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HDB will review policies for coffee shop food affordability if necessary: Desmond Lee​

Some tenants at a coffee shop in Tampines which was sold for $41.68 million said rents there have surged since April. ST PHOTO: ALPHONSUS CHERN

Anjali Raguraman
Consumer Correspondent

July 6, 2022

SINGAPORE - The Housing Board regularly monitors the resale market for HDB coffee shop transactions, as well as the prices of food, and "will not hesitate to review its policies to address affordability concerns", said National Development Minister Desmond Lee.
Mr Lee was replying via written response on Tuesday (July 5) to parliamentary questions on efforts to keep food prices affordable, after several multimillion-dollar transactions for coffee shops came under the spotlight in recent weeks.
The questions came from MPs Jamus Lim (Sengkang GRC), Sharael Taha (Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC), Shawn Huang (Jurong GRC), Foo Mee Har (West Coast GRC) and Murali Pillai (Bukit Batok), as well as non-constituency MP Hazel Poa.
The queries arose after news reports last month that a coffee shop in Tampines Street 21 was sold for a record $41.68 million, while a Yishun Street 81 coffee shop changed hands for $40 million.
Some tenants at the Tampines coffee shop told The Straits Times that rents there have surged since April.
Mr Lee said that there are currently more than 770 HDB coffee shops, of which 400 were sold by the statutory board in the 1990s to "encourage private-sector ownership in running these coffee shops".
HDB stopped selling coffee shops in 1998.


While the Tampines and Yishun coffee shops that were sold for record prices were privately owned, such transactions are a minority, Mr Lee said.
He added that 70 per cent of resale transactions of sold coffee shops since 2010 were below $10 million, with an average of 15 transactions yearly since 2010.
While Mr Murali had asked if the Government will introduce rent control measures for stallholders at eating houses in mature estates, which are where high-value sales "seem to be taking place", Mr Lee replied that such restrictions may result in unintended impacts.

"For example, by controlling rent, we could end up reducing the incentive for coffee shop owners to invest in improving their coffee shops to provide better services and facilities to customers," Mr Lee said in his written reply.
Instead, Mr Lee said, HDB currently ensures that people can easily access affordable and quality food within public housing estates through a good supply of coffee shops, and regulation of price-quality tenders for coffee shops run by HDB.
For example, the two coffee shops in Tampines and Yishun have five and seven other coffee shops, respectively, within a 400m radius.

The Yishun Street 81 coffee shop which changed hands for $40 million. PHOTO: LIANHE ZAOBAO
Mr Lee also said the Bukit Batok Street 11 coffee shop that was sold for $31 million in 2015 has six other coffee shops within the vicinity. He added that food prices at the coffee shop are only "marginally higher" by 10 to 20 cents, while a cup of coffee is the same price as that at other nearby coffee shops.
He revealed that HDB will complete another 30 coffee shops in the next four years, in addition to the 34 new ones in the past four years. This is in addition to more than 100 hawker centres here, with four more to start operations this year, and seven being planned or under construction.
Another way prices have been kept affordable is via the regulation of price-quality tenders, started in 2018 in HDB coffee shops.

Factors such as the availability of budget meals, good track record and community initiatives made up half of the points assigned to asses the quality of the operator.
Such operators typically provide budget food options at every stall, priced at around $3, said Mr Lee.
"We are mindful of the need to ensure that residents have access to affordable cooked food options, and of the potential impact of resale transactions," he said.
"Ultimately, consumers must be given the choice to go elsewhere. This applies to stallholders as well. If the rents set by coffee shop owners are too high, stallholders could move to other eating establishments, resulting in vacant stalls and holding costs for the owners."

 

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Forum: Many seniors rely on hawker centres, affordable food prices​

July7, 2022

I share Forum writer Muhammad Dzul Azhan Sahban's concerns about rising food prices (Stallholders, consumers can take steps to mitigate rising food prices, July 4).
Singapore is a rapidly ageing society. As seniors age, they are less able to cook for themselves due to physical deterioration. Many live alone, which leaves hawker food as their only choice.
While the Government is building more hawker centres to ensure residents have access to affordable food (HDB ensures a good supply of eating houses with affordable food options, June 30), it will take time for them to be ready.
For now, privately owned coffee shops are the best alternative for some seniors who live too far away from a hawker centre, even if the food is pricier.
Landlords raising coffee shop stall rental rates seem to go against efforts to promote the hawker trade in Singapore. I see coffee-shop stalls changing hands often.
Perhaps the Housing Board could consider taking back the leases of privately owned coffee shops. Lower rental would help hawkers make a living, and provide seniors unable to cook for themselves with affordable food.

