Speech by 2M at the Committee of Supply Debate
Mar 5, 2025
Revitalising our City for the Future
Introduction
We have transformed our city and our island in the last 60 years, despite our limited land. This is enabled by our integrated planning framework, which allows agencies to coordinate land use and development needs. Agencies also closely engage citizens and industry, enabling active participation from stakeholders.
Effective implementation is equally critical. We will need to push the boundaries for productivity, sustainability and resiliency, to keep Singapore a liveable city for many generations to come.
Today, I will share how we are working closely with our stakeholders to revitalise our city for the future.
First, we will continue to engage Singaporeans on our Draft Master Plan or DMP2025 even as we prepare for the mid-year launch of the DMP2025;
Second, we will transform the Built Environment (BE) sector to strengthen our productivity and sustainability; and
Third, we will continue to enhance the accessibility and inclusivity of our city.
Part 1: Ongoing Engagements for Draft Master Plan 2025 and Upcoming Public Exhibition
The Master Plan is a statutory plan that translates longer-term land use strategies from the Long-Term Plan into detailed plans and policies to guide physical development over the next 10 to 15 years. It is instrumental to shaping our city’s future, by balancing economic, social and environmental considerations.
Since the DMP2025 public engagement was launched in Oct 2023, the URA has engaged over 175,000 people on its key themes: (i) Shaping a happy, healthy city; (ii) Enabling sustainable growth; (iii) Stewarding nature and heritage, and (iv) Strengthening urban resilience. These engagements have generated greater awareness and appreciation amongst Singaporeans of the complexities and challenges of land use planning in Singapore, which require balancing housing, jobs, green spaces, infrastructure, and heritage, all within our limited land and sea space. Given the DMP’s importance, we encourage all Singaporeans to participate in the ongoing engagements.
We have ambitious plans for coastal protection against the impacts of climate change. These include the ‘Long Island’ currently being studied as part of DMP2025. Long Island is a good example of how we use imagination and innovation to overcome our land constraints and address multiple challenges with an integrated solution:
First, Long Island will protect against rising sea levels;
Second, it will mitigate floods for the low-lying East Coast;
Third, it will increase our water supply resilience with the creation of a new freshwater reservoir;
Finally, it provides optionality for growth, through the creation of new spaces for housing, jobs and recreation, for future generations of Singaporeans.
Given its scale and complexity, we need to start our preparations for ‘Long Island’ as soon as possible. We have initiated technical studies, including environmental studies, while simultaneously engaging stakeholders and members of the public to gather ideas and suggestions.
Beyond infrastructure, we want to create spaces where we can feel connected to each other, and the environment. This involves preserving our built heritage, so that we have a physical anchor to our past and memories.
Mr Keith Chua has asked about how the Government will support heritage businesses.
MND and MCCY have set up a Task Force on Heritage Businesses, Traditional Activities and Cultural Life. Led by MOS Faishal, and SMS for MCCY and MTI Low Yen Ling, the Task Force aims to strengthen support for heritage businesses and traditional activities, so that our built heritage areas retain their character and their “soul”.
Minister for Culture, Community and Youth or SMS Low will share more about this Task Force at MCCY’s COS.
Mr Lim Biow Chuan asked how public feedback, especially on high-rise developments in built-up residential areas, is incorporated into our plans, such as those at Amber Road.
In land-scarce Singapore, we have to optimise our limited land resources to meet a wide range of diverse needs including housing, transportation and community spaces. This is especially important for work and residential areas nearer to MRT stations, including the Amber Road area near the newly completed Tanjong Katong TEL station, which can allow more residents to enjoy the convenience of living near transport nodes and amenities. The Government will study the feedback raised, such as on density and traffic, and consider mitigating measures where feasible. With careful planning and thoughtful design, we will continue to safeguard a quality living environment for all Singaporeans, while balancing our diverse land use needs.
Mr Louis Chua asked how the Government can enhance amenities and infrastructure to enhance liveability and inclusiveness in Sengkang.
These will be factored into and featured at the upcoming DMP2025 exhibition, which is the culmination of our public engagements, from Jun 2025 onwards. The DMP2025 exhibition will display our planning vision, strategies and development plans for the next 10 to 15 years and be brought to various locations island-wide. We encourage everyone to visit the DMP2025 exhibition.
Part 2: Transforming the Built Environment (BE) sector
Next, I move to our plans to build a strong and dynamic Built Environment or BE sector.
