Questions to ask your PAP MP

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Forum: Improve checks on vendors providing outsourced services​

SEP 21, 2022

I refer to the article, "Technician fined over negligence leading to delayed rescue in Bukit Batok fatal blaze" (Sept 17).
While it appears that the technician responsible for the incident has been dealt with, there remain questions from the governance and accountability perspectives.
Are there regular checks by the town council to ensure that outsourced services like the fire protection system will work satisfactorily?
How does the town council ensure that service providers have in place the right checks?
What is the overall lesson learnt from this incident? How have vendor selection and process governance by the town council been improved to prevent something similar from happening again?
The authorities must go beyond punishing individuals, and assume proactive ownership of the governance role.

Tan Chor Hoon

 

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Cycling community raises safety concerns over drain gratings​

PUB said it had records of 12 verified incidents of injury due to drain gratings from 2012 to 2022, five of which involved cyclists. ST PHOTO: FELINE LIM

Deepanraj Ganesan

SEP 24, 2022

SINGAPORE – It is the third most popular sport and physical activity in the country after walking and jogging, and according to the Government’s Open Data Portal, the percentage of the population that took up cycling to stay active rose from 5 per cent in 2019 to 13 per cent last year.
With many cyclists out and about every day, safety is a priority, and a recent negligence suit brought by a cyclist against PUB over an incident involving a drain grating has set the community talking.
In early September, Myanmar national Maung Maung Aung Soe Thu, 42, accepted a settlement offer by PUB after he suffered serious injuries when the front wheel of his bicycle got caught in a 3cm gap of a drain grating in Changi Point Coastal Walk on Jan 16 last year.
Mr Francis Chu, co-founder of Love Cycling SG – which has more than 30,000 members on social media today, up from 3,000 in the first year in 2010 – said the incident raises an “issue for the authorities to take seriously”, and also serves as a reminder to cyclists to be cautious.
He recounted his own experience in 2011 when his front wheel got trapped between a metal drain cover and its concrete opening on a road in Geylang East Central.
The 62-year-old, who is in the design industry, said: “It got trapped after I was forced to the extreme left of the road to keep clear of an oncoming bus. I only had minor injuries even though I was flung onto the road. I was very fortunate.”
In response to queries from The Sunday Times, a spokesman for the Land Transport Authority (LTA) said it sets out standards and guidelines for common road elements, including drains, kerbs and pavements, as a reference for road construction.

Said the spokesman: “Once the road is constructed, road elements under the charge and responsibility of respective agencies are handed over to the agencies for the management, repair and maintenance.”
He said that in 2011, in consultation with PUB, the LTA revised the design of on-road drain gratings.
All on-road drain gratings since then run perpendicular to traffic flow.
Meanwhile, a PUB spokesman said its primary consideration is that any new drain grating design must be effective in channelling stormwater away from the road surface.

The spokesman added: “As part of road-raising and drainage upgrading works, PUB will also replace existing drain gratings in accordance with the revised design.”
Mr Maung Maung, who suffered head and spinal injuries as well as facial fractures, had sought damages of at least $578,000 from the national water agency, arguing that PUB had failed to ensure that drain gratings along the road were safe for users.
After one day of trial, he accepted a settlement offer with no admission of liability by PUB. It was agreed the settlement terms would not be made public.

Mr Mark Teng, executive director at legal firm That.Legal LLC, said it is largely unheard of that settlement terms are made public.
Mr Teng said: “Regardless of who the parties involved are and what the settlement sums are, if the agreement between the parties is to keep it confidential, then the law will hold the parties to their agreement.”
In its opening statement on the first day of trial, PUB said it had records of 12 verified incidents of injury due to drain gratings from 2012 to 2022, five of which, including Mr Maung Maung’s case, involved cyclists.
ST understands that the 12 incidents are not representative of all cases here, as some could have been referred to other agencies.
PUB said the probability of a cyclist suffering moderate to serious injury from an accident involving a drain grating was 0.00001 per cent on an annual basis.
It added that the cost of inspecting more than a million gratings and replacing affected ones would be astronomical.
Mr Jeffrey Tan, 61, a director in an industrial waste water treatment company, was a victim in 2013.
He was hospitalised for almost two weeks when the front wheel of his bicycle got trapped in a drain grating in Kampong Ampat, sending him crashing onto the road.
He suffered a broken upper jaw, a broken nose and a cracked chin bone.
He said he was cycling at a “low speed” and yet was flung over when his front wheel got caught.
“I will never forget that day because I almost died... I have a phobia of cycling now,” said Mr Tan.
“This is an issue that has existed for some time, and reading about the latest incident brought back unsavoury memories.”

Mr Joseph Choo, 65, a retiree, suffered bruises on his face and a chipped tooth after his bicycle wheel got trapped in a drain grating in 2018 in Robinson Road.
He has since made it a point to report any drain grating he feels poses a danger on the OneService mobile app.
The app, launched by the Municipal Services Office in 2015, allows residents to report various community issues including those involving facilities in HDB estates, pests, public parks, roads and footpaths.
Mr Choo called for a systematic inspection of all drain gratings.
He said: “There are more cyclists on the road nowadays than ever before. I hope the authorities can address this issue.
“Yes, I know it can be costly but not doing anything is unacceptable.”

 

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Forum: Private-hire drivers put in lose-lose situation​

Oct 5, 2022

Recently, I received a Notice of Traffic Offence from the Land Transport Authority (LTA) that said I had parked my vehicle illegally. I am to pay a fine of $110 after two unsuccessful appeals.
I am a private-hire driver, and I had gone to pick up a passenger at the address I was given.
When I arrived, the passenger was still not there at the pick-up location. Passengers have a grace period of three minutes to reach the pick-up point after the driver arrives. I waited for about two or three minutes before the passenger arrived, picked him up and off we went.
Cases like this will happen again, not only to me but also to other private-hire drivers, as there are many jobs daily where the pick-up point is at or near unbroken double yellow lines.
This puts us drivers in a lose-lose situation. If we take the job and wait there, we get fined for illegal parking. If we decide to cancel the job instead of waiting, it affects our rating on the app and ultimately the incentives we get.
Can LTA suggest a way for private-hire drivers to handle these situations without committing an offence?

