Written Answers to WP's Oral Questions
Mr Chua Kheng Wee Louis
Data On Unpaid Rent For Corporate Residential Leases
Mr Chua Kheng Wee Louis asked the Minister for Law (a) in each of the past five years (i) how many residential tenancy claims for unpaid rent are filed where the tenant was a company and (ii) in how many of these cases the judgment sum remains unrecovered; (b) whether the Ministry will consider introducing expedited possession procedures for residential landlords where rent is unpaid for a prescribed period, particularly for corporate residential leases.
Mr Edwin Tong Chun Fai: This question will be addressed at the next Sitting on 4 November 2026, together with other similar Parliamentary Questions filed.
Reviewing Public Transport Fare Adjustment Formula To Factor In Service Quality And Time Limit On Carrying Forward Deferred Fare Increase
Mr Chua Kheng Wee Louis asked the Minister for Transport (a) when will the Public Transport Council (PTC) commence its next review of the fare adjustment formula; (b) whether the review will consider (i) a service quality component to reflect operators' reliability performance and (ii) a time limit on carrying forward the deferred fare quantum; and (c) whether the public will be consulted before the terms of reference are finalised.
Mr Jeffrey Siow: The Public Transport Council (PTC) reviews the fare adjustment formula every five years. The next review is due by 2028. The PTC has previously explained that linking fares to individual operators’ performance is not practical in a system that involves multiple operators. There are separate mechanisms to hold bus and rail operators accountable for service quality and reliability, including financial incentives and penalties based on performance. The deferred fare adjustment mechanism is the means by which PTC moderates the impact of fare increases on commuters. Imposing a time limit on the deferred fare quantum could either result in larger fare adjustments as costs are passed through within a fixed period, or extended subsidies by taxpayers which will erode the financial sustainability of our public transport system.
Mr Abdul Muhaimin Abdul Malik
Update On Framework For Certification Of HR Professionals
Mr Abdul Muhaimin Abdul Malik asked the Acting Minister for Manpower (a) under which current or proposed legislation or administrative framework the Institute for Human Resource Professionals certification requirement from 1 July 2028 will be imposed; (b) how compliance with this requirement will be monitored; and (c) what consequences, including financial penalties, administrative measures or effects on work pass or grant eligibility, will follow from non-compliance.
Mr Abdul Muhaimin Abdul Malik asked the Acting Minister for Manpower (a) what criteria the Institute for Human Resource Professionals (IHRP) certification applies in granting mutual recognition to overseas human resources (HR) professional certifications; (b) whether additional internationally recognised bodies are under consideration; (c) whether the certified HR professional must be based in Singapore; and (d) whether an outsourced or part-time certified HR professional engaged by an organisation will satisfy the IHRP requirements.
Mr Abdul Muhaimin Abdul Malik asked the Acting Minister for Manpower (a) whether compliance with the Institute for Human Resource Professionals (IHRP) certification requirement will be assessed continuously or at fixed points; (b) what grace period will be allowed when a replacement certified HR professional needs to be appointed or certified following a departure or extended absence; and (c) what conditions will apply during this period.
Ms Jasmin Lau: From 1 July 2028, organisations with more than 200 employees will be required to have at least one HR professional who is certified by the Institute for Human Resource Professionals (IHRP), at the IHRP Certified Professional (IHRP CP) level or higher. This is to help raise HR standards and enable businesses and workers to better navigate workplace and technology shifts. The requirement will be implemented administratively through the Ministry of Manpower's (MOM's) work pass framework. Cases of persistent non-compliance can result in curtailment of access to foreign workers.
MOM will monitor compliance by matching IHRP's records of certified HR professionals against MOM's administrative records. Companies which are detected to be non-compliant will be placed on notice. Companies will be given reasonable time to comply.
In keeping with the spirit of the requirement, the certified professionals should be in a position to make meaningful contributions to their organisations’ employment practices and decisions. MOM has no plans to make additional specifications on the employment modality of the certified professionals at this point but will review this as needed.
