You know elections are coming when...

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Vote-buying.

23 neighbourhoods across Singapore to be upgraded, over $95 million set aside​

Hougang Central is one of 23 residential precincts included in the next round of the Neighbourhood Renewal Programme. ST PHOTO: CHONG JUN LIANG

Shabana Begum

JUN 01, 2024

SINGAPORE - More than $95 million has been set aside to upgrade and rejuvenate 23 residential precincts islandwide under the next edition of the HDB Neighbourhood Renewal Programme (NRP), which is expected to benefit over 15,600 homes.
Housing Board blocks selected for the facelift include those in Hougang Central, Clementi Avenue and Pasir Ris.
The amenities and upgrades will be based on residents’ feedback on the features they hope to see in their neighbourhood. Those could include Residents’ Corners and sitting areas, fitness corners with jogging tracks and covered linkways.
This 15th round of the NRP was announced by National Development Minister Desmond Lee at a community event in Clementi Town Centre on June 1.
The NRP was introduced in 2007 and as at April, a total of 120 precincts – comprising about 172,000 flats – have been upgraded.
More than $1.5 billion was allocated for the past 14 editions of NRP.
Mr Lee said: “As a society that is rapidly ageing, we are in fact making a bigger push and more concerted effort to address our seniors’ needs in the built environment.”

Future projects under the NRP will include more senior-friendly amenities that enable the elderly to stay active and remain safe in their neighbourhoods. Such features could include therapeutic gardens with wheelchair-friendly planter boxes, fitness trails connecting senior-centric amenities, and signage to make navigation easier, HDB said on June 1.
In addition, over 20 precincts that have already had upgrades in the past but have more elderly residents will be further spruced up with senior-friendly features, said Mr Lee, adding that more than 21,000 homes in Ang Mo Kio, Bukit Merah, Queenstown, and Toa Payoh may benefit from this.
Since town councils continue to face rising costs of materials and manpower, HDB’s budget for this round of the NRP will also be raised from $4,700 per flat to $6,100 per flat, added Mr Lee.


This makes the $95 million the largest funding amount for any one NRP edition. The budget will also be raised to $6,100 for eligible ongoing projects from previous rounds, said HDB.
Senior Minister of State for National Development Tan Kiat How, who announced the NRP to Hougang Central residents on June 1, said: “Construction costs have gone up partly because of Covid-19 matters (and) many other issues including supply chain (issues)... But the good news is with higher budget hopefully we can do more for our residents.”
Mr Tan had joined some Hougang residents and Mr Jackson Lam, the Grassroots Adviser for Hougang Grassroots Organisations, for a brisk walk on the morning of June 1.

Senior Minister of State, Ministry of National Development Tan Kiat How, (third from left), and Jackson Lam, adviser to Hougang GROs (fourth from left) doing warm up exercises with residents before a brisk walk around the estate of block 836 Hougang Central on June 1, 2024. ST PHOTO: CHONG JUN LIANG
Upgrading works are fully funded by the Government and implemented by the respective town councils who will engage their own designers and building contractors.
One result of this renewal programme is The Arena @ Keat Hong, a 639 sq m sports facility in Choa Chu Kang which was opened in 2022. It has a pavilion, playgrounds, fitness corners, a jogging track and game courts.
The NRP’s 15th edition and the previous rounds cover all eligible housing blocks that are at least 29 years old, or were built before or in 1995. From the next edition, the upgrading programme will be extended to blocks built between 1996 and 1999, and the areas that will benefit from renewal are expected to be selected by end-2024.
The NRP is among a few schemes under HDB which focus on renovating flats and sprucing up neighbourhoods.
Others include the Home Improvement Programme and the Enhancement for Active Seniors (Ease) programme, which subsidises home features such as grab bars, slip-resistant bathroom floors and foldable shower seats.
Encouraging residents from the 23 precincts to be involved in improvements to their neighbourhood, Mr Lee said: “As residents, you know your neighbourhood best... Over the next few months, Dr Tan Wu Meng (Jurong GRC MP), as well as the local grassroots and town councils, will be reaching out to seek your views and suggestions, and this will be happening all across the island.”

 

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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.

 

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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.

 

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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.

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

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.”

 

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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.

 

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

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.

 

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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.”

 

[LITTLEREDDOT]

Cash with no strings attached trial in S’pore breaks new ground, but questions remain: Experts​

It was found that the cash improved participants’ mental health and job security, compared with the control group of 95 households. ST PHOTO: KUA CHEE SIONG

Ng Wei Kai

Jul 24, 2024

SINGAPORE – A novel project that gave 75 low-income households between $300 and $550 a month for 18 months has broken new ground in understanding the effects of unconditional cash transfers here.
Its results will help policymakers understand the costs and benefits of such schemes, and hopefully draw more funding for social innovation – though questions remain on its effectiveness in creating self-sustaining improvements in incomes and addressing wider gaps, said experts, its funders and researchers who worked on the programme.
It was run as a randomised control trial between May 2022 and November 2023 and found that the cash improved participants’ mental health and job security, compared with the control group of 95 households.
The project, known as the Family Empowerment Programme, was organised by social service agency AWWA and provided the cash with no strings attached.
To qualify, 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, among other conditions, such as having at least one adult capable of work between the ages of 16 and 65.
The findings revealed a clear and consistent pattern of improvements in families’ lives throughout a wide range of domains, said Dr Ng Kok Hoe, senior research fellow at the National University of Singapore’s Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy.
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.
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.

The findings, which were released on July 17, corroborated the data from the qualitative interviews with programme participants, and were consistent with social workers’ practice experience, added Dr Ng, who is part of AWWA’s panel of experts and was involved in the programme as a consultant.
The project provides additional evidence of the social and economic impact of unconditional cash transfers, said Mr Christopher Gee, deputy director and senior research fellow at the Institute of Policy Studies.
Policymakers can use this to assess the costs and socio-economic benefits of an intervention or social policy that provides financial support through such unconditional transfers, he added.
It tested the hypothesis that unconditional cash transfers offer recipients control and agency over their affairs, resulting in measurably superior outcomes on employment, skills upgrading and education compared with the control group, said Mr Gee, who was not involved in the study.
By doing so, it addressed the worries that unconditional cash transfers may result in moral hazard or unintended results such as adversely affecting the work ethic of recipients, he noted.
The data and insights from the project provide an example for other large institutional funders, including the Government, on how they may play the role of “outcomes funders”, creating a pathway to sustain social innovation at scale, said Temasek Trust’s chief executive Desmond Kuek.
As agreed with the project organisers, Temasek Trust will fund the project’s second round after results passed the mark on several outcomes focused on education, skills upgrading and employment.
The first round was funded with $750,000 from Standard Chartered Bank.
Mr Kuek added that Temasek Trust hopes this project can catalyse other private, philanthropic and public-sector organisations to collaborate on solving complex issues, including social ones, which tend to be multidimensional and difficult to attribute impact to.

