Hansard, 1997-07-21

PERMISSION TO MEMBERS TO BE ABSENT Under the provisions of clause 2(d) of Article 46 of the Constitution of the Republic of Singapore, the following Members have been granted permission to be or to remain absent from sittings of Parliament (or any Committee of Parliament to which they have been appointed) for the periods stated: Name From To (1997) (1997) Mr K Shanmugam 15 July 18 July Mr Lee Kuan Yew 21 July 21 July Prof. S Jayakumar 23 July 29 July TAN SOO KHOON Speaker Parliament of Singapore

ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS - ROAD PRICING SCHEME AT CENTRAL EXPRESSWAY asked the Minister for Communications whether the latest road pricing scheme introduced at the Central Expressway has worsened the jams at other roads.

ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS - ROAD PRICING SCHEME AT CENTRAL EXPRESSWAY Mr Speaker, Sir, the objective of Road Pricing Scheme (RPS) on our expressways is to keep our main transport arteries free-flowing. These expressways are also our economic arteries. They are designed to move people and goods quickly and efficiently, and save them time and money. The recent modification of RPS on CTE has achieved this objective. Average speed on the CTE has improved from 25 kph to above 60 kph. Volume of traffic using the CTE during peak hours has dropped by 20%. The changes have resulted in some traffic moving to alternative routes around the CTE. Traffic surveys show that traffic volume on these roads has increased by about 3% during the RPS operation hours. While there are localised congestion at some stretches, the average speed of vehicles on these roads is about 20 kph. This is comparable to travel speeds prior to the amendment of RPS on CTE on 1st July. LTA expects traffic conditions along these routes to stabilise in due course as motorists adjust their travel patterns. Motorists who do not wish to pay for a licence to use the CTE and who do not wish to add to the congestion along the alternative routes should seriously consider several other options. They can adjust their travel pattern by staggering their travel times, or they can shift to public transport or they can car-pool with a friend.

ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS - ROAD PRICING SCHEME AT CENTRAL EXPRESSWAY Mr Speaker, Sir, would the Ministry consider taking certain measures to alleviate the jams along the alternative routes?

ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS - ROAD PRICING SCHEME AT CENTRAL EXPRESSWAY Sir, where possible, LTA will adjust traffic lights and carry out localised road improvements along the affected roads to remove any bottlenecks and facilitate smoother traffic flows. However, motorists must realise that the objective of the RPS is to ease the congestion along our expressways and to provide them with a choice of fast transit. So motorists must also consider these other options that I have mentioned, such as taking public transport, park-and-ride, car pooling or changing their time of travel. I am pleased to inform Members that the public response to the four new express bus services introduced in conjunction with the extended RPS scheme since 5th May 1997 has been encouraging. Due to commuters' requests, I am informed that SBS would be revising the schedules of its express buses to improve their frequency and capacity provision.

ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS - ROAD PRICING SCHEME AT CENTRAL EXPRESSWAY Would the bus companies be encouraged to provide more such express services?

ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS - ROAD PRICING SCHEME AT CENTRAL EXPRESSWAY Sir, currently, there are four express bus services - one from the North, two from the North-east, and one from the East - and these are designed to address the congestion problem that the Member has mentioned. SBS will review from time to time not just its frequency and capacity but also other bus service possibilities.

ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS - ROAD PRICING SCHEME AT CENTRAL EXPRESSWAY Sir, could the Minister of State consider taking away one gantry point near Toa Payoh at the Central Expressway (CTE) so as not to make things difficult for residents who want to use the PIE to go to Changi Airport in the morning?

ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS - ROAD PRICING SCHEME AT CENTRAL EXPRESSWAY Sir, the two gantry points are complementary. In our analysis, we discovered that there are motorists who make use of that stretch of the expressway between the two gantry points to go to the PIE. But that contributed to congestion and caused kickbacks as far back as the first gantry point and further up north. On the whole, we prefer to have the two gantry points so as to provide an effective solution.

ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS - ROAD PRICING SCHEME AT CENTRAL EXPRESSWAY Sir, could the Minister of State then consider allowing traffic that goes towards Changi Airport in the morning to use the CTE and PIE without payment because it does not cause congestion in the morning?

ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS - ROAD PRICING SCHEME AT CENTRAL EXPRESSWAY Sir, as I explained, they use that stretch of the expressway and therefore they are contributing congestion. The only way to reduce congestion is to ensure that those who use that stretch of the expressway also have to pay. If they value faster transit they should use the CTE.

APPLICATION SYSTEM FOR HAWKER STALLS asked the Minister for the Environment whether his Ministry has any plan to change the application system for hawker stalls.

APPLICATION SYSTEM FOR HAWKER STALLS Sir, vacant hawker stalls are rented out to the public through a tender system. The Ministry has no plans to change the current method of allocating stalls to the public.

APPLICATION SYSTEM FOR HAWKER STALLS Sir, could the Minister reconsider his decision so that the lower income or hardship cases have a chance to tender for a hawker stall? Otherwise, they would not have a chance to obtain a hawker stall because the present tender prices are very high.

APPLICATION SYSTEM FOR HAWKER STALLS Sir, the tender process is open to everybody. There are two sectors of stalls available - one is the market produce stalls and the other is the cooked food stalls. We have about 70 market produce stalls and 25 cooked food stalls being tendered out every two months. So far, for the market produce stalls, the take-up rate has been about 70%. I would suggest that the hardship cases, if they are really interested in having a stall, should try to participate in the tender programme for the market produce stalls where the likelihood of their being successful would be pretty good.

STAGED ACCIDENTS - (Complaints) asked the Minister for Home Affairs whether the Police Force has received complaints of "staged accidents".

STAGED ACCIDENTS - (Complaints) Mr Speaker, Sir, Police takes a serious view of staged accidents. It is monitoring the situation very closely. These accidents are related to the problem of workshop crew touting for business. Traffic Police's assessment is that instances of staged accidents are relatively few. From time to time, Police receives reports from motorists claiming that the circumstances under which accidents they were involved in were suspicious. Police investigations into these reports have not disclosed any evidence of staging, although in some of them, there was sufficient evidence to proceed on careless driving. Three cases of suspected staging were cited by the Straits Times on 7th July 1997. Traffic Police has carefully investigated them. There is insufficient evidence to prove that any of the accidents was staged. Police will continue to investigate cases where staging of accidents is suspected or where workshop crew persistently annoy, harass, or intimidate motorists in an effort to offer their services. Since 1995, there have been three reported cases of touting. The culprits in two of the cases have been convicted whilst the third case is still under investigation. This is not the first time that the issue of staged traffic accidents and touting has surfaced. In 1991, Police received numerous complaints of highway touts pestering accident victims for repair services. The touts had arrived almost immediately after an accident occurred on the road. Police then conducted an operation against highway touts and arrested 13 persons. Police also seized two transceivers which were used to listen to emergency service frequencies. As a result, the Telecommunication Authority of Singapore (TAS) Act was amended in 1993 to deter such unauthorised access. These activities abated considerably. But in 1994 reports of such practices resurfaced. Police responded with strict enforcement against touts and towing crew plying the thoroughfares. Police also collated information on suspected workshops involved in hiring accident stagers and monitored them closely. Further, Police secured its radio transmission network by encrypting its channels to prevent eavesdropping by touts. The enforcement action successfully cleared up touting activities until the recent cases were reported in the press. Police recognises that enforcement action alone cannot be the solution. Other than difficulty in securing evidence, sporadic reports of possible occurrences require intensive manpower resources to investigate effectively. Police has met with Mr Tan Kin Lian, CEO of NTUC INCOME to discuss the problem. His assessment is that staging of accidents is one facet of a wider set of problems which include touting and fraudulent insurance claims. The problem has to be addressed at source with the motor insurance industry taking the initiative. The motor insurance industry can do this by looking into the existing practice of assessment and claims which may be circumvented by workshops involved with touts and accident stagers. The motoring public can also play their part by being vigilant when driving. They should keep a safe distance from the vehicles in front, even when vehicles try to cut into their paths. Also, they should not be pressurised into accepting the services of towing crews at the scene of accident and should report any touting activities to the Police. While the problem of staged accidents is not widespread, the public can be assured that Police will take strict enforcement action and adopt a serious view of all such reports. All allegations of staged accidents will be investigated thoroughly. Whenever there is sufficient evidence, offenders will be prosecuted in court where deterrent sentences will be pressed against them.

