HDB GOODWILL REPAIR ASSISTANCE SCHEME
Faisal Manap asked about the current policy and approval process for granting subsidies under HDB’s Goodwill Repair Assistance (GRA) scheme, and what roles do MPs and grassroots advisors play in this process.
Lawrence Wong said that if the leak or spalling concrete is due to wear and tear, flat owners can request for assistance under the GRA scheme. The network of Government-appointed Advisors help to check that the flats are eligible for repairs under the GRA. He added that HDB welcomes feedback from MPs if they encounter such cases among their residents.
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FOOD CENTRE AND MARKET AT BLOCK 511 BEDOK NORTH
Faisal Manap asked whether the food centre and market at Blk 511 Bedok North St 3 is scheduled for improvements under the Hawker Centres Upgrading Programme (HUP) or any form of renovations after its lease expires in October 2017.
Masagos Zulkifli replied that the food centre and market has been upgraded under the HUP in July 2004. He said that Town Council is responsible for the management and maintenance of the common property of the centre. He added that the respective Town Councils have carried out the cyclical works for the centres under their purview in a timely and responsible manner.
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COMMUTER SAFETY DURING TRAIN BREAKDOWNS
Dennis Tan asked what are the safety measures during MRT breakdowns to ensure that commuters will not be trapped in darkness during a power failure in tunnels or during night-time, and that commuters will not be endangered when required to walk along LRT/MRT tracks during breakdowns.
Khaw Boon Wan replied that every station is equipped with an independent backup power support that provides basic lighting in tunnels and stations during a power failure. He added that if passengers need to be de-trained, the operators have to follow strict safety procedures, such as switching off the traction power for the affected stretch, so that no trains will move into and within the sector.
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CPF CONTRIBUTION IN CALCULATION OF PUBLIC TRANSPORT AFFORDABILITY
Dennis Tan asked why employers’ CPF contribution is added to the calculation of household income in the KPI of public transport affordability in the FY16/17 Budget Book.
Khaw Boon Wan replied that in the last Household Expenditure Survey in 2014, employer CPF contributions were included in the computation of household incomes. Accordingly, the public transport affordability performance indicator in the FY16/17 Budget Book also used household income with employer CPF contributions.
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PRIVATE HIRE DRIVER’S VOCATIONAL LICENCE
Dennis Tan asked why Permanent Residents and work permit holders are allowed to apply for a Private Hire Driver’s Vocational Licence.
Khaw Boon Wan replied that this is so as not to disrupt traditional limousine companies and car rental companies when the new regulatory regime is implemented. However, PRs and work pass holders can only provide chauffeured services in the course of their employment under these car rental or limousine companies.
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MDA’S OVERSIGHT PROCESSES IN PROVISION OF FINANCIAL SUPPORT
Leon Perera asked how MDA ended up investing $15 million in RGM Entertainment and RGM Group that could not be recovered, and what MDA has done to strengthen due diligence and oversight.
Yaacob Ibrahim reported that MDA had checked RGM’s track record prior to the investment, but MDA no longer enters into such equity co-investments given their inherently complex nature and higher risks.
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HEAVY VEHICLE PARKING IN CHANGI VILLAGE
Leon Perera asked about the criteria for converting heavy vehicle parking lots and normal parking lots, and plans for lorry parking in Changi Village.
Lawrence Wong replied that requests for conversion depends on the needs for each location, and that there is adequate provision of heavy vehicle parking spaces in the Changi area.
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INCREASING SINGAPORE’S ORGAN TRANSPLANT RATE
Daniel Goh asked whether Singapore’s organ transplant rate has increased since the launch of the “Live On” campaign in 2008 and whether there is adequate training of doctors in intensive care and emergency units to improve the organ retrieval rate.
Gan Kim Yong said that there was an increase in the number of organ transplants conducted, from an average of 174 cases per year between 2004 and 2007 to 220 cases per year between 2008 and 2015. MOH will be launching a new outreach campaign in the upcoming months on organ donation.