While the study is an important one, further research is required to establish some outcomes, said Associate Professor Walter Theseira from the Singapore University of Social Sciences.
The results so far appear in line with studies in other countries which tend to show improvements in mental well-being, family, consumption, and financial stability, but not improvements in work-related outcomes, said Prof Theseira.
He added: “If the objective is to reduce stress, improve well-being and improve consumption, as well as financial resilience, then unconditional cash transfers are likely to help in those dimensions, but it is less clear that they help to promote self-sustaining improvements in employment income.”
This is also because other gaps exist in improving employment outcomes for low-wage workers.
Prof Theseira said: “The reality is that many jobs available for less-educated workers, particularly workers with caregiving or other constraints, pay badly and have poor career prospects.”
The cash transfers and their benefits do not necessarily enable such families to take up better-paying jobs, if said jobs require skills they do not have and cannot realistically obtain quickly, or if the better-paying jobs have requirements such as schedules that they cannot meet with caregiving needs, he added.
“It is possible that generous cash transfers and support are a necessary condition for taking steps to work improvement, but I think right now, it’s not sufficient on its own, given the other gaps that exist,” he said.
Plugging these wider gaps is also something AWWA is working on, said its director of family services, Ms Huixia Seetoh.
The project was an early experiment in demonstrating how providing families with more stability in their income stream could positively impact a range of factors, including mental health, job quality and security, and a greater sense of empowerment, especially among women, she said.
“Moving forward, we will continue to explore how best to support the families we serve to address longer-term challenges they face, including through stronger wraparound support,” she added.

 

[LITTLEREDDOT]

Plans being considered to redevelop Yishun Sport Centre, which was opened in 1992​

The Yishun Stadium and Yishun Sport Hall at Yishun Avenue 1. ST PHOTO: GAVIN FOO

Ng Keng Gene
Correspondent

Jul 24, 2024

SINGAPORE – The 32-year-old Yishun Sport Centre may be redeveloped as part of plans to improve the sporting facilities available to residents in the north.
This is among developments that the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) showcased recently at an ongoing travelling exhibition for its upcoming Recreation Master Plan.
The exhibition, which made a stop at Canberra Plaza from July 6 to 14, also outlined other development possibilities under consideration.
These include an upcoming integrated development near Woodlands North MRT station that may incorporate the administrative building of the former Royal Malayan Naval Base, which URA has said will be kept.
The exhibition is part of efforts by the URA to invite the public to give feedback for the recreation masterplan, which will be incorporated into the Draft Master Plan to be launched in 2025.
URA and Sport Singapore told The Straits Times that government agencies are studying plans to improve facilities at the Yishun Sport Centre, and that public feedback submitted at the exhibition will be considered in the planning process.
Opened in 1992, the sport centre in Yishun Avenue 1 comprises an indoor sports hall, a gym, and a stadium with a running track and field.

Also part of the centre is Yishun Swimming Complex in Yishun Avenue 3, located about 1.3km from the stadium.
According to the URA Master Plan, there is scope for the centre to be expanded at the Yishun Avenue 1 site – the existing facilities including the stadium and sports hall occupy only about a third of the 5.8ha site that is zoned for sports and recreational use.
Besides serving existing residents, the centre will in the future be the closest public sports facility to the upcoming Chencharu housing area, which is slated to have 10,000 homes.

The stadium is currently closed until Oct 31, 2024 for renovation, including track resurfacing works.
Yishun resident Sangeethaa P., who visits the swimming complex almost every morning with her parents, said some of the facilities, such as its toilets, are due for an upgrade.
The 26-year-old finance undergraduate suggested that the swimming complex could be moved to Yishun Avenue 1, so that the new Yishun Sport Centre based there would be a one-stop location where residents can access multiple facilities.

The Yishun Swimming Complex in Yishun Avenue 3. ST PHOTO: GAVIN FOO
Another Yishun resident, Mr Louis Tan, 34, said that the running track could be a sheltered one, so that it can be used regardless of the weather.
Mr Tan, who works in pharmaceutical sales, said a sheltered track might provide better noise insulation when sporting events are organised at the stadium.
The Yishun Sport Centre is the latest in a series of such centres to be considered for redevelopment or renovation.
Some other facilities that could soon be refreshed include Bedok Stadium, Yio Chu Kang Sport Centre and Serangoon Sport Centre. Clementi Stadium, meanwhile, will be redeveloped by 2030.

The Yishun Sport Hall, which has badminton courts and table tennis tables available for public booking. ST PHOTO: GAVIN FOO
Pointing to the centres that may be redeveloped, architectural historian Yeo Kang Shua said that he hopes the authorities would consider retaining as much of the existing infrastructure as possible for heritage and resource sustainability.
He cited the Delta Sport Centre renovation project by Red Bean Architects, which was lauded for retaining much of the over four-decade-old centre’s existing structures. It bagged a design-of-the-year award at the Singapore Institute of Architects’ Architectural Design Awards 2023.
Other redevelopment plans under consideration by URA involve repurposing heritage buildings such as the administrative block of the former Royal Malayan Naval Base in Woodlands North.

Other future redevelopment plans involve repurposing heritage buildings such as the former admin block of the former Royal Malayan Naval Base in Woodlands North. PHOTO: ST FILE
The building was included in an AI-generated image of the upcoming integrated development at Woodlands North, which will be within a new housing estate near the future Johor Bahru-Singapore Rapid Transit System station.
Various facilities for sports, community, healthcare and food and beverage uses could be included in the development, which is under study.
Also being studied is how to repurpose the former View Road Hospital at 10 View Road, which sits within a site zoned for business use that will be part of the upcoming Woodlands North Coast estate by JTC Corporation.
URA said that the estate “has the potential to have a campus-like setting that promotes collaboration, with flexible spaces to co-locate knowledge-intensive and service-oriented activities alongside manufacturing operations”.
The agency said it is evaluating the possibility of repurposing the former hospital for “complementary uses”.