Ang Chiew Leng

 

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COE premium hits all-time high of $110,524 in Open category​

Lee Nian Tjoe
Senior Transport Correspondent

JUL 6, 2022


SINGAPORE - Certificate of entitlement (COE) premiums hit an all-time high of $110,524 in the Open category on Wednesday (July 6), reflecting market expectations that prices could rise further amid a projected decrease in supply.
The premium for Open category COE, which tends to be used to register larger cars, rose by 5.9 per cent from $104,400 at the last tender.
The previous record was $110,500, set in 1994 under a different classification, for cars above 2,000cc.
Premiums also rose across all other categories.
The COE premium for cars with engines smaller than 1,600cc and 130bhp, and fully electric vehicles (EVs) with up to 110 kilowatts of power, went up from $74,989 to $78,001 - a 4 per cent increase.
For cars with larger engines, as well as more powerful EVs, the premium was $107,800, up 1.7 per cent from $106,001.
The motorcycle COE premium rose from $10,302 to $10,889, an increase of 5.7 per cent.

The commercial vehicle COE premium went up by 1.9 per cent from $53,011 to $54,001.
The Straits Times had earlier reported that industry watchers expected to see record-breaking premiums due to projections that the three-month supply of COEs from August to October will be less than that of the current period.
Their projection was based on the low number of vehicles being taken off the road in the previous months. Deregistration figures recorded from April to June are the main determinant of the supply of COEs for the August to October period.

In Wednesday’s tender exercise, the Open category was the biggest mover among the types of COE.
Open COEs, which can be used to register any kind of vehicles other than motorcycles, have to be used within three months after they are secured.
Otherwise, the bidder will lose the $10,000 bid deposit. They are also transferable, so motor dealers can hold on to such COEs to use in the future.

Category	Current COE premium ($)	Previous COE premium ($)
A - Car (1,600cc & below)	78,001	74,989
B - Car (above 1,600cc)	107,800	106,001
C - Goods vehicle & bus	54,001	53,011
D - Motorcycle	10,889	10,302
E - Open	110,524	104,400

Mr Nicholas Wong, general manager of Kah Motor which distributes Honda cars, attributed the spike in the Open category COE premium partly to speculators.
Currently, the oldest stock of Open COEs that can still be used will be from April, and had cost nearly $100,000 a piece.
Traders hoping to profit from reselling the valid Open COEs at a future date would want premiums to keep rising, Mr Wong said.
Bidding for COEs in the large-car category was more muted than earlier, with 695 bids submitted, compared with 822 bids seen at the previous tender. This suggests that car companies have fewer orders this time than before.
There is still one more tender exercise in July before the new quota – expected to be announced next week – kicks in.
This gives dealers more urgency to secure their needed COEs at the latest tender, in anticipation of a bigger rush for COEs during tenders under the expected reduced quota.
One motor dealer said: “If there were dealers who needed a COE and was waiting for a cheaper COE at the next round, well, good luck to them.”

The record set in the Open category is the second type of COE premium to make history this year after the motorcycle COE premium hit $11,400 in March.
The previous record premium of $110,500 was set in December 1994 under different conditions.
Besides having more categories – seven instead of the current five – tenders were held once a month, not twice. It was also a closed tender system so bidders could not enter or revise their bids as the exercise proceeded.
COE prices fell in the months following the 1994 record as new government measures were introduced to curb speculation.
Dr Zafar Momin, a former adjunct professor at Nanyang Business School, said that in the current high COE premium environment, dealers will try to shift demand forward and push consumers to buy now, on the fear of prices rising later on.
What he expects is for rational car buyers to hold back on their purchase.
While the restrictive COE supply means that premiums will not fall dramatically, Dr Momin said that it may be possible to see premiums ease slightly and gradually.
This is not accounting for external factors – such as fleet operators needing to register more cars, which will drive up demand and hence COE prices – or the Government stepping in to curb premium increases, like it did in 1994

 

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What went wrong with the Sports Hub experiment​

Grace Ho
Opinion Editor

The takeover of the Sports Hub is expected to cost the Government some $2.3 billion. PHOTO: ST FILE

