Wednesday, July 2, 2025

REACH (Telegram) 84 -  What are your views on this topic? What more can be done to ensure healthcare remains affordable and sustainable for all?

(SK)

02 Jul 2025 (10am - 7pm)


REACH (Telegram)

REACH Singapore, [2/7/2025 9:45 am]

Dear Contributors,

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REACH Singapore, [2/7/2025 10:01 am]

πŸ“’ Topic πŸ“’

The current state of private insurance and private healthcare is unsustainable, said Health Minister Ong Ye Kung on Tuesday (Jul 1), as he spoke of a "knot" in the relationship between the insurers and private hospitals. 

Minister Ong was giving the Ministry of Health (MOH)'s perspective on Great Eastern's suspension of its pre-authorisation certificates for admission to Mount Elizabeth hospitals since Jun 17.

πŸ’¬ What are your views on this topic? What more can be done to ensure healthcare remains affordable and sustainable for all?

The "knot" came about in big part due to insurance design, he said. "Insurers know that policyholders are worried about incurring an unexpected huge hospital bill, so they launch insurance products that offer generous coverage to win customers and market share."

These products include "as-charged" or no-limit coverage, as well as riders - add-ons to the insurance plan - that will cover almost all costs. In such cases, as insurers are footing almost the entire bill, there is the tendency to "use more than is necessary", said Minister Ong, calling it "human nature". This leads to higher claims and insurers realising that the premiums they collect can no longer cover those claims.

Insurers then respond by introducing more safeguards into the claims process, such as suspending pre-authorisation for hospitals with higher claims or entering into panel arrangements with doctors, he said. They also respond by raising premiums, he said, noting that premiums for riders have increased sharply over the past few years.

This causes policyholders, insurers, doctors, and hospitals to all be caught in a "knot".

πŸ“Œ MOH intervention sufficient so far

To tackle the issue, MOH has intervened in a few ways, said Minister Ong. One way it did so was to introduce fee benchmarks to guide pricing and prevent over-charging of medical bills. Since 2018, it has done so for private professional fees.

"We are now studying the possibility of going beyond professional fees, by introducing more benchmarks for hospital charges, to guide fee setting by private hospitals," added Minister Ong.

MOH has also intervened in instances when doctors make errant claims. The ministry has taken action against a "small minority" of offending doctors by making them attend a "refresher course on fee setting" or suspending them from claiming from MediSave and MediShield Life.

Noting the need for more affordable private hospital choices, Minister Ong said that the ministry is exploring the possibility of a new not-for-profit private hospital - first introduced in February 2024 - but that such a move will take a few years still.

However, MOH's actions are insufficient, said Minister Ong. "Ultimately, private insurers need to take a hard and realistic look at their product design, particularly those of riders."

πŸ“Œ The role of private insurers

Minister Ong acknowledged that private insurers have made "some effort" to redesign their insurance plans.

Most insurers now offer more affordable rider alternatives which do not fully cover deductibles or have a larger co-payment component, he said.

"But more importantly, these riders can help to dull the incentives to over-service and over-charge, while still providing the additional protection against large cash co-payments that policyholders value.

"In the longer term, patients seeking care in private hospitals will find that they are getting a better deal than the current situation, which is clearly unsustainable."

Every stakeholder will need to do its part so that the "knot" can be gradually loosened and untied, said Minister Ong, adding that MOH will be "facilitating" this untying process.

Minister Ong added that Great Eastern's move only affects those patients on private insurance plans and who intend to receive care at private hospitals. 

Over 90 per cent of acute inpatient care is delivered in public hospitals, including those who opt for unsubsidised wards, he said.

REACH Singapore, [2/7/2025 10:01 am]

πŸ”— https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/ong-ye-kung-private-insurance-healthcare-great-eastern-pre-authorisation-certificates-mount-elizabeth-5213466

----


365, [2/7/2025 10:15 am]

Enforcement is going to be tough, but I think doctors should not ask patients for insurance coverage when treating. If patients need assistance with financials or understanding of their coverage, there should be another department independent of the doctors to assist. This means that doctors are providing treatment independent of the knowledge of insurance coverage for the patient.

If patients are requesting for additional procedures after the doctor has performed their assessment on what is necessary, this needs to be indicated in the bill and since needs additional request, it should not be covered by insurance, actually pretty similar to how car owners try to sneak in upgrades or replacement parts unaffected by accidents they've been involved in. 

It is pretty idealistic and hard to enforce though, but maybe the idea can start off as a foundation to work on.

REACH Singapore, [2/7/2025 11:03 am]

[ Poll : Which approach would help ensure sustainable healthcare for Singaporeans? ]

- Stricter regulation of private hospital charges

- Redesigned insurance products with co-payment

- More not-for-profit private hospitals

- Enhanced public healthcare capacity

REACH Singapore, [2/7/2025 11:08 am]

Dear Contributors,

Please take a moment to participate in our poll and share your opinions. 

Today’s poll allows you to select more than one option, and your vote is anonymous. The poll questions are pinned for easy reference.

We look forward to hearing your thoughts on today’s topic!

Megan 😊

Daniel, [2/7/2025 11:20 am]

This should allow for multiple choices. I don't think there's a single simple solution.

365, [2/7/2025 11:25 am]

My take is government hospitals are generally acceptable quality wise, but the struggle with capacity is what pushes some common folks to private, especially when they're suffering or possibly have an illness or disease which requires time critical treatment. I'm ignoring the subset of patients that goes private regardless for the sake of this argument, that's more of a personal choice.

Honestly, I'm not getting how different not-for-profit private hospitals are with public Healthcare, from public pov, if quality is same and out of pocket cost is the same, we don't have much complaints. 

The increase in public Healthcare capacity and more not-for-profit private will provide more timely access to healthcare by virtue of increased capacity and availability. 

I don't like the idea of redesigning insurance products, seems like treating the symptom and not the root cause. Insurance providers will look out for their bottom line, and then try to skirt around the intentions of the new designs with other restrictions or implement additional cost. 

Personally, I buy insurance of a sense of security and stability, and also wouldn't like changes to it in the long term, doesn't make me feel secure if the conditions I agreed and signed to can be redesigned afterwards.

365, [2/7/2025 11:26 am]

You can vote for multiple options for this poll

Daniel, [2/7/2025 11:28 am]

Thank you, didn't notice

Adam, [2/7/2025 11:31 am]

Gov should allow medisave and medishield to be used overseas

Adam, [2/7/2025 11:31 am]

Reduce strain on healthcare here

Adam, [2/7/2025 11:32 am]

Make use of our strong currency for people who want to cheap out

Adam, [2/7/2025 11:34 am]

https://youtu.be/V1sWFzpuwwU

Adam, [2/7/2025 11:35 am]

Med companies are profiteering from monopoly and fear. If we open to a free intl market, we can see them compete and bring costs down

Adam, [2/7/2025 11:37 am]

We hire foreign docs anyway since we limit med school intake. And many singaporeans wanna retire overseas. Make overseas medicine more accessible

RY, [2/7/2025 12:18 pm]

The main is the high costs/fees charged by the private hospitals and not so much the patients themselves 

Every scan/test and etc are mostly order by the Dr  

An example - 

Private hospital also charge every small items like mouthrinse/tissue box and etc 

Bec patients unable to go down the bed and brush teeth after ops the 1st few days and have to use mouthrinse 

In the end, I get my friend to buy for me when they visit me, rather than unsure pte hospital will charge me later in the bill 

Private hospital already charged high fee for daily room, and they shd provide these small items similar like hotels, however they still bill patients all these small items, how can the bill not increasing ? 

Another example, 

Upon discharged, the pte hospital, they shd provide patients with discharged summary by "default" like any public hospitals

I rem I forget to ask on my day of discharge the "discharge summary", and later when I request, the pte hospital want to charge me for the discharge summary ....

Bec they said that I didnt request  on day of discharge and I argue that the docs shd be given to me as patient as part of the discharge procedure   

So we can see how pte hospital is so money-minded and why the pte hospital bill so high

Jun Ming, [2/7/2025 12:47 pm]

Problems are from insurance company. They are like 一言堂 where they set the rules. 

So many rules and clause and they can change it on immediate effect. That's why I only buy the basic insurance

Jun Ming, [2/7/2025 12:47 pm]

And only go for gov hospital

Jun Ming, [2/7/2025 12:50 pm]

Then a lot of insurance agents always like push for insurance like early critical illness, better insurance plan etc. I am like medi sheild not enough meh

Jun Ming, [2/7/2025 12:52 pm]

The only part is no healthcare insurance recognised TCM. Only accidents policy which must really prove you have accident

Jun Ming, [2/7/2025 12:53 pm]

Like AIA got a form for TCM doctor to fill in. Very disgusting

Adam, [2/7/2025 12:54 pm]

Shouldn't tcm be separate from standard insurance?

Adam, [2/7/2025 12:54 pm]

If someone doesnt use tcm, should their premiums subsidize those that would use tcm?

Adam, [2/7/2025 12:55 pm]

Does polyclinic give referral to tcm clinic?

Jun Ming, [2/7/2025 12:56 pm]

There's no policy that's purely TCM

Adam, [2/7/2025 12:57 pm]

Wait what do you mean?

Adam, [2/7/2025 12:57 pm]

What kind of insurace is your ideal?

Adam, [2/7/2025 12:58 pm]

Tcm by itself? Tcm+conventional?

Jun Ming, [2/7/2025 12:59 pm]

TCM + conventional will be more ideal. Like adding a rider for TCM on extra cost will be good

Adam, [2/7/2025 1:00 pm]

Doesnt it already exist?

Jun Ming, [2/7/2025 1:01 pm]

Have meh. Only accident policy so far I came across

Adam, [2/7/2025 1:02 pm]

For one, raffles has 'premier rider' allowing for 'post hospitalization tcm' among other things

Adam, [2/7/2025 1:03 pm]

Well, not tcm by itself but tcm insurance exists

Jun Ming, [2/7/2025 1:05 pm]

Well maybe but insurance company like to make it hard to claim

Jun Ming, [2/7/2025 1:05 pm]

Which makes me like what's the point of having insurance

Jun Ming, [2/7/2025 1:06 pm]

For eg aia accident policy they change it to very strict that under certain conditions then It is a accident

Adam, [2/7/2025 1:06 pm]

I guess the insurer needs to be more open on the claims process

Adam, [2/7/2025 1:07 pm]

MOH has a table on claim rejection %

Adam, [2/7/2025 1:07 pm]

Maybe MOH can force the providers to give more granular data

Adam, [2/7/2025 1:07 pm]

% of denial of TCM

Adam, [2/7/2025 1:08 pm]

Separated by hospital

Adam, [2/7/2025 1:09 pm]

MOH say if you have dispute, can go to fidrec but idk if it helps

Jun Ming, [2/7/2025 1:10 pm]

I think it's just too many clause that customers just feel very sian hearing so many clause

Adam, [2/7/2025 1:10 pm]

I think gov needs to step in a little to keep both hospitals and insurers in line. Cannot just charge cust or change policy willy nilly

Jun Ming, [2/7/2025 1:11 pm]

And agents may misled consumer or consumer may have a different idea

Jun Ming, [2/7/2025 1:13 pm]

Maybe simplify insurance or maybe those insurance that can be customised

Jun Ming, [2/7/2025 1:14 pm]

Will be more beneficial

Jun Ming, [2/7/2025 1:17 pm]

It will be better if consumers can  click on which private hospital that can be covered and calculate the price. Some of the exempted treatment can put in as another option

Jun Ming, [2/7/2025 1:19 pm]

People like me cheapo will only click on gov hospital and TCM clinics while rich people can click more based on their needs

Jun Ming, [2/7/2025 1:20 pm]

So instead so many small policy we can have one health care policy

Nicholas, [2/7/2025 1:33 pm]

Nowadays, a one day stay in a private hospital class A ward exceeds S$5,000. I wonder why it's so high. Insurers also keep increasing their premiums or if they don't increase, add in things like excess payment amounts or requiring panel doctors. And then after you claim, your premium spikes for the next 3 to 4 years. In essence, you're made to pay fully for what you claimed over the next 3 to 4 years. What is the benefit of insurance then, shouldn't the insurer spread the cost amongst all who are insured and have economies of scale?

REACH Singapore, [2/7/2025 2:00 pm]

πŸ“’ Topic πŸ“’


LCL (Danny εΏƒ), [2/7/2025 2:43 pm]

1. When no co-payment is made by patients, there is tendency to invite a "Buffet Syndrome Phenomenon" due to Human inherent roots of "Greed θ΄ͺ":-

a. Since everything is "free" - ie. no need to pay cash "out-of-pocket" - tendency is for patients to go for treatment for any slide discomfort, more tests, get more medicine, get top of the range treatment etc. 

Because "I don't need to pay, insurers pay mah".

This is human nature.


b. Private Hospitals and Doctors who are human, who want higher bonus, higher pay, higher profits for hospital - and knowing patients will not scrutinize and restraint doctors over-servicing - become "co-accomplice" for expensive, additional and over servicing.

Because "Insurers pay mah", "We all benefits mah - why not "zhua tua tua" - "flush big big" --- and the hospital bills spike phenonmenally.

This is human nature.


2. Hence there is need for an Authority to step in - to contain and manage such "Buffet Syndrome Phenomenon" - to prevent over-servicing and abuse.


3. I personally experience the services of both public hospital (which I predominantly patronize) and few rare instances of private hospitals (in which my previous companies - put me in when I am unwell).

The health outcomes are the same - but the hospital bills are a big difference.

"Over servicing" is very apparent in private hospitals. I need to request for discharge when I am well - else they will keep servicing.