The former View Road Hospital is being studied for “complementary uses” within the upcoming Woodlands North Coast mixed-use economic estate. PHOTO: ST FILE
The public may in the future also be able to access the former Sembawang Fire Station – a conserved building – as part of future developments in Sembawang Shipyard.
The site could comprise housing, office space and facilities for recreation and activities, with other future uses leveraging the site’s waterfront setting and maritime heritage.
URA said it is considering opening heritage buildings and waterfront spaces for the public to enjoy in the future.
Upcoming nature parks in the north are also highlighted in URA’s exhibition – some of these parks were delayed after the pandemic affected their development timelines.
The 73ha Mandai Mangrove and Mudflat Nature Park will be completed in 2027, while the 40ha Khatib Bongsu Nature Park is slated to open in stages from 2028.
Meanwhile, the proposed Nee Soon Nature Park, which is intended to be an extension of Nee Soon Swamp Forest, is still under study.

 

[LITTLEREDDOT]

Put up a show of cracking down on errant motorists before the elections.
After the elections, no enforcement.

The operation, which was conducted between March 12 and April 17, took place at accident-prone and violation-prone sites. PHOTO: SINGAPORE POLICE FORCE

Elaine Lee

May 01, 2024

SINGAPORE - Twenty-nine motorists were arrested for various traffic violations and close to 1,400 traffic offences were recorded during a six-week enforcement operation by the Traffic Police.
The operation, which was conducted between March 12 and April 17, took place at accident-prone and violation-prone sites, said the Traffic Police in a statement on May 1.
They added that the summonses were issued for traffic offences that included speeding and using a mobile communication device while driving, and failing to keep left and driving without due care.
“Most of the arrests made were for driving without a valid driving licence and insurance,” the TP said, adding that the enforcement operations will continue.
They also said a 31-year-old male motorcyclist was arrested for drug-related offences and for possessing an offensive weapon.
Police investigations into the 29 people arrested are ongoing.
Under the Road Traffic Act, those found guilty of speeding can be fined up to $1,000, jailed for up to three months, or both. Repeat offenders can be fined up to $2,000, jailed for up to six months, or both.


Those convicted of using a mobile communication device while driving can be fined up to $1,000, jailed for up to six months, or both. Repeat offenders can be fined up to $2,000, jailed for up to 12 months, or both.
Those who drive without due care or reasonable consideration can be fined up to $1,500, jailed for up to six months, or both. If convicted twice or more, motorists can be fined up to $3,000, jailed for up to 12 months, or both. They can also be disqualified from driving all types of vehicles.
For those who drive without a valid driving licence can be fined up to $10,000, jailed for up to three years, or both. In the case of a second or subsequent conviction, they can be fined up to $20,000, jailed for up to six years, or both.

The vehicle may also be forfeited.
Those who fail to keep left under the Road Traffic Rules will be fined $100 for light vehicles and $150 for heavy vehicles.
Under the Motor Vehicles (Third-Party Risks and Compensation) Act, those who use a motor vehicle without insurance coverage can be fined up to $1,000, jailed for up to three months, or both.
Besides the enforcement operation, the TP said they also educated close to 1,000 pedestrians at known jaywalking hot spots, sharing with them road safety advice like using proper pedestrian crossings.
Senior Assistant Commissioner of Police Daniel Tan, the Commander of Traffic Police, said: “The Traffic Police take a serious view towards errant road users who choose to flout traffic rules and endanger the safety of other road users.
“Accidents can happen at any time and to anyone.
“We will keep up with our enforcement efforts. I urge all to abide by the traffic rules to keep the roads safe for everyone.”
On April 29, The Straits Times reported that more than 800 speeding violations had been captured by the speed enforcement function in red-light cameras since April 1.
According to the release of the annual TP figures in February 2024, Singapore’s roads have become increasingly deadly in recent years, with the number of fatalities from accidents in 2023 surging to 136, an almost 26 per cent jump from 108 in 2022.
Among the fatalities, motorcyclists and their pillion riders accounted for half of this figure, while elderly pedestrians made up nearly 20 per cent.

 

[LITTLEREDDOT]

36 errant motorists under probe following 10-day enforcement operation​

More than 1,100 vehicles were checked during the operation. PHOTO: SINGAPORE POLICE FORCE

Kolette Lim
Jul 26, 2024

SINGAPORE – Eighteen motorists aged between 24 and 43 were arrested for offences such as driving under disqualification, driving without a valid licence and driving without insurance coverage.
Another 18 motorists, aged between 23 and 57, are being investigated for offences such as driving under suspension, driving with a wrong licence class and failing to comply with the conditions of a provisional licence.
The motorists were caught during a joint operation by the Traffic Police and the seven police land divisions conducted from July 15 to July 24, said the police in a July 26 statement.
Investigations into all 36 motorists are ongoing.
If found guilty of driving without a valid licence or driving under disqualification, one can face a jail term of up to three years, a fine of $10,000, or both. In the case of a second or subsequent conviction, they can be jailed for up to six years, fined up to $20,000, or both.
If convicted of driving under suspension, one can be jailed for up to two years, fined up to $5,000, or both.
The vehicle may also be forfeited.

Meanwhile, those found guilty of using a vehicle without insurance coverage can be jailed for up to three months, fined up to $1,000, or both.
Enforcement actions will be taken against errant motorists, companies and employers who do not comply with regulations, said the police.
“We would also like to remind companies and employers that it is their responsibility to ensure that the people operating their motor vehicles have the necessary valid licences to do so,” added the police.

