USE OF GOODS VEHICLES FOR PUBLIC TRANSPORT

Encik Abdul Aziz Karim asked the Minister for Communications why goods vehicles have been used for public transportation to supplement the bus services operated by the Singapore Bus Service (Private) Limited; and if the use of such vehicles will be a permanent state of affairs.

Mr Yong Nyuk Lin: Mr Speaker, Sir, use of goods vehicles to transport passengers to and from work is nothing new. I am sure the hon. Member for Kallang would have seen, not so long ago, the numerous lorries carrying hundreds of civilian employees of the British military establishments to and from work everyday. Even today, if he were to go to Jurong, and I believe he does go to Jurong, he would see lorry after lorry carrying workers to and from work in the industrial estate.

The hon. Member would be pleased to know that, to date, 103 goods vehicles (all lorries) have been issued with licences for the carriage of passengers under the Supplementary Public Transport Service Scheme; of these, 97 are for Adult Worker Contract (AWC) permits and six Public Transport (PT) licences. Those who do not wish to travel on the public bus services provided by Singapore Bus Service Ltd (SBS), or school buses under the Supplementary Public Transport Service, scheme B, should not be prevented from travelling in goods vehicles if they so wish.

Whether this supplementary service of goods vehicles being used for carriage of passengers would remain a permanent state of affairs depends on whether it would continue to be needed. Unless peak hour travel demand can be spread through staggered working hours, car-pooling, park-and-ride scheme and other measures, there would continue to be a need for the supporting role of the Supplementary Public Transport Service for peak hour travel, for the foreseeable future.

Encik Abdul Aziz: Sir, can the scheme to permit goods vehicles to transport human cargo be considered a measure that will improve the public transport service? Is it appropriate to state that the bus services have deteriorated to a point commonly experienced in a protracted state of war and chaos?

Mr Yong Nyuk Lin: Mr Speaker, Sir, the hon. Member for Kallang used the words "human cargo". I would prefer to use the term "human passengers". As I have stated, it is the wish of a person to travel either by bus, school bus, taxi or lorry, and he cannot thus be termed as "cargo" because he has the option. It is admitted that, because of the incapacity of the SBS to provide an adequate number of buses for peak hour travel, supplementary schemes have to be put forward, and we should leave it to the commuters to decide how they wish to travel for the money they are prepared to pay. Service is not for free, whether they travel by taxi, public bus, school bus or lorry.

Encik Abdul Aziz: Is it admitted that there are not enough buses right now?

Mr Speaker: Order. The Minister has been saying that for days!

Mr Yong Nyuk Lin: As you yourself have said, Mr Speaker, Sir, I have been saying that for days. But admittedly he is so impervious that nothing goes in.

Encik Abdul Aziz: I have heard it. But let this House know, and let the public know, of what the Minister thinks.

Mr Yong Nyuk Lin: The tragedy is that the Member does not know when everybody knows.