Performance of PAP MPs and ministers

Sim Ann’s “stay tuned” reply to Leon Perera’s question on VERS draws flak from TikTokers​

Photos: YT screencaptures


February 21, 2023
By Jewel Stolarchuk

“I am glad of your interest in VERS. Please stay tuned,” she said.

SINGAPORE: Senior Minister of State (SMS) Sim Ann has drawn flak online after delivering a “stunning” one-liner, in response to a parliamentary question posed by Workers’ Party (WP) Member of Parliament (MP) Leon Perera on the Voluntary Early Redevelopment Scheme (VERS).
Mr Perera was among his WP colleagues, secretary-general Pritam Singh and Jamus Lim, who was seeking clarification from Ms Sim on housing policies. He asked the ruling party politician whether the Government will extend VERS to all blocks in Singapore and added, “That’s just one simple question. Thank you.”
Ms Sim responded, “I am glad of your interest in VERS. Please stay tuned.”


The exchange took place two weeks ago, on 7 Feb, but it went viral on social media over the weekend, when TikTok user @whatdoyouthinkleh posted a clip of Mr Perera’s question and the Senior Minister’s reply.
@whatdoyouthinkleh called her reply “stunning.” Others in the comment section called her reply unprofessional and criticised her for her inability in answering a simple question tactfully and her audacity to issue such a reply in an arena like Parliament. Some added that this was why more opposition MPs are needed in the ruling party-dominated Parliament.















This is not the first time Ms Sim has issued such irreverent comments. In an exceedingly sarcastic speech she delivered during the 2015 General Election campaign period, she personally attacked veteran opposition politician Dr Chee Soon Juan as someone who likes to “chut pattern”, or someone who is full of antics.

Forum: MPs should offer better ideas on building up reserves​

Mar 9, 2023

It is critical to note the points raised in Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong’s 2023 Budget round-up speech on Feb 24 (Prudent position on reserves has never changed and will never change: DPM; No slack in country’s Budget, says Lawrence Wong; Budget a delicate balancing act amid tight fiscal position: DPM, all Feb 25).
We have drawn $40 billion from past reserves to combat Covid-19. Without such fiscal resources, we would be in a bad state today. There were MPs who said the Government was not giving enough and that it needed to spend more on help and support. Fewer MPs offered ideas on how to build up our reserves to face the next crisis.
There were suggestions to tax the rich, but do not forget the rich are welcomed everywhere else in the world. When the wealthy leave and take their money with them, Singapore’s income will shrink.
Some MPs suggested raising corporate tax, but it is worth noting that other countries are offering subsidies to corporates to attract investment.
Singapore has notched up many great achievements, but we should not be under any illusion that we would be competitive forever.
Once investors lose confidence in the country and move their investment elsewhere, and if reserves are depleted, it will be difficult to turn things around in an increasingly competitive world. Unlike other countries, Singapore has only human, not natural, resources.
It is right for MPs to focus on suggestions on how to make Singapore competitive, to attract investments, to create better jobs and strengthen our reserves. It is dangerous to play Santa Claus to score political points.

Sim Lim Onn

Sim Ann clarifies incident at Esplanade after allegations she had disrespected artistes​

Ms Sim said it was not her intent to convey any disregard for the performers on stage and the audience. PHOTO: SIM ANN/FACEBOOK

David Sun
Correspondent

Mar 30, 2023

SINGAPORE - The entrance of a guest of honour in the middle of a music performance has drawn criticism from several netizens and those in the music community.
During the WWF Earth Hour Festival at Esplanade event on March 25, Senior Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and National Development Sim Ann was led to the front row to take her seat in the midst of an acoustic set at the Esplanade Outdoor Theatre.
Videos and photos of the incident posted on social media show her being introduced to and greeting other attendees in the reserved seats at the front row, while a singer was performing metres away on the stage.
The incident sparked criticism online, with some saying Ms Sim’s actions were disrespectful of the artistes.
Ms Sim has since reached out to the artistes to clarify the matter.
The event, co-organised by WWF-Singapore and Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay, involved a Switch Off, when the Singapore skyline went dark for an hour in support of Earth Hour at 8.30pm.
This happened just after the Soul Jam event, a free performance showcasing artistes from local music collective Panik Records.