Today, IHRP has mutual recognition arrangements with certain overseas HR professional bodies that uphold comparable standards of professional rigour. These include the Society for Human Resource Management based in the United States, the Australian Human Resources Institute, and the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development based in the United Kingdom. IHRP reviews these arrangements and the relevant recognition criteria where necessary to ensure that they remain appropriate. HR professionals holding such recognised foreign certifications will still need to complete a bridging assessment on Singapore's employment legislation and practices in order to be recognised under Singapore’s certified HR professionals requirement.
Ms He Ting Ru
Full-Time National Servicemen Who Seek Support For Neurodivergent Conditions
Ms He Ting Ru asked the Coordinating Minister for Public Services and Minister for Defence (a) in each of the last five years, how many full-time national servicemen have been diagnosed with or have sought support for neurodivergent conditions, including but not limited to attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and autism; and (b) what are the support and interventions made available to servicemen with neurodivergent conditions.
Mr Chan Chun Sing: From 2021 to 2025, an average of around 970 full-time national servicemen (NSFs) were diagnosed with or had sought support for neurodivergent conditions each year. These conditions include but are not limited to attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and autism.
To enable NSFs with neurodivergent conditions to be meaningfully engaged and contribute during their full-time National Service (NS), the Ministry of Defence takes into account the nature and severity of their conditions, as well as their social, vocational, and academic functioning. This informs their medical grading at pre enlistment screening and assignment to suitable Basic Military Training (BMT) programmes and vocations.
While in full-time NS, commanders check in with their NSFs regularly and provide avenues for them to raise concerns. Where additional support is required, their commanders work closely with SAF psychiatrists, psychologists, and counsellors to provide appropriate support, including helping these NSFs develop interpersonal and vocational skills.
NSFs who face difficulties coping with their duties may have their medical fitness reviewed and be redeployed to more suitable roles where necessary, so that they can continue to contribute meaningfully to NS.
Singapore's Stance On Transboundary Haze At Upcoming Regional Meetings And During ASEAN Chairmanship In 2027
Ms He Ting Ru asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs (a) what specific steps does Singapore intend to take on transboundary haze during its ASEAN chairmanship in 2027; and (b) how will Singapore raise the issue at upcoming regional meetings, including the ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in November 2026.
Dr Vivian Balakrishnan: Singapore has been working closely with our neighbours, bilaterally and through ASEAN, to address transboundary haze. We host the ASEAN Specialised Meteorological Centre (ASMC), which provides ASEAN Member States (AMS) with regional weather and climate assessments, monitors fires and smoke haze, and disseminates satellite imagery and hot spot information.
The ASEAN Agreement on Transboundary Haze Pollution (AATHP) is the key framework for AMS to work collectively to prevent, monitor and mitigate land and forest fires and the resultant haze. We will work with AMS to strengthen the implementation of the AATHP during our ASEAN Chairmanship, including working towards the establishment of the ASEAN Coordinating Centre for Transboundary Haze Pollution Control (ACC THPC) in Indonesia. This requires at least six AMS to ratify the Establishment Agreement of the ACC THPC. Singapore will submit our Instrument of Ratification for the Establishment Agreement of the ACC THPC in the next few days, and we will strongly encourage other AMS to do so. Once operational, the ACC THPC will strengthen regional cooperation and coordination in managing land and forest fires and transboundary haze.
Beyond the AATHP, we will work with other AMS to enhance the implementation of relevant initiatives in other ASEAN sectoral pillars that tackle the root causes of transboundary haze such as sustainable land and peatland management, and guidelines on crop burning.
Some AMS have indicated they will be raising the transboundary haze issue at the upcoming ASEAN meetings. We support such discussions as transboundary haze is a collective challenge for our region. We will share how Singapore intends to act against companies responsible for the haze, including those registered in Singapore, as well as how we are cooperating with Indonesia to hold errant companies to account and to prevent the recurrence of transboundary haze.
Mr Dennis Tan Lip Fong
Review Of Public Transport Fare Adjustment Formula To Mitigate Impact Of Volatile Energy Prices On Commuters
Mr Dennis Tan Lip Fong asked the Minister for Transport (a) whether the Ministry has assessed whether the current fare adjustment formula could result in repeated accumulations of deferred fare adjustment quantum during periods of volatile energy prices; and (b) if so, whether any changes to the formula are being considered to mitigate the impact on commuters and reduce the risk of future fare shocks.
