Committee of Supply – Head T (Ministry of National Development)

The Chairman: Head T, Ministry of National Development. Miss Cheryl Chan.

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Housing Planning for Diverse Needs

Miss Cheryl Chan Wei Ling (East Coast): Chairman, I move, "That the total sum to be allocated for Head T of the Estimates be reduced by $100."

Sir, as we continue to strive to make Singapore a more inclusive and liveable city, it is crucial that our policies evolve to meet the new trends and needs of all Singaporeans through different generations. Today, I wish to highlight a few observations in housing options and offer suggestions for consideration.

First, Housing and Development Board (HDB) Build-To-Order (BTO) flats for middle-income households and singles.

The younger generation are now settling down much later and many begin to purchase their first home closer to or after the age of 30. Given the rise in median income and ability of our younger generation to secure better paying jobs, this meant that a dual-income household will easily surpass the current HDB total income ceiling of $14,000 around the age of 30. For these couples, they usually find that they are left out of a prized opportunity to purchase their first BTO flat from the Government which can form a part of their nest-egg for retirement. Some even do not qualify for the direct purchase of executive condominiums and have no choice but to purchase a resale flat or a private property. Depending on the age of the resale flat and its location, it results in some inherent restrictions to the buyer, for example, the loan amount available, inability to access HDB concessionary housing loan and others.

Similarly, we are seeing a growing trend of more singles within our community. The same BTO challenge applies for singles purchasing flats under the Single Singapore Citizen Scheme where its current income ceiling threshold is $7,000. In today's market and for those who are 35 years old and above, there are many whose income would exceed this threshold and be disqualified to purchase BTO flat, not to mention that some singles are still facing difficulties in being allocated a flat in the regular BTO or Sale of Balance Flats exercise.

Further, despite having been given the option to purchase all flat types, there are singles who are still unable to buy BTO flat and have to settle for a resale flat. Many of them wish to be living near their parents or siblings to provide caregiving and support as they age. But these resale flats are typically in mature estates, and singles face the same issues as that of the middle-income couples. Based on a single income, it is even harder for singles to consider purchasing a private property.

I would like to ask the Minister when the Ministry will re-evaluate the income thresholds and the eligibility criteria for HDB loan. Also, what viable options can be made available for these groups within the decade?

While there are Singaporeans who aspire to progress from public into private housing, this is not a default choice for many young couples and singles who wish to have the option of living in public housing purchased from the Government. I acknowledge that the Government has continuously adjusted policies to cater for different population segments to ensure their basic housing needs are addressed. I hope more can be done for these specific groups so that they could also enjoy the benefits of our nation's progress and not be caught by the affordability gap to own a home within their means.

Second, Enhancement for Active Seniors (EASE) programme for private property owners. I am very heartened to hear Prime Minister Lawrence Wong's announcement that the EASE programme will be extended to private property owners. I have made these requests before based on my residents' feedback.

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We are encouraging our seniors to age in place. Yet, ageing at home is not easy. Depending on the needs and mobility of the seniors, the cost of modifications can be prohibitive.

At times, individual homeowners may not be able to secure contractors who are willing to take up what we call the "small" jobs. A home that is not equipped to support the seniors' needs can become a significant hindrance to their well-being. Small but essential modifications, such as grab bars, non-slip flooring and ramps, can greatly improve their quality of life. These would also help the caregivers.

Can the Minister elaborate on what the EASE programme for private property entails and when it will commence. Will the programme begin with EASE 2.0 work scope and what would the subsidy support look like?

By extending support to seniors in private property, we send a strong message that every senior matters; regardless of where they stay. Even if the scope of support is smaller than the public housing, providing some level of assistance to these seniors would ease their financial burden and improve their quality of life. Our population is ageing and we must take proactive steps to ensure our elderly citizens can live with dignity and comfort.

Third, housing option for families with special needs children or adults. In 2024 Ministry of National Development's (MND's) Committee of Supply (COS), I spoke up for divorcees with special needs children and asked whether interim housing can be provided for these divorcees or those that are still in the process of finalising their divorce. I wish to raise this point again, but more on the perspective of long-term housing for any family with special needs children or adults. For these adults, I refer to those who are diagnosed with special needs or disabilities since young and are now in their adulthood.

Personally, I have encountered families with such situations and some of whom are my residents. These families often struggle to find an HDB flat that meet their unique requirements. In some cases, they need to relocate due to the difficulties in the current or former neighbourhoods that they lived in. It is disheartening to hear of families facing hostility from neighbours who may not fully understand or be willing to accommodate the challenges of caring for special needs children or adults. Noise disturbance being a common issue for dispute.

To cite another recent example of a resident living in private property with a remaining lease of less than 10 years. Given that he and his wife's age are both nearing eighties and they are caring for a handicapped son in his forties, they hope to downgrade to an HDB flat while they are still mobile. However, they have repeatedly failed in their appeal for waiver on the wait-out period of 15 months in order to purchase a 5-room flat.

One is a retiree and the other a housewife, they do not have active income nor huge savings and will unlikely make much profit from the sale of their private property given its running out lease. The reason for them wanting a larger flat is solely because their son can only move around on a wheelchair and, with other medical conditions, he requires the space; especially, they have a live-in helper since the elderly couple cannot physically manage their son independently.

Moving multiple times between flats is not ideal for them for the reasons stated. They are also worried whether they are able to find an affordable interim place to rent and whether the landlord is willing to accept them, given their son's condition. This couple's only hope is for the HDB flat to be a more permanent home for their son and is certainly not expecting to purchase it for windfall proceeds from a future sale.

I fully appreciate there are many requests and families with varying conditions in Singapore. However, families with special needs adults form a very small proportion of all our housing needs. I hope the Ministry can introduce special exemptions that would allow these families greater flexibility in choosing a suitable flat, whether they are purchasing a new home or downgrading to a more manageable space.

Another area for the Ministry to consider is how to cater for those living in Adult Disability Housing as the current enrolment age is between 18 and 55 years old. Should some families be unable to care for them at a later age and begin to look for housing option when their charges are past 55 years old, how can they be cared for as these special needs adults are incapable of self-care?

Caring for one with special needs requires extensive resources, patience and a conducive environment. Unfortunately, when these families faced unkindness or intolerance from neighbours, it places even more stress on the caregiver. Some families are compelled to move multiple times in search of a more understanding community. I believe the Ministry can play a role in alleviating these struggles by ensuring that such families have options in securing homes where they feel safe and supported.

Sir, beyond housing policy, we should also work towards fostering a more compassionate society through public education and outreach programmes. Apart from individual housing needs, we must, over time, address the topic of social cohesion between private and public housing. Forward Singapore is fundamentally about community building and we should ensure that our urban planning reflects this vision by fostering greater neighbourliness and mutual understanding. Shared facilities are just one means towards this, but the interaction of people from diverse backgrounds and housing types are more critical in enhancing community bonding.

The need for social cohesion is even more pressing in today's society, where income disparity, housing segregation and other factors can inadvertently lead to division. We should not allow a housing type to define social circles or create barriers. By designing common spaces that are welcoming to all, we can cultivate a shared identity and strengthen our social fabric. Let us work together to ensure that our housing policies and urban planning align with the evolving needs of our citizens.

Question proposed.

