• About Us
    • Fact Checking Policy
    • Ownership & funding information
  • Volunteer
    • Internship with The Online Citizen
  • Donation
  • Subscription
  • Letter submission
    • Submissions Policy
  • Contact Us
The Online Citizen Asia
  • Opinion
    • Editorial
    • Commentaries
    • Comments
  • Current Affairs
    • Malaysia
    • Indonesia
    • China
    • ASEAN
    • Asia
    • International
  • Finance
    • Economics
    • Labour
    • Property
    • Business
  • Community
    • Civil Society
    • Arts & Culture
    • Consumer Watch
    • NGO
  • Politics
    • Parliament
    • Transport
    • Education
    • Environment
    • Health
    • Housing
  • Law & Order
    • Legislation
    • Court Cases
  • Lifestyle
    • Travel
No Result
View All Result
  • Opinion
    • Editorial
    • Commentaries
    • Comments
  • Current Affairs
    • Malaysia
    • Indonesia
    • China
    • ASEAN
    • Asia
    • International
  • Finance
    • Economics
    • Labour
    • Property
    • Business
  • Community
    • Civil Society
    • Arts & Culture
    • Consumer Watch
    • NGO
  • Politics
    • Parliament
    • Transport
    • Education
    • Environment
    • Health
    • Housing
  • Law & Order
    • Legislation
    • Court Cases
  • Lifestyle
    • Travel
No Result
View All Result
The Online Citizen Asia
No Result
View All Result

Changi Airport Terminal 5 project to continue but paused for at least two years due to “great uncertainties” amid COVID-19

Netizens say it is the right decision to put the Terminal 5 project on hold

by S.Ling
17/06/2020
in Comments, Current Affairs, Transport
Reading Time: 5 mins read
14

The construction of Changi Airport Terminal 5 will be paused for at least two years due to the “great uncertainties” about the future of the aviation and travel sectors in the midst of COVID-19 pandemic, said Transport Minister Khaw Boon Wan on Tuesday (16 June).

Speaking in an online meeting with Ministry of Transport (MOT) scholars, Mr Khaw noted that until a vaccine is found, many questions will be asked on whether there will be a second wave or a third wave and how severe will it be. He also highlighted that such calamities will have implications on aviation and tourism, where it will be challenging to gain back the confidence of travellers.

“Because of all these great uncertainties, we have been doing a major thorough study about aviation, and how it will be like in the next two years, three years, four years, post-pandemic,” he added.

However, with the “big questions remain” – and the answers out of reach within the coming months – Mr Khaw stated that Singapore has decided to “take a pause” in the Changi Airport Terminal 5 project for a minimum two years.

He hinted that under normal circumstances – without COVID-19 in the picture – the Government would have to start calling for a major civil engineering tenders.

With the Government hitting the pause button on the Terminal 5 project, Mr Khaw said that the halt will allow the authorities to consider operational changes as well as the current design of Terminal 5 in order to meet safety requirements of post-pandemic travel.

He explained that these changes would affect how airlines interact with the airport in a seamless and efficient manner, which will inadvertently have implications on the layout and airport design.

“So, for all these various reasons, we think that this decision to take a pause for a couple of years, while we finalise a much better design to suit the future of aviation, is wise,” Mr Khaw added.

As part of Changi East development, Terminal 5 was marked as the biggest expansion project at Changi Airport. The project is expected to commence in 2020, and scheduled for completion in the 2030s.

Last month, Changi Airport suspended all operations at Terminal 4 due to the declining air traffic caused by pandemic, while Terminal 2 has been closed since 1 May for 18 months for the renovation works.

It was also announced on 31 May that the Kuala Lumpur-Singapore High Speed Rail (HSR) Project has been suspended until the end of this year for the Malaysian government to deliberate on proposed changes to the commercial and technical aspects of the project.

Malaysia and Singapore reached an agreement in September 2018 to delay the HSR project which Malaysia wanted to cancel due to the high cost.

Netizens say it is the right decision to put the Terminal 5 project on hold

Many netizens were quick to respond to Mr Khaw’s announcement of suspending the Terminal 5 project, saying that it is the right decision to put the project on hold during this unprecedented time.