Mr Jeffrey Siow: The Public Transport Council (PTC) takes into consideration the prevailing social and economic conditions before determining the fare adjustment quantum at each Fare Review Exercise. In recent years, where energy prices have been high and volatile, the PTC has deferred part of the fare adjustment quantum to moderate the impact on commuters. For the 2026 Fare Review Exercise, the PTC granted an overall fare increase of 7.0% – less than half the maximum allowable fare adjustment quantum of 14.7%, while reducing the deferred fare quantum marginally by 1.7%.
Nevertheless, to keep the public transport system sustainable, fare adjustments must continue to account for the cost increases of providing public transport, including energy prices. The PTC will review the fare adjustment formula in totality prior to the 2028 Fare Review Exercise, to ensure that it continues to track cost changes.
Mr Gerald Giam Yean Song
Wage And Energy Cost Considerations In Annual Public Transport Fare Review Exercises
Mr Gerald Giam Yean Song asked the Minister for Transport (a) whether operator profitability is evaluated alongside wage and energy costs during the annual Fare Review Exercises; and (b) whether the Ministry will consider (i) incorporating profitability thresholds into the fare adjustment formula or (ii) implementing a tiered clawback mechanism on operator revenues during high-profit years to directly fund Public Transport Vouchers and reduce the need for future fare increases.
Mr Jeffrey Siow: It is not practical to adjust fares based on profitability thresholds as our transport system operates with different funding regimes. Fare revenues do not go to bus operators under the gross cost model, and do not affect profits. Profits for rail operators, with the exception of the Thomson-East Coast Line which is also under a gross cost model, are effectively capped at around 5% under the New Rail Financing Framework.
As part of each Fare Review Exercise, operators are already required to contribute part of their increased fare revenue to the Public Transport Fund, which is used to provide Public Transport Vouchers to lower-income households. More profitable operators are required to contribute a larger proportion of the increase in their revenue. Operators also share some of their productivity gains with commuters through the Productivity Contribution of 0.1% in the fare formula.
Written Questions
Multiple
Singapore's Response To Transboundary Haze Episode
Mr Kenneth Tiong Boon Kiat asked the Minister for Sustainability and the Environment (a) how many claims or representative actions have been brought under section 6 of the Transboundary Haze Pollution Act 2014; and (b) whether, as with the June 2024 oil spill, the Government will tally up the total cost of each haze episode, including the Haze Subsidy Scheme activated on 12 October 2026, and submit these claims to those responsible.
Mr Chua Kheng Wee Louis asked the Minister for Sustainability and the Environment (a) whether the Government has implemented financial sanctions against individuals, companies and shareholders of companies associated with companies that have been served notices under the Transboundary Haze Pollution Act 2014; (b) if not, whether it will consider doing so; and (c) whether MAS will require financial institutions to identify their exposure to companies that have been served such notices.
Mr Kenneth Tiong Boon Kiat asked the Minister for Sustainability and the Environment (a) how many Singapore-registered companies has NEA identified as owning or controlling concessions for which Indonesia has sanctioned for fires in 2026; (b) whether these sanctions are the credible and usable evidence the Government said in 2013 would justify further steps; (c) if not, what more is needed; and (d) whether each such company will be investigated under the Transboundary Haze Pollution Act 2014.
Mr Chua Kheng Wee Louis asked the Minister for Sustainability and the
Environment (a) whether the Government will publish, for each company served a Preventive Measure Notice in 2026, its known parent group, the mills it supplies and the consumer brands sold in Singapore that may contain its produce; and (b) whether the Government will work with the Singapore Environment Council (SEC) to repeat the 2015 supplier declaration exercise for major retailers.
Ms Grace Fu Hai Yien: These questions have been addressed in the Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment’s (MSE’s) combined answer to Question Nos. 1 to 31 on the Order Paper today. They will also be addressed during the Second Reading of the Transboundary Haze Pollution (Amendment) Bill on 4 November 2026.