Cher William

 

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Forum: BTO flat prices cannot be based totally on market valuation principles​

OCT 14, 2022

National Development Minister Desmond Lee's clarification in Parliament that the Housing Board actually made a $270 million loss for an Ang Mo Kio Build-To-Order project raises more questions than answers (HDB to incur loss of up to $270m for Ang Mo Kio BTO project, Oct 5).
It boggles the mind that despite pricing the flats at up to an eye-popping $877,000, the HDB is still making a loss. Was this loss largely due to the $500 million land cost, determined by the chief valuer using market valuation principles?
The HDB prices new flats by first establishing their market value, which takes into consideration "the prices of comparable resale flats nearby as well as the individual attributes of the flats and prevailing market conditions", said Mr Lee. If resale flat prices shoot up along with those of 99-year leasehold condominiums nearby, the HDB can correspondingly increase BTO flat prices. This cannot continue indefinitely.
The chief valuer's valuation cannot be based totally on market valuation principles, and there has to be a discount as the land belongs to the state.
Public housing is a public good, and the HDB has to go back to basics. Having many policies and grants does not solve the main problem of the flats being too expensive in the first place. Affordability and accountability are key. Flats have to be affordable and priority ought to be given to young couples.
Those aged 55 and above are allowed to cash out their flats at a high resale price and still obtain a second BTO flat. This potentially deprives young couples of their first BTO flat, and they may have to wipe out their Central Provident Fund account just to pay for a million-dollar flat. No wonder they are not having children.

Lynne Tan

 

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Forum: It takes too long to get parking label for those with mobility issues​

Oct 20, 2022

My partner recently fractured his leg and wrist in an accident and underwent surgery.
We applied for a Class 2 parking label under the Car Park Label Scheme, which allows vehicles to park in accessible parking spaces for up to 60 minutes to allow passengers with mobility impairment to alight or board.
The application took more than a month to process, which is way too long. This is especially so as patients are typically discharged from hospital for home recovery just a few days after the operation.
Once the application has been approved, the applicant is allowed to park in accessible spaces while waiting for the label to arrive by mail.
But without the pass, it is not clearly visible to other users of parking spaces that the person parking in the accessible space is allowed to do so. This may create unnecessary tension and misunderstanding among residents.
The current processes should be reviewed to shorten the time required to process an application.
The approval letter stated that all prevailing parking charges apply. Given the logistical and administrative stress of transporting and attending to a passenger with mobility impairment, perhaps the parking charges for the 60-minute time limit could be waived, as Singapore moves towards a more socially inclusive and caring society.

Edwin Goh

 

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Your picture: Walkway blocked by shopkeepers’ goods​

PHOTO: SHAN MUGAM SIDAMBARAM

Oct 28, 2022

I refer to the article, “Deepavali celebrations back in full swing after two years” (Oct 24).
The report cited the honorary secretary of the Little India Shopkeepers and Heritage Association saying the association was “expecting easily four to five million visitors over the course of the month”.
Given the number of visitors it was expecting over the month, the association should have worked with its members to ensure a safe and pleasant shopping experience.
My recent shopping experience in Little India was an unpleasant one, as shopkeepers had placed articles on the five-foot way in a manner that severely restricted pedestrian movements. Items such as baskets of coconuts, mangoes, and banana leaves were placed on the pedestrian walkways.
I witnessed parents with prams and the elderly having a tough time getting past the obstructions, with some choosing instead to walk on the busy road where they could to avoid the congestion.
This has been happening in Little India during major festive seasons like Pongal and Tamil New Year.
I hope the relevant authorities will act against inconsiderate shopkeepers who place profits above the safety of their customers.

Shan Mugam Sidambaram

 

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Your picture: Skip tank area has become a fire, safety and noise hazard​

A skip tank in Hougang Avenue 9 has become a safety and noise hazard. PHOTO: KOH CHUN SIANG

Nov 23, 2022

A skip tank has been placed in what was previously a fire access area in Hougang Avenue 9 between blocks 966 and 966A.
Cleaners smash old furniture and rubbish, and throw the pieces into the skip tank, making a lot of noise daily. Other residents and business owners also treat the skip tank as a dumping ground for their bulky refuse.
As a result, the area around the skip tank has become a fire, safety and noise hazard.
The residents’ quality of life here has diminished sharply.
I have written to my MPs, the Ang Mo Kio Town Council and the National Environment Agency several times.
My current MP, Ms Ng Ling Ling, arranged for the tank to be removed in May 2021. But it reappeared in April 2022 and has been there ever since.

Koh Chun Siang

 

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Sounding a timely note of caution on cryptocurrencies amid FTX crash​

Notwithstanding investment losses, the long-term performance of S’pore’s investment entities is still healthy. As for retail investors, the old adage applies: Do not put all of your eggs in one basket.​

Grace Ho
Insight Editor

FILE PHOTO: The logo of FTX is seen at the entrance of the FTX Arena in Miami, Florida, U.S., November 12, 2022. REUTERS/Marco Bello/File Photo REUTERS

Dec 1, 2022

Many experts have been predicting an extended crypto winter, especially after the epic flameout of TerraUSD and Luna in May. But hardly anyone saw this coming: the spectacular collapse of cryptocurrency exchange FTX, which turned out to be a massive fraud.
Last year’s Crypto.com sales pitch, intoned by actor Matt Damon, now seems almost anachronistic: “History is filled with almosts. With those who almost adventured, who almost achieved, but ultimately for them it proved to be too much. Then there are others. The ones who embrace the moment and commit... They calm their minds and steel their nerves with four simple words that have been whispered by the intrepid since the time of the Romans: Fortune favours the brave.”
What Damon failed to mention was that the first person to utter “fortune favours the brave” did not live long enough to experience good fortune. When Mount Vesuvius erupted in AD79 and destroyed the city of Pompeii, a Roman naval commander by the name of Pliny the Elder ignored the advice of his men and steered directly towards the volcano, hoping to pull off a miraculous rescue.
But he breathed in the thick fumes and died before saving anyone. The last known detail about him is that he was seen leaning on two slaves and trying to stand, with little success.
Hoping to minimise the risk of crypto investors’ fortunes going up in smoke is the Government. On Wednesday, Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Lawrence Wong warned Singaporeans that even if a cryptocurrency platform is well managed, cryptocurrencies themselves are highly volatile and have no intrinsic value.
“Those who trade in cryptocurrencies must be prepared to lose all their value. No amount of regulation can remove this risk,” he told Parliament, adding that the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) has consistently warned since 2017 that dealing in cryptocurrencies is hazardous.
Arising from Temasek’s US$275 million (S$377 million) investment loss in FTX, the supplementary questions from MPs centred on risk management and tolerance, stress testing, regulations, disclosure and the impact on retail customers.