Aug 2, 2022

SINGAPORE - It has been two months since the Government announced that it would take over the ownership and management of the Sports Hub instead of carrying on with the existing public-private partnership (PPP) arrangement. On Monday (Aug 1), Minister for Culture, Community and Youth Edwin Tong shed more light on the matter.
He touched upon the limitations of the current arrangement, the changing environment, and Singapore's growing capabilities and ambition as factors the Government considered when it decided to terminate the relationship.
The decision was not driven by financial reasons or to save money: the takeover is expected to cost some $2.3 billion, comparable to the additional $2.32 billion the Government would have paid had it continued with the partnership.
Also, while it was problematic that the private consortium could not secure any recurring or marquee sports events on a multi-year basis - apart from the Super Rugby event from 2016 to 2019 - the larger issue is that the Sports Hub is an iconic, national sporting asset.
Because of this, there must be a strong sense of affinity and connection between it and Singaporeans, said Mr Tong. There ought to be more community participation and activation around it, including greater access for the grassroots, schools or junior national athlete programmes.
The fact that there were no upfront costs for the Government under the PPP arrangement proved useful during the global financial crisis in 2008, as fiscal resources could be channelled to other economic and social needs. SportsHub Pte Ltd (SHPL) also bore the costs of any delays or defects.
But I would suggest that the financial crisis did not have any major impact on the deal. Singapore generally has the fiscal space to undertake such projects on its own, unlike some developed economies with large public deficits.

I do think, however, that the prospect of Singapore being the pioneer of the largest sports stadium infrastructure deal in Asia at the time - coupled with the risk mitigation, economic efficiency and design and construction arguments Mr Tong reiterated on Monday - made the case then for PPP compelling.
Mr Tong gave a frank and clear-eyed explanation: when Singapore started exploring this project in 2003, neither the Government nor the local sporting and lifestyle or entertainment industries had sufficiently matured or developed depth of experience in bringing in marquee sports and entertainment events from all over the world.
Notwithstanding the commercial "skin in the game", things did not work out as intended, especially at the operational stage. Profit-loss considerations sat awkwardly with social objectives. Multiple stakeholders and sub-contractors - each with different goals - pulled the project in different directions.
Examples cited on Monday showed just how untenable the situation had become. Plans to hold ActiveSG academy programmes such as the Basketball Academy at the OCBC Arena met with resistance, as such community sports programmes were not revenue-generating.
Schools were expected to bear the costs of laying the turf for games such as football and rugby. Community events organisers that catered their own food and drinks had to pay high levies because of an exclusive catering sub-contractor arrangement.
No amount of tinkering with key performance indicators on the edges would have helped. If I were the Government, I, too, would want to make a clean break.
MORE ON THIS TOPIC
$2.3b cost of ending Sports Hub public-private tie-up represented 'fair deal' for Govt: Edwin Tong
Govt to set up holding company to manage Kallang Alive precinct, Sports Hub
Workers' Party MP Gerald Giam (Aljunied GRC) questioned how SportSG would be able to bring in more marquee events, given that SHPL with all its expertise was unable to.
Mr Tong replied that local players had built up expertise over the years. This was not just about SportSG, but about the maturity and development of the entire ecosystem in Singapore.
He also refuted the pre-supposition that SHPL did not bring marquee events into Singapore because it was unable to. Rather, the risk and loss-bearing cost structure of the project had disincentivised it from doing so. "So there were a number of structural problems with the current arrangement which made it harder - not impossible, but harder for SHPL to have done so."
In what seems to have become a habit, Non-Constituency MP Leong Mun Wai prefaced his questions with a lengthy exposition, and managed to squeeze in a reference to the Sports Hub being "given" to a private consortium.
But the fact is the Government never "gave" the Sports Hub to anyone. The structure of the PPP provides for a unilateral right on the part of the Government, but not SHPL, to terminate the project and take over ownership and management at any time before the expiry of the project, with no penalty for such an early termination.

Leader of the Opposition Pritam Singh asked if the Government had charged SHPL for non-performance. Mr Tong replied that, pending further checks, the number would be in the order of $44 million for issues such as non-availability payments and rectification of defects.
A few lessons can be drawn from the Sports Hub venture. We now know that the profit-driven model of the consortium, which worked well in the infrastructure phase of the project, was not sufficiently aligned with the current more sporting- and socially-driven phase of the project.
But proper project structuring should factor in all phases from the outset. In this regard, the Sports Hub is a learning point and will, as Mr Tong said, "feature in the thinking" when the Government embarks on future projects with third parties.