The last 5 years were not easy for the BE sector. The sector was severely impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic. To help the sector, the government provided a slew of support including:
Significant financial assistance through the $1.36 billion Construction Package;
Legal support for firms unable to meet their contractual obligations due to the pandemic; and
Support for contractors to bring in foreign workers, as they were faced with manpower shortages when we restarted construction works.
BE Sectoral Transformation
This experience has strengthened our resolve to transform the BE sector, which has been so pivotal to Singapore’s development.
Mr Lim Biow Chuan has asked for an update on the progress of the BE Industry Transformation Map or ITM efforts.
We are on track to hit our target of 70% by 2025 for both the adoption of Integrated Digital Delivery (IDD), which enables greater collaboration between stakeholders, and Design for Manufacturing and Assembly or DfMA, which shifts construction off-site to safer and more productive settings before on-site assembly.
With advancements in science & technology, the BE sector is moving from bricks and mortar to smart technology, encompassing AI-assisted tools, automation and digital collaboration across the construction lifecycle – from planning and design, to construction, and inspection.
CORENET X, a one-stop digital platform that streamlines regulatory approvals, allows architects and engineers to ensure regulatory compliance more easily and focus on innovation.
In the construction phase, firms are also deploying technological solutions to improve worker safety. For example, Zheng Keng Engineering and Construction has incorporated AI into their on-site safety surveillance system, so site managers can intervene immediately during risky situations.
BCA has also recently implemented virtual Temporary Occupation Permit (TOP) inspections through virtual scans, as an alternative inspection option to conventional, physical site inspections. We are working with agencies to expand these efforts.
As part of our continued efforts to drive transformation under the BE ITM, the Government will introduce a new Built Environment Technology and Capability or BETC Grant to further support the development of long-term capabilities of all firms in the sector.
BE firms can receive up to 70% funding support to develop enterprise capabilities, technology adoption and manpower capabilities.
100 million dollars will be set aside over a five-year period for the grant, which will accept applications from 1 April. I strongly encourage firms to approach BCA for more information and to apply.
The Government will also continue to encourage our local construction industry to adopt productive technologies.
MOF has announced the Land Intensification Allowance or LIA scheme will be extended until the end of 2030, which allows companies investing in Integrated Construction and Prefabrication Hubs or ICPHs, to receive tax allowance on their capital investment.
We are reviewing the types of construction facilities supported by the LIA, and will share more details when ready.
Strengthening the BE Profession
However, transformation goes beyond technology. At the heart of any successful sector are the people – in this case the Built Environment Professionals – the architects, the engineers, the quantity surveyors and more. This is why we have set up the Taskforce for Architectural and Engineering Consultants in September 2024, co-led by myself and Mr Chaly Mah, Chairman of Surbana Jurong Group.
Over the last few months, the Taskforce has been engaging a wide range for stakeholders, including young professionals and firms in the BE sector.
We were heartened to learn that young BE professionals gain immense satisfaction from contributing to Singapore’s built environment. They take pride in designing and constructing buildings that improve the lives of future generations – a hospital that cares for the sick, a school that nurtures the next generation, or a landmark that puts Singapore on the world map.
However, professionals have also expressed concerns on the sector’s pay, career development opportunities and HR support.
We have also heard that some firms put in lowly-priced tender bids at the expense of quality and business sustainability.
Let me provide an update on the Taskforce’s efforts and preliminary recommendations, in response to Mr Henry Quek’s and Mr Lim Biow Chuan’s questions.
First, the Taskforce is looking at how we can strengthen and support the BE Consultancy TACs or Trade Associations and Chambers, such as the Singapore Institute of Architects (SIA), and Association of Consulting Engineers Singapore (ACES), to play a greater role in uplifting the sector.
The TACs are critical if we are to succeed.
The Taskforce will study how to help our TACs build up their capabilities, including areas such as sector branding, catalysing members’ adoption of technology and capability building. We will share more details, when ready.
Second, the Taskforce aims to make the BE sector a career of choice for talented Singaporeans passionate about shaping Singapore’s physical development. We have also heard our youths’ concerns on the sector’s pay and appeal.
In response, the Taskforce is working with the firms, TACs, Institutes of Higher Learning or IHLs and Professional Boards to enhance internship experiences and review the starting salaries for fresh graduates.
Several progressive firms, such as Arup Singapore, Beca, DP Architects and ID Architects, have already put these in place, and we encourage more firms to do so.