Whereas public hospitals will keep services appropriate and put you on discharge when I recover and no longer need hospitalisation.


Jun Ming, [2/7/2025 2:52 pm]

But you don't want another end where people don't go to see doctor


LCL (Danny εΏƒ), [2/7/2025 2:54 pm]

People sick will go see doctors.

Public hospitals are affordable and provide good medical outcomes.


Jun Ming, [2/7/2025 2:55 pm]

Sometimes a slightly bigger wound or a small wound can means a lot and people are not seeing doctors for it

Jun Ming, [2/7/2025 2:56 pm]

My uncle fall and have a big wound and he is reluctant to see doctor as he thought it is nothing

Jun Ming, [2/7/2025 2:57 pm]

And he doesn't want to spend a few hundred dollars and leave his job for mc

Jun Ming, [2/7/2025 2:58 pm]

Then we bring him to a&e and end up one month MC with very troublesome medical device with him

Jun Ming, [2/7/2025 2:59 pm]

Then he was like my full attendance bonus gone

Jun Ming, [2/7/2025 3:03 pm]

But I think insurance shouldn't cover so much for private hospital just add in rider (private ) and cover emergency cases


LCL (Danny εΏƒ), [2/7/2025 3:06 pm]

1. Hence I agree with the Minister of Health 4 approaches to sustainable healthcare - to prevent healthcare cost from spiralling due to over-servicing and abuse - as 3 stakeholders contribute to this "Buffet Syndrome Phenomenon" specifically :-


a. Patients - who worried about incurring unexpected huge hosptial bill. "Kiasu, Kiasi" mentality.

b. Insurers - who want to corner larger market share in healthcare insurance - offer generous coverage to win customers - to include "as charge" or "no limit coverage" - that will cover "all costs" - to feed on Patients "Kiasu, Kiasi" mentality.

c. Hospitals and Doctors - who want higher profit, higher pay, higher bonus - and feed on Insurers' greed for higher market share and patients "Kiasu, Kiasi" mentality.


2. End up - healthcare cost spiral and all 3 stakeholders will now face the consequences of such abuse.

a. Insurers - unsustainable insurance payout, make lost, keep increasing premium, lose customers, people lose faith in the health insurance package.

I never subscribe to healthcare insurance - despite insistent agents.

Only believe in Medishield - good enough.

b. Patients end up paying higher and higher insurance premium and more restrictions in insurance claims.

c. Private hospitals and doctors - more and more patients shun the hospital services and the messy claims - and go to public hospitals.

d. Public hospitals - now face more patronage and become more and more busy.


3. Hence there is a need to manage and control the private healthcare sectors and health insurance as well as manage policyholders' expectation to a manageable level.


4. I feel that the 4 approaches announce by the Minister of Health - as very timely.

I think about 20 years ago - a big revamp was made on public hospitals (at that time, civil servants also has no co-payments). Healthcare is free for all civil servants.

One big revamp - put it right - and prevent a "Buffet Syndrome" from taking roots in public hospitals.

But the initial revamp make many civil servants unhappy from no payment to 10% co-pay.

But after a while, people get use to it.

And the healthcare cost in civil service come down to a sustainable level.


Now it is time to address the private hospitals "Buffet Syndrome" - to contain a spiralling private healthcare costs from spiking further.

By addressing humanity inherent roots of:-

"θ΄ͺε—”η—΄“ - ”θ΄ͺ“ --- addressing Humanity's inherent roots of "Greed".


LCL (Danny εΏƒ), [2/7/2025 3:14 pm]

"Lidar is lame’: why Elon Musk’s vision for a self-driving Tesla taxi faltered.

The company’s rollout of its new driverless cars has gotten off to a wobbly start – and rival Waymo remains well ahead".

Foolhardy Elon Musk against proven technologies - is Tesla pitfalls.

Tesla continues to have this fetishistic view that it’s going to operate its system solely on cameras, despite every intelligent human being in this entire space saying that can’t be done,” said Brett Schreiber, an attorney who represents several alleged victims of Tesla’s autopilot failures.

“Everyone who has been following collision-avoidant technology since the 90s knows that the holy trinity is radar, lidar and cameras.”

https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2025/jun/29/elon-musk-tesla-robotaxi#:~:text=Lidar%20is%20lame,remains%20well%20ahead


LCL (Danny εΏƒ), [2/7/2025 3:15 pm]

Ford CEO shuts down Tesla Full Self-Driving deal, says Waymo is better | Electrek.

But he stated that Ford considered LiDAR to be an important part of the picture, noting that “where the camera will be completely blinded, the LiDAR system will see exactly what’s in front of you.”

https://share.google/1j3zVwbJYO1mhKiF1


LCL (Danny εΏƒ), [2/7/2025 3:23 pm]

1. Hence I support the Government 1st approach of looking into insurance products -- all new healthcare insurance package should come with at least 10% co-payment - to ensure :-

a. Policyholders - only see doctors when necessary and seek and scrutinize appropriate treatment - and question the doctors why certain expensive treatment or tests if sense that the doctors or hospitals are trying to over service.


b. Ensure Insurers are providing appropriate sustainable health insurance products - and not cannabilising one another  to corner market share.


c. Ensure private hosptals and doctors - use their professional judgement to give appropriate treatment and services -- not over-servicing out of greed.


LCL (Danny εΏƒ), [2/7/2025 3:25 pm]

The public hospitals treatment and tests - are a good benchmark for private hospitals.

Servicing is appropriate and don't smell of over servicing to make more money out of the patients.


RY, [2/7/2025 3:33 pm]

I agree, think MOH shd give more recognisation to TCM also

RY, [2/7/2025 3:35 pm]

Yep, only Personal Accident Ins includes/recognise TCM treatment


LCL (Danny εΏƒ), [2/7/2025 3:38 pm]

1. Next I feel that private hospitals charges - are way too high and out of line - as compared to the public hospitals.

Treatment in few hundred of $ in public hospitals - can be few thousands in private hospitals.

Hence I support stricter regulations of private hospital charges.


2. Hence I support Minister of Health suggestions of putting out more benchmark prices in more medical treatment - to let public compare the charges of public hospitals versus private hospitals --- so that facts and knowledge will make patients decide to go public hospitals or private hospitals.


3. With co-payments of hospital bills in private hospitals --- will make patients do computation based on the benchmark prices whether going to public hospitals make more sense than going private hospitals -- since medical outcomes are the same.


4. If private hospitals price themselves out of the market - private hospitals and doctors will lose customers, profit fall, salaries fall, bonus fall.

And private hospitals and doctors - through market forces will be forced to forgo exploitation and abuses - but indulge in rational and honest treatment, tests and charges - else they will go out of business.


LCL (Danny εΏƒ), [2/7/2025 3:54 pm]

1. There is a need to create "real competition" to private hospitals - to bring costs to a more "sane-able" level.


2. Because without "real competition" - eg. public hospitals too crowded, long waiting times for critical treatment - patients who cannot wait will have no choice but go to more unregulated pricey private hospitals.

There are no incentives for private hospitals to reduce their prices - because "public hospitals too busy, cannot service all patients mah.

Even I charge high, over service, patients still will come mah.

Why I change my ways of doing?"


3. Hence creating "real competition" will ensure private hospitals and doctors - behave appropriately.

Real competition can come in 2 forms as identified by the Minister of Health :-

a. Create more new "Not-for-profit private hospitals".

b. Enhanced public healthcare capacity.


a. Create more  "Not-for-profit private hospitals" - I presume are self-financing, not tapping into taxpayers' money.

- I guess healthcare charges will be higher than public hospitals (not subsidise) and need to recoup sunk-in investment.

- But I think it will be lower than private hospitals - as it is a "cost recovery model" and not price its healthcare services for "big profit".


b. Next will be to Enhanced public healthcare capacity - that is will touch on taxpayers money to build bigger public hospitals, employ more public doctors and subsidise healthcare costs.

But translate into lower healthcare costs to patients.


4. I support both models - as both will provide "real competition" -- and make healthcare prices come down to a more "sane-able" level.


5. This will benefit :-

a. Patients - lower healthcare prices and good medical outcomes

b. Policyholders - lower insurance premium

c. Insurers - sustainable insurance products

d. Private Hospitals and doctors - honest profits, salaries and bonus - not obscene money.


RY, [2/7/2025 3:56 pm]

I concur 

I think public hospital svs/treatment fee and etc b4 subsidy shd serve as benchmark for private hospital, as public hospital sure have more patients than private hospitals 

Private hospitals we have cases that it is over-charged  or over-servicing or unnec scans/tests, and not for public hospital

Why the med ins premiums increasing over the years, it is mainly because of the private hospital over-charging/fees/bills including Dr prof fees

Hence MOH shd be focusing/monitoring the private hospital charges/fees/bills, as they are too profit-oriented 

MOH has also done a gd job in controlling the cancer treatment and meds towards the big pharmaceutical companies, otherwise such meds are set so high by these pharma co in the past 

MOH shd be qns the private hospital on their unnec charges also, whereby their daily room charges already high, but they still charge individual small items eg tissue box/mouthrinse n etc 

Think pte hospital may charge higher for foreign patients (non SG residents) and earn more from the wealthy foreigners


LCL (Danny εΏƒ), [2/7/2025 3:57 pm]

1. Hence we cannot cherry pick the 4 approaches - to ensure the overall healthcare prices containment is effective.

2. All 4 approaches must be adopted - to ensure cylinders are firing at all front.

3. Forgoing any one approach - will cripple the overall package - like a leak in a bucket holding the water.


REACH Singapore, [2/7/2025 4:00 pm]

πŸ“’ Topic πŸ“’


LCL (Danny εΏƒ), [2/7/2025 4:16 pm]

1. Next Medisave and Medishield should be kept within Singapore - to pay public or private hospitals healthcare service - to prevent economic leakage.


2. The eco-system of Medisave are Singaporeans and residents savings - setting aside to service our healthcare costs, Singapore Government paying out yearly 4% interest from Singapore fiscal budget and Sovereign Funds earning and collection of Singapore taxpayers.

Government also pay periodic Medisave bonus to Elderly and younger Singaporeans in good economic time.

Hence Medisave should not be used to pay overseas hospital fees - leading to an Economic leakage out of Singapore no matter how cheap -- as Healthcare sector contribute to $17.95 billion (the 2nd largest GDP contributor) to Singapore Economy.

If Medisave is allowed to pay for overseas healthcare - our Economic Growth could plummet -- leading to job loss to our healthcare sectors - hitting jobs for doctors, nurses, pharmacists, biomedical sectors etc.

The Economic damage will be very big due to capital outflow.


3. Also Medishield premium are collective payment by Singaporeans and residents - to ensure our healthcare insurance are sustainable and medicare in Singapore are vibrant and sustainable.

Foreigners don't pay a single cent for Singapore insurance premiums but foreign hospitals received healthcare businesses from Singaporeans.

If medishield are allowed to be used to pay overseas hospitals, our medical insurance premium will spike - because of economic leakage out to the rest of the world.

Imagine all our poor Singapore policyholders pay premium - not benefiting our health sectors here but all leak out to overseas hospital.

This is a big capital leakage.

No responsible government will allow such leakage to happen that damage our economy.

Imagine $17.95 billion leak out, and Singapore all hospitals close shops in the worst scenario.

When there is emergency,  ambulance send to no hospitals because local hospitals all close shops.


Joomua Tng, [2/7/2025 4:33 pm]

it only works when everyone consume only the parts where it is necessary.

the problem of private integrated medishield is the patients and doctors together.

it is known in insurance industry, Both the patients and doctors abuses the insurance system, undergoing unnecessary check up, mri, x-ray etc..

reason for such unnecessary check is due to the past insurance plan that 100% of the hospitalization cost is paid by the insurers when the patient purchased both the riders co payment and deductible.

since it is 100% paid by the insurers...patients and doctors will go for unnecessary check up....ended up increasing the insurance claim and with insurance claim rate increases, the insurance premium will increase in order to meet the cost.

........

the concept of 100% ,coverage, Now 95% , is good only when everyone plays their part of only necessary checkups..

this is something people will not adhere to.

......

solutions?

no solutions yet.

G, [2/7/2025 4:39 pm]

How does MOH ascertain what is necessary or unnecessary checks by doctors? Who are MOH to determine the medical requirements of each case? Do they want to start micromanaging each doctor?

Are they questioning doctors' professional expertise? 

The very doctors that they license under their stat board SMC?

Joomua Tng, [2/7/2025 4:42 pm]

maybe just maybe.. individual claim experience discount or rebate or something.

co payment of 10% or 20% as based.

if the person didn't make claims for certain period of time  the co payment reduces from 20% 'slowly down to 5% depending on the years of premium the individual has paid.

similarly to the deductible.

for exact figures...the insurers has to make the necessary calculation

Joomua Tng, [2/7/2025 4:42 pm]

it only works if the doctors play their parts also.

not all professionals like doctors or lawyers are honest.

G, [2/7/2025 5:07 pm]

How does this desire to reign in private healthcare costs fit in with marketing SG as a medical tourism hub?

Medical tourism is profit maximising, charging top dollar, perhaps even squeezing every dollar out of foreign insurers for private medical treatment

Joomua Tng, [2/7/2025 5:08 pm]

the first 2 points are hand in hand together.

....

should include code of conduct for medical doctors, like the MAS done for financial planners and insurance agent

G, [2/7/2025 5:11 pm]

"Healthcare affordable and sustainable for all"

How come drugs can be manufactured here in SG, but still be more expensive here than across the border?

It's a known fact that pharma companies price drugs to govts according to their ability to pay (countries with higher GDP pay higher price for similar drug, e.g. price of covid jabs)

So isn't it correct to say SG is effectively subsidising drug costs for other countries with such tiered pricing? Why shld SG continue to subsidise?