Adequacy Of Public Health, Economic And Bilateral Cooperation Measures In Singapore's Response To Transboundary Haze Episode
Mr Dennis Tan Lip Fong asked the Minister for Sustainability and the Environment (a) which indicators of the cost of transboundary haze, such as healthcare attendances and subsidies, workdays lost, and disruption to transport and tourism, are tracked by Haze Task Force agencies; (b) whether these are consolidated into an overall cost estimate; and (c) whether such an estimate for the 2026 episode will be published.
Mr Gerald Giam Yean Song asked the Minister for Sustainability and the Environment (a) on what date Indonesia officially accepted Singapore's offer of firefighting assistance for the October 2026 transboundary haze episode; (b) what specific assets and personnel were accepted; (c) whether assistance has been deployed and in what form; and (d) if not deployed, when and in what form it will be dispatched, including whether SCDF firefighters will be deployed on the ground.
Ms Grace Fu Hai Yien: This question has been addressed in the Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment’s (MSE’s) oral answer to Question Nos. 45 to 53 on 3 November 2026.
Mr Fadli Fawzi
Causes Of Unnatural Deaths Among Full-Time National Servicemen In Uniformed Services And Measures Taken
Mr Fadli Fawzi asked the Coordinating Minister for Public Services and Minister for Defence in each of the last 10 years (a) what is the number of full-time national servicemen who have died of unnatural causes in the Singapore Armed Forces, Singapore Police Force and Singapore Civil Defence Force, respectively; (b) what are the main causes of such deaths; and (c) what has been done to reduce the incidence of such deaths.
Mr Chan Chun Sing: This reply also addresses a related question from Mr Kenneth Tiong for a subsequent Sitting.
Every year, approximately 45,000 male Singaporeans and Permanent Residents (PRs) serve their full-time National Service (NS) in the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF), the Singapore Police Force (SPF), and the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF). Between 2016 and 2025, an average of 10 to 11 full-time national servicemen (NSFs) passed away during service per year from various causes, including suicides, road traffic accidents (RTAs), and natural causes such as illnesses. Consistent with the national trend for males aged 10 to 30, the leading causes of death were suicide, followed by RTAs.
Over the same period, an average of about four NSFs per year passed away due to suicide.This translates to an average annual suicide rate of 0.009% among NSFs. This is lower than the national suicide rate of 0.014% for males in 2024, which is the most recent year for which national suicide numbers have been finalised. Beyond these numbers, every death represents a tragic loss of life, leaving behind grieving families and loved ones. We take every loss of life seriously, and our deepest condolences go out to the families affected.
The Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) and the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) take the safety and well-being of every NSF seriously. Every NSF death is thoroughly investigated and, where relevant, measures are put in place to reduce the likelihood of recurrence.
With regard to Mr Kenneth Tiong’s question on publishing such figures, MINDEF already issues a news release when there is a death of a serviceman in camp. MHA also issues a news release when a national serviceman passes away while on duty.
Tracking Of Singapore Umrah Pilgrims In Saudi Arabia, Breakdown Of Travel Modes And Assistance Requests Following Recent Attacks
Mr Fadli Fawzi asked the Acting Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs (a) how many umrah pilgrims from Singapore are currently in Saudi Arabia; (b) how many are travelling with an agency or independently, respectively; and (c) whether the Majlis Ugama Islam Singapura has received requests for assistance since the recent attacks on Saudi targets.
Mr Zaqy Mohamad: Unlike Haj, where the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (MUIS) oversees pilgrimage arrangements under Singapore’s allocated Haj quota, Umrah pilgrims make their own travel arrangements, either independently or through travel agents. As Umrah travel is not subject to the same regulatory arrangements, MUIS does not have a consolidated record of Singaporeans currently performing Umrah in Saudi Arabia.
The safety and well-being of our pilgrims remain our priority. Singaporeans travelling for Umrah are strongly encouraged to register with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA), so that they can be contacted and assisted, where necessary, in the event of an emergency. MUIS is working closely with MFA and the Association of Muslim Travel Agents Singapore (AMTAS) to monitor developments and support the timely sharing of information with pilgrims.
MUIS has not received any requests for assistance from Singaporean Umrah pilgrims who are currently in Saudi Arabia. We will continue to monitor the situation closely, and work with MFA and AMTAS to support our pilgrims should the need arise.