 

[LITTLEREDDOT]

53,000 older HDB flats selected for upgrading in new round of Home Improvement Programme​

Minister for National Development Desmond Lee said that since the launch of Home Improvement Programme (HIP) in 2007, some 410,000 flats have been selected for upgrading. PHOTO: MINISTRY OF NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Mike Yeo
Correspondent

Jul 28, 2024

SINGAPORE – Some 53,000 flats built on or before 1997 have been selected for the Housing Board’s Home Improvement Programme (HIP), and they will see structural improvements and upgrades to bathrooms and entrances, among other things.
Announcing the latest round of the programme on July 28, HDB said it will also roll out a new method of repairing spalling concrete in toilets – a common bugbear in Singapore’s humid climate – following a successful trial that started in 2021.
The flats selected for the programme are located islandwide, including in Jurong West, Hougang, Woodlands and Pasir Ris, and the Government has allocated $742 million for the exercise, said HDB.
The HIP was launched in 2007 to spruce up older housing estates. Since its introduction in 2007, some 410,000 flats have been selected for upgrading, and common maintenance issues such as spalling concrete and ceiling leaks have been addressed, said Minister for National Development Desmond Lee, as he gave updates about the programme at a community event in Jurong West on July 28.
Of these flats, which do not include those in the latest exercise, an estimated 370,000 units, or about 90 per cent of them, have since been upgraded for a total cost of $4 billion, said HDB.
Under HIP, flats are shortlisted for upgrades based on their age. A poll is then held among residents and works will proceed only if at least 75 per cent of Singaporeans living in the blocks vote in favour of the upgrading.
The programme has two main components – essential improvements and optional improvements. The essential improvements, such as repair of spalling concrete or structural cracks, are meant to ensure the safety of older flats, and are fully paid for by the Government for Singapore citizen households.

Optional improvement, such as new entrance doors and gates, and upgrades to toilets and bathrooms, are subsidised by the Government up to 95 per cent, depending on flat type.
For example, one- to three-room HDB flat owners will co-pay $599.50, with the Government’s share being $11,390.50, or 95 per cent of the cost of the full optional improvements package.
Said Mr Lee, who is MP for West Coast GRC: “To keep our neighbourhoods thriving, our physical environment must keep pace.

“This is why the Government continually upgrades our older flats and estates so that Singaporeans can continue to enjoy a quality home and living environment.” He added that almost 700 blocks will benefit from HIP this year.

Touching on the new corrosion-resistant repair (CRR) method of repairing spalling concrete, Mr Lee said it would involve the application of an anti-corrosion coating to the toilet ceiling to protect the concrete structures against corrosive substances.
This helps to ensure that the repairs will last longer as spalling concrete is typically caused by wear and tear due to the corrosion of steel reinforcement bars embedded in the ceiling slabs.
The method was first used in a trial which began in November 2021, to repair the toilets of more than 300 flats that were undergoing HIP. Subsequent sample checks found no further spalling in the repaired toilets, HDB said.
Engineer Muhammad Nabilul Fikri Mohamed Hassan, 33, was among those whose flats were repaired using the new method in the trial. He is impressed with how well it has held up in his three-room flat in Bedok North.
“It still looks brand new three years after the improvements to the flat, and there are no defects as far as I can see,” he added.

Engineer Muhammad Nabilul Fikri Mohamed Hassan (left) showing Senior Minister of State for National Development Sim Ann and grassroots adviser Shamsul Kamar Mohamed Razali the improvements to his bathroom. ST PHOTO: AZMI ATHNI
HDB added that the new method will be used to repair only spalling concrete in toilets as they are the area most prone to the problem due to the presence of moisture.
The current localised repair method will continue to be used in other parts of flats, such as kitchens, living rooms and bedrooms.
While the new method is more costly and requires more time for application, Senior Minister of State for National Development Sim Ann said at another community event that its use would not delay works under the programme, which will still take up to 10 days for each unit.
Speaking after she visited the home of a family whose flat has undergone HIP, she said that the new method was made possible through HDB’s efforts in research and development, as well as through leveraging technological advancements.
Separately, Mr Lee also announced that a new park will be built in Nanyang, in West Coast GRC, under the Estate Upgrading Programme (EUP) for private estates. The Westwood Family Park will feature a sheltered stage, open badminton courts, a playground and an exercise corner. Work is expected to start later this year, he said.
The EUP is meant to enhance the living environment of older private residential estates by upgrading community infrastructure. To date, 74 estates have been upgraded under the programme, benefiting 54,000 households, Mr Lee noted.

 

[LITTLEREDDOT]

Govt committed to improving lives of every S’porean, whichever ward they live in: SM Lee​

Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong said that while CCs have changed tremendously over the years, their overriding social purpose has not changed. ST PHOTO: LIM YAOHUI

Anjali Raguraman
Correspondent

Jul 31, 2024

SINGAPORE – When plans for the newly opened Buangkok Community Club (CC) were first unveiled, Buangkok was still in a government constituency, said Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong at the official opening of the CC, which was attended by more than 2,000 residents.
“But even after Sengkang GRC changed hands in the last general election, we proceeded with the CC’s construction work, because the Government is committed to improving the lives of every Singaporean, whichever ward you may be living in,” he added.
SM Lee was speaking on July 28 at the new CC in Buangkok, which was previously part of Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC under the ruling People’s Action Party.
The ward became part of the newly created Sengkang GRC in the 2020 General Election, which the Workers’ Party won with 52.13 per cent of the vote against a 47.87 per cent share for the PAP.
SM Lee said: “At the end of the day, the objective is to make sure that the people of Singapore are well served, and that residents in every ward feel a sense of belonging and kinship to the wider community around them.”
Built on a 3.7ha site next to Buangkok MRT station, the new CC was initially due for completion in 2022, but was delayed as a result of Covid-19’s impact on the construction industry.
The 5,000 sq m CC is an integrated project co-located in Sengkang Grand Mall, which already has retail, food and beverage outlets, as well as Buangkok Hawker Centre.

Besides facilities such as badminton courts, culinary studios, dance studios, multi-purpose rooms and function halls, the CC also has a 210 sq m Lifestyle Centre – a flexible, multi-use space with sound-proofed work pods, study areas and a mini amphitheatre.
In his address, SM Lee said that back in the 1950s, CCs were much smaller and provided just simple amenities such as sports facilities and classrooms for night classes.
There would also be just one television set that people would gather around to watch shows, as few families could afford their own TV then, he added.

But while CCs have changed tremendously over the years, their overriding social purpose has not changed, he stressed.

