Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong spoke during his National Day Rally last night (21 August), and provided updates on the upcoming developments to the upcoming Changi Terminal 5 and the Tuas Port.

Tuas Port

A decade ago, Asia was growing strongly, and we anticipated that PSA’s business would grow with it. The existing terminals at Tanjong Pagar, Brani, Keppel and Pasir Panjang were working fine. But we decided nevertheless to consolidate all our port operations into one mega port at Tuas. This shift would progressively free up prime waterfront land from Shenton Way to Pasir Panjang for the future Greater Southern Waterfront.

The move to Tuas has already started. If you drive past the Tanjong Pagar terminal on the AYE, you can see it is no longer used for container operations. It is almost empty. That is why, during the pandemic, we could put up isolation and recovery facilities for COVID-19 patients in the container yard.

Tuas Port is now up and running. The first two berths started operations last December, ships are calling there from all over the world. Because we had planned ahead, our port was able to handle extra volumes during the pandemic. While ports in other countries experienced closures, severe congestion and long delays, but PSA, our port remained open 24/7 throughout. This reinforced Singapore’s position as the “catch-up port” where vessels made up time for delays elsewhere. In fact, last year, Singapore handled a record high of 37.5 million TEUs of containers. We kept our position as the world’s busiest transhipment hub.

In the process of moving to Tuas, we modernised and upgraded our port operations. The new port is automated and digitalised. It uses AI to coordinate operations more seamlessly, including vessel traffic management and port clearance. Instead of trucks with drivers, it deploys a fleet of driverless AGVs (Automated Guided Vehicles). These other things here. There are no drivers. It just moves around magically by itself. This smooth transition owes much to our port workers, unions, PSA and MPA, the Maritime and Port Authority. Management and unions worked hand-in-glove to retrain workers and help them adapt to new working environment. On their part, workers picked up new skills, upgraded themselves, and became more productive.

We have just completed Phase I of Tuas Port; Phases II, III and IV will follow. When fully completed around 20 years from now, Tuas Port will handle 65 million TEUs annually – almost double today’s volumes. We will have the world’s largest fully automated port, and that should make us a leading global player in the maritime space.

Changi Terminal 5

Changi Airport secures Singapore’s position as a global aviation hub. We have ambitious plans for Changi too.

Over the years, we have progressively expanded and upgraded it. I previously spoke about Terminal 4 and Jewel, they are now done.

But even before we broke ground for Terminal 4 and Jewel, we already envisaged building Terminal 5. Let me show you on a map. Here are T1 to T4. And this is T5 –T1, 2, 3, and 4. T5 is as big as all of these put together.

In terms of capacity, T5 will have 50 million passengers , which is equal to T1 plus T3. But if you look at the way the airport is built, all the new part of the airport, T5 and all these new half, in fact, we are building one more new Changi Airport. It is huge.

Next to T5 we will develop the Changi East Urban District. This will be a new business and lifestyle destination, creating more jobs and opportunities for Singaporeans. Before the pandemic, we were about to call a tender to build T5.

Due to COVID-19, we paused our plans for two years, but we made good use of the down time. We reassessed the long-term prospects for air travel and improved the terminal design.

We concluded that the future of aviation remains bright. Now, with borders re-opening, people are travelling again. Passenger traffic has already exceeded half of pre-COVID-19 levels. In the longer term, air travel will keep growing because of a fast-expanding middle class in our region.

Hence we decided to go ahead and restart the T5 project, we redesigned T5 to be more resilient. In particular, to operate more safely and flexibly during a pandemic – to scale operations up and down more easily, and to isolate passengers from different flights to limit cross infection.

We also made T5 greener and more energy-efficient. When completed in the mid-2030s, T5 will show the world what sort of place Singapore is.

Let me give you a preview of the passenger arrival experience – from arriving, to the skytrain, to immigration, to baggage collection, to a beautiful Singapore welcome!

