The PAP using the tried and trusted pork barrel politics again

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Cash with no strings attached trial in S’pore breaks new ground, but questions remain: Experts​

It was found that the cash improved participants’ mental health and job security, compared with the control group of 95 households. ST PHOTO: KUA CHEE SIONG

Ng Wei Kai

Jul 24, 2024

SINGAPORE – A novel project that gave 75 low-income households between $300 and $550 a month for 18 months has broken new ground in understanding the effects of unconditional cash transfers here.
Its results will help policymakers understand the costs and benefits of such schemes, and hopefully draw more funding for social innovation – though questions remain on its effectiveness in creating self-sustaining improvements in incomes and addressing wider gaps, said experts, its funders and researchers who worked on the programme.
It was run as a randomised control trial between May 2022 and November 2023 and found that the cash improved participants’ mental health and job security, compared with the control group of 95 households.
The project, known as the Family Empowerment Programme, was organised by social service agency AWWA and provided the cash with no strings attached.
To qualify, households must have had a monthly income equal to or less than $1,000 per person, or a total income equal to or less than $3,600 before Central Provident Fund deductions, among other conditions, such as having at least one adult capable of work between the ages of 16 and 65.

Breaking new ground​

The findings revealed a clear and consistent pattern of improvements in families’ lives throughout a wide range of domains, said Dr Ng Kok Hoe, senior research fellow at the National University of Singapore’s Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy.
By the end of the programme, 60 per cent of participants who received the cash were classified “well” in terms of their level of psychological distress, compared with 36 per cent of those in the control group.

When the project concluded, 27 per cent of those receiving the cash also reported better job security than before, higher than 15 per cent of those in the control group who said the same.
This meant landing more secure contracts, from part-time to full-time work, for example.
More of those who received the cash – 57 per cent compared with 51 per cent for the control group – also reported that they had better training and advancement opportunities in their current jobs than before the programme began.

The findings, which were released on July 17, corroborated the data from the qualitative interviews with programme participants, and were consistent with social workers’ practice experience, added Dr Ng, who is part of AWWA’s panel of experts and was involved in the programme as a consultant.
The project provides additional evidence of the social and economic impact of unconditional cash transfers, said Mr Christopher Gee, deputy director and senior research fellow at the Institute of Policy Studies.
Policymakers can use this to assess the costs and socio-economic benefits of an intervention or social policy that provides financial support through such unconditional transfers, he added.
It tested the hypothesis that unconditional cash transfers offer recipients control and agency over their affairs, resulting in measurably superior outcomes on employment, skills upgrading and education compared with the control group, said Mr Gee, who was not involved in the study.
By doing so, it addressed the worries that unconditional cash transfers may result in moral hazard or unintended results such as adversely affecting the work ethic of recipients, he noted.
The data and insights from the project provide an example for other large institutional funders, including the Government, on how they may play the role of “outcomes funders”, creating a pathway to sustain social innovation at scale, said Temasek Trust’s chief executive Desmond Kuek.
As agreed with the project organisers, Temasek Trust will fund the project’s second round after results passed the mark on several outcomes focused on education, skills upgrading and employment.
The first round was funded with $750,000 from Standard Chartered Bank.
Mr Kuek added that Temasek Trust hopes this project can catalyse other private, philanthropic and public-sector organisations to collaborate on solving complex issues, including social ones, which tend to be multidimensional and difficult to attribute impact to.

Questions and other gaps remain​

While the study is an important one, further research is required to establish some outcomes, said Associate Professor Walter Theseira from the Singapore University of Social Sciences.
The results so far appear in line with studies in other countries which tend to show improvements in mental well-being, family, consumption, and financial stability, but not improvements in work-related outcomes, said Prof Theseira.
He added: “If the objective is to reduce stress, improve well-being and improve consumption, as well as financial resilience, then unconditional cash transfers are likely to help in those dimensions, but it is less clear that they help to promote self-sustaining improvements in employment income.”
This is also because other gaps exist in improving employment outcomes for low-wage workers.
Prof Theseira said: “The reality is that many jobs available for less-educated workers, particularly workers with caregiving or other constraints, pay badly and have poor career prospects.”
The cash transfers and their benefits do not necessarily enable such families to take up better-paying jobs, if said jobs require skills they do not have and cannot realistically obtain quickly, or if the better-paying jobs have requirements such as schedules that they cannot meet with caregiving needs, he added.
“It is possible that generous cash transfers and support are a necessary condition for taking steps to work improvement, but I think right now, it’s not sufficient on its own, given the other gaps that exist,” he said.
Plugging these wider gaps is also something AWWA is working on, said its director of family services, Ms Huixia Seetoh.
The project was an early experiment in demonstrating how providing families with more stability in their income stream could positively impact a range of factors, including mental health, job quality and security, and a greater sense of empowerment, especially among women, she said.
“Moving forward, we will continue to explore how best to support the families we serve to address longer-term challenges they face, including through stronger wraparound support,” she added.

 

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Plans being considered to redevelop Yishun Sport Centre, which was opened in 1992​

The Yishun Stadium and Yishun Sport Hall at Yishun Avenue 1. ST PHOTO: GAVIN FOO

Ng Keng Gene
Correspondent

Jul 24, 2024

SINGAPORE – The 32-year-old Yishun Sport Centre may be redeveloped as part of plans to improve the sporting facilities available to residents in the north.
This is among developments that the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) showcased recently at an ongoing travelling exhibition for its upcoming Recreation Master Plan.
The exhibition, which made a stop at Canberra Plaza from July 6 to 14, also outlined other development possibilities under consideration.
These include an upcoming integrated development near Woodlands North MRT station that may incorporate the administrative building of the former Royal Malayan Naval Base, which URA has said will be kept.
The exhibition is part of efforts by the URA to invite the public to give feedback for the recreation masterplan, which will be incorporated into the Draft Master Plan to be launched in 2025.
URA and Sport Singapore told The Straits Times that government agencies are studying plans to improve facilities at the Yishun Sport Centre, and that public feedback submitted at the exhibition will be considered in the planning process.
Opened in 1992, the sport centre in Yishun Avenue 1 comprises an indoor sports hall, a gym, and a stadium with a running track and field.

Also part of the centre is Yishun Swimming Complex in Yishun Avenue 3, located about 1.3km from the stadium.
According to the URA Master Plan, there is scope for the centre to be expanded at the Yishun Avenue 1 site – the existing facilities including the stadium and sports hall occupy only about a third of the 5.8ha site that is zoned for sports and recreational use.
Besides serving existing residents, the centre will in the future be the closest public sports facility to the upcoming Chencharu housing area, which is slated to have 10,000 homes.

The stadium is currently closed until Oct 31, 2024 for renovation, including track resurfacing works.
Yishun resident Sangeethaa P., who visits the swimming complex almost every morning with her parents, said some of the facilities, such as its toilets, are due for an upgrade.
The 26-year-old finance undergraduate suggested that the swimming complex could be moved to Yishun Avenue 1, so that the new Yishun Sport Centre based there would be a one-stop location where residents can access multiple facilities.

The Yishun Swimming Complex in Yishun Avenue 3. ST PHOTO: GAVIN FOO
Another Yishun resident, Mr Louis Tan, 34, said that the running track could be a sheltered one, so that it can be used regardless of the weather.
Mr Tan, who works in pharmaceutical sales, said a sheltered track might provide better noise insulation when sporting events are organised at the stadium.
The Yishun Sport Centre is the latest in a series of such centres to be considered for redevelopment or renovation.
Some other facilities that could soon be refreshed include Bedok Stadium, Yio Chu Kang Sport Centre and Serangoon Sport Centre. Clementi Stadium, meanwhile, will be redeveloped by 2030.

The Yishun Sport Hall, which has badminton courts and table tennis tables available for public booking. ST PHOTO: GAVIN FOO
Pointing to the centres that may be redeveloped, architectural historian Yeo Kang Shua said that he hopes the authorities would consider retaining as much of the existing infrastructure as possible for heritage and resource sustainability.
He cited the Delta Sport Centre renovation project by Red Bean Architects, which was lauded for retaining much of the over four-decade-old centre’s existing structures. It bagged a design-of-the-year award at the Singapore Institute of Architects’ Architectural Design Awards 2023.
Other redevelopment plans under consideration by URA involve repurposing heritage buildings such as the administrative block of the former Royal Malayan Naval Base in Woodlands North.

Other future redevelopment plans involve repurposing heritage buildings such as the former admin block of the former Royal Malayan Naval Base in Woodlands North. PHOTO: ST FILE
The building was included in an AI-generated image of the upcoming integrated development at Woodlands North, which will be within a new housing estate near the future Johor Bahru-Singapore Rapid Transit System station.
Various facilities for sports, community, healthcare and food and beverage uses could be included in the development, which is under study.
Also being studied is how to repurpose the former View Road Hospital at 10 View Road, which sits within a site zoned for business use that will be part of the upcoming Woodlands North Coast estate by JTC Corporation.
URA said that the estate “has the potential to have a campus-like setting that promotes collaboration, with flexible spaces to co-locate knowledge-intensive and service-oriented activities alongside manufacturing operations”.
The agency said it is evaluating the possibility of repurposing the former hospital for “complementary uses”.

The former View Road Hospital is being studied for “complementary uses” within the upcoming Woodlands North Coast mixed-use economic estate. PHOTO: ST FILE
The public may in the future also be able to access the former Sembawang Fire Station – a conserved building – as part of future developments in Sembawang Shipyard.
The site could comprise housing, office space and facilities for recreation and activities, with other future uses leveraging the site’s waterfront setting and maritime heritage.
URA said it is considering opening heritage buildings and waterfront spaces for the public to enjoy in the future.
Upcoming nature parks in the north are also highlighted in URA’s exhibition – some of these parks were delayed after the pandemic affected their development timelines.
The 73ha Mandai Mangrove and Mudflat Nature Park will be completed in 2027, while the 40ha Khatib Bongsu Nature Park is slated to open in stages from 2028.
Meanwhile, the proposed Nee Soon Nature Park, which is intended to be an extension of Nee Soon Swamp Forest, is still under study.

