Parliamentary Debates Singapore Official Report Contents
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Volume 94 Monday No 20 9 May 2016 PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES SINGAPORE OFFICIAL REPORT CONTENTS Written Answers to Questions Page 1. Traffic Light Sequence at Potong Pasir Avenue 2 and Potong Pasir Avenue 1 T-Junction (Mr Sitoh Yih Pin) 1 2. Profile of Active Female Taxi Drivers (Mr Ang Hin Kee) 1 3. Extending MRT Downtown Line 3 from Tampines to Pasir Ris, Punggol, Fernvale/Jalan Kayu and Yio Chu Kang (Mr Gan Thiam Poh) 2 4. EDB's Performance in Attracting Foreign Investments (Mr Thomas Chua Kee Seng) 2 5. Building Public Library near or at East Point (Mr Leon Perera) 3 6. Review of L-drivers' Syllabus at Driving Centres and Schools (Dr Lim Wee Kiak) 4 7. Fire Safety Provisions for Coffeeshops Located in HDB Blocks (Assoc Prof Daniel Goh Pei Siong) 4 8. Complaints against Licensed Moneylenders for Unfair Contracts and Practices (Mr Louis Ng Kok Kwang) 5 9. Applications for Charity or IPC Status (Mr Louis Ng Kok Kwang) 6 10. Local Businesses' Access to OBS Facilities at Coney Island (Mr Thomas Chua Kee Seng) 7 11. Land Gazetted as Nature Reserves and Nature Areas (Mr Louis Ng Kok Kwang) 7 12. Utilisation Rate of HDB Community Spaces (Mr Leon Perera) 8 13. Programme on Human Anatomy and Respect for Members of the Opposite Sex for Kindergartens (Dr Lim Wee Kiak) 9 14. Private Education Institutions Offering Industry-relevant Training (Mr Gan Thiam Poh) 9 TRAFFIC LIGHT SEQUENCE AT POTONG PASIR AVENUE 2 AND POTONG PASIR AVENUE 1 T-JUNCTION 1 Mr Sitoh Yih Pin asked the Minister for Transport whether the traffic light sequence at the T-junction between Potong Pasir Avenue 2 and Potong Pasir Avenue 1 can be re-configured to only allow either vehicles to turn right (from Avenue 2 to Avenue 1) or pedestrians to cross the road on Avenue 1 at any one time so as to prevent instances of near accidents. Mr Khaw Boon Wan: The Land Transport Authority (LTA) will be adjusting the traffic light timing to allow pedestrians to have a head-start in crossing the road, and for motorists to see the crossing pedestrians while waiting to turn right. LTA will also install additional road markings and signs to remind motorists to give way to pedestrians. These measures will enhance safety at the junction. Back to Contents PROFILE OF ACTIVE FEMALE TAXI DRIVERS 2 Mr Ang Hin Kee asked the Minister for Transport (a) what is the percentage of active taxi drivers who are females; (b) whether the Ministry has the demographics and profiles of these female taxi drivers; (c) what are the common challenges faced by them at work; and (d) whether there are any specific measures or schemes to assist them. Mr Khaw Boon Wan: About 2.5% of active taxi drivers are female, with the following age profile: We understand that they are primarily concerned about their personal safety and prefer not to drive to remote areas at night or ferry drunk passengers. To address these concerns, which are 2 also shared by some male taxi drivers, taxi companies have installed panic buttons for taxi drivers to alert their company when in distress. The companies can then alert the Police and the taxi drivers who are nearby to render assistance. Back to Contents EXTENDING MRT DOWNTOWN LINE 3 FROM TAMPINES TO PASIR RIS, PUNGGOL, FERNVALE/JALAN KAYU AND YIO CHU KANG 3 Mr Gan Thiam Poh asked the Minister for Transport whether the Ministry will consider extending the MRT Downtown Line 3 from Tampines to Pasir Ris, Punggol, Fernvale/Jalan Kayu and Yio Chu Kang. Mr Khaw Boon Wan: We have planned for residents in the North East region to be served by the upcoming Cross Island Line (CRL). Extending the Downtown Line to the areas cited is not quite appropriate as it is primarily designed to serve the corridor between the East- West Line and North-East Line that does not have access to the MRT network today. Back to Contents EDB'S PERFORMANCE IN ATTRACTING FOREIGN INVESTMENTS 4 Mr Thomas Chua Kee Seng asked the Minister for Trade and Industry (Trade) (a) what has been the performance of EDB in attracting foreign investments from 2011 to 2015; and (b) what is EDB's strategy in attracting foreign investments in the face of Singapore's ageing workforce. Mr Lim Hng Kiang: From 2011 to 2015, the Economic Development Board (EDB) secured commitments of S$65 billion in fixed asset investments. These investments are expected to generate total business expenditure per annum of $34 billion, value-added per annum of S$77 billion, as well as create 107,000 jobs when fully implemented. EDB adopts a targeted approach to investment promotion, attracting projects that are in line with Singapore's competitive strengths as well as our constraints in manpower, land and planned international commitments on carbon emissions. Besides attracting new investments, EDB also works closely with other Government agencies to support existing companies in Singapore to