Resale Flats and Retirement Adequacy

Mr Pritam Singh (Aljunied): HDB resale flat buyers are offered more grants than buyers of BTO flats, as BTOs are already subsidised by the HDB, whereas resale flats are priced at the market rate. As Singaporeans know, resale flat prices can be very high. Even flats with 60 years left on their lease can cost well in excess of half a million dollars.

A significant number of resale flats are purchased by first-time married couples who must devote a significant chunk of their Central Provident Fund (CPF) retirement funds on servicing mortgage payments. By the time retirement comes along, they may have to downgrade to unlock the equity in their HDB flat, equity which is likely to have depleted significantly because of the reality of the 99-year lease decay countdown.

With the days of iron rice bowls, lifetime job security and pensions no longer the norm for Singaporeans, retirement adequacy for the current and later generations is a more significant issue today. Another reality is that current generations of Singaporeans will not ride the same property escalator as their parents did, from which many ascended from public housing to private homes and, in some cases, to buying a landed property within a single lifetime.

More pertinently, when compared to their peers who purchase a new BTO flat to live in, those who buy an older resale flat, say, with 60 years left on the lease, all other things being equal, will have less money to buy a smaller flat when they retire and, by extension, will have less for their CPF life payouts as well.

The policy of increasing CPF grants for resale flat buyers was last revisited in August last year and it seeks to make HDB resale flats more affordable for resale flat buyers. But this policy can have the perverse effect of sellers raising prices even more and new buyers chasing ever-increasing resale prices. We need to see how we can strengthen the retirement adequacy of resale flat buyers who buy flats with a significant chunk of their leases already expended.

A renewed focus on building the retirement incomes of first-time resale flat buyers would ensure that resale flat buyers consider their resale flat purchases carefully, with an eye on the 99-year lease countdown clock and their retirement planning considerations in mind. For resale flat buyers who qualify for resale flat grants, would the Government consider giving resale flat buyers the option of putting aside a portion of the CPF resale grant, to top up their CPF Special Accounts, instead of allowing the entire grant to be deployed for the resale flat purchase?

To illustrate, a first-time couple aged 35 years of age, deploys $25,000 of the grant directly into their CPF accounts and assuming each party tops up just $200 a month to their accounts from the ages of 35 to 55, at a 4% interest in the Special Account, each of them would see this grant compound to slightly more than $125,000 by the time they reach 55 years of age.

The HDB Home Ownership Scheme, which allowed the use of CPF money in 1968 and the sale of HDB flats on the resale market in 1971, have become an increasingly significant factor when it comes to retirement adequacy. The objective of home ownership in and of itself is not the problem. However, with the 99-year lease decay looming over Singaporeans and far more foreseeable than it was from the vantage point of 1968 and 1971, the fundamental objective of CPF for retirement needs must come back into focus.

For the immediate term and given how complex HDB housing policy has become, any changes and alternatives with respect to HDB policy will have to be explored at the margins. To this end, I would suggest there could be some policy space to better protect first-time buyers of older resale HDB properties from the reality of the 99-year lease decay countdown clock.

The Chairman: Mr Xie Yao Quan, you can take your two cuts together.

Resale Flat Affordability

Mr Xie Yao Quan (Jurong): Thank you, Chairman. In the face of disruptions brought on by COVID-19, the Government has made what I would describe as a breathtaking range of moves on housing in the last few years and achieved a very strong report card. Yet, in my view, there is one major issue that still needs intervention and that is our HDB resale market – which has risen sharply in the last few years and continues to rise.

Now I know supply-side measures by the Government will need more time to work themselves into the HDB resale market and, eventually, the market will stabilise.

But there is also something to be said about the fairness to whole cohorts of home buyers, especially first timers, when they are caught in a prolonged upturn in the HDB resale market cycle and are either priced out completely from the resale market or are pressured into a buying decision in order to lock-in a price, despite a preference to look around a bit more in the market. And the more time it takes for measures to cool the resale market, the greater the number of cohorts affected as such. I wonder if this is fair, especially for first-timers.

I hope the Government can develop more policy options on the demand side, to cool the HDB resale market more quickly, when needed. Specifically, I suggest we have a separate buyer stamp duty framework for HDB flats. The public housing market has always been regulated separately, with its own rules and design to achieve key social goals. So, it stands to reason that the HDB market should have its own buyer stamp duty framework that is decoupled from the quanta and dynamics of private property transactions.

This separate buyer stamp duty framework for the HDB market can give the Government greater policy optionality when it needs to quickly cool the resale market, to preserve fairness for all cohorts of home buyers.

Public Rental Housing

Chairman, in recent years, the Government has enhanced the Public Rental Scheme by introducing new typologies to provide more housing options for lower-income households, such as the Single Room Shared Facilities pilot. Could MND provide an update on the pilot, and how the Government is continuing to improve the Public Rental Scheme to better support the evolving needs of our vulnerable groups?

The Chairman: Mr Henry Kwek, you can take your two cuts together.

Upping Income Ceiling for BTOs and Executive Condominiums

Mr Kwek Hian Chuan Henry (Kebun Baru): Chairman, to meet the growing demand for homes, driven by smaller family size and evolving housing needs, MND has significantly ramped up the supply of BTOs and private homes. These efforts are paying off, with supply and demand now stabilizing at pre-COVID-19 levels, giving home buyers more options.

At the same time, strong income growth since the pandemic has shifted housing needs and many young couples are taking longer to settle down, whether due to career priorities, financial planning or lifestyle choices. However, some aspiring homeowners, particularly Singaporeans who do well in their career but lack familial support for down payments for private property, face challenges in securing affordable housing.

With this in mind, would MND consider raising the income ceiling for BTOs and executive condominiums (ECs), as well as increasing the supply of ECs? That would provide more housing options for the upper middle-income segments, ensuring that Singapore remains a place where home ownership is accessible, aspirations are met and the ladder of social mobility remains strong for future generations.

Budget Meals Initiative

The cost of living, especially the price of cooked food, remain one of the top concerns for Singaporeans. Rising food prices driven by inflation and global supply disruptions have placed pressure on households, especially lower-income families and seniors. Affordability of cooked food is therefore paramount.

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At the same time, it is also important to allow food businesses the flexibility to adapt, innovate and to cater to diverse consumer preference. Therefore, the budget meal initiative strikes this balance, offering lower-cost meal options for price-sensitive consumers, on the one hand, while ensuring that hawkers and eateries are not restricted in their offerings. This approach also helps to maintain a vibrant food culture while supporting those who need it the most.

Since the launch of the budget meal initiative, can MND share what has been the take-up rate so far, and what more can we do to further expand affordable food options in our neighbourhood?

Update on Budget Meals

Mr Chong Kee Hiong (Bishan-Toa Payoh): Chairman, the Ministry and HDB announced the Budget Meal initiative in March 2023 to provide Singaporeans with more affordable food options. HDB had set the target to have all coffee shops leased from HDB to offer budget meals by 2026.

Under this initiative, all HDB coffee shops that are renewing their tenancies from May 2023 will be required to offer at least four budget meals and two budget drink options. Budget meals include lunch or dinner options that are typically priced at $3.50 and below, and drinks priced at $1.20 and below.

May I ask the number and percentage of coffee shops leased from HDB which have come onboard to date? Are we on track to have all of the coffee shops leased from HDB offering budget meals?

In a number of older HDB estates, many coffee shops there are bought and sold in the open market, and not leased from HDB. Hence, MND will need to work with the private operators to come onboard the Budget Meal initiative. How will MND encourage and incentivise them? So far, how many and what is the proportion of privately-owned coffee shops have joined the scheme?