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BREACHES OF COOLING-OFF DAY REGULATIONS
Daniel Goh asked for a breakdown of how many individuals have been investigated for the publication of electoral advertising on the Internet for the People’s Action Party, and other parties on Cooling-Off Day and Polling Day.
Chan Chun Sing said that since the Cooling-Off Day was introduced in 2011, right up to GE2015, the ELD had investigated more than 100 cases involving candidates and supporters from both the ruling and opposition parties for potential breaches of the election advertising law.
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SURVEY ON INTANGIBLE CULTURAL HERITAGE
Daniel Goh asked with regard to the upcoming survey on intangible cultural heritage, whether all findings of the survey and findings from previous research done by the National Heritage Board will be released to the public.
Grace Fu said that the Government will share the findings on NHB’s online platforms such as the Roots.sg heritage portal, and through exhibitions and educational programmes.
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ELECTION REPORTING BY MAINSTREAM MEDIA ON COOLING-OFF DAY
Chen Show Mao asked what about the differences in requirements applicable to the mainstream media and licensed online news sites in respect of reporting on election matters on Cooling-Off Day.
Yaacob Ibrahim said that both mainstream media and licensed online news sites can only report election-related news factually.
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SERVICE STANDARDS FOR MRT EMERGENCY CALLS
Low Thia Khiang questioned the service standards for responding to calls via emergency call buttons, asked how commuters can stop a moving train, and how LTA intends to enhance emergency procedures.
Khaw Boon Wan said commuters can call the train staff through the intercom or mobile phones, use emergency stop buttons on platforms, and “Emergency Next Station Stop” buttons inside BPLRT trains.
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WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBILE BUS STOPS
Dennis Tan asked when all bus stops will be converted to become accessible to wheelchair-friendly buses.
Khaw Boon Wan said that 137 bus stops are not yet wheelchair-accessible. LTA is targeting to upgrade all these bus stops by 2020.
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INCREASE IN DIFFERENCE BETWEEN CORPORATE TAX RATE AND RATE OF EFFECTIVE TAX
Dennis Tan asked why there was an increase in the difference between the corporate tax rate and the rate of effective tax payable between FY2014 and FY2015.
Tharman Shanmugaratnam said that as corporate tax returns for the FY ending 2015 are only required to be filed by 30 November 2016, the effective tax rates for companies relating to the FY 2015 or Year of Assessment (“YA”) 2016 are not available yet.
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IMPACT ON RICE SUPPLY GIVEN EL NINO EFFECT AND WEATHER CHANGES
Chen Show Mao asked about forecasts on the supply and price of rice from countries such as Thailand, Vietnam and India due to the 2015-2016 El Niño.
Lim Hng Kiang said that world rice production for the year ahead is forecast by the US Department of Agriculture to increase by 9.8 million metric tons. Retail prices of rice in Singapore have been relatively stable in the last one year and are expected to remain so for the rest of the year, barring any unforeseen crisis
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REVIEW OF RICE STOCKPILE SCHEME GIVEN EXTREME WEATHER CHANGES
Chen Show Mao asked whether the Rice Stockpile Scheme and other measures under Singapore’s Food Security Roadmap are robust enough to withstand climatic events such as the 2015-16 El Niño and associated drought.
Lim Hng Kiang said that import source diversification, local production of key food items such as eggs, leafy vegetables, and fish, and stockpiling can enhance food security.
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PUBLICATION OF RESULTS OF PUBLIC OPINION SURVEYS BY GOVERNMENT AGENCIES
Chen Show Mao asked regarding surveys of public opinion undertaken by Government agencies or statutory boards, how many instances of such opinion surveys have been published in 2010-2015 versus those that have not been published.
Yaacob Ibrahim said the Government does not compile statistics on the surveys conducted by various agencies, or which among them are published.
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USE OF CPF ORDINARY ACCOUNT BY HDB LESSEES TO SERVICE HOME LOANS
Chen Show Mao asked how many appeals have been received by CPF Board or HDB in 2014 and 2015 for the continued use of CPF to finance HDB mortgages and how many have been successful.
