Written Answers to WP's Oral Questions
Mr Fadli Fawzi
Tuberculosis Patients Who Have Sought Financial Assistance To Cover Travel Expenses And Lost Income
Mr Fadli Fawzi asked the Coordinating Minister for Social Policies and Minister for Health (a) whether there have been any tuberculosis patients who have sought financial assistance to cover travel expenses and lost income to complete Directly Observed Therapy; and (b) if so, what aid schemes are available to such patients.
Mr Ong Ye Kung: Patients with tuberculosis (TB) can seek financial assistance to cover travel expenses and lost income related to completing Directly Observed Therapy (DOT), through the Medical Social Workers (MSWs) at the National Tuberculosis Care Centre and polyclinics.
Eligible residents may receive support through government financial assistance schemes such as MediFund, ComCare short-to-medium-term assistance, and the Agency for Integrated Care (AIC) long-term care scheme. In addition, the Singapore Anti-Tuberculosis Association (SATA) CommHealth’s DOT and Shop scheme provides grocery vouchers and transport allowances to eligible individuals to promote adherence. TB treatment is also heavily subsidised for residents.
We are progressively adopting a risk-based approach, where patients who have demonstrated good adherence can transition to Video Observed Therapy or reduced frequency of DOT.
Applications For Letters Of Support From Muis To Hold Night Prayers During Ramadan At Qaryah Community Group Venues
Mr Fadli Fawzi asked the Acting Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs in the past 10 years (a) what are the requirements for letters of support from MUIS to hold tarawih or night prayers performed during Ramadan at qaryah community group venues; (b) how many applications for such letters have been from the People’s Association (PA) or other organisations and individuals; and (c) what is the success rate of applications by those unaffiliated with the PA.
Assoc Prof Dr Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim: Qaryahs are ground-up groups that organise social and religious activities for our Muslim community, such as congregational Tarawih prayers at community venues.
To receive the Letter of Support to organise Tarawih Prayers, the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (MUIS) requires Qaryahs to be affiliated with a mosque. This is to allow our mosques to guide Qaryahs on the relevant religious and operational requirements. For instance, prayers must be conducted by a qualified religious teacher, and funds collected must be properly safe guarded.
Qaryah representatives make applications for the Letter of Support directly to MUIS. While 10-year data is unavailable, all applications to MUIS in the last three years have been successful.
Data On Nationality, Race And Educational Level For Students Granted Asean Scholarships
Mr Fadli Fawzi asked the Minister for Education since its inception in 1998, how many students have been granted the ASEAN Scholarship, broken down by (i) nationality (ii) race and (iii) educational stage of admission.
Mr Desmond Lee: Singapore enjoys close ties with our ASEAN neighbours. To promote mutual understanding and goodwill in the region, the Ministry of Education (MOE) offers scholarships to promising students from ASEAN countries. After graduation, some choose to stay on to contribute to our economy and society, while others continue to be part of our valuable global network, through the friendships and ties forged during their studies.
In recent years, MOE has on average awarded over 400 pre-tertiary scholarships and 400 tertiary scholarships annually to students from ASEAN countries. We do not publish data on the number of scholarship holders by nationality or ethnicity.
Mr Abdul Muhaimin Abdul Malik
Wider Use For SG Culture Pass For Purchasing Singlit Books
Mr Abdul Muhaimin Abdul Malik asked the Acting Minister for Culture, Community and Youth (a) whether the Ministry will consider a wider literary use for the SG Culture Pass; and (b) whether it will further introduce an annual “Literary Pass” with credits to specifically purchase Singapore literature (SingLit) books to support Singaporean authors and the local literary scene.
Mr David Neo: To further broaden the reach and impact of the SG Culture Pass, and to encourage Singaporeans to engage more deeply with Singapore literature, or Sing Lit for short, the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth (MCCY) has expanded the Culture Pass scheme to include local literary works from 1 March 2026.
Since 1 March, Singaporeans have been able to use their SG Culture Pass credits to purchase physical books from participating bookstores across the island. Eligible titles include fiction, poetry, plays and literary short essays in English, Chinese, Malay and Tamil, authored by a Singapore Citizen or Permanent Resident at the point of publication. MCCY will take into account the response and feedback from this first phase in considering other literary works that could be purchased with Culture Pass credits in the future.