Finally, would the Ministry provide an update on the BudgetMealGoWhere portal, an online platform that helps the public find coffee shops offering budget meals and drinks? What has been the feedback on its usefulness so far? For senior citizens who have difficulty going online, how does the Ministry share with them updated information on where to go for budget meals?

Community Improvement Projects Committee Funding for all Town Councils

Mr Pritam Singh (Aljunied): Community Improvement Projects Committee (CIPC) funding is an important source of Government grants for improving HDB estates. CIPC projects cover basic infrastructure, recreational facilities and communal amenities, including playgrounds, fitness areas and linkways. For example, on multiple occasions in this House, I have asked about the quantum of CIPC funds given to each Town Council, so there is a clear quantifiable data point to indicate how much taxpayer money has been given to each Town Council. In 2017, the then Minister for National Development said that MND did not prescribe any standardised way for Town Councils to present the CIPC quantum.

When I asked the same substantive question last year, the Minister replied that the amount of CIPC funding disbursed to each Town Council each year is based on the works completed by the Town Council as the implementing agent. The disbursement is reported in the respective Town Council's annual financial statements. The annual disbursement to the Town Councils includes CIPC projects approved over multiple years, as projects may take years and exclude CIPC projects implemented by the Citizens' Consultative Committees (CCCs).

Even though the disbursement is reported in the annual financial statements of all Town Councils, without a standardised way of presenting the information, tracking the absolute amount of CIPC funding channelled to each Town Council can be challenging and inaccurate, particularly if one compares the amounts disbursed by MND to PAP and opposition Town Councils.

Prior to 2021, opposition Town Councils had to seek the agreement of the various Citizens' Consultative Committees under the charge of unelected People's Association (PA) advisors, including losing PAP candidates. In 2021, MND correctly changed the process for making CIPC nominations and Town Councils, in addition to CCCs, were allowed to propose projects for funding. Opposition Town Councils need not get the buy-in and support from CCCs that work exclusively with PA grassroots advisors anymore.

In view of the change of approach since 2021, may I ask the Minister to answer these questions relating to all new CIPC proposals from 2021 to date? Could the Minister please name the top five Town Councils in terms of CIPC funds granted and the quantum extended to each Town Council respectively?

Please also name the bottom five Town Councils and the quantum of CIPC funds granted to each respectively over the same period. Please include projects regardless of whether they came from the Town Councils directly or through the CCCs. How does the Committee decide which project proposals are approved and which are rejected by the CIPC committee?

And finally, in this regard, would MND meet with elected opposition Town Councillors to discuss projects which it rejects?

Dedicated EASE-like Scheme for Persons with Disabilities (PwDs)

Mr Ong Hua Han (Nominated Member): Chairman, I brought up in last year's Budget and COS debate that more can be done for persons with disabilities in the area of housing.

The EASE programme is actually open to persons with disabilities regardless of age, on a case-by-case basis. However, speaking to people on the ground, not everyone is aware they can apply. The naming of the scheme suggests that the programme is meant for seniors only.

MND should make it clearer that persons with disabilities of all ages can also benefit from EASE. Alternatively, could MND consider a similar but separate scheme for persons with disabilities?

Those who require home modifications should be fully informed of their options to empower independent living at home. Under such a scheme, and this is a point I made last year, MND can then widen the list of improvement items that specifically cater to persons with disabilities beyond those with mobility challenges.

Same-floor Lift Access for All HDB Flats

Mr Dennis Tan Lip Fong (Hougang): Chairman, I speak again on the issue of lift upgrading for the five blocks of HDB flats in Hougang Single Member Constituency (SMC), namely Blocks 363, 830, 831, 832 and 835, where there are still some flats which do not have same-floor lift access. I have been raising this issue in Parliament every year since 2021.

While I am glad that lift upgrading was offered to 10 more HDB flats at Block 833 last year, I hope the Minister can explain what the changes in circumstances for Block 833 were which do not apply to the other five blocks.

In the past year, I continued to receive feedback from affected residents on their unhappiness over the lack of same-floor lift access for the remaining five blocks. The lack of lift access is still a very real issue for some of my affected residents, especially those with mobility needs requiring assistance to access the stairs outside their units when they have to go out, not to mention risks during emergencies. I have said previously that I would feel the pain when residents told me that their parents or grandparents had to be carried when accessing the stairs next to their units. Residents also have to pay additional charges for delivery items.

As for the Lift Access Housing Grant, this is still not an option for many residents with whom I have spoken to.

I was previously told by the Minister for National Development that, as of January 2023, there were about 140 HDB blocks with units without same-floor lift access. May I clarify with the Minister between January 2023 and February 2025, what is the total number of such blocks where the Lift Upgrading Programme (LUP) has since been offered or made available?

I would also like to ask the Government, in the past five years, how many HDB flats without same-floor lift access had been provided with viable mechanical options on the adjoining staircase? I have also heard the Minister's explanation to the other MPs on 18 February this year, and I would again like to call on the Government to not just look at the issue of lift access from the angle of cost alone, something which could have been mitigated or avoided if HDB had tendered out lift upgrading projects consisting of blocks with problematic designs together with other HDB blocks with no design issues for LUP earlier.

Of the remaining affected HDB units without same-floor lift access in Hougang, I hope HDB can provide an update as to which units still face technical constraints beyond the application of costly solutions and which units have not been offered LUP due to high cost alone. I hope HDB also inform residents in writing. This may also allow more in-depth study and better understanding on a stack-by-stack basis.

Please also inform residents of the alternative mechanical options available and the cost involved. Please inform my Town Council so that it can convey HDB's explanation when asked by residents and it can also play a supportive role in the quest for solutions.

In closing, I would like to call on the Government to consider giving same-floor lift access to all HDB flats where it is technically not impossible for access to be provided with the LUP, save for reason of cost. A greater subsidy should be given. After all, the design oversight is no fault of the flat owners, and it is a matter of equity for all HDB flat owners.

Segmented Units

Mr Ang Wei Neng (West Coast): Sir, 30 years ago, residents who bought segmented HDB units without lift access at the same level, prioritised privacy over convenience. Back then, climbing the stairs was not an issue. But today, as they age, many face mobility challenges and their priorities have shifted. What was once a desirable feature has become a source of hardship.

Last month, one of my Nanyang residents, came to see me. She is 68 years old and lives in a segmented unit and suffers from weak knees, making stairs a daily struggle. Her sister-in-law, a stroke patient lives next door, also a segmented unit, faces even greater mobility challenges. Both wish to apply for a BTO flat with lift access, but as second-time applicants, their chances are slim.

This is not an isolated case. It is a story shared by many residents living in segmented units across Singapore. That is why I urge the Minister for National Development to review the policy on segmented units. Out of the 140 segmented blocks in Nanyang, 14 blocks, or 10%, are in Nanyang, affecting 224 households. These residents are not asking for special treatment; they are asking for a fair chance to age with dignity and ease.

To address this issue, I propose the following measures:

One, install additional lifts in segmented blocks wherever it is technically possible. This is the best solution.

Two, when adding lifts is not feasible or too costly, I urge HDB to consider the following: allow owners to sell their segmented flats back to HDB at market price, ensuring they are not financially disadvantaged; grant these owners the priority to apply for BTO flats, similar to first-time applicants, to improve their chances of securing a new home; waive the resale levy for owners who sell their segmented units and buy a BTO flat, removing a significant financial barrier; provide additional subsidies for purchasing another flat, with even greater support for families with members who have mobility issues.