The 5,000 sq m CC is an integrated project co-located in Sengkang Grand Mall, which already has retail, food and beverage outlets, as well as Buangkok Hawker Centre. ST PHOTO: LIM YAOHUI
They play a crucial community-building role in Singapore by providing a common space for people from all walks of life to interact and bond, and also allow the Government to reach out to Singaporeans, to better understand and respond to their needs and to convey important national messages, he said.
“It is to provide a shared space for all ages and all races to get together, to deepen our sense of community and belonging – our kampung spirit – and to provide an avenue for the Government to reach out to the people, and vice versa to connect us closer together,” he added.
“This applies across the country – regardless of who the MP is, regardless if it’s a government or an opposition ward.”

Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong interacting with players of Street Soccer Tournament at Sengkang Grand Mall Community Plaza during the official opening of new Buangkok Community Club. ST PHOTO: LIM YAOHUI
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Also present at the official opening were advisers to Sengkang GRC grassroots organisations, namely Dr Lam Pin Min, branch chair of Sengkang West, as well as PAP new faces, Associate Professor Elmie Nekmat and Ms Theodora Lai.
SM Lee added that he has every confidence in the grassroots advisers to continue to do their best in carrying out their duties, just as their predecessors Gan Thiam Poh, Teo Ser Luck and Koh Juay Meng did. “They will have the Government’s full backing,” he said.

Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong with residents during the opening of the new CC in Buangkok on July 28. ST PHOTO: LIM YAOHUI
Among the residents at the event were Mr Vincent Goh, 41, a human resources professional at a bank, and his wife Fiona Lai, 40, a teacher, who were observing a trial gymnastics class for their five-year-old daughter.
The couple, who have lived in Buangkok for 10 years, said they appreciate that the mall, hawker centre and CC can all be found in one place.
“We can tell the difference... In the past, there weren’t this many facilities, and it all developed quickly,” said Ms Lai. The couple are already frequenting the CC at least twice a week to attend muay thai classes, as well as to pick up food from the hawker centre.

Participants baking in the Culinary Studio (Halal) during the official opening of new Buangkok Community Club on July 28, 2024. ST PHOTO: LIM YAOHUI
Ms Brina Tham, a medical professional, and her four-year-old son Marshall Leong were colouring in one of the CC’s new activity rooms when they were visited by SM Lee and Dr Lam, who were taking a tour of the facilities.
Ms Tham, who moved to Sengkang 10 months ago from Hougang, said that the facilities are a step up from those in older CCs.
“There are quite a lot of courses (to book) online, and they get filled up quite quickly as well,” she added.

 

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Up to $900m for new initiative to improve Singapore’s public bus network​

New bus routes and additional trips will be rolled out over eight years. ST PHOTO: SHINTARO TAY

Kok Yufeng
Transport Correspondent

Jul 31, 2024

SINGAPORE – Residents of newer housing estates as well as those moving into new housing projects – whether in new towns or mature ones – will benefit from better public bus connectivity under a new government initiative.
Those in Yishun, Punggol and Tampines will be among the first to benefit.
Up to $900 million will be spent over the next eight years to improve the bus network in several ways under the Bus Connectivity Enhancement Programme, said the Land Transport Authority (LTA) on July 30.
First, the roll-out of bus services in new towns will be sped up, so early batches of residents will get access to public transport options as soon as possible, instead of having to wait for more people to move in.
Second, express feeder buses that will call at fewer stops will be introduced, so those living in new housing developments a distance from the town centre and major transport nodes can get there more quickly.
Third, more peak-hour express bus services – including those from housing estates to the city – will be added to complement busier MRT lines.
Finally, in response to changing travel patterns, more bus trips will be added to certain routes, new services will be rolled out, and some bus routes adjusted, LTA added.
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The authority noted that housing development in Singapore has gathered speed in recent years, and demand for bus services has climbed.
It said some precincts in newer housing estates that are growing are located farther from town centres and MRT stations.
New developments in more mature estates can also be better served, LTA said. This is especially in areas with fewer bus services, or where the number of residents has increased substantially and passenger loads on the MRT and buses have risen.

The new bus enhancement programme will kick off in Yishun East, where the introduction of a new bus service will be brought forward to connect residents of new and upcoming Build-To-Order developments with the nearby Khatib MRT station.
The aim is to launch this service by September.
As for the new express feeder services, the first such route will be introduced in Tampines North in December to give residents a more direct link to Tampines MRT station.

For those living in Sumang in Punggol, a new City Direct Service to the Central Business District will start around October.
By the end of 2024, a bus service in Toa Payoh East will also be extended to connect residents there with the Thomson-East Coast and Circle lines at Caldecott MRT station. More of such adjustments will be made based on regular reviews of the bus network, LTA said.
Speaking to reporters on July 30, Transport Minister Chee Hong Tat said the additional funds will be used to buy more buses, hire more bus drivers and maintenance staff, and build new infrastructure, such as bus stops, so the planned improvements can be made.
LTA said the sum will also go towards operating new services, and similar to the arrangement for existing bus services, part of the costs will be recovered through the fares passengers pay to use the services.
Asked how many new buses and services will be introduced, and how many new workers are needed, Mr Chee said it was difficult for the authorities to be too precise at this point because it is not a one-off scheme, but a multi-year one.
“It is town by town,” the minister said in an interview at the Ministry of Transport’s office in Alexandra Road. “We don’t have a template that is the same across different parts of Singapore. It depends on the needs of the commuters in that location. And we will do this in consultation with grassroots advisers.”
The $900 million programme will not have an impact on fares, he added.
The minister was also asked about the timing of the new programme and whether it was tied to the next general election, which must be held by November 2025, or recent discussions about a free shuttle bus service launched in Marine Parade GRC, MacPherson and Mountbatten to plug gaps in the bus network there.
In response, he said the authorities have been planning for the new programme for some time, and his ministry worked with the National Development Ministry to understand where the new housing developments are and assess the public transport needs of residents there. The funds were then secured from the Finance Ministry.

