Protecting Residents’ Well-Being Amidst Commercial Activity

Dear friends, here’s my Parliamentary speech this week on “Protecting Residents’ Well-Being Amidst Commercial Activity.”

It arises from the many MPS appeals and visits to homes and estates by not only me but several other MPs — disamenities faced by residents such as vices, noise and odours, safety risks.

I’m glad the Government acknowledges and is looking into ways to balance both interests of residents and responsible business operators.

Watch my full speech here: https://www.channelnewsasia.com/watch/adjournment-motion-managing-commercial-activities-in-housing-estates-5906976

Image credit: CNA

It’s a 17-minute speech, and here are my concluding words:

“Speaker, at its heart, this Adjournment Motion is not about opposing commerce, nor resisting vibrancy.
Shops, cafés, and services bring convenience, jobs, and life to our estates. Many operators invest their savings, employ local workers, and genuinely want to be good neighbours. We should support—not penalise—these responsible businesses.

And we should also not condone residents who are unreasonable.

The residents I speak up for today are not calling for blanket bans or heavy-handed crackdowns. They are asking for something far more modest: clear rules, fair processes, early intervention, and proportionate enforcement, so that liveability is not eroded.

Done well, the six proposals suggested in this Adjournment Motion can benefit responsible operators by creating predictability, levelling the playing field, and ensuring that those who cut corners do not impose hidden costs on residents or on their better-run business counterparts nearby.

Speaker, a good city is not measured only by how lively it is at night, but by how liveable it remains at home. As Singapore continues to intensify and mix uses more closely, our governance tools must evolve accordingly.

I look forward to the Government’s favourable consideration of these proposals—to protect residents’ well-being while sustaining vibrant, responsible commercial activity in the neighbourhood.”