STAGED ACCIDENTS - (Complaints) Sir, I think Members of this House have from time to time also received similar complaints from residents as well and we can all agree to take a serious view of this matter as it endangers lives on the roads. My question to the Minister of State is whether the current legislation is sufficient to tackle this problem and whether the penalties are sufficient deterrents.

STAGED ACCIDENTS - (Complaints) Sir, if a person is caught for touting, as had happened, he is punished under the Miscellaneous Offences (Public Order and Nuisance) Act for which a person, if liable and convicted, can be fined not less than $1,000 and not more than $5,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months or to both. If it is a second or subsequent conviction, he may be liable to a fine of not less than $2,000 and not more than $10,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding one year or to both. Of course, if a person is convicted of staging an accident, then it depends on what consequences have arisen. If, as a result of the accident, people are hurt, then a range of penalties is open under which he may be liable, including for serious cases, even under section 304 of the Penal Code (culpable homicide not amounting to murder) or voluntarily causing grievous hurt or hurt or mischief. It depends on what arises from the accident. I think the penalties are in place. The question, of course, is how to ensure that there is sufficient evidence. In any case, I would like to assure Mr Chng and the House that we would take a comprehensive approach. Police is at the end, ie, when a report comes in, we investigate. But I have asked Traffic Police to work with the motor insurance industry - I think that is the nub of the problem and the way to a solution - so that they can come together and agree on a practice, for example, of authorised workshops. To do this, I think, the industry must come together, because if some break ranks, then it does not work. So we will see what arises from these discussions.

STAGED ACCIDENTS - (Complaints) Sir, saying that touting and staging of accidents are part and parcel of the same problem, will the Minister of State agree that $1,000 fine seems rather low under today's conditions and, at the same time, in view of the fact that we have so far failed to bring many of these people to book?

STAGED ACCIDENTS - (Complaints) As I say, these possible offences are linked - touting, submitting of fraudulent claims and, possibly, staging of accidents. But, of course, touting encompasses a host of activities, not just touting on the roads. Touting can also take place in a retail setting. But I think Mr Chng's point is that if a person is caught for touting with regard to possible staged accidents, then higher penalties should be imposed. I can ask Police to consider this point.

PASIR RIS MRT STATION - (Construction of covered linkways) asked the Minister for Communications whether covered walkways from the Pasir Ris MRT Station to nearby bus stops and a vehicle drop-off and pick-up point will be constructed and, if so, when construction is expected to commence.

PASIR RIS MRT STATION - (Construction of covered linkways) I am pleased to inform the Member that the Land Transport Authority (LTA) will construct covered linkways from the Pasir Ris MRT station to nearby bus stops along Pasir Ris Drive 1. The linkways will incorporate a vehicle drop-off and pick-up point along Pasir Ris Central. The design for the linkways is being developed and the LTA plans to call for tenders later this year. Construction work will take about eight months to complete, after the tender is awarded.

PASIR RIS MRT STATION - (Construction of covered linkways) Sir, I wonder whether the Minister of State can tell the House whether such a project will be implemented island-wide, where applicable.

PASIR RIS MRT STATION - (Construction of covered linkways) Members can put in their requests to the LTA and LTA will assess the merits of the requests on a case-by-case basis. LTA will then reply to the Member.

PASIR RIS MRT STATION - (Construction of covered linkways) As a matter of convenience, would the Ministry be able to get the officials to study such a project on an island-wide basis, rather than on an ad hoc basis?

PASIR RIS MRT STATION - (Construction of covered linkways) Firstly, Sir, I have told LTA that, wherever possible, LTA would contact the Member, who requested for such facilities, to study the request together with the engineers from LTA. So LTA will be helpful in considering each request. As you can see from the request, it involves drop-off and pick-up points. So it may not be applicable in every case. It is difficult to do a comprehensive study for all constituencies. But I would encourage Members to take up their requests with LTA, and LTA would try to be helpful.

PASIR RIS MRT STATION - (Construction of covered linkways) Mr Speaker, Sir, the Minister of State will recall that this is one of the issues raised in the paper "World Class Land Transport System", whereby it was envisaged that all MRT stations be integrated with the bus interchanges, to make it convenient for all residents. So why is the Ministry or LTA not looking into this issue, as raised by my hon. friend, on an island-wide basis and not on an ad hoc basis?