Penning their thoughts on the Facebook pages of Channel New Asia and The Straits Times, netizens commented that the aviation and tourism industries need time to recover as the industries have been affected badly by the COVID-19 pandemic, adding that it would be best to “slow down” the constructions that will cost the country heavily.

A handful of netizens also questioned why the Government need to build more airport terminals, given that the airport has already closed two terminals and the country is small to accommodate “such big numbers of travellers”.

With the suspension of Terminal 5 project, some netizens noted that instead of “letting the large piece of land go to waste unused”, the Government should use the land more wisely for public goods, such as turning the land into agriculture land, amusement park, migrant workers dormitory, or even a COVID-19 isolation centre.

One netizen asserted that the Government should now be prudent and vigilant with any huge and expensive investments, particularly infrastructure projects.

Meanwhile, a few netizens mocked Minister Khaw for using “redesign” as a reason to suspend the construction project. They felt that it was just an excuse for the problem of manpower shortage.

Others also expressed concerns on the terminal fees collected in light of the Terminal 5 construction. They asked whether the fees will also be ceased.

Share this:

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
Tags: COVID-19
Subscribe
Connect withD
Login
I allow to create an account
When you login first time using a Social Login button, we collect your account public profile information shared by Social Login provider, based on your privacy settings. We also get your email address to automatically create an account for you in our website. Once your account is created, you'll be logged-in to this account.
DisagreeAgree
Notify of
I allow to create an account
When you login first time using a Social Login button, we collect your account public profile information shared by Social Login provider, based on your privacy settings. We also get your email address to automatically create an account for you in our website. Once your account is created, you'll be logged-in to this account.
DisagreeAgree
14 Comments
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments

Recent Posts

  • Only 1 in 5 surveyed confident of 4G leaders, Blackdot Research study finds
  • Taiwan truck driver charged with negligent homicide over rail crash
  • Myanmar’s ousted MPs form shadow government
  • France says ‘highly probable’ EU won’t renew AstraZeneca orders
  • Jimmy Lai: the Hong Kong media tycoon that China loathes
  • Jimmy Lai among five Hong Kong democracy activists jailed
  • Rebel groups see opportunity in post-coup Myanmar
  • Public Prosecutors have nothing to fear if they do their job, says Justice Chan Seng Onn as Parti Liyani becomes first to seek compensation against AGC for “frivolous and vexatious” prosecution

Trending posts

Mainstream media outlets remain tightlipped on bloggers Leong Sze Hian’s and Roy Ngerng’s crowdfunding success

Ho Ching shares not 1, not 2, but 7 Facebook posts by Chan Chun Sing in a row within 15 minutes

HDB steps up to assist single mom after her social media post on being given unliveable flat goes viral

WP MP Gerald Giam’s intervention helped solve traffic congestion issue at Hougang Capeview

Blogger Roy Ngerng hits fundraising target in 8 days for damages to be paid to PM Lee over libel suit

PM Lee seeking nearly S$130,000 in legal costs and disbursements from blogger Leong Sze Hian; much of disbursements tied to engagement of Hong Kong expert witness

Only 1 in 5 surveyed confident of 4G leaders, Blackdot Research study finds

Public Prosecutors have nothing to fear if they do their job, says Justice Chan Seng Onn as Parti Liyani becomes first to seek compensation against AGC for “frivolous and vexatious” prosecution

Here’s why many Singaporeans aren’t bothered who the ruling party chooses to become PM

Pfizer CEO: Vaccine third dose ‘likely’ needed within 12 months

Load More
June 2020
MTWTFSS
1234567
891011121314
15161718192021
22232425262728
2930 
« May   Jul »
  • About Us
  • Volunteer
  • Donation
  • Subscription
  • Letter submission
  • Contact Us

© 2006 - 2021 The Online Citizen

No Result
View All Result
  • Opinion
    • Editorial
    • Commentaries
    • Comments
  • Current Affairs
    • Malaysia
    • Indonesia
    • China
    • ASEAN
    • Asia
    • International
  • Finance
    • Economics
    • Labour
    • Property
    • Business
  • Community
    • Civil Society
    • Arts & Culture
    • Consumer Watch
    • NGO
  • Politics
    • Parliament