There are currently no plans to introduce a separate credit scheme to encourage the purchase of Sing Lit books, as this can already be done with Culture Pass credits. MCCY and NAC will continue to support and invest in the broader literary ecosystem, which includes nurturing Singaporean literary practitioners through capacity building programmes and growing audiences for Sing Lit at major literary events such as the Singapore Writers Festival.
Bicycle Parking Capacity Standards In HDB Estates
Mr Abdul Muhaimin Abdul Malik asked the Minister for National Development whether the Ministry is reviewing current bicycle parking capacity standards in HDB estates to account for both residents’ personal bicycles and the rising number of bike-sharing bicycles.
Mr Chee Hong Tat: Since 2014, the Housing and Development Board (HDB) has provided dedicated bicycle parking racks in all new Build-To-Order (BTO) projects. Currently, HDB provides one bicycle lot for every six dwelling units, with additional safeguarded space that can be converted by Town Councils (TCs) into additional bicycle lots when the need arises.
For estates built before 2014, HDB has increased the bicycle parking provision to one bicycle lot for every six dwelling units since 2019 where feasible. Where there is demand, HDB has been working with TCs to identify suitable locations within void decks to install additional bicycle racks.
With regard to shared bicycles, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) is currently working with HDB to review the implementation of additional designated spaces for shared bicycle parking.
Digital Support Provided To Help Heritage Businesses Modernise And Sustain Their Operations
Mr Abdul Muhaimin Abdul Malik asked the Acting Minister for Culture, Community and Youth in respect of the SG Heritage Business Scheme (a) what forms of digital support are provided to help these businesses modernise and sustain their operations; and (b) what tools or programmes have been made available to assist these businesses in expanding their presence both locally and internationally.
Mr David Neo: The SG Heritage Business Scheme, administered by the National Heritage Board (NHB), provides designated heritage businesses with support in brand visibility, publicity and marketing. They receive special branding markers and a marketing toolkit to help them brand themselves as an SG Heritage Business.
Designated heritage businesses may also tap on NHB’s Organisation Transformation Grant (OTG) to support transformative and innovative projects that contribute to their sustainability and long-term viability. Some examples of the digital projects supported by the OTG include (i) the development of an Augmented Reality (AR) application by SG Heritage Business Pek Sin Choon to help the business’ Chinese-speaking staff cater to English-speaking customers and (ii) the development of an online game for custom kebaya dolls made by kebaya maker, Ratianah Tahir, to foster appreciation and interest in this heritage dress among children.
Additionally, heritage businesses may also tap on grants such as Enterprise Singapore’s Productivity Solutions Grant, Enterprise Development Grant, and Market Readiness Assistance Grant to transform, adopt digital solutions, and expand their presence locally and internationally.
In the coming months - in respect to the SG Heritage Business Scheme - NHB is looking to (i) develop a promotional campaign on NHB’s channels; (ii) develop an online register of designated businesses, which can be used to promote the businesses to local and international audiences; and (iii) identify industry partners who are keen to collaborate and partner with these heritage businesses.
Mr Kenneth Tiong Boon Kiat
Progress And Budget Updates On Aquapolis Programme
Mr Kenneth Tiong Boon Kiat asked the Minister for Sustainability and the Environment (a) whether an update on the AquaPolis programme with details on the progress, status and utilisation of budget allocated can be shared; (b) whether the programme has pledged to support the fish farming industry's fingerling supply; (c) if so, whether the programme has delivered its pledge; and (d) if not, why the programme has not delivered.
Ms Grace Fu Hai Yien: AquaPolis was established by the Singapore Food Agency (SFA), the National University of Singapore and Temasek Life Sciences Laboratory. It brings together researchers and industry players to drive innovation, develop talent, and speed up the use of new technologies for Singapore’s aquaculture sector.
Since inception, AquaPolis has launched an industry consortium platform to promote knowledge sharing and collaboration between industry players and researchers through conferences and workshops as well as to translate AquaPolis’ R&D outcomes into practical solutions that boost production. AquaPolis has also secured a budget of $18.5 million for a 3-year R&D programme, starting from Nov 2025 to lower production costs and to continue to improve the quality of locally produced Asian seabass. For example, an ongoing R&D on seabass broodstock that are parasite-resistant could result in higher quality fingerlings for the industry.
