Ministry of National Development (Singapore)

The Ministry of National Development (MND; Malay: Kementerian Pembangunan Negara; Chinese: 国家发展部; Tamil: தேசிய வளர்ச்சி அமைச்சு) is a ministry of the Government of Singapore responsible for the formulation and implementation of policies related to the land-use planning and infrastructure development in Singapore.[2]

Ministry of National Development
Agency overview
JurisdictionGovernment of Singapore
Headquarters5 Maxwell Road, #21-00 & #22-00 Tower Block, MND Complex, Singapore 069110
MottoAn Endearing Home, A Distinctive Global City
Employees9,063 (2018)[1]
Annual budgetDecrease S$3.35 billion (2019)[1]
Ministers responsible
Agency executives
  • Ow Foong Pheng,
    Permanent Secretary
  • Teoh Zsin Woon,
    Second Permanent Secretary
  • Melvyn Ong,
    Permanent Secretary (Development)
Child agencies
Websitewww.mnd.gov.sg
Agency IDT08GA0020L

History

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The ministry was established after the 1959 legislative assembly elections. It was originally composed of departments previously under the Ministry of Local Government, Land and Housing, Ministry of Communications and Works, the City Council and Rural Board (Architectural and Buildings Surveyors Section), and Ministry of Commerce and Industry (Fisheries, Veterinary Services and Rural Development).[3][4]

Responsibilities

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MND's key responsibilities include the planning, management and redevelopment of land resources and the development of public housing. The promotion of the construction, real estate and agrotechnology industries, as well as the management and improvement of industry standards in the real estate agent industry also come under the purview of the ministry. The MND is also tasked with the development and management of green spaces, recreational infrastructure and the conservation of nature areas. It is also the ministry in charge of food safety, animal and plant health.[5]

Organisational structure

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The MND is made up of nine divisions: Strategic Planning Division, Housing Division, Infrastructure Division, Research & Strategy Management Division, Corporate Development Division, Corporate Communications Division, the Eco-City Project Office, the Centre for Liveable Cities and the Internal Audit Unit.[6] On 1 October 2014, the Municipal Services Office was set up under the Ministry of National Development, with the aim to improve the Government's overall coordination and delivery of municipal services.

Strategic Planning

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The Strategic Planning Division works with the Urban Redevelopment Authority to help Singapore meet its land use needs with respect to the economy and living environment. It also comes up with policies relating to land use sales / planning, development control and the private property market.

Housing

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The Housing Division works with the Housing Development Board to plan and develop public housing towns that provide Singaporeans with affordable homes. The division's aims include community cohesion (by providing community spaces for interaction) and policies that support social objectives, such as racial harmony (Ethnic Integration Policy) and stronger family ties (CPF Housing Grant for those who live near their parents).

The Housing Division is responsible for policies on home ownership, public rental housing for low income families and the rejuvenation of older estates, amongst others.

Infrastructure

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The Infrastructure Division works with the Building and Construction Authority to shape the built environment for Singapore via building safety, construction quality, sustainability of buildings and construction, and the usability of the built environment. The Infrastructure Division also develops policies on the construction industry, sustainable development, accessibility, and building safety and quality.

The Infrastructure Division also partners the National Parks Board to integrate Singapore's urban infrastructure and garden environments. Together, they develop policies on enhancing greenery infrastructure, encouraging community participation in greening, and developing the horticultural industry. They also take care of veterinary issues too after the disbandment of Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority

Eco-City Project Office

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The Eco-City Project Office spearheads the Sino-Singapore Tianjin Eco-City, which seeks to address the challenges of sustainable development in a holistic and balanced manner.[7]

Centre for Liveable Cities

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The Centre for Liveable Cities (CLC) was set up in 2008 by the MND and the Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources. It is a research think tank[8] that focuses on sustainable urban development.[9] It seeks to understand Singapore's transformation in the last five decades, and to create and share knowledge and urban solutions for "current and future challenges relevant to Singapore and other cities".[10][11]

Statutory Boards

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The ministry oversees five statutory boards and three professional committees. These are:[12]

Ministers

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The Ministry is headed by the Minister for National Development, who is appointed as part of the Cabinet of Singapore. The incumbent minister is MP for West Coast GRC Desmond Lee from the People's Action Party.