To Ms Tin Pei Ling’s (MacPherson) question on whether FTX was the only cryptocurrency-related investment that Singapore’s investment company Temasek, sovereign wealth fund GIC and MAS were exposed to, Mr Wong replied that GIC and Temasek have exposures to new technologies and early-stage companies, and these investments are within the overall context of the risk parameters set out by the Government. Temasek’s present exposure to early-stage companies is about 6 per cent of its overall portfolio.
There will be other companies in the digital asset space that GIC and Temasek have invested in, but they are within these limited parameters, said Mr Wong. “And so if you talk about concerns of a broader fallout, I think it would be relatively contained.”
To Mr Saktiandi Supaat’s (Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC) question on whether investment entities build into stress test scenarios the risk of cryptocurrencies and digital assets blowing up, Mr Wong gave the assurance that such scenarios are taken into account. This is not just for MAS and the financial sector, but also for the Government’s overall investment portfolio.

Mr Gerald Giam (Aljunied GRC) posed two questions: the risk tolerance levels spelt out to Temasek, GIC and MAS and whether they are published anywhere; and if the President has any say in the setting of their investment parameters, mandates, objectives or risk tolerance levels.
Mr Wong reiterated that the Government does not decide on or micromanage investments, nor does it prescribe asset classes or assets. But it has a role in appointing board members and senior management, and holds them accountable for delivering good long-term performance.
“The President is part of this governance process too because she, in terms of the appointments of people, has the powers as well,” he said, adding that there are processes and risk metrics to monitor, as well as clear accountabilities.
The amount of risk that the Government has set out for GIC is expressed in its reference portfolio, which is made up of 65 per cent global equities and 35 per cent global bonds. Mr Wong noted that it is different in Temasek’s case because it is largely an equities investor, but it puts out in its annual review some of its risk considerations and its risk parameters.

One question that received ample airing was Mr Leon Perera’s (Aljunied GRC), on why GIC is subject to audits by the Auditor-General’s Office but Temasek is not, when both manage public funds.
Mr Wong observed that it is not unusual for private auditors to audit public agencies, whereas the Auditor-General has a remit largely within the public service and government ministries.
“For some stat boards, for a commercial entity like Temasek which also within it has a portfolio of listed entities, well, I think we should let commercial auditors do their job,” he said, adding that if there are good reasons, the Government will have “no hesitation” about asking the Auditor-General to go in to do a full audit.
He also replied to Workers’ Party chief Pritam Singh (Aljunied GRC), saying that Temasek’s internal review would be led by people who are separate from the investment team that made the FTX decision.
“So they will be separate, they will not be clouded by what steps were taken, and they will report directly to the board,” he said.
For retail investors, the main takeaway is this: There will be some basic investor protection measures for digital payment token (DPT) service providers that are licensed in Singapore. These include administering a risk awareness test, segregating customers’ assets from their own assets, and refraining from operating a trading platform while simultaneously taking proprietary positions from their own accounts.

But MAS cannot prevent DPT service providers from failing or customers from suffering losses, a point that Mr Wong took pains to emphasise several times on Wednesday. Also, even the most comprehensive system in Singapore will not stop some Singaporeans from accessing overseas crypto investment platforms online.
FTX’s bankruptcy filings have described a governance mess, with the crypto exchange deeply tied up with former chief executive Sam Bankman-Fried’s trading firm. Yet, thanks to almost messianic boosterism and Fomo (fear of missing out), retail and institutional investors showered FTX with love and cash in spite of multiple red flags – from its countries of incorporation and operation, to its inexperienced team and skeletal board.
Any lapses on the part of institutional investors in conducting their due diligence should rightly be investigated. But to those who expect perfect information and zero losses, consider this too: If market manipulation is already a problem with stocks which are highly regulated and widely understood, how much worse is the problem with crypto, where almost every asset is new and there is even less transparency?
Mr Wong assuaged the members’ anxieties and stressed the need to look at the bigger picture, saying that the Government evaluates investment entities based on their long-term performance, and their track records show that they have performed creditably even in challenging environments.
“What is important is that our investment entities take lessons from each failure and success, and continue to take well-judged risks in order to achieve good overall returns in the long term,” he said.
He also noted that Temasek’s FTX loss will not affect the stream of income from the reserves available for the Government’s Budget or the Net Investment Returns Contribution (NIRC), because NIRC is tied to the overall expected long-term returns of Singapore’s investment entities, and not to individual investments.
As for retail investors, the old adage applies: Do not put all of your eggs in one basket. Another line should be added to this: Never jump in just because an established institutional investor has invested in a company; and be very, very wary of investing in crypto.

 

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Forum: Skin centre appointment pushed back many months with each reschedule request​

DEC 8, 2022

I visited the National Skin Centre on Jan 7, 2021, and a review appointment was scheduled for Dec 9, 2021.
Due to unavoidable circumstances, which included Covid-19-related issues, I had to postpone my appointment four times. It was first rescheduled to March 2022, then July, and then November. Now, my appointment is set for April 17, 2023.
Why is the date pushed back an average of four months every time an appointment is rescheduled?
It will be more than two years since I last saw a doctor at the skin centre. Fortunately, mine is not an urgent or serious case.
Nonetheless, the medication I received on my January 2021 visit has long since expired or been used up.

Raoul Sequeira

 

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Lawyer and MP Christopher de Souza found guilty of professional misconduct, denies charge​

The tribunal found there was cause of sufficient gravity for Mr Christopher de Souza to face disciplinary sanction before the Court of Three Judges. PHOTO: GOV.SG

Selina Lum
Senior Law Correspondent

DEC 7, 2022

SINGAPORE - Lawyer Christopher de Souza has been found guilty of professional misconduct by a disciplinary tribunal.
Mr de Souza, who is the current Deputy Speaker of Parliament and an MP for Holland-Bukit Timah GRC, was found guilty of a charge relating to his conduct while he was acting for his clients, Amber Compounding Pharmacy and Amber Laboratories.
The tribunal found that Mr de Souza had not made full and frank disclosure to the court when he was aware that his client had breached the conditions of a search order.
In fact, he helped his client prepare and file an affidavit that did not exhibit certain documents which would have revealed that Amber had breached its undertaking.
The case centred on Amber obtaining certain documents through a search order in 2018.
Amber filed a High Court suit on Feb 14, 2018, against its former employee and the new company she had set up for allegedly stealing its trade secrets.
Initially represented by law firm Dodwell & Co, Amber obtained a search order on April 13, 2018, against the defendants, subject to an undertaking that Amber was not to use the documents without further order.

