Ministry of National Development

Specifically, MND is responsible for:

• National land-use and development planning to guide Singapore’s physical development to bring about economic and social progress.
• Provision of affordable public housing.
• Urban redevelopment and conservation. We balance between urban redevelopment and conservation of our built heritage.
• Development of an efficient construction industry to support our physical development.
  Ensuring an adequate supply of wholesome fresh food for our people.
• Provision and management of parks and conservation of nature.

Their Agencies

MND carries out its key responsibilities through the following statutory boards:

• Housing & Development Board
• Urban Redevelopment Authority
• National Parks Board
• Agri-food & Veterinary Authority
• Building & Construction Authority

Two professional boards, namely the Board of Architects and the Professional Engineers Board also come under the aegis of MND.

Board of Architects
The Board of Architects is the statutory authority established to administer the Architects Act in Singapore. The Architects Act 1991 sets out provisions to provide for the registration of architects, the regulation of architectural qualifications, the practice of architecture by registered individuals and the supply of architectural services by corporations.

Professional Engineers Board
The Professional Engineers Board is the statutory authority established to administer the Professional Engineers Act in Singapore. The Professional Engineers Act provides for the registration of professional engineers, the regulation of the qualifications and conduct of professional engineers, and the regulation of corporations which supply professional engineering services in Singapore.

Future Challenges:
MND's Addendum To The President's Address (5 Oct 1999)

Mr Mah Bow Tan
Minister for National Development

1. We will enhance Singapore’s physical infrastructure and environment to make it a thriving and vibrant world-class city for business, living and leisure.

2. We have commenced the review of the Concept Plan which is scheduled to be completed by 2001. The Concept Plan 2001 will provide a strategic and long-term framework for the physical development of Singapore in the next decade. The detailed land use intentions will be reflected in the Master Plan 2003, incorporating ideas and directions generated from the Concept Plan review.

A City for Business

3. To ensure continued economic growth, we will set aside sufficient land for commerce, industry and infrastructure. We will encourage more intensified development of industrial land, and redevelop HDB industrial estates to meet the needs of SMEs.

4. We will also focus on the development of the New Downtown in Marina South. A comprehensive Common Services Tunnel (CST) network to house utility services like electricity and telecom cables, water and district cooling pipes will be implemented at Marina South. Besides using road space more efficiently, it will create a more pleasant and efficient urban environment for businesses.

A City for Gracious Living

5. We will work to realise the Punggol 21 vision. The new town will offer residents new lifestyle options with distinctively designed public and private housing forms. It will be served by a well-integrated transport network and a variety of recreational facilities. If well received, the planning concepts will be adopted in other new HDB towns.

6. The Estate Renewal Strategy (ERS) is already in full swing in Toa Payoh, Ang Mo Kio, Queenstown, Mountbatten and Bedok. Through the ERS, residents of the older HDB estates will be able to enjoy a better living environment without having to move out from their familiar surroundings.

7. We will step up the Main and Interim Upgrading Programmes next year if the economic recovery is sustained. Suitable precincts with high redevelopment potential will also be identified for the Selective En-bloc Redevelopment Scheme.

8. We will release sufficient land to meet the aspirations of Singaporeans to own private residential properties. The sale of land for private housing and Executive Condominiums will resume from Year 2000. We will also study ways to enhance the surroundings of the older private residential estates.

9. We will improve the quality and productivity of our construction industry. To do this, we will raise the level of professionalism at all levels in the industry, build a skilled workforce and integrate the design and construction process.

Home Ownership for All

10. The HDB home ownership programme has been vital to building a nation where everyone has a stake in Singapore’s success, feels a sense of belonging and ownership, and contributes to make Singapore a world-class home for all. We will continue to promote home ownership among Singaporeans. Today, 86% of Singa-poreans live in HDB flats.

11. We will adjust HDB’s Building Programme regularly to meet the demand for new flats. We will also keep prices of new HDB flats affordable. 90% of Singapo-rean households will be able to afford at least a 3-room flat, and 70% at least a 4-room flat. To help younger Singaporeans set up families earlier, first-time applicants will continue to be accorded priority in the allocation of new HDB flats.

12. Low-income families will receive special assistance. The new Rent and Purchase Scheme will offer such households an additional option when buying 3-room flats.

A Quality Lifestyle

13. We will make Singapore our garden. We will provide more tree-lined streetscapes and ample recreational open space even as Singapore becomes more urbanised. Our park network and park facilities will be developed and managed to enhance the enjoyment of our people. We will introduce scenic nightscape lighting at the Singapore Botanic Gardens and other major parks. We will also provide more recreational opportunities in our parks to promote community usage.

Our heavy reliance on food imports makes us vulnerable to outbreaks of food-poisoning and animal diseases which can be transmitted to humans. We will upgrade our food inspection and surveillance systems and laboratory services. We will also diversify our sources for the supply of safe foods to meet increasing demands from our growing population.