To Ms Rachel Ong’s question, our agencies actively facilitate opportunities for our local architects to participate in public sector projects and showcase their capabilities, through design competitions and tenders. Many local architectural firms have put forth innovative design proposals for unique projects of varying scales and types – ranging from landmark developments, such as the Pinnacle@Duxton, new civic and public spaces, like Geylang Serai Cultural Belt, to signature buildings, likethe upcoming NS Square.
We have also heard in-service professionals requesting more career development opportunities and improved HR support.
I am pleased to announce a new collaboration amongst the Singapore Institute of Architects, the Association of Consulting Engineers Singapore and the Institute for HR Professionals to roll out HR transformation support to help firms enhance career development support.
Third, the Taskforce has heard that some firms tended to put in lowly-priced tender bids at the expense of quality and business sustainability.
To address this, the Government has been progressively enhancing our tender evaluation approaches to deter fee-diving and strengthen the quality-based procurement criteria.
The proportion of tenders awarded to low outlier bids has declined significantly from 2017 to 2024, with the majority of public sector tenders awarded to the top-quality bids.
However, we can and will do more.
The Government will further expand our tender evaluation approach to disadvantage low outlier bids for a wider range of public sector projects.
We will also review our procurement contracts to ensure a fairer balance of risks between service buyers and BE consultants.
Beyond public sector projects, we strongly encourage the private sector service buyers to enhance your procurement practices.
This will give the industry greater assurance to compete on quality, offer differentiated value propositions, and invest in human capital, technologies and innovation.
Fourth, we want our BE consultants to harness the ongoing technological revolution to grow their capabilities, their profits and their careers.
For example, SAA Architects, a Singapore home-grown firm, has been able to speed up its early design processes by leveraging GenAI-powered automation tools. This lets them focus on higher value work such as analysis and study of their designs.
Harnessing technologies can also improve BE consultants’ career prospects.
When Mr Muhammad Khalil started his career as a draftsman in 2005, manual drawing was still prevalent.
Over the years, Khalil upskilled to use technologies, such as building information models or BIM and AI tools, which opened new career opportunities.
Today, Khalil is a Senior Vice President at Boustead Projects, where he partners developers, builders and fellow consultants to leverage digital technologies to deliver building projects more efficiently.
To guide more firms and BE professionals to embark on their transformation journeys, I am pleased to announce that BCA will put together a one-stop compilation of the programmes and initiatives that support firms to transform their capabilities and upskill their employees. I encourage firms to tap on these resources to accelerate your transformation journeys.
The Taskforce will continue working on these highlighted areas. Our efforts will also address some of the feedback that businesses have provided to the Inter-Ministerial Committee for Pro-Enterprise Rules Review, chaired by DPM Gan. We welcome further inputs ahead of our finalised recommendations in the second half of 2025.
Part 3: Enhancing the Accessibility of our City
As we revitalise and build our city, we must ensure its inclusiveness to different segments of our society. As such, we had convened a Code Review Committee, to review the Code on Accessibility in the Built Environment.
The Code review seeks to address the current gaps and anticipate the future needs of persons with disabilities or PwDs, the elderly and young families with children.
For example, enhancements to lactation room standards to better support the needs of breastfeeding mothers have been proposed. The Code Review Committee has recommended to, first, lower the GFA threshold for the provision of lactation rooms, and second, expand the list of mandatory features that lactation rooms are to be equipped with, such as seats and side tables. In addition, we will continue to provide funding support through the Accessibility Fund, to encourage owners of existing older buildings to upgrade their premises with inclusive features.
We thank the public for your views during our consultation. The Code will be finalised and released in the second quarter of 2025 and the industry will be given sufficient lead time before the Code takes effect.
Mr Ong Hua Han asked whether the Government would consider extending the benefits of HDB’s Enhancement for Active Seniors (EASE) programme to PwDs.
While EASE is designed to meet the needs of seniors, we understand that EASE may also be helpful for other HDB residents with mobility challenges. HDB assesses applications from those who do not meet the eligibility criteria on a case-by-case basis. Social agencies and healthcare professionals may advise PwDs staying in HDB flats to approach HDB for assistance if they are looking for in-home fittings.
MSF and SG Enable also have a suite of existing initiatives to support PwDs to live independently in the community.
Conclusion
Mr Chairman, in conclusion, our future is shaped by the collective efforts of every segment of society.
I urge each of you to actively participate in the upcoming Draft Master Plan Exhibition and our other initiatives that will contribute to shaping Singapore’s urban landscape, as part of our continuous efforts to revitalise and enhance our home.