And once you leave the terminal, you can go down the escalators, and take the MRT straight into town. T5 will be a place that all Singaporeans can take pride in and enjoy.

HDB and URA said in a statement that the grace period at their carparks will be reduced to 15 minutes from 20 minutes from 1 September onwards.

Previously, the grace period was upped to 20 minutes during the circuit breaker in April 2020, to facilitate the increased number of deliveries for essential goods, food and etc.

HDB and URA’s statement

The Housing & Development Board (HDB) and the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) will implement a grace period of 15 minutes for short-term parking in all HDB and URA car parks with the Electronic Parking System (EPS) from 1 September 2022.

2        In addition, HDB will discontinue the sale and exchange of parking coupons at all HDB branches with effect from 19 September 2022.   

Extension of short-term parking grace period to 15 minutes

3        Prior to April 2020, motorists were given a grace period of 10 minutes at HDB and URA EPS car parks to facilitate their search for a parking lot and to carry out quick drop-offs and pick-ups. Motorists who exit the car parks within the grace period will not be charged parking fees. Since the Circuit Breaker period in 2020, HDB and URA have been temporarily adjusting the grace period in response to the dynamic Covid-19 situation, to 20 minutes, to facilitate the increased volume of deliveries for food, groceries and other essential goods when residents stayed home to minimise the spread of Covid-19.

4        With the significant easing of SMMs from 26 April 2022 and lesser work-from-home arrangements, HDB and URA have reviewed the grace period and will adjust the grace period for short-term parking in all HDB and URA car parks with EPS to 15 minutes, which is an extension from the pre-April 2020 grace period. This will take effect from 1 September 2022. Our records show that a 15-minute grace period has generally been sufficient even during the period with increased demand for deliveries. HDB and URA have also taken into consideration the shift towards e-commerce. A 15-minute grace period will ensure that motorists still have a comfortable time frame to search for a parking lot and carry out pick-ups and drop-offs. Motorists who exit the car parks beyond the grace period will continue to pay parking fees for the full duration, including the first 15 minutes.

Discontinuation of sale and exchange of parking coupons at all HDB branches

5        With the implementation of the EPS in over 9 in 10 HDB car parks, and the introduction of the Parking.sg app in 2017, sales of parking coupons have dropped by 99% in recent years. HDB will discontinue the sale and exchange of parking coupons at all HDB branches with effect from 19 September 2022. Motorists can continue to purchase coupons from authorised agents such as petrol stations, as well as 7-Eleven and Cheers outlets island-wide.

6        Motorists who wish to seek a refund for unused and/or expired parking coupons can continue to do so at HDB branches. They should schedule an e-appointment through the HDB InfoWEB, to reduce the need for them to wait in line at our Branches.

7        We encourage motorists to use the Parking.sg app to pay for short-term parking at HDB and URA coupon-based car parks where the EPS is not installed due to site constraints. At present, close to 9 in 10 motorists use the Parking.sg app at these car parks. The Parking.sg app offers motorists the convenience of per-minute charging and automated calculation of parking charges, thus removing the need to buy, tear and display multiple coupons.

The Police would like to alert members of the public to the re-emergence of a phishing scam variant.

For this phishing scam variant, scammers would pose as buyers on Carousell and victims would be instructed to complete the transaction on third-party websites after receiving phishing URL links from scammers masquerading as genuine buyers.

10 Victims

Since July 2022, there have been at least ten victims, with losses amounting to at least $17,000.

Scammers would typically approach victims on Carousell and express interest in purchasing items that the victims are selling. After agreeing to the sale of the item, the scammer would tell victims that he would need the victims’ contact information to make payments via well-known logistic companies such as FedEx and SingPost. The scammer would then send a phishing URL link to the victims via Carousell’s in-app chat and third-party chats like WhatsApp, instructing the victims to click on the link to receive payment. However, upon clicking on these URL links, victims would be redirected to fraudulent websites, where they would be tricked into providing their banking details and One-Time Passwords (OTP) to receive payment. Victims would only realise that they have been scammed when they discovered unauthorised transactions made to their bank accounts.