Second, even as the Sports Hub outcomes shift away from predominantly commercial ones towards realising sporting and social objectives, there will likely be increases in operating and maintenance costs. These should be monitored and the public monies accounted for.
Third, the Sports Hub case should give public agencies pause when considering whether to adopt the PPP model. A more straightforward model could be for the Government to fully finance the construction of such facilities, contract them to a managing agent upon completion, or run them on its own.
Even under the traditional procurement model, not to mention PPPs, there are many areas where agencies may not have had repetitive experience in managing certain types of projects, or built up the necessary risk-management capabilities.
It is important to frame the problem statement and ask: is there genuine potential for private expertise and innovation? Is it truly necessary to bring in private players to help solve a public problem - especially in today's economic climate where the private sector may have even less appetite to absorb the risks associated with uncertain future revenue streams?
In the end, the Sports Hub is more than just a PPP or state-run piece of world-class infrastructure. As Mr Tong observed, the next chapter for Sports Hub is about sports being part of the life of every Singaporean, shaping a nation of resilient individuals, and strengthening people's sense of unity. Now that is something worth looking forward to.

 

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One rule for private operators, another rule for government-owned operator

Forum: Keep minimum age of 21 for gambling at all venues​

Aug 15, 2022

I welcome the new laws on social gambling in Singapore (New laws on social gambling in Singapore to take effect from Aug 1, July 31). They will set clear parameters for what is acceptable.
I am quite puzzled, however, by one of the changes under the new Gambling Control Act, which will make it an offence for those under 21 to gamble, except at Singapore Pools outlets where the minimum age is 18.
I do not understand the reason for this difference.
Gambling is a vice that should not be encouraged, especially among the young.
Hence, I do not agree that the laws should differentiate between gambling at a casino and gambling at a Singapore Pools outlet.
The minimum age should be 21 for all gambling forms and at all gambling venues.

Foo Sing Kheng

 

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Forum: Long queues due to fewer manned bank branches​

Aug 23, 2022

Many DBS Bank/POSB branches with manned counter services have either closed or been replaced with ATM-only booths.
Some seniors now have to travel long distances to a branch with manned counters to get help with their banking needs.
I have experienced or heard from others about long, snaking queues at bank branches, with people spilling into corridors and pavements, SMS queue numbers running out for the day before 2pm, and waiting times of up to 31/2 hours, mostly spent standing outside the branch as space is limited inside the premises.
At other banks, there are rarely queues extending outside the branch, and service is quick and efficient.
I wonder how many DBS/POSB branches have staff that serve customers compared with a few years ago, what the average waiting time at those branches is, and whether the bank collects feedback from its customers on their banking experience.

Gan Boey Keow

 

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Forum: Mobile apps may present challenges to seniors​

Aug 25, 2022

I share Mr Chen Wencong's dismay that organisations such as banks, government bodies and insurance companies are making their mobile apps the "centre of the universe" (Has Singapore become a smart nation or smart device nation?, Aug 13).
In some cases, the app is required to perform certain actions, which cannot be done on a computer. If the focus on apps is to continue, then there should be versions of the app on Windows computers.
Phone apps have disadvantages, especially for the elderly.

• Their small screens and fonts may not be suitable for seniors who have poorer eyesight.
• Having to bend over to read can be punishing, especially for seniors who may have conditions such as cervical spondylosis (degeneration of the spine).
• The small screen makes it difficult to toggle between windows when doing Internet transactions like banking which require you to finish within a certain time or the log-in will expire.
  In the process of going to another site for an action such as retrieving a code, the original site may be lost.
• Often, a smartphone with the latest operating system is required. A bank recently sent customers reminders to ensure that their operating system is up-to-date.
  Customers may then need to buy a new phone even though their existing phone is still functioning, as the older model is no longer supported.

The authorities responded to Mr Chen's letter (Much emphasis placed on inclusivity in Smart Nation push, Aug 16), and said that ServiceSG Centres have been set up to support segments of people, such as seniors, who need help with digital services.
There are currently four of these centres in Singapore. How convenient is it for seniors to visit these centres, compared with the many more AXS kiosks that Mr Chen's father used to visit to top up his Central Provident Fund account?
There is also added concern when a country places too much reliance on the Internet, which is vulnerable to breakdowns and attacks. Cash, cheques and AXS machines are still needed.

Ang Chiew Leng

 

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"After having sent close to a hundred e-mails to various authorities over nine years about his next-door neighbours' hoarding habit and the attendant fire risk, Mr Kumar's worst fears came true when a fire broke out in the early hours of Aug 16."

"Since he bought his four-room flat in 2012, he had spoken to Yuhua MP Grace Fu several times and written to the Housing Board, National Environment Agency, his town council and even the Ministry of National Development (MND) to seek action on the hoarding."