Housing & Development Board

The Housing and Development Board (HDB) was set up as a statutory board on 1 February 1960. Within 35 years, it built 700,000 flats housing 86% of the population. Of the people living in HDB flats, nine out of ten own their own homes.

Home Ownership Scheme (1964)

In 1964, the government introduced the Home Ownership Scheme to give citizens an asset in the country, a means of financial security and to hedge against inflation as it protects against rising rents. Home ownership also helps to contribute to the overall economic, social and political stability of the country.

To make it easy to buy and own a flat, HDB introduced these measures:

• From 1968, the Central Provident Fund (Amendment) Act allows buyers to use their Central Provident Fund savings for the 20% downpayment and monthly repayment of the mortgage loan.
• The income ceiling is frequently reviewed such that every 9 out of 10 Singaporeans are eligible to enjoy the benefits of public housing. At present, the income ceiling is $8,000 for a nuclear family and $12,000 for an extended family.
• Buyers could choose to repay the mortgage loans over 5, 10, 15, 20 or even 25 years. Interest rates charged by HDB are much lower than market rates.

Comprehensive New Town Planning

HDB has always pursued the sound policy of planning and building a new town with a comprehensive town structure even when it faced great pressure to deliver large numbers of flats in the 1960s. Even towns built in the early years, such as Toa Payoh town come complete with a town centre, children's playground, swimming pool, shops, markets, cinema, library and light industries to provide employment for residents. All the transportation and commercial facilities are also linked up to serve residents.

The winning of the World Habitat Award 1991 for the planning and development of Tampines town has earned HDB an international standing as an innovative and successful housing developer.

Good Estate Management

HDB has 19 branch offices strategically located in each town to take care of lease and tenancy matters for all its residential, commercial and industrial properties. This decentralised system ensures that residents' needs are met on the ground quickly.

Prior to 1989, HDB was the estate manager in charge of routine and cyclical maintenance and repair works. From 1989 onwards, HDB has handed over these estate management functions to town councils. However, HDB continues to manage and maintain a very small number of estates on behalf of the Town Councils as its managing agent. This link enables HDB to keep itself up-to-date in estate management, develop mechanisation measures, and do research and development work in estate management.

Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA)

Their Mission

"To plan and facilitate the physical development of Singapore
into a tropical city of excellence."

Their Role

The Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) is Singapore's national planning authority. It is a statutory board under the Ministry of National Development. This Ministry is responsible for Singapore's physical development through long-term landuse planning, public housing, public works, urban redevelopment, parks and recreation and other aspects of the physical development of Singapore.

URA has a crucial role in planning the nation's future. It prepares long-range, as well as more detailed, local area plans for physical development and then co-ordinates and guides efforts to bring these plans to reality.

The URA People And Organisation

The URA has about 1,200 staff performing diverse professional and administrative, technical and supportive roles in the organisation.

Human Resource

URA is committed to human resource development, ensuring high levels of skill, efficiency and productivity. A comprehensive training and education plan offers ample development opportunities for all staff, like core and functional skills training, postgraduate and undergraduate study and other formal education programmes. Staff recreation and welfare needs are amply catered for by in-house recreational and sports facilities. Leisure and sports activities are organised year round to promote a healthy lifestyle.

Productivity and Service Excellence

Building a successful organisation requires the involvement and commitment of all staff to improve work practices, increase efficiency and improve customer service. All URA staff members are in Work Improvement Teams (WITs) and help to contribute ideas for improvement through the Staff Suggestion Scheme (SSS).

URA’s organisation strategy towards service excellence is to be:

• Service-Oriented - Responsive, Reliable, Helpful, Fair
• Efficient - Productive, Cost Conscious
• Professional - Forward-looking, Creative, Source of New Ideas, High Standards, Respected as Planning Authority

Finance

URA is a self-financing organisation. Our operating income is generated from development control charges, agency and consultation fees - including commissions for acting as the government's agent for the sale of sites programme.

Information Technology

URA is proactive in exploiting information technology to increase productivity and provide better customer service. URA has put in place a reliable and secured network and system infrastructure using open architecture, client server, and ATM technology. TheirInformation Systems department has been awarded ISO9001 for Specification, Design, Development, Testing, Implementation, and Support of Application system.

URA has also developed various computer systems to improve productivity. For example, the Integrated Land Use System (ILUS) uses state-of-the-art Geographic Information System (GIS) technology to integrate all land use information for easy retrieval in processing development applications.

Further more, URA is also actively working on e-commerce and on-line applications to improve services to the public. The Electronic Development Application (EDA), a key system they developed, uses the latest e-commerce infrastructure (Singapore One) to allow architects, developers and public to submit secured electronic applications using the Public-Key Infrastructures (PKIs) for planning approval. This has resulted in faster processing time and better services.