Members of the public are advised to note and follow these crime prevention measures:

• Always verify the buyer’s profile on online marketplaces by checking the account’s verification status, creation date, reviews and ratings;
  
• Do not click on URL links provided in unsolicited emails and text messages;
  
• If in doubt, always verify the authenticity of the information with the e-commerce platform directly;
  
• Never disclose your personal or internet banking details and OTP to anyone; and
  
• Report any fraudulent transactions to your bank immediately.

If you have any information relating to such crimes or if you are in doubt, please call the Police Hotline at 1800-255-0000, or submit it online at www.police.gov.sg/iwitness. Please dial ‘999’ If you require urgent Police assistance.

For more information on scams, members of the public can visit www.scamalert.sg or call the Anti-Scam Hotline at 1800-722-6688. Join the ‘Spot the Signs. Stop the Crimes’ campaign at www.scamalert.sg/fight by signing up as an advocate to receive up-to-date messages and share them with your family and friends. Together, we can help stop scams and prevent our loved ones from falling prey to scams.

The Police have arrested two men, aged 18 and 61, for their suspected involvement in two separate cases of loanshark harassment.

Yishun

In the first case, on 12 August 2022, the Police received a report of loanshark harassment along Yishun Street 72, where unknown liquid was sprayed on the door and a debtor’s note was left behind.

Through ground enquiries and with the aid of images from Police cameras, officers from Woodlands Police Division established the identity of the man and arrested him along Expo Drive on 18 August 2022.

Preliminary investigations revealed that the man is believed to be involved in another similar case of loanshark harassment at Hougang.

Marsiling

In the second case, on 18 August 2022, the Police received a report of loanshark harassment at a residential unit along Marsiling Road, where the main gate was secured with a bicycle lock. Through ground enquiries and with the aid of images from Police cameras, officers from Woodlands Police Division established the identity of the man and arrested him on the same day at Ang Mo Kio Avenue 10. Preliminary investigations revealed that the man is believed to be involved in similar cases island-wide.

Both men was charged in court on 20 August 2022 under the Moneylenders Act 2008.

For first-time offenders found guilty of loanshark harassment are liable to a fine between $5,000 and $50,000, with mandatory imprisonment of up to five years and mandatory caning of up to six strokes.

Members of the public are advised to stay away from loansharks and not to work with or assist the loansharks in any way. The public can call the Police at ‘999’ or the X-Ah Long hotline at 1800-924-5664 if they suspect or know of anyone who could be involved in loansharking activities.

Following reports of a tree that fell near the Ulu Pandan Community Centre and injured three people, the three victims have since been reported to be in stable condition, with one of them already being discharged.

MP for Holland-Bukit Timah GRC, Christopher de Souza, said in a Facebook update yesterday that he had paid a visit to one of the victims who was discharged on Saturday.

Here is what he said

Made a personal visit this afternoon to the home of Mr Neo, an Ulu Pandan resident, who was thankfully discharged from hospital yesterday following his rescue from under the fallen tree.

I am greatly relieved he is alright and wants to get back running along the rail corridor as soon as possible – he has such an amazingly positive and optimistic attitude.

I have been kept regularly updated on the health and condition of the other two persons who are still in hospital. They are not residents of Ulu Pandan.

I am very thankful that they are in stable condition and recovering. I had wanted to visit them today but the hospital suggested a zoom session tomorrow instead due to SMM measures in hospital and, further, that they needed the Sunday to rest a bit more.

I can completely understand and will call them via zoom tomorrow.

This experience is a key learning point and I will chair a meeting early this week to learn how we can learn from it and put in measures to reduce the risk of repeats – such as ensuring the health of trees within our CC compound and studying the increased availability of access points for ambulances along the rail corridor.

Please be assured of my personal attention to this matter.