On April 17, 2018, a total of 116,298 documents were seized.
Between July 31 and Oct 22 in 2018, Amber used 10 of the documents to make reports to the police, the Manpower Ministry and the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau against the defendants.
This breached its undertaking not to use the documents.

Amber approached law firm Lee & Lee on Nov 28, 2018, to act for it in relation to the criminal complaints against the defendants while Dodwell & Co continued with the suit.
Mr de Souza, a partner at Lee & Lee, knew by Dec 5, 2018, that the documents had been used by Amber. He and his firm took over the suit on Dec 14.
Despite this, he helped a representative of Amber, Mr Samuel Sudesh Thaddaeus, file an affidavit on Jan 28, 2019, which did not reveal the breaches.
“The crux of the matter is what the respondent should have done upon discovery of the use of the documents and information by Amber, and specifically whether he should have informed the court and opposing counsel of the breach of the undertakings,” said the disciplinary tribunal.

In its report published on Monday, the two-member tribunal, comprising Senior Counsel N. Sreenivasan and Mr Pradeep Pillai, said Mr de Souza knew there was a duty to disclose the prior use of the documents.
“We are of the view that the failure to make such full and frank disclosure amounted to suppression of evidence by Amber, and by filing the supporting affidavit, the respondent was a party to and assisted in such suppression,” said the tribunal.
It found that there was cause of sufficient gravity for Mr de Souza to face disciplinary sanction before the Court of Three Judges on one of the five charges brought against him by the Law Society.
The tribunal dismissed the other four charges.
The Court of Three Judges, which is the highest disciplinary body for the legal profession, has the power to suspend or disbar lawyers.
When contacted for comment, Mr de Souza’s lawyers from WongPartnership said: “There is no question that Mr de Souza had acted with utmost integrity in the conduct of this matter at all times. Four of the five charges were dismissed.
“As regards the remaining charge, this is a matter now before the Court of Three Judges, and it is not appropriate for us to comment on the merits at this juncture. Suffice to say that we will strenuously resist it and argue that it too should be dismissed.”
The People’s Action Party said in a statement on Tuesday that it will determine the course of action necessary after the court gives its verdict.
“Mr de Souza has informed us that he denies any wrongdoing. He will argue his case on the one charge, on appeal before the Court of Three Judges,” said the party.
It added that integrity, honesty and incorruptibility are fundamental to the party, and that it expects all MPs to uphold the highest standards.

The disciplinary proceedings arose from a letter dated Sept 9, 2020, issued on behalf of the Court of Appeal, by the deputy registrar of the Supreme Court, to the Law Society of Singapore.
The complaint was referred to an independent inquiry committee, which was convened on Jan 13, 2021.
The inquiry committee found that Mr de Souza had breached his paramount duty to the court, which may be deemed misconduct under the Legal Profession Act, and recommended that he be fined $2,000.
The committee did not form the view that a formal investigation by a disciplinary tribunal was necessary.
The Law Society council disagreed with the findings of the inquiry committee and applied on Nov 5, 2021, to Chief Justice Sundaresh Menon for the appointment of a disciplinary tribunal.
This tribunal was appointed by the Chief Justice to hear and investigate the matter on Nov 19, 2021.
Over five days between April 6 and April 12, 2022, the tribunal heard oral testimony. Closing submissions were made on Aug 29.
The tribunal found sufficient cause in only one of the five charges that the Law Society brought against Mr de Souza.
The tribunal accepted that Mr de Souza had tried to persuade the client to make full disclosure. But the lawyer’s own failure to make such disclosure was not exculpated by the conduct of the client, it said.
“We appreciate that it is hardest for a legal practitioner to do his duty when the client is difficult. But it is in such circumstances that the legal practitioner must cleave to his or her duties to the court.”

 

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Forum: Specialist appointments are many months away​

DEC 8, 2022

Getting timely specialist appointments for medical conditions is becoming a challenge.
I have diabetes, and was referred to a hospital and the Singapore National Eye Centre for follow-up tests and examination of key indicators such as falling sodium levels and floaters (spots) in my vision.
The earliest appointments I could get were on Feb 17 and May 8 in 2023. And these were for referrals made in November 2022.
The impact of low sodium levels or floaters in vision could be much worse after having to wait four to six months.
The authorities should look into the situation to ensure that timely medical assistance is provided at all levels.

Nallan Chakravarti Raghava

 

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Forum: Can probe be widened to look at NSFs’ involvement in risky operations?​

DEC 13, 2022

I was sad to read about Corporal Edward H. Go, who died in the line of duty (NSF firefighter dies after falling unconscious while putting out blaze at Henderson Rd flat, Dec 8).
I read that Cpl Go had trained to be a firefighter for 12 weeks before he was posted to the Central Fire Station, and had responded to more than 20 fire and rescue incidents during his time there.
I did not know before this happened that full-time national servicemen (NSFs) serving in the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) are tasked with real-life front-line operations. I always thought that front-line firefighting was done by only SCDF regulars.
I also used to believe that NSFs serving in SCDF had an easier time than NSFs serving in the armed forces, but this incident has changed that.
It was reported that a probe into the firefighting operation linked to Cpl Go’s death has begun (Probe into incident linked to firefighter who died has begun, Dec 12). I think NSFs’ involvement in certain high-risk operations should also be looked into.
We owe our gratitude to all SCDF personnel, including NSFs, who protect and save our lives and properties.

