Measures to mitigate vehicular ramming attacks in areas with high footfall
Mr Gerald Giam Yean Song asked the Minister for Home Affairs (a) what measures are in place to prevent and mitigate deliberate vehicular ramming attacks in high-footfall areas, such as nightlife districts and public events; (b) whether the Ministry has conducted any risk assessments on the likelihood of such attacks in Singapore; and (c) if such assessments have been done, what were the key findings and action points.
Mr K Shanmugam: The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) regularly conducts threat and risk assessments to identify potential threats and areas of vulnerability. MHA implements practicable measures arising from such assessments.
It is not appropriate to set out all the measures that are put in place. Some of the measures include the following. Under the Public Order Act, the Singapore Police Force (SPF) requires organisers of events that attract large crowds, or are assessed to be of higher security risk, to put in place specific security measures. Depending on the nature and location of the event, concrete blocks or crash-rated barriers could be required to be deployed, and the entry of vehicles restricted.
Under the Infrastructure Protection Act, buildings which are assessed to be iconic or have high public footfall are required to incorporate security measures into their design and construction, or for existing buildings, when they undergo major renovation works. These measures include vehicle bollards to protect against vehicular ramming attacks, and closed-circuit television to improve detection and investigation.
SPF also conducts high-visibility patrols at events and areas of high footfall to deter attacks and enable swifter response. Since 2017, In-Situ Reaction Teams have been deployed at locations such as Orchard Road and Marina Bay.
Collaboration with our partners is equally important. As part of the Safety and Security Watch Group, SPF regularly engages building owners and stakeholders like the industry associations to provide advice on how to mitigate vehicular threats.
Public vigilance is also extremely important. The public has a critical role in the overall security environment.
The measures we take must also balance the needs of a free and open society, and the needs of security. For example, the entire city cannot be turned into a cantonment, nor is this possible. That means making some assessments, and trade-offs. It is not in the public interest for us to go into details of these assessments and trade-offs.
Remuneration and working conditions for nurses in Singapore
Mr Dennis Tan Lip Fong asked the Minister for Health (a) how do the salaries and benefits for nurses in Singapore compare to those offered in other countries such as Australia; (b) whether any studies have been conducted to determine if wages and working conditions are the primary factors for nurses leaving Singapore; and (c) if so, what are the findings and how does the Ministry plan to address them.
Mr Ong Ye Kung: Our assessment is that nurses in Singapore's public healthcare sector earn salaries that are similar to that of nurses working in countries such as Australia and New Zealand. This is after adjusting for tax, because workers pay significantly higher income taxes in Australia and New Zealand. The introduction of the long-term retention scheme Award for Nurses' Grace, Excellence and Loyalty (ANGEL) for nurses in 2024 and upcoming salary enhancements announced in January 2025 will further enhance the total pay package for nurses in the public healthcare sector.
Nurses who choose to leave Singapore tend to be foreign nurses that have worked here for some years. The reasons are often varied, including personal considerations, and not solely based on salaries.
The ultimate test of Singapore's ability to retain nurses is the attrition rate. This has gone back to single digit, which is normal. To be an attractive work destination for nurses, we need to provide good opportunities for training and development, the profession must be well-respected and appreciated by society, and nurses must be able to balance their work and personal commitments.
Sale price conditions for existing HDB leaseholders when buying short-lease flexi flats
Assoc Prof Jamus Jerome Lim asked the Minister for National Development whether the conditions for purchasing a short-lease flexi HDB unit include any conditions for existing HDB leaseholders with regard to the sale price of their flats.
Mr Desmond Lee: Seniors who have purchased short-lease two-room Flexi flats from the Housing and Development Board must dispose of their existing property, if any, within six months from key collection. For those who sell their existing property, there are no conditions related to the sale price of their property.
Improving bus services along Hougang Avenue 7 in response to influx of new residents
Mr Dennis Tan Lip Fong asked the Minister for Transport whether LTA can consider increasing the frequency of Bus Service 112 or adding another bus service for Hougang Avenue 7 to handle the additional commuter load arising from new residents who shifted into the area in the past two years.
Mr Chee Hong Tat: Residents along the section of Hougang Avenue 7 between Hougang Avenue 5 and Avenue 8 are served by Service 112. The average frequency of Service 112 during weekday peak hours is about 13 minutes, which is within the service standards under the Bus Contracting Model. The passenger loading is manageable at lower than 70% during weekday peak periods, and commuters are generally able to board the first bus that arrives. As with all bus services, the Land Transport Authority will continue to monitor ridership changes and work with the bus operator to adjust schedules where necessary.
Besides Service 112, residents in the area are within a 400 metres walk of seven other bus services along Upper Serangoon Road, which connect them to the transport hub at Hougang town centre, as well as to other places like Punggol, Sengkang, Buangkok, Kovan, Serangoon and Ang Mo Kio. Under the Bus Connectivity Enhancement Programme, City Direct Service 676 has also been introduced in January 2025, to provide an alternative option for residents along Hougang Avenue 7 to travel to and from the city during the peak hours.