Recreation Master Plan roving exhibition​

• The URA Centre (daily from 9am to 5pm until Sept 30, closed on Sundays)

 

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Put up a show of cracking down on errant motorists before the elections.
After the elections, no enforcement.

29 motorists arrested for traffic offences in six-week enforcement operation​

The operation, which was conducted between March 12 and April 17, took place at accident-prone and violation-prone sites. PHOTO: SINGAPORE POLICE FORCE

Elaine Lee

May 01, 2024

SINGAPORE - Twenty-nine motorists were arrested for various traffic violations and close to 1,400 traffic offences were recorded during a six-week enforcement operation by the Traffic Police.
The operation, which was conducted between March 12 and April 17, took place at accident-prone and violation-prone sites, said the Traffic Police in a statement on May 1.
They added that the summonses were issued for traffic offences that included speeding and using a mobile communication device while driving, and failing to keep left and driving without due care.
“Most of the arrests made were for driving without a valid driving licence and insurance,” the TP said, adding that the enforcement operations will continue.
They also said a 31-year-old male motorcyclist was arrested for drug-related offences and for possessing an offensive weapon.
Police investigations into the 29 people arrested are ongoing.
Under the Road Traffic Act, those found guilty of speeding can be fined up to $1,000, jailed for up to three months, or both. Repeat offenders can be fined up to $2,000, jailed for up to six months, or both.


Those convicted of using a mobile communication device while driving can be fined up to $1,000, jailed for up to six months, or both. Repeat offenders can be fined up to $2,000, jailed for up to 12 months, or both.
Those who drive without due care or reasonable consideration can be fined up to $1,500, jailed for up to six months, or both. If convicted twice or more, motorists can be fined up to $3,000, jailed for up to 12 months, or both. They can also be disqualified from driving all types of vehicles.
For those who drive without a valid driving licence can be fined up to $10,000, jailed for up to three years, or both. In the case of a second or subsequent conviction, they can be fined up to $20,000, jailed for up to six years, or both.

The vehicle may also be forfeited.
Those who fail to keep left under the Road Traffic Rules will be fined $100 for light vehicles and $150 for heavy vehicles.
Under the Motor Vehicles (Third-Party Risks and Compensation) Act, those who use a motor vehicle without insurance coverage can be fined up to $1,000, jailed for up to three months, or both.
Besides the enforcement operation, the TP said they also educated close to 1,000 pedestrians at known jaywalking hot spots, sharing with them road safety advice like using proper pedestrian crossings.
Senior Assistant Commissioner of Police Daniel Tan, the Commander of Traffic Police, said: “The Traffic Police take a serious view towards errant road users who choose to flout traffic rules and endanger the safety of other road users.
“Accidents can happen at any time and to anyone.
“We will keep up with our enforcement efforts. I urge all to abide by the traffic rules to keep the roads safe for everyone.”
On April 29, The Straits Times reported that more than 800 speeding violations had been captured by the speed enforcement function in red-light cameras since April 1.
According to the release of the annual TP figures in February 2024, Singapore’s roads have become increasingly deadly in recent years, with the number of fatalities from accidents in 2023 surging to 136, an almost 26 per cent jump from 108 in 2022.
Among the fatalities, motorcyclists and their pillion riders accounted for half of this figure, while elderly pedestrians made up nearly 20 per cent.

 

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36 errant motorists under probe following 10-day enforcement operation​

More than 1,100 vehicles were checked during the operation. PHOTO: SINGAPORE POLICE FORCE

Kolette Lim

Jul 26, 2024

SINGAPORE – Eighteen motorists aged between 24 and 43 were arrested for offences such as driving under disqualification, driving without a valid licence and driving without insurance coverage.
Another 18 motorists, aged between 23 and 57, are being investigated for offences such as driving under suspension, driving with a wrong licence class and failing to comply with the conditions of a provisional licence.
The motorists were caught during a joint operation by the Traffic Police and the seven police land divisions conducted from July 15 to July 24, said the police in a July 26 statement.
Investigations into all 36 motorists are ongoing.
If found guilty of driving without a valid licence or driving under disqualification, one can face a jail term of up to three years, a fine of $10,000, or both. In the case of a second or subsequent conviction, they can be jailed for up to six years, fined up to $20,000, or both.
If convicted of driving under suspension, one can be jailed for up to two years, fined up to $5,000, or both.
The vehicle may also be forfeited.

Meanwhile, those found guilty of using a vehicle without insurance coverage can be jailed for up to three months, fined up to $1,000, or both.
Enforcement actions will be taken against errant motorists, companies and employers who do not comply with regulations, said the police.
“We would also like to remind companies and employers that it is their responsibility to ensure that the people operating their motor vehicles have the necessary valid licences to do so,” added the police.

 

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53,000 older HDB flats selected for upgrading in new round of Home Improvement Programme​

Minister for National Development Desmond Lee said that since the launch of Home Improvement Programme (HIP) in 2007, some 410,000 flats have been selected for upgrading. PHOTO: MINISTRY OF NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Mike Yeo
Correspondent

Jul 28, 2024

SINGAPORE – Some 53,000 flats built on or before 1997 have been selected for the Housing Board’s Home Improvement Programme (HIP), and they will see structural improvements and upgrades to bathrooms and entrances, among other things.
Announcing the latest round of the programme on July 28, HDB said it will also roll out a new method of repairing spalling concrete in toilets – a common bugbear in Singapore’s humid climate – following a successful trial that started in 2021.
The flats selected for the programme are located islandwide, including in Jurong West, Hougang, Woodlands and Pasir Ris, and the Government has allocated $742 million for the exercise, said HDB.
The HIP was launched in 2007 to spruce up older housing estates. Since its introduction in 2007, some 410,000 flats have been selected for upgrading, and common maintenance issues such as spalling concrete and ceiling leaks have been addressed, said Minister for National Development Desmond Lee, as he gave updates about the programme at a community event in Jurong West on July 28.
Of these flats, which do not include those in the latest exercise, an estimated 370,000 units, or about 90 per cent of them, have since been upgraded for a total cost of $4 billion, said HDB.
Under HIP, flats are shortlisted for upgrades based on their age. A poll is then held among residents and works will proceed only if at least 75 per cent of Singaporeans living in the blocks vote in favour of the upgrading.
The programme has two main components – essential improvements and optional improvements. The essential improvements, such as repair of spalling concrete or structural cracks, are meant to ensure the safety of older flats, and are fully paid for by the Government for Singapore citizen households.

Optional improvement, such as new entrance doors and gates, and upgrades to toilets and bathrooms, are subsidised by the Government up to 95 per cent, depending on flat type.
For example, one- to three-room HDB flat owners will co-pay $599.50, with the Government’s share being $11,390.50, or 95 per cent of the cost of the full optional improvements package.
Said Mr Lee, who is MP for West Coast GRC: “To keep our neighbourhoods thriving, our physical environment must keep pace.

“This is why the Government continually upgrades our older flats and estates so that Singaporeans can continue to enjoy a quality home and living environment.” He added that almost 700 blocks will benefit from HIP this year.

New repair method to combat concrete spalling​

Touching on the new corrosion-resistant repair (CRR) method of repairing spalling concrete, Mr Lee said it would involve the application of an anti-corrosion coating to the toilet ceiling to protect the concrete structures against corrosive substances.
This helps to ensure that the repairs will last longer as spalling concrete is typically caused by wear and tear due to the corrosion of steel reinforcement bars embedded in the ceiling slabs.
The method was first used in a trial which began in November 2021, to repair the toilets of more than 300 flats that were undergoing HIP. Subsequent sample checks found no further spalling in the repaired toilets, HDB said.
Engineer Muhammad Nabilul Fikri Mohamed Hassan, 33, was among those whose flats were repaired using the new method in the trial. He is impressed with how well it has held up in his three-room flat in Bedok North.
“It still looks brand new three years after the improvements to the flat, and there are no defects as far as I can see,” he added.

Engineer Muhammad Nabilul Fikri Mohamed Hassan (left) showing Senior Minister of State for National Development Sim Ann and grassroots adviser Shamsul Kamar Mohamed Razali the improvements to his bathroom. ST PHOTO: AZMI ATHNI
HDB added that the new method will be used to repair only spalling concrete in toilets as they are the area most prone to the problem due to the presence of moisture.
The current localised repair method will continue to be used in other parts of flats, such as kitchens, living rooms and bedrooms.
While the new method is more costly and requires more time for application, Senior Minister of State for National Development Sim Ann said at another community event that its use would not delay works under the programme, which will still take up to 10 days for each unit.
Speaking after she visited the home of a family whose flat has undergone HIP, she said that the new method was made possible through HDB’s efforts in research and development, as well as through leveraging technological advancements.
Separately, Mr Lee also announced that a new park will be built in Nanyang, in West Coast GRC, under the Estate Upgrading Programme (EUP) for private estates. The Westwood Family Park will feature a sheltered stage, open badminton courts, a playground and an exercise corner. Work is expected to start later this year, he said.
The EUP is meant to enhance the living environment of older private residential estates by upgrading community infrastructure. To date, 74 estates have been upgraded under the programme, benefiting 54,000 households, Mr Lee noted.