Lim Ai Tiong

 

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Empty BTO flats up for sale on property portals, despite 5-year MOP rule for owners​

A three-room HDB flat at 95A Henderson Road appeared to have never been renovated, aside from lighting installed on the ceiling. PHOTOS: SCREENGRAB FROM PROPERTYGURU

Michelle Ng
Housing Correspondent

DEC 21, 2022


SINGAPORE - At least three unrenovated Build-To-Order (BTO) flats that appear to have never been lived in before are up for sale on property listing portals, despite the Housing Board’s rule that flat owners must live in their unit for the full five-year minimum occupation period (MOP).
These flats have no light fixtures or kitchen carpentry and come with the original sanitary fittings provided by HDB – with some toilet bowls still wrapped in plastic.
National Development Minister Desmond Lee, in a Facebook post on Monday, said owners cannot buy a BTO flat, not move into it for five years, and then sell it as “almost brand new” on the resale market. If owners are unable to fulfil the MOP, the flat has to be returned to HDB. It will then be put up as a balance flat for other home buyers to apply for, he added.
“Otherwise, it may be a breach of HDB rules and HDB will investigate accordingly,” Mr Lee said.
A check by The Straits Times on Tuesday evening found three such vacant flats on PropertyGuru, with agents touting these units as a “blank canvas” and “never stayed in before, brand new”.
One of them – a four-room HDB flat at 292B Bukit Batok East Avenue 6 – was taken down from the property portal on Wednesday morning, after netizens posted about it in the comment section of Mr Lee’s Facebook page.
The unit, which reached the MOP this year, had an asking price of $688,888 and was listed as being on a high floor with an unblocked view. Photos from the listing showed an empty kitchen and bedroom, as well as a toilet bowl wrapped in plastic.

The agent who listed it described the unit as a “blank canvas – no need spend money to hack anything” that was owned by a “motivated seller” who could hand over the unit once the transaction was completed.
An in-person viewing scheduled for Wednesday morning by this reporter with the listing agent was cancelled an hour before the appointment time. Further calls to the agent went unanswered.
Another listing for a three-room HDB flat at 95A Henderson Road stated an asking price of $750,000. The unit appeared to have never been renovated, aside from lighting installed on the ceiling.


A walkthrough video showed a pile of spare tiles, which are provided free of charge by HDB to assist owners in their renovation works, kept in the unit’s household shelter.
Meanwhile, an agent who listed a three-room HDB flat at 110A Depot Road described it as “never stayed in before, brand new” in its listing, with an asking price of $650,000. The unit is just over five years old.
Both listings were still up on PropertyGuru at the time of publication.

A three-room HDB flat at 95A Henderson Road has an asking price of $750,000. PHOTO: SCREENGRAB FROM PROPERTYGURU

A three-room HDB flat at 110A Depot Road, described as “never stayed in before, brand new” in its listing, has an asking price of $650,000. PHOTO: SCREENGRAB FROM PROPERTYGURU
Mr Lee’s Facebook post came after local media outlet Mothership spotlighted a five-room HDB flat in Yishun Street 51 on Dec 16 that was allegedly left vacant for eight years, as the buyers had moved into their family’s landed property. It was listed on PropertyGuru with an asking price of $690,000 but has since been taken down.
The Straits Times has asked HDB for comment.
Property agents said unrenovated BTO flats that are left vacant account for a minority of resale flats on the market. This is because the opportunity cost to owners of leaving a flat empty for five years and “locking up their names” in the property is too high, said ERA Realty property agent Anne Ho. This is opposed to buying a private property for immediate rental income and potential capital appreciation, she added.

Other agents said a change of family plans, financial difficulties, moving to work overseas or the death of a spouse could explain why some owners leave their BTO flats vacant.
OrangeTee & Tie property agent Susan Mariam said she had once sold a half-renovated HDB flat, as the husband died soon after the couple collected their keys and started renovation works, and the wife did not want to live in the unit.
“It’s very rare to come across flats that are completely empty, maybe one out of 100, and it’s usually because of an emotional reason such as a spouse has died or the owners believe the unit is haunted and refuse to move in,” said Ms Mariam.
ERA Realty’s head of research and consultancy Nicholas Mak said the issue of vacant flats being put up for resale cast a spotlight on housing as a social issue.
“People are angry because some have been balloting for BTO flats for years and cannot get (one), but these people have BTO flats but don’t live in them and end up selling them for more money on the resale market. It’s a case of haves and have-nots,” said Mr Mak.
“The empty flat could have provided shelter for a family for the past five years but it was just sitting there empty – the opportunity cost is too high. And if this is a prevalent issue, there could be a problem in our housing allocation,” he said.

 

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Vacant BTO flats for sale: Outcry over MOP breaches reflects broader public housing woes​

Michelle Ng
Housing Correspondent

At least three unrenovated BTO flats that appear to have never been lived in before are up for sale on property listing portals. PHOTOS: SCREENGRABS FROM PROPERTYGURU


DEC 25, 2022

SINGAPORE – Recent media reports of seemingly vacant Build-To-Order (BTO) flats put up for sale on property portals have got some Singaporeans up in arms.
These flats are completely bare and unrenovated, with no apparent signs of having been lived in during the mandatory five-year minimum occupation period (MOP).
On Thursday, the Housing Board said 53 errant flat owners who did not live in their flats during the MOP had been taken to task in the last six years. This translates to less than nine each year, a minority given that there are more than one million HDB flats in Singapore.
But these MOP breaches have irked some Singaporeans, with online reaction ranging from anger towards the flat owners to disappointment in the inadequacy of public housing policies to stamp out such unlawful practices.
The public outcry reflects broader unhappiness over public housing issues and the difficulties that some Singaporeans face in getting their BTO flats.
In the past two years, application rates for BTO flats, which are launched for sale by the HDB four times a year and allocated via balloting, have risen sharply. This is partly driven by a cohort of millennials reaching marriageable age and seeking their first home, the growing trend of smaller households, and the attractive BTO projects in mature estates on offer.
Anecdotally, it is not uncommon to hear of Singaporeans who have failed many times in their BTO applications, some of whom eventually give up and turn to the HDB resale market where home prices are higher.

Thus, it understandably does not sit well with many to see a group of owners who are lucky enough to buy a BTO flat even though they do not need to live in them, and yet are hoping to sell them for a profit.
In other words, Singaporeans are fed up with people gaming the public housing system.
When it comes to detecting such “vacant” BTO flats, much relies on the public to raise any suspicious misuse of flats via a toll-free hotline, which will then prompt the HDB to investigate.

But how many people are willing to tattle on their neighbour?
While the HDB conducts around 500 inspections monthly to detect violations of housing rules, these are likely more of a deterrence and there may well be rule-breakers who go undetected.
This raises the question: Is there a more efficient way of detecting such cases instead of relying on public feedback, which may be unreliable and sporadic?