Khai Mun L., [2/7/2025 5:32 pm]

The observation might not be fully correct, bulk orders could be cheaper. Sg limited by size and demand.

But how to resolve this situation since the pharma companies hold the power? Tax them until they move  manufacturing out of sg?

Also, we also earn in other ways by knowledge transfer to locals, jobs availability, investment by these pharm from rent, equipment purchase etc

REACH Singapore, [2/7/2025 6:01 pm]

πŸ“’ Topic πŸ“’

RY, [2/7/2025 6:03 pm]

Ins companies providing healthcare med ins and it shd be sustainable biz also for them 

That explains why a need for co-ins and deductible as riders 

It is gd move by MOH to remove no more 100% coverage 

So as to ensure patients also have to co-pay out of pocket, and not just simply buy main/riders plans and just claimt every bills fm ins co 

It is also essential for ins co to have a gd team of panel of private doctors whom are responsible and dont overcharge 

For those patients who dont use insurance panel of Dr, then they may have some claiming limitation eg shorter pre and post and cap on claiming amt and etc 

If there is any private Dr that overcharged, then MOH may have the right to qns the Dr, and ins co may also de-list/remove such Dr fm their panel of Dr

RY, [2/7/2025 6:11 pm]

Dr shd be penalised for their overcharged, as part of their conduct of practice 

Similar to those GP Dr in recent news that mis-use the patients CHAS subsidy 

Imagine how can a tele-consult be less than 1min ? 

Just like MOM also has cap annually for MC and hospitalisation leave under the MOM law 

Otherwise lazy employees may just mis-use & simply get MC and absent fm work easily

RY, [2/7/2025 6:17 pm]

I unsure how MOH suggestion for not for profit private hospital works .....

Bec every biz needs to be make money in order to survive and pay for the operation

It is really how much money can the biz make ultimately

RY, [2/7/2025 6:26 pm]

Rem the 2008 sub-prime crisis, USA govt require to bail the financial institutions ?

But we know quite a lumpsum of the bailout $ went into these going-to-bankrupt financial institutions CEO remunerations instead  

Bec few of these institutions were too big and cant afford to close down .... 

I unsure what is the remuneration of SG private hospital CEO ... 

I hope these CEOs are not overpaid, and bec of this reasons, pte hospital charges are so high ....

RY, [2/7/2025 6:29 pm]

Many of SG well-known Dr are practising in pte hospitals, that may explain why some patients chosen pte hospital than public hospitals due to their preferred Dr

REACH Singapore, [2/7/2025 6:45 pm]

Dear Contributors,

⏰ We will be closing the chat in 15 minutes ⏰

Thank you very much for being part of our Telegram chat and participating actively.

Goodnight!

Megan 😊

RY, [2/7/2025 6:52 pm]

For healthcare to be affordable to the general public ~ 

1 MOH/Pharma Co/Patient/Ins Co/ have to work as a "team", as all these parties are co-related and interlinked ultimately 

2 MOH role is impt to set the rules/bencemark in fees/code of practice and etc eg Dr fees 

3 MOH also has to communicate with the pharma cos, so that even the expensive cancer drugs has cap in their costs, otherwise pharma cos in order to make high profits, they may charge as high as possible 

4 Ins co may offer more incentives to those patients that opt for public hospital treatment and own panel of Dr, rather than pte hospital

5 Claimt amt shd have a portion that the patient has to co-pay and not 100%, so that the patient may think thrice whenever they make any ins claimt, bec they themselves also has to co-pay out of pocket sametime - to reduce any mis-use of the med ins claimt by the patient also

6 maybe foreign patient that opt for private hospital, they may req to pay more than SG residents 

7 MOH has gd system to penalise those errant/mis-conduct Dr 

8 MOH also to work closely with ins co and make the premiums affordable, as the premiums are determined by the ins co ultimately 

9 MOH also has to work closely with all hospitals esp the private hospital, so that they wont overcharge/charge unnec - if ins co complaint any overcharge of fees, then MOH has the right to qns the pte hospitals too 

Ultimately whether ins premiums, hospital fees/charges and med costs and etc , it is all determined by the Dr/Hospital/Ins Co/Pharma Co and not patients themselves

RY, [2/7/2025 6:58 pm]

Another example 

One of my overseas friend came to SG as tourists and met with a not so serious accident 

Public hospital A&E Std charge

But when refer to pte hospital for further investigation, this pte Dr overcharge this foreign patient, as the consultation fees went into thousand, until my friend req the Dr to write a memo for the expensive charge, otherwise their travel ins may have prob claiming later 

This pte Dr simply take advantage and overcharge

REACH Singapore, [2/7/2025 7:01 pm]

Dear Contributors

We will be closing the chat for today.

Thank you very much for being part of our Telegram chat and participating actively.

Goodnight!

Megan 😊


====

Sunday, June 29, 2025

REACH (Telegram) 83 - What are your views about the country’s upcoming plans for the transition towards autonomous vehicles in the near future?

(SK)

30 Jun 2025 (10am - 7pm)


REACH (Telegram)

REACH Singapore, [30/6/2025 9:46 am]

Dear Contributors,

Welcome Back! 😊

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REACH Singapore, [30/6/2025 10:01 am]

πŸ“’ Topic πŸ“’

On 27 June (Friday), Acting Transport Minister Jeffrey Siow announced that Singapore will trial autonomous vehicles (AVs) in Punggol from the fourth quarter of this year. 

Mr Siow and Senior Minister of State for Transport Sun Xueling were in Guangzhou from Thursday to Saturday to learn about the development and deployment of AVs in China.

πŸ’¬ What are your views about the country’s upcoming plans for the transition towards autonomous vehicles in the near future?

πŸ“Œ AVs to support the public transport network

Noting that AVs are a maturing technology, Mr Siow said that in the short term, the Ministry of Transport (MOT) is thinking about how AVs can be used to support the public transport network. 

He added that the ministry is working with potential operators and AV companies to decide on the right type of vehicle to bring in. Other factors to consider include the frequency at which these services can be run and whether there is demand from commuters. 

Some AVs will be deployed in Punggol to try out "fixed routes".  On why Punggol was picked, Mr Siow said that it is an estate where travel patterns are “quite mature”. If the trial in Punggol is successful, the ministry can then look at other places at the turn of the year, he said, adding that Tengah could be the next location.

πŸ“Œ Challenges

Infrastructure is one factor in deciding how AVs can be rolled out to more areas, said Mr Siow. "We have to look at whether the roads are wide enough (and) whether there are stopping points that are available," he added. Getting drivers, commuters, pedestrians and cyclists used to seeing AVs on the roads and as "part of the general landscape" would be key.

Another issue that has been talked about with AVs is safety, which is a priority, said the acting transport minister. These vehicles will be painted in a "bright colour", he added. To start, the AVs will have a safety officer on board and run at a "manageable" speed.

πŸ“Œ Jobs

Over time, people will get used to travelling in autonomous vehicles and the role of the driver may change, said Mr Siow. 

Drivers in the current ecosystem, including taxi drivers or private-hire car drivers, would transition to the new jobs that the new industry will create, he added. "Others - we have to see how to help them reskill, to retrain and to take up other jobs in the economy that will be generated because of economic change," said the acting transport minister. 

In the initial stages, it will be a "mix of both" - jobs for drivers in the transport industry and new jobs emerging.

The government's job, together with the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC), is to help drivers make the best use of these opportunities, he said.

πŸ”— [ST] https://str.sg/vWGd

πŸ”— [ST] https://str.sg/Lg9t

πŸ”— [CNA] https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/autonomous-vehicles-public-transport-punggol-5209136

----


Jun Ming, [30/6/2025 10:21 am]

It will never be 100% automonous

365, [30/6/2025 10:33 am]

Even not 100% autonomous, it opens up the pool of available operators and helps with driver fatigue.

I want to draw parallels to 2 instances

Autopilot - even though there are still pilots and copilot, autopilot helps a lot with regular flying fatigue as it opens up their time and attention to other operation matters, or even rest while on standby. 

Elevators / lift - there used to be a lift operator in each lift, people who manually control the lift movements. Nowadays, it is considered autonomous already. Yes you still need someone to press buttons, but the ease of operations just opened up the pool of available users to essentially everyone and not just those trained to operate lifts.

Jun Ming, [30/6/2025 10:53 am]

Yes like trains although it autopilot but a staff is standing there doing nothing

365, [30/6/2025 10:57 am]

Public won't know the specifics of what they are doing, could be communication, checks, or other matters. Monitoring is work as well, even if it looks like doing nothing

REACH Singapore, [30/6/2025 11:00 am]

[ Poll : Do you support the use of autonomous vehicles in Singapore? Please elaborate on your answer in the chat below. ]

- Yes

- No

REACH Singapore, [30/6/2025 11:02 am]

Dear Contributors,

Please take a moment to participate in our polls and share your opinion. The poll questions are pinned for easy reference, and your vote is anonymous.

We look forward to hearing your thoughts on today’s topic!

πŸ’¬ What are your views about the country’s upcoming plans for the transition towards autonomous vehicles in the near future?

Thank you.

Megan 😊

Adam, [30/6/2025 11:23 am]

People think its fully ai. But we can have a staff watching a video feed in india for cheap.

Adam, [30/6/2025 11:27 am]

I wonder how they are gonna handle fares in auto bus. Will a bus stop if an auntie is fumbling in tapping card or finding money? Or what if the bus moves off and not enough cash?

Adam, [30/6/2025 11:37 am]

Roads wide enough? Does he think our roads here is too narrow? Or is there extra wide AV? Look at japan, they can manage with tight roads, yet we want to cut trees and squeeze out pedestrians. 

Wider roads makes cars faster and more unsafe. We already making silver zones by narrowing and making bends so is our ministry contradicting itself? Make road narrower for safety of elders while wider for safety of AVs.

This very one statement make me doubt if our minister knows what he's doing. My expectation is for AVs to be computer precise, better than human at centimeter accuracy. If it cannot perform at current roads whether wide or narrow what hope do humans have?

Jun Ming, [30/6/2025 11:45 am]

I think there's the need of a staff to manage the bus either.

Jun Ming, [30/6/2025 11:46 am]

Like it cannot be totally driverless. It must be hybrid

Nicholas, [30/6/2025 11:58 am]

While I support the use of autonomous vehicles since there is a shortage of drivers, please ensure the safety aspect is thoroughly taken care of.


LCL (Danny εΏƒ), [30/6/2025 12:10 pm]

369. I post in REACH (Telegram) LCL (Danny εΏƒ), [18/6/2025 4:52 pm]:-

1. I realise a few merits of these driverless public buses initiatives which are :-

a. More bus services are rolled out to less accessible and ulu remote places. Commuters will find travelling more convenient going to work, study and play.

Not restrained by less bus services because unable to recruit more bus captains mainly foreigners to man the feeder services.

b. Also salaries of bus captains now pretty high $2,700 to $5,000 per month, with some even reaching $5,500 or more.

Can have more savings for bus companies translated into lesser needs to increase bus fares for commuters.

c. In longer run, can even extend the services of the bus after midnight - because only need to manage by a few central controllers at data centre working in 3 shifts (not constrained by lack of bus captains after midnight).

d. Theoretically need lesser bigger depots and interchanges because it can ply the roads continuously without the need to dock in depots and interchanges for bus captains to change shifts because they are remotely centrally controlled.

Only need charger stations to charge the driverless bus and then continue to ply the road.

Only need maintenance workshops.

LCL (Danny εΏƒ), [18/6/2025 4:55 pm]

I think driverless public buses can achieve these by plying these ulu routes.

LCL (Danny εΏƒ), [18/6/2025 5:34 pm]

That's why driverless public buses will have alot of merits if deployed.

Those are the roads that big public service bus cannot ply not enough drivers.

Private hire also don't want to go.

No profit.

----

Straits Times UPDATED Jun 29, 2025, 07:28 PM

“There are residents who live in Punggol West who would like to be able to more conveniently have access to amenities in Punggol East, for instance, the wet market (and) the polyclinic,” said Ms Sun, who is MP for Punggol GRC.

“At the same time, we know there are residents who live in the eastern side of Punggol who want to have more convenient access to transport hubs like the bus interchange,” she added.

In the short term, the autonomous shuttles are expected to provide short, fixed-route services to various points within Housing Board estates, supplementing regular public bus services, taxis and private-hire vehicles.

In the medium term, this could be widened to include introducing services that are constrained by labour today, such as night buses, which can be run more frequently with driverless vehicles, Mr Siow said.

“It is a trip that maybe the taxi drivers or the private-hire car drivers may not really want to do, especially during the peak hour.


365, [30/6/2025 12:16 pm]

Maybe new bus model can have a gantry system at entrance and exit, should be just a switch, then see how engineers can work around the space. There's some models with automated platforms for wheelchair users now.


LCL (Danny εΏƒ), [30/6/2025 12:17 pm]

I saw the few news about AV buses and taxis in Guangdong.

Quite impressive.

Zero accidents.

So right technologies employed are the sure bet to ensure a good safety record that should include and not limited to:-

1. AI machine learning

2. Lidar 

3. Radar

4. Camera based system 

5. Sensors 

6. Remote control from Data center.

7. 5G network must be always on.

8. Satellite GPS.

Note:- onboard computer is important - but not sufficient due to lack of processor power, storage space and limited access to external data.


LCL (Danny εΏƒ), [30/6/2025 12:21 pm]

Don't use Tesla AV technologies.

Accident prone - as he forgo lidar and radar - rely only on camera based system that is not safe and unable to respond in real time to road conditions.