Ms Sim was led to her seat at about 8.10pm while Benny’s – the stage name of singer-songwriter Bernice Lee, 22 – was performing an acoustic song.
Mr Ian Lee, 24, the founder of Panik Records, said Benny’s had been very affected by the incident but is coming to terms with what happened.
“When it happened, Bernice had been performing a song that she wrote and was being very vulnerable,” he said. “It was quite a blow for her because it was very undermining.”

Mr Lee said Ms Sim was standing at the front row to shake hands with other attendees, and had blocked the view of some other guests as the stage was quite low.
He added that several audience members appeared to be upset, with someone at the back shouting at Ms Sim to sit down.

Posts of the incident on social media show Senior Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and National Development Sim Ann shaking hands and greeting other attendees during a singer's performance. PHOTO: @DANIELALEXCHIA/INSTAGRAM
Mr Yun Taehyeong, 24, a student from South Korea, told The Straits Times that Benny’s appeared visibly affected by the disruption.
Noting that he was watching the performance next to where Ms Sim was to be seated, he said: “As (Ms Sim) arrived at her seat, there was quite a lot of activity and noise with all the handshaking, greetings, and camera shutters and flashes from the photographers following her around.
“It was a relatively quiet acoustic performance and given how close the front row of the outdoor theatre is to the stage, I’m pretty sure the disruption would have been very obvious to everyone present.”
Describing the incident as disappointing, Mr Yun added: “I feel that both audience and performer were disrespected.
“The performance was already ending, and it is difficult to think of why they could not simply wait for a few minutes for the performance to be over, or even just do the entire sequence at a less disruptive location.”
The incident was also shared on social media by blogger mrbrown.

It was also alleged that Ms Sim had turned up late to the event.
In response to queries from ST, WWF-Singapore and Esplanade issued a joint statement saying Ms Sim had been invited for the Switch Off ceremony at 8.15pm, and she had arrived early.
“Ms Sim arrived early, and because the Esplanade Outdoor Theatre is a free-and-easy venue where audiences can enter or exit the auditorium at any time, the WWF-Singapore and Esplanade teams ushered her to join the rest of the audience to catch part of the performance, which was still ongoing,” it said.
“Upon her arrival at the seat, some members of the audience rose to greet her. We would like to emphasise that there was no intention of disrespecting the artistes, performers or audience, and we regret any disruption that we may have inadvertently caused.”
Ms Sim said she was glad that WWF-Singapore and Esplanade had provided an explanation for the incident.
She said she had followed the cue of the organisers on when to enter the event space, and was greeting guests who were being introduced to her.
“It was certainly not my intent for the timing and manner of my entry to convey any disregard for the performers on stage and the audience,” added Ms Sim.
“Having seen the social media posts on the subject, I reached out to the artists involved to clarify the matter directly, and told them I was sorry that things turned out this way.”
“I have also learned something valuable from the incident. I wish them continued success in their musical endeavours.”
Mr Lee said Benny’s has said she is looking to move on from the incident.
“She just wishes to express that in a time such as now to be creating art in Singapore, the most important thing we should be looking forward to is cherishing and respecting of all forms of art and expression,” he added.
“She’s also extremely thankful for the incredible support the community has for this part of our lives we hold so sacred.”

Sim screwed up and the organizers have to clean up her act.

No apology from her - "I was sorry that things turned out", not she was sorry for disruption the performance. Yes, it is always everyone's fault - "she followed the cue of the organisers"

Why the need for handshakes when she could have just gone to take her seat? The sycophantic habits of sinkees towards the PAP elites know no bounds.

"Stay tuned" Sim Ann - her pattern more than badminton

Fridge dumped in Clementi Forest not removed due to miscommunication between agencies: Sim Ann​

The National Parks Board was first alerted to the case in 2022 but the fridge was cleared only about a year later.