Portrait Name
(Birth–Death)
Took office Left office Party Cabinet
Ong Eng Guan
MP for Hong Lim
(1925–2008)
5 June
1959
20 June
1960
PAP Lee K. I
Toh Chin Chye
MP for Rochore
(1921–2012)
20 June
1960
25 August
1960
PAP
Tan Kia Gan
MP for Paya Lebar
25 August
1960
18 October
1963
PAP
  Lim Kim San
MP for Cairnhill
(1916–2006)
19 October
1963
8 August
1965
PAP Lee K. II
Edmund W. Barker
MP for Tanglin
(1920–2001)
9 August
1965
1 June
1975
PAP
Lee K. III
Lee K. IV
  Lim Kim San
MP for Cairnhill
(1916–2006)
2 June
1975
31 January
1979
PAP
Lee K. V
Teh Cheang Wan
MP for Geylang West
(1928–1986)
1 February
1979
14 December
1986
PAP
Lee K. VI
Lee K. VII
S. Dhanabalan
MP for Kallang SMC
(born 1937)
1 January
1987
31 August
1992
PAP
Lee K. VIII
Goh I
Goh II
Richard Hu
MP for Kreta Ayer SMC
(1926–2023)
1 September
1992
1 January
1994
PAP
  Lim Hng Kiang
MP for Tanjong Pagar GRC & West Coast GRC
(born 1954)
Interim until 16 April 1995
2 January
1994
2 June
1999
PAP
Goh III
  Mah Bow Tan
MP for Tampines GRC
(born 1948)
2 June
1999
20 May
2011
PAP
Goh IV
Lee H. I
Lee H. II
  Khaw Boon Wan
MP for Sembawang GRC
(born 1952)
21 May
2011
30 September
2015
PAP Lee H. III
  Lawrence Wong[13]
MP for Marsiling–Yew Tee GRC
(born 1972)
1 October
2015
26 July
2020
PAP Lee H. IV
  Desmond Lee[14]
MP for West Coast GRC
(born 1976)
27 July
2020
Incumbent PAP Lee H. V
Wong I

References

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  1. ^ a b "Singapore Budget" (PDF).
  2. ^ "Ministry of National Development". Ministry of National Development. Retrieved 12 December 2010.
  3. ^ "Ong sets up seven-man team to hear grouses from the public". The Straits Times. 21 June 1959.
  4. ^ "Three Ministries absorb Council departments". The Straits Times. 24 October 1959.
  5. ^ "Introduction". Ministry of National Development.
  6. ^ "Singapore Government Directory Interactive - MINISTRY OF NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT". Ministry of Information, Communications and the Arts. Retrieved 12 December 2010.
  7. ^ "Features - Sino-Singapore Tianjin Eco-City". Retrieved 12 December 2010.
  8. ^ Frangoul, Anmar (17 December 2013). "Sustainable Singapore: A model to be replicated?". CNBC.
  9. ^ "Divisions Department". Ministry of National Development. Archived from the original on 1 December 2017. Retrieved 6 April 2020.
  10. ^ "About - Centre for Liveable Cities". Centre for Liveable Cities. Retrieved 12 December 2010.
  11. ^ "About Our Research". Centre for Liveable Cities. Archived from the original on 1 December 2017. Retrieved 23 November 2017.
  12. ^ "MND Internet - About Us - Organisational Structure". Ministry of National Development. Archived from the original on 20 August 2010. Retrieved 12 December 2010.
  13. ^ Ong, Justin (28 September 2015). "Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong announces Singapore's new Cabinet". Channel NewsAsia. Archived from the original on 21 June 2018. Retrieved 1 October 2015.
  14. ^ Mahmud, Aqil Haziq (25 July 2020). "PM Lee announces new Cabinet; 6 office holders promoted, 3 retirements". CNA. Archived from the original on 25 July 2020. Retrieved 25 July 2020.
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