2025年1月8日，新加坡貿工部政務部長陳聖輝代表貿易部長在國會口頭答覆淡濱尼集選區議員朱倍慶、馬西嶺- 油池集選區議員蘇慧敏、蒙巴頓單選區議員林謀泉關於柔新地鐵系統對新加坡零售、製造業、商業租賃及就業市場的影響。
以下內容為新加坡眼根據國會英文資料翻譯整理：
朱倍慶（淡濱尼集選區議員）詢問副總理兼貿工部長，柔新地鐵（RTS）對新加坡的零售、服務、製造業、商業租賃市場的影響評估如何？對就業市場會產生怎樣的影響？
陳聖輝（貿工部政務部長代表貿工部長）：
議長先生，建議議員參考顏金勇副總理昨天（1月7日）就林謀泉議員的國會問題（第72號問題）提供的書面答覆，其中也涉及了朱倍慶議員提出的問題。我願意解答議員們就此話題的補充問題。
議長：有請蘇慧敏議員
蘇慧敏（馬西嶺-油池集選區議員）：
謝謝部長的答覆，我也參考了副總理的書面回復。
雖然我們認識到地鐵帶來的便利，但我想藉此機會強調一下我們經常從來自兀蘭地區商戶的擔憂，尤其是我選區內的Woodgrove富春鄰里中心以及888廣場的商戶們。
過去馬來西亞旅客的到訪促進了與交通網絡相關的商業繁榮，兩地均從中受益。然而，目前商戶們擔憂的是，這些好處可能僅對單方面有利。
我注意到政府相關機構已在基層為商戶提供支持，協助他們改善業務。我建議貿工部從更宏觀的層面進行審視，包括整體改善公共運輸網絡，增強吸引力。例如，提升休閒設施、提供更多小販中心美食，以及提升整體購物體驗，這些都可能吸引馬來西亞旅客不僅到新加坡購物，還會考慮在馬西嶺、Woodgrove和兀蘭地區購物，然後再前往新加坡其他地區。
因此，我希望部長能夠考慮這點，與其他部門進行更全面的合作。
陳聖輝（貿工部政務部長代表貿工部長）：議長先生，我感謝蘇慧敏女士的建議。政府確實會考慮這些建議。目前已有一些計劃在實施。例如，新加坡企業發展局正在與鄰里中心合作進行升級改造；富春鄰里中心也在升級計劃中。事實上，兀蘭地區已有五個鄰里中心在建屋發展局「再創我們的家園」計劃下完成升級。
此外，我鼓勵基層顧問，特別是蘇慧敏議員，與我們合作，推動鄰里企業利用各種計劃，例如鄰里企業社區營造計劃、社區營造補助金，以及「新加坡鄰里企業中心」提供的資源，以提升市場競爭力和營銷能力。[請參閱 "貿工部政務部長的澄清"，《官方報告》，2025 年 1 月 8 日，第 95 卷，第 149 期，書面聲明更正部分。］
因此，感謝蘇慧敏議員的建議，並期待與她合作，共同推進相關工作。
議長：最後一個補充問題，有請林謀泉議員。
林謀泉（蒙巴頓單選區議員）：議長先生，我認為這不僅僅會影響兀蘭地區的鄰里商店。新柔地鐵開通後，會讓許多新加坡人跨境到柔佛購物，而事實上，這種情況幾乎每個周末都在發生。
因此，我想問貿工部，對於不僅是鄰里商戶，而是整個新加坡零售行業會受到的影響，政府還有什麼其他計劃？畢竟柔佛的商品價格真的要便宜很多。
陳聖輝（貿工部政務部長代表貿工部長）：議長先生，我感謝林謀泉議員的補充問題。新加坡是一個地理面積小的國家，而柔佛和新加坡在某些方面具有互補優勢。新加坡擁有強大的金融中心和總部經濟，柔佛則擁有豐富的勞動力資源、更大的腹地和地理空間。
正如林議員提到的，這不僅限於北部地區。包括鄰里改造補助金在內的許多計劃，實際上適用於新加坡全國各地的鄰里企業。
第二，全國範圍內的鄰里升級計劃也在進行中，不僅局限於北部地區。政府將適時公布更多計劃。除此之外，我們最近推出的社區發展理事會消費券，也旨在幫助居民補充消費需求，同時支持鄰里商業發展。
因此，我們正在以全面的方式應對這一問題，並期待與議員們合作，增強企業的競爭力，不僅在北部地區，還涵蓋新加坡全境。
以下是英文質詢內容：
Mr Desmond Choo asked the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade and Industry what is the Ministry's assessment of the impact that the Johor Bahru-Singapore Rapid Transit System (RTS) Link will have on retail, services, manufacturing industries and the commercial rental market in Singapore; and (b) how will the job market be affected.