A hiker had reported the presence of the discarded fridge to the OneService App in 2022. (Photo: Facebook/Semenov Pavel Dmitrievich)

Koh Wan Ting​

08 May 2023

SINGAPORE: A fridge that had been discarded in Clementi Forest had not been removed by the authorities due to a miscommunication between government agencies and the case was closed prematurely, Senior Minister of State for National Development Sim Ann said on Monday (May 8).
She was responding to a parliamentary question about the incident and how the government handles cases involving electronic waste.
TODAY reported last month that an abandoned fridge in Clementi Forest was only cleared on Apr 21, about a year after a hiker stumbled upon it and informed the authorities through the OneService mobile application.
The mobile app is a platform through which government agencies receive and respond to public feedback, and is owned by the Municipal Service Office (MSO).
Ms Sim said in parliament that the National Parks Board (NParks) was first alerted to the case in March 2022 through the OneService app and sought to arrange for the fridge to be removed.
"Unfortunately, due to a miscommunication between agencies, the removal was not done and the case was closed prematurely. There was also no follow through to check that the refrigerator had indeed been cleared," she said.
"Upon being notified a second time, in 2023, NParks worked with the National Environment Agency (NEA) to clear the refrigerator on Apr 21, 2023."

In response to questions from Member of Parliament Tan Wu Meng (PAP-Jurong) on cases of electronic waste in Clement Forest and other green spaces, Ms Sim said there have been two instances of feedback on improper disposal of bulky electronic waste in forested areas and which the agencies acted on from January 2021 to March this year.
She noted that the illegal dumping of electronic and other waste in public places is an offence under the Environmental Public Health Act.
Addressing a question about the potential learning points from the case involving the fridge in Clementi Forest, Ms Sim said "lapses in communication and coordination between agencies sometimes occur".
"MSO has been working with stakeholder agencies to strengthen inter-agency coordination, and this includes NParks and NEA," she added.
This is done through staff training to ensure that feedback involving multiple agencies is referred correctly through the inter-agency feedback management system.
According to Ms Sim, agencies are also requested to close straightforward cases only when any works on the ground have been completed.
"MSO will continue to help our partner agencies in attaining a high level of responsiveness to public feedback," Ms Sim said.
She added that Clementi Forest is currently not intended for public recreational use and encouraged people to keep to the designated trails within public parks and nature parks for their own safety, and to minimise impact on the natural environment.

With zero car-growth and rising incomes, COE prices will trend upwards: Iswaran​

Singapore will prioritise pedestrians, cyclists and public transport users, and reduce the need for private cars, says Transport Minister S Iswaran.



Transport Minister S Iswaran speaks in parliament on May 8, 2023.

Chew Hui Min​

@ChewHuiMinCNA
08 May 2023

SINGAPORE: With Singapore’s policy of zero-growth in the car population and as household incomes rise, Certificates of Entitlement (COE) premiums are expected to trend upwards, said Transport Minister S Iswaran in parliament on Monday (May 8).
“Fundamentally, the COE prices reflect demand for a limited and falling supply of COEs,” Mr Iswaran said in a ministerial statement responding to parliamentary questions on the COE system.
He noted that demand for vehicles has remained "resilient", especially as the economy recovers after COVID-19. Incomes have also been rising over the long term, and the ratio of COE price to median monthly household income has fallen.
“As household incomes continue to rise in the coming years, coupled with our policy of zero-growth in the car population, we must expect the long-term trajectory for COE prices to be upwards,” said Mr Iswaran.
Even as he announced new measures to raise the COE quota for cars in categories A and B over the next few quarters, Mr Iswaran stressed that mass public transport is at the core of Singapore’s transport strategy and the country is moving towards a “car-lite” future.
“As we seek to improve the efficiency of the COE system with these measures that we have already undertaken over the years, we should not lose sight of our goal of becoming a car-lite society with accessible and inclusive transport for all Singaporeans,” he concluded.

Ten Members of Parliament had asked more than 20 questions about rising COE premiums, which have hit record highs in recent bidding exercises. Category A premiums for smaller cars, for instance, surpassed the S$100,000 mark in April.
A number of MPs asked about the reasons behind the rise in COE prices and the impact of demand from private hire companies. MPs asked if a cap can be imposed on the number of private hire cars, and if foreigners or households with multiple vehicles have driven up demand for cars.
MPs were also concerned that those who need cars, such as households with children and the elderly, as well as people who rely on cars for their livelihood, will be priced out.