"But Mr Kumar, who is staying with his tenants in a one-room rental flat provided by HDB while they can make other arrangements, feels that not enough action was taken to make sure that the hoarding would stop."

Neighbour of hoarders exhausted all channels to no avail in decade leading up to Jurong East fire​

A photo taken in 2019 of the area outside Mr Kumar's flat where hoarded items were placed. PHOTO: MR KUMAR
Yong Li Xuan

Aug 29, 2022

SINGAPORE - After having sent close to a hundred e-mails to various authorities over nine years about his next-door neighbours' hoarding habit and the attendant fire risk, Mr Kumar's worst fears came true when a fire broke out in the early hours of Aug 16.
Noises that sounded like explosions from the outside of his ninth-storey flat at Block 236 Jurong East Street 21 roused Mr Kumar and his two tenants, who woke up to a wall of fire so high it licked the ceiling outside the flat.
Acrid, black smoke crept in through the gaps in the windows and doors, and filled the flat with the "poisonous" smell of burning plastic, he recalled.
"I thought my life would end there," said the 56-year-old, who declined to provide his full name.
Finally, the three men were rescued by the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF). Mr Kumar said the first thing he did was to ask the firefighters if his neighbours had managed to get out.
Ms Huang Xiumei, 50, survived. But her brother Mr Huang Mingquan, 48, perished in the fire.
Mr Kumar said he was saddened by his death, which need not have happened if the hoarding behaviour had been addressed. His experience reflects the daunting task that those living next to a hoarder face in trying to change their situation.

Since he bought his four-room flat in 2012, he had spoken to Yuhua MP Grace Fu several times and written to the Housing Board, National Environment Agency, his town council and even the Ministry of National Development (MND) to seek action on the hoarding.
In a response to queries from The Straits Times, Ms Fu, who is also Minister for Sustainability and the Environment, said Mr Kumar's feedback was taken seriously and HDB, the town council and grassroots leaders had worked to engage his neighbour.
"I understand that the family has been unresponsive, ignoring the calls of HDB and the town council," she said. "Over time, their immediate family members have moved out. Only the owner and his sister resided in the flat."

But Mr Kumar, who is staying with his tenants in a one-room rental flat provided by HDB while they can make other arrangements, feels that not enough action was taken to make sure that the hoarding would stop.
He said that though the corridor would be cleared by the authorities after his complaints, items would soon accumulate again. And so the cycle continued.
"To be frank, I was expecting the fire any time," he added. "I tried my level best to convince the authorities, each and every one, that there's a fire issue. But nobody took care of it."
Among the items his neighbours collected were plastic bottles, cans, shoes and old clothes, piled up in plastic bags.
"It smelled like rotten food," he said. "Really suffocating."

The inside of the burnt flat, where many items had been stored. PHOTO: LIANHE ZAOBAO
Mr Kumar said it was so bad that he did not want to go home when he was out or leave his home once he returned, as he dreaded walking past the hoard of items.
"Other people always open their doors. But once I open my door, the smell comes in," he said. "I hate this place."
He said that in 2012, he applied for a Build-to-Order (BTO) flat at Skyline II, a development at Bukit Batok Street 22. But when it was time to collect the keys in 2017, he could not sell his current place, even after a three-month extension from HDB before payments would be due.
Mr Kumar said three property agents conducted 20 viewings over six months, but no one made an offer because of his neighbours.
He said he had to forfeit $30,000, which was the deposit for the BTO flat and other fees.

In 2013, the family decided that his homemaker wife and three-year-old daughter, who is allergic to dust, would return to India to live with his in-laws. Mr Kumar's 22-year-old son still lives in the flat, but was overseas when the fire occurred.
"I want to make a living. That's why I didn't go back with them," the IT analyst said, still hopeful that he could one day sell the flat and reunite with his family. "I miss my daughter a lot. I didn't experience her childhood with her."
Asked if he had tried to engage his neighbours, Mr Kumar said he could not communicate with them, as they spoke Mandarin.
He said he hopes the authorities will take stricter enforcement action against hoarders, for instance by conducting periodic checks and taking action if there is persistent and excessive clutter in a flat.
"From my perspective, they're not taking enough action. It's not effective," he said.