Proposal To Establish Master Database Of Commercial Sublet Agreements
Mr Kenneth Tiong Boon Kiat asked the Minister for National Development (a) whether the Ministry will consider establishing a master database of all commercial sublet agreements; and (b) whether the Ministry will mandate lodging of sublet agreements with HDB as a condition for tenancies, to enable evidence-based policy-making on business costs instead of relying on anecdotal feedback.
Mr Chee Hong Tat: This question was addressed in the Ministry of National Development’s reply to the question asked by Mr Dennis Tan Lip Fong on 2 March 2026.
Impact Of Indonesia's Purchase Of Khan Ballistic Missile On Regional Security
Mr Kenneth Tiong Boon Kiat asked the Coordinating Minister for Public Services and Minister for Defence given that Indonesia has acquired the KHAN ballistic missile from Türkiye, the first ballistic missile procurement in Southeast Asia besides Vietnam (a) what is the Ministry's assessment of this development's implications for regional security; (b) whether Singapore's defence capabilities are adequate against both ballistic missile threats and the threat environment driving such acquisitions; and (c) if so, on what basis.
Mr Chan Chun Sing: The Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) continuously monitors developments that can impact Singapore’s security, including emerging technologies. Ballistic missiles have been around for many years, both within and beyond the Asian region.
The SAF has and will continue to build up our defence capabilities ahead of time.
Mr Chua Kheng Wee Louis
Evaluation Criteria For Tenders Submitted By Prospective Socially-Conscious Enterprise Hawker Centre Operators
Mr Chua Kheng Wee Louis asked the Minister for Sustainability and the Environment whether the Ministry will disclose the full criteria along with their respective weightages used by the National Environment Agency to evaluate the tender bids submitted by prospective Socially-conscious Enterprise Hawker Centre (SEHC) operators.
Ms Grace Fu Hai Yien: The National Environment Agency (NEA) publishes the evaluation criteria and the respective weightages for Socially-conscious Enterprise Hawker Centre (SEHC) management tenders in the tender documents on the Government Electronic Business (GeBIZ) portal.
Cases Where Salaries Of Public Sector Employees Are Not Paid On Time
Mr Chua Kheng Wee Louis asked the Prime Minister and Minister for Finance (a) in 2025, what is the number of cases where monthly salaries of public sector employees are not paid on time; and (b) what are the recourse available to and compensation accorded to such employees.
Mr Chan Chun Sing (for the Prime Minister): The Public Service is committed to paying all public sector employees on time. Employees of Ministries and Statutory Boards receive their monthly salaries at fixed payment dates in mid-month and end of each month.
In 2025, there were generally no late monthly salary payments for eligible Ministry and Statutory Board employees, except for 35 cases involving new public officers where there was an administrative delay in updating their appointment records in the payroll system. This was immediately rectified and the officers received their monthly salary in the next month. These cases constitute about 0.02% of our over 158,000 officers.
Even with our efforts, instances of late payments could still arise such as system errors and outages that impact payroll processing timelines. In such cases, we aim to ensure any affected officer will receive his/her payment in the subsequent payroll. We also proactively engage the affected officers to keep them informed and address any concerns.
Officers who face late payment situations can raise the matter with their Human Resource department, who will look into their case and rectify the situation as appropriate. The Public Service Division (PSD) and Accountant-General’s Department (AGD) continuously monitor and enhance our payroll systems and processes to ensure salaries are paid in a timely manner.
Mr Dennis Tan Lip Fong
Accounting Treatment Of Prolonged Vacancy In Hdb Managed Commercial Properties
Mr Dennis Tan Lip Fong asked the Minister for National Development (a) whether prolonged vacancy in HDB-managed commercial properties is treated as a loss of public value; and (b) how HDB evaluates the trade-off between maintaining higher rental benchmarks and ensuring sustained occupancy and neighbourhood
vibrancy.
Mr Chee Hong Tat: In managing the Housing and Development Board (HDB) rental shop landscape, HDB focuses on achieving sustained occupancy and maintaining an appropriate tenant mix, so as to ensure residents in HDB estates have convenient access to amenities and services.
