Leader of the Opposition Pritam Singh asked how the government will assure the public that Law Minister K Shanmugam and Foreign Affairs Minister Vivian Balakrishnan were not in receipt of any privileged information pertaining to the lease of the properties at 26 and 31 Ridout Road respectively, and what the guide rents set by the Singapore Land Authority (SLA) were when they were leased out to the two ministers.
NCMP Leong Mun Wai (PSP) asked why Senior Minister and Coordinating Minister for National Security Teo Chee Hean was asked to review the ministers’ tenancies, rather than an individual from another branch of government.
Meanwhile, MP Dennis Tan (WP–Hougang) asked if there is any actual or perceived conflict of interest on the part of Mr Shanmugam and Mr Balakrishnan in their respective leasing of the Ridout Road properties.
In addition, MP Don Wee (PAP–Chua Chu Kang) asked whether the rental rate of similar properties is benchmarked against the private residential market and whether the SLA has a transparent process to list all these properties available for rental.
MP Zhulkarnain Abdul Rahim (PAP–Chua Chu Kang) also asked how SLA had marketed the two properties to be leased.
Also on the agenda are the closure of the Singapore Turf Club, the issue of wild boar attacks on residents in Bukit Panjang and the investigation into Seatrium.
Earlier this month, it was announced that horse racing in Singapore will come to an end, and the Singapore Turf Club site will be returned to the government in 2027 for redevelopment.
The club will hold its last race on Oct 5 next year and close its facility by March 2027.
MP Hany Soh (PAP–Marsiling-Yew Tee) asked if the Ministry of National Development is able to provide an estimated number of houses and the types of leisure and recreation facilities that will be developed on the site of the Singapore Turf Club.