STATE LAND (Prohibition signs)

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STATE LAND:

(Prohibition signs): 4.

Mr Zainudin Nordin asked the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Law, in view of efforts to encourage our citizens especially the young to be involved in outdoor recreational activities and sports, why are there still prohibition signs or boards on open state land even though these lands are not earmarked for projects for long periods of time.

The Senior Minister of State for Law (Assoc. Prof. Ho Peng Kee) (for the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Law): Sir, before dealing with the matter of signboards, let me say that over the last few years, the Singapore Land Authority

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has been proactive and has made available more vacant state land for social and recreational use by Singaporeans, in some instances, partnering various agencies to make this possible. For example, SLA partnered the Singapore Sports Council in making available playfields at Marina South and Dunearn Road. Many Members have also informed me that they are happy that more of the open spaces in their constituencies have now been converted to hardcourts and playfields for their residents' use.

As for the signboards, the Singapore Land Authority has gradually been replacing the "No Trespassing" signboards within housing estates and recreational areas with "Enter at your own risk" signboards. Such signboards are now found in 153 vacant state land sites that are within close proximity of housing estates and in the city area, easily accessible to the public. As a result, on weekends or even weekday evenings, Singaporeans gather at these vacant lands to play football and other games. These signboards are necessary because they serve to remind the public that they have to be conscious of and responsible for their personal safety.

However, "No Trespassing" signboards have been retained at state land sites such as forested land and sites which face the risk of illegal or unauthorised activities such as dumping and occupation by illegal squatters. In housing estates, HDB has retained some "No Ball Games" signboards in response to residents' feedback. While we would like to open up as many pieces of land as possible for games, we have to balance this with the interests of different groups of residents.

In any case, if the Member has any state land sites in mind which he thinks should be made available for use, I will be happy to ask SLA to consider his suggestions.

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Mr Zainudin Nordin (Bishan-Toa Payoh): Sir, may I ask the Senior Minister of State what is the difference between a state land that has fence and those which are not fenced up even though they have similar signs?

Assoc. Prof. Ho Peng Kee: I have got to, in turn, ask the Member this question: who put up the fence? Somebody must have put up the fence. It could have been fenced up because a TOL for the land has been given to the grassroots organisations for footaball. So those are not the vacant state lands where anybody can come on to the land. These are the lands that we were talking about - 153 sites - where previously, we had very prohibitive signs like "No Trespassing", "No Dumping", "No Entry", etc. But now, we feel that since Singaporeans, in any case, go on to a land to fly a kite or play ball, we should actually make it more friendly. But because these lands are not maintained as playfields, when they go on to the land, they should take care.

Mdm Cynthia Phua: Sir, I would just like to let the Senior Minister of State know that there are some fields that have been fenced in my estate. For example, the market that has been vacated is fenced up. There was a former army camp and it is now vacant but it is also fenced up and residents could not use it.

Mr Speaker: What is your question, Mdm Phua?

Mdm Cynthia Phua: Can the Senior Minister of State also consider, while reviewing the signboards, removing the fence?

Assoc. Prof. Ho Peng Kee: Let me look at the particular instances in question. We have to ask who put up the fence, for what purpose and whether or not the purpose is still present. Certainly, we all agree that, as far as possible, let Singaporeans have more space to play on.

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Dr Geh Min (Nominated Member): Sir, I would like to ask a supplementary question on the access to land for sports and other recreational exercise. There has been a spate of articles in the papers with regard to the access of the new canopy walk in MacRitchie/Pierce, the central catchment area. As has been mentioned, the access to the canopy walk is longer now because Singapore Island Country Club, which has the land on lease, has closed off that particular area with a ---

Mr Speaker: Sorry, Dr Geh Min, I do not think that question can be directed to the Ministry of Law.

Dr Geh Min: Okay. I stand corrected.