CAR-LITE FUTURE​

Mr Iswaran set the context by pointing out that Singapore has two key constraints when it comes to land transport - land and carbon emissions.
Roads occupy 12 per cent of land area for 7 million journeys a day, while the rail network, taking up less than 1 per cent of land surface, serves around 3 million journeys a day, he said.
The land transport system also accounts for 15 per cent of Singapore’s total domestic carbon emissions, and it must be reduced if Singapore is to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050.
Mr Iswaran said Singapore will prioritise pedestrians, cyclists and public transport users, and reduce the need for private cars.
“This is the ‘car-lite’ future that we envisage as we plan and redevelop our precincts,” said Mr Iswaran
Responding to the questions on COEs for private hire cars, Mr Iswaran said that for the last four years, the number of private hire cars has remained at about 10 per cent of the total car population and has averaged around 70,000 since 2019.
“While COE prices have been rising over the past several quarters, demand from PHC companies has in fact been moderating,” said Mr Iswaran.
The minister added that shared transport, including car-sharing services, allows for more efficient and inclusive use of roads, as compared with individually owned private cars. He thus cautioned against imposing any “arbitrary cap” on the private hire car population.
“That said, PHCs are a relatively new development ... and COVID-19 has caused some disruption in the market. We are studying this further to ascertain the effect of PHCs, if there is any impact, on the market,” Mr Iswaran said.

SMOOTHENING COE SUPPLY​

Addressing questions on improving the COE system for both cars and motorcycles, Mr Iswaran pointed to how the system has been adjusted over time.
"On the whole, the system continues to serve our policy objective of efficiently allocating the limited supply of COEs," he said.
In response to questions from two MPs, Mr Iswaran said that the proportion of car COEs secured by foreigners remains low - at less than 3 per cent - and has not changed significantly over the years.
He also gave statistics about households that own multiple cars, saying that over the past decade, the proportion has been steadily declining from about 19 per cent of households in 2012 to less than 15 per cent today.

He said last November that of the 471,000 households that own cars, 12 per cent own two cars and less than 3 per cent own three or more cars.
Mr Iswaran explained that as COE supply is determined by car de-registrations in preceding quarters, which has been low of late, the Transport Ministry decided to introduce measures to reduce volatility in the quota.
Instead of considering just the preceding quarter, the ministry now uses the moving average of de-registrations in the four preceding quarters to compute COE quotas.
While he expects the COE supply to start increasing in the coming months as more cars reach the 10-year mark when owners consider de-registering their vehicles, LTA will also take steps to re-distribute the supply from five-year COEs due to expire in the next projected supply peak, to further reduce volatility.
“There will still be a degree of supply fluctuation due to historical factors and broader market conditions,” Mr Iswaran said.
“Second, the long term upward trend of COE prices due to rising incomes and zero vehicle population growth will not abate.”

Speaker Tan Chuan-Jin apologises to Jamus Lim for ‘unparliamentary language’ caught on hot mic​

Mr Tan Chuan-Jin said the recording of the session had been circulating, and he had to listen to it as he did not recall the occasion. PHOTO: GOV.SG


Amanda Lee
Correspondent

July 11, 2023

SINGAPORE - Speaker of Parliament Tan Chuan-Jin has apologised to Workers’ Party MP Jamus Lim for using “unparliamentary language” that was caught on a hot mic during a Parliament sitting in April.
Mr Tan said in a Facebook post on Tuesday morning that the recording of the session had been circulating, and he had to listen to it as he “did not recall the occasion”.
Mr Tan is heard muttering “****ing populist” on the microphone during the first day of debate on the President’s Address on April 17, after Associate Professor Lim finished a speech of about 20 minutes on doing more to help the lower-income groups here. The opposition politician suggested in his speech the establishment of an official poverty line.
“When I listen to speeches made, like everyone, I do form views on them. What was said were my private thoughts which I had muttered to myself and not to anyone,” said Mr Tan on Facebook.
“However I should not have expressed them aloud or in unparliamentary language, and I apologise for that. I have also spoken to (Prof Lim)... to make that apology as well; which he has kindly accepted.”
Prof Lim commented on Mr Tan’s post at about noon, saying Mr Tan had called him and that he has accepted the apology.
On Monday night, a YouTube video of the five-hour-long Parliament sitting was uploaded on social media platform Reddit.

