Transcript of doorstop by MOS Alvin Tan at the RTS Link Taskforce engagement session

Thank you all for coming tonight. We wanted to take the opportunity to give an update on the progress of the RTS Link Taskforce, which we set up in March of this year.

Since the setup of the Taskforce, we have had multiple engagements across the industry, heartland merchants, Government agencies and Trade Associations and Chambers. In October alone, we had five engagements comprising 160 different people – residents, merchants, Trade Associations members. We have just gotten started, and we are planning to do even more engagements. Many of these engagements are very in-depth discussions on the benefits of the RTS Link, and the concerns and challenges the RTS Link will create here in Singapore.

Many of the feedback that we received is that residents are excited about the progress of the RTS Link and the conveniences it will bring to residents, particularly in the North. But there are also some concerns about the impact of spending, in particular shops, businesses, and heartland merchants in the North. We are looking at many of their feedback and the ideas shared with us. Preliminarily, there are a few things that we are already doing, and we can do even more of. First, rejuvenating the North. Prime Minister Lawrence Wong mentioned this in his National Day Rally. For example, more flats, spaces, living spaces, community spaces, sports which will liven the North even more. We are looking also at different programmes which will help to promote businesses here in the North, through promotions, digitalisation efforts and municipal efforts to liven up shops and make them even more exciting. We will also bring in new programs, as well as new infrastructure to benefit merchants and the heartland shops in the area.