Netizens have raised the possibility of the HDB requesting monthly utilities bills, prior to the completion of any resale transaction, to see if HDB flats were occupied. But this may complicate paperwork and could run the risk of being too intrusive.
A more effective way could be to go after the property agents who may knowingly or unknowingly assist this group of owners in selling their flats.
Agents who come across these seemingly vacant flats should probe their sellers for further details, and report any suspicions to the HDB.
The board has said that every HDB flat sold on the open market is inspected as part of the selling process, and tell-tale signs of a home that has not been lived in will be investigated.
While owners who allow their flats to sit empty for years but have no intention of selling will likely not be detected, these cases should be in the minority, as the opportunity costs of tying one’s name to an unutilised HDB flat do not make much financial sense.
There may also be owners who choose to forgo an agent’s service, but navigating the resale process on their own will likely already pose some difficulties in selling.

In 2021, over 31,000 HDB flats were sold on the resale market.
The matter of “vacant” BTO flats on sale comes as the affordability of HDB resale flats and the pricing and availability of BTO flats have been in the spotlight in recent months.
In a recent interview with The Straits Times and Lianhe Zaobao, National Development Minister Desmond Lee said his ministry is looking into various aspects of public housing policies as part of the Forward Singapore exercise, and is prepared to consider major changes to meet the needs of the times – including possibly relooking the allocation of flats to prioritise first-time applicants with pressing housing needs.
It is an opportune time to address the issue of MOP breaches as part of the broad review, and consider whether they warrant more stringent enforcement action moving forward.

 

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Nightly illegal parking of vans, lorries outside some migrant worker dorms​

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Over a 500m distance on both sides of Woodlands Road, mini-lorries and vans were seen parked illegally on the pavement and grass verge. ST PHOTO: ZAIHAN

Vans and mini-lorries illegally parked in Woodlands Road, as seen by ST since December 2022

MOHAMED YUSOF

Zaihan Mohamed Yusof

Jan 1, 2023

SINGAPORE - Mini-lorries and vans parked illegally on pavements in Woodlands Road have damaged kerb surfaces and grass patches, which have become water-filled ruts.
Similarly, in Seletar Link – close to Marina Country Club – and in North Coast Avenue off Admiralty Road West, parking violations have been noticed every night since early December.
Throughout the month, The Sunday Times has observed illegally parked vehicles in Woodlands Road outside Kranji Lodge 1, near Kranji MRT station.
Drivers of light goods vehicles mount kerbs and park on the grass verge along a 500m stretch on both sides of the road, affecting cyclists and pedestrians.
Cyclist Emily Chia said she avoids the area, adding that many heavy vehicles ply Woodlands Road.
Ms Chia, 42, said: “We (she and her cycling buddies) used to ride our ‘foldie’ bicycles on the pavement there. But with illegally parked vehicles on the pavement, we are forced to get back on the road for that stretch.”
Some migrant workers living at the nearby Kranji Lodge 1 who are transported back to the dormitory on these heavy vehicles risk injury – they have been seen jumping off the rear of lorries as the vehicles mount the kerbs at a bus bay nearby. Sometimes, the vehicles are parked on the pavement close to the bus stop or at the bus bay.

Construction worker M. Suresh, who regularly sits on grass patches in the area to eat his meals, said he is often forced to get up while eating and walk away when vehicles park illegally there.
Mr Suresh, 28, a resident of Kranji Lodge 1, said: “Every day, between 8pm and 11pm, we have to move to safer areas like under the stairs of the overhead bridge (to avoid the returning vans).”
It is illegal to park near traffic lights, filter lanes, grass verges, footways and bus stops. Vehicles are also not allowed to park abreast on roads. First-time offenders can be fined $70 for parking on a grass verge or in roads with double yellow lines. Light vehicles that park abreast face a $120 fine.


The Land Transport Authority (LTA) said on Friday that 142,497 parking violations were issued in 2019 to all vehicles. From January to November 2022, 86,036 summonses were issued, compared with 112,065 in 2021.
The Sunday Times had asked LTA on Dec 13 how many summonses had been issued to drivers for illegal parking in Woodlands Road and what could be done to curb illegal parking there.

In North Coast Avenue, vans and mini-lorries are parked illegally on the road, which is close to North Coast Lodge dormitory. ST PHOTO: ZAIHAN MOHAMED YUSOF
LTA said it was aware of the situation in Woodlands Road and that it uses closed-circuit television and parking wardens as enforcement tools. It also receives feedback from the public.
An LTA spokesman said: “We take a serious view of illegal parking and will continue to enforce against such offences to ensure the safety of road users. We urge all motorists to adhere to prevailing rules and do their part in fostering a safer road environment.”
A construction company owner, who has 40 foreign workers living at Kranji Lodge 1 and at a dormitory in Tuas, said illegal parking in Woodlands Road has been going on for months. He owns three lorries to ferry workers and equipment to work sites.
The 51-year-old, who gave his name only as Mr Mohamed, said: “By the time my workers finish their work at night, there would normally be no parking spaces at the dorm. To ask our drivers, who stay at the dorm, to drive back to the company to drop off the lorry and then return to the dorm is unfair to them.”

A pedestrian in Woodlands Road passing spots where illegally parked vans and mini-lorries have damaged kerbs and left deep ruts on grass patches. ST PHOTO: ZAIHAN MOHAMED YUSOF
The more than 70 parking spaces at Kranji Lodge 1 are usually filled by 9pm.
Mr Mohamed said the authorities should consider allowing vehicles to be parked at night in Woodlands Road as most of them would leave by 7am, when the workers go to work.
But the same road is often clogged by heavy vehicles returning to Malaysia via the Causeway.
The two-lane road towards the Causeway has double yellow lines to indicate that parking is disallowed at all times. The closest Housing Board carparks are more than 2km away in Marsiling.

On both sides of Seletar Link, vehicles are parked illegally over a 450m stretch. ST PHOTO: ZAIHAN MOHAMED YUSOF
But the most blatant disregard for road safety and traffic rules occurs in Seletar Link outside S11 dormitory. In the dimly lit area, vans and mini-lorries are parked illegally along a 450m stretch. Some are parked four abreast, leaving only one lane for cement trucks to pass.
Retired LTA planner and transport consultant Gopinath Menon said such conditions make it difficult to spot pedestrians.