PASIR RIS MRT STATION - (Construction of covered linkways) Sir, I am talking of the more unique requests. But for bus stops and linkways, I am pleased to inform Members that LTA has decided to implement a nation-wide programme to upgrade the bus shelters and the linkways to MRT stations. That programme would cost about $24 million.

PASIR RIS MRT STATION - (Construction of covered linkways) Mr Speaker, Sir, while supporting the issue raised by Mr Chng Hee Kok, what I want to ask is why is LTA not proactive in trying to look at some of the problems.

PASIR RIS MRT STATION - (Construction of covered linkways) Sir, as I said, as far as proactiveness is concerned, that is what they are going to do. They are now going to implement this nation-wide programme of upgrading the bus stops and to fit the programme into the IUP and MUP of the constituencies, so that when you have a new environment after the IUP, you also have new linkways and bus shelters. So these are the programmes that the LTA has taken the initiative to launch. But as for other requests, as I mentioned, pick-up points and drop-off points, I do not think they will be applicable in every case.

PASIR RIS MRT STATION - (Construction of covered linkways) Sir, besides IUP and MUP, there are other commuter needs. Why is the LTA not looking at other types of needs other than this tying-up with IUP and MUP?

PASIR RIS MRT STATION - (Construction of covered linkways) I am not saying that we will only tie up with IUP and MUP. There are criteria for upgrading of bus shelters, for instance. You cannot upgrade a bus shelter if it is only a few years old. There are certain criteria. Where there are IUP and MUP, I think you will get priority because we do not want to have a case where you have got a brand new environment but a very old bus shelter. So that is not so good. This is the rationale behind our programme.

PASIR RIS MRT STATION - (Construction of covered linkways) A more general question, Sir. I share the concerns of my colleagues. Is the LTA doing anything about the paper on the "World Class Land Transport System"? It is not collecting dust, I hope.

PASIR RIS MRT STATION - (Construction of covered linkways) Sir, this question is not relevant to the question that the Member has asked about bus shelters and linkways. I think we will answer that question in the Committee of Supply on the progress that we have made for a World Class Land Transport System.

PASIR RIS MRT STATION - (Construction of covered linkways) Just to add to what my Minister of State said just now. I would like to assure Mr Chng and the rest of the Members of this House that the White Paper on a World Class Land Transport System is not collecting dust. In fact, as the Minister of State has said, he will be giving further details during the debate in the Committee of Supply. But on the specific point raised by Mr Chng and Dr Vasoo and the rest, there is in fact an on-going programme to connect all MRT stations with the nearest bus stops and other commuter facilities of that nature are now in the works. I think the specific question that was raised on whether there was going to be extension to the MRT station in Mr Charles Chong's constituency has been answered.

TENDER FOR FOOD COURT AT SERANGOON CENTRAL WET MARKET asked the Minister for National Development why the Housing and Development Board has not been able to attract successful tender for the space for a food court at the Serangoon Central Wet Market after one year.

TENDER FOR FOOD COURT AT SERANGOON CENTRAL WET MARKET Mr Speaker, Sir, besides the Serangoon Central Wet Market, the three storey building also included four retail units, one of which is designated as a food court. HDB has so far let out three of the four retail units for use as a fast food restaurant, a departmental store and a family amusement centre. For the remaining food court unit, HDB has completed many rounds of tender exercises but has found very few demand for the unit. No tenant has been found so far. This shows that the eight other eating establishments currently operating in Serangoon Town Centre and the private sector eating outlets in Serangoon are sufficient to meet the needs of the residents. The latest tender exercise for this unit is currently in progress and will close at the end of the month. If this latest tender exercise is unsuccessful, the HDB will let out the unit for other uses.

TENDER FOR FOOD COURT AT SERANGOON CENTRAL WET MARKET Does the Minister agree that this space was not able to be tendered out because the minimum reserve price is too high?

TENDER FOR FOOD COURT AT SERANGOON CENTRAL WET MARKET Mr Speaker, Sir, as is the present practice, all tenders put out have a minimum reserve price. For the six tender exercises which were completed, there were either no tender bids at all or one or two tender bids which came below HDB's reserve tender price. For example, the latest tender, the sixth tender, managed to attract only one bid. This is obviously not a competitive tender and therefore it was not awarded.