HDB does not seek to maximise rental collections or to maintain high rental benchmarks. In fact, HDB does not always award tenders to the highest bidder. For example, HDB adopts the Price-Quality Method (PQM) for coffee shops and supermarkets, where 60% of the score is awarded for quality based on factors such as affordability, good track record and community-centric initiatives.
When vacancies arise, HDB will assess the trade required. Where a change in the shop trade is assessed to be necessary to optimise the neighbourhood trade mix, HDB will conduct the necessary reconfiguration works before calling for tenders.
Rather than setting specific vacancy thresholds or duration benchmarks, HDB puts out vacant units for tender as soon as possible to avoid inconvenience to residents. Vacancy rates for HDB rental shops are generally low. In 2025, the overall vacancy rate was 1.6%.
Mr Gerald Giam Yean Song
Inclusion Of Darker Colours In Solar Reflectance Standards For Cool Coatings Under Green Towns Programme
Mr Gerald Giam Yean Song asked the Minister for National Development (a) whether the current solar reflectance standards for cool coatings under the Green Towns Programme effectively preclude the use of certain darker colours like red brick; (b) whether the Ministry is working with manufacturers to certify a wider range of high-reflectance pigments; and (c) how HDB assists Town Councils when resident aesthetic preferences conflict with cool paint technical requirements.
Mr Chee Hong Tat: Under the Housing and Development Board (HDB) Green Towns Programme, the HDB will be expanding the cool coatings initiative to residential blocks across all HDB towns. The paint used must comply with the Singapore Standard Specification for solar reflective water-based coatings, or SS678.
Currently, there are more than 60 colours that can meet SS678. Paint suppliers may progressively increase the colour selection if there is market demand. Town Councils can check with paint suppliers on the availability of darker colours that meet SS678.
HDB will continue to conduct sessions to share with Town Councils good practices and operational guidelines in the implementation of cool coatings.
Written Questions
Mr Abdul Muhaimin Abdul Malik
Training On Special Needs Recognition And Response In Mandatory Wsq Modules For Licensed Security Officers
Mr Abdul Muhaimin Abdul Malik asked the Coordinating Minister for National Security and Minister for Home Affairs whether the current mandatory Workforce Skills Qualifications (WSQ) modules under the Progressive Wage Model for security sector for licensed security officers include training on recognising and appropriately responding to persons with special needs.
Mr K Shanmugam: The mandatory Workforce Skills Qualifications (WSQ) modules under the Progressive Wage Model for the security sector equip security officers with skills such as threat detection and incident management. These are core skills to ensure the security of premises at which they are deployed.
Currently, the mandatory WSQ modules do not include training on recognising and appropriately responding to persons with special needs. The Government will, in consultation with the industry, continue to review security officers’ training requirements so that they can carry out their duties effectively.
Ratification Plans Of Arms Trade Treaty And Usage Of Singapore-Origin Conventional Arms In International Crimes
Mr Abdul Muhaimin Abdul Malik asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs (a) whether Singapore plans to ratify the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT); (b) if so, when; (c) what is the Government’s current assessment of Singapore’s arms trade; and (d) whether any Singapore-origin conventional arms have been used to commit genocide, crimes against humanity, or violations of international humanitarian law.
Dr Vivian Balakrishnan: As a signatory to the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT), Singapore takes our obligations under the ATT seriously. We recognise the importance of regulating international trade in conventional arms, and support global efforts to prevent illicit trade and the diversion of such trade. Our approach is to ensure that the necessary legal, policy and institutional frameworks are in place before ratifying the treaty. Within ASEAN, only the Philippines has ratified the ATT.
While Singapore has not yet ratified the ATT, we contribute to international initiatives to combat unlawful arms trade. This includes participating in the United Nations (UN) Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons (PoA) and the International Tracing Instrument (ITI).
Singapore complies strictly with our international obligations on international arms sales as well as UN sanctions. This includes submitting regular reports to the UN Register of Conventional Arms since 1993, which is on public record.
The Government remains firmly committed to our international obligations and will not hesitate to take action against any individual or entity which contravenes our export control regime.
Ms He Ting Ru
Singapore Citizens With Additional Hanyu Pinyin Name Registered As Part Of Legal Name
Ms He Ting Ru asked the Coordinating Minister for National Security and Minister for Home Affairs (a) what is the total percentage of Singapore Citizens who have an additional hanyu pinyin name registered as part of their legal name; and (b) in each of the last 10 years, how many Singapore Citizen babies have had an additional hanyu pinyin name included in their names.
