Clarification by Senior Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Sustainability and the Environment
Ministry of Sustainability and the EnvironmentSpeakers
Summary
This clarification concerns a factual correction by Senior Parliamentary Secretary Baey Yam Keng regarding a publicized renovation case discussed during a session on formaldehyde bans. Senior Parliamentary Secretary Baey Yam Keng originally stated that a renovation company compensated a family for temporary housing and faced legal demands for furniture reinstatement. The corrected response clarifies that the company offered compensation for temporary accommodation and that the family eventually hired their own movers to handle the furniture. This formal statement was circulated with the leave of the Speaker to ensure the official parliamentary record accurately reflects the specific actions and outcomes of the dispute. These corrections provide a precise account of the incident to support the accuracy of information presented during the debate on interior paint and furniture regulations.
Transcript
The following statement was made by the Senior Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Sustainability and the Environment (Mr Baey Yam Keng) during Question Time for Question Nos 1-5 on “Complaints Leading to Ban on Formaldehyde in Paints for Interior of Buildings and Proposal for Similar Ban on Paints for Furniture” at the 6 August Sitting:
The Senior Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Sustainability and the Environment (Mr Baey Yam Keng): There was a publicised case recently, which based on reports, we understand there was agreement in the end where the renovation company actually compensated the family to move out of their flat to give them a temporary accommodation. And in the end, there was some sort of court case or legal demand for them to dismantle and reinstate the affected furniture. [Please refer to "Complaints Leading to Ban on Formaldehyde in Paints for Interior of Buildings and Proposal for Similar Ban on Paints for Furniture", Official Report, 6 August 2024, Vol 95, Issue 138, Oral Answers to Questions section.]
Written statement by Mr Baey Yam Keng circulated with leave of the Speaker in accordance with Standing Order No 29(5):
I wish to make the following factual correction to my reply to the supplementary question from Mr Melvin Yong Yik Chye during the Sitting on 6 August 2024. My reply should read as follows:
The Senior Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Sustainability and the Environment (Mr Baey Yam Keng): There was a publicised case recently, which based on reports, we understand that the renovation company offered to compensate the family to move out of their flat to give them a temporary accommodation. And in the end, the family eventually hired movers to dismantle and reinstate the affected furniture.