 

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Govt committed to improving lives of every S’porean, whichever ward they live in: SM Lee​

Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong said that while CCs have changed tremendously over the years, their overriding social purpose has not changed. ST PHOTO: LIM YAOHUI

Anjali Raguraman
Correspondent

Jul 31, 2024

SINGAPORE – When plans for the newly opened Buangkok Community Club (CC) were first unveiled, Buangkok was still in a government constituency, said Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong at the official opening of the CC, which was attended by more than 2,000 residents.
“But even after Sengkang GRC changed hands in the last general election, we proceeded with the CC’s construction work, because the Government is committed to improving the lives of every Singaporean, whichever ward you may be living in,” he added.
SM Lee was speaking on July 28 at the new CC in Buangkok, which was previously part of Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC under the ruling People’s Action Party.
The ward became part of the newly created Sengkang GRC in the 2020 General Election, which the Workers’ Party won with 52.13 per cent of the vote against a 47.87 per cent share for the PAP.
SM Lee said: “At the end of the day, the objective is to make sure that the people of Singapore are well served, and that residents in every ward feel a sense of belonging and kinship to the wider community around them.”
Built on a 3.7ha site next to Buangkok MRT station, the new CC was initially due for completion in 2022, but was delayed as a result of Covid-19’s impact on the construction industry.
The 5,000 sq m CC is an integrated project co-located in Sengkang Grand Mall, which already has retail, food and beverage outlets, as well as Buangkok Hawker Centre.

Besides facilities such as badminton courts, culinary studios, dance studios, multi-purpose rooms and function halls, the CC also has a 210 sq m Lifestyle Centre – a flexible, multi-use space with sound-proofed work pods, study areas and a mini amphitheatre.
In his address, SM Lee said that back in the 1950s, CCs were much smaller and provided just simple amenities such as sports facilities and classrooms for night classes.
There would also be just one television set that people would gather around to watch shows, as few families could afford their own TV then, he added.

But while CCs have changed tremendously over the years, their overriding social purpose has not changed, he stressed.

The 5,000 sq m CC is an integrated project co-located in Sengkang Grand Mall, which already has retail, food and beverage outlets, as well as Buangkok Hawker Centre. ST PHOTO: LIM YAOHUI
They play a crucial community-building role in Singapore by providing a common space for people from all walks of life to interact and bond, and also allow the Government to reach out to Singaporeans, to better understand and respond to their needs and to convey important national messages, he said.
“It is to provide a shared space for all ages and all races to get together, to deepen our sense of community and belonging – our kampung spirit – and to provide an avenue for the Government to reach out to the people, and vice versa to connect us closer together,” he added.
“This applies across the country – regardless of who the MP is, regardless if it’s a government or an opposition ward.”

Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong interacting with players of Street Soccer Tournament at Sengkang Grand Mall Community Plaza during the official opening of new Buangkok Community Club. ST PHOTO: LIM YAOHUI
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Also present at the official opening were advisers to Sengkang GRC grassroots organisations, namely Dr Lam Pin Min, branch chair of Sengkang West, as well as PAP new faces, Associate Professor Elmie Nekmat and Ms Theodora Lai.
SM Lee added that he has every confidence in the grassroots advisers to continue to do their best in carrying out their duties, just as their predecessors Gan Thiam Poh, Teo Ser Luck and Koh Juay Meng did. “They will have the Government’s full backing,” he said.

Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong with residents during the opening of the new CC in Buangkok on July 28. ST PHOTO: LIM YAOHUI
Among the residents at the event were Mr Vincent Goh, 41, a human resources professional at a bank, and his wife Fiona Lai, 40, a teacher, who were observing a trial gymnastics class for their five-year-old daughter.
The couple, who have lived in Buangkok for 10 years, said they appreciate that the mall, hawker centre and CC can all be found in one place.
“We can tell the difference... In the past, there weren’t this many facilities, and it all developed quickly,” said Ms Lai. The couple are already frequenting the CC at least twice a week to attend muay thai classes, as well as to pick up food from the hawker centre.

Participants baking in the Culinary Studio (Halal) during the official opening of new Buangkok Community Club on July 28, 2024. ST PHOTO: LIM YAOHUI
Ms Brina Tham, a medical professional, and her four-year-old son Marshall Leong were colouring in one of the CC’s new activity rooms when they were visited by SM Lee and Dr Lam, who were taking a tour of the facilities.
Ms Tham, who moved to Sengkang 10 months ago from Hougang, said that the facilities are a step up from those in older CCs.
“There are quite a lot of courses (to book) online, and they get filled up quite quickly as well,” she added.

 

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Up to $900m for new initiative to improve Singapore’s public bus network​

New bus routes and additional trips will be rolled out over eight years. ST PHOTO: SHINTARO TAY

Kok Yufeng
Transport Correspondent

Jul 31, 2024

SINGAPORE – Residents of newer housing estates as well as those moving into new housing projects – whether in new towns or mature ones – will benefit from better public bus connectivity under a new government initiative.
Those in Yishun, Punggol and Tampines will be among the first to benefit.
Up to $900 million will be spent over the next eight years to improve the bus network in several ways under the Bus Connectivity Enhancement Programme, said the Land Transport Authority (LTA) on July 30.
First, the roll-out of bus services in new towns will be sped up, so early batches of residents will get access to public transport options as soon as possible, instead of having to wait for more people to move in.
Second, express feeder buses that will call at fewer stops will be introduced, so those living in new housing developments a distance from the town centre and major transport nodes can get there more quickly.
Third, more peak-hour express bus services – including those from housing estates to the city – will be added to complement busier MRT lines.
Finally, in response to changing travel patterns, more bus trips will be added to certain routes, new services will be rolled out, and some bus routes adjusted, LTA added.
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The authority noted that housing development in Singapore has gathered speed in recent years, and demand for bus services has climbed.
It said some precincts in newer housing estates that are growing are located farther from town centres and MRT stations.
New developments in more mature estates can also be better served, LTA said. This is especially in areas with fewer bus services, or where the number of residents has increased substantially and passenger loads on the MRT and buses have risen.

The new bus enhancement programme will kick off in Yishun East, where the introduction of a new bus service will be brought forward to connect residents of new and upcoming Build-To-Order developments with the nearby Khatib MRT station.
The aim is to launch this service by September.
As for the new express feeder services, the first such route will be introduced in Tampines North in December to give residents a more direct link to Tampines MRT station.

For those living in Sumang in Punggol, a new City Direct Service to the Central Business District will start around October.
By the end of 2024, a bus service in Toa Payoh East will also be extended to connect residents there with the Thomson-East Coast and Circle lines at Caldecott MRT station. More of such adjustments will be made based on regular reviews of the bus network, LTA said.
Speaking to reporters on July 30, Transport Minister Chee Hong Tat said the additional funds will be used to buy more buses, hire more bus drivers and maintenance staff, and build new infrastructure, such as bus stops, so the planned improvements can be made.
LTA said the sum will also go towards operating new services, and similar to the arrangement for existing bus services, part of the costs will be recovered through the fares passengers pay to use the services.
Asked how many new buses and services will be introduced, and how many new workers are needed, Mr Chee said it was difficult for the authorities to be too precise at this point because it is not a one-off scheme, but a multi-year one.
“It is town by town,” the minister said in an interview at the Ministry of Transport’s office in Alexandra Road. “We don’t have a template that is the same across different parts of Singapore. It depends on the needs of the commuters in that location. And we will do this in consultation with grassroots advisers.”
The $900 million programme will not have an impact on fares, he added.
The minister was also asked about the timing of the new programme and whether it was tied to the next general election, which must be held by November 2025, or recent discussions about a free shuttle bus service launched in Marine Parade GRC, MacPherson and Mountbatten to plug gaps in the bus network there.
In response, he said the authorities have been planning for the new programme for some time, and his ministry worked with the National Development Ministry to understand where the new housing developments are and assess the public transport needs of residents there. The funds were then secured from the Finance Ministry.

The new initiative shares many similarities with the $1.1 billion Bus Service Enhancement Programme, which ran from 2012 to 2017.
That programme added 1,000 government-funded buses to Singapore’s roads and introduced 80 bus services, of which 22 were City Direct Services plying express routes between housing estates such as Bedok and Hougang and the city.
Many of the other services introduced were feeder or short trunk services to improve local connectivity, especially in areas such as Choa Chu Kang, Sengkang, Punggol and Yishun, which were newly developed then.
Even with the new injection of funds, LTA stressed the need to spend public transport resources prudently.
The authority said it would continue to review and adjust the bus network, and reallocate any potential savings – a reference to the Government’s efforts to rein in operating costs by withdrawing or altering bus services that run parallel to new MRT lines.
Mr Chee told Parliament in October 2023 that bus services have been operating at an overall loss, which is why the Government subsidises bus operations to the tune of $1 billion yearly.
Asked about this on July 30, the minister said the resources freed up by the rationalisation of bus services are inadequate to support the growing public transport needs of those living in new developments. “We can’t just rely on the existing subsidies.”
The Government’s hope is that ridership for bus services introduced under the new programme will rise over time, especially in newer estates as more people move in.
“We are putting in place the infrastructure and buying the buses because we hope that the ridership will improve over time... But let’s be clear, public buses, public transport are a public good and we don’t fully recover all the costs,” Mr Chee said.
He added: “During the initial period, the buses will have lower ridership. So, yes, this is a commitment.
“(It will) require resources from the Government. But we think that in exchange, we will be able to get better connectivity and better services for our residents.”

