SINGAPORE: Mr Leong Mun Wai, Non-Constituency Member of Parliament (NCMP) from Progress Singapore Party (PSP), on Tuesday (15 October) filed an adjournment motion titled “Realising the Vision of a 45-Minute City in the West of Singapore under the Land Transport Master Plan 2040.”

The motion comes in the wake of a major disruption on the East-West MRT Line (EWL) between Buona Vista and Jurong East stations from 25 to 30 September, which highlighted the heavy reliance of West-side residents on this critical transport line.

Mr Leong and PSP the are calling for a comprehensive review of the Land Transport Master Plan and Bus Connectivity Enhancement Plan, urging the Government to address public transport issues in the West while ensuring equitable improvements across the entire island.

In his speech, NCMP Leong highlighted the disparity in rail connectivity between the east and west of Singapore, stating that the east is served by three parallel rail lines—namely the East-West Line, Downtown Line, and Thomson-East Coast Line—providing greater options for residents.

In contrast, during the six-day disruption, West-side residents commuting to and from downtown had no alternative MRT options, forcing them to rely on bus bridging services or endure lengthy bus rides.

“Many residents have complained to me that it took them more than three hours to commute during the initial days of the breakdown, ” Mr Leong shared.

Leong acknowledged the upcoming Jurong Region Line (JRL) and Cross Island Line (CRL) as improvements but highlighted that the East-West Line would still remain a major bottleneck for commuters traveling between the East and West of Singapore.

He pointed out that areas in the West, such as Jurong West, Tengah, and upcoming employment hubs like Jurong Lake District, house a dense population and growing job centers, requiring better connectivity to other parts of Singapore.

He suggested extending the JRL from Pandan Reservoir to Haw Par Villa on the Circle Line, which would allow residents in areas like Bukit Panjang, West Coast, and NUS to reach the downtown core with fewer transfers.

This proposal had been mentioned by previous ministers but has not been incorporated into LTMP 2040.

Another suggestion was to create an interchange between Jurong Town Hall station (JRL) and Jurong Lake District station (CRL), which are currently within walking distance but lack direct rail connectivity. This would improve convenience and resilience for commuters.

Leong recommended introducing a network of Skip-Stop Bus Services that would complement the MRT system by stopping only at high-demand points in each town, enabling faster travel between towns. These services would operate throughout the day, unlike current express buses that run mainly during peak hours.

SMS Amy Khor Highlights Ongoing Initiatives to Enhance Connectivity for West-side Residents

In her speech responding to NCMP Leong Mun Wai’s proposals on improving transport connectivity in the West, Senior Minister of State for Transport Amy Khor reaffirmed the government’s commitment to creating a “45-minute City and 20-minute towns” as outlined in the Land Transport Master Plan 2040.

She explained that this vision is not only about reducing travel times but also reshaping urban connectivity by linking employment centers with residential areas.

Khor acknowledged Leong’s concerns about the West’s transport connectivity and highlighted the government’s ongoing efforts to address these issues.

She pointed out that Leong’s suggestions align with existing plans to improve transport in the West, particularly through the development of the JRL and the CRL.

These new rail lines are expected to reduce travel times and enhance resilience by providing additional connections to key areas like Jurong Lake District and various employment centers.

Khor also emphasized that while the East has more rail lines, it is not a fair comparison due to differences in geography and development stages. She noted that by the 2030s, 80% of households in the West will be within a 10-minute walk of an MRT station.

On bus services, she mentioned that more than one-third of bus routes serve the West, including express services that connect residents to job centers.

In response to growing demand from new housing developments, she highlighted recent enhancements in areas like Tengah and Bukit Batok, including the introduction of three new bus services.

SMS Khor reassured that ongoing efforts to improve both rail and bus connectivity, as well as the creation of regional job centers like Jurong Lake District and Jurong Innovation District, will bring employment opportunities closer to home for residents in the West.

She called for patience as these infrastructure improvements take time to materialize.

SINGAPORE: Low visibility caused by dust clouds was identified as the likely cause of the collision between two Hunter armoured fighting vehicles (AFVs) during Exercise Wallaby last month, Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen said in a written parliamentary response on Tuesday (15 October).

The incident, which occurred in Queensland, Australia, on 24 September 2024, resulted in mild injuries to 12 servicemen.

Dr Ng’s statement was in response to a parliamentary question from Mr Dennis Tan, Workers’ Party Member of Parliament for Hougang SMC.

Mr Tan asked for details on the accident, specifically its cause and whether any lessons could be applied to enhance training and operational safety within the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF).

The collision took place during a night-time movement of Hunter AFVs at the Shoalwater Bay Training Area.

The vehicles were returning to base when one rear-ended another. Dr Ng explained that the dust clouds generated by the AFVs’ movement significantly impaired visibility, might likely contributing to the accident.

The 12 affected servicemen sustained mild injuries and were promptly taken to the nearest medical facility.

None of the injuries required hospitalisation, and all 12 servicemen were able to rejoin their units for training the next day.

According to the minister, adherence to safety protocols—such as wearing seat belts and protective gear—played a crucial role in limiting the injuries to mild ones.

Following the incident, a safety pause was immediately implemented, with all drivers being reminded to maintain proper safety distances, especially when visibility was compromised.

Troops were also reminded to adhere strictly to safety protocols, including the proper use of safety equipment, Dr Ng added.

The safety lessons from the incident were shared not only with the affected units but also with other participating groups in the exercise, as well as units back in Singapore, through dedicated safety briefings.

Mr Tan also asked about the broader implications of the incident. In his response, Dr Ng said that a formal investigation had been launched in accordance with SAF’s safety incident protocol.

The investigation aims to assess the circumstances more thoroughly and identify any further measures that could be taken to enhance safety.

Dr Ng shared that recommendations arising from the investigation will be implemented where necessary.

Exercise Wallaby is SAF’s largest unilateral overseas exercise, and the 2024 edition began on 8 September, running until 3 November.

The exercise involves approximately 6,200 personnel, including 500 operationally ready national servicemen.

The exercise has been conducted at Shoalwater Bay Training Area in Queensland since 1990, and it is a key part of SAF’s overseas training program.

The Hunter AFV, one of the vehicles involved in the collision, is a state-of-the-art platform jointly developed by the Defence Science and Technology Agency, the Singapore Army, and ST Engineering.

It replaced the SAF’s aging fleet of Ultra M113 AFVs in 2019, which had been in service since the 1970s. The Hunter is equipped with advanced features, including a 30mm cannon, a 76mm smoke grenade launcher, and an automatic target detection and

tracking system designed to enhance operational effectiveness. It is also capable of traveling at increased speeds and covering longer distances, making it a versatile asset for the SAF.