Assoc Prof Jamus Jerome Lim
Adequacy Of Healthcare Staffing And Resident-To-Staff Ratio At Sengkang Polyclinic Relative To Other Polyclinics
Assoc Prof Jamus Jerome Lim asked the Coordinating Minister for Social Policies and Minister for Health in the last year (a) what is the annual patient attendance per full-time-equivalent (i) doctor and (ii) staff member at Sengkang polyclinic; and (b) what is the average annual patient attendance per full time-equivalent (i) doctor and (ii) staff member at polyclinics located in the other remaining towns.
Assoc Prof Jamus Jerome Lim asked the Coordinating Minister for Social Policies and Minister for Health (a) whether the Ministry has data on the current ratio of residents to (i) doctors and (ii) staff at Sengkang polyclinic and if so, what is it; (b) whether the Ministry has data on the current average ratio of residents to (i) doctors and (ii) staff at polyclinics located in the other remaining towns; (c) and if so, what is it.
Mr Ong Ye Kung: In 2025, the annual patient attendance per full-time-equivalent (FTE) for doctors and staff members at Sengkang Polyclinic was 22% and 13% higher, respectively, than that of polyclinics located in other towns. We had mentioned that we are exploring options to expand the polyclinic’s capacity and work with the general practitioner clinics in the region to meet primary care needs in our response to Parliamentary Question number 18 at the 7 October 2026 Parliamentary Sitting.
The Ministry of Health (MOH) does not plan polyclinic services based on the ratio of residents to polyclinic staff, as demand for services is affected by factors beyond the number of residents, such as their age profile, availability of private General Practitioner (GP) clinics in the area, and the accessibility of other polyclinics.
Ms He Ting Ru
Impact Of Haze On Respiratory Attendances At Polyclinics And Emergency Departments, Support For Vulnerable Patients And Healthcare Cost Estimation
Ms He Ting Ru asked the Coordinating Minister for Social Policies and Minister for Health (a) what has been the change in respiratory-related attendances at polyclinics and emergency departments since the start of the haze in September 2026; (b) what additional support is available to those with pre-existing respiratory conditions; and (c) whether the Ministry will publish any estimate of the healthcare costs arising from the haze, and how these are shared between the Government and patients.
Mr Ong Ye Kung: This question has been addressed in Oral Question 64 at the 3 November 2026 sitting.
Mandatory Electric Vehicle Charging Operator Licensing Uptime Compliance Rates, Enforcement Or Remedial Actions And Serviceability Standard Comparison
Ms He Ting Ru asked the Minister for Transport (a) since mandatory licensing of electric vehicle charging operators took effect in December 2024, how many licensees, and what proportion, have failed to meet the minimum service uptime requirement; (b) what enforcement or remedial actions the Land Transport Authority has taken; and (c) what considerations underlie setting this requirement at 90%, compared with the 97% serviceability required under the Housing and Development Board carpark tender.
Mr Jeffrey Siow: Since December 2024, 10 out of 29 licensees (i.e. about 35%) did not meet monthly service uptime requirement. As these were mostly due to teething issues that occurred when the systems were first set up, no regulatory actions were taken for these. The Land Transport Authority (LTA) will take regulatory actions including financial penalties where appropriate.
The Electric Vehicle (EV) chargers in the Housing and Development Board (HDB) carparks are required to meet higher monthly service uptime standards to provide a more reliable service for HDB residents. This contractual requirement is imposed as part of the tender for the deployment of public chargers at HDB carparks, and is therefore transparent to the bidders.
Mr Gerald Giam Yean Song
Traffic And Parking Management Plan, Marshal Deployment And Enforcement Monitoring Regarding Show Flat At Thomson Reserve
Mr Gerald Giam Yean Song asked the Minister for Law (a) whether the developer of the Thomson Reserve show flat submitted a traffic and parking management plan to Urban Redevelopment Authority; (b) if so, whether the plan included the deployment of traffic marshals and provision of sufficient parking for visitors; and (c) whether the Government is actively monitoring and taking enforcement action against any parking violations in the vicinity during the show flat preview.