At Seletar Link outside S11 Punggol dormitory, four mini-lorries and vans are parked abreast, leaving only one lane for cement trucks to pass. ST PHOTO: ZAIHAN MOHAMED YUSOF
He added: “If even one vehicle is parked illegally, it might be hard for (passing) drivers to spot pedestrians. If there are four vehicles parked abreast, chances are you can’t see pedestrians crossing the road. And that’s very dangerous.“
But when there is a shortage of parking spaces within the dorm premises, there is little that dormitory owners or operators can do, said Mr Menon.
In such cases, the authorities can be contacted and they may step in to offer solutions, he added.
SBS Transit said its bus drivers alert its operations control centre (OCC) when they see vehicles parked illegally in bus bays.
Mrs Grace Wu, vice-president of customer experience and communications at SBS Transit, said: “If our bus drivers encounter instances of illegal parking within the bus bay that prohibit them from safely entering and/or exiting the bus stop, they will alert our OCC, which will inform the Land Transport Authority for enforcement action.
“Concurrently, our OCC will activate our mobile traffic inspectors to the ground to assist our bus drivers.”

 

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42 national servicemen died while in service over past 20 years​

SCDF personnel saluting the hearse headed for Service Hall 1 during a ceremonial procession for Sergeant (1) Edward H. Go at Mandai Crematorium and Columbarium on Dec 13, 2022. ST FILE PHOTO

Zhaki Abdullah

Jan 10, 2023

SINGAPORE – A total of 42 national servicemen died while in service over the last two decades, Minister for Defence Ng Eng Hen said on Monday.
They comprise 35 from the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF), four from the Singapore Police Force (SPF) and three from the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF), Dr Ng said in a written reply to a parliamentary question from Non-Constituency MP Hazel Poa.
Of these, six cases – two from the SAF, three from the police and one from the SCDF – were due to traffic accidents on the way to or from work, or while on official duties, Dr Ng said, noting that such incidents are covered under the Defence and Home Affairs ministries’ compensation framework.
Ms Poa had asked how many full-time and operationally ready national servicemen from the SAF, SPF and SCDF had died while in service, or had permanent disability from a service injury, over the past 20 years.
During that period, there were a total of 52 cases of permanent disability to the brain, spinal cord, eyes or limbs due to serious service-related injuries, said Dr Ng.
Forty-three were from the SAF, four from the SPF and five from the SCDF, he added.
Eleven cases – eight from the SAF, one from the police and two from the SCDF – were due to traffic accidents, the minister said.

Every year, about 300,000 male Singapore citizens and permanent residents perform their national service duties across the three services, he noted.
“The proportions of deaths and permanent disability due to service within the SAF, SPF and SCDF are therefore 0.001 per cent, 0.001 per cent and 0.002 per cent, respectively.”
Dr Ng said that though the rates of both death and permanent disability due to service are low, the SAF and Home Team “constantly strive to achieve a zero fatality rate”.

“Every incident is investigated at the highest levels of command, with corrective measures taken to improve the safety under which our national servicemen train and operate,” he said.
Ms Poa, from the Progress Singapore Party, had also asked about the amount of compensation paid in such cases.
All national servicemen are covered by injury and life insurance, Dr Ng replied, noting that the coverage under both policies was doubled from a maximum of $150,000 to $300,000 from Jan 1, 2023.
Further compensation is provided depending on the degree of disability and circumstances of injury or death, he added.

While the total compensation for such cases takes reference from industrial benchmarks such as the Work Injury Compensation Act (Wica), they are set several times higher to “reflect the mandatory nature of national service”, he said.
The amounts vary considerably due to the circumstances of each case, Dr Ng said, adding that payouts have ranged from several thousand dollars to more than $1.5 million.
“For the same injury and comparable circumstances, the total compensation provided to national servicemen is about four times the amounts paid under the Wica,” he said.
Dr Ng added that servicemen who sustain service-related injuries are also provided free medical treatment for their injury for as long as medically necessary at SAF, SPF and SCDF medical facilities, as well as public healthcare institutions.
In December, 19-year-old Edward H. Go, a full-time national serviceman with the SCDF, died after battling a blaze in a rental flat in Henderson Road.

 

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Forum: Town councils need to be more proactive to tackle estate problems before they worsen​

Jan 14, 2023

Growing up, I saw the town council as an entity which made living in a Housing Board estate easier, and kept the surroundings clean to make life happier for residents.
However, in recent times, I am starting to see some cracks beneath the facade.
It seems the town council is heavily dependent on complaints and feedback to get things done. In my estate, I do not see the cleaner coming by as often as before.
Town councils should work towards becoming more proactive when they do their rounds to check on the estate’s condition and see how they can improve the lives of residents.
By walking in the shoes of residents, they would be able to notice the things residents do, for instance, if there is dog poo in a certain area, if riser cabinets are filled with clutter, or if a wall has mould or dirt.
They could then implement solutions, and follow up regularly to ascertain if the solutions are working or if they need to take other steps to rectify the issue.
While town council meetings with Residents’ Networks are good for garnering feedback, it would be better if the town council takes the initiative to catch problems before they become major issues, rather than merely react to complaints.

There are certainly some town councils that do fantastic jobs and go above and beyond their duties.
All town councils should have a set of common standards to set and manage expectations, such as how often block cleaning will be done.

Brian Seah

 

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‘Why did it take so long?’ Marsiling Rise residents to finally get lift upgrading, slated for 2026 completion​

Blocks 115 and 119 in Marsiling Rise were selected for HDB’s lift upgrading programme in December 2020. ST PHOTO: RYAN CHIONG

Kok Yufeng
Transport Correspondent

JAN 15, 2023

SINGAPORE - Two 13-storey Housing Board blocks in Marsiling will finally get direct lift access on every floor after years of complaints from residents and lobbying by politicians, including during the 2020 General Election.
Blocks 115 and 119 in Marsiling Rise, which have lifts that stop only on the first, fifth, ninth and 12th storeys, were selected for HDB’s lift upgrading programme (LUP) in December 2020.
The project was then put to an official poll in late December 2022, and about 95 per cent of residents voted in favour of it – well beyond the 75 per cent of votes needed.
With the voting done, HDB said works will start in the first quarter of 2023, with the upgrading expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2026.
The works include diverting underground cables and pipes to make way for new lift shafts, which can take six months to a year.
Residents were told about the news during an informal gathering held on Jan 6 by Marsiling-Yew Tee GRC MP Zaqy Mohamad. Printed circulars were also given to each household.
Speaking to The Sunday Times at the gathering, Mr Zaqy said the LUP vote was pushed back slightly, partly due to the Covid-19 pandemic, which shut the construction sector down for a period of time.