It was titled “SG Speaker of Parliament Tan Chuan-Jin insults Jamus Lim: ‘****ing Populist’”.
In September 2021, Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan apologised to Progress Singapore Party Non-Constituency MP Leong Mun Wai for calling him “illiterate” and questioning his educational credentials in Parliament.
Dr Balakrishnan’s comments were heard in the background when Mr Leong was engaged with several ministers in a parliamentary debate.

The PAP MPs in NTUC's Central Committee: Ng Chee Meng, Heng Chee How, Desmond Tan,
The PAP MPs, former PAP MPs and ministers on the board of directors of NTUC Enterprise: Lim boon Heng, Lim Swee Say, Ng Chee Meng
are all sleeping!

NTUC central committee not aware of capital reduction plan in Allianz-Income deal: Desmond Tan​

NTUC Enterprise went into the deal to strengthen Income in the longer run as it recognised the challenges that Income had been facing. ST PHOTO: AZMI ATHNI



Goh Yan Han
Political Correspondent

Oct 17, 2024

SINGAPORE – The labour movement’s central committee did not know of the plan to return $1.85 billion to shareholders under the Allianz-Income deal before it was mentioned in Parliament on Oct 14, said NTUC deputy secretary-general Desmond Tan.
Speaking in Parliament on Oct 16, Mr Tan said the central committee had been briefed by Income Insurance and its parent company, NTUC Enterprise, on the strategic imperatives of the deal, but the capital reduction plan was not highlighted to it.
As Income is a non-listed public company, it would have to comply with the legal responsibility of non-disclosure of commercially sensitive information on Allianz’s plans post-acquisition, he said.
Mr Tan made the point in response to questions from Non-Constituency MP Leong Mun Wai and Nominated MP Raj Joshua Thomas during the debate on the Insurance (Amendment) Bill, adding that Income is subject to the Singapore Code on Take-overs and Mergers.
The capital reduction plan is a key factor in the surprising turn of events that saw the Government block the hotly debated $2.2 billion deal between Income and German insurer Allianz that was first made public in July.
Allianz had made an offer to buy a controlling stake of at least 51 per cent in Income.
On Oct 14 in Parliament, Minister for Culture, Community and Youth Edwin Tong said in a ministerial statement that the Government had decided it would not be in the public interest for the transaction to proceed in its current form.

While the Government does not have concerns over Allianz’s standing or suitability to acquire a majority stake in Income, the concerns lie in the terms and structure of this specific transaction, particularly in the context of Income’s corporatisation exercise, he said.
Mr Tong added that before the deal was raised in Parliament in August, his ministry had not seen the plan for Income to return some $1.85 billion in cash to its shareholders within the first three years after completion of the transaction.
During the debate on the Insurance (Amendment) Bill on Oct 16, Mr Tan explained why NTUC had supported the proposed deal.

When NTUC was briefed on the proposal, it was difficult for the unions to learn that Income was planning to sell a majority stake to Allianz, given the company’s history as the labour movement’s first social enterprise, said Mr Tan, who is Senior Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office.
But NTUC Enterprise went into the deal to strengthen Income in the longer run as it recognised the challenges that Income had been facing amid a more competitive and tightly regulated insurance landscape, he noted.
“The NTUC central committee agreed with the strategic intent and approached it in good faith,” he said.
He also clarified that NTUC, as a major shareholder of NTUC Enterprise, does not get involved in the day-to-day running of operations.