Help available to navigate ICA's digital-only services
Mr Gerald Giam Yean Song asked the Minister for Home Affairs (a) what proportion and which of ICA services accept only digital applications; (b) in the past year, how many persons have approached or been referred to ICA for assistance due to their inability to navigate the digital application process, including because of their lack of digital literacy, SingPass or e-payment facilities; and (c) whether ICA has a structured process, including an in-person digital support helpdesk, to assist such applicants and ensure that no applicant is left behind due to digital barriers.
Mr K Shanmugam: The Immigration & Checkpoints Authority's (ICA) services are generally digital by default, and about 95% of applicants submit their applications online. Members of the public who require help to submit their applications online may approach officers at the ICA Services Centre for assistance. ICA does not track the number of persons who have approached or been referred to ICA for assistance with their online applications.
Colour coding of lines of LRT system to guide commuters
Assoc Prof Jamus Jerome Lim asked the Minister for Transport whether LTA provides guidelines for colour coding of lines for the Light Rail Transit (LRT) system to further guide LRT commuters as they use different lines such as the East and West loops for Sengkang and Punggol.
Mr Chee Hong Tat: Different colours have been used since 2017 to help commuters differentiate between the East and West Loops on the Sengkang and Punggol Light Rail Transit. Yellow is used for the two East Loops, and Red for the two West Loops. These colours are used on dynamic passenger information displays, as well as static signs such as those at platforms and screen doors, to help passengers identify the correct train to take.
Plans to obtain internationally transferred mitigation outcomes to meet emission reduction commitments
Mr Dennis Tan Lip Fong asked the Minister for Sustainability and the Environment in respect of Singapore's 2024 Biennial Transparency Report on its greenhouse gas inventory and progress to reduce national emissions and in which Singapore estimated the use of 2.51 million tonnes per annum of Internationally Transferred Mitigation Outcomes (ITMOs) to transfer greenhouse gas mitigation performance to other countries in order to meet its emission reduction commitments from 2021 to 2030, where does the Government plan to obtain the ITMOs from.
Ms Grace Fu Hai Yien: In Singapore's 2024 Biennial Transparency Report, Singapore estimated the use of 2.51 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (MtCO2e) per annum of Internationally Transferred Mitigation Outcomes (ITMOs) over the Nationally Determined Contribution implementation period (i.e., from 2021 to 2030) to meet our emissions reduction commitments. High-quality ITMOs will be obtained in the form of International Carbon Credits (ICCs) compliant with Article 6 of the Paris Agreement. There are two main avenues of obtaining these ICCs.
The first avenue is through the ICC Framework, which allows carbon tax-liable companies to surrender ICCs generated from projects authorised under Singapore's Article 6 Implementation Agreements (IAs), to offset up to 5% of their taxable emissions. Singapore has signed IAs with Ghana and Papua New Guinea on Article 6 carbon credits cooperation. We are also engaging more than 20 other countries to sign similar agreements.
The second avenue is through government procurement. For example, the Government launched a Request for Proposal (RFP) to source for ICCs from nature-based solutions last year. The RFP closed on 14 February 2025, and evaluations of the proposals are underway.
Statistics on employees studying under ITE work-study diploma programme
Mr Pritam Singh asked the Minister for Education in each year from 2018 to 2024 (a) how many individuals have successfully applied for the ITE Work-Study Diploma programme; (b) how many individuals have been terminated by their employers; (c) what recourse is available for individuals who have been terminated by their employers midway through the apprenticeship programme; and (d) how many individuals have been allowed to continue the programme with a different employer.
Mr Chan Chun Sing: The number of individuals who successfully applied for the Institute of Technical Education (ITE) Work-Study Diploma (WSDip) has grown from around 100 in 2018 to around 1,300 in 2024. Under the programme, trainees are hired by the participating companies as full-time employees and receive classroom training from ITE lecturers and on-the-job training delivered by the employers.
The proportion of WSDip trainees who are terminated by their employers has remained low, averaging around 5% of each intake cohort. Reasons for termination include misconduct or poor performance. WSDip trainees who feel that they have been dismissed without just or sufficient cause can file a wrongful dismissal claim at the Tripartite Alliance for Dispute Management.
Before termination, ITE will mediate between the WSDip employer and trainee, encouraging the employer to provide feedback and opportunities for the trainee to improve. Should the company decide to proceed with termination, ITE will assist the trainee to seek employment with another participating company to continue their training. Among those who have been terminated by their employers, around three in 10 were able to find employment with another participating company. Those who are unable to find alternative employment will have to withdraw from the programme.
Number of families benefitting from HDB fresh start housing scheme from 2021 to 2024
Mr Pritam Singh asked the Minister for National Development in each year from 2021 to 2024, how many families have benefitted from the HDB Fresh Start Housing Scheme.
Mr Desmond Lee: The cumulative number of families who have benefitted from the Fresh Start Housing Scheme between 2021 and 2024 is shown in the table below.