“Even if we wanted to award the tender, we couldn’t. No one was going to bid, or they would have put in very high bids. So it was not feasible,” Mr Zaqy said.
The Senior Minister of State for Manpower and Defence also cited his experience with LUPs in his previous constituency – Chua Chu Kang GRC – as to why he was able to push the project through.
With another LUP in his ward at Block 176 Woodlands Street 13 set to go to a vote in February, he added: “It was about building trust and getting residents on board.”

When The Sunday Times visited Blocks 115 and 119, the mood was mixed.
While there was much joy and relief, the years of inconvenience and the length of time it took – and will take – for the blocks to get the much needed upgrade have left a bitter taste.
Block 115 resident Fathima Zohra, a quadriplegic, said it was great news that the authorities are upgrading the lifts, but she hopes it can be done more quickly.
Currently, the 26-year-old takes 20 to 30 minutes just to safely make her way down two flights of stairs to get to the lift located one storey below her flat.
Ms Zohra suffered a spinal cord injury in a car accident in 2017, and her family used to have to carry her and her wheelchair down the stairs. A staircase climber gifted to her last year has made the process easier.
However, without direct access to a lift until 2026, Ms Zohra, an inclusive employment recruiter at social enterprise Inclus, said she is considering moving away as she cannot be as independent as she would like to be. “I work full-time, and I am not someone who usually stays at home. So having to be carried all the time is extremely inconvenient,” she said.

The lift upgrading will improve accessibility to the blocks’ residents. ST PHOTO: RYAN CHIONG
At Block 119, a 65-year-old resident who wanted to be known only as Madam Cheng recalled the painful decision she had to make, putting her 89-year-old mother, who has mobility issues, in an old folks’ home as her flat does not have lift access.
Another Block 119 resident, who wanted to be known only as Mrs Ali, said she injured her right knee and shin in a fall while climbing down the stairs to her flat just a few weeks ago. “I am very happy that there will be a lift near my doorstep. But I am also sad that it took so long,” the 65-year-old housewife said.
Residents also said that they felt cast aside and frustrated when other blocks in the neighbourhood got new lifts. The lack of communication from the authorities did not help, and the reasons given for not upgrading the lifts of the two blocks were unconvincing, they added.
In a 2020 report by Chinese daily Lianhe Zaobao, former Marsiling-Yew Tee GRC MP Ong Teng Koon had said that the layout of the two HDB blocks and the site terrain would have led to upgrading costs that exceeded HDB’s cost cap of $30,000 per household.
For Block 115, for instance, the cost of upgrading would be higher as it sits on a hillside and has a unique architectural design, Mr Ong said in response to a petition started by the Singapore Democratic Party in January that year that got about 500 signatures.
The opposition party also raised the lift upgrading issue on the campaign trail for the 2020 General Election.
Residents of Blocks 115 and 119, including one who wanted to be known only as Mr Nga, said they were willing to pay more for the lifts, and the authorities should have given them more options in terms of cost-sharing.
“We have people here with a real need,” said the 77-year-old engineer, recounting how a family member had to be carried down the stairs during a medical emergency as the ambulance crew had trouble accessing his flat.
“Tell me what technical issues cannot be solved in this day and age? If we had to pay, then we would do it. But there was little consultation,” Mr Nga added.
When asked why Blocks 115 and 119 were selected for the LUP only now and how the site challenges will be overcome, HDB said only that it had exercised flexibility after reviewing appeals from the grassroots adviser and residents.
It did not say how much the lift upgrading would cost, but National Development Minister Desmond Lee said on Tuesday in a written parliamentary reply to Jurong GRC MP Ang Wei Neng that some LUPs may cost more than $200,000 per household.

Residents of Blocks 115 and 119 said they were willing to pay more for the lifts, and the authorities should have given them more options in terms of cost-sharing. ST PHOTO: RYAN CHIONG
HDB said the Government subsidises up to 90 per cent of the cost of LUPs, while the town council pays a portion of the remainder.
Hence, Singaporean households that benefit from LUPs pay up to only $3,000, depending on their block configuration and flat type. Permanent resident households must pay the full upgrading cost.
HDB also said that the LUP solution at Blocks 115 and 119 is more complicated because they are segmented blocks. These are HDB blocks designed to offer greater privacy, with two units sharing a common floor landing, or segment.
Consequently, new lift shafts and lift openings have to be added to every segment of the blocks, HDB said. In addition, one of the two existing lifts will be upgraded, while the other lift will be shut down.
There are also fewer benefiting units within the two blocks – 48 at Block 115 and 53 at Block 119 – than with other LUPs.
“Given the magnitude of the LUP and the number of residents involved, HDB has the responsibility to ensure that the lift solutions are practical and economically viable,” a spokesman told The Sunday Times.
More generally, HDB said it has adopted “innovative technical solutions” over the years, including using lifts that do not have a machine room at the top of the shafts and smaller “home lifts”.
There are still about 140 HDB blocks where it is not possible to implement the LUP due to high costs, or existing technical and site constraints, HDB added.
But it said it will continue to explore new methods to bring down LUP costs, as well as other alternatives to improve accessibility for residents living in flats without direct lift access.

 

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Forum: Take steps to protect people walking below from high-rise littering​

JAN 16, 2023

An area that was not highlighted in the report on the proposed change to the law on high-rise littering (Proposed law on littering puts onus of proof on flat owners, Jan 10) is the danger posed by objects that fall from a height to the people walking below. The danger is even greater if we add in the risk of falling windows and air-conditioning units.
The National Environment Agency said there may be more cases of high-rise littering with more flats, which are taller and denser, being built. This would be a disturbing trend.
How are we going to protect the people who are walking below? Deterring flat residents from littering is not enough, and action must be taken on the ground to reduce the possibility of injury from falling objects.
I proposed in a previous letter that people walking in and out of void decks should be channelled away from window openings, and that awnings should be built for protection if regular passages have to go under the window openings (Take more steps to protect those walking below from falling objects, Dec 20, 2021).
If this is not feasible, what other physical measures can be taken? We should take concrete action now before more people are hurt.

Foo Chek Boon