Mr K Shanmugam: As of February 2026, about 13% of Singapore Citizens have registered an additional Hanyu Pinyin name with the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA). Between 2016 and 2025, an annual average of about 3,500 Singapore Citizens had an additional Hanyu Pinyin name included during their birth registration.
Real-Time Information Sharing Protocols With Foreign Authorities On Child Trafficking Syndicates Linked To Singapore Adoptions
Ms He Ting Ru asked the Coordinating Minister for National Security and Minister for Home Affairs (a) what are the protocols for real-time information sharing with foreign authorities on suspected child trafficking syndicates linked to Singapore adoptions; (b) how many joint operations or information requests on child trafficking occurred in the last five years; and (c) whether upstream efforts such as pre-clearance checks and source-country probes will be enhanced.
Mr K Shanmugam: The Singapore Police Force (SPF) maintains close ties with foreign counterparts and exchanges information on transnational crime investigation matters, both bilaterally and via multilateral organisations such as the Interpol.
Following a request from the Indonesian National Police (INP) in September 2025 on the allegations of babies being trafficked from Indonesia into Singapore for adoption, the SPF has been rendering assistance to the INP for their investigations.
Apart from this request from INP, the SPF has not been requested to participate in any joint operation nor received any information request from any other foreign counterpart relating to child trafficking syndicates linked to adoptions in Singapore in the last five years.
On whether adoption processes will be reviewed, the Member of Parliament (MP) may wish to refer to a Parliamentary Question (PQ) reply on this matter by the Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) for the Parliament Sitting on 3 February 2026.
Statistics On Do Not Call Complaints, Investigations And Fines For Past Two Years, And Measures Taken To Improve DNC Registry Enforcement And Compliance
Ms He Ting Ru asked the Minister for Digital Development and Information in view of continued technological developments including AI-driven calls (a) what measures are in place to improve Do Not Call (DNC) Registry enforcement and compliance; (b) how many (i) DNC complaints and (ii) investigations about unsolicited communications have taken place in each of the last two years; and (c) how many fines have been meted out for breaches of the relevant laws.
Mrs Josephine Teo: The Personal Data Protection Commission (PDPC) monitors industry practices and maintains robust enforcement of the Do Not Call (DNC) provisions through investigation of complaints and engagement with businesses on compliance. The number of DNC complaints has continued to decline since the DNC regime was updated in 2021. The PDPC received approximately 1,700 and 1,380 DNC complaints in 2024 and 2025 respectively, of which 122 and 176 cases respectively were investigated for potential breaches of the DNC provisions. None of these cases warranted a financial penalty.
Expansion Of HDB Flyer Distribution Rules At HDB Homes As Mandatory Industry Regulation
Ms He Ting Ru asked the Minister for National Development in respect of the agreement announced by the top five estate agencies to ensure that flyers distributed to HDB homes are not visible to the public, whether these rules can be extended to become a regulation mandatory for all Council for Estate Agencies registered agents rather than covered by an industry-led voluntary memorandum of understanding.
Mr Chee Hong Tat: This question was addressed in the Ministry of National Development’s reply to the question asked by Mr Yip Hon Weng on 4 March 2026.
Community Feedback Regarding Festival Naming Conventions And Cultural Greetings
Ms He Ting Ru asked the Acting Minister for Culture, Community and Youth (a) whether agencies under the Ministry have received feedback or questions from the community about the naming of festivals and use of greetings such as (i) Chinese New Year vs Lunar New Year (ii) the use of "Seasons' Greetings" (iii) Hari Raya vs Eid and (iv) Deepavali vs Diwali; and (b) if so, what is the approach to such feedback.
Mr David Neo: We receive such feedback occasionally.
The names of our public holidays are well-established and understood. Nonetheless, some in the community do choose to use different terms, depending on the purpose, context and audience. We encourage all to make such greetings in the spirit of respect and inclusivity.