After buying back the segmented units, HDB should not resell them. Instead, HDB could collaborate with entities like hospitals to rent out these units to foreign nurses and medical workers, preventing the cycle from repeating.

These measures would provide a permanent solution, ensuring no Singaporean is left behind as they age. Let us be decisive, take bold action to resolve this issue once and for all.

HDB Lifts

Mr Muhamad Faisal Bin Abdul Manap (Aljunied): Sir, there are three blocks with identical designs in my ward of Kaki Bukit Division of Aljunied Group Representation Constituency (GRC), namely Blocks 528, 532 and 536 of Bedok North Street 3. Each of these blocks are 17 floors high, with a total of 192 units, served by two lift lobbies in each block. Although these three blocks are identical in design, Blocks 528 and 532 are served by a total of three lifts whereas Block 536 is only served by two lifts. Some residents of Block 536 shared with me that there used to be three lifts serving the block until the LUP was carried out.

Sir, there are many elderly residents in Kaki Bukit, and Block 536 is no exception. They are particularly reliant on lifts. They have concerns over the wait times for the lifts and are confused why their block is seemingly deprived of one lift compared to the other two blocks of the same design.

I therefore seek clarification from HDB on how it determines if a block has a sufficient number of lifts serving it, and secondly, on specifically on Block 536, why two lifts were deemed sufficient for this block, and I do hope that HDB can address this issue and provide the appropriate assistance to the residents of Block 536 of Bedok North Street 3.

Support for Private Estates Residents

Ms Denise Phua Lay Peng (Jalan Besar): Chairman, Sir, I look after residents in several private estates in Jalan Besar GRC and wish to speak on their behalf. I appreciate that all Singaporeans, whether residing in public or private estates, benefit from the Government's efforts in national and civil defence, infrastructure, public transport, education, healthcare and other essential services.

Housing type, of course, often serves as a proxy for resource allocation, especially for lower-income families with limited assets. However, when addressing issues like ageing, sustainability and recognising citizens' contributions, it is crucial to include private estate residents.

I appreciate the Government’s responsiveness to us MPs in advocating for these residents, ensuring their inclusion in initiatives like the Merdeka and Pioneer Generations Packages, Community Development Council (CDC) Vouchers, MND's EASE programme, Climate Vouchers and SG60 Vouchers.

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Private estate living offers advantages such as higher asset values, greater privacy and renovation flexibility, but it also comes with challenges, including self-management responsibilities. How can MND assist elderly residents in private estates to better age in place?

For condominiums managing individual procurements, can MND facilitate sharing best practice in procurements in property management and maintenance? Could a dedicated agency mediate disputes between residents and Management Councils (MCs) to ensure fair and timely resolutions? How can the Government incentivise private condos to adopt sustainable practices, such as energy-efficient lighting or water-saving measures?

Lastly, how can MND ensure residents have direct access to updated community news and opportunities to participate in social initiatives for all ages? These steps would enhance inclusivity and support for private estate residents.

A Vibrant and Liveable Sengkang

Mr Chua Kheng Wee Louis (Sengkang): The Urban Redevelopment Authority’s (URA’s) long-term plan review highlights the Government's strategy of building inclusive and close-knit towns by improving connectivity and injecting amenities within neighbourhoods and close to homes. Unlike older HDB estates or new BTO estates for certain neighbourhoods, all precincts within Sengkang are currently underserved when it comes to the lack of coffee shops and everyday conveniences in the immediate neighbourhood.

Hence, the Sengkang team has been actively exploring opportunities to bring greater F&B and commercial conveniences to our residents. For example, we studied the possibility of converting under-utilised spaces, such as unused multi-storey carparks, although I understand that technical limitations have rendered some of these proposals unfeasible.

During the 2023 COS debate, in response to my call for the MND to address the lack of amenities within Sengkang, Senior Minister of State Sim Ann noted that URA and the relevant agencies are currently reviewing plans to further develop the Sengkang Town Centre. Therefore, would the MND be able to provide a status update to these plans?

Moreover, with the recent decommissioning of Compassvale Bus Interchange, the site could be used to develop amenities, such as an integrated community development. The empty plot of land next to Compass One could also be better utilised for a permanent building, rather than merely for the occasional "pasar malam" in the interest of maximising land use while rejuvenating the wider Sengkang neighbourhood.

Specifically for hawker centres, the NEA today manages 121 markets and hawker centres, and after decades of waiting, residents at Buangkok and Anchorvale can finally have their own hawker centre.

I understand from the Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment COS earlier that there will be five more hawker centres planned in the future. There is strong justification for another hawker centre to serve the needs of residents in the central and eastern regions of Sengkang, especially when the opportunity presents itself today, and especially when we consider that this is not just about the standalone hawker centre, but potentially an integrated development that will enable us to better maximise and achieve the highest and best use for the centrally located plots of land there.

On improving connectivity, BTO developments, such as Rivervale Shores, include flats targeted at both seniors and families with young children. Hence, the HDB should proactively work with the Land Transport Authority (LTA) to ensure that the surrounding infrastructure should be made barrier free, and also by retrofitting nearby overhead bridges with lifts ahead of the project's Temporary Occupation Permit (TOP).

While there is unlikely to be many more new BTO estates in Sengkang, given limited areas for development, for the benefit of future residents of future BTO estates across Singapore, I hope that this can be included as part of tender requirements for contractors engaged by the HDB for new BTO projects.

The Chairman: Mr Henry Kwek. Take your two cuts together.

Taskforce for Architectural and Engineering Consultants

Mr Kwek Hian Chuan Henry (Kebun Baru): Chairman, in September 2024, the Government established the Task Force for Architectural and Engineering Consultants to tackle critical challenges in the built environment sector.

This sector is fundamental to Singapore’s long-term urban development, sustainability, and economic resilience and ensuring its continued strength requires strategic transformation.

The taskforce, co-led by Minister Indranee Rajah and Surbana Jurong Chairman, Chaly Mah, has been focusing on four key areas: one, enhancing the sector’s branding to attract young talent; two, modernising workforce to future-proof the industry; three, evolving business models to boost competitiveness; and four, promoting sustainability in line with Singapore’s green goals.

With major national projects such as Changi Terminal 5 on the horizon, the success of this initiative is critical in building a resilient and future-ready industry. Can the Government provide an update on the task force’s progress in supporting the built environment consultancy sector?

Private Estate – Ageing-in-place

Over the years, MND has made tremendous strides in supporting seniors to age-in-place within the HDB estates. Today, many seniors benefit from highly subsidised home fittings under EASE 2.0, which helps frail seniors live more safely at home.

Additionally, an increased number of Active Aging Centres (AACs) have been set up within HDB estates, providing seniors with space for social engagement, activities and community support.

Moving forward, MND and Town Councils will work together through the Age Well SG programme to retrofit common areas, making public spaces more senior-friendly and accessible for all. MPs like myself from PAP Senior Wing certainly welcome these significant moves.

This year, MND is extending these efforts to private estates, ensuring that seniors outside of HDB estates also receive meaningful support. This includes the rollout of EASE 2.0 for private estate seniors and the introduction of the Estate Upgrading Programme (EUP)-Silver Estate, which will enhance common spaces and walkways to better support ageing residents.

