Changi Airport drone incursions, US-China trade rift to dominate Monday’s Parliament sitting
Members of Parliament have filed questions ahead the sitting of Parliament on Monday (July 8) that deal with a range of issues including the recent drone incursions near Changi Airport that affected flight operations.
SINGAPORE — The recent drone incursions that interrupted flight operations at Changi Airport and the impact of the trade rift between the United States and China will take centre stage at the next sitting of Parliament on Monday (July 8).
Seven Members of Parliament (MPs) have filed questions for Transport Minister Khaw Boon Wan on the unauthorised drone activity that led to flights being delayed or diverted at Changi Airport last month, based on the parliamentary order paper released on Friday evening.
MPs are seeking an update on the investigation into the incidents and whether the Government has tracked down the culprits.
Non-Constituency MP Dennis Tan of the opposition Workers’ Party (WP) wants to know whether the Government has identified the drones, their owners and operators, and why they were flown at the time.
He is also asking about the Government’s plans to prevent further disruption to airport operations, especially from unregistered or unidentified owners or operators.
The authorities are looking to beef up regulations governing drones, which could include compulsory registration.
Fengshan MP Cheryl Chan of the ruling People’s Action Party has requested figures for unauthorised drone incursions in the last two years, and asked if the authorities had found the culprits in those cases and the consequences they faced. She also wants to know whether plans are afoot to enforce a larger no-fly zone around major transport facilities, such as airports.
Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen said last week that the Government was giving “top-level” attention to the drone incursions at Changi Airport — the world’s seventh busiest for international traffic. He warned potential errant drone operators to “desist” because they would face “punitive” consequences.
On June 18 and 19, unauthorised drone activity over Changi Airport held up 37 departing and arriving flights. Another arriving flight was diverted to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
One of the airport’s two runways had been suspended for short periods.
Less than a week later, on June 24, 18 or so departing and arriving flights were delayed and seven others diverted because of unauthorised drone activity and bad weather.
No one is allowed to fly drones within 5km of airports and military airbases here, or at altitudes above 200ft (61m), without a permit. Those found flouting the regulations could be fined up to S$20,000, jailed for up to 12 months, or both.
US-CHINA TRADE TENSIONS
Also on the minds of MPs is the impact of the trade and technological dispute between the US and China.
Among the seven MPs who submitted questions on Singapore’s economy and the trade war, Mr Saktiandi Supaat (Bishan-Toa Payoh Group Representation Constituency) asked about the measures and policies that could be introduced to ensure Singapore’s economy is not hit significantly by the effects of the trade war, disruptions to international supply chains and the global slowdown.
WP chief Pritam Singh (Aljunied GRC) wanted to know which sectors were expected to be hit hardest or be particularly vulnerable, and the measures the Government would roll out to support workers in these sectors.
On the labour front, MacPherson MP Tin Pei Ling asked Manpower Minister Josephine Teo how the trade war would affect job prospects for recent Singaporean graduates and youth.
Other issues set to be debated include the possible spillover effects of the air-pollution crisis in Pasir Gudang, Johor that left about 100 students with breathing problems last month and led to the closure of multiple schools. As classes resumed this week, the problems returned.
Mr Melvin Yong (Tanjong Pagar GRC) wants to know whether the problem would affect Singapore. Mr Singh from WP asked about contingency plans for residents in Sengkang, Punggol, Pasir Ris and Pulau Ubin if an environmental disaster in Johor were to affect them.
At Monday’s sitting of Parliament, Mr Khaw is also set to table a Point-to-Point Passenger Transport Industry Bill.
The authorities are reviewing the regulations governing Singapore’s point-to-point transport sector, as the lines blur between the taxi and private-hire car industries.
As part of the review, the Land Transport Authority has sought the public’s views on the proposed licensing of street-hail and ride-hailing operators, and on proposed regulations to hold operators accountable for commuter and driver safety, among other things.