LCL (Danny εΏƒ), [30/6/2025 12:24 pm]

Sorry should also include computer graphics - to reconstruct all the historical figures - like real people in historical setting.

Yesterday channel 5 - Jurassic dinosaur uses computer graphics as well to reconstruct.

It looks so real.


LCL (Danny εΏƒ), [30/6/2025 12:28 pm]

[28/06, 9:11 pm] ☸️  Danny εΏƒ: What information are transmitted between AV vehicles and data center?


[28/06, 9:11 pm] Meta AI: Autonomous Vehicles (AVs) transmit a vast amount of data to data centers for processing, analysis, and decision-making. Here are some types of information that are typically transmitted [1][2]:

- *Sensor data*: AVs are equipped with various sensors, such as cameras, lidar, radar, GPS, and ultrasonic sensors. These sensors generate a massive amount of data, including:

    - *Images and video*: Camera data is used for object detection, pedestrian detection, and traffic light recognition.

    - *Point cloud data*: Lidar data is used to create 3D maps of the environment and detect objects.

    - *Radar data*: Radar data is used to detect speed and distance of surrounding objects.

- *Vehicle data*: AVs transmit data about their own status, including:

    - *Location and speed*: GPS data provides location and speed information.

    - *Acceleration and braking*: Data on acceleration, braking, and steering wheel angle.

    - *System health*: Data on the vehicle's systems, such as battery level, tire pressure, and engine performance.

- *Environmental data*: AVs transmit data about the environment, including:

    - *Weather conditions*: Data on weather conditions, such as rain, fog, or snow.

    - *Road conditions*: Data on road surface, traffic signals, and road signs.

- *Control commands*: Data centers transmit control commands to AVs, including:

    - *Route planning*: Data centers can send updated route plans to AVs based on traffic conditions.

    - *Control inputs*: Data centers can send control inputs, such as steering wheel angle or acceleration commands.

This data is used for various purposes, including [3]:

- *Real-time decision-making*: Data centers process data from AVs to make decisions about navigation, obstacle avoidance, and other critical functions.

- *Machine learning*: Data collected from AVs is used to train machine learning models, improving the accuracy and reliability of AV systems.

- *Predictive maintenance*: Data centers can analyze data from AVs to predict potential technical issues and schedule maintenance.

The transmission of data between AVs and data centers enables the development of more sophisticated and reliable autonomous driving systems.


LCL (Danny εΏƒ), [30/6/2025 12:32 pm]

Another aspect, ensure cyber security must be robust.

Because hackers can potentially hack into AV buses on the road.

Fail safe switch maybe necessary to disconnect remote control if hacking is detected - and rely on onboard computer to navigate the AV buses until the threat of remote hacking is removed.


Jun Ming, [30/6/2025 12:38 pm]

As bus management is more complicated and people want job a staff need to station in every bus

Jun Ming, [30/6/2025 12:40 pm]

This is to allow passengers pay the correct fare and allow wheelchairs to board on


LCL (Danny εΏƒ), [30/6/2025 12:56 pm]

In a steady state, I can foresee that driverless AV is not a mass replacement of all driver vehicles because driverless technologies are still very constrained and need to operate in a tight controlled conditions.

Not a free flow, dynamic, crowded or ever changing road conditions that driverless technologies still cannot handle.

Hence for another few decades, I still envisaged the following hybrid public and private services transport mix :-

1. Driverless MRT 

2. Public buses with drivers 

3. Taxis 

4. Private hire

5. People owning cars

6. PMA, PMD, bicycle 

7. Driverless AV buses and taxis.


LCL (Danny εΏƒ), [30/6/2025 12:59 pm]

But new jobs for driverless AV buses and taxis could changed and NTUC, e2i must be ready to reskill, retrain and upskill existing drivers and depot workers.

But new high tech jobs will be created especially AI, engineers, programmers, IT jobs, IT operators in data center.

Demand for computer science, computer engineering, electronic and electrical engineering and mechanical engineering will ramp up.


Adam, [30/6/2025 1:53 pm]

I think the gov needs to think long and hard long term what our infrastructure should look like

Adam, [30/6/2025 1:53 pm]

Look at how cycling and pcn is implemented

Adam, [30/6/2025 1:54 pm]

The intention might be good but the implementation is horrendous

Adam, [30/6/2025 1:54 pm]

How can we be 'car lite'

Adam, [30/6/2025 1:55 pm]

Well take it as a learning experience. What went wrong, and how can we avoid half baked measures when moving to AV


LCL (Danny εΏƒ), [30/6/2025 1:58 pm]

New jobs will emerge with transition to autonomous vehicles: Acting Transport Minister | The Straits Times

https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/transport/new-jobs-will-emerge-with-transition-to-autonomous-vehicles-acting-transport-minister


REACH Singapore, [30/6/2025 2:00 pm]

πŸ“’ Topic πŸ“’


LCL (Danny εΏƒ), [30/6/2025 2:01 pm]

That means, if drivers jobs feel unsafe or chances of being taken over by driverless AV vehicles, drivers must keep an open mind to get themselves retrained and reskill to take up new but higher paying jobs offered by the driverless AV vehicles.


LCL (Danny εΏƒ), [30/6/2025 2:01 pm]

Change is constant.

Adaptable to change is resiliency.


Adam, [30/6/2025 2:02 pm]

But you cant expect the 100k phv+taxi drivers to simply find a new job at a snap of a finger


LCL (Danny εΏƒ), [30/6/2025 2:03 pm]

The transition is at least a decade.


Adam, [30/6/2025 2:03 pm]

Yeah

Adam, [30/6/2025 2:03 pm]

Maybe the gov starts by stopping handing out license for phv and taxi

Adam, [30/6/2025 2:04 pm]

Perhaps there is an industry of more atas human taxi service, or taxi service to malaysia still need human

Adam, [30/6/2025 2:05 pm]

But for reskilling, the gov needs to think through this carefully. Lots of people find skillsfuture a waste of time and money

Adam, [30/6/2025 2:06 pm]

We need a program that somewhat guarentees a job if the ex driver gets a credential.

Adam, [30/6/2025 2:06 pm]

If they reskill but cert is useless then what?

Adam, [30/6/2025 2:07 pm]

Credential already prove they can do job but why cannot get?


LCL (Danny εΏƒ), [30/6/2025 2:07 pm]

There will still be a need to access to personalized service such as driver private hire or taxi:-

1. Eg. People going to airport with luggages.

2. Elderly going to hospital.

3. A family going out with barang barang.

4. Buying groceries.

5. Fetching babies.

6. Going out with elderly that need personalized service 

Etc.


Adam, [30/6/2025 2:09 pm]

Sounds like some can possibly be replaced by AI driver with human helper passenger

Adam, [30/6/2025 2:09 pm]

Literally a AV with maid

Adam, [30/6/2025 2:09 pm]

Get maid salary

Adam, [30/6/2025 2:10 pm]

But for ambulance i dont trust AV yet

Adam, [30/6/2025 2:10 pm]

I wonder if scdf is considering it since the shortage of manpower


LCL (Danny εΏƒ), [30/6/2025 2:14 pm]

There's less and less incentive to own a car.

As now driverless vehicles are virtual and available on demand - even after midnight not constrained by availability of human drivers.

Coe as a result will fall to a sane-able level.


Adam, [30/6/2025 2:19 pm]

Or maybe the gov will make even more rent seekers out of us

Adam, [30/6/2025 2:19 pm]

People who buy coe with car will rent out the AV to AV ride hailing companies

Adam, [30/6/2025 2:20 pm]

Coe skyrocket and roads jammed with AV that never need to park

Nicholas, [30/6/2025 2:37 pm]

Would prefer auto vehicles to current arrangement. Costs to get a Grab / GoJek have gone up significantly, and there is a strange practice where driver makes you wait for minutes, then cancels when near your location, making you wait for another driver, hence unreliable especially when tight for time.

LCL (Danny εΏƒ), [30/6/2025 3:18 pm]
*LIDAR (Light Detection and Ranging)* is a remote sensing technology that uses laser light to measure distances and create high-resolution 3D models of objects and environments. It works by emitting laser pulses and measuring the time-of-flight and wavelength of the reflected signals.
*How LIDAR Works:*
1. *Laser Emission*: LIDAR emits laser pulses towards the target area.
2. *Reflection*: The laser pulses bounce back from the target objects.
3. *Measurement*: The LIDAR system measures the time-of-flight and wavelength of the reflected signals.
4. *Data Processing*: The collected data is processed to create 3D point clouds, which can be used to generate detailed maps, models, and analyses.
*Applications of LIDAR:*
1. *Autonomous Vehicles*: LIDAR is used in self-driving cars to detect obstacles, track objects, and navigate environments.
2. *Surveying and Mapping*: LIDAR is used to create high-resolution topographic maps, monitor land use changes, and track environmental changes.
3. *Aerial Mapping*: LIDAR is used in aerial surveys to create detailed 3D models of cities, forests, and other environments.
4. *Forestry and Agriculture*: LIDAR is used to monitor forest health, track tree growth, and optimize crop yields.
*Benefits of LIDAR:*
1. *High Accuracy*: LIDAR provides highly accurate distance measurements and 3D models.
2. *Detailed Data*: LIDAR collects detailed data on object shapes, sizes, and orientations.
3. *Improved Safety*: LIDAR can detect obstacles and track objects in real-time, improving safety in applications like autonomous vehicles.
Overall, LIDAR is a powerful technology that has numerous applications in fields like autonomous vehicles, surveying, and environmental monitoring.
Source:- Meta AI

LCL (Danny εΏƒ), [30/6/2025 3:21 pm]
Radar technology plays a significant role in improving the capabilities of driverless Autonomous Vehicles (AVs). Here are some ways radar enhances AVs [1][2][3]:
- *Object detection*: Radar sensors can detect objects around the vehicle, including other cars, pedestrians, and obstacles, even in adverse weather conditions like rain, fog, or snow.
- *Distance and speed measurement*: Radar sensors can accurately measure the distance and speed of surrounding objects, allowing the AV to predict their behavior and make informed decisions.
- *360-degree coverage*: Radar sensors can provide 360-degree coverage around the vehicle, enabling the AV to detect objects in its blind spots and respond accordingly.
- *Improved safety*: By detecting objects and predicting their behavior, radar technology can help prevent accidents and improve overall safety on the road.
- *Enhanced autonomy*: Radar technology can enable AVs to operate more autonomously, even in complex environments, by providing accurate and reliable data about the surroundings.
Some benefits of using radar in AVs include [4][5]:
- *Improved performance in adverse weather*: Radar can penetrate through rain, fog, and snow, allowing AVs to maintain their functionality even in challenging weather conditions.
- *Increased reliability*: Radar sensors can provide redundant data, which can improve the overall reliability of the AV's sensing system.
- *Enhanced situational awareness*: Radar technology can provide AVs with a more comprehensive understanding of their surroundings, enabling them to make more informed decisions.
Overall, radar technology is a crucial component of AVs, enabling them to detect objects, predict their behavior, and make informed decisions to ensure safe and efficient operation.
Source:- Meta AI

LCL (Danny εΏƒ), [30/6/2025 3:22 pm]
Both lidar and radar are military technologies - that will greatly improve driverless AV vehicles safety and reliability on the roads to prevent accidents.

LCL (Danny εΏƒ), [30/6/2025 3:23 pm]
Yes, commercial airplanes use both lidar and radar technologies, although in different ways and for specific purposes [1][2][3].
Radar Technology
- *Weather radar*: Commercial airplanes use weather radar to detect and navigate through adverse weather conditions, such as thunderstorms, turbulence, and precipitation.
- *Air traffic control radar*: Air traffic control uses radar to track the location and altitude of aircraft, providing critical information for safe separation and navigation.
- *Terrain awareness and warning system (TAWS)*: Some aircraft use radar-based TAWS to detect terrain and obstacles, providing warnings to pilots of potential collision risks.
Lidar Technology
- *Not commonly used in commercial aviation*: Lidar is not typically used in commercial aviation for navigation or obstacle detection, mainly due to its limitations in range and weather conditions.
- *Research and development*: However, lidar is being researched and developed for potential applications in aviation, such as:
    - *Obstacle detection*: Lidar could be used to detect obstacles on the runway or in the surrounding environment.
    - *Autonomous systems*: Lidar could be used in autonomous aircraft systems, such as drones or urban air mobility vehicles.
While radar is widely used in commercial aviation, lidar is still in the early stages of development and adoption.
Source:- Meta AI

LCL (Danny εΏƒ), [30/6/2025 3:28 pm]
Not only military, commercial airplanes also use both lidar and radar.
Hence both these technologies will give assurance to commuters driverless AV vehicles safety and reliability on the roads.
Imagine commercial airplanes are flying at much higher speed as compare to vehicles on the roads.
Also air defense missiles and fighter planes - engaging sound breaking speed exceeding Mach 1.0 (speed of sound) such as missiles, fighter planes and slower drones - but still many times the speed of vehicles on the roads.
Driverless AV vehicles look child play - if lidar and radar are deployed.

LCL (Danny εΏƒ), [30/6/2025 3:31 pm]
And the proud Elon Musk - say camera based system good enough - no need to use lidar and radar on his Tesla vehicles.
No wonder Tesla driverless cars crash in accidents time and again.

LCL (Danny εΏƒ), [30/6/2025 3:42 pm]
Having say so, driver vehicles shouldn't go to bang a driverless AV vehicles - to ensure zero accidents.
Driverless AV vehicles can avoid banging to others.
But if other driver vehicles want to bang them - AV can't stop it.