Beyond these efforts, can MND explore setting aside spaces in larger parks within private estates to host AACs as well as to help assisted living providers secure affordable locations near private estates, ensuring accessible home care and assisted living services for seniors who need them within the private estates? And in general, can MND share its vision for helping Singaporean seniors age-in-place within the private estates?

The Chairman: Mr Chong Kee Hiong, please take your two cuts together.

Helping Seniors in Private Estates Age in Place

Mr Chong Kee Hiong (Bishan-Toa Payoh): Chairman, a study by the Centre for Research on Successful Ageing (Rosa) at the Singapore Management University (SMU) found that eight in 10 older adults in Singapore prefer to age in their current homes, indicating a desire for familiarity and stability.

For seniors living in private estates and who can afford it, ageing-in-place can be achieved through renovations to make their homes more elderly-friendly. However, for the group that is asset-rich and does not have sufficient cash resources, home improvements to suit their needs may not be an option. We are glad that MND has implemented EASE 2.0 to ensure that all seniors are able to age-in-place.

With the successful implementation of the HDB Lease Buyback Scheme since 2009, has MND distilled learnings from the programme that can be applied to the private home market? While there are reverse mortgage packages available in the open market, would it be possible for MND to work with the banks to come up with reverse mortgage packages designed to suit the needs of seniors in private estates?

City in Nature

Singapore is well-known internationally as a clean and green city. However, as a "City in Nature", we face the challenge of needing to balance the protection of ecosystems with the safety, cleanliness and comfort of residents. The increasing number of human-wildlife conflicts is one of the main problems highlighted by my constituents.

I shared in this House two years ago, the problems of crows, mynahs and chickens in my estates. Today, the growing populations of crows and mynahs continue to disturb my residents. They are noisy, dirty and aggressive, and attack bewildered passers-by and residents. Over the years, Bishan-Toa Payoh Town Council has received hundreds of reports and feedback about these birds.

In addition to crow attacks, frequent and longstanding complaints include bird droppings on laundry, windows and ledges, food and rubbish messes created by their scavenging, and noise nuisance. The bird droppings are hygiene and health concerns. They affect the general aesthetics of the town and lead to higher maintenance costs.

Town Councils need more assistance, resources and expertise from the National Parks Board (NParks) to remove nests, reduce shelters and food sources for these birds. To curb the population of these birds, which have become pests due to their numbers, would NParks please devise a new, holistic strategy? We also want to ensure that we are not chasing the flocks to other estates.

Safer, Healthier and More Active Living

Ms Carrie Tan (Nee Soon): Mr Chairman, I have three recommendations for MND to enhance Singaporeans' quality of life by optimising spaces and resources in our neighbourhoods.

But first of all, I would like to urge an increase in support for the maintenance and repairs in older flats.

Climate change has brought about unpredictable weather patterns, such as the prolonged monsoon in January, and with La Nina expected to bring more wet months this year, are our older public flats, many built in the eighties and nineties, equipped to withstand such conditions?

Many of these flats are experiencing water seepage from roofs and external walls, leading to wet floors and increased fall risk, especially for the elderly. The current seven-year repair and redecoration cycle is insufficient. I urge MND to allocate additional resources for more frequent waterproofing maintenance in older flats to ensure safer living conditions.

Other than funding, our experience managing complex water seepage cases has been very frustrating. In many cases, rectification works can drag for months to years, with residents having to bear with the water dripping into their homes, damage to furniture and fall risk aside, they often have to take leave from work for inspections with relevant personnel, ranging from Town Council property officers to HDB engineers.

I urge MND to look into manpower and capability enhancements for the building and infrastructure group at HDB to help the team do their work better. How can HDB better equip resource and incentivise the engineers to achieve better rectification timelines?

Two, to expand spaces for sports and recreation for active seniors? Tick tuck, tick tuck. This is not TikTok but the sound of a rising sport called pickleball. It is encouraging to see more seniors staying active through sports. However, in Nee Soon South, as well as in other constituencies, the demand for courts is rising with badminton, basketball, netball, sepak takraw and now pickleball competing for space.

Our PA colleagues now struggle with juggling court allocations while promoting active lifestyles. With the growing momentum of active ageing, more seniors will remain mobile and eager to engage in sports. MND must plan ahead to meet this rising demand by repurposing underutilised spaces for recreation.

Currently, some community gardens are located on multi-storey carpark top decks. But certain fruit trees are prohibited due to concerns about the root damage to the roofs. We can relocate these gardens to the green spaces between HDB blocks and convert the multi-storey car park rooftops into sports facilities.

Installing safety netting along the sides and overhead will ensure that ball and record games can be played safely without concerns about errant shots going over parapets.

Three, let us allow and encourage small plot planting in HDB front and backyards. Many elderly residents cultivate small gardens outside their ground floor units, growing flowers, papayas or banana trees. However, currently MND inspections classify these as defects. If the Town Council averages more than four defects per block in a year, its maintenance rating is downgraded to amber in the Town Council Management report. I urge MND to remove this rule and introduce a structured framework, allowing residents to cultivate these small plots as community food gardens. Guidelines can be established to ensure proper maintenance and prevent issues such as mosquito breeding. Additionally, incentives can be introduced to encourage best practices.

I am grateful to the Singapore Land Authority for working with us closely in Nee Soon South to allow green spaces in our estates to be used for permaculture planting. This effort will benefit from a bigger and louder push from the Government through a national initiative to raise awareness and invite participation by residents.

Organisations like the Circle for Human Sustainability, Edible Garden City and Project Black Gold, that talks about soil health, are examples of citizen-led groups that would love to partner the Government in this effort.

I suggest that the very popular Community in Bloom programme run by NParks to be expanded with a new award category "Community in Abundance" to recognise gardeners whose efforts yield consistent and fruitful harvest. Imagine weighing in the papayas, pomelos, pumpkins and bitter gourds for the competition, and then distributing the fruits of this labour to friends and neighbours in the vicinity of each community. It would be a joyous experience for everyone involved. One caveat to ensure fairness and adherence to nature principles, we must stipulate that chemical fertilisers are not allowed and assessors must be equipped to detect the violation of these rules.

Studies show that gardening provides significant health benefits, including improved physical activity, reduced stress, enhanced cognitive function, preventing depression, heart disease and dementia. The vision of little farms everywhere not only supports our food resilience, it also contributes to a healthier and more sustainable Singapore through both the physical activity and the nutritious low carbon produce. I urge MND to consider and implement these recommendations toward healthier lives in all our estates and neighbourhoods.

The Chairman: Ms Joan Pereira, you can take your two cuts together.

6.15 pm

Age Well SG

Ms Joan Pereira (Tanjong Pagar): Chairman, my residents and I welcome the inclusion of private estates in the enhanced Estate Upgrading Programme (EUP) to help our elderly living in these communities age in place. They are looking forward to the senior-friendly features, such as barrier-free access, rest points, therapeutic gardens and active health fitness trails.

I understand the targeted and systematic approach taken by MND to launch: first, the new EUP for Silver Estates, where there is a higher concentration of seniors; followed by the EUP for Regular Estates later.

However, there are currently different types of repairs and upgrades which may need to be done more urgently, regardless of the private estates' locations. These are the ones which pose safety and health concerns, such as lighting in certain areas, potholes and drain covers. These are to reduce tripping hazards and potential breeding grounds for mosquitoes, for example. How will MND ensure that repair and upgrading works in private estates are carried out expeditiously in view of safety and health concerns for residents?