 

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Boon Lay Place slated for rejuvenation; ideas and feedback welcome: Desmond Lee​

Minister for National Development Desmond Lee (left) at the National Day observance ceremony at Boon Lay Community Club on Aug 4. ST PHOTO: KELVIN CHNG

Grace Leong
Senior Correspondent

Aug 05, 2024

SINGAPORE - The Boon Lay branch of the West Coast Town Council (WCTC) will relocate in 2025 to the former UOB building in Boon Lay Place, as part of overall plans to rejuvenate the area under the draft master plan, Minister for National Development Desmond Lee said.
Speaking at the National Day observance ceremony at Boon Lay Community Club on Aug 4, Mr Lee, who is an MP for West Coast GRC, outlined plans for the rejuvenation of Boon Lay Place, which includes building more sheltered linkways in the area and relocating the WCTC branch office to 325 Boon Lay Place, among other things.
Government agency JTC Corporation is considering uses such as after-school care, infant-care services, active ageing facilities and more, for the former UOB building, he said.
“We are studying these options, discussing with agencies and welcome your views on possible uses,” Mr Lee added.
“Our neighbourhoods and infrastructure have to evolve with the needs of residents. This way, we can breathe new life into familiar buildings and keep them relevant.”
Housewife Norshuhaiba Safie, 42, who has lived in Boon Lay for three years, said the future Boon Lay branch office of WCTC will be very close to her home.
“To get to the WCTC office in Clementi, we have to wait a long time for the bus, sometimes up to one hour. In future, it will take just five minutes to walk to the new office,” she said.

Mr Lee said the Urban Redevelopment Authority is working with several agencies to study the longer-term uses for the interim bus park, which is next to the Boon Lay Place Food Village, the former Savoy Theatre and the ActiveSG Hockey Village site.

More sheltered linkways are slated to be built in the area. ST PHOTO: KELVIN CHNG
“We will look at the whole area comprehensively to see how we can revitalise and improve them to benefit the community. We are gathering feedback from residents... and ideas to reimagine and transform Boon Lay Place into a more vibrant area,” he said.
A high-sheltered linkway across the road from the Boon Lay Place Food Village hawker centre to Block 207 Boon Lay Place will be built, along with low-covered linkways connecting residents from the hawker centre to Boon Lay Shopping Centre, up to Boon Lay Community Club and ActiveSG Hockey Village, and possibly across the road to Meadow Grove estate and the future MRT station in Jurong West Avenue 2.

Covered linkways connecting Block 679 to Block 680C Jurong West Central 1 and a drop-off point with a covered linkway at Block 667A Jurong West Street 65 will also be added.
The Jurong Region Line (JRL) will also significantly improve connectivity in the next few years, with three new JRL stations in and around Boon Lay, Mr Lee said.
“It takes 30 minutes by bus today to get from Boon Lay Interchange to Jurong Island checkpoint. With this new line, it will take only 15 minutes – half the amount of time for some of us to get to work. You will also be only two stops away from Gek Poh Shopping Centre, which will be upgraded over the next few years,” he said.

Low-covered linkways connecting residents from the hawker centre to Boon Lay shopping centre will be built. ST PHOTO: KELVIN CHNG
Retiree Hua Kiat Jong, 71, who has lived in the Jurong area for about 30 years, is looking forward to the new JRL as she can walk to the JRL station from her home in just six to seven minutes.
“Now, to get to Lakeside MRT, I have to take a bus, which can take up to 15 minutes,” she said.
Completed in March 2024, the Silver Zone in Boon Lay Place includes enhanced road safety features such as wider walkways, more prominent road markings, and wider centre road dividers, to make it safer for seniors and less mobile residents, Mr Lee added.
Ninja Van delivery driver Shahrul Atiffi Tengku Abdul Rahman, 34, welcomed the prospect of more sheltered linkways.
“When I want to go to my in-laws’ home, I have to take the bus from opposite Boon Lay Place market. But there’s no sheltered walkway there. So it’s quite troublesome when it rains or if the weather is too hot, because my son cannot take it,” he said.
“A lot of amenities in Boon Lay Place are within walking distance. It’s just whether there is a sheltered walkway or not. And they just finished the Silver Zone, which will be more convenient for elderly people,” he added.
Also in the works are a new cycling path on the opposite side of Boon Lay Place from the Boon Lay Community Club, and greater access to parks and green spaces.
This includes a new overhead bridge across the PIE, which will offer more direct access to the Jurong Eco-Garden by the end of the year, Mr Lee said.
“Upcoming park connectors in this area will also link Jurong Eco-Garden to Yunnan Park and stitch up the larger network that connects to Jurong Lake Garden,” he added.

 

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Marine Parade shuttle bus service costs about $1m a year to run, funded largely by donations​

The seven shuttle bus routes in the Marine Parade cluster are operated by buses that ply the roads from 10am to 4pm on weekdays. ST PHOTO: ONG WEE JIN

Kok Yufeng
Transport Correspondent

Aug 07, 2024

SINGAPORE - A free shuttle bus service for residents in Marine Parade GRC, MacPherson and Mountbatten costs about $1 million a year to operate, with the South East Community Development Council (CDC) providing a one-off $200,000 seed grant to support the pilot scheme.
The remaining 80 per cent or so comes from donations raised by the CDC, and by the respective grassroots organisations, Minister of State for Culture, Community and Youth Alvin Tan told Parliament on Aug 7.
“Essentially, the Government matches donations raised by the CDCs with grants, which the CDCs can use to support ground-up initiatives,” Mr Tan said in response to questions from opposition MPs about the cost of the shuttle service and how it is being funded.
The total cost of the one-year shuttle bus trial, which started on July 8, works out to about $150,000 per division for each route. The South East CDC grant amounts to about $2,400 per division each month, he added.
The five CDCs here were established in 1997 under the People’s Association Act, which comes under the purview of the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth.
Mr Tan said the seven shuttle bus routes in the Marine Parade cluster are operated by seven buses that ply the roads during non-peak hours from 10am to 4pm on weekdays, excluding public holidays.
To date, more than 10,000 Marine Parade cluster residents have registered for the shuttle, with more than 40 per cent of them being seniors aged 65 and above. Over the past three weeks, about 1,000 residents have taken the shuttle service each week.

Mr Tan said it is too early to assess if the service is effective.
Beyond utilisation, the financial sustainability of the shuttle is a critical factor, he added.
“As the CDC grant was provided on a once-off basis, the Marine Parade town cluster grassroots organisations will have to eventually raise funds to cover the entire cost of operations, or refine its financing model for greater sustainability,” said Mr Tan.

Progress Singapore Party Non-Constituency MPs Hazel Poa and Leong Mun Wai had asked whether funding could be made available to other constituencies, and if resources could be provided to launch free shuttle services in other areas.
Mr Tan said: “Many previous attempts at trying out local shuttle services have been discontinued because of low utilisation or financial challenges. Hence, there are still many aspects of the service to validate and refine through the pilot.
“The other CDCs will study the experiences and findings from this pilot first, before considering starting similar initiatives.”

Explaining how the MPs for the Marine Parade cluster had decided on the need for such a service, Mr Tan said several factors were considered.
He said these constituencies have a high proportion of residents who are seniors, and a significant part of the Marine Parade cluster comprises older estates with narrow roads, making it difficult for large public buses to serve these areas.
The Land Transport Authority (LTA) was consulted to ensure the shuttle service would not affect public bus operations when using bus stops, he said.
Mr Tan added that while LTA and the Transport Ministry plan public transport services, this does not preclude localised efforts, such as private shuttles by condominiums, to address specific needs.
Leader of the Opposition Pritam Singh noted the unhappiness caused by bus rationalisation exercises in recent years, including the decision to withdraw bus service 167, which was later reversed.
In contrast, the new shuttle bus service was announced about a week after seven MRT stations opened along the eastern stretch of the Thomson-East Coast Line, he noted.
“Does the Minister of State not agree that the introduction of the Marine Parade cluster bus service will make it far more challenging for the Government to undertake future bus service rationalisation exercises?” the Workers’ Party (WP) chief asked.
Mr Singh also wondered if the Marine Parade shuttle service opens the door for LTA to introduce similar services elsewhere through the public transport system.
“If not, what does the launch of the Marine Parade cluster bus service say about the Government’s approach to equity and fairness in the use of taxpayer-funded grants?” he asked.
In response, Transport Minister Chee Hong Tat said the Marine Parade shuttle is a community initiative that is separate from the public transport network.
Mr Chee said the suggestion of using shuttle buses for public transport “does not fit well”, as drivers would still need to be hired and passenger capacity may be insufficient.
He also said the rationalisation of bus routes running parallel to MRT lines will continue, and these savings can then be used to fund new public bus services.
But doing this alone would be inadequate “because we have more demand than what we can rationalise”, noted Mr Chee. This was why the authorities announced a $900 million Bus Connectivity Enhancement Programme on July 30.
Separately, WP MP Gerald Giam (Aljunied GRC) asked why the MPs for the Marine Parade cluster are fronting the free shuttle, noting that their caricatures are on one side of the buses.
Replying, Mr Tan said the caricatures and drawings of Marine Parade landmarks are meant to make it easier for residents to identify the buses.
At the end of the 90 minutes allotted for question time, Mr Singh rose to ask for an extension of 15 to 20 minutes for more questions on the issue to be aired.
Deputy Speaker of Parliament Christopher de Souza turned down the request, noting that the House had already exceeded question time by five minutes

 

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Electoral boundaries drawn to serve interests of S’poreans, not political parties: Chan Chun Sing​

Goh Yan Han and Ng Wei Kai


Aug 08, 2024

SINGAPORE – Electoral boundaries are drawn to serve the interests of the people, not those of political parties, said Education Minister Chan Chun Sing on Aug 7.
The interest of Singaporeans is to have MPs who can take care of and represent them, and for a Parliament that can form a functioning government, added Mr Chan during a motion that called for a review of the process by which electoral boundaries are decided.
While the Government will continually seek to improve Singapore’s electoral system, it opposed the motion as it was based on a fundamentally wrong premise that the process should be in the interest of political parties, and that the current process is not transparent or fair, he added.
Mr Chan, who is also Minister-in-charge of the Public Service, was speaking in Parliament during a motion raised by the Progress Singapore Party’s (PSP) Non-Constituency MPs (NCMPs) that called on the Government to reform how electoral boundaries are drawn, so as to “increase the transparency and fairness of the electoral boundary review process for all political parties”.
The drawing of electoral boundaries is carried out by the Electoral Boundaries Review Committee (EBRC), which taps the specific expertise of its members, who include qualified senior civil servants with domain knowledge in the technical areas required for boundary delineation.
In recent years, the EBRC has consisted of the Cabinet secretary, the chief executives of the Elections Department, the Housing Board, the Singapore Land Authority and the Government’s chief statistician.
These are senior civil servants with no party allegiance, Mr Chan said as he addressed concerns raised by opposition MPs of potential gerrymandering.