REACH Singapore, [30/6/2025 4:00 pm]
πŸ“’ Topic πŸ“’
G, [30/6/2025 4:57 pm]
"Drivers in the current ecosystem, including taxi drivers... transition to new jobs..."
So how long will such reskill, recruitment, hiring, training take?
Previously, Jeffery implied that the current duration for hiring and training new bus drivers of "6 months to 1 year" is not satisfactory 
So how does autonomous vehicles solve that problem?
G, [30/6/2025 5:01 pm]
Here's Jeffrey saying "introducing new bus services is not straightforward... Bus drivers need to be recruited and trained, which can take six months to a year. There is also a need to buy buses and build depots and interchanges"
How do autonomous vehicles make it more straightforward than introducing new bus services?
Is the recruitment and training duration reduced from six months to a year? 
Are the autonomous vehicles free, no need to buy?
Do the autonomous vehicles not need depots and interchanges to be built?
RY, [30/6/2025 5:02 pm]
SG is going towards a "smart" city with limited human resources
Hence AV is a unavoidable future trend 
Sentosa/RWS/Uni campus already started AV few years ago  
LTA will have to ensure safety when starting the AV trial in public roads now 
Guangzhou RoboBus already considering to invest in SG, since they started in GZ already, and time to explore overseas markets 
SG already has driverless train(MRT) system and hope AV will also be successful in SG 
With AI, more traditional jobs will be slowly be replaced, and believe Govt will continue to play more active role in re-skilling and upgrading human resources
G, [30/6/2025 5:07 pm]
Autonomous vehicles do not address the problem statement that Jeffrey himself highlighted a few weeks ago
Instead we see more problems that require more taxpayer money to address should these autonomous vehicles be steam rolled through:
1. Road width, not wide enough (doesn't this contradict govt's desire to have less land area used for roads?)
2. "Whether there are stopping points that are available" (existing bus stops not enough/not good enough? need to spend more money to build more stopping points?)
3. Need to have safety driver on board AVs (doesn't eliminate hiring challenge)
4. Public education campaign to "get drivers, commuters, pedastrians and cyclists used to seeing AVs on the roads"
G, [30/6/2025 5:27 pm]
"Drivers in the current ecosystem, including taxi drivers... transition to new jobs..."
"Others - we have to see how to help them reskill, to retrain.."
Imagine. Get taxi drivers/bus drivers to use skills future and upskill them. So they can train a software / robot to be able to do the job without the upksilled drivers.. to make human drivers obsolete
πŸ˜‚ Use skills future to train up yourself, to train a software so that you become obsolete?
Make that make sense please

LCL (Danny εΏƒ), [30/6/2025 5:28 pm]
1. Now let say we need to roll out 20 buses for Punggol ulu areas, government needs to :-
a. Build an interchange to house 20 buses and for drivers to change shift.
b. Engage and train 20 x 2 shift bus drivers = 40 drivers for 6 months to 1 year to familiarize on driving buses and the routes.
c. Buy new buses.

LCL (Danny εΏƒ), [30/6/2025 5:30 pm]
2. Under driverless AV buses:-
a. No need to build interchange - because it can run 24 hours 3 shifts in the route.
Or if run 2 shifts, bus bay along the route can park the AV buses - because it is remotely control by data center.
No need to change driver shift and hence no need interchange.

b. There is no need to wait to train 40 drivers.
Just engage 6 computer science graduates data centre operators to run 3 shift - 1 for 20 AV buses.

c. Just buy the AV driverless bus.
Can easily add bus services as and when demand needed.
No need long waiting times unlike the current driver bus system.

G, [30/6/2025 5:35 pm]
πŸ˜‚ This is a pipe dream

LCL (Danny εΏƒ), [30/6/2025 5:35 pm]
Just need :-
1. Charging station to charge the bus.
2. Bigger maintenance plant to maintain the AV buses.

G, [30/6/2025 5:35 pm]
Won't this cost more than current system?

LCL (Danny εΏƒ), [30/6/2025 5:36 pm]
This is the merits of AV buses not pipe dream.
Guangzhou has been running for years.
Our trial AV buses have trial for at least 2 years.

G, [30/6/2025 5:36 pm]
Isn't this confusing depot with interchanges?

LCL (Danny εΏƒ), [30/6/2025 5:37 pm]
You will need maintenance plant not interchange or depot.

G, [30/6/2025 5:37 pm]
Your point c here and
G, [30/6/2025 5:37 pm]
And your point c here.
All still need to buy new buses..
G, [30/6/2025 5:38 pm]
Depots are where maintenance for current buses are currently done isn't it?
So by saying maintenance plant.. just change name nia, but still need to build new ones right?

LCL (Danny εΏƒ), [30/6/2025 5:39 pm]
If more bus of course you will need more maintenance plants.

G, [30/6/2025 5:39 pm]
Or why is a maintenance plant better than a depot?

LCL (Danny εΏƒ), [30/6/2025 5:40 pm]
But don't need bus interchange.

Jun Ming, [30/6/2025 5:40 pm]
I think av bus will be part of the interchange

LCL (Danny εΏƒ), [30/6/2025 5:40 pm]
Well you can use depot as maintenance plant but not interchange

G, [30/6/2025 5:40 pm]
Why?
Bus interchanges are not just for driver shift change right? They serve other crucial functions too as they are key transport nodes

LCL (Danny εΏƒ), [30/6/2025 5:41 pm]
Interchange for drivers to change shift and park all the buses at night when not in operation.

LCL (Danny εΏƒ), [30/6/2025 5:43 pm]
For AV buses, it can be park everywhere along bus bay roadside (hence need wider road) or it can run continually unless no battery.

Jun Ming, [30/6/2025 5:44 pm]
Not the starting point of the bus

LCL (Danny εΏƒ), [30/6/2025 5:44 pm]
No need to build interchange to park all the buses at one place.
This will save a lot of costs.

LCL (Danny εΏƒ), [30/6/2025 5:44 pm]
No starting point.
Just go out of your house and hop into a AV buses.

G, [30/6/2025 5:45 pm]
Pipe dream
G, [30/6/2025 5:47 pm]
Need wider road:
Doesn't this go against the govt desire to have less land area used for roads?
Then where to charge the AV? Spend loads more taxpayer money to equip each bus stop / stopping station with chargers? Then make the poor charging station maintenance chap waste time traveling to each charging station for maintenance?
Or better to consolidate the charging stations at an interchange for ease and cost effectiveness for maintenance?

LCL (Danny εΏƒ), [30/6/2025 5:47 pm]
The concept of AV buses change traditional mode of bus operations.
When you add up all the cost, savings will be huge.
Eg. No need to build interchange.
No need to pay 40 drivers salaries for 2 shifts.
But pay 6 DC operators for 3 shifts.
Better sevices - hop on anywhere.
3 shifts instead of 2 shifts.
Versatile and flexible expansion of bus services - just add on - no need to wait to engage and train many bus drivers for 1 year, build interchange for 1 year etc.
Just employ ready train computer science graduates in the market and buy new driverless buses - and immediately can start operations.

G, [30/6/2025 5:50 pm]
Are the 6 DC operators cheaper to hire, train, and retain than 20 drivers?
Which highly educated and skilled DC operator will want to stay in such a 24 hour shift job, especially when there are more comfortable DC jobs that don't require shift work?

LCL (Danny εΏƒ), [30/6/2025 5:51 pm]
6 DC operators salaries fresh graduates assume $5,000 a month for 3 shifts 
Compare to 20 bus drivers for $4,500 a month for 2 shifts.
Any math experts to compute which costs is higher?

LCL (Danny εΏƒ), [30/6/2025 5:53 pm]
1 bus interchange cost $5.7 million to build (source :- Google AI)
Not including monthly maintenance, Aircon, electricity, water, etc 
Versus park along road side bus bay or drive continually on the road.

LCL (Danny εΏƒ), [30/6/2025 6:00 pm]
Acting Minister Jeffrey Seow previously is a brilliant PS.
And as he come in as an Acting Minister for Transport - he come in with a bang.
AV driverless bus are indeed a game changer.

REACH Singapore, [30/6/2025 6:01 pm]
πŸ“’ Topic πŸ“’
G, [30/6/2025 6:01 pm]
So many AV park along the side of the road.. so need to hire 2 security guards for each bus stop to jaga the AVs whenever they parked there?
Or you say no need to jaga the AV?

LCL (Danny εΏƒ), [30/6/2025 6:02 pm]
Centrally control with 360 degree cameras and sensors.
Which thief so stupid will mess around with the AV bus park in the road?
GPS tracking.
Anyone get near it will get their pretty face uploaded to the servers in DC for prosecution if any mischief are committed.
Police patrol car can quickly zoom in.

LCL (Danny εΏƒ), [30/6/2025 6:02 pm]
Anyone got to jaga your vehicle in the car park?

Adam, [30/6/2025 6:04 pm]
Nowadays got police patrol bots
Adam, [30/6/2025 6:04 pm]
Can get polis AV to monitor public AV
Adam, [30/6/2025 6:05 pm]
Maybe can even get AV traffic police in the highways

LCL (Danny εΏƒ), [30/6/2025 6:05 pm]
Yes.
Another option.

Adam, [30/6/2025 6:05 pm]
Everything in singapore will be bots
Adam, [30/6/2025 6:06 pm]
One day we get soldier droids and tank AV then no more ns

LCL (Danny εΏƒ), [30/6/2025 6:06 pm]
Still need hybrid.
Human and robots.

G, [30/6/2025 6:07 pm]
How does this square up with today's security threats?

LCL (Danny εΏƒ), [30/6/2025 6:09 pm]
Don't understand your question.

Adam, [30/6/2025 6:10 pm]
Lmao, if we go full AI, imagine if the bots become racist and certain race get stopped more often for 'random checks'
G, [30/6/2025 6:22 pm]
Why are current depots designated protected areas? What are being protected?

LCL (Danny εΏƒ), [30/6/2025 6:23 pm]
Anyone can just walk into the interchange.

LCL (Danny εΏƒ), [30/6/2025 6:24 pm]
My private house carpark also no trespassing.

Jun Ming, [30/6/2025 6:33 pm]
No lah you still need a interchange or deport for convenience for passengers. I think it will be loop service in punggol that is in the interchange.
Jun Ming, [30/6/2025 6:33 pm]
Don't make things so complicated
Jun Ming, [30/6/2025 6:34 pm]
Just need to get some lots for them
Adam, [30/6/2025 6:34 pm]
I think most people expectation of autonomous taxi AVs is point to point pickup and drop off like normal taxi
Adam, [30/6/2025 6:34 pm]
If got interchange might as well use mrt
Adam, [30/6/2025 6:35 pm]
Our mrt also have no driver

LCL (Danny εΏƒ), [30/6/2025 6:35 pm]
New AV buses don't need new interchange.
But can tap on current interchange if need be.
But in future, interchange is an old concept.
Can free up the lands for other purposes.

LCL (Danny εΏƒ), [30/6/2025 6:36 pm]
Yes.
This is the concept of AV buses.
Always on demand everywhere.

Adam, [30/6/2025 6:37 pm]
Would be interesting if we have AV buses that have really smart routing. If SBS has the data of where all the commuters homes and workplace are, can optimise a lot
Jun Ming, [30/6/2025 6:38 pm]
But we are talking about bus

LCL (Danny εΏƒ), [30/6/2025 6:38 pm]
Data center is the virtual interchange.

LCL (Danny εΏƒ), [30/6/2025 6:39 pm]
Yes can be done through data analytics.
That's why AV driverless buses are like F35s on the road.
Data is the King.

G, [30/6/2025 6:40 pm]
πŸ˜‚ trying to confuse depots and interchanges again?
REACH Singapore, [30/6/2025 6:45 pm]
Dear Contributors,
⏰ We will be closing the chat in 15 minutes ⏰
Thank you very much for being part of our Telegram chat and participating actively.
Goodnight!
Megan 😊
Jun Ming, [30/6/2025 6:59 pm]
I think on demand buses or taxi will be another thing. I think we are talking about fix routes
Jun Ming, [30/6/2025 6:59 pm]
Taxi will be the next step
Jun Ming, [30/6/2025 7:00 pm]
But that will be another set of issues
Jun Ming, [30/6/2025 7:00 pm]
As it involves taxi drivers
Jun Ming, [30/6/2025 7:00 pm]
And phd
REACH Singapore, [30/6/2025 7:00 pm]
Dear Contributors
We will be closing the chat for today.
Thank you very much for being part of our Telegram chat and participating actively.
Goodnight!
Megan 😊

====

Friday, June 27, 2025

REACH (Telegram) 82 - What are your views about the priorities laid out in the URA Draft Master Plan 2025?

(SK)

27 Jun 2025 (10am - 7pm)


REACH (Telegram)

REACH Singapore, [27/6/2025 9:45 am]

Dear Contributors,

Welcome Back! 😊

⏰ We will be opening the chat from 10am to 7pm today. ⏰

House Rules (short version of our Terms of Use) to keep in mind:

1. Be kind and respectful. We all want to be in a safe space to share our views. 

2. Any and all threatening, abusive, vulgar or racially, religiously and ethnically objectionable content is prohibited. 

3. Consider the quiet ones among us and give them a chance to comment. 

4. No need to repeat your comment or in differnet forms (including caps) - we heard you loud and clear the first time. 

5. Let's protect each other's privacy and keep contact details in this group what it should always be - confidential. 

Full set of Terms of Use: https://www.reach.gov.sg/Participate/reach-telegram-group/REACH-Telegram-Group-Chat-Terms-of-Use/

We will strive to uphold these rules to ensure this is a safe space for all. 

Please be assured that the points made by participants during the chat are aggregated and shared with relevant agencies. 

