PUBLIC TRANSPORT SECTOR (Liberalisation)

Dr Ong Seh Hong asked the Minister for Transport if he will consider liberalising the transport sector to allow for more service providers to come in to further enhance competition and more efficient management of resources and hence reducing the public transport cost.

The Senior Minister of State for Transport (Mr Khaw Boon Wan) (for the Minister for Transport): Mr Speaker, Sir, Question Nos. 1 to 4 pertain to the recent transport fare increases approved by the Public Transport Council. Members would like to know the justification for such a decision and whether they could be avoided. Since those Questions were filed, Mr Tan Soo Khoon and several others have tabled a Motion on Public Transport Fares, which is scheduled for debate this afternoon.

With your permission, Sir, and the Members' understanding, my Minister would like to answer the four Questions during the course of the debate on the Motion, please.

Mr Speaker: It is a rather unusual request, but I will allow the Minister to reply to the Questions when he speaks on the Motion.