SINGAPORE — A recent oil spill that caused the closure of several public beaches across Singapore will be addressed in three ministerial statements at the next parliament sitting, which starts on Tuesday (July 2).

According to the order paper released on Monday, Minister for Transport Chee Hong Tat, Minister for Sustainability and the Environment Grace Fu and Minister for National Development Desmond Lee will be delivering statements about the June 14 oil spill.

Last month, a Netherlands-flagged dredger hit a stationary Singapore-flagged bunker vessel, causing some oil from the damaged cargo tank of the bunker vessel to spill into the water.

The oil slick spread to multiple beaches around Singapore, including East Coast Park and Sentosa.

Many seaside businesses have been affected and concerns have been expressed about the impact on Singapore's wildlife.

More than 25 questions about the oil spill were filed by Members of Parliament (MPs). 

MP Christopher de Souza (PAP-Holland-Bukit Timah) asked for an update on the Maritime and Port Authority’s (MPA) clean-up operations.

He also wanted to know if there are plans to remove the remaining small droplets of oil mixed with seawater at low oil concentrations, to ensure that the water is environmentally safe for wildlife after the skimming operation is completed. 

Several questions also focused on the cost of the clean-up and its environmental impact. 

MP Alex Yam (PAP-Marsiling-Yew Tee) asked what the current estimated cost of clean-up operations was and who would bear the cost, while MP Edward Chia (PAP-Holland-Bukit Timah) asked for the estimated environmental and economic costs. 

MP Jamus Lim (WP-Sengkang) asked how the Transport Ministry verified that containment efforts of the oil spill were successful and how authorities would determine when clean-up efforts should cease. 

MONEY LAUNDERING CASE

MPs also filed questions about the billion-dollar money laundering case, which concluded last month after all 10 offenders were sentenced. 

The nine men and one woman involved were arrested in August 2023 and sentenced to between 13 and 17 months' jail. 

Leader of the Opposition Pritam Singh asked what the Ministry for Home Affairs’ assessment of the deterrent effect of Singapore’s anti-money laundering laws is, given the public feedback on the proportionality of the sentences. 

MP Tan Wu Meng (PAP-Jurong) asked whether the Inter-Ministerial Committee would consider and study how potential offenders calculate the range of existing sentencing precedents, when proposing any tightening of regulations and enforcements to prevent exploitation by criminals. 

He also asked whether the committee, which was established to review Singapore’s anti-money laundering regime, would consider recommending an enhancement of detection, investigation and sentencing to safeguard Singapore’s stature as a respected financial centre.

MP Sylvia Lim (WP-Aljunied) also raised a question about the considerations taken when deciding which country to deport the offenders to after serving their sentences.

CHOA CHU KANG WATERWORKS INCIDENT

Two MPs also asked questions about an incident in May where two workers died after inhaling toxic gas at PUB’s Choa Chu Kang Waterworks.

MP Poh Li San (PAP-Sembawang) asked for the initial findings from the investigations, as well as the cause of the gas leak and the lessons learnt from the incident.

MP Melvin Yong (PAP-Radin Mas) wanted to know about the measures in place at all PUB's waterworks to ensure the safety of workers against the risk of exposure to toxic gas and chemicals.

Other questions asked by MPs include Singapore’s position on recognising Palestine as a state.

Two Bills — the Anti-Money Laundering and Other Matters Bill and the Land Surveyors (Amendment) Bill — are scheduled to be introduced. Three other Bills are set for a second reading. CNA