The new initiative shares many similarities with the $1.1 billion Bus Service Enhancement Programme, which ran from 2012 to 2017.
That programme added 1,000 government-funded buses to Singapore’s roads and introduced 80 bus services, of which 22 were City Direct Services plying express routes between housing estates such as Bedok and Hougang and the city.
Many of the other services introduced were feeder or short trunk services to improve local connectivity, especially in areas such as Choa Chu Kang, Sengkang, Punggol and Yishun, which were newly developed then.
Even with the new injection of funds, LTA stressed the need to spend public transport resources prudently.
The authority said it would continue to review and adjust the bus network, and reallocate any potential savings – a reference to the Government’s efforts to rein in operating costs by withdrawing or altering bus services that run parallel to new MRT lines.
Mr Chee told Parliament in October 2023 that bus services have been operating at an overall loss, which is why the Government subsidises bus operations to the tune of $1 billion yearly.
Asked about this on July 30, the minister said the resources freed up by the rationalisation of bus services are inadequate to support the growing public transport needs of those living in new developments. “We can’t just rely on the existing subsidies.”
The Government’s hope is that ridership for bus services introduced under the new programme will rise over time, especially in newer estates as more people move in.
“We are putting in place the infrastructure and buying the buses because we hope that the ridership will improve over time... But let’s be clear, public buses, public transport are a public good and we don’t fully recover all the costs,” Mr Chee said.
He added: “During the initial period, the buses will have lower ridership. So, yes, this is a commitment.
“(It will) require resources from the Government. But we think that in exchange, we will be able to get better connectivity and better services for our residents.”

 

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Boon Lay Place slated for rejuvenation; ideas and feedback welcome: Desmond Lee​

Minister for National Development Desmond Lee (left) at the National Day observance ceremony at Boon Lay Community Club on Aug 4. ST PHOTO: KELVIN CHNG

Grace Leong
Senior Correspondent

Aug 05, 2024

SINGAPORE - The Boon Lay branch of the West Coast Town Council (WCTC) will relocate in 2025 to the former UOB building in Boon Lay Place, as part of overall plans to rejuvenate the area under the draft master plan, Minister for National Development Desmond Lee said.
Speaking at the National Day observance ceremony at Boon Lay Community Club on Aug 4, Mr Lee, who is an MP for West Coast GRC, outlined plans for the rejuvenation of Boon Lay Place, which includes building more sheltered linkways in the area and relocating the WCTC branch office to 325 Boon Lay Place, among other things.
Government agency JTC Corporation is considering uses such as after-school care, infant-care services, active ageing facilities and more, for the former UOB building, he said.
“We are studying these options, discussing with agencies and welcome your views on possible uses,” Mr Lee added.
“Our neighbourhoods and infrastructure have to evolve with the needs of residents. This way, we can breathe new life into familiar buildings and keep them relevant.”
Housewife Norshuhaiba Safie, 42, who has lived in Boon Lay for three years, said the future Boon Lay branch office of WCTC will be very close to her home.
“To get to the WCTC office in Clementi, we have to wait a long time for the bus, sometimes up to one hour. In future, it will take just five minutes to walk to the new office,” she said.

Mr Lee said the Urban Redevelopment Authority is working with several agencies to study the longer-term uses for the interim bus park, which is next to the Boon Lay Place Food Village, the former Savoy Theatre and the ActiveSG Hockey Village site.

More sheltered linkways are slated to be built in the area. ST PHOTO: KELVIN CHNG
“We will look at the whole area comprehensively to see how we can revitalise and improve them to benefit the community. We are gathering feedback from residents... and ideas to reimagine and transform Boon Lay Place into a more vibrant area,” he said.
A high-sheltered linkway across the road from the Boon Lay Place Food Village hawker centre to Block 207 Boon Lay Place will be built, along with low-covered linkways connecting residents from the hawker centre to Boon Lay Shopping Centre, up to Boon Lay Community Club and ActiveSG Hockey Village, and possibly across the road to Meadow Grove estate and the future MRT station in Jurong West Avenue 2.

Covered linkways connecting Block 679 to Block 680C Jurong West Central 1 and a drop-off point with a covered linkway at Block 667A Jurong West Street 65 will also be added.
The Jurong Region Line (JRL) will also significantly improve connectivity in the next few years, with three new JRL stations in and around Boon Lay, Mr Lee said.
“It takes 30 minutes by bus today to get from Boon Lay Interchange to Jurong Island checkpoint. With this new line, it will take only 15 minutes – half the amount of time for some of us to get to work. You will also be only two stops away from Gek Poh Shopping Centre, which will be upgraded over the next few years,” he said.

Low-covered linkways connecting residents from the hawker centre to Boon Lay shopping centre will be built. ST PHOTO: KELVIN CHNG
Retiree Hua Kiat Jong, 71, who has lived in the Jurong area for about 30 years, is looking forward to the new JRL as she can walk to the JRL station from her home in just six to seven minutes.
“Now, to get to Lakeside MRT, I have to take a bus, which can take up to 15 minutes,” she said.
Completed in March 2024, the Silver Zone in Boon Lay Place includes enhanced road safety features such as wider walkways, more prominent road markings, and wider centre road dividers, to make it safer for seniors and less mobile residents, Mr Lee added.
Ninja Van delivery driver Shahrul Atiffi Tengku Abdul Rahman, 34, welcomed the prospect of more sheltered linkways.
“When I want to go to my in-laws’ home, I have to take the bus from opposite Boon Lay Place market. But there’s no sheltered walkway there. So it’s quite troublesome when it rains or if the weather is too hot, because my son cannot take it,” he said.
“A lot of amenities in Boon Lay Place are within walking distance. It’s just whether there is a sheltered walkway or not. And they just finished the Silver Zone, which will be more convenient for elderly people,” he added.
Also in the works are a new cycling path on the opposite side of Boon Lay Place from the Boon Lay Community Club, and greater access to parks and green spaces.
This includes a new overhead bridge across the PIE, which will offer more direct access to the Jurong Eco-Garden by the end of the year, Mr Lee said.
“Upcoming park connectors in this area will also link Jurong Eco-Garden to Yunnan Park and stitch up the larger network that connects to Jurong Lake Garden,” he added.

 

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Marine Parade shuttle bus service costs about $1m a year to run, funded largely by donations​

The seven shuttle bus routes in the Marine Parade cluster are operated by buses that ply the roads from 10am to 4pm on weekdays. ST PHOTO: ONG WEE JIN

Kok Yufeng
Transport Correspondent

Aug 07, 2024

SINGAPORE - A free shuttle bus service for residents in Marine Parade GRC, MacPherson and Mountbatten costs about $1 million a year to operate, with the South East Community Development Council (CDC) providing a one-off $200,000 seed grant to support the pilot scheme.
The remaining 80 per cent or so comes from donations raised by the CDC, and by the respective grassroots organisations, Minister of State for Culture, Community and Youth Alvin Tan told Parliament on Aug 7.

