Ministerial statement on personal mobility devices to be delivered in Parliament on Monday

SINGAPORE — Issues relating to the use of personal mobility devices (PMDs) are set to be a big topic of debate in Parliament on Monday (Aug 5), while crime and vice activity at Orchard Towers and environmental matters will also receive an airing.

Senior Minister of State for Transport Lam Pin Min will deliver a ministerial statement on PMDs on behalf of Transport Minister Khaw Boon Wan.

Out of 80 questions filed by Members of Parliament (MPs) ahead of the upcoming sitting, 17 concerned the use of PMDs, with some calling for tougher measures to curb errant behaviour.

Others also asked about the fire hazards and safety concerns posed by the charging of such devices.

Nee Soon Group Representation Constituency (GRC) MP Lee Bee Wah asked whether a “temporary ban” on the use of PMDs could be implemented in view of the recent spate of fires involving such devices, until proven solutions to ensure they can be used safely are found.

Fengshan MP Cheryl Chan asked whether there are any requirements for PMDs and their charging systems to be certified with safety marks by Enterprise Singapore before being permitted for sale in Singapore, and whether random tests are currently conducted on the charging systems of these devices.

She also asked how LTA manages the retailers who provide modification services for PMDs and their batteries.

The number of reported fires involving power-assisted bicycles (PAB) and PMDs more than doubled in the first half of 2019, compared with the same period last year. In total, there were 54 reported fires involving such devices from January to June this year.

On a different topic, two MPs sought more clarity about crime and vice activities at Orchard Towers.

Tanjong Pagar GRC MP Melvin Yong wanted to find out how many police reports have been made on crime and vice activities at Orchard Towers and what enforcement actions have been taken by the police.

He also asked for the current number of massage establishments in Orchard Towers, and whether the number of unlicensed massage establishments has increased or decreased in the past three years.

Questions about environmental sustainability and pollution were also filed.

Workers’ Party Non-Constituency MP Daniel Goh wanted to find out how many companies have been prosecuted for illegal discharge of wastewater into the nation’s public sewerage system in the last five years, and how many of these companies were second-time offenders and repeat offenders.

This is after 38 companies, including bakery and food manufacturing company BreadTalk, were penalised for illegally dumping waste water containing chemicals or other materials into public sewers in June this year.

Holland-Bukit Timah GRC MP Chris de Souza asked if there were incentives in place to encourage businesses to rely on sustainable packaging materials instead of single-use plastics.

On a lighter note, Nee Soon GRC MP Louis Ng filed an adjournment motion on busking. His motion was titled: “Taking busking to the next level”.