Rejuvenating Our Estates

An increasing number of our HDB blocks are crossing the over 50-year mark. We need to rejuvenate our older estates so that they remain good homes for our people. For ageing blocks with widespread, common and recurring problems, I appeal to HDB to consider a review of its approach to such issues. Instead of ad hoc repairs, would HDB consider a holistic strategy to provide a sustainable, longer-term solution to deal with the systemic deterioration of affected HDB blocks?

Two years ago in March, I shared in this House the numerous building problems plaguing my residents at Henderson Crescent estate. Many residents have to deal with water leakages, mould infestation and spalling concrete.

Resident A has difficulty getting the cooperation of the upper floor unit to repair the ceiling leak. The mould on the ceiling smells. Her cabinets are damaged from rotting. The family is helpless under the leaking water and has to breathe in harmful mould spores every day.

Resident B and her husband managed to get repairs done for their kitchen ceiling leak under the HDB Goodwill Repair Assistance (GRA) scheme. The GRA helped them to pay for their share of 25% of the repair cost. Their relief did not last long. The leaking problem resurfaced just nine months later in January this year.

Resident C, an elderly stroke patient who lives alone, suffers from a double whammy. Water leaks into his unit from the flat above and his unit is leaking into the unit below. He will have to bear double, the co-sharing repair costs, which are a heavy financial burden on him. PA grassroots had offered him financial assistance for repairs, but he did not take them up for personal reasons. Such repairs are especially financially challenging for elderly residents without family support.

Many residents in Henderson Crescent have expressed to me their desire for the Selective En bloc Redevelopment Scheme (SERS). If there are no plans for SERS, can the Ministry review the criteria for Voluntary Early Redevelopment Scheme (VERS) on a case-by-case basis, depending on the particular condition of the blocks? Not all buildings will age uniformly. Would the Ministry share an update on its plans for ageing estates and review the Home Improvement Programme (HIP), SERS and VERS?

The Chairman: Mr Lim Biow Chuan, please take your two cuts together.

Masterplan Review

Mr Lim Biow Chuan (Mountbatten): Sir, last year, URA launched various exhibitions and ramped up engagement efforts for the draft Masterplan review. In my constituency, there was a proposal to change the zoning of a plot of land at Amber Road from Reserve site to Residential Zone.

Several of my residents have written appeals to object to the rezoning. They are concerned that their views will be obstructed once the new development is built. They also worry that there will be more traffic congestion in the area once the neighbouring land is developed.

Sir, I am sympathetic to their views. After all, a property is one of the most expensive assets which a resident will buy in their lifetime. These residents bought the property with the expectation that there will not be increased density in the area and that their views of the sea will not be obstructed.

May I ask MND or URA to clarify how will they take into account the public feedback received when drafting or finalising the public feedback? When I filed a Parliamentary Question in January this year, I was told that measures will be introduced to minimise traffic impact. What are these measures and how confident is URA or LTA that these measures to manage will actually work out?

Built Environment

Sir, the construction industry is seen to be an industry which is dirty and non-appealing. However, Singapore depends on skilled workers and professionals to build their HDB flats, condominiums, factories, office space, bus depots and Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) stations. Without such skilled and competent workers, then the industry suffers as we will see the lowering of standards in the building and construction industry.

The feedback which I received from many members of the public is that there is lack of transparency in the works being carried out by contractors. Sir, take for example, in my constituency, there is a sidewalk along Cassia Link and it has been cordoned off for many years for road widening works. Yet, for a period of time, no work has been done and the place remains cordoned off. There is no update as to the timeline for completion of the works.

For my Mountbatten CC which is being rebuilt, the deadline for the issue of the Temporary Occupation Permit (TOP) keeps being moved to a later date without any explanation as to the reason for the delay. Surely, it makes more sense that once you start construction work on a site, the contractor should move quickly to carry out the work, complete the works expeditiously and then, the contractor can reinstate the site and move on to the next project. However, this does not seem to be the current situation. After a site is cordoned off, many a times, no work is carried out for a period of time. And the frequent reason given is that the contractor needs to get some permit or approval. Sir, this seems very inefficient to me.

The Government launched the refreshed Built Environment Industry Transformation Map in September 2022, three years ago. Can the Government provide an update on the progress of industry transformation and some of its upcoming efforts to further accelerate this transformation? Will there be more support for construction firms so that we can have a pipeline of capable people in the industry? What about our efforts to attract engineers, architects and surveyors into the industry?

Showcase Local Design in Public Projects

Miss Rachel Ong (West Coast): Chairman, Singapore has long engaged both international and local architects for major projects. Some key examples: Jewel at Changi Airport, Marina Bay Sands and South Beach Development.

Countries, like China and Korea, initially collaborated with international firms but have since transitioned to having local architects spearhead significant developments. Given Singapore's strong global reputation in urban planning, taking a similar approach could further strengthen the local architectural and design sectors.

Does the Government plan to entrust future major public projects solely to local firms, providing them greater opportunities to showcase their capabilities? Additionally, are there initiatives to uplift Singapore's architectural and building design industry? If so, what do these plans entail?

Support for Heritage Businesses

Mr Keith Chua (Nominated Member): Mr Chairman, the Minister recently announced the establishment of a task force to help sustain and grow heritage businesses. While some heritage businesses continue to flourish, many have decided to exit permanently owing to economic pressures, rising costs, lower consumer demand and also succession issues.

Could the Ministry and URA elaborate on the plans to support heritage businesses in the short and longer term? In particular, how can we help those where the next generation is committed to carry on but may need support in some areas? Heritage businesses are a part of our shared history. As a community, we can all play our part by patronising heritage businesses.

Safe and Efficient Last-mile Deliveries

Ms See Jinli Jean (Nominated Member): At its COS debate last year, the Minister spoke about the setting up of a tripartite workgroup for last-mile deliveries. The workgroup had showcased developments at the URA Urban Lab Exhibition last November. Could the Ministry provide an update on the workgroup's progress and upcoming plans?

The Chairman: Mr Louis Ng, please take your three cuts together.

Support for Breastfeeding Mothers

Mr Louis Ng Kok Kwang (Nee Soon): Sir, I once said in this House that I am a housefly when it comes to asking for more. Even as Minister Indranee swats and shoos me away, I keep coming back for more. I should clarify that the Minister actually does not always swat and shoo me away.

On the issue of breastfeeding, I am grateful for her and her team for consulting and working together with the Breastfeeding Mother's Support Group to effect changes that will help so many breastfeeding mothers.

I am glad we will amend the Code on Accessibility in the Built Environment to lower GFA requirements for lactation rooms which will benefit many breastfeeding mothers. I am glad our voices have been heard, and many current and future breastfeeding mothers will benefit from this change in policy. So, for once, I shall not ask anymore. Thank you to the most sympathetic Minister, Minister Indranee.

Help Single Unweds with Housing

And now, I will ask for more. It is 2025 and we should finally ensure that all our housing policies are inclusive and do not discriminate against single unwed parents. Why do single unwed parents still not qualify for the Parenthood Provisional Housing Scheme (PPHS)? Why is their application on a case-by-case basis? Single parents who are divorced or widowed qualify for PPHS, so why not single unwed parents?

I can imagine how stressful it is to be a single unwed parent and our policies should help rather than discriminate against them. We ought to remember also that when we turn away a single unwed parent, are they really able to just rent in the open market, especially considering that many landlords do not want to rent to people with young children? Single unwed parents should be treated the same as others when applying for PPHS. We should end the discrimination and allow them to qualify for the PPHS.