“Essentially, the Government matches donations raised by the CDCs with grants, which the CDCs can use to support ground-up initiatives,” Mr Tan said in response to questions from opposition MPs about the cost of the shuttle service and how it is being funded.

The total cost of the one-year shuttle bus trial, which started on July 8, works out to about $150,000 per division for each route. The South East CDC grant amounts to about $2,400 per division each month, he added.

The five CDCs here were established in 1997 under the People’s Association Act, which comes under the purview of the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth.
Mr Tan said the seven shuttle bus routes in the Marine Parade cluster are operated by seven buses that ply the roads during non-peak hours from 10am to 4pm on weekdays, excluding public holidays.

To date, more than 10,000 Marine Parade cluster residents have registered for the shuttle, with more than 40 per cent of them being seniors aged 65 and above. Over the past three weeks, about 1,000 residents have taken the shuttle service each week.

Mr Tan said it is too early to assess if the service is effective.
Beyond utilisation, the financial sustainability of the shuttle is a critical factor, he added.
“As the CDC grant was provided on a once-off basis, the Marine Parade town cluster grassroots organisations will have to eventually raise funds to cover the entire cost of operations, or refine its financing model for greater sustainability,” said Mr Tan.

Progress Singapore Party Non-Constituency MPs Hazel Poa and Leong Mun Wai had asked whether funding could be made available to other constituencies, and if resources could be provided to launch free shuttle services in other areas.

Mr Tan said: “Many previous attempts at trying out local shuttle services have been discontinued because of low utilisation or financial challenges. Hence, there are still many aspects of the service to validate and refine through the pilot.
“The other CDCs will study the experiences and findings from this pilot first, before considering starting similar initiatives.”

Explaining how the MPs for the Marine Parade cluster had decided on the need for such a service, Mr Tan said several factors were considered.
He said these constituencies have a high proportion of residents who are seniors, and a significant part of the Marine Parade cluster comprises older estates with narrow roads, making it difficult for large public buses to serve these areas.

The Land Transport Authority (LTA) was consulted to ensure the shuttle service would not affect public bus operations when using bus stops, he said.
Mr Tan added that while LTA and the Transport Ministry plan public transport services, this does not preclude localised efforts, such as private shuttles by condominiums, to address specific needs.

Leader of the Opposition Pritam Singh noted the unhappiness caused by bus rationalisation exercises in recent years, including the decision to withdraw bus service 167, which was later reversed.

In contrast, the new shuttle bus service was announced about a week after seven MRT stations opened along the eastern stretch of the Thomson-East Coast Line, he noted.

“Does the Minister of State not agree that the introduction of the Marine Parade cluster bus service will make it far more challenging for the Government to undertake future bus service rationalisation exercises?” the Workers’ Party (WP) chief asked.

Mr Singh also wondered if the Marine Parade shuttle service opens the door for LTA to introduce similar services elsewhere through the public transport system.
“If not, what does the launch of the Marine Parade cluster bus service say about the Government’s approach to equity and fairness in the use of taxpayer-funded grants?” he asked.

In response, Transport Minister Chee Hong Tat said the Marine Parade shuttle is a community initiative that is separate from the public transport network.
Mr Chee said the suggestion of using shuttle buses for public transport “does not fit well”, as drivers would still need to be hired and passenger capacity may be insufficient.

He also said the rationalisation of bus routes running parallel to MRT lines will continue, and these savings can then be used to fund new public bus services.
But doing this alone would be inadequate “because we have more demand
d than what we can rationalise”, noted Mr Chee. This was why the authorities announced a $900 million Bus Connectivity Enhancement Programme on July 30.
Separately, WP MP Gerald Giam (Aljunied GRC) asked why the MPs for the Marine Parade cluster are fronting the free shuttle, noting that their caricatures are on one side of the buses.

Replying, Mr Tan said the caricatures and drawings of Marine Parade landmarks are meant to make it easier for residents to identify the buses.
At the end of the 90 minutes allotted for question time, Mr Singh rose to ask for an extension of 15 to 20 minutes for more questions on the issue to be aired.
Deputy Speaker of Parliament Christopher de Souza turned down the request, noting that the House had already exceeded question time by five minutes

 

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Electoral boundaries drawn to serve interests of S’poreans, not political parties: Chan Chun Sing​

Goh Yan Han and Ng Wei Kai
Aug 08, 2024

SINGAPORE – Electoral boundaries are drawn to serve the interests of the people, not those of political parties, said Education Minister Chan Chun Sing on Aug 7.
The interest of Singaporeans is to have MPs who can take care of and represent them, and for a Parliament that can form a functioning government, added Mr Chan during a motion that called for a review of the process by which electoral boundaries are decided.

While the Government will continually seek to improve Singapore’s electoral system, it opposed the motion as it was based on a fundamentally wrong premise that the process should be in the interest of political parties, and that the current process is not transparent or fair, he added.
Mr Chan, who is also Minister-in-charge of the Public Service, was speaking in Parliament during a motion raised by the Progress Singapore Party’s (PSP) Non-Constituency MPs (NCMPs) that called on the Government to reform how electoral boundaries are drawn, so as to “increase the transparency and fairness of the electoral boundary review process for all political parties”.

The drawing of electoral boundaries is carried out by the Electoral Boundaries Review Committee (EBRC), which taps the specific expertise of its members, who include qualified senior civil servants with domain knowledge in the technical areas required for boundary delineation.
In recent years, the EBRC has consisted of the Cabinet secretary, the chief executives of the Elections Department, the Housing Board, the Singapore Land Authority and the Government’s chief statistician.
These are senior civil servants with no party allegiance, Mr Chan said as he addressed concerns raised by opposition MPs of potential gerrymandering.

The EBRC’s composition and process have allowed the committee to do its work independently and objectively, said Mr Chan. For instance, it does not have access to voting information and hence does not make its recommendations based on voting patterns.
Kicking off the debate, NCMP Hazel Poa laid out several proposals by the PSP to reform the boundaries drawing process.
These included requiring the EBRC to publicly and sufficiently explain all changes made so as to dispel suspicions of gerrymandering.

