Category: Singapuraku

HDB Urged To Do More Following Defects In DBSS And BTO Projects

The role of the Housing and Development Board (HDB) in resolving disputes on defects in Design, Build and Sell Scheme (DBSS) projects came under scrutiny in Parliament today (July 13), with Members of Parliament (MP) seeking clarification on the powers the HDB could exercise, and questioning if the authority could do more.

This comes after some DBSS projects, which are built by private developers and marketed at premium prices for better design and finishes, recently made headlines following complaints from residents about the state of their homes, such as Trivelis in Clementi, Centrale 8 in Tampines and Pasir Ris One.

In response to questions about the number of complaints about both DBSS and Build-to-Order (BTO) flats, Minister of State for National Development Desmond Lee said that an average of one-third of all new residents approach the Building Service Centre (BSC) for assistance with defects in BTO flats after collecting their keys.

The vast majority of defects reported are surface imperfections such as hairline cracks on walls, scratches on timber floors or uneven tile joints, he said.

However, similar statistics for DBSS projects were unavailable, as residents facing issues with defects report them to the BSC managed by private developers during the Defects Liability Period (DLP).

Mr Lee pointed out that the ramping up of supply of BTO flats has not compromised quality, given that the number of defects reported has not changed significantly. An independent assessment of building quality by the Building and Construction Authority (BCA), known as the Construction Quality Assessment System score, has shown that BTO flat quality has improved, with scores rising from 79 in 2003 to 89 last year.

For DBSS projects, Mr Lee said the HDB sets broad parameters such as buyer’s eligibility, the mix of flat sizes and facilities, but gives developers flexibility to design, price and construct the flats within requirements set by relevant authorities such as the BCA and the Urban Redevelopment Authority. But the HDB, he added, has “zero tolerance” for defects that compromise structural or safety standards.

Non-Constituency MP Yee Jenn Jong questioned if the DBSS failed its intent to meet housing aspirations of higher-income flat buyers, while Jurong GRC MP David Ong asked about the ministry’s direction with premium flats in future, given the prices narrowing between BTO and DBSS flats.

In response, Mr Lee said there was no need to rush a decision about scrapping the DBSS, which has been suspended since 2011. “We should take time to review this and consider this, as market conditions could be different. There may well be reasons to bring back the DBSS in some form.

“Not to trivialise the defects and concerns that first-time home buyers in particular feels … but I think you shouldn’t … use these current few points that have been in the public eye to condemn the entire scheme as a failure. Many people have indeed lived and made homes in these projects.”

Mr Zaqy Mohamad (Chua Chu Kang GRC) suggested extending the DLP to give residents more time to engage developers or contractors to rectify defects.

He also proposed postponing mortgage payments for homeowners in disputes, citing a similar approach in Australia where payments are withheld until defects are resolved.

Mr Lee reiterated that the sales and purchase agreements provides for the rectification of defects within a year under the DLP. Buyers can also undertake works and file claims with the developers. He stressed that it is not true that “the HDB entirely takes no responsibility” when it comes to differences over DBSS projects.

For instance, the HDB had followed up on concerns from residents living in the Trivelis project with the developer and the advisers to reach a resolution. The developer has made an offer to residents, Mr Lee noted.

Source: www.todayonline.com

July 14, 2015
Opposition Cries Foul, Calls For More Lead Time Before Polls

Despite the prospects of a major redrawing of electoral boundaries and the short reaction time should the General Election (GE) be called as early as September, opposition parties said yesterday (July 13) they were confident their preparations would not be derailed.

Nevertheless, some of them cried foul that Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong had kept the formation of the electoral boundaries review committee under wraps for the last two months, and called on him to ensure that there is sufficient time lag between the release of the committee’s report and the dissolution of Parliament.

On its website, the Singapore Democratic Party called on Mr Lee to “ensure that at least two months are given from the time of the announcement of the new boundaries to the dissolution of Parliament”.

“It is shocking that Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong chose not to announce the Electoral Boundaries Review Committee when he appointed it two months ago,” it said.

Mr Goh Meng Seng, founder of newly registered People’s Power Party, added: “It’s not fair to us … After the report is out, at least give about two to three months, then we can have a good showing.”

The Republic’s first two Prime Ministers, Mr Lee Kuan Yew and Mr Goh Chok Tong, had opted not to announce the formation of the committee. Apart from the latest instance, PM Lee, who took office in 2004, had also made public the setting up of the committee in the last two GEs in 2006 and 2011.

Responding to TODAY’s queries after yesterday’s Parliament session, Workers’ Party (WP) Non-Constituency Member of Parliament (NCMP) Yee Jenn Jong said his party believes the process of setting up the committee should be “automatic and transparent”.

“It will make (for) a fairer democratic system if the review of electoral boundaries is based on a known timeline, independent of when elections will be held,” he said.