The EBRC’s composition and process have allowed the committee to do its work independently and objectively, said Mr Chan. For instance, it does not have access to voting information and hence does not make its recommendations based on voting patterns.
Kicking off the debate, NCMP Hazel Poa laid out several proposals by the PSP to reform the boundaries drawing process.
These included requiring the EBRC to publicly and sufficiently explain all changes made so as to dispel suspicions of gerrymandering.

Mr Chan replied that while “all of us also want more explanation from the EBRC”, a practical balance has to be struck so that public officers are given the space to do their work independently and objectively, without fear that every change will be politicised if viewed unfavourably by certain political parties.
Ms Poa, who is secretary-general of the PSP, also proposed that the range of number of voters per MP be narrowed, saying the current range of 20,000 to 38,000 voters per MP is too wide.
This would result in a fairer distribution of duties among MPs and be fairer to voters in the weighting of their votes, she said.
Mr Chan noted that in putting forth this proposal, Ms Poa had cited the United Kingdom and Australia as examples.
But the number of electors per MP in those countries is two to three times that of Singapore, and applying the same parameters here will lead to more frequent and drastic changes to boundaries due to the high rate of movement within a small city state, he said.
He noted that some 200,000 electors here change their residential address annually.
On vote weighting, Mr Chan said the Government had studied other countries very carefully, and no electoral system could definitively claim that every vote is exactly the same or near equal.

The PSP also advanced the idea of minor and major boundaries, which it said would reduce the potential for gerrymandering.
Such a system would have major boundaries – corresponding closely to local ties and geographical considerations – that remain unchanged for many elections, while minor boundaries within that delineate different constituencies could be changed by the EBRC, said Ms Poa.
Mr Chan disagreed with the proposal, noting that it had also been studied before.
“There would be the question of who and how should we delineate what constitutes major and minor boundaries, and we are back to square one,” he said.
Ms Poa also called for the EBRC to be chaired by a High Court judge, instead of reporting to the prime minister. Leader of the Opposition Pritam Singh made a similar call later in the debate.
Mr Chan said the Government had thought about this carefully and looked at the experience of other countries, but did not think it would resolve concerns about political interference.
“Other jurisdictions that have done so continue to face allegations and doubts concerning the independence of their electoral boundary delineation process,” he said.
“Their debate instead sinks into questions on who appoints the judge, and whether the judge has any political leaning or bias. The judiciary ends up getting drawn into the political debate, and the judiciary is politicised.”
He added that the EBRC’s work also does not consist of legal issues that require a judicial official to weigh in.
“What is required is political neutrality, integrity and objectivity, which I trust all my public service officers have whether they are in the EBRC or not,” he said.

Both the PSP and the Workers’ Party (WP) also proposed that political parties have some say in the changes made to electoral boundaries.
But Mr Chan said the EBRC has been able to do its work independently and objectively due to its composition, and also that its processes are insulated from party politics.
“Hence, we do not have the horse trading and gerrymandering that have taken place in other countries,” he said. “If we get all political parties involved, present or future, it will politicise the whole process and not bring us forward, but bring us backwards.”
During the debate, opposition MPs raised examples of previous boundary changes to constituencies with close vote margins as instances of gerrymandering.
Mr Singh cited how Braddell Heights SMC was incorporated into Marine Parade GRC in 1997, Joo Chiat SMC was merged into Marine Parade GRC in 2015, and three single seats “where the PAP had their smallest percentage of wins” in the 2015 General Election – Fengshan, Sengkang West and Punggol East – became part of group representation constituencies in 2020.
Mr Chan stressed that the EBRC does not take political interests into account. Rather, it looks holistically at both population shifts and the need for continuity in community formation, and with the objective that an MP can serve the constituency effectively, he said.
Noting that Mr Leong had called for constituencies to be more compact, Mr Chan said this suggested that the prime minister give the EBRC more specific instructions, rather than to let the EBRC do its work objectively with some basic instructions.
“Sometimes the more we interfere, the more we fall into this trap to make it a politically motivated process,” he said.
The motion was not carried at the end of the two-hour debate: 76 MPs voted against it, while the opposition MPs – eight from WP and two from PSP – voted in its favour.

 

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Eligible Singaporeans to get between $200 and $400 in September to help with rising cost of living​

The Cost-of-Living Special Payment was announced at Budget 2024 in February. ST PHOTO: ARIFFIN JAMAR

Anjali Raguraman
Correspondent

Aug 14, 2024

SINGAPORE – All eligible adult Singaporeans will receive a one-off special payment amounting to between $200 and $400 in September 2024 to help with the rising cost of living.
This will apply to more than 2.4 million Singaporeans aged 21 and above in 2024, and is applicable to those whose assessable income is up to $100,000, said the Ministry of Finance (MOF) on Aug 13.
Those who own more than one property are not eligible for the payout.
Citizens can check their eligibility for the special payment by logging in to the govbenefits website with their Singpass. Eligible recipients will be notified via their Singpass app in September, after the payout has been credited.
To safeguard against scams, any SMS notification sent by “gov.sg” will only inform citizens of their benefits. Citizens will not be asked to reply to the SMS, click any links, or provide any information to the sender. No messages about the payout will be sent through WhatsApp or other mobile messaging platforms, said MOF.
Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, who is also Finance Minister, announced the Cost-of-Living Special Payment during Budget 2024 in February.
Eligible adult Singapore citizens would have already received between $300 and $500 in 2022, and between $200 and $400 in 2023.

The payout is part of a suite of measures in the Assurance Package, which cushions the impact of higher inflation and the goods and services tax increase for all Singaporeans. It included CDC vouchers for all Singaporean households, and U-Save and service and conservancy charge (S&CC) rebates for HDB households to help offset utility bills and the S&CC.
For instance, each Singaporean household has received a total of $800 worth of CDC vouchers so far in 2024, with $500 in January and $300 in June.
Citizens are encouraged to link their NRICs to PayNow through their banks by Aug 26 if they have accounts with the 12 participating banks in Singapore. This will allow them to receive the payment earlier, from Sept 5. The participating banks are Bank of China, CIMB, Citibank, DBS Bank/POSB, HSBC, ICBC, Maybank, OCBC Bank, RHB Bank, Standard Chartered Bank, Trust Bank and UOB.

Those without PayNow-NRIC-linked bank accounts but who have a DBS/POSB, OCBC or UOB bank account may provide their bank account information at the govbenefits website by Aug 27. They will then receive the cash benefits via Giro from Sept 13.
Eligible citizens who have not linked their NRICs to PayNow or provided a valid bank account will receive their cash benefits via GovCash.

 

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7 bus interchanges, including Bedok and Toa Payoh, to be more accessible, family-friendly by 2027​

An artist’s impression of Ang Mo Kio bus interchange after upgrading works, including new lit signage. PHOTO: LTA
Vanessa Paige Chelvan and Therese Soh

Aug 16, 2024

SINGAPORE – Seven bus interchanges across Singapore will be upgraded to provide more family-friendly facilities, such as baby care rooms, at a cost of about $105 million.
The interchanges in Ang Mo Kio, Bedok, Boon Lay, Clementi, Sengkang, Serangoon and Toa Payoh will undergo upgrading from August, with works expected to be completed by 2027, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) said on Aug 16.
The authority told The Straits Times that work has begun at Ang Mo Kio bus interchange and will start progressively at the other interchanges. The works will enhance accessibility, provide passenger-friendly features, and improve staff facilities, LTA said.
When completed, the seven interchanges will feature priority queue zones for seniors, more seats, passenger care rooms, as well as baby care and family rooms.
Wheelchair-accessible toilets, tactile guided paths and Braille signs on handrails will be added, LTA said.
The lighting and air-conditioning systems at the interchanges will be replaced and upgraded.
Staff facilities such as staff lounges and passenger service offices will be refurbished.

An artist’s impression of Toa Payoh interchange after upgrading works, including a new priority queue zone. PHOTO: LTA
Bus operations will not be affected during the upgrading of the interchanges, LTA said. To minimise the impact of the works on passengers, those affecting boarding and alighting berths will be carried out one berth at a time, with measures taken to minimise noise and dust.
LTA said it will also work with public transport operators to install wayfinding signs to guide commuters.
The improvements at the seven interchanges are similar to the features at newer bus interchanges, such as those in Jurong Town Hall and Tengah, LTA said.