TENDER FOR FOOD COURT AT SERANGOON CENTRAL WET MARKET Sir, I would like to ask the Minister whether HDB should consider lowering the reserve tender price in order to have a successful tender, rather than leave the space there vacant for so long?

TENDER FOR FOOD COURT AT SERANGOON CENTRAL WET MARKET As I replied earlier, the space will not be left vacant. If this latest tender does not show a good result, we will let it out for other uses.

TENDER FOR FOOD COURT AT SERANGOON CENTRAL WET MARKET May I ask how does the HDB arrive at this reserve price?

TENDER FOR FOOD COURT AT SERANGOON CENTRAL WET MARKET The current Government practice on tender goes something like this. On the date and time of the closing of the tender, the Chief Valuer or the Valuation Officer of HDB will submit a bid considering the market evidence of what would be the going market price. So the Government agency evaluating the tender and the person making the evaluation are two separate bodies. In a Government tender, whoever is the agency, HDB or URA, will close the tender on a particular date and time. At that date and time, the Chief Valuer participates in the tender just like any other private sector agency. The Chief Valuer will put in a tender bid stating what he determines to be the reserve price, evaluating the market evidence. Similarly for HDB tenders, the same practice is done. The Commercial Property Section runs the tender, but the Valuation Officer in HDB is a separate agency that will put in a reserve bid.

TENDER FOR FOOD COURT AT SERANGOON CENTRAL WET MARKET May I ask whether only market forces are taken into consideration or whether the needs of the community around there are considered?

TENDER FOR FOOD COURT AT SERANGOON CENTRAL WET MARKET As the evidence shows, there are enough eating outlets in the Serangoon Road area. Serangoon Road is not an isolated HDB town. It is built close to existing food outlets. There are also food outlets within the Town Centre. So obviously there are enough food outlets and the needs of the residents are met.

PASIR RIS NEIGHBOURHOOD 7 SHOPPING CENTRE - (Reasons for delay in operation) asked the Minister for National Development when will the Pasir Ris Neighbourhood 7 shopping centre be operational and what are the reasons for the delay.

PASIR RIS NEIGHBOURHOOD 7 SHOPPING CENTRE - (Reasons for delay in operation) Mr Speaker, Sir, Neighbourhood Centre 7, consisting of 40 shops, one supermarket and four eating establishments, was completed and taken over for management by the HDB in February this year. HDB had invited tenders for the commercial premises in this Neighbourhood Centre in April this year. The successful tenderers have signed the tenancy agreement, and the majority of them are now renovating their premises. As the renovation works would take approximately two months for most shops, this Neighbourhood Centre will be operational by late August.

BUKIT GOMBAK CONSTITUENCY - (Provision of permanent parking place for heavy vehicles) asked the Minister for National Development whether his Ministry has any plans to provide more heavy vehicle parking places island-wide and when such a permanent parking place will be built in Bukit Gombak Constituency.

BUKIT GOMBAK CONSTITUENCY - (Provision of permanent parking place for heavy vehicles) Mr Speaker, Sir, the URA is constructing another 10 heavy vehicle parks throughout the island. The first of these vehicle parks will be completed by early next year while the rest will be completed progressively by the end of 1998. These heavy vehicle parks will provide a total of about 2,500 lots. A heavy vehicle park will be constructed in the Bukit Gombak Constituency at Bukit Batok East Avenue 2. This heavy vehicle park, which will be completed in July 1998, will have 220 lots.

BILL INTRODUCED - CONSTITUTION OF THE REPUBLIC OF SINGAPORE - (AMENDMENT) BILL "to amend the Constitution of the Republic of Singapore (1992 Revised Edition)", presented by the Minister for Home Affairs (Mr Wong Kan Seng); read the First time; to be read a Second time on the next available sitting of Parliament, and to be printed.

ANNUAL BUDGET STATEMENT Order read for Resumption of Debate on Question [11th July, 1997], "That Parliament approves the financial policy of the Government for the financial year 1st April, 1997 to 31st March, 1998." - [Minister for Finance]. Question again proposed. 1.00 pm