Ministry of Community Development & Sports

The Ministry of Community Development and Sports (MCDS) mission is to achieve a cohesive and resilient society. Our aim is to bring about a nation that is tight-knit and united, characterised by harmony and equality, which pulls together not only in good times, but also in times of adversity. Three approaches targeted at the different levels of society - the individual, the family and the community - describe how they gear their efforts to achieve these ends.

MCDS New Logo Rationale

The MCDS logo is symbolic of the Ministry’s mission to build a cohesive and resilient society for Singapore.

Spontaneous and free-flowing, the three figures represent the individual, family and community working together in close partnership to build a more caring and cohesive society. The connecting graphics emphasises social cohesiveness, bonding between young and old, and our "many helping hands" approach as we work together to foster stronger ties within our families, within communities, and between communities.

Resilience, optimism and energy are reflected in the sporty, spring-like effect of the graphics. Orange is selected for its vibrance and positive outlook, while turquoise reflects modernity and progressiveness. The font used for MCDS is bold yet friendly, highlighting the critical role the Ministry plays in building a cohesive and resilient society.

Main Upgrading Programme (MUP)
Introduction

The upgrading programme will improve the flats, the blocks and the common areas of the HDB estates.

HDB estates will be divided into precincts which residents can relate to as their own. A precinct, formed by five to seven apartment blocks, is created by building linkways between blocks, precinct boundary indicators and precinct entrances to provide exclusiveness.

The apartment blocks and the flats will be upgraded to improve the aesthetics, fittings, fixtures and finishes to a level where the residents could be proud of them and are willing to look after them. All the improvement items in a precinct, in the block outside the flats and within the flat will be identified with the help of the Town Councils and grassroots leaders.

In the steady phase, three upgrading packages will be offered:

• Basic - comprises essential improvements that provide the best value-for-money
• Standard - As the budget allocated is more, this package comprises more improvements than those offered under the Basic Package. Additional items include upgrading of building facades.
• Standard-plus - comprises all the items under the Standard Package, plus a space-adding item.

The actual upgrading package for a precinct will depend on the preference of flat owners in that precinct. However, the package will only be implemented if 75% or more of the flat owners are in favour.

Cost Sharing Ratios

Reduction of Subsidy and Payment of Upgrading Levy for Singapore Citizens Whose Second or Subsequent Flat Undergoes MUP

Singapore citizens will continue to enjoy the current level of government subsidies for the upgrading of their first flat that undergoes MUP. Details of the current subsidies are shown at Annex A. However, they will get a lower subsidy from the Government and will have to pay an upgrading levy when their second or subsequent flat undergoes MUP.

• Reduced Subsidy from Government

The cost-sharing portion to be paid by the Government will be reduced substantially. This means that Singapore citizens will pay between $19,100 and $21,800 (or 45% to 51% of the total cost) for the standard package and between $36,500 and $44,000 (or 54% to 66%) for the standard-plus package which includes a space-adding item. Annex B gives the details of the revised costs payable.

• Payment of Upgrading Levy

When they sell their second or subsequent flat which is to undergo upgrading after the announcement of the successful poll, they will have to pay an upgrading levy set at 10% of the resale price.

The one who is lessee at the time between the announcement of a successful polling and the date of billing for the upgrading cost will be considered as one who has already enjoyed one upgrading subsidy.

Withdrawal of Subsidy for Singapore Permanent Residents (SPRs)

Currently, SPRs participate in the poll for upgrading and enjoy the same subsidy as Singapore citizens. They also pay the same subsidised interest rate in instalments for upgrading costs.

With immediate effect, SPRs will not be allowed to poll for upgrading. HDB will amend the Housing & Development Act and the Polling Rules to exclude SPRs from having to participate in the poll. 7. They will also be required to pay the full cost of upgrading if their precincts voted for it. Based on current estimates, the full upgrading cost payable is $42,400 for the standard package and $67,200 for the standard-plus package.

If they do not wish to pay for the full upgrading cost, they may sell their flats to HDB at market price as at the date of announcement of the successful poll. If SPRs sell their flats after the announcement of the successful poll and before the date of billing for the upgrading cost, they will have to pay an upgrading levy set at 10% of the resale price. After the date of billing, those who opt to pay the full upgrading cost in instalments can do so, but they will have to pay market interest rate.

SPRs who subsequently become Singapore citizens can claim reimbursement for the upgrading subsidy. To be eligible, SPR lessees must obtain their citizenship within one year after the date of billing. As the number of SPRs is small, the measure will not affect many present residents.

Transitional Measures

The revised policy on the reduced government subsidies for upgrading and the payment of the upgrading levy for Singapore citizens, and the payment of the full upgrading cost by SPRs will apply to lessees whose flats come under the Batch 7 precincts, where polling is scheduled for Oct/Nov this year, and future batches after this.

