – the current East-West Line, the future Cross Island Line, and the Punggol Extension of the Cross Island Line.
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The mall’s sheltered Town Plaza, set to be completed in 2026, can house large gatherings and community events. It will be easily accessible on foot, and by bicycle, bus or car, noted Mr Teo.
A 1.2km-long Central Greenway connecting the mall to Pasir Ris Park and its beach is also being opened progressively.
The scenic pathway for pedestrians and cyclists runs parallel to the MRT viaduct, through the town centre and its housing developments.

The 34,900 sq m mall has more than 150 retail, food and beverage and entertainment offerings over four floors. ST PHOTO: CHONG JUN LIANG
Mr Tan, who is also Senior Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office, told the media on the sidelines of the mall’s official launch: “We have integrated transportation and the connectivity between buses, MRT and also cycling (paths)... Pasir Ris is a cycling town and we want to have the provision for cyclists to end their trip here.”
Hence, to supplement the needs of residents and commuters, Pasir Ris Mall also has over 1,000 bicycle parking spaces and shower facilities in its basement.
Mr Tan said the various developments are also primed to meet the needs of the growing Pasir Ris community.

(From left) Mr Sharael Taha, Mr Desmond Tan and Mr Teo Chee Hean at the mall’s official opening on July 22. ST PHOTO: CHONG JUN LIANG
He added that Pasir Ris town’s current population of about 130,000 is expected to grow to 150,000 to 160,000 in the next five to 10 years, off the back of the development of two upcoming Build-To-Order projects and some private residences.
In his speech, Mr Teo also noted that the ROH programme continues alongside the scheduled or completed upgrading of Pasir Ris’ Housing Board precincts under schemes such as the HDB’s Neighbourhood Renewal Programme, lift replacement, and Home Improvement Programme.
Mr Tan said: “(2030) is when the Cross Island Line is targeted to be completed, and together with all the upgrading works... we hope to see a rejuvenated and vibrant Pasir Ris town for all our residents.”