 

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Forum: Some seniors still have trouble getting polyclinic appointments with mobile apps​

Aug 31, 2022

I refer to the letter, "Mobile apps may present challenges to seniors" (Aug 25).
I am a senior and last week I wanted to see a doctor for pain in my feet. To book an appointment at Queenstown Polyclinic, I called the appointment hotline several times for two days.
Each time, an automated message told me the operators were busy, and I should try the OneNUHS app or wait on the line.
On the third day, I finally managed to get an appointment. Those were three very painful days.
While at the polyclinic, I had to wait for 45 minutes at the reception to get a referral for a podiatrist. In that time, I observed the following:

• A man in his late 70s complained that he could not get a same-day appointment since the day before. He did not own a smartphone and was not familiar with how to use one, and said he could not keep borrowing one from others. The reception staff tried to show him how to use a smartphone, but he could not understand, and they booked an appointment for him.
• Another man in his 60s walked in with his hands trembling badly. He too said he could not use the app. Seeing his condition, the staff booked an appointment for him that was in two hours' time.
• A young woman walked in pushing an elderly woman in a wheelchair. She told the staff the app was not working for her and terminated before she could get an appointment. She demonstrated this to the staff, who got the same result.

These incidents demonstrate what some seniors have to go through for basic services. When looking at productivity gains, the time wasted by some in using the app must also be considered.
Not everyone has the means to own a smartphone. Maybe this rush for digitalisation should be relooked to ensure that some are not left behind.

Pradeep K. Mathur

 

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Forum: No one-size-fits-all solution for helping seniors navigate online banking services​

Sep 7, 2022

I thank Ms Gan Boey Keow for highlighting in her letter the plight of many seniors who have had to wait hours to have their banking needs attended to (Long queues due to fewer manned branches, Aug 23).
I find that DBS Bank's reply (Staff present at self-service bank branches to guide customers, Aug 29) did not suggest effective solutions.
Saying that most of the popular transactions over the counter can now be done online or at more than 1,300 self-service machines available 24/7 is not helpful for the seniors who do not know how to use the machines. The staff present also cannot stop the long queues from forming.
Though many transactions, including opening an account, can now be done via Internet banking or self-service machines, certain groups of people may need some hand-holding.
DBS should study the ability profile of customers and their banking needs, and implement appropriate solutions. There is no one-size-fits-all solution.
There are seniors with no ability to do online banking on their own, as well as those with special needs. They should be given a special queue number to be served in person.
Then there are those who can be taught on the spot how to use Internet banking or a self-service machine. Some hand-holding by DBS staff will be needed to show them how. Perhaps customers could also be given a printed guide to try out these steps on their own at home.

There are also people who, though capable of online banking, prefer a face-to-face interaction - they should be required to queue.
I hope that banks will consider my suggestions, and that the Monetary Authority of Singapore will steer banks in the right direction.

Seah Guan Hai

 

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Forum: Not easy for private-hire drivers to seek redress for fare evasion​

SEP 21, 2022

I am a private-hire driver who has finally decided to seek redress after experiencing my fourth case of fare evasion this year.
Fare evasion is an offence, but my attempts to lodge a report have not been successful.
The ride-hailing operator insists that it cannot resolve the case without being informed in writing by the Land Transport Authority (LTA) to do so.
The police informed me that they would not be investigating my case and could only lodge a report on my behalf.
The LTA does not permit walk-in appointments, and also does not provide the option of making an appointment online for fare evasion cases. I called its hotline and managed to speak to an employee after a long wait, but was told that he could not make an appointment on my behalf. What ensued was me being bounced from one employee to another over the next four days.
After speaking to other private-hire drivers, it seems cases of fare evasion are not uncommon, but many do not want to go through the hassle of corresponding with the LTA. Given the under-reporting, I wonder how pervasive the offence is.
Why is fare evasion within the LTA's purview when it seems ill equipped to resolve such cases?

Ng Li Meng

 

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Forum: Get S'porean doctors based overseas to return instead​

OCT 1, 2022

MOH Holdings is looking for a recruitment agency to help recruit 60 medical officers annually from India over the next few years. Can the authorities explain the rationale for this?
There are many Singaporean doctors who are trained in countries like Britain and the United States and are based in those places. Are there preventable hurdles in them coming back to Singapore?

Lim Chew

 

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Forum: Better to focus on outcomes and how to resolve issues​

OCT 8, 2022

Forum writer Jim Simon's observation that, too often, traffic warning cones are placed too close to roadwork sites to be of much use is not a new one (No sign placed at an earlier point to warn motorists, Oct 6).
I have previously written to the Land Transport Authority on this issue, the last time in 2018.
The reply I got was an elaboration on the Code of Practice that is already in place and what contractors are required to do.
However, despite the existence of the code, the problem still seems to persist and I have since stopped providing feedback on the issue.
I am less concerned about what measures are already in place than with ensuring something is done and that motorists will not face the same problem.
On Oct 3, Forum writer Yao Chee Liew rightly pointed out that poor workmanship and lack of quality control resulting in gaps at the edge of road gratings was a case of good design that still resulted in poor outcomes (Drain gratings: Design improved but gaps still exist).
These incidents illustrate the need for agencies to focus on final outcomes and ensure such outcomes are maintained.