Mr Kenneth Tiong Boon Kiat
Breakdown Of Defence Contracts Procurement By Quantum And Procurement Method And Publication Of Requirements For Major Platform Replacements On GeBIZ
Mr Kenneth Tiong Boon Kiat asked the Coordinating Minister for Public Services and Minister for Defence (a) in the past 10 years, how many defence contracts above (i) $10 million and (ii) $100 million awarded have been procured through closed tender rather than open tender respectively; (b) what criteria determine whether a procurement is conducted as a closed tender; and (c) whether the Ministry will consider publishing requirements for major platform replacements on GeBIZ to enable local industry participation.
Mr Chan Chun Sing: The Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) conducts its procurements in accordance with the Government’s procurement principles of transparency, open and fair competition, and value for money. Given the nature of defence procurements, operational and information security are additional critical considerations for MINDEF.
MINDEF’s default procurement approach is to conduct open tenders via GeBIZ. Where there are good reasons and valid justifications, closed tenders, also referred to as limited tenders, may be conducted. Some criteria for adopting closed tenders include operational and information security considerations, proprietary or intellectual property rights, and interoperability with existing systems. Local companies are invited to participate in closed tenders if they possess the relevant products, services or expertise.
MINDEF’s defence procurements are subject to the necessary approvals, governance processes and audits to ensure accountability and proper stewardship of public funds. For security reasons, MINDEF does not publicly disclose data of our defence contracts.
Reports Of Unauthorised Works On Lta-Managed State Land Fronting Private Properties In Past Three Years And Policy On Cost Liability Of Restoration Works
Mr Kenneth Tiong Boon Kiat asked the Acting Minister for Transport (a) in the past three years, how many reports of unauthorised works on LTA-managed state land fronting private properties were received; (b) how many resulted in enforcement action; and (c) what is LTA's policy on private property owners modifying road kerbs
on such land including cost liability of restoration works that encroach on adjoining frontages of another private property.
Mr Jeffrey Siow: In the past three years, there have been about 25 reports to the Land Transport Authority regarding unauthorised works on road reserve fronting private landed housing. Four have thus far been rectified by the owners. The remaining cases, which are assessed to not affect safety and connectivity, are pending resolution with the homeowners.
Where unauthorised works on public roads and footpaths affect the safety and connectivity, property owners will be required to restore the affected areas immediately at their own cost.
Mr Gerald Giam Yean Song
National Servicemen Who Have Applied For Redeployment Under Enhanced Expertise Deployment Scheme And Work Learn Schemes
Mr Gerald Giam Yean Song asked the Coordinating Minister for Public Services and Minister for Defence (a) how many National Servicemen have applied for redeployment under the Enhanced Expertise Deployment Scheme and work-learn schemes in each of the past three years; (b) what is the success rate of these applications; and (c) what specific criteria or skill gaps currently limit the redeployment of these National Servicemen with private sector tech expertise.
Mr Chan Chun Sing: We introduced the Enhanced Expertise Deployment Scheme (EEDS) in 2022 to optimise the deployment of our Operationally Ready National Servicemen (NSmen). Under the scheme, suitable NSmen can be redeployed from their existing Operationally Ready National Service roles if they have acquired specialised civilian expertise that the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) requires. NSmen have been redeployed to support the SAF in existing and emerging domains such as Medical, Legal, Digital, Cyber, and Communications.
As it is a fairly new scheme, the numbers have yet to stabilise. In the past three years, about 1,000 NSmen have indicated interest in the scheme annually through direct applications, or via our units who proactively identify suitable NSmen. Interested NSmen undergo a selection process to determine if they have the appropriate skillsets matched to the available openings. Thus far about 20% of interested NSmen have been redeployed under the scheme.
The Work-Learn Scheme (WLS) is not a redeployment scheme. Servicemen who sign up for such schemes undergo a combination of full-time NS followed by Regular service.
Mr Fadli Fawzi
Compliance With National Childhood And Adolescent Immunisation Schedule And Actions Taken Against Non Compliance In Past 10 Years
Mr Fadli Fawzi asked the Coordinating Minister for Social Policies and Minister for Health with regard to the National Childhood and Adolescent Immunisation Schedule (a) what is the compliance rate for Singaporeans and foreign students, including Permanent Residents; and (b) whether any actions have been taken against parents who do not comply over the past 10 years.