Lim Swee Say said that over this period, CPF Board received a total of about 6,000 appeals, including repeated appeals, from members to use CPF savings beyond their Valuation Limit. The majority of appeals from single property owners were successful.
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MOM’S PURCHASE OF DOCUMENT GENERATOR SYSTEM
Png Eng Huat asked who advised the ministry to procure the Document Generator System (DGS) at a cost of $432,407 without being sure if it could be integrated with the $27.49 million Foreign Domestic Worker System (FDWS), and who the suppliers of these two systems are.
Lim Swee Say said that the phase 1 tender, excluding the DGS, was awarded to Thoughtworks in 2014; the DGS was separately awarded to NCS. MOM subsequently found that more time would be needed to integrate the DGS, and decided to go with a different custom-built solution by Thoughtworks.
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INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS IN POLYTECHNICS AND UNIVERSITIES NOT FULFILLING THEIR SCHOLARSHIP BONDS
Png Eng Huat asked from 2010 to 2015, how many international students in polytechnics and universities have not fulfilled their scholarship bonds each year.
Ong Ye Kung said that there are no MOE scholarships given to international students in the polytechnics. For scholars, the proportion of defaulters is about 1%. MOE is in the process of contacting another 4% to determine their bond service status. The rest – 95% – are serving their bonds, have applied for deferment, or are unable to serve their bond obligations due to reasons like illnesses.
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FOREIGN STUDENTS DEFAULTING ON SCHOLARSHIP BONDS
Png Eng Huat asked how many foreign scholars have intentionally defaulted on their scholarship bonds in the past 10 years, how much scholarship monies remain uncollected and written off to date.
Low Yen Ling replied that the proportion of defaulters is about 1% while MOE is contacting another 4% to determine their bond service status. Low Yen Ling did not provide specific numbers of defaulters, amounts uncollected and written off, even when asked again.
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APPLICATIONS FOR MEDIFUND AND GRANTS DISBURSED
Low Thia Khiang asked for data pertaining to Medifund applications, rejections, reasons for rejections, and amounts disbursed.
Gan Kim Yong said 670,000 applications were made, less than 0.15% were rejected, more than 92% granted full assistance.
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OVERPAYMENT IN ALLOWANCES TO VOLUNTEER SPECIAL CONSTABULARY OFFICERS
Low Thia Khiang questioned the overpayments to Volunteer Special Constabulary officers, asked if the law allows for retrospective approvals, and if any action will be taken against the officers who approved the raise without authorisation.
K Shanmugam acknowledged that officers had not sought approval as required by the Police Force Act. Nonetheless, he described it as a “procedural error” and said that since the AGC advised that he could authorise the payments retrospectively, he did.
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CONSULTANCY SERVICES FOR CONSTRUCTION OF BIN CENTRE AT VICTORIA THEATRE AND CONCERT HALL
Leon Perera asked how the façade design of the bin centre justified the consultancy fee of $410,000, which the AGO flagged as being “exceptionally high” at 87.2% of the construction cost.
Lawrence Wong said that the consultancy fee was not just for façade design and in light of the work done, the consultancy fee was “acceptable.” He added that the AGO’s rule to assess reasonableness of fees is appropriate for construction projects, but the bin centre was a “unique consultancy project” and it was thus “reasonable to have a deviation” from the rule.
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HANDLING ANTI-MONEY LAUNDERING CASES IN FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS
Sylvia Lim asked about the role of the Anti-Money Laundering Department in the MAS.
Tharman Shanmugaratnam said that it is to strengthen the financial sector’s implementation of existing regulatory requirements.
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BRANCH SECURITY PROTOCOLS IN BANKS
Sylvia Lim asked about measures that MAS would require banks to undertake to upgrade security protocols in light of the robbery at Holland Village.
Tharman Shanmugaratnam replied, MAS and SPF have reminded banks to conduct regular assessments and enhance security measures. MAS is also collaborating with SPF and Association of Banks.
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REVIEW OF VOTING AGE
Sylvia Lim asked if the Government will review the voting age.
Chan Chun Sing replied no, and that there are no plans to review it.
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