Responses to feedback should not just focus on repeating to users the measures that are already in place.
While it is good for users to know these measures, the impression given at times is that the replies are more focused on the agency having done its part and how it is not to blame.
It will instead be more meaningful for users to know that the issue will be resolved, not just after the feedback but for good, via continued monitoring and enforcement.

Peh Chwee Hoe

 

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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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Singaporeans face another year of paying more for goods and services​

Ovais Subhani
Senior Business Correspondent

MAS said headline inflation, which is relevant to consumers, is expected to be around 5.5 per cent to 6.5 per cent. ST PHOTO: KUA CHEE SIONG


OCT 14, 2022

SINGAPORE - Singaporeans will continue to pay more for goods and services in 2023 than they did before the Covid-19 pandemic.
The central bank in its first assessment of the outlook for inflation in 2023 said on Friday that headline inflation, which is relevant to consumers, is expected to be around 5.5 per cent to 6.5 per cent.
That assessment takes into account the 1 percentage point hike in goods and services tax in January.
Even after stripping the impact of GST, inflation in 2023 would come in at 4.5 per cent to 5.5 per cent, said the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS).
Those numbers are a big improvement from the 14-year high of 7.5 per cent recorded in August and the full-year 2022 average of 6 per cent forecast by the MAS.
However, they are significantly higher than the 1.6 per cent average in the decade before the pandemic.
To a large extent, inflation has been running faster than the historical average as global prices started to rise last year amid most of the economies worldwide emerging from Covid-19 lockdowns.


However, Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February this year and off-and-on lockdowns in China resulted in supply disruption, boosting inflation even more.
Analysts believe such disruptions and geopolitical tensions will continue to support prices at higher than usual levels.
Mr Irvin Seah, senior economist at DBS Bank, said: "Singapore has little influence over the high global inflation from a fundamentally changed economic and political international landscape."

As Singapore imports almost everything it consumes, import cost is the main driver of inflation here.
To mitigate global price shocks, MAS uses the Singapore dollar as the main policy tool to achieve price stability.
A stronger Singdollar results in lower import costs, but too much currency appreciation hurts export competitiveness.
"Exchange rate appreciation alone cannot be the panacea," Mr Seah said.

The MAS on Friday boosted its support for the Singdollar to fight inflation by tightening the Republic's monetary policy stance for the fifth time since October 2021.
However, the move was not as aggressive as widely expected, as it targeted only one of the three policy parameters used to move the Singdollar's trade-weighted value against a basket of currencies of Singapore's trading partners.
Mr Nicholas Mapa, senior economist at Dutch bank ING, said: "We expected a more aggressive move, but Singapore's central bank believes that today's move will build on past tightening of measures since October 2021 to reduce imported inflation and curb domestic cost pressures."
However, the Ministry of Trade and Industry's advance estimates for economic growth in the third quarter of 2022 released on Friday showed Singapore's gross domestic product (GDP) grew by a better-than-expected 4.4 per cent year on year, easing slightly from the 4.5 per cent growth in the previous quarter.
The economy expanded by 1.5 per cent from the previous quarter.
This was a turnaround from the 0.2 per cent contraction in the preceding quarter, and helped the economy avoid a technical recession, usually defined as two straight quarters of negative growth.

Mr Brian Tan, senior regional economist at Barclays Bank in Singapore, said the surprisingly robust third-quarter GDP growth likely further encouraged the MAS to stay the course on policy tightening.
While the export-driven manufacturing sector has been the mainstay of economic recovery after the pandemic-induced 2020 recession, the quarter rebound was aided by the service sector.
Mr Seah said a robust service sector expansion of 6.1 per cent on an annual basis and 2.5 per cent quarterly was the result of the easing of Covid-19 curbs and resumption of travel.
The expansion shows that domestic demand has defied rising prices and rising interest rates on borrowing for homes and cars. Hence, domestic cost pressures continue to feed into inflation in Singapore.
Analysts said recent data confirms that retail sales, possibly bolstered by foreign tourist arrivals, have held up well.