Mandate Sterilisation of Pet Cats

I have spent a good part of my life calling for HDB to allow the keeping of cats in HDB flats. Many have called for this and I am glad the Government has finally changed our policies and allow the keeping of cats in HDB flats. There is still an outstanding issue of people breeding cats and abandoning them, and this puts our new policy in jeopardy.

Cats reproduce very quickly and unsterilised cats caterwaul. These are two important issues we need to resolve and we can do this through mandating the sterilisation of pet cats as a prerequisite for the keeping of cats in HDB flats. If this still cannot be done, then the Government should at least be given the power to mandate that someone has to sterilise their pet cats if the cats are found to cause disamenties in the community.

The Chairman: Ms Joan Pereira, take your two cuts together, please.

Residential Sky Gardens Disamenities

Ms Joan Pereira: Chairman, three years ago, I filed an Adjournment Motion on building harmonious communities through responsible use of common spaces in public housing estates. I shared about how residents of Skyville@Dawson had to put up with the disturbances and nuisance caused by inconsiderate visitors to the sky gardens at their HDB blocks. Unfortunately, these problems have not gone away. The troubles my residents face continue to be year-round but are worse during the weekends, eve of festive seasons and public holidays.

Here are the top five complaints from my residents.

6.30 pm

First, noise disturbances at the sky garden. Groups of people regularly gather at the sky garden, making excessive noise late into the night, smoking and drinking. They show no regard for the people residing right next to the gardens. Second, public urination at staircase landings. Visitors have been urinating next to the staircase landing doors, with the pungent stench pervading all the surrounding homes. This is highly unhygienic and unacceptable. Third, smoking in stairwells. Individuals frequently smoke in the stairwells. Fourth, littering. There is an increasing amount of litter and rubbish at the sky gardens and staircase landings. Fifth, obscene activities. Evidence of obscene activities are littered around.

Residents and I are aware that the gardens are public spaces. As I had highlighted before, public access is not a licence to abuse the usage of public spaces or behave inconsiderately and irresponsibly. Over the last few years, we have worked with HDB, Town Council, Residents' Committees, the National Environment Agency (NEA) and the Police to solve these problems. But disamenities still persist.

Hence, I appeal to MND to reconsider some of our previous suggestions. First, install gantries for registration, limit the number of visitors and require payment of fees to support the operations and cleaning of the sky gardens. Registration will help to make visitors more conscious of how they behave. This method has been working well at another popular HDB rooftop terrace at the Pinnacle@Duxton. Non-residents need to register and pay a $6 fee to access the 50th storey rooftop via a turnstile gantry. Visitor numbers are limited to 200 per day.

Second, install more CCTVs to monitor visitors and their activities. Together with the registration, the video evidence will aid the relevant Government agencies for enforcement of illegal activities, whether it is for littering, vaping or public indecency.

Hoarding – Multi-agency Efforts

The increasing number of hoarders in our residential estates are posing greater safety and health risks to our community. The hazards and deadly consequences of hoarding were brought to the fore by the Hougang flat fire, which killed a family of three hoarders in January.

The authorities are concerned that the problem of hoarding will worsen with our ageing population and had set up the New Environment Action Team (NEAT). While I am heartened by this initiative, I urge MND to consider additional stricter measures concurrently.

Timely resolution of hoarding issues is important because: first, of the ever-present risks; and second, the lack of progress sends a signal that hoarders can do what they please without consequences. This leads to many helpless neighbours suffering for years. Frustrated neighbours may lose faith in their community and the Government, and this is not at all helpful to building unity and neighbourly relations.

The broken windows theory states that visible signs of disorder will lead to more disorder as it gives the appearance that no one cares and no one is in charge, which can lead a neighbourhood to deteriorate very quickly.

For those who suffer from mental health problems, sympathy for them does not mean that we disregard their or their neighbours' safety, health and well-being indefinitely. Hence, hoarders with mental health issues should be required to accept professional assessment and treatment.

For recalcitrant hoarders, MND may wish to consider introducing legislation to empower the authorities to relocate them. This may serve as a strong deterrent and warning to some hoarders.

Action Against Pigeon Feeders

Mr Lim Biow Chuan: Sir, last year, during MND's COS I spoke on the need to take further action against pigeon feeders. It is a known fact that pigeons carry various bacteria and parasites which can be transmitted to humans through their droppings. Given that the pigeons are a potential health risk to residents, I urge NParks to do more to protect our residents from the possible health risks associated with pigeons.

As Chairman of a Town Council, I keep receiving countless feedback about the mess left behind by pigeons. The pigeon faeces make a mess of the residents' clothes; make a mess on the windows, on the void deck; and pigeons would fly or walk into the food centre and attack the food while residents are having their meals.

Sir, why should the majority of residents be put at risk and held hostage by a few irresponsible pigeon feeders?

Sir, I repeat my call last year: the Government needs to better manage the pest bird situation and take action against pigeon feeders. Why are we so slow to do so even after the Town Council provides video evidence to NParks for enforcement? We can make the living environment better for all our residents if we take action against pigeon feeders promptly.

The Chairman: Mr Xie Yao Quan, please take your two cuts together.

Pest Birds in our Neighbourhoods

Mr Xie Yao Quan: Chairman, perhaps only in Singapore are birds a major issue for the country's Members of Parliament. But pest birds are a huge pain point for many of our residents, in many of our estates. Pest birds steal food, they leave droppings on clothes and all over the place, create noise very early in the morning and, in extreme cases, cause injury to residents.

And while the most effective way to manage the problem is to go upstream and control the pest bird population at source, by denying pest birds of their food sources in markets, hawker centres, coffeeshops and refuse collection centres; and by catching errant individuals who feed birds, including those who throw food out from out of their windows. We also need effective measures downstream, to quickly bring down a local pest bird population when it flares up from time to time, despite our upstream measures.

So how does MND plan to strengthen our capabilities across the sector to manage this "birds problem" in our estates?

Integrated Municipal Services

Chairman, it was announced in the 2024 Committee of Supply that MSO has expanded the integrated municipal operations pilot to cover Pasir Ris-Punggol; and if the pilot continues to produce good results, MSO will scale this to more estates. How is the pilot going and is MSO planning to expand the pilot further?

The Chairman: Mr Henry Kwek, you can take your two cuts together.

Review of Animals and Birds Act

Mr Kwek Hian Chuan Henry: Chairman, recent high-profile animal cruelty cases highlighted a concerning trend in Singapore. In fact, in one of the worst cases of animal cruelty recently, a Singaporean was found guilty of throwing community cats off HDB blocks, resulting in their deaths.

This case underscores the pressing need for stronger animal welfare protection. In 2024, the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) reported 961 confirmed cases of animal cruelty and welfare concerns – the highest in 12 years. These include 283 cases of cruelty with abandonment being the most common, followed by physical abuse. And notably, there is a troubling increase in cases involving youths, rising from six in 2023 to 15 in 2024.

In response to these developments, the NParks has initiated a review of the Animals and Birds Act to strengthen protections for animal welfare and health. Can NParks provide more details on the specific areas under review and the implementation timeline?

City in Nature Community Involvement

Singapore's transformation into a City in Nature has been widely embraced by both Singaporeans and the global community. Beyond enhancing greenery and biodiversity, this vision has strengthened our urban environment, public well-being and climate resilience. To sustain and deepen this impact, greater community involvement will be key.