WP also reiterated its call for a period of at least six to 12 months between any changes to the electoral boundaries and Nomination Day.

National Solidarity Party president Sebastian Teo said that should the GE be held in September, as some analysts had predicted, opposition parties would be at a disadvantage.

“We will have a shorter time to plan which areas to focus on and to study the formations of the Group Representation Constituencies (GRCs),” said Mr Teo, adding that his party had begun outreach efforts since the end of last year.

Singaporeans First chairman Ang Yong Guan noted that any drastic changes to the electoral boundaries could also hurt the People’s Action Party.

“All the goodwill and effort made by the existing MP will also be lost,” he said, adding that “we are always mindful that the GRCs may change, it’s never cast in stone”.

Similarly, Democratic Progressive Party secretary-general Benjamin Pwee said his party would take the changes in its stride, and redeploy its candidates accordingly.

“As long as the number of GRCs do not change significantly, we are not likely to see drastic changes to the boundaries,” he said.

Singapore Democratic Alliance chairman Desmond Lim said his party members would continue working the ground at Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC. If the constituency’s size is reduced, the party would adjust accordingly, he said.

Reform Party chairman Andy Zhu noted that any redrawing of the boundaries would not severely jeopardise his party’s plan.

On the outcome of the committee’s report, the party is adopting a wait-and-see attitude, he said.

The opposition parties reiterated their call to abolish the GRC system, which has been in place since the 1988 GE. Mr Pwee said: “What we would like to see, is fewer GRCs, and more SMCs, where electoral candidates get voted into Parliament on the basis of their own individual credibility.”

Dr Ang said the GRC system allows weaker candidates to ride on the coattails of stronger team members.

A one-to-one contest is more ideal, as voters can better assess the strengths and weaknesses of each candidate, he said.

Source: www.todayonline.com

July 14, 2015
Shangri-La Shooting: Men Acted In Aggressive And Threatening Manner

The men who tried to breach a checkpoint near where the Shangri-La Dialogue was taking place in May had acted in a “non-compliant, aggressive, and threatening manner”, said Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean in Parliament on Monday (Jul 13).

In the early hours of the morning on May 31, three Singaporean men in a Subaru Impreza defied orders to allow police to check the car boot at a highly-secured checkpoint. Instead, the driver crashed the car through the barricades. Police opened fire at the vehicle, and the driver was shot dead.

Mr Teo, who is also Home Affairs Minister, noted that the use of lethal force is provided for under the Criminal Procedure Code, and that the level of force used should be proportionate to the threat faced.

“In a situation where a driver ignores police’s repeated orders to stop, and crashes his vehicle through the concrete barriers, causing an imminent threat to lives, police’s procedure, as a last resort, is to open fire at the driver of the vehicle to neutralise the threat immediately to prevent it from causing danger to the event and the delegates and others involved in the event.” he said.

Mr Teo said the measures taken by the police were precise and their effect limited to the vehicle and those in it.

“They were stopped from penetrating into and posing a danger to an event which was assessed to be subject to a high level of threat. The vigilance, alertness and composure of our police officers in this incident reflect the high level of professionalism and skill which comes from realistic training and regular exercises to enhance their readiness and validate contingency plans,” he said.

Mr Teo added that a coroner’s inquiry will be conducted in the coming months to establish the detailed cause of, and circumstances that led to the shooting and death of the driver.

He noted that the Home Affairs Ministry is also reviewing the incident thoroughly and will incorporate any relevant findings from the coroner’s inquiry to ensure that police’s measures continue to be effective in deterring, preventing and dealing with potential security threats.

Mr Teo pointed out that in the current security climate, a major international security event like the Shangri-La Dialogue is a “prime target for terrorists”.

A high security protection level was therefore adopted for this event, which included road blocks and security checks on people and vehicles at or around the Shangri-La Hotel. These checks also ensure that vehicles are not carrying dangerous weapons or explosives.

Mr Teo noted that according to this year’s Global Terrorism Index Report, explosives have been consistently been the most prevalent type of weapon used in attacks, accounting for over 60 per cent of all incidents globally.

“Past incidents in the Middle East involving the use of vehicle bombs have resulted in heavy death tolls. In 2001, the Jemaah Islamiyah network had planned to use truck bombs against embassies, MRT stations and military installations in Singapore. The Bali bombings in 2002 and the Marriott Hotel attack in Jakarta in 2003 also involved the use of VBIEDs (vehicle-borne improvised explosive devices). These are all sober reminders that Singapore is not immune to this threat,” he said.

Mr Teo added that the threat of terrorism is real and present, and said police will continue to do their utmost to counter security threats and protect Singaporeans from those who wish to carry out acts of violence and destruction.

Source: www.channelnewsasia.com

July 14, 2015
Independent Review Panel To Look Into Khoo Teck Puat Hospital Firearm Incident

An independent review panel will be convened to look into the incident where a man fired three rounds from a police revolver at Khoo Teck Puat Hospital given the seriousness of the incident, said Home Affairs Minister Teo Chee Hean.

