Personal Explanation

12.47 pm

Assoc Prof Jamus Jerome Lim (Sengkang): Mr Deputy Speaker, thank you for allowing me to make this clarification.

In my Committee of Supply speech on 5 March 2026, I had stated that, "One objection is that there is an opportunity cost to foregone income, since such lots could generate potential revenue and this has sometimes been the Ministry of National Development's response to requests for converting car park spaces to other uses, such as community gardens."

This is incorrect. The Housing and Development Board takes into account, among other things, whether there are sufficient car park spaces to meet parking demand over time. This is the opportunity cost of forgone space, not forgone revenue, as I had mistakenly claimed.

As I briefly mentioned in our exchange on 7 April, if I were mistaken in my claim, I would retract it. I am therefore doing so.

Mr Deputy Speaker: Senior Minister of State Sun Xueling, clarifications, not a debate.

The Senior Minister of State for National Development (Ms Sun Xueling): Yes. I thank Assoc Prof Jamus Lim for retracting his earlier inaccurate statement.

Mr Deputy Speaker: Order. End of Personal Explanations. Clarification by Minister of State for National Development.