The topic will be posted shortly. 

Thank you. 

Megan 😊

REACH Singapore, [27/6/2025 10:02 am]

πŸ“’ Topic πŸ“’

On June 25 (Wednesday), the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) launched the URA Draft Master Plan 2025, which outlines Singapore’s development blueprint over the next 10 to 15 years.

Since October 2023, URA has engaged almost 220,000 people for their feedback on development plans of varying scales to ensure that the Master Plan balances diverse priorities at the national, community and individual levels.

At least 80,000 new public and private homes are expected to be built in more than 10 new neighbourhoods such as Defu, Dover-Medley and Paterson. Bishan Town Centre is also expected to be developed into a sub-regional centre with new workplaces similar to the scale of Paya Lebar Central, while new Integrated Community Hubs will also be set in Sengkang, Woodlands North and Yio Chu Kang.

πŸ’¬ What are your views about the priorities laid out in the URA Draft Master Plan 2025?

πŸ“Œ New housing areas announced in Master Plan

At least 80,000 public and private homes are slated to be introduced across more than 10 new housing areas islandwide over the next 10 to 15 years, under the Master Plan. These homes would be in new neighbourhoods that are set to be established in areas such as Dover, Defu, Newton and Paterson, offering a mix of public and private homes.

Of note, public and private homes will be built up in the Defu Industrial area after Paya Lebar Air Base is relocated in the 2030s. The URA also outlined longer-term plans for towns in larger areas such as Sembawang Shipyard, which will cease operations in 2028, and the former Singapore Racecourse in Kranji.

In Newton, a new neighbourhood containing 5,000 private homes will be introduced, which will be anchored by a mixed-used development to be built next to Newton MRT station and Newton Food Centre.

πŸ“Œ New Integrated Community Hubs

At the URA Draft Master Plan 2025 exhibition, National Development Minister Chee Hong Tat said the hubs in Sengkang, Woodlands and Yio Chu Kang – to be built in the next 10 to 15 years – will be located near public transport nodes and combine sports facilities, healthcare and community spaces in one location.

An example of an integrated hub is Our Tampines Hub, which houses a regional library, a community club, a football field and a hawker centre, among other amenities.

πŸ“Œ Development of a sub-regional Centre in Bishan

The Bishan town centre will be developed into a sub-regional centre with new workplaces and amenities, in line with the Government’s move to shift employment and commercial activities outside the city centre.

Sub-regional centres are business nodes such as Paya Lebar and Serangoon that bring jobs closer to homes. They are smaller than the regional centres in Woodlands, Jurong East and Tampines.

πŸ“Œ Preserving heritage and tackling climate change

The former Pasir Panjang English School, the NatSteel pavilion in Jurong and 20 buildings at Bukit Timah's Turf City will be conserved under the country's latest land use master plan.

URA said it has developed a new thematic framework to guide conservation efforts, aligned with four key aspects of Singapore's post-independence growth – economy, housing, social and defence.

The former Pasir Panjang English School and buildings at Turf City fall under the “social” theme, while the NatSteel Steel Pavilion represents Singapore’s early industrialisation under the “economy” theme.

The Draft Master Plan also outlines Singapore's strategies to address climate change, such as the “Long island” project to guard against rising sea levels, enhance water security and create new land for future generations. The plan involves reclaiming about 800 hectares of land, with a reservoir in between.

πŸ“Œ URA Draft Master Plan 2025 exhibition

From now till Nov 29, the URA Draft Master Plan 2025 is being exhibited at The URA Centre. It will also make stops across the island from Aug 2 to Nov 9.

REACH Singapore, [27/6/2025 10:02 am]

πŸ‘‰πŸ» https://str.sg/fjuW

πŸ‘‰πŸ» https://str.sg/dMjN

πŸ‘‰πŸ» https://str.sg/crWB

πŸ‘‰πŸ» https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/ura-draft-master-plan-unveils-proposals-new-homes-orchard-and-newton-5200016

πŸ‘‰πŸ» https://www.ura.gov.sg/Corporate/Media-Room/Media-Releases/pr25-32

----


REACH Singapore, [27/6/2025 11:00 am]

[ Poll : I am confident that the URA Draft Master Plan 2025 addresses Singapore’s evolving needs. Please share your reasons in the chat! ]

- Strongly agree

- Agree

- Neutral

- Disagree

- Strongly disagree

Jun Ming, [27/6/2025 11:13 am]

Please balance nature and building new buildings

Jun Ming, [27/6/2025 11:13 am]

I have seen too much deforestation to build new estate

365, [27/6/2025 11:14 am]

Pretty neutral as I'm largely unaffected, maybe except for developing a new sub-Regional Centre for workplace opportunities. 

Though I'm not near Bishan, but would be great to expand more workplaces all around Singapore instead of focusing majority of it into CBD.

New hubs seem pretty great for those starting a new family, with amenities readily available and conveniently accessible.

Great improvement overall even though I don't get much benefit as I'm don't reside near or under these planned areas.

Jun Ming, [27/6/2025 11:14 am]

Tengah forest town is a concrete jungle

Jun Ming, [27/6/2025 11:16 am]

I don't see anything special when driving pass tengah, except HDB which are closely packed

Jun Ming, [27/6/2025 11:16 am]

I don't see a forest

Jun Ming, [27/6/2025 11:18 am]

Ng chee meng says to supply more HDB to bring down price. 

But how about reducing the demand from pr and new citizens to bring down HDB price

Jun Ming, [27/6/2025 11:20 am]

Other than that I have no issues with urban development


LCL (Danny εΏƒ), [27/6/2025 12:22 pm]

1. I particularly like the idea of sub regional hub in Bishan like Paya Lebar Central


2. And also the integrated hubs in Yio Chu Kang, Woodlands and Sengkang with mixed of housing, malls etc.


3. Though I not sure about the differences between the 2 setups - probably sub regional hub encompass office areas and workplace whereas integrated hubs are more housing and shopping leisure as it includes mall?


4. This is a better concept than our traditional HDB flats, neighbourhood coffeeshops and shophouses - whereby residents don't have a more mall like shopping areas and food court to laypark.


LCL (Danny εΏƒ), [27/6/2025 12:47 pm]

5. With such integrated hubs, hopefully include neighbourhood coffeeshops and shophouses in the mix (to cater for elderly and lower income groups) - Singaporeans will have more vibrant places to visit, laypark and shops.


LCL (Danny εΏƒ), [27/6/2025 12:51 pm]

1. I will also like to look at the population demographics of Singapore from now 2025 to 2050 (25 years later) - why Singapore need such building master plan to cater for about 6.5 million people.


2. If we analyse the statistics carefully, we will notice that our domestic economy only can function optimally and population replacement can be sustainable with careful long term population and housing planning.


LCL (Danny εΏƒ), [27/6/2025 12:59 pm]

3. By 2030, 122,000 Singaporeans will be 65 years or older.

Source:- Meta AI 


3. By 2050 (25 years down the road), 3.08 million people, half of Singapore population will be 65 years or older.

Source:- Google AI


4. That means, 1 young people need to take care of 1 elderly - the ratio of 1 : 1.


5. Or in another words, Singapore population will be down to only 3 millions if we take a short term view without proper population and housing planning now - by not focusing on our TFR (total fertility rate) to replace our population and if cannot meet our replacement needs, will have to look into immigrants - new citizens and PRs to replace Singapore population.


Jun Ming, [27/6/2025 1:01 pm]

Then focus on tfr which gov is lacking


LCL (Danny εΏƒ), [27/6/2025 1:02 pm]

6. If we fail to do so, there will be many adverse consequences:-


a. All young people need to work doubly hard to earn salaries and very high taxes to finance the fiscal budget and pay for the healthcare cost of the elderly.


b. Domestic economy shrink - as not enough people to run SMEs, food stalls or local people to spend money to make our domestic economy healthy.


c. Not enough talents within our Country to helm important institutions like the government, defence, home security, run GLCs, do R&D, run private enterprises, do exports, manufacturing, trade, engage in foreign affairs etc.


d. Our country could even cease to exist.


Jun Ming, [27/6/2025 1:03 pm]

Because we have limited land. We cannot infinitly expand our population

Jun Ming, [27/6/2025 1:04 pm]

We only need to maintain our population and not increase our population

365, [27/6/2025 1:05 pm]

Tfr is a global issue not unique to SG, even EU countries are dropping consistently and a lot of them are below replacement rate already.

It sounds grim but I believe longevity is what led to a population structural issue, which then leads to Tfr issue.

Jun Ming, [27/6/2025 1:05 pm]

It's resources allocation. The total resources are fix and more people are sharing the resources

Jun Ming, [27/6/2025 1:06 pm]

Unless there's a breakthrough or new resources is found it's very hard for population increase

Jun Ming, [27/6/2025 1:07 pm]

And over the period of time there will be war and diseases to reduce population

Jun Ming, [27/6/2025 1:08 pm]

This is nature. After world war II the new world just started therefore baby boom

Jun Ming, [27/6/2025 1:09 pm]

As time pass resources depleted opportunity reduces of course no one wants to have offspring

Jun Ming, [27/6/2025 1:10 pm]

I believe the war in middle east is also a effort to reduce global population


LCL (Danny εΏƒ), [27/6/2025 1:15 pm]

7. Sufficient population will grow the economy. Output and resources will grow and not shrink when sufficient population are productive and contribute to the the economy - this is economics.


8. However if our population shrink into a size that are not conducive for economic growth - then demultiplier effects will kick in - and soon we will fall from a developed country into a 3rd world country.


9. Myanmar long time ago is a very well developed country but fall into a 3rd world country because of economic mismanagement, internal conflict.


10. Japan similarly is the 2nd largest economy after US - but now keep dropping in ranking overtaken by China, Germany and India is catching up quickly - because Japan fail to maintain its TFR and refuse to accept immigrants because they prefer homogeneous people.

But now many elderly passed away leaving many rundown houses with no occupancy.

Many schools close because not enough young Japanese attend schools.

Their economic growth keep plunging and hover around 0 growth rate year after year.


10. The same can happen to Singapore without proper population and housing management/planning.


Jun Ming, [27/6/2025 1:16 pm]

https://www.globaldata.com/data-insights/macroeconomic/most-densely-populated-countries-in-global/#:~:text=Singapore%20is%20followed%20by%20Hong,3%2C369%20people%20per%20square%20kilometer.

Adam, [27/6/2025 1:17 pm]

Since when is healthcare a collective responsibility? I fall sick and you pay for it? Can i take from you medisave? If elderly needs healthcare, they have their own medisave and own insurance

Jun Ming, [27/6/2025 1:18 pm]

Are you sure it's because of no immigrants that Japan fall

Adam, [27/6/2025 1:18 pm]

All our residents have their whole working lives contributing to their own fund, why need tax to subsidize?


LCL (Danny εΏƒ), [27/6/2025 1:18 pm]

Healthcare subsidy by government come from taxes collected from population.


Adam, [27/6/2025 1:19 pm]

Wouldnt that creat a buffet syndrome? Ill just go for the best taxpayer contributed to minimuze my own spending

Jun Ming, [27/6/2025 1:19 pm]

It's because the highly stressful environment, and us playing tricks


LCL (Danny εΏƒ), [27/6/2025 1:19 pm]

And subsidies can range from 30% to 60% or more depending on income groups.


LCL (Danny εΏƒ), [27/6/2025 1:20 pm]

School fees for Singaporeans are subsidise.


Jun Ming, [27/6/2025 1:20 pm]

Why subsidies when we can reduce the cost of treatment


LCL (Danny εΏƒ), [27/6/2025 1:20 pm]

Housing grants are subsidise.


Jun Ming, [27/6/2025 1:20 pm]

Left to right pocket


LCL (Danny εΏƒ), [27/6/2025 1:21 pm]

Social welfare are subsidise.


Adam, [27/6/2025 1:21 pm]

Also subsidies encourage the providers to gouge our system. If they know gov will be footing part of the bill, just charge the patient the max they can afford


LCL (Danny εΏƒ), [27/6/2025 1:21 pm]

Job support programs are subsidise.


Jun Ming, [27/6/2025 1:21 pm]

Land is own by gov 

They set high price and give subsidies


LCL (Danny εΏƒ), [27/6/2025 1:21 pm]

Retrenchment support are government subsidy.


Adam, [27/6/2025 1:22 pm]

Already housing people leverage to the max, they are counting on the subsidy to make part of the cost. And homesellers can charge more because they know gov will give money to the buyer and buyer can used locked cpf funds

Jun Ming, [27/6/2025 1:23 pm]

For health care sometimes doctor just decides for you the treatment plan without giving you different treatment plan for patients to choose


LCL (Danny εΏƒ), [27/6/2025 1:23 pm]

Who pay the most taxes for government fiscal budget?

The very rich.

Middle income - pay lesser.

Lower income - pay almost no taxes.


Adam, [27/6/2025 1:23 pm]

Throw tax money to healthcare, dont be surprised that hospitals make big profit

Jun Ming, [27/6/2025 1:24 pm]

Until we ask for alternative treatments plan

Jun Ming, [27/6/2025 1:24 pm]

As we dislike the plan after trying it out

Jun Ming, [27/6/2025 1:25 pm]

End up we spent additional money


LCL (Danny εΏƒ), [27/6/2025 1:25 pm]

But what if our population fall by half to 3 millions people?

Domestic economy cannot function well.

Very rich cannot grow their wealth in Singapore, leave Singapore.

Left with middle income and lower income - pay even higher taxes to compensate.

Many elderly with not enough support.

Singapore economy plummet.

We will be a very sad state.