The MAS statement gave more evidence of robust domestic demand boosting inflation.
It said: "Inflation in discretionary goods and services was the major contributor, amid robust demand conditions, that supported the pass-through of higher imported and domestic costs."
In addition, domestic demand-driven private transport and accommodation inflation accelerated in the third quarter.
At the same time, a persistent shortage of workers is driving wages up, giving consumers the means to spend more.
MAS said the pace of domestic labour cost increase should ease over the course of 2023, as labour demand and supply rebalance, but the cost would likely remain above its historical average.
With inflation expected to remain elevated, the Government announced a new $1.5 billion support package for households, the bulk of which will benefit lower-income households and elderly retirees who feel the brunt of sustained inflation.

Mr Jamus Lim, associate professor of economics at ESSEC Business School Asia-Pacific, said that while he had expected some countervailing government support, increasing fiscal spending in the face of high inflation will require a balancing act.
"This is tricky because if fiscal policy is too expansionary, labour markets and aggregate demand are unlikely to ease sufficiently, which will sustain inflationary pressures," said Mr Lim, who is an MP from the opposition Workers' Party.
The latest support package, together with earlier measures announced at the Budget as well as in April and June 2022, will fully cover the increase in cost of living for lower-income households on average, said the Ministry of Finance.

 

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Forum: Ineligible for printed NS55 credits vouchers despite years with SAF​

Oct 24, 2022

I belong to the Pioneer Generation and am eligible for the $100 worth of digital credits under the NS55 Recognition Package.
I am using a prepaid SIM card for my phone without a data plan.
I requested printed vouchers, which would take some time to process. However, after waiting for about two months, I received a phone call telling me that I am not eligible for printed vouchers as I was from the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF). Only Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) personnel are eligible.
I enlisted as a full-time national serviceman with the SAF in July 1970. I continued to attend in-camp training and several reporting exercises with the SAF until 1983.
In 1988, I was transferred as a reservist to SCDF, and attended two in-camp trainings. I was discharged in 1989.
I am perplexed that my 13 years of service with the SAF are not on record.

Chin Kee Thou

 

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LTA withdraws warning to taxi driver, will review rule for cabbies to search vehicles for lost items: MP​

The taxi and private-hire community is concerned about a warning issued to a cabby by the Land Transport Authority (LTA), said MP Yeo Wan Ling. PHOTO: YEO WAN LING/FACEBOOK

Ang Qing


NOV 11, 2022

SINGAPORE – The Land Transport Authority (LTA) has withdrawn a warning issued to a taxi driver for failing to search his vehicle for a wallet accidentally left behind by his passenger.
It will also review the relevance of the rule that requires cabbies and private-hire drivers to search their vehicles immediately before or after the end of any journey for any property left behind by passengers, said labour MP Yeo Wan Ling in a Facebook post on Friday.
Ms Yeo, who is adviser to the National Taxi Association (NTA) and National Private Hire Vehicles Association, said the taxi and private-hire community is concerned about the warning received by the driver.
Both associations had contacted LTA for an explanation on behalf of the community, added Ms Yeo, who is also MP for Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC.
The incident sparked discussion online after the taxi driver took to Facebook page Beh Chia Lor – Singapore Road to share his appeal against the letter of warning on Tuesday.
Said Ms Yeo: “LTA clarified that this is a longstanding rule, and serves as a good practice on the part of the driver.
“The LTA has decided to withdraw the warning letter and shared that the intent was to remind the driver of such good practices and the LTA has never prosecuted any driver for such breaches.”

She added that the associations and National Trades Union Congress believe that the safety of drivers must be a top priority, and their work conditions often do not allow them to search for items accidentally left behind by passengers in a safe and effective manner.
“While it is a good practice to have, it should not be an obligation that attracts penalties,” Ms Yeo said.
Speaking to Chinese-language paper Shin Min Daily News, the taxi driver who had been issued the letter said he had ferried two men and a woman from Rochor to Woodlands Checkpoint.
After they alighted, a male passenger boarded the car and the driver took him to Sembawang Community Club.
He then received a call from his company asking if there was a passenger who had left a wallet behind.
“I parked my car by the roadside and searched for the wallet, but I was unable to find it,” he told Shin Min.
He said his company then informed him that the owner of the wallet was one of the male passengers that he had ferried to Woodlands Checkpoint.

He said this was his first warning from LTA in the decade he has been a cab driver, and he was worried that he might lose his job if passengers made another complaint in future.
“Written warnings may be issued to drivers if necessary,” said LTA in response to queries from The Straits Times. Since 2010, LTA has issued five written warnings to drivers. These letters do not carry any penalty.

 

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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