Muhammad Iskandar Sa’at, 23, was at the time in police custody for motor theft, and was being escorted while waiting for a check-up after he complained of chest pains.

He tried to flee and during the ensuing struggle, grabbed one of his two escorting officers’ revolver, shooting the officer in the hand and foot.

Mr Teo said in a written response in Parliament on Monday that the independent panel will review the findings of internal investigations conducted by the police.

Mr Hri Kumar Nair (Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC) had asked about the safety and security protocols when the Police escorts persons-in-custody in hospitals, whether these were followed in this case, and what changes, if any, police will make.

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has an independent review mechanism which can be convened by Ministers when it comes to “cases of significance”, he explained.

Preliminary investigations by the police showed that escort procedures – last reviewed in 2014 – are “generally sound”, he said, but the police are now doing audits to ensure procesures are being properly followed on the ground.

“Every escape or attempt to escape from custody is a very serious matter, as this could pose a threat to public safety,” noted Mr Teo.

The police’s Internal Affairs Office is therefore conducting an investigation into possible negligence of duty by the officers involved in the incident.

Criminal investigations into the unlawful discharge of firearms will also continue.

Findings from all these investigations will allow the police to identify any shortcomings in compliance and take corrective action if gaps in existing procedures are found.

A person in police custody who requires medical attention may be escorted out of secured police facilities to a hospital for treatment, according to established procedures.

The person, for one, must have on a set of grip restraints. This comprises two belts – one around his waist with two wrist restraints to lock his hands at the sides of his waist; another with ankle restraints. These cannot be removed unless deemed necessary by medical staff.

A minimum of two police officers must be present at all times to escort him as well. All frontline police officers have received training in this task.

Source: www.straitstimes.com

July 14, 2015
Keep Calm And Carry On Driving

News of growing certificate of entitlement (COE) supplies should not come as much of a surprise now.

The quota for COEs to own vehicles is determined every three months and has been expanding for around two years. It is expected to keep on growing for at least two more years.

This is because the bumper crop of cars sold a decade ago are coming of age, and are being deregistered. Fresh COE supplies are determined largely by deregistration numbers.

The real poser is whether COE premiums will fall in tandem.

Naysayers may point to how persistently high prices have been in the first half of this year as an indication that “premiums will never fall”. Despite the growth in number of COEs, the amount people paid for them have been hovering between $65,000 and $75,000 – largely unchanged from the previous half-year results.

Well, premiums should have fallen. They were kept buoyant largely by fear. Firstly, fear that a revised carbon tax scheme would push up prices. Secondly, fear that the Government would implement a zero-growth policy for cars soon.

Those fears proved unfounded. Car prices have remained largely unchanged since the new tax scheme kicked in on July 1. As for zero growth, it is unlikely to happen in the near term.

Even if zero growth were to happen, the impact would be minimal because the current allowable growth rate is already near zero, at 0.25 per cent.

So, will COE premiums fall?

You bet they will. In fact, they have already fallen substantially – from over $90,000 just over two years ago to around $60,000 at the last tender.

Will they fall farther? In all likelihood, yes. That is, if consumers do not give in to irrational behaviour.

Irrational behaviour would be rushing to buy a car at today’s prices despite the fact that there will be more COEs in the pipeline.

And there will be more COEs. The quota for this calendar year is likely to be around 70,000 – close to double last year’s. Next year, it should rise to 100,000.

So, why rush? It is one thing if your existing car’s COE is near its expiry date, but quite another to storm the showroom as if it were your last chance to buy a car.

And if you are shopping for a new car, strike a forward price – that is, what the price is likely to be three to six months down the road. Some motor traders are already expecting COE prices to fall by 10 per cent in the next three months – that translates to a $6,000 reduction. So that would be a good discount to start with if you are car-shopping now. Whatever you do, do not go for “Guaranteed COE” deals – you just end up paying more. Worse, you are subsidising the non-guaranteed bids.

Authorised agents should wise up to the fact that competition is getting hotter, with a number of parallel importers having gained a level of respectability and consumer trust (quite a few are CaseTrust-accredited now).

If authorised dealers think that by adopting a high-margin strategy and thus a “high COE strategy”, they can keep out parallel importers (which typically have lower margins and bidding power), they are mistaken. They will, in fact, chase more customers into the arms of parallel importers.

While demand for cars may have risen with Singapore’s growing population and rising income, actual liquidity may at the same time have been dampened by high mortgages and overall inflation.

Also, the current global economic uncertainty has not been fully factored in. How big a fallout will the Greece crisis be? Or closer to home, China’s cooling economy?

These factors will no doubt influence COE prices. But as history has shown, the biggest influence has always been the size of a quota.

And the quota is getting bigger.

Source: www.straitstimes.com

July 14, 2015