It delegates to the board of NTUC Enterprise the responsibility of making decisions pertaining to all businesses.
Mr Tan also noted that Second Minister for Finance Chee Hong Tat had acknowledged that NTUC had acted in good faith and in the interest of workers and members.
“If you look at it, the Government and NTUC share the same strategic intent and broader objectives for Income and the co-op movement,” said Mr Tan.
“But as far as the specifics of this transaction are concerned, there is now perhaps a difference in view,” he added, referring to the concerns Mr Tong had raised about the deal.
He added that NTUC has reviewed the matter and accepts the Government’s considerations and decisions on the proposed transaction.
“We note that the Government remains open to any arrangement that Income may wish to pursue, whether with Allianz or any other partners, so long as the concerns highlighted are fully addressed.”
Mr Tan added that Income has committed to study carefully the implications of the ministerial statement by Mr Tong and the amendments of the Insurance Act, and will work closely with the relevant stakeholders to decide on the next course of action.
“The labour movement – which includes NTUC Enterprise and NTUC – is united in (its) purpose and we will continue to do right by our people, and what is necessary for the longer-term interest to serve workers and the people of Singapore,” he said.
In a Facebook post on the evening of Oct 16, labour chief Ng Chee Meng said the decision to halt the Allianz-Income deal and its implications were of key concern to the labour movement and union leaders who had supported the deal.
He added that Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong, Mr Tong and Mr Chee held an “honest and productive engagement” with NTUC and union leaders to clarify issues after the Parliament sitting.
“NTUC respects and accepts the Government’s decision that the transaction cannot proceed in its current form,” he said.

Ministers overseeing agencies involved in NRIC saga have to bear overall responsibility: SM Teo​

The review panel found lapses in the process and communication between the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority and Ministry of Digital Development and Information.PHOTO: LIANHE ZAOBAO FILE

Osmond Chia
Mar 06, 2025

SINGAPORE - Prime Minister Lawrence Wong will take the NRIC incident into account when evaluating the ministers in charge of the government agencies involved, said Senior Minister Teo Chee Hean on March 6.

Highlighting the importance of accountability, he said the officers and senior management involved in missteps that led to the disclosure of full NRIC numbers on a government business portal could face a range of “appropriate measures”, from counselling to retraining and reductions in their performance grade and performance-based payments.

SM Teo told Parliament that the political office-holders overseeing the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority (Acra) and Ministry of Digital Development and Information (MDDI) have to bear overall responsibility for the organisations under their charge.

Digital Development and Information Minister Josephine Teo and Second Minister for Finance Indranee Rajah have publicly accepted this responsibility and apologised for the incident, he said in a ministerial statement on the matter.

“The Prime Minister will take into account this incident in his evaluation of the Ministers,” he added.

His statement comes after a review panel investigated the incident that took place on Dec 9, 2024, and found lapses in the process and communication between Acra and MDDI.

SM Teo told Parliament that trust in the public service is essential, and maintaining that trust is central to how the Government operates.

“When things go wrong, we are upfront with Singaporeans on where we have fallen short. We conduct thorough reviews and make improvements to our systems and processes to serve Singaporeans better while remaining fair to our officers,” he added.

“This recent incident, while regrettable, demonstrates the Government’s commitment to continuous improvement, to uphold the trust Singaporeans have placed in us.”

He said that while the review found there was no malicious or wilful wrongdoing by the officers involved, “there were inadequacies in their judgment and actions”.

On their part, the ministers have to bear overall responsibility, “regardless of whether they had specific or direct responsibility for the actions that led to the shortcomings that occurred”, he added.

In its report released on March 3, the review panel flagged six instances where the agencies could have done better, including clearer communication from MDDI.

The ministry was unclear in its policy communications issued to various agencies on the Government’s plans to end the use of NRIC numbers for authentication, leading to the confusion, which resulted in full NRIC numbers being disclosed on Acra’s Bizfile portal.


Officers involved in the shortcomings include those whose actions contributed directly to the shortcomings, as well as senior management who were responsible for providing oversight and guidance to the officers, said SM Teo in a ministerial statement on the review.

The review panel on Feb 25 submitted its report for review by SM Teo, who is also Minister-in-charge of Public Sector Data Governance. He accepted the findings and reported them to Prime Minister Lawrence Wong the next day.

The permanent secretaries of the Smart Nation and Digital Government Office (now under MDDI) were responsible for implementing the policy, while the Acra chief executive was responsible for the design and implementation of the new Bizfile portal, SM Teo added.

