Parliament to hear ministerial statement on charges against NEA over fatal Tuas Incineration Plant explosion

SINGAPORE: Parliament will hear further details about the fatal 2021 Tuas Incineration Plant explosion and the charges faced by the National Environment Agency (NEA) when it sits on Tuesday (Jan 9). 

Minister for Sustainability and the Environment Grace Fu will deliver a ministerial statement to address the matter, two weeks after NEA and two of its employees were charged for allegedly failing to ensure workplace safety. 

Two NEA officers died when the explosion occurred on Sep 23, 2021. They had been deployed to troubleshoot a fault in an electrical switch room at the Tuas Incineration Plant.

Member of Parliament Poh Li San (PAP-Sembawang) submitted a question on how NEA has strengthened its workplace safety practices in the wake of the incident.

Mr Melvin Yong (PAP-Radin Mas) asked about measures that have been put in place at all incineration plants to ensure that such an incident does not happen again.

Several questions were also filed on Singapore’s “Long Island” reclamation project off East Coast. The idea is to implement coastal protection measures while creating new spaces for homes. 

MP Louis Ng (PAP-Nee Soon) asked about the measure that would be taken to ensure that construction on the “Long Islang” site would not significantly impact sensitive marine habitats like coral reefs.

Like Mr Ng, Dr Lim Wee Kiak (PAP-Sembawang) asked whether the government will involve environmental groups and nature researchers in the consultation process before starting on the project.

Ms Cheryl Chan (PAP-East Coast) asked about the longer-term impact on property prices in the area and whether significant traffic infrastructure will be required to facilitate traffic flow joining the areas.

On the subject of the increased rental occupancy cap for HDB flats, Leader of the Opposition Pritam Singh filed a question on whether the National Development Ministry foresees a rise in neighbourly disputes, and whether the Housing Board is sufficiently equipped to resolve any complaints. 

His Workers’ Party colleague Louis Chua (WP-Sengkang) asked about the number of cases in each of the last five years involving infringements of the rental occupancy cap in HDB flats and private homes.

Authorities announced last month that the move to allow up to eight unrelated people to live in larger public flats and private homes is a temporary measure to help meet rental demand.

Other issues to be heard in parliament include the Houthi attacks in the Red Sea and how they impact Singapore's maritime security, as well as the fallout from Cordlife’s mishandling of cord blood units in Singapore. 

Several Bills are up for second reading, including one that would allow parents of stillborn children to register names for them.