Mr Edwin Tong Chun Fai: The Thomson Reserve show flat is operating under a Temporary Occupation Licence (TOL) issued by the Singapore Land Authority (SLA). Before issuing the TOL, SLA consulted various public agencies, including the Land Transport Authority (LTA) and Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA). LTA’s traffic management requirements form part of the TOL conditions that the licensee is required to comply with.
Both LTA and SLA have verified that the licensee has put in place the required measures. These include deploying valets and traffic marshals, operating shuttle bus services, and directing visitors to alternative parking if high traffic is anticipated so that there is no traffic spillover or indiscriminate parking.
LTA has stepped up patrols in the vicinity since the show flat was launched on 17 October 2026. LTA and SLA will continue to monitor the situation to ensure continued compliance with the TOL conditions. LTA will also take enforcement action against any parking violations where necessary.
Mr Dennis Tan Lip Fong
Deferred Fare Adjustment Quantum Remaining After 2026 Fare Review And Recovery Through Fare Increases And Subsidies Since 2020
Mr Dennis Tan Lip Fong asked the Minister for Transport (a) what deferred fare adjustment quantum remains outstanding following the 2026 Fare Review Exercise; (b) how much has been recovered through fare increases and taxpayer-funded subsidies since 2020; and (c) whether the Government has assessed alternative approaches to recovering the remaining deferred quantum that would reduce the impact on commuters.
Mr Jeffrey Siow: The remaining deferred fare quantum is at 7.7% after the 2026 Fare Review Exercise.
The deferred fare quantum reflects cost increases that have been incurred in the public transport system. To keep the system financially sustainable, any amount not passed through to commuters must therefore be subsidised by taxpayers. The Public Transport Council will continue to calibrate its pace of reducing the remaining deferred fare quantum, taking into account fare affordability for commuters.
Mr Abdul Muhaimin Abdul Malik
Scope And Application Of 200-Employee Threshold Under Mandatory IHRP Certification Requirement Across Employee Category, Corporate Groups And Fluctuating Headcounts
Mr Abdul Muhaimin Abdul Malik asked the Acting Minister for Manpower for the Institute for Human Resource Professionals (IHRP) certification requirement taking effect from 1 July 2028 (a) how will the threshold of more than 200 employees be computed, including whether foreign, part-time and fixed-term employees count; (b) whether related entities within a corporate group are counted separately; and (c) how organisations whose headcount fluctuates around 200 will be treated.
Ms Jasmin Lau: We will compute the threshold of more than 200 employees based on the number of employees employed by each organisation under its Unique Entity Number (UEN). This includes all employees employed under a contract of service. The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) will monitor compliance by matching the Institute for Human Resource Professionals’s (IHRP’s) records of certified HR professionals against MOM's administrative records. Companies which are detected to be non-compliant will be placed on notice. Companies will be given reasonable time to comply.
Breakdown Of Affected Organisations By Employee Size, And Assessing Ihrp Certification Coverage Under Mandatory HR Certification Requirement
Mr Abdul Muhaimin Abdul Malik asked the Acting Minister for Manpower (a) of the approximately 2,000 organisations with more than 200 employees, how many have more than (i) 1,000 and (ii) 5,000 employees respectively; (b) how many Institute for Human Resource Professionals (IHRP) certified professionals these organisations currently employ; and (c) what considerations informed the decision to require at least one certified HR professional regardless of workforce size beyond the 200-employee threshold.
Ms Jasmin Lau: The intent for the requirement is to help raise Human Resource (HR) standards and enable businesses and workers to better navigate workplace and technology shifts. The Tripartite Workgroup on Human Capital Capability Development, co-led by the Ministry of Manpower (MOM), the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) and the Singapore National Employers Federation (SNEF), deliberated and agreed that the 200-employee threshold is a practical starting point that focuses on companies which would have the scale and means to take the lead on the Institute for Human Resource Professionals (IHRP) certification. At the same time, we continue to encourage all organisations to support their HR professionals to obtain IHRP certification and deepen their professional development.
This criterion will cover approximately 2,000 organisations, including 300 with 1,000 or more employees and 40 with 5,000 or more employees. Collectively, these organisations employ over 45% of the workforce. Around 45% of these organisations already have at least one IHRP-certified HR professional.
