Utility of holding cryptocurrency investments in Singapore sovereign wealth funds' portfolios
Assoc Prof Jamus Jerome Lim asked the Prime Minister and Minister for Finance:
(a)Whether the Ministry considers there is utility in holding cryptocurrency, such as Bitcoin, in Singapore sovereign wealth funds' holdings.
Mr Chee Hong Tat replied:
Our investment entities make professional investment decisions with a long-term orientation. They invest in assets anchored to underlying economic fundamental sand with the potential for longer-term value increase. Cryptocurrencies do not fit this profile. They are highly speculative instruments, prone to extreme price volatility, and lack intrinsic value derived from cash flows, earnings, or tangible assets.
Factors affecting percentage of rental units in each Plus and Prime HDB BTO development
Mr Pritam Singh asked the Minister for National Development:
(a) What percentage of Plus and Prime BTO developments comprise rental units, on average.
(b) How HDB determines the number of rental units for each Plus or Prime development.
Mr Desmond Lee replied:
Since the new flat classification framework was implemented in October 2024,four in ten of the Plus and Prime BTO projects launched included public rental flats. These rental flats comprise five percent of all flats across the ten projects.
The Housing and Development Board (HDB) builds rental flats in these projects to ensure that our neighbourhoods continue to have a good social mix and remain inclusive.
In determining whether and how many rental flats to build in a given project, HDB considers several factors, including projected demand and supply of rental flats and the geographical spread of rental flats across the island.
Decisions around sterilisation, trapping, and euthanisation of monkeys in Punggol
Assoc Prof Jamus Jerome Lim asked the Minister for National Development:
(a) Whether the sterilisation is performed only at specific sites with confirmed overpopulation of monkeys as supported by a population study and a projected estimated increase in population.
(b) How many macaques have been trapped by NParks in 2024.
(c) How many of the trapped macaques have been sterilised and euthanised, respectively.
Mr Desmond Lee replied:
As highlighted in past replies, the National Parks Board (NParks) takes a science-and community-based approach to managing the monkey population in Singapore. NParks studies population ecology to inform its measures and works with stakeholders to minimise human food sources through proper refuse management and enforcement against feeding.
In areas with higher reported human-monkey conflicts, NParks intervenes to protect public safety. This includes long-term population control measures such assterilisation and removal of monkeys that display aggressive or intrusive behaviour.
At Punggol, NParks has received several reports of human-monkey conflicts. Following extensive research and assessment, NParks implemented sterilisation measures. In 2024, NParks trapped 50 monkeys in Punggol, with the majority sterilised. Some monkeys displaying aggressive behaviour were removed to safeguard public safety. NParks continues to engage with stakeholders, including Grassroots Advisers and the Town Council, to mitigate human-monkey conflicts and educate the community.
We can all play our part to minimise wildlife intrusions by refraining from feeding wildlife, keeping residential areas clean, and appreciating wildlife from a safe distance.
PHCs registered for ride-hailing services sold to individuals or converted out of chauffeured PHC scheme
Mr Dennis Tan Lip Fong asked the Minister for Transport:
(a) In each of the past five years, how many private hire cars registered by businesses for ride-hailing services were sold to individuals or other wise converted out of the chauffeured Private Hire Car scheme less than three years after first being acquired by such businesses.
Mr Chee Hong Tat replied:
The Ministry of Transport will be sharing more details regarding the review of the point-to-point transport sector at the upcoming Committee of Supply debate, and this question will be addressed then.