He clarified that the review was not a disciplinary process and that any disciplinary action levelled at the officers, if warranted, will need to be carried out by the respective public agencies involved.

SM Teo said the public service holds its officers to a high standard of conduct.

“Singaporeans deserve and expect this,” he said. “Given the range and complexity of public services, from time to time, mistakes will be made. If there is misconduct or malicious intent, we will deal with it severely and those involved will be punished.”

Where there was no malicious or wilful wrongdoing, due consideration should be given to whether the officers had acted in good faith in deciding on what action to take, SM Teo said.

He added that the incident offers valuable lessons for the wider public service that agencies must take on board, to avoid similar incidents from recurring.

“This Bizfile incident demonstrates that close coordination and careful attention to detail are required. Sometimes it is a single lapse, but at other times, it can be a confluence of factors that can lead to such incidents,” he said.

The review panel, led by head of civil service Leo Yip, said the shortcomings included security lapses at Acra that contravened the Government’s internal data management rules, and unclear communication between Acra and MDDI.

The panel was also critical of the agencies’ public communication and response to public concerns, which it said should have been better coordinated and clearer.

“In hindsight, the Government should have made clear to the public at the outset that moving away from the use of partial NRIC numbers did not automatically mean using full NRIC numbers in every case, or disclosing them on a large scale,” the panel said.

Mrs Teo, Ms Indranee and Acra chief executive Chia-Tern Huey Min held a press conference on Dec 19, 2024, to address concerns and questions about the incident.

By sharing full NRIC numbers, Acra was also found to have contravened the Government’s internal code, called IM8, a set of instructions that govern how public agencies use and disclose citizens’ data.

The public sector’s personal data protection standards in the Public Sector (Governance) Act and IM8 are aligned with the Personal Data Protection Act but have been adapted to the public service context.

Existing laws do not prescribe financial penalties for public agencies that contravene the IM8 rules, said SM Teo, adding that the officers responsible will instead face other measures, including retraining and impact on their performance grade.

PAP Ministers are serving up "the same old, same old" yet
want to be paid millions of dollars

PUB is under the Minister for Sustainability and the Environment, Grace Fu

Two floods during monsoon surge caused by lack of proper drainage: PUB​

Flooding near Marina Bay MRT Station on March 21.PHOTO: STOMP

Christie Chiu
Mar 24, 2025

SINGAPORE - Two incidents of flooding during the recent monsoon surge have been attributed to choked and the absence of drains, said national water agency PUB.

In a Facebook post on March 24, PUB said a flood occurred on March 21 along Central Lane 3 near the Marina Bay MRT station.

A report of this incident by Stomp on March 23 was accompanied by a video of a person walking in knee-high water towards a stationary taxi, with half its wheels submerged in the water.

The flooded area is a paved road built to facilitate access to an adjacent worksite, PUB said, adding its checks showed there was no proper drainage there to channel storm water.

The other flood happened on March 23 at the ground-floor lift lobby of 129 Bedok Reservoir Road, and the internal drains nearby were found choked with debris.

An article by Stomp on this incident was accompanied by a video that shows a corridor and lift lobby of a Housing Board block being covered with water.

PUB said both incidents could have been prevented with proper drainage measures and timely maintenance of the internal drainage system.


It added that it is working closely with the relevant authorities to address the issues.

The National Environment Agency had earlier warned of heavy downpours during a monsoon surge from March 19 to March 21, with short thundery showers expected in the afternoon on most days in the following week.

The highest rainfall across March 19 and March 20 was recorded at 318mm in Jurong West, while the highest amount recorded in eastern Singapore was 298.4mm.

These two numbers exceed Singapore’s average monthly rainfall of 209.7mm in March.

Other than the two incidents highlighted, a 15m stretch along the intersection of Mountbatten Road and Jalan Seaview experienced flooding for about two hours at around 2pm on March 20, PUB said in a Facebook post that day.

This was due to a combination of heavy rainfall and high tide that temporarily overwhelmed the adjacent canal and surrounding roadside drains.

The public can provide feedback on flooding incidents through the One Service app or contact PUB directly at 1800-CALL PUB (1800-225-5782).