Adam, [27/6/2025 1:25 pm]

Our elderly dinks with multi million in cpf needs more support

Adam, [27/6/2025 1:26 pm]

If only they have children for filial piety

Adam, [27/6/2025 1:26 pm]

Why cant single elders plan ahead

Jun Ming, [27/6/2025 1:26 pm]

But all these newcomers will eventually becomes old and their fertility rate does not replace them

Jun Ming, [27/6/2025 1:26 pm]

Then we will have a bigger problem

Jun Ming, [27/6/2025 1:27 pm]

The snowball will be bigger

Jun Ming, [27/6/2025 1:27 pm]

Isn't it

Adam, [27/6/2025 1:27 pm]

Tbf, a lot of our pop is not citizen. When they grow old they can have a comfy retirement in china/india/malaysia

Adam, [27/6/2025 1:28 pm]

We can simply import working age adults and kick them out when they stop working like what we are doing now


LCL (Danny εΏƒ), [27/6/2025 1:28 pm]

Singapore now is the most well managed economy in the world.

US with everything on their own - descended into a more and more unliveable, unlikeable, hostile place to live.

And many Americans stand up and openly quote Singapore and China as an economic model to emulate.

Not US - a selfish nation.


LCL (Danny εΏƒ), [27/6/2025 1:28 pm]

American democratic don't work because uneducated 60% voted for uneducated leader twice.

Singapore and China hold up for best government in the world.

https://vt.tiktok.com/ZSkEwa1L8/


Adam, [27/6/2025 1:30 pm]

Thing is, american who voted for him arent voting for the economy

Adam, [27/6/2025 1:31 pm]

Because what is the economy? The economy boomed since covid. Stonks doubled. Did you income double since?

Adam, [27/6/2025 1:31 pm]

Because economy doesnt equal income and col

Adam, [27/6/2025 1:31 pm]

So who benefits when economy good?

Adam, [27/6/2025 1:31 pm]

Rich ppl

Adam, [27/6/2025 1:32 pm]

Singapore has lots of rich ppl so singapore benefit

Adam, [27/6/2025 1:32 pm]

But idk if you or me benefit as much

Adam, [27/6/2025 1:33 pm]

Singapore economy very good. We can see it in hdb price rising faster than median income.


LCL (Danny εΏƒ), [27/6/2025 1:37 pm]

And a mindset of isolationism, nationalism, protectionism, the MAGA  - is exactly what the current Trump administration are doing for US.

Results:- civil turmoil, economic contagion, hostile living environment, alot of hatred, polarisation and divisive politics domestically as well as hatred towards immigrants and other countries.

Now US increasingly isolated from the world and the world are increasingly treating US as a pariah State, an unwelcome Nation.


G, [27/6/2025 1:44 pm]

How much will our views impact on the process and decisions for draft master plan to published master plan?

How much more will the draft master plan change between now and full publishing?

Or is it a done deal already, and today's topic is more for ground sensing for future pacification framing?


LCL (Danny εΏƒ), [27/6/2025 1:48 pm]

G7 summit, no World Leaders greet Trump.

Because Trump humiliated many of them in bilateral meetings at the White House.

https://vt.tiktok.com/ZSkw7N2To/


G, [27/6/2025 1:48 pm]

Does the draft master plan fit into new transport minister's priorities? 

Or does the new transport minister's priorities fit into the draft master plan?

Jun Ming, [27/6/2025 1:54 pm]

Half of the population are citizens and we add in about 50k people pr and citizens every year

Jun Ming, [27/6/2025 1:54 pm]

https://www.sg101.gov.sg/social-national-identity/examples/integrating/

Jun Ming, [27/6/2025 1:56 pm]

So how much does ura account these numbers as that means every year there's a need of at least 10-20k housing at demand assuming 3-4 new citizens stays together

Jun Ming, [27/6/2025 1:58 pm]

Average time to build a building will take about 3-4 years I assume so  about 80k housing per plan demands

Jun Ming, [27/6/2025 1:59 pm]

So every election there will be new hub being announced of my calculations are right

Garion Chan, [27/6/2025 1:59 pm]

Can I know does the Authorities even address the issue of 2nd timer trying to apply for a Bto? 80000 is just a number. Carbon Footprint is another issue with potential deforestation. 

OH, by the way will he look into only 5% chance given to 2nd timer and now increased to 30% on a case by case basis needs, as new system just making more people apply. Nothing wrong to applying but people like me have applied for 13th time still cannot get πŸ˜…

REACH Singapore, [27/6/2025 2:01 pm]

πŸ“’ Topic πŸ“’

Jun Ming, [27/6/2025 2:03 pm]

I searched Google 100-200 flats per HDB so on average there's a need for at least 10 -20 HDB to be built/year

Jun Ming, [27/6/2025 2:04 pm]

So I can foresee deforestation and more new estate in coming years

Jun Ming, [27/6/2025 2:05 pm]

After that within 10-20 years gov will say let's develop ubin and you will see ubin become another estate.

Jun Ming, [27/6/2025 2:06 pm]

And more tourists will say boring

Adam, [27/6/2025 2:14 pm]

Lol ubin as an estate? I wonder if how people will go to work

Adam, [27/6/2025 2:14 pm]

Maybe we can have an ubin mrt

Adam, [27/6/2025 2:19 pm]

About deforestation, gov should look into places that dont make efficient use of land. Maybe need a land value tax.

If we convert low density housing to tall flats, we need to cut down less forests and its more sustainable. Making better public transport also reduce it. See how much space some roads and car parks take

Adam, [27/6/2025 2:20 pm]

Doesnt have to be housing too. Mall, sports centres, religious building need to improve land usage

Jun Ming, [27/6/2025 2:21 pm]

Yes that's why I suggest 50 and above storey HDB as a norm instead those short 20-40 storey building

Adam, [27/6/2025 2:21 pm]

Or we can also just reclaim more land like T5

Adam, [27/6/2025 2:21 pm]

Maybe build underground and ubderwater lol

Jun Ming, [27/6/2025 2:21 pm]

Reclaiming land harm biodiversity

Jun Ming, [27/6/2025 2:23 pm]

Singapore need to have residential sky scrapper but these projects only have a few

Jun Ming, [27/6/2025 2:25 pm]

The pinnacle is already 15 year old it's time to build another taller one

Adam, [27/6/2025 2:25 pm]

At this rate maybe make a deal with malaysia so can move housing or industry there

Jun Ming, [27/6/2025 2:26 pm]

Unless Singapore expand into JB lor. Like acquire JB lands if not very hard to survive at these newcomers rate

Adam, [27/6/2025 2:27 pm]

Reality is, business that cant utilize valuable singapore land effectively will die out

Adam, [27/6/2025 2:27 pm]

Imagine if all your food come from singapore farm

Adam, [27/6/2025 2:28 pm]

If feed whole singapore then the main island will be agriculture while everyone else live in sentosa

Adam, [27/6/2025 2:28 pm]

Ultimately have to move land intensive stuff offshore


LCL (Danny εΏƒ), [27/6/2025 2:29 pm]

'A city without history is harder to love': The emotional case for preserving Singapore's heritage through conserved buildings.

The government proposed conserving five sites of heritage value under the latest draft master plan. 

But what sort of memories and historical value do these sites hold for Singaporeans?         

https://www.channelnewsasia.com/today/big-read/city-without-history-harder-love-emotional-case-preserving-singapores-heritage-through-conserved-buildings-5167336


Jun Ming, [27/6/2025 2:32 pm]

Honestly I don't what these 5 sites are for

Jun Ming, [27/6/2025 2:32 pm]

Forgive me as I am gen z


LCL (Danny εΏƒ), [27/6/2025 2:35 pm]

1. Next I want to address heritage.

2. Singapore has a short history - about 60 years.

3. Hence our heritage is not very rich.

4. As I read a news article few days ago, a British woman tourist visit Singapore and exclaimed:- "I expect to see Singapore historical heritage. But all I see are many tall modern buildings".

5. Hardly see any historical heritage that talk about Singapore history and development.

6. I concur with her observations though it is not pleasant.

7. Tourists often when visit a country will like to know the historical background and heritage of a country in addition to the tourist spots.

8. A rundown of our heritage at a central place will be needed to keep tourists attracted to and remember us uniquely when they arrive in Singapore.


Jun Ming, [27/6/2025 2:37 pm]

This is the part we are lacking.  Our history starts from raffles not very long

Jun Ming, [27/6/2025 2:37 pm]

We have museum but do Singaporean even goes to museums


LCL (Danny εΏƒ), [27/6/2025 2:37 pm]

9. Hence the foresight and vision of our government to plan and build for a central Memorial Heritage Hall besides Marina Bay Garden is a good move.

Though it may cost $350 million to build.

But the ROI from tourism revenue will be worth it.


Jun Ming, [27/6/2025 2:38 pm]

Do we know the history of let say Jurong east

Jun Ming, [27/6/2025 2:39 pm]

History of Chua chu kang. I think heritage is not like show and tell in one big museum

Jun Ming, [27/6/2025 2:39 pm]

But many small small introduction of what happens in small areas


LCL (Danny εΏƒ), [27/6/2025 2:39 pm]

10. Currently our museums and heritage sites are scattered all over the places, small in scale, not well connected and story don't run coherently.

11. Even though if we visit each of the sites, when I was young, I can't piece the rundown of our history coherently.


Jun Ming, [27/6/2025 2:40 pm]

Because museum are attraction site where Singaporean don't go as need to pay money

Jun Ming, [27/6/2025 2:42 pm]

Heritage is something Singaporean should know without deliberately goes to somewhere to understand


LCL (Danny εΏƒ), [27/6/2025 2:44 pm]

12. Hence if we have a large centrally located - centralised Heritage Memorial Hall near Marina Bay Garden - well planned, with visual to coherently present our history from Sang Nila Utama all the away to 1965 independence to our current State - pointing out historical locations of historical events - then I think we will attract foreign tourists and local tourists to visit the Heritage Hall.


13. Singapore can easily recoup the ROI of $350 million as our tourism revenue is $29 billion every year.

Source :- Google AI.

$350 million is peanut. That's 1.2% of our yearly tourism revenue.


LCL (Danny εΏƒ), [27/6/2025 2:48 pm]

14. I have read and visited some grand heritage sites overseas especially Europe that is very rich in historical heritage culture, Hawaii. 

Unfortunately, I didn't visit China - another very rich heritage sites.


15. The tourism revenue brought by these heritage sites are huge.


16. Likewise, I think it will be the same for Singapore if we plan our Heritage Memorial Hall right.


LCL (Danny εΏƒ), [27/6/2025 2:49 pm]

Heritage sites indeed attract a significant number of tourists and generate substantial revenue for many countries. Here's a breakdown of the impact of heritage tourism ¹ ² ³:

- *Global Market Size:* The heritage tourism market was valued at around $604.38 billion in 2024 and is projected to reach $778.07 billion by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 4.5%. Other estimates suggest it could reach $817.52 billion by 2034 or $843.5 billion by 2033.

- *Growth Drivers:* Increasing interest in cultural and historical experiences, preservation of cultural heritage, and sustainable tourism practices are driving the growth of heritage tourism.

- *Regional Hotspots:* The Asia Pacific region dominates the heritage tourism market, accounting for around 39.76% of global revenue in 2024. Countries like Japan and China are investing heavily in preserving their cultural sites, which attracts tourists and boosts local economies.

- *Revenue Streams:* Heritage sites generate revenue through ticket sales, tourism packages, and donations. Some sites, like the Louvre Museum, are also embracing digital transformation by offering virtual tours, which can provide additional income.

- *Economic Impact:* Heritage tourism can have a significant economic impact on local communities, creating jobs and stimulating economic growth. However, it's essential to balance tourism with preservation and sustainability to ensure the long-term benefits of heritage tourism.

Some notable examples of heritage sites that attract many tourists include ⁴:

- *Machu Picchu:* This Inca citadel in Peru is a popular tourist destination, and efforts are being made to engage local communities and ensure sustainable tourism practices.

- *Louvre Museum:* By offering virtual tours, the Louvre is making art more accessible while generating additional revenue.

- *Historic England Sites:* In 2023, historic attractions in the UK saw an 11% increase in visits, with revenue rising by 10%.

Source:- Meta AI


LCL (Danny εΏƒ), [27/6/2025 3:02 pm]

The Singaporean government (https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Government_of_Singapore) has established four nature reserves in Singapore (https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Singapore). They are the Bukit Timah Nature Reserve (https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bukit_Timah_Nature_Reserve), Central Catchment Nature Reserve (https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Central_Catchment_Nature_Reserve), Labrador Nature Reserve (https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Labrador_Nature_Reserve), and Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve (https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sungei_Buloh_Wetland_Reserve).[1] (https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nature_reserves_in_Singapore#cite_note-1)

Source:- Wikipedia


LCL (Danny εΏƒ), [27/6/2025 3:03 pm]

In 1984, nature reserves took up some 2,000 hectares (4,900 acres) of the country's land.[2] (https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nature_reserves_in_Singapore#cite_note-Hsuan_1-2) This figure has been increased to 3,000 hectares (7,400 acres), as of 2009.[3] (https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nature_reserves_in_Singapore#cite_note-Tan_1-3)


Jun Ming, [27/6/2025 3:08 pm]

But look at the vegetation map it reduces greately


LCL (Danny εΏƒ), [27/6/2025 3:11 pm]

Despite the housing plans, the Singapore nature reserves has grown in size and not diminished.

And amidst the integrated housing hubs build, tree planting that conforms with the concept of flower gardens will be put in place.