Financial consultant Faith Lim, 37, said the toilets at Toa Payoh bus interchange are “not very friendly”.
The mother of two said the toilets there are generally dirty and lacking facilities such as child-size sinks and toilets. She added that parents would welcome a separate diaper-changing room, instead of having to use the pull-down changing tables currently available in most toilets.
Having noticed that some wheelchair users struggle to manoeuvre their wheelchairs into toilets, retired driver Sng Ah Lai, 81, said that wheelchair-accessible toilets with wider entrances are what such users need.
At least two public transport users said it would be great to have more seats at interchanges.
Part-time kitchen helper Jean Teng spoke to ST while she was waiting to board a bus at the Bedok interchange with her five-month-old granddaughter. The 65-year-old said there are currently not enough seats at the interchange.
Ms Lena Hamid, 72, said having more seats would be especially helpful for elderly folk.
The part-time library worker said her legs ache after standing for long periods, but there are times she cannot sit down to rest while waiting for her bus because the seats at the Bedok interchange are fully occupied.
“Sometimes I have to stand, you know? My legs are a problem, but I cannot tell people to get up, as it is very rude (to do so),” she added.
LTA called a tender for the upgrading works on government procurement portal GeBiz in 2022.
The seven interchanges opened between 2004 and 2014.

An artist’s impression of Boon Lay interchange after upgrading works, including a new tactile system. PHOTO: LTA

 

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Fitness trails, gardens and access ramps: Senior-heavy precincts to be upgraded for active ageing​

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An artist's impression of a therapeutic garden at Chong Boon Heights with sensory planting and spaces for contemplative activities. PHOTO ILLUSTRATION: A D LAB PTE LTD

Syarafana Shafeeq

Aug 30, 2024

SINGAPORE – Around 24,000 seniors across 26 precincts in Singapore will be able to enjoy neighbourhood upgrades like gardens and fitness trails by 2029, to help them age more comfortably in the community.
The effort is part of the Housing Board’s new Silver Upgrading Programme (SUP), which focuses on upgrading works in precincts that have higher densities of seniors but which may not qualify for the Neighbourhood Renewal Programme (NRP), said Minister for National Development Desmond Lee on Aug 25.
The NRP, introduced in 2007, upgrades flats and spruces up neighbourhoods with amenities such as covered linkways and fitness corners.
Future projects under the NRP will include more senior-friendly amenities that allow the elderly to stay active and safe in their neighbourhoods, it was announced in Parliament in March.
Mr Lee said that some older HDB precincts already underwent estate upgrading programmes in the past, and do not qualify for NRP.
“But some of these precincts, as we have checked, are home to many seniors who will benefit from senior-friendly enhancements,” he said.
The silver upgrading works under the new programme will be carried out for these precincts, Mr Lee said.

HDB said the cost of the SUP will vary from precinct to precinct, as the improvements will be tailored to each precinct.
Overall, the Ministry of National Development will spend $600 million on Age Well SG initiatives, including SUP, to help seniors age actively and independently in their communities.
The upgrades, which are fully funded by the Government, will start with four precincts in Chong Boon in the second quarter of 2025.

The programme will subsequently be extended to 22 other older precincts in Ang Mo Kio, Bukit Merah, Queenstown and Toa Payoh over the next five years, with all works estimated to be completed by 2029.
Speaking at a community walk in Ang Mo Kio, Mr Lee said seniors can look forward to new active ageing amenities such as therapeutic gardens and fitness trails, as well as more barrier-free access ramps, and rest points along linkways.
HDB will work with other agency partners like the Land Transport Authority, Agency for Integrated Care, National Parks Board and Sport Singapore to coordinate improvement works, coordinate senior-related initiatives and share design practices relevant to the enhancement works.
The new initiative is in line with the nationwide programme Age Well SG, which was launched in 2023 to better support seniors to age actively and independently at home and in the community.
About one in five Singaporeans is aged 65 and older. By 2030, this proportion will go up to around one in four citizens.
As Singapore residents grow older, their needs will change, Mr Lee said.
The Government is making a bigger, more concerted push to improve the physical living environment for seniors in Singapore, he added.
For example, a wider range of senior-friendly fittings in HDB homes was made available with the launch of an improved version of the Enhancement for Active Seniors programme in April. This includes foldable shower seats and handrails at flat entrances with steps.
For the SUP, residents will be engaged to better understand their needs and seek views on the enhancements they hope to see in their neighbourhoods.
Some 30 seniors participated in a Community Improvement Walk on Aug 25 and gave ideas on what they hope to see in the enhancements within the Chong Boon precincts.

Minister for National Development Desmond Lee (bottom left) taking part on Aug 25 in a Community Improvement Walk around Chong Boon Rise with residents who gave suggestions on the senior-friendly amenities they hope to see. ST PHOTO: MARK CHEONG
Part-time cashier Shanti Thavamani, 65, rides a mobility device around the neighbourhood on most days as she has pain in her legs.
In the past five years, more ramps have been built in the area, making it easier to move around, she pointed out.
In the upcoming upgrading programme, she hopes for more anti-slip features for slippery floors in the precinct as she finds it hard to walk on these floors on days when she does not use her mobility device.
Mr Roslan Pane Anwar, 55, hopes to see more amenities in the area that can allow bonding between generations.
The warehouse supervisor has lived in the Chong Boon area for 25 years, and has five children and one grandchild.
He said that three-generation playgrounds, which combine play areas for children and fitness equipment for adults and seniors, would be a great addition to the neighbourhood.
“I want to have an area where grandparents and grandchildren can spend time together in the neighbourhood and make memories,” he added.

MAP: HDB

 

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7,000 needy children to get support as My First Skool’s charity fund commits to give $5m a year​

The fund now supports about 6,400 pre-schoolers in My First Skool centres, which is nearly 30 per cent of enrolled pupils. PHOTO: NTUC FIRST CAMPUS

Elisha Tushara
Correspondent

Aug 26, 2024

SINGAPORE - NTUC First Campus’ charity arm Bright Horizons Fund will be increasing the amount of its support by $2 million a year to benefit 7,000 pre-schoolers from lower-income families.
From 2025, it will commit $5 million a year – up from $3 million currently – to support pre-schoolers in NTUC First Campus’ (NFC) My First Skool centres in four areas: financial, learning and development, health and well-being, and social.
Mr Heng Chee How, chairman of Bright Horizons Fund, said the fund’s four pillars of support for lower-income families are important to help them holistically, instead of just lowering fees for pre-school.
“First, we lower the barrier to come to school. Don’t let the fee be the hurdle... Then (come) the professional and technical support interventions,” he said.
Mr Heng, who is also Senior Minister of State for Defence, said that it is equally important to work on a family’s confidence and social skills, provide family support and form partnerships with the families for the good of the children.
“When they can see that what we’re doing is actually value-adding, and they can see the improvement in their children, they can then see the hope,” he said.
NFC’s chief child support officer Louisa Chng said the fund, which was started in 2008, has evolved from mostly providing financial aid through school fee subsidies and support for schooling essentials such as uniforms, field trip expenses and Kindergarten 2 graduation expenses.

More than half of the money will be used to enhance learning and development support programmes for children.
Ms Chng said that since January 2024, an additional 800 children and their families have benefited from the fund, after support was extended to families whose monthly gross household income is below $6,000, compared with $4,500 and below previously.
The fund now supports about 6,400 pre-schoolers in My First Skool centres, which is nearly 30 per cent of enrolled pupils.

NFC is targeting to help 7,000 pre-schoolers from 2025, as enrolment is expected to increase with the opening of new My First Skool centres. Currently, it has 159 centres with 26,500 pupils.
NFC’s learning and development support programmes include the development support specialist programme, which will be available in 16 My First Skool pre-school centres in 2025, up from eight.
Launched in 2023, this programme sees four development support specialists supporting 60 children, from Playgroup to Kindergarten 2, who require medium level of early intervention support for developmental delays.
In 2025, it aims to more than double this support, catering to 135 children, with nine development support specialists.
These include children currently attending the Early Intervention Programme for Infants and Children (Eipic), those on the Eipic wait list, as well as those who have yet to be formally diagnosed as needing early intervention support.
In the development support specialist programme, teachers will discuss these children’s profiles with the development support specialists.
The specialists will then join the class and guide the teacher on how to engage the child, as well as create a tailored approach together with the teacher for each child’s different learning needs.
Bright Horizons Fund also supports families’ health and well-being through various initiatives such as an infant nutrition programme, which provides cash vouchers from $200 to $800 yearly for families to purchase essential items, such as diapers and milk powder for their children up to the age of three.

Madam Noratikah Suratman with her children (from left) Nur Evalyn Eliya, four; Nur Aralyn Alisha, five; and Nur Bima Fahlevi, two. PHOTO: COURTESY OF NORATIKAH SURATMAN
Madam Noratikah Suratman, 26, has three children, aged five, four and two, who are enrolled at My First Skool in Jalan Sultan, near Beach Road.
The administrator in a real estate company told The Straits Times that as the sole breadwinner in her family, she can be overwhelmed by her job responsibilities, parenting and tight finances.
Through Bright Horizons Fund, Madam Noratikah and her children have received support such as the infant nutrition programme, which has helped to offset some of the costs for diapers and milk powder for her youngest child, Nur Bima Fahlevi.
Her eldest child, Nur Aralyn Alisha, was identified by teachers as needing extra support in literacy and numeracy, and is enrolled in the classroom support programme.
“I believe that it helps to increase the students’ engagement, and the teachers tailor their teaching methods according to the students’ capability. Aralyn’s vocabulary has expanded. She knows how to create proper sentences now,” Madam Noratikah said.
Ms Karen Lee, 43, who has four children, aged 20, 10, eight and six, is another beneficiary of the fund.