Mr Chan replied that while “all of us also want more explanation from the EBRC”, a practical balance has to be struck so that public officers are given the space to do their work independently and objectively, without fear that every change will be politicised if viewed unfavourably by certain political parties.
Ms Poa, who is secretary-general of the PSP, also proposed that the range of number of voters per MP be narrowed, saying the current range of 20,000 to 38,000 voters per MP is too wide.

This would result in a fairer distribution of duties among MPs and be fairer to voters in the weighting of their votes, she said.
Mr Chan noted that in putting forth this proposal, Ms Poa had cited the United Kingdom and Australia as examples.
But the number of electors per MP in those countries is two to three times that of Singapore, and applying the same parameters here will lead to more frequent and drastic changes to boundaries due to the high rate of movement within a small city state, he said.
He noted that some 200,000 electors here change their residential address annually.
On vote weighting, Mr Chan said the Government had studied other countries very carefully, and no electoral system could definitively claim that every vote is exactly the same or near equal.

The PSP also advanced the idea of minor and major boundaries, which it said would reduce the potential for gerrymandering.
Such a system would have major boundaries – corresponding closely to local ties and geographical considerations – that remain unchanged for many elections, while minor boundaries within that delineate different constituencies could be changed by the EBRC, said Ms Poa.
Mr Chan disagreed with the proposal, noting that it had also been studied before.
“There would be the question of who and how should we delineate what constitutes major and minor boundaries, and we are back to square one,” he said.
Ms Poa also called for the EBRC to be chaired by a High Court judge, instead of reporting to the prime minister. Leader of the Opposition Pritam Singh made a similar call later in the debate.

Mr Chan said the Government had thought about this carefully and looked at the experience of other countries, but did not think it would resolve concerns about political interference.
“Other jurisdictions that have done so continue to face allegations and doubts concerning the independence of their electoral boundary delineation process,” he said.
“Their debate instead sinks into questions on who appoints the judge, and whether the judge has any political leaning or bias. The judiciary ends up getting drawn into the political debate, and the judiciary is politicised.”

He added that the EBRC’s work also does not consist of legal issues that require a judicial official to weigh in.
“What is required is political neutrality, integrity and objectivity, which I trust all my public service officers have whether they are in the EBRC or not,” he said.

Both the PSP and the Workers’ Party (WP) also proposed that political parties have some say in the changes made to electoral boundaries.
But Mr Chan said the EBRC has been able to do its work independently and objectively due to its composition, and also that its processes are insulated from party politics.

“Hence, we do not have the horse trading and gerrymandering that have taken place in other countries,” he said. “If we get all political parties involved, present or future, it will politicise the whole process and not bring us forward, but bring us backwards.”
During the debate, opposition MPs raised examples of previous boundary changes to constituencies with close vote margins as instances of gerrymandering.
Mr Singh cited how Braddell Heights SMC was incorporated into Marine Parade GRC in 1997, Joo Chiat SMC was merged into Marine Parade GRC in 2015, and three single seats “where the PAP had their smallest percentage of wins” in the 2015 General Election – Fengshan, Sengkang West and Punggol East – became part of group representation constituencies in 2020.
Mr Chan stressed that the EBRC does not take political interests into account. Rather, it looks holistically at both population shifts and the need for continuity in community formation, and with the objective that an MP can serve the constituency effectively, he said.
Noting that Mr Leong had called for constituencies to be more compact, Mr Chan said this suggested that the prime minister give the EBRC more specific instructions, rather than to let the EBRC do its work objectively with some basic instructions.
“Sometimes the more we interfere, the more we fall into this trap to make it a politically motivated process,” he said.
The motion was not carried at the end of the two-hour debate: 76 MPs voted against it, while the opposition MPs – eight from WP and two from PSP – voted in its favour.

 

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Eligible Singaporeans to get between $200 and $400 in September to help with rising cost of living​

The Cost-of-Living Special Payment was announced at Budget 2024 in February. ST PHOTO: ARIFFIN JAMAR

Anjali Raguraman
Correspondent

Aug 14, 2024

SINGAPORE – All eligible adult Singaporeans will receive a one-off special payment amounting to between $200 and $400 in September 2024 to help with the rising cost of living.
This will apply to more than 2.4 million Singaporeans aged 21 and above in 2024, and is applicable to those whose assessable income is up to $100,000, said the Ministry of Finance (MOF) on Aug 13.
Those who own more than one property are not eligible for the payout.
Citizens can check their eligibility for the special payment by logging in to the govbenefits website with their Singpass. Eligible recipients will be notified via their Singpass app in September, after the payout has been credited.
To safeguard against scams, any SMS notification sent by “gov.sg” will only inform citizens of their benefits. Citizens will not be asked to reply to the SMS, click any links, or provide any information to the sender. No messages about the payout will be sent through WhatsApp or other mobile messaging platforms, said MOF.
Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, who is also Finance Minister, announced the Cost-of-Living Special Payment during Budget 2024 in February.
Eligible adult Singapore citizens would have already received between $300 and $500 in 2022, and between $200 and $400 in 2023.

The payout is part of a suite of measures in the Assurance Package, which cushions the impact of higher inflation and the goods and services tax increase for all Singaporeans. It included CDC vouchers for all Singaporean households, and U-Save and service and conservancy charge (S&CC) rebates for HDB households to help offset utility bills and the S&CC.
For instance, each Singaporean household has received a total of $800 worth of CDC vouchers so far in 2024, with $500 in January and $300 in June.
Citizens are encouraged to link their NRICs to PayNow through their banks by Aug 26 if they have accounts with the 12 participating banks in Singapore. This will allow them to receive the payment earlier, from Sept 5. The participating banks are Bank of China, CIMB, Citibank, DBS Bank/POSB, HSBC, ICBC, Maybank, OCBC Bank, RHB Bank, Standard Chartered Bank, Trust Bank and UOB.

Those without PayNow-NRIC-linked bank accounts but who have a DBS/POSB, OCBC or UOB bank account may provide their bank account information at the govbenefits website by Aug 27. They will then receive the cash benefits via Giro from Sept 13.
Eligible citizens who have not linked their NRICs to PayNow or provided a valid bank account will receive their cash benefits via GovCash.