Jun Ming, [27/6/2025 3:11 pm]

https://www.researchgate.net/figure/years-of-land-cover-change-in-Singapore-The-maps-were-created-based-on-four_fig1_335905786

Jun Ming, [27/6/2025 3:13 pm]

I think younger population like me wants more nature 

That's why you see many nature groups in Singapore. And very group show this type of map

Adam, [27/6/2025 3:19 pm]

Me neither

Adam, [27/6/2025 3:19 pm]

Imo, if the givr wanna preserve something it should be food culture


LCL (Danny εΏƒ), [27/6/2025 3:19 pm]

Unregulated forest shrink because need to build houses, transport, office buildings and amenities.

But 4 big forest reserves size increase.

Trees will be planted along the roads and housing blocks to beef up vegetation and make Singapore a city garden - not just concrete blocks.


Adam, [27/6/2025 3:20 pm]

What happened to the ice cream sellers under the block?

Adam, [27/6/2025 3:20 pm]

Im sure almost all remember them if they lived here long enough


LCL (Danny εΏƒ), [27/6/2025 3:24 pm]

The green density within our whole country is one of the densest in the world and hence label as the "Garden City".


Ginie/Komal ZENDORA J, [27/6/2025 3:24 pm]

True

Ginie/Komal ZENDORA J, [27/6/2025 3:25 pm]

Pasir ris was so beautiful with mini forest all gone. Construction,  build more buildings.  Private home

Ginie/Komal ZENDORA J, [27/6/2025 3:25 pm]

All foreigners buying for investment

Ginie/Komal ZENDORA J, [27/6/2025 3:26 pm]

Had see monitor lizard roaming on the road nearby where there used to be forest

Ginie/Komal ZENDORA J, [27/6/2025 3:27 pm]

Too many shopping mals side by side. Go in al shops empty. No customer

Ginie/Komal ZENDORA J, [27/6/2025 3:32 pm]

Yesterday topic on food.

Economic rice stalls have veg food, but not pure veg. Bittergourd, is made with eggs. Fried rice with eggs. Veggies with prawn sambal.  U tell the people working there to make without egg n veg sample. No respond. Not the owners. I stall I went to, used same spoon that was used in meat item. Someone need to make them understand.  They can increase business if put veg food n non veg food apart. Use saperate utensils.  N make veggies pure veg


LCL (Danny εΏƒ), [27/6/2025 3:32 pm]

Ironically, all the malls and food courts I visited are packed with people.

Eg. Nex, Paya lebar central, Ang Mo Kio hub, Punggol Mall, IMM, Sengkang Mall etc.


Ginie/Komal ZENDORA J, [27/6/2025 3:33 pm]

Malls are packed. Look into the shops, how empty

Jun Ming, [27/6/2025 3:40 pm]

This is why I guess not to continue deforestation if possible build one big building to accommodate every thing rather keep invading other life places


LCL (Danny εΏƒ), [27/6/2025 3:56 pm]

Many of the shops in the mall are surviving and profitable for many years - even though they look no one patronizing - paying high monthly rental.

Though a few change hands.

That means, their business revenue can sustain their business except for a few.

Some are doing online e-commerce business in addition to physical stores.

So cannot jump to conclusion that shops lack patronage means no business and not profitable.

Sometimes it is more than meet the eyes.

That's why, population numbers must be sufficient to sustain the domestic economy.

Unlike in Johor, many vacant shops in the malls, hardly can see people walking into the malls.

Singapore malls are packed with people and all shops are taken up - didn't see any empty slots in the malls.


Hanny, [27/6/2025 3:57 pm]

I like the fact that more greeneries are featured in the master plan.

Hanny, [27/6/2025 4:01 pm]

People talks about the high cost of rental in holland village. I live very near to holland village. I don’t know how much is the rent. I can see shops closed and new shops opened. The place is busier than ever.

REACH Singapore, [27/6/2025 4:02 pm]

πŸ“’ Topic πŸ“’

Hanny, [27/6/2025 4:02 pm]

I work in cbp area. My lunch is less than $5, 2 veg 1 meat and rice.

Hanny, [27/6/2025 4:03 pm]

We should have more integrated community.


LCL (Danny εΏƒ), [27/6/2025 4:09 pm]

I also visited Vivo City.

As I browse around the 2 floor NTUC hypermarket, I notice a few NTUC staff with a vest that say - online orders.

And I see the staff busy emptying shelves of groceries into their trolley and it is very full.

I was astonished, the fully packed shelves suddenly become half empty as I browse.

So who can jump into conclusion that so many malls, shops got no business?


LCL (Danny εΏƒ), [27/6/2025 4:26 pm]

1. Next I want to talk about the concept of "Long Island" that do a buffer along the east coast - to prevent rising sea water - entrap a reservoir - so that sea facing integrated hubs can be build for housing, malls and shopping.


2. Such development can help to bring revenue to finance the infrastructure of sea rising threat, and at the same time build housing, integrated hubs to solve housing problems and at the same time create a reservoir for water supply.


3. A brilliant masterplan that solves many problems at one go.


LCL (Danny εΏƒ), [27/6/2025 4:43 pm]

In fact I was thinking along the line of entering a time machine,


1. Tourists will enter into a chamber of Sang Nila Utama in a jungle, we witness the prince see a lion entering (can be video) but a life size humans and lion like - using AI and humanoid robots ?

Or virtual reality.

Or even actors and actress show?

Or it can be a combination of the 4 visuals with broadcast narrative explaining the chronological events.

Probably can elicit MediaCorp to help in choreographing the whole show like a drama or movie.

Or even getting input from thearterical directors who are proficient in theaters shows.

To give the impact of historical events - how Temasek is formed.


LCL (Danny εΏƒ), [27/6/2025 4:47 pm]

2. Then enter another chamber, to relive the Sir Stamford Raffles.

3. Then British colony.

4. Then the impact of Japanese occupation.

5. Then British retake Singapore.

6. Merger with Malaysia.

7. Indonesia confrontation.

8. Racial riot.

9.  Then LKY win independence - probably can broadcast his election speech through a lifesize LKY robot? - From marshland to become a metropolitan city 10 years down the road! He exclaimed.

10. Etc etc until the development of modern Singapore.

The whole historical heritage can take one full day or a few days - to have an immersive experience of our 60 years of heritage.

So think deeply, will tourists pay good money for such immersive heritage experience?

And recoup our $350 million investment easily?


LCL (Danny εΏƒ), [27/6/2025 4:48 pm]

If we can build such an impactful Heritage Memorial Hall in Marina Bay - then the impact to tourism visitation will be very successful.


Jun Ming, [27/6/2025 5:10 pm]

If I am a tourist will I pay for such a fake thing πŸ€”

Jun Ming, [27/6/2025 5:10 pm]

Maybe for once


LCL (Danny εΏƒ), [27/6/2025 5:10 pm]

After one or a few show, can usher the tourists into a lunch chamber.

Offering a mix of say 1960s food.

Eg.

1. Kok Kok mian - roadside mee stall, hainanese chicken rice etc.

2. Malay halal food eg. Nasi lemak, mee rebus, mee Siam etc.

3. Indian food like curry chicken, roti prata etc 

4. Western food.

Etc.

This will give the impact of show + food - and reinforce tourists of Singapore history.


Jun Ming, [27/6/2025 5:10 pm]

But that's only like one attraction


LCL (Danny εΏƒ), [27/6/2025 5:11 pm]

More than 10 attraction because every period of historical setting are different.


LCL (Danny εΏƒ), [27/6/2025 5:12 pm]

Easily 1 hour or 2 in each setting.


Jun Ming, [27/6/2025 5:12 pm]

I think heritage should be hidden yet everywhere. Such as mrt station like eunos mrt show some historical board that will be more useful

Jun Ming, [27/6/2025 5:13 pm]

Of course museum is important but that will be more for tourists rather for locals

Jun Ming, [27/6/2025 5:14 pm]

If neighbourhood complex or building design that showcase heritage with story introduction that will be better

Jun Ming, [27/6/2025 5:16 pm]

Maybe painting or something to introduce a place history with wording explanation

Jun Ming, [27/6/2025 5:17 pm]

Something ζ½œη§»ι»˜εŒ–rather purposely


LCL (Danny εΏƒ), [27/6/2025 5:18 pm]

Yesterday, I was watching a tvb drama serial. ζ½œθ‘ŒθΏ½ε‡»。Laughing ε“₯。

A 45 minute drama each - 30 series.

But the up and down of the plot make me glue to the TV for a solid 45 minutes.

Cannot wait to watch the next series.

If our new Heritage Memorial Hall historical events can achieve such impact - then we have more than 10 attractions in each historical events.

I think the 2nd world war, will be interesting.

The racial riot will make us nervous and exciting.

The build up of LKY independence and election speech will be inspiring.

Etc.


365, [27/6/2025 5:19 pm]

With the amount of ppl glued to their phones, how many actually will realise any differences when they walk by? Can't force a horse to drink water if it's not thirsty.


LCL (Danny εΏƒ), [27/6/2025 5:20 pm]

And this tvb drama serial - the 5th time I watch it.

It is still very exciting and I keep chasing it even though I know the plot.

If our Heritage attractions can achieve such effects - local tourists won't mind watching it again repeatedly.


Jun Ming, [27/6/2025 5:21 pm]

That is why I emphasize more on painting on buildings, corridors mrt station so when people board they may look around and catch their attention

Jun Ming, [27/6/2025 5:22 pm]

Jurong east have shelter corridors that feature art of students. This can also change to historical heritage

Jun Ming, [27/6/2025 5:24 pm]

Who knows why esplanade is build be like durian


LCL (Danny εΏƒ), [27/6/2025 5:35 pm]

Another TVB Drama series - that talk about Japanese occupation in HK.

30 series drama. δΉ‰ζ΅·θ±ͺζƒ…。

How the actors and actresses survive Japanese occupation, join guerillas and Japanese surrender.

Very exciting and nerve racking.

If we can produce similar quality show in our heritage attraction during Japanese occupation - eg. How Lim Bo Seng fight the guerilla war - nerve racking and got caught and torture.

How our Malay lieutenant leading a Malay battalion fight the Japanese invaders heroically in bukit timah or bukit panjang.

Then it will attract foreign tourists and local tourists to the heritage hall.


LCL (Danny εΏƒ), [27/6/2025 5:38 pm]

I think our tourism board that are building the heritage memorial hall - can view those videos that I mentioned.

It is found in YouTube.

Just type the Chinese characters drama name.

You can view it - and see whether you get addicted to the drama or not.

But it can certainly bring alot of pointers to build a very successful attractions into our heritage memorial hall.


LCL (Danny εΏƒ), [27/6/2025 5:50 pm]

The successful formula is:-

1. Immersive.

2. Reliving the historical events as though we are one of the actor or actress or even we are one of them going through it as events unfold.

3. We must not have the feeling of visiting a museum or watching a static display.

4. Our emotions can go up and down as events unfold.

5. We desire to see a positive outcome.

Just like what we expect when watching the TVB Drama serials.


LCL (Danny εΏƒ), [27/6/2025 5:54 pm]

6. And if we are so successful to make people want to watch and chase it - like Taylor swift concert or those TVB Drama serials that I mentioned - than I say our heritage hall will be a great success.

Not forcing people to go.


REACH Singapore, [27/6/2025 6:01 pm]

πŸ“’ Topic πŸ“’

RY, [27/6/2025 6:03 pm]

SG Urban Development is one of best in the world compared to many countries, fm some of documentary that I have watched b4 

SG land is very limited, hence urban development role plays an very impt part in creating how SG should look like  

I believe for a good urban development planning, it should incorporate the country past/present/future developments 

Also, it should include different aspects such as - 

1) housing (public & private)

2) nature (balance eco-system eg garden & forest)

3) industrial (manufacturing)

4) water (river&reservior)

5) conservation (heritage bldg)

6) sports (place to exercise eg park)

7) transport (parking & public transport)

8) animals (eg zoo)

9) leisure activities (shopping malls & places of interests eg sentosa)

10) health (hospital & polyclinics)

11) food (domestic food production eg agriculture)

12) govt bldg (parliament & different mininistry & authority

13) ports (trading of goods)  

14) education (schools)

15) other social facilities (eg playground/community ctr) 

16) F&B (mkts & hawker & coffee shops)

RY, [27/6/2025 6:08 pm]

It is also impt to take into consideration "climate change" factorrg when drafting the urban development plan

Eg sea level is rising/more floods maybe expected/more hotter sun and etc


LCL (Danny εΏƒ), [27/6/2025 6:29 pm]

MediaCorp use to have those outdoor movie setup in old Caldecot last time I visited.

TVB also has such setup.

Ancient setup, ζ°‘εˆ,etc.

If our memorial hall follow such setup and play through historical events, I think it will be immersive and impactful.


LCL (Danny εΏƒ), [27/6/2025 6:32 pm]

When I visited MediaCorp, they are filming an ancient drama, and the actors and actresses dress in ancient suit.

One actor see us and spoke to us using 文言文。

He say ζ₯者何人?

I playfully reply the same, and then we have a good laugh.

I say ζ₯θ€…ε€–ζ˜ŸδΊΊδΉŸ。


LCL (Danny εΏƒ), [27/6/2025 6:38 pm]

I think 3D AI Computer Vision modeling can achieve the immersive effects I want.

It is as close as true.

Hollywood blockbuster and China movies achieve this effects.


REACH Singapore, [27/6/2025 6:45 pm]

Dear Contributors,

⏰ We will be closing the chat in 15 minutes ⏰

Thank you very much for being part of our Telegram chat and participating actively.

Goodnight!

Megan 😊

REACH Singapore, [27/6/2025 6:59 pm]

Dear Contributors

We will be closing the chat for today.

Thank you very much for being part of our Telegram chat and participating actively.

Goodnight!

Megan 😊


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