Ms Karen Lee with her children (from left) Barry Giam Yong An, 10; Branson Giam Yong Kang, six; Berniss Chan Shu Yi, 20; and Braven Giam Yong Le, eight. PHOTO: COURTESY OF MADAM LEE POH CHIN
Ms Lee, who works in customer service, is separated from her husband and is the sole breadwinner for the family. All three of her sons were from My First Skool in Jalan Sultan.
She said her family is coping much better now since their financial worries have improved with Bright Horizons Fund’s support.
Her youngest son Branson Giam was initially not enrolled in pre-school as Ms Lee wanted to save on enrolment costs and had her mother look after him instead.
But after she noticed that Branson had difficulty with speech, she decided to enrol him so he would receive the help he needed.
“They have helped Branson a lot. He goes for therapy and works with the development support specialist,” she said.

 

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SAF officers to receive more cash bonuses, full CPF contributions from July 2025​

The enhanced benefits are part of changes to the savings and retirement scheme for SAF officers. ST PHOTO: GAVIN FOO

Rhea Yasmine

Sep 06, 2024

SINGAPORE – Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) officers can look forward to enhanced monetary benefits from July 1, 2025, following changes to the organisation’s savings and retirement scheme.
With these changes, new SAF officers will see a 40 per cent average increase in benefits compared with the current scheme, and they can accumulate about three years’ worth of their last-drawn annual salaries at retirement.
In a statement on Sept 6, the Ministry of Defence (Mindef) listed three key changes that will be introduced to the Savings and Employee Retirement (Saver) Plan.
First, bonus cash payments will be given to officers aged between 25 and 34 for every three years of service. Known as the Saver Bonus payment, this is aimed at better supporting officers’ needs, such as in marriage and housing.
The Saver Bonus will replace the current arrangement, where contributions are deposited into officers’ Saver Plan Savings Accounts during their first 10 years of service, and can be withdrawn from their seventh year of service at increasing percentages.
Second, officers will be given their full Central Provident Fund (CPF) contributions earlier in their careers, helping them accumulate more CPF to better support their housing and healthcare needs.
Currently, officers are on a reduced CPF contribution arrangement, where Mindef deposits the difference between the full and reduced employer CPF contributions into the officers’ Saver Plan CPF Top-Up Accounts. The monies in these accounts are transferred to the officers via their CPF accounts when they leave the SAF.

Third, increased contributions to officers’ Saver Plan Retirement Accounts will begin from their first year of service instead of the seventh. The existing Retirement Account will be renamed the Saver Account.
The enhanced benefits will apply to all new officers who join the SAF from July 1, 2025, as well as to in-service officers who opt to transition to the enhanced Saver Plan.
“Together, these changes will better meet the life-cycle needs of SAF officers and provide them with greater financial assurance for career transition upon their retirement from the SAF,” Mindef said.
The Saver Plan, introduced in 1998, aims to encourage officers to remain in service until their retirement from the SAF, and to help them accumulate sufficient finances for their transition to their next career.

 

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New ‘short trip’ peak-hour bus service 50A to serve Sengkang, Ang Mo Kio from Sept 30​

SBST said on Sept 16 the new route will better serve the needs of those travelling towards Ang Mo Kio Avenue 8. PHOTO: ST FILE

Kok Yufeng
Transport Correspondent

Sep 16, 2024

SINGAPORE - From Sept 30, public transport users travelling from Punggol East to Ang Mo Kio via Sengkang will be able to tap a new “short trip” bus service on weekday mornings.
Service 50A, operated by SBS Transit, will serve 32 bus stops, starting at the bus stop after Punggol Field, located opposite Gospel Light Christian Church, and terminating in Ang Mo Kio Avenue 8, at the bus stop before Ang Mo Kio MRT station’s Exit B.
It will run only during morning peak hours on weekdays, and will not operate on weekends or public holidays. There will be four trips each weekday, scheduled to start at 6am, 6.36am, 8.18am and 8.39am.
The bus will stop outside Sengkang MRT station, Anchor Green Primary School, Layar LRT station and Fernvale Primary School, and opposite Seletar Hills estate and ITE College Central.
SBS Transit said on Sept 16 that the new route will better serve the needs of those travelling towards Ang Mo Kio Avenue 8.
According to its website, “short trip” services are variants of existing bus services that ply only a certain section of the existing route, instead of the whole route. Such services are meant to cater to stretches with high passenger demand, such as areas that are near MRT stations or schools.
Unlike normal bus services, “short trip” services do not end at the terminating interchange or terminal of their parent bus services, and they can be identified by the letter after the number of their parent bus service – for example, those ending with an “A” or “B”.

SBS Transit said these shorter services allow it to deploy buses in high-traffic areas more efficiently, instead of running empty buses after these heavy stretches.
In Singapore, all public bus routes are planned by the Land Transport Authority, with bus operators bidding for contracts to run a package of routes for a fee.
Apart from service 50A, 11 other “short trip” bus services have been introduced in 2024 that operate only during peak periods.
These services include 20A, 39A and 39B, which serve residents in Simei, Changi, Pasir Ris and Punggol, and 86A and 86B, which ply Jalan Kayu, Yio Chu Kang and Ang Mo Kio.

 

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Up to 1.1m Singapore residents will receive higher healthcare subsidies from Oct 1: Ong Ye Kung​

Healthcare subsidies will be extended to people from households with higher incomes. PHOTO: ST FILE

Judith Tan
Correspondent

Oct 01, 2024

SINGAPORE – From October, more people will benefit from government healthcare subsidies, including at public hospitals, specialist clinics and dialysis centres.
Health Minister Ong Ye Kung announced on Sept 30 that subsidies will be extended to people from households with higher incomes.
The monthly per capita household income (PCHI) threshold for each subsidy tier will be raised by $100 to $800. PCHI is the total household income divided by the number of family members living under the same roof.
For instance, the 80 per cent subsidy for C and B2 wards at public hospitals would be given to those with PCHI of up to $2,100, from $1,800. For a family of four, this works out to a household income totalling $8,400, up from $7,200.
Aside from acute hospitals, the higher subsidies also apply across the range of healthcare services, from MediShield Life premiums to devices for seniors such as hearing aids and wheelchairs.
More people will qualify for the Chas (Community Health Assist Scheme) Blue card, with the PCHI being raised from $1,200 to $1,500.
The PCHI to qualify for the highest MediShield Life health insurance premium subsidy will also go up from $1,200 to $1,500.

In addition, the subsidy rates for community hospitals and palliative care in both hospitals and the community will be raised to match those at acute hospitals.
Patients themselves or their loved ones sometimes prefer that the patients stay in acute hospitals, where there is greater assurance of government financial support, Mr Ong said. So patients are reluctant to move to community care settings.
“This paradigm has now shifted. We should subsidise community care at least at the same level as hospital care, if not more. That way, we encourage the right-siting of patients,” he added.

“In fact, it is often in the interest of patients to quickly move to community settings where they can get the right rehabilitation and social support, which is what they need most at that stage of their recovery.”
To this end, subsidies for community hospitals will be the same as those for public hospitals from Oct 1, in tandem with the revised monthly PCHI thresholds.
Under the enhanced community hospital subsidy framework, Singapore citizens will get subsidies of at least 50 per cent, up from 30 per cent under the current framework, said the Ministry of Health (MOH).

While there are currently subsidies of up to 75 per cent for inpatient palliative care and up to 80 per cent for home palliative and day hospice care, some people do not receive subsidies at all.
MOH will align the subsidy rates for palliative care to those of acute hospitals, with a minimum of 50 per cent, and up to 80 cent from Oct 1.
The list of subsidised diagnostic services at community hospitals will also be expanded progressively, with a view to eventually align this with the list of subsidised diagnostic services at acute hospitals, the ministry said.
This will be rolled out gradually across community hospitals from Dec 1.
With more funding, palliative care capacity in the community will expand, and this would help fulfil the wishes of many terminal patients to leave with dignity and comfort, Mr Ong said.
He was speaking at the launch of the ITE Work-Study Diploma in Nursing, held at MOH on Sept 30.

Health Minister Ong Ye Kung taking a wefie with attendees at the launch of the ITE Work-Study Diploma in Nursing. ST PHOTO: GAVIN FOO
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MOH provides subsidies and grants for Singapore residents to help manage the costs of healthcare, with higher subsidies targeted at lower-income groups.
It was announced in Budget 2024 that MOH would be revising the income criteria for healthcare schemes and grants that are means-tested using the monthly PCHI criteria, to reflect changes in household incomes and cost of healthcare.
The revisions take effect from Oct 1, and up to 1.1 million Singapore residents are expected to benefit from the higher subsidies, said MOH.
Commenting on the changes, Professor Teo Yik Ying, dean of the NUS Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, said it is important that the PCHI criteria are reviewed regularly to ensure that the thresholds adopted keep pace with inflation and salary increments.
“Otherwise, we end up in a situation where wage changes actually mean people are worse off when they are no longer eligible for subsidies, simply because of a static PCHI,” he said.
“This review is timely in the light of the extraordinary inflation over the past three years and associated wage increments to keep pace with the inflation.”
No action is required by patients, and the higher subsidy rate will automatically apply when a patient incurs subsidised healthcare expenses, said Mr Ong.

 

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Over 950,000 Singaporean households to get U-Save, S&CC rebates in October​

No action is needed to claim the rebates, with the U-Save rebates credited directly into households’ utilities accounts. ST PHOTO: LIM YAOHUI

Ian Cheng
Correspondent

Sep 30, 2024

SINGAPORE - More than 950,000 Singaporean households in Housing Board flats will receive U-Save and service and conservancy charges (S&CC) rebates in October.
The Ministry of Finance (MOF) said in a statement on Sept 30 that the rebates, which are part of the permanent GST Voucher scheme and the Assurance Package, are the third quarterly disbursement for the 2024 financial year.
The rebates will help those from lower- and middle-income households cope with goods and services tax (GST) and cost-of-living expenses, said MOF.
“On average, this will cover about eight months of utility bills for those living in one- and two-room flats, and about four months of utility bills for those living in three- and four- room flats,” it added.
In this round, those living in one-room and two-room HDB flats will get a total of $190 in U-save rebates.
People living in three-room flats will get $170 in total, while those in four-room flats will get $150. Five-room HDB households will get $130. Those living in executive or multi-generation flats will receive the least – $110.
No action is needed to claim the rebates, said MOF, with the U-Save rebates credited directly into households’ utilities accounts with SP Services.