strengthen their competitiveness, raise 3 productivity and create good job opportunities for locals. For example, EDB partners the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) and the Singapore Workforce Development Agency (WDA) to engage companies on equipping their local workers with the relevant skills for their jobs. Where relevant, companies are also encouraged to redesign jobs to meet the needs of older workers through schemes such as WorkPro which is jointly developed by MOM and WDA. Back to Contents BUILDING PUBLIC LIBRARY NEAR OR AT EAST POINT 5 Mr Leon Perera asked the Minister for Communications and Information whether the Ministry will undertake a feasibility study to review if a public library can be built at or near East Point to serve the population in Simei and Changi given that the Tampines and Pasir Ris libraries already serve large residential communities. Assoc Prof Dr Yaacob Ibrahim: The National Library Board (NLB) aims to make libraries accessible to Singapore residents. There are currently about 43,000 residents in the Changi-Simei area. Residents in Simei and Changi have access to a network of three public libraries located next to the Tampines, Bedok and Pasir Ris MRT stations. Bedok and Pasir Ris libraries are smaller branch libraries, while the library in Tampines is a regional library with a wide range of services designed to serve the broader eastern region. The population in these areas is increasing. NLB recently studied how to better serve the growing number of residents there, and concluded that the best approach was to upgrade all three libraries. The Pasir Ris Public Library was thus revamped and re-opened in November 2015. The Tampines Regional Library will be expanded to about twice its current size. The Bedok Public Library will be re-developed at the nearby Bedok Integrated Complex, offering more diverse spaces. All residents in the East, including in Simei and Changi, will benefit from these enhancements. In addition, NLB supports community-led initiatives to set up reading corners and community libraries, by training resident volunteers and providing a seed collection of library materials. NLB is currently working with a group of residents to set up a community library in the Changi-Simei area. Back to Contents 4 REVIEW OF L-DRIVERS' SYLLABUS AT DRIVING CENTRES AND SCHOOLS 6 Dr Lim Wee Kiak asked the Minister for Home Affairs given the recent spate of multiple-vehicle pile-ups on our highway (a) how often are reviews made for the L-drivers' syllabus conducted by driving centres and schools so that what is taught is relevant to current road traffic conditions; and (b) how are driving instructors regulated to ensure that they keep up- to-date. Mr K Shanmugam: The recent multiple-vehicle pile-ups have mainly been caused by motorists' failure to keep a proper lookout or to maintain proper control of their vehicles. These core driving skills are already included in the driving school syllabus for learner motorists. The syllabus for learner motorists includes both theory and practical components and is designed to teach the basics of driving. The syllabus is regularly reviewed to ensure that it remains up to date with the latest road traffic rules and regulations and the road safety situation. Over the last few years, Traffic Police has updated the syllabus to include new elements such as driving on slope for those learning to drive automatic-transmission motor cars, and emergency braking on wet surfaces and expressway familiarisation for those learning to ride motorcycles. The syllabus is taught by driving instructors who are regulated by the Traffic Police through a licensing regime stipulated under the Road Traffic Act and the Road Traffic (Driving Instructors and Driving Schools) Rules. Driving instructors at the driving schools take an annual Instructors' Skill & Knowledge Evaluation to ensure that they continue to keep up-to-date. Learner motorists have to complete the syllabus and pass the driving test before obtaining a driving licence. Beyond learning driving and passing the driving test, motorists have to continue to drive safely and obey traffic rules when on the road. This is especially relevant in our efforts to improve road safety and reduce accidents. Traffic Police will continue to educate road users and step up enforcement efforts to maintain safety on our roads. Back to Contents FIRE SAFETY PROVISIONS FOR COFFEESHOPS LOCATED IN HDB BLOCKS 7 Assoc Prof Daniel Goh Pei Siong asked the Minister for Home Affairs (a) how many 5 fires have broken out in the last three years in coffeeshops in HDB blocks with residential units located above them; (b) whether there are specific fire safety provisions pertaining to these coffeeshops; (c) whether the Ministry will consider strengthening the fire safety provisions for these coffeeshops including the mandatory installation of automatic sprinkler systems so as to protect residents living above the coffeeshops.