One way is to leverage on larger neighbourhood parks, such as the Hillock Linear Park within Kebun Bahru, to anchor Active Ageing Centers or introduce signature activities like monthly Sunday Markets for private estates, fostering social interaction and community engagement.

Another approach is for NParks to collaborate with the community to fund heritage displays in relevant parks. For example, working with the Hainan Clan Association to create mock-ups of the old village in the Thomson Nature Park. So, can NParks share its plans to involve more Singaporeans in the effort, empowering individuals, businesses and grassroots to get involved in NPark's City in Nature initiative?

New Park at Sengkang West Industrial Estate

Ms Ng Ling Ling (Ang Mo Kio): Mr Chairman, in July 2024, URA announced an exciting proposal that it will form an inter-agency Government team, with NParks and JTC, to build a new park around Sengkang West Industrial Estate, which is in Jalan Kayu and next to Cheng San-Seletar constituencies as well as Fernvale constituency, all of which are part of the Ang Mo Kio GRC.

I would like to ask: one, how can interested Ang Mo Kio GRC residents living around the vicinity participate in giving ideas on what they hope to have in this new park?

Two, can there be sheltered playgrounds, exercise and fitness gyms with equipment suitable for young people and seniors to use, so that residents can keep fit with these facilities, whether it rains or shines?

Three, can there be a pets' corner, like a dog run, for pet-loving residents to bring their pets to enjoy the park too?

Four, can there be a walk-and-jog track separate from a cycling track, for the safety of both pedestrians and cyclists?

Five, can provision of space be made for a potential future MRT station at the corner this area, as it is strategically located opposite Fernvale, Cheng San-Seletar Hill and Jalan Kayu estates and which my fellow Ang Mo Kio GRC Members, Mr Gan Thiam Poh, Ms Nadia Samdin and I have previously collectively hoped for and appealed to MOT for a feasibility study, to consider whether it can be done, so as to benefit Ang Mo Kio GRC residents living in all three constituencies in the future?

And lastly, when can all these discussions of the ideas above be started, with me as an advisor and Member of Parliament of Jalan Kayu and where the Sengkang West Industrial Estate is sited.

The Chairman: Ms Nadia Samdin, please take your three cuts together.

City in Nature and Urban Wildlife

Ms Nadia Ahmad Samdin (Ang Mo Kio): Singapore is known around the world for integrating nature into our urban cityscape. We take pride in our green efforts to keep us cool and our natural spaces are an essential part of our cultural identity as an island city-state. I am grateful to NParks and the wider MND family for these efforts. MND announced the vision to transform Singapore into a city in nature back in 2020. Can we have an update on the progress made on this front? How will NParks continue to ramp up efforts, including maintaining and upgrading parks in private and public housing estates in a timely manner, to ensure equitable access to nature?

In the past year, what has NParks done to involve more members of the community in our efforts to transform Singapore into a city in nature? What are the key initiatives planned for 2025? What is NParks doing to make green and blue spaces more accessible and inclusive for all Singaporeans? Being a city in nature also means learning to co-exist with Singapore's diverse wildlife and understanding that we share this island that we all call home.

Yet, in the past years, we have had several encounters, from tapirs to crocodiles, otters to crows, chickens to koels. Our vision for every household to be within 10 minutes from a park, also means that inhabitants of the park are also 10 minutes from our households.

I would also like to ask how MND organises itself and community groups, to tackle these very real human-wildlife concerns, including disamenities caused by urban birds, while staying true to our desire to be a city in nature. For example, in Ang Mo Kio, we have faced hygiene and noise challenges by pigeons, crows, chickens, mynahs and loss of fish from ponds, such as koi by otters, just to name a few.

What are some best-in-class practices which MND has adopted in maintaining the balance between intensifying and preserving greenery as well as ecosystems, while developing housing estates around green, blue and brown spaces.

100k Corals Programme

Sir, safeguarding Singapore's blue and green spaces has long been a priority for MND. In December last year, NParks launched its most ambitious coral restoration project yet, the 100k Corals Initiative, which aims to plant 100,000 corals in degraded reefs and new sites. I applaud NParks for this programme, especially given that corals form the backbone of many of our marine ecosystems.

Can MND provide more details on the 100k Corals Initiative, were there any target species we are trying to revive during this programme? And how will these efforts contribute to the diversity and vibrancy of our marine environment? How can we better involve the public and interested volunteers, for example, through citizen science activities? Has MND also considered whether mangrove trees, for example, can be part of our planted tree or coral programmes?

A key component of protecting our Blue Spaces is educating the public about the rich biodiversity surrounding our shores and empowering them to take a personal interest in conserving our waters. To this end, groups, such as Friends of the Marine Park, play a critical role.

The proposed designation of our Second Marine Park at Lazarus South Kusu Reef was a significant one, amidst the crowded competition for the use of our sea space and climate change. What are the updates that MND can share? And how can we continue to interest Singaporeans to care for our Blue Spaces, as part of our island city-state identity?

Homes for Seniors and Singles

Finally, Sir, Singapore's demographic has been evolving as our country matures, and two trends have grown increasingly clear. Our population is ageing and more people are choosing to remain single. These groups have distinct housing needs.

First, seniors prefer to age in place. As this happens, the infrastructure in our housing estates must change to serve seniors' needs. To this end, HDB has taken several decisive steps to support seniors with both their external and internal living environments.

Could MND provide a progress update on the take-up rate of the EASE 2.0 programme since its introduction, including the uptake and demographic of seniors who have benefited? I welcome the announcement, like many of my colleagues, to expand elements of EASE 2.0 to seniors not living in HDB flats. Could MND please provide more details? How will MND assess households who may require the support?

In terms of their external living environment, what meaningful upgrades have been identified from community walks to be part of the Silver Upgrading Programme to transform our neighbourhood common spaces and encourage healthy living spans? How can MND work with other agencies, for example, Town Council, LTA and NParks, to ensure that the features are done in a way that is not duplicative.

On behalf of my residents affected by SERS at Ang Mo Kio Avenue 3, Blocks 562 to 565, I would also like to ask what else can be done to help these residents in their relocation, especially the elderly who envisioned being able to age in place?

Finally, what are some learnings from the single-room shared facilities typology, and is the Government looking to expand this? How is the Government continuing to improve the public rental scheme to support the evolving needs of Singaporeans, including reviewing the qualifying criteria?

Fresh Start Housing Scheme

Ms Mariam Jaafar (Sembawang): Sir, the Fresh Start Housing Scheme was implemented in 2016 to help second-timer families in public rental with young children to buy an HDB flat. It has been enhanced along the way.

Some rental families in Woodlands have highlighted to me the challenges they face with the scheme. Some are not eligible, for example, single parents and first-timers, who form a not insignificant and growing share of new public rental households today. Others are eligible but continue to struggle with financial stability or continuous employment and find the upfront of regular payments difficult. They are looking for higher grants or extended loan tenures. ComLink+-style support in terms of financial counselling and employment support would also help.

Sir, we are committed to an inclusive and supportive housing system that ensures that every family has a fair shot at home ownership and a brighter future. To that end, can the Minister provide an update on the take-up and success rate of the scheme to-date?

Budget 2025 announces new enhancements. How else can the Government support more low-income families that are currently renting to buy their home? Further, would the Government consider extending the Fresh Start Housing Scheme to families that are really struggling but not staying in public rental, as is being considered for the ComLink+ plans?