For precincts where polling has already been completed, the following will apply:

• The share of the upgrading costs for both Singapore citizens and SPRs will remain unchanged. This is to ensure that lessees who voted based on the estimated costs indicated at the time of polling will not be suddenly burdened by the higher costs,
• Singapore citizen lessees will be considered as having enjoyed one upgrading subsidy. Hence, citizen lessees who own a second or subsequent flat in these precincts will also have to pay the 10% upgrading levy if they sell their flats, and
• SPR lessees will be required to pay the 10% upgrading levy if they sell their flats.

The MUP was conceived as a scheme to help raise the standard of living of HDB residents, and not to allow quick profits for speculators through the buying and selling of upgraded flats. The measures announced will serve to curb such speculation. If Singapore citizens and SPRs were to indulge in such speculation to reap monetary gains and move from their upgraded flats every few years, this will defeat the important objective of the MUP in preserving community ties among the residents. More importantly, the Government wants to ensure an equitable distribution of the upgrading subsidies, and HDB home owners should not get more than one bite of the cherry.

Upgrading Within Blocks

Possible upgrading items within the block for the basic package may include the following:

Facade

• Repainting of block

Lift Lobby

• Improved lift lobby (lobby enclosure with defined entrance, integrated ceiling and light fittings)
• More lift landings (where structurally possible), better and faster lifts

Void Deck

• Re-screeding of void deck floor (where applicable)
• Reconstruction of surrounding of refuse chute
• New designed letter boxes

Access Corridor and Staircase

• Re-screeding of corridor floor with better and more durable concrete finish
• Replacement of sullage water pipe Roof-top
• Wire-mesh to roof top of water tank rooms.

In addition, other possible improvement items in the standard packages include the following:

• Upgrading of building facade
• Replacement of block number plates
• Provision for future installation of security system
• New lift door jambs; improvement to lift interior (NB. Items may vary depending on budget)

The actual scope of works will depend on the preference of each precinct and subject to budget availability. Not all items can be provided for each of the blocks.

Ancillary Works Items

In addition, other possible ancillary works (to be fully funded by the Government) to be carried out under steady state upgrading if upgrading proceeds include the following:

• Replacement of soil discharge and branch pipes to all bath/wcs
• Construction of ramps for better mobility
• Relocation/reconstruction of pump rooms/switch rooms to comply with Fire Safety Requirements
• Installation of tele-monitoring systems to water pumps
• Upgrading of electrical load
• Installation of dry riser
• Replacement of lift car-cage (to selected blocks)
• Repair of spalling concrete (external)
• Installation of urine detection sensor
• Construction of MSCP (where site conditions permit)

Upgrading Within Precincts

The upgrading items within the precinct for the Basic and Standard packages may include the following:

• Addition of linkway, link building or covered shelter
• Entrance car porch
• Enlargement/relocation of dustbin compound with compactor
• Reconstruction of footpath/external staircases
• Reconstruction of hardcourt
• Upgrading of children's playground
• Provision of communal activities space, eg. BBQ pits, plaza, bird viewing corners etc.
• Provision of jogging track/fitness corner
• Landscaping and construction of boundary structure to define precinct

The improvements would vary from precinct to precinct depending on the site conditions and the residents' preference.

Selective En-bloc Redevelopment Scheme (SERS)

SERS is one of the government's exciting renewal plans for the old public housing estates.

To date, 37 sites involving some 14700 units of sold flats have been announced for SERS. The latest announcement was for 11 blocks of sold flats in Bedok North Road, Buangkok South Farmway / Punggol Road and Sembawang Road. And the most recent group of residents who benefited under SERS celebrated in April their successful move to the new flats next to their old blocks in Chai Chee Road.

Under the scheme, flat owners are compensated for their existing flat at prevailing market value as at the date of announcement of SERS. In addition, they are given a generous package of rehousing benefits comprising

• Assured allocation of new flats at the designated replacement site
• Purchase of replacement flats at subsidised prices frozen at the date of the announcement of SERS.
• 20% price discount (up to a maximum of $30,000) for eligible flat owners · Option to sell the rehousing benefits to eligible buyers · Exemption from the payment of resale levy for the existing subsidised flats.
• Exemption from credit assessment for eligible lessees.
• A comprehensive financial package to ease cash flow in the purchase of the replacement flats.

With these benefits, residents of old 3-room flats designated for SERS will generally be able to upgrade to brand new 4-room flats and in the process, either enjoy a small capital gain or make a small payment.

Not only can residents look forward to a fresh 99-year lease for their new flats, their new homes would also boast the latest designs and modern facilities like lift services on every floor, matching wall tiles in the kitchen and toilets, as well as concealed piping and wiring.