Mr Ong Ye Kung: Under the National Childhood Immunisation Schedule (NCIS), measles and diphtheria vaccinations are compulsory for children aged 12 and below who are residing in Singapore. In 2024, the measles vaccination coverages at two and seven years were 93% and 97% respectively. For diphtheria, the vaccination coverages at two and eleven years of age were 89% and 95% respectively. The vaccination coverage rate for Singaporeans and Permanent Resident children have both remained high for years and can be found in the Reports on Communicable Diseases Surveillance in Singapore.
Foreign students aged 12 years and below are required to submit documented proof of vaccination or evidence of immunity for diphtheria and measles to the National Immunisation Registry for verification before applying for long-term immigration passes in Singapore.
Because of these measures and co-operation of all students and their families, we could maintain the herd immunity against measles and diphtheria.
Data On ASEAN Scholarship Holders’ Acquisition Of Singapore Citizenship And Permanent Residency Since 1998
Mr Fadli Fawzi asked the Minister for Education (a) how many ASEAN Scholarship holders have acquired permanent residency or Singapore Citizenship since the inception of the scholarship in 1998; and (b) what percentage does this represent of the total number of ASEAN Scholarship holders during the same period.
Mr Desmond Lee: The Ministry of Education (MOE) offers scholarships to promising students from ASEAN countries to promote mutual understanding and goodwill in the region. After graduation, some choose to stay on to contribute to our economy and society, while others continue to be part of our valuable global network, through the friendships and ties forged during their studies.
Similar to other international students studying in our schools, the decision to take up permanent residency or citizenship may occur from the time they are in school till much later in life. Generally, many do so progressively as they spend more time in Singapore.
Most who had received the ASEAN Scholarship choose to stay on in Singapore to continue their university studies. Of this group, about seven in 10 of those from the recent cohorts became Permanent Residents or Singapore Citizens within five years of graduation. Others who do not may still choose to stay on to contribute to our economy, even after their bond has ended, while the remaining become part of Singapore’s overseas network of friends and partners.
Mr Chua Kheng Wee Louis
Usage Of Data Collected From i-SMART Facial Recognition At NESST Tukang Dormitory
Mr Chua Kheng Wee Louis asked the Minister for Manpower (a) what are the specific types of information collected from users of i-SMART’s facial recognition system at the NESST Tukang migrant worker dormitory; and (b) how will the information collected be used by stakeholders such as (i) the Ministry (ii) the dormitory operator and (iii) employers, respectively.
Dr Tan See Leng: The facial recognition system within Tukang Purpose-Built Dormitory’s (PBD’s) i-SMART tenant management system collects residents’ facial recognition data, date and time stamps of entry and exit, and body temperature readings. This is for access management to the dormitory, and to facilitate health monitoring of the dormitory’s residents.
The personal information collected via i-SMART’s facial recognition system is only used by NESST Singapore Limited, the operator of Tukang PBD. It is not shared with any other stakeholder. Where necessary, such as in the event of a disease outbreak, the information may be shared with relevant authorities in line with applicable laws and regulations.
Mr Dennis Tan Lip Fong
Benchmarks To Trigger Review Of Rental Rates Of HDB Commercial Properties
Mr Dennis Tan Lip Fong asked the Minister for National Development (a) whether HDB has defined vacancy thresholds, duration benchmarks or other objective triggers that prompt a review of rental pricing in its commercial properties; and (b) if so, what these benchmarks are.
Mr Chee Hong Tat: In managing the Housing and Development Board (HDB) rental shop landscape, HDB focuses on achieving sustained occupancy and maintaining an appropriate tenant mix, so as to ensure residents in HDB estates have convenient access to amenities and services.
HDB does not seek to maximise rental collections or to maintain high rental benchmarks. In fact, HDB does not always award tenders to the highest bidder. For example, HDB adopts the Price-Quality Method (PQM) for coffee shops and supermarkets, where 60% of the score is awarded for quality based on factors such as affordability, good track record and community-centric initiatives.
When vacancies arise, HDB will assess the trade required. Where a change in the shop trade is assessed to be necessary to optimise the neighbourhood trade mix, HDB will conduct the necessary reconfiguration works before calling for tenders.
Rather than setting specific vacancy thresholds or duration benchmarks, HDB puts out vacant units for tender as soon as possible to avoid inconvenience to residents. Vacancy rates for HDB rental shops are generally low. In 2025, the overall vacancy rate was 1.6%.