The S&CC rebates, meanwhile, will be credited directly by town councils.
A portion of the rebates was to “cushion the impact of higher utility bills from increases in carbon tax and water prices”, added MOF.
On Sept 30, grid operator SP Group said that electricity tariffs will go down for the next three months due to lower energy costs, with a 2.6 per cent decrease in electricity tariffs compared with the previous quarter
City Energy, the producer and retailer of piped gas, said in a separate statement on Sept 30 that gas tariffs will decrease by 0.45 cent per kWh over the same period, also due to lower costs.

 

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PCF to open new eldercare centres in Jurong, boost services in Simei​

Prime Minister Lawrence Wong said that as a charitable foundation, PCF also strives to do its part to support the wider community. ST PHOTO: LIM YAOHUI
Wong Pei Ting
Correspondent

Oct 07, 2024

SINGAPORE – The PAP Community Foundation (PCF), better known for being the largest pre-school operator in Singapore, will open two new eldercare facilities in Jurong and add to its capacity in Simei, to meet the rising demand for senior care services in an ageing population.
The expansion into Jurong by the third quarter of 2025 will see the PCF open an active ageing centre in Jurong West, within the boundaries of the West Coast GRC, and a senior care centre in Jurong East, within the Yuhua single-member constituency, said Mr Andy Seet, senior director of PCF’s senior care division, on the sidelines of the PCF Family Day 2024 on Oct 6.
Active ageing centres serve as drop-in recreational centres aimed at promoting active engagement, social interaction and community involvement, and the facility in Jurong West will cater to about 3,000 to 4,000 senior citizens.
Senior care centres focus on delivering physical or medical care support to frail seniors at more convenient locations, and the one in Jurong East will serve up to 100 seniors in need of daycare or rehabilitation services.
In Simei, the PCF will set up another senior care centre in 2025 next to its current one at Block 120 Simei Street 1, which is located in East Coast GRC, said Mr Seet.
Demand at the existing centre has been consistently high, and there are sometimes up to 15 people on the waiting list for one of the 55 slots for dementia and maintenance daycare services and 30 slots for active rehabilitation services, Mr Seet added.
Prime Minister and Finance Minister Lawrence Wong, speaking at the event held at Downtown East, reiterated the Government’s commitment to creating a more family-friendly environment in Singapore.

One aspect of this is to provide better care for seniors, he added, noting that with a rapidly ageing population and longer life expectancy, more people will end up in the sandwiched group having to look after their elderly parents and young children at the same time.
The Government’s National Population and Talent Division has projected that around one in four Singaporeans will be aged 65 or above by 2030, up from one in 10 in 2010.
PM Wong said it is critical not to just have a long life, but also to keep healthy and to age well.

To this end, the Government has rolled out nationwide programmes such as Healthier SG and Age Well SG to help people stay active and keep healthy as they grow old, he added.
But government policies alone are not enough, and that is where the work of charities and non-profit organisations, such as the PCF, can play a critical role, he said.

Ms Lee Jing Yi (right), assistant manager at Mandai Wildlife Group, sharing about the Oriental Pied Hornbill with five-year-old pupil Kaelyn Chong and her parents, Mr Terence Chong and Ms Jocelyn Liew. ST PHOTO: LIM YAOHUI
PM Wong, who is also deputy secretary-general of the People’s Action Party (PAP), said this was the motivation behind the PCF stepping up to meet Singaporeans’ needs in the eldercare space.
He added that PCF, the charitable arm of the PAP, plans to open more eldercare centres in the future. It now runs nine senior care centres and four active ageing centres under its eldercare arm, PCF Sparkle Care.
“When I started out in life, I had access to PCF services. I hope later in life, when I get older, I also will have access to PCF services near my home. Then PCF can take care of Singaporeans from start to finish,” said PM Wong, who attended a PAP kindergarten in Marine Parade in the 1970s.

Seniors and children performing at the PCF Family Day 2024 on Oct 6. ST PHOTO: LIM YAOHUI
On the foundation’s plans, Mr Seet told The Straits Times that PCF has worked with the Ministry of Health (MOH) and the Agency for Integrated Care to project where eldercare services will be in greater demand so as to step in where needs are unmet.
While these projections are still being worked out, he noted that there has been interest in having more eldercare services in areas such as Punggol, Marine Parade and Bedok.
He said the foundation’s goal is to open three or four eldercare centres each year in 2026 and 2027. He did not say where they would be located.
In the 2023 Action Plan for Successful Ageing, MOH said the goal was to have 220 eldercare centres by 2025, which will cover an estimated 80 per cent of the total senior population. There were 60 such centres in 2021, and the number has grown to 208 as at April 2024.
On Oct 6, PCF also announced its partnerships with social service agencies Fei Yue Community Services and Allkin Singapore in sub-regions where it is operating.
For example, in Yew Tee and Limbang, PCF Sparkle Care and Fei Yue are working together to conduct care assessments, develop care plans and coordinate care for seniors with other providers in the community.

Prime Minister Lawrence Wong said it is critical not to just have long life, but to keep healthy and to age well. ST PHOTO: LIM YAOHUI
At the Oct 6 event, PM Wong said that as a charitable foundation, PCF also strives to do its part to support the wider community, noting that a fund-raising event is held in conjunction with the foundation’s family day each year.
He noted that the 2024 fund raising led by South West District – under Mayor Low Yen Ling, who is also Senior Minister of State for Culture, Community and Youth, and Trade and Industry – raised more than $600,000 for charities.
“Ultimately, this spirit of fellowship is what is important in Singapore. We need this spirit of partnership to take Singapore forward,” he said.

 

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Wave for the green man: Pedestrian push buttons to be replaced by touchless sensors by 2031​

About 11,500 push buttons across the island will be replaced with microwave sensors from 2025. ST PHOTO: ONG WEE JIN

Kok Yufeng
Transport Correspondent

Oct 20, 2024

SINGAPORE – Instead of pushing a button to activate the green-man signal at traffic junctions here, pedestrians would just need to wave their hands in front of a sensor to cross the road in the future.
Beginning from the fourth quarter of 2025, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) will replace all existing mechanical pedestrian push buttons with touchless microwave sensors that detect hand movements using electromagnetic waves.
When the new sensors detect the wave of a hand, they will send a signal to the traffic light system that a pedestrian is waiting to cross the road.
There are about 11,500 push buttons at around 2,790 traffic junctions across Singapore. LTA expects to take six years to replace all of them.
The move, which LTA said is aimed at reducing touch points and improving hygiene, comes after trials were conducted in 2022 and 2023 to evaluate whether such contactless systems could be a viable alternative to the conventional mechanical buttons.
The reliability and maintenance requirements of these contactless systems were also assessed during the trials.
LTA tested two types of sensors – an infrared sensor and another that uses microwaves.

The infrared sensors rely on changes in light to detect hand movements, while the microwave sensors do so by emitting electromagnetic waves and relying on changes in the frequency of the waves reflected into the device.
LTA told The Straits Times that it decided to use microwave sensors in the end as they performed better in terms of accuracy and sensitivity, and in varying weather conditions.
Another benefit of using touchless sensors is a potential reduction in the costs and manpower needed for upkeep, LTA told ST previously.

The mechanical push buttons have an expected lifespan of 15 to 20 years, requiring more maintenance as they age, and they can become defective because of improper use.
A tendency for some pedestrians to push buttons repeatedly also leads to greater wear and tear.

The new touchless sensors will have a guide for the visually impaired. There will be Braille text embedded on the exterior of the devices that say “Touch to activate”.
The sensors will emit a sound to indicate the system has registered a pedestrian’s intention to cross the road.
These features are the result of consultations between LTA and the Singapore Association of the Visually Handicapped. ST previously reported concerns that touchless sensors could pose challenges for the visually impaired as there is a lack of tactile feedback.
The installation of the new sensors will be done as part of a larger contract for the maintenance and installation of traffic light systems here. A tender was called on Sept 26, and it will close on Nov 25.
According to tender documents, signs will be put up on traffic poles with pictures showing how the touchless sensors work.
The winning contractor will need to submit a proposed design for the new sensors for LTA’s approval. The design should prevent misuse by the public, and the sensors should be unaffected by light and rain, tender documents said.

Based on drawings in the documents, the touchless devices will look similar to the current push buttons and will feature the same arrow plate to indicate the direction of the crossing.
Other countries like Australia, the United States and Canada have also trialled and rolled out touchless sensors at pedestrian crossings, citing improvements to hygiene and better accessibility for people with disabilities.
Mr Shalom Lim, 28, who has Duchenne muscular dystrophy, a rare genetic disease characterised by progressive muscle weakness, said his mobility is restricted, so he would not be able to wave his hand to trigger the new microwave sensors.
“For someone like me to independently activate the sensor, it would probably have to use some other technology like near-field communication on my phone or motion sensors,” said Mr Lim, a marketing communications assistant at a wheelchair transport and medical escort company.
But Mr Lim added that the touchless sensors will make life easier for people who are wheelchair users and lack upper body strength to push mechanical buttons.
It will also help caregivers as it saves them the step of pressing a button before crossing the road.
“I think it is a step in the right direction,” Mr Lim said.