Sports Hub, Sers and Covid-19 in children among issues to be addressed at Aug 1 Parliament sitting

SINGAPORE — A petition calling for a review of the Selective En-Bloc Redevelopment Scheme (Sers) and a ministerial statement regarding the Government's takeover of the Singapore Sports Hub are among the items on the agenda for the sitting of Parliament next Monday (Aug 1).

Another issue that is top of mind among some Members of Parliament (MPs) is the Covid-19 situation here, with 14 questions regarding the pandemic filed out of 154 for oral and written answers.

Six of the 14 questions touch specifically on Covid-19 protocols and vaccination for children, after two deaths among children under the age of five due to the coronavirus were reported recently.

An adjournment motion on the issue of workplace safety was filed by Radin Mas MP Melvin Yong, in the wake of 31 fatalities at work sites so far this year.

SERS EN BLOC, SPORTS HUB TAKEOVER

Mr Leong Mun Wai , Progress Singapore Party’s Non-Constituency MP, will be filing a petition calling for a review of Sers and to impose a moratorium on Sers spending until the review is conducted.

Sers was thrown into the spotlight in mid-June after some residents living in the chosen housing blocks on Ang Mo Kio Avenue 3 for the scheme expressed dissatisfaction over the need to top up money for similar-sized replacement flats.

This is the second attempt by Mr Leong to raise a petition in Parliament on the issue. During last month’s sitting, Deputy Speaker Christopher de Souza had said that there were a few concerns on whether the petition, which was submitted at the last minute, was in accordance with parliamentary standing orders.

Regardless, during the same sitting, National Development Minister Desmond Lee had made a speech on the matter, in response to a related adjournment motion by Ms Nadia Samdin, MP for Ang Mo Kio Group Representation Constituency (GRC).

Next Monday, Mr Edwin Tong, Minister for Culture, Community and Youth, will be making a ministerial statement about unlocking the full potential of the Singapore Sports Hub.

A total of 20 questions regarding the Government’s takeover of the venue were filed by MPs from both sides of the aisle during last month’s parliamentary sitting, but Mr Tong was absent because he was down with Covid-19.

Questions ranged from the plans for the facility after the takeover in December this year, the main reasons behind the breakdown in the public-private partnership that helmed it and if there are guidelines to ensure that future partnerships of this nature will work. 

COVID-19 AMONG CHILDREN, WORKPLACE SAFETY

Chua Chu Kang GRC MP Zhulkarnain Abdul Rahim asked whether the Ministry of Health (MOH) would consider approving the use of oral antiviral drugs for the treatment of toddlers or young children who are infected with Covid-19 and are unvaccinated.

Nominated Member of Parliament Shahirah Abdullah has asked if the Government will consider changing the current protocol to one advising all children under 12 infected by Covid-19 to be seen by a doctor even if they feel well.

Sengkang GRC MP He Ting Ru, of the Workers' Party, has asked whether MOH can provide an update on the progress of its evaluation for Covid-19 vaccines for children under five and other types of Covid-19 vaccines that can be administered to children.

Other pandemic-related questions include the rate of re-infection here, whether the healthcare system has been affected by the recent rise in infection numbers, and what are the Government’s plans to ramp up the system’s capacity.

A few MPs also asked about the issue of workplace safety, after 30 workplace deaths were recorded as of mid-July this year.

Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC MP Saktiandi Supaat asked the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) if there has been an increase in less-skilled workers to replace skilled ones who had left Singapore during the pandemic, and if the Government would be looking at mitigating an enhanced risk of workplace injuries and fatalities.

Mr Yip Hon Weng, MP for Yio Chu Kang, asked about targeted measures to address the issue of workplace deaths due to falling from height.

Mr Yong, Radin Mas MP, asked how MOM intends to enhance the safety and health of food delivery riders who are often incentivised by platforms to deliver as many orders as possible during peak hours, which may result in endangering their lives.

Mr Yong will also be tabling an adjournment motion entitled "Keeping our workers and workplaces safe".