Recap

A tree had reportedly fallen at Ulu Pandan Community Centre yesterday, pinning two people under the tree while another victim was found injured nearby.

All three victims were conscious when sent to the hospital and are in stable condition, according to Channel NewsAsia.

The SCDF said that they were alerted to the unfortunate incident at about 6pm, at 170 Ghim Moh Road.

Officers from the Disaster Assistance and Rescue Team were deployed and they had to lower themselves down a slope and went through the vegetation in order to reach the victims.

Two persons were found trapped under the large tree, with another person found injured nearby.

SCDF officers immediately began rescuing the victims after ensuring the fallen tree was stable and used cutting equipment to reach the two that were trapped.

Medical personnel were also on-site to monitor the victims’ vital signs, and K9 search dogs were also deployed to make sure there weren’t any other trapped victims nearby.

The incident is currently being investigated by Ulu Pandan Community Club, who is working to establish the facts of the incident.

FULL VIDEO LOADING…

Images source: @afy.suave2 on TikTok, Google Maps and Christopher de Souza on Facebook

Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong spoke during his National Day Rally last night (21 August) and touched on the subject of leadership and his succession plans.

He said that Singapore has zero margins for error when it comes to leadership and that our very survival depends on it.

He also asked people to give his successor Lawrence Wong and his 4G team, the fullest support.

Snippet of his speech

Whether we are tackling COVID-19 and preparing for the next pandemic, dealing with geopolitical dangers and economic uncertainties, handling sensitive domestic issues, or planning and building Singapore for the long term.

With all these challenges, success depends on us getting three key master fundamentals right. We must always have a united people, a high-quality leadership team, and high trust between the people and their leaders.

A united people, a high-quality leadership team, and high trust between the people and their leaders. These are essential if we are to respond creatively and resiliently to challenges, year after year.

We may have the best laid schemes, but without these three fundamentals, they will come to nothing. I have emphasised these points over and over again, in different ways, because they are so crucial.

In particular, good leadership is non-negotiable. Look at the countries where governments are unstable and politics messy, swinging wildly from one election to another.

Whenever things do not work, leaders are forced out, or resign en-masse. But even after changing teams, things fail to improve.

Policies and laws either never make it through the political gridlock or they are made by one government and then reversed by the next.

Often, it is not just the leaders who disappoint, but the whole system that has failed. The result is a devastating loss of faith: not just in individual politicians or parties, but in the whole political system and the whole political class, and there is no way forward from there.

A small country like Singapore has zero margin for error. Not just Singapore’s continued success, but our very survival, depends on us having the right leaders.

Leaders with integrity, dedication, and competence; leaders with the conviction to make the tough calls and do the right thing, even when it may cost them some votes; leaders whom you can trust. We cannot afford any compromise on this.

Thankfully, for 57 years, over three generations, we have had leaders who have earned and maintained Singaporeans’ trust and confidence, who have worked closely with the people to deliver on sound policies, who have improved all our lives.

Never take this trust, nor this competence, for granted. Keep on working hard to find the right people, get them to serve, and help them to do their best for Singapore. It is our duty to extend our success formula into the next generation and beyond.

Leadership succession is therefore of paramount importance. When COVID-19 hit us, I had to put my succession plans on hold.

Now we are learning to live with COVID-19, and entering a new normal. The younger ministers have chosen DPM Lawrence Wong to be their leader. I am very happy that the matter is settled, and my succession plans are moving forward again.

I am also glad that from everything I see, Singaporeans are supportive of Lawrence and his leadership of the team. So I ask you to give Lawrence and his 4G team – your team – your fullest support.

The next few decades will be bracing but exhilarating. I have given you my take of what we can achieve, and also what may go wrong. But with your trust, we can come through whatever difficulties await.

With your support, we can turn hopes and dreams into reality, and united as one people, we can secure a brighter future in this uncertain world. Not just for now, not just for ourselves, but for every Singaporean child, for many generations to come.

Thank you and good night!