The Minister of State for Trade and Industry (Mr Alvin Tan) (for the Minister for Trade and Industry): Sir, I refer the Member to the written response that Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong had issued yesterday to Mr Lim Biow Chuan's Parliamentary Question (PQ), Question No 72 listed in yesterday's Order Paper, which also addressed the matters raised in the PQ filed by Mr Desmond Choo. I would be happy to address any supplementary questions Members may have on the topic.
Mr Speaker: Ms Hany Soh.
Ms Hany Soh (Marsiling-Yew Tee): I thank the Minister of State for the reply and I have also referred to Deputy Prime Minister's reply.
While we recognise the convenience that we can envisage with the rolling out of the Rapid Transit System (RTS), I think I also want to take this opportunity to highlight the concerns that we have often heard from merchants in the Woodlands area – particularly, in my ward, it will be from Woodgrove's Fuchun Neighbourhood Centre and also the 888 Plaza.
Long gone are the days where they welcome Malaysian travellers to come and the businesses actually prospered along with the transport networks that bring benefits for both sides. But at this point in time, their concern is that it would only benefit one side.
I recognise that there are agencies that are already working on the ground to support the merchants in a way to improve their business operations. My suggestion is for the Ministry to look at it in a more macro manner, where it is also about improving the public transport networks overall, making it more attractive and also, for example, in terms of the recreation facilities and even things in relations to hawker centres – the food that we sell, the overall shopping experience that may actually attract the Malaysian travellers that come to Singapore, to also consider shopping around the Marsiling area, the Woodgrove area and also the Woodlands area to begin with, before taking the other public transports to other parts of Singapore.
So, I hope that the Minister can look into this to engage the other Ministries in a more comprehensive manner.
Mr Alvin Tan: Sir, I thank Ms Hany Soh for her suggestions. Indeed, the Government will take those into account. There are already a few existing plans: Enterprise Singapore is working with the neighbourhood centres, for example, to upgrade; and there are plans to upgrade Fuchun Neighbourhood Centre, for example. In fact, five neighbourhood centres in Woodlands have been upgraded under the Housing and Development Board's Remaking Our Heartland's programme. I also encourage the grassroots advisor, and particularly, Ms Hany Soh, to work with us to encourage the heartland enterprises to make use of many of the different schemes – heartland merchandising improvement schemes, place-making grants, and in fact, also the Heartland's Enterprise Centre Singapore – to increase their marketing ability and to increase their competitiveness. [Please refer to "Clarification by Minister of State for Trade and Industry", Official Report, 8 January 2025, Vol 95, Issue 149, Correction By Written Statement section.]
So, we thank Ms Hany Soh for her suggestions and we look forward to working with her on some of these in due time.
Mr Speaker: Last supplementary question. Mr Lim Biow Chuan.
Mr Lim Biow Chuan (Mountbatten): Sir, I do not think it is just the heartland shops in the Woodlands area that are going to be affected. The RTS will allow many Singaporeans to cross over to JB to do their shopping. As it is, that is already happening almost practically every weekend.
So, my question to the Ministry of Trade and Industry is what other plans do we have to help not just the heartlanders, but also the entire retail industry in Singapore. Because this will have a big impact on all retail industries within Singapore, as the goods in Johor are really much cheaper.
