Interview with Dr Liu Thai Ker

A VISIONARY’S EXPERIENCE IN INCORPORATING INFRASTRUCTURE INTO LONG-TERM URBAN PLANNING – Interview with Dr Liu Thai Ker

Dr Liu Thai Ker, the former chief architect and CEO of the Housing & Development Board (HDB) from 1969-1989, tells the Journal of Infrastructure, Policy and Development about Singapore’s experience in formulating and implementing public policies, specifically in urban development and public housing, as well as the instrumental role played by the government in the country’s accomplishments.

Here are some of the highlights from the insightful discussion.

01

What were the institutional settings that supported Singapore’s infrastructure development?

Political will: Singapore’s first-generation political leaders were far-sighted and determined to change it from a backward city into a modern metropolis.

Wise investments: Investing in areas undergoing urbanisation resulted in returns, while using appropriate technology at appropriate cost to upgrade the quality of the environment in remote areas.

Long-term urban planning: Taking into account future needs instead of only looking at what you can afford was also key.

HDB’s role in public housing: HDB was involved in resettling the squatters and clearing the land, as well as planning and designing the new towns.

02

Given Singapore’s limited land and resources, what was the biggest challenge you faced and how was it overcome?

The first cabinet members decided that the only way to achieve home ownership for all was to go high-rise.

At that time, Singapore looked to the West for inspiration. HDB planners made a few trips to Europe to identify the problems that European countries had and overcome them with policy design. For example, to avoid ghettos here, HDB mixed one-third former squatters with two-thirds urban folks and apartments of various sizes together.

03

Many countries, such as China, find implementation very difficult. In developing infrastructure, how do we ensure coordination between different government agencies?

In Singapore, although there is only one plan and one implementing agency – the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA), any changes must be discussed with the Master Planning Committee, which consists of representatives from different government departments.

China has the advantage of only one political party running a strong central government, while land is owned by the state. It just needs the right planning ideas and to improve its administrative system.

04

What is the impact of infrastructure development on Singapore’s social and economic development?

Singapore offers a safe and comfortable life with its clean air, flowing traffic and foreign schools. Good infrastructure makes it even more attractive for foreign investment.

On the social side, HDB actually planned communities.

New towns are subdivided into neighbourhoods, precincts and building blocks. Within each block there are community spaces such as void decks and segmented corridors. These social spaces nurture community cohesion and a sense of belonging.

05

How do you incorporate long-term infrastructure development into a country’s urban planning scheme and what kind of infrastructure has been crucial to Singapore’s development?

Water

Electricity

Sewage

Drainage

Infrastructure such as water, electricity, sewage and drainage are all important. There first needs to be a good long-term master plan. Then, the Public Utilities Board locates power plants of the right sizes, the Land Transport Authority decides road alignments and widths, and Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) engineers draw up the land needed for MRT lines. When these are in place, we have the coordinated staging plan and detailed engineering designs.

It is a matter of being careful and logical in practising a disciplined approach to planning and development.

We lifted ourselves from poverty to become a relatively wealthy nation by managing our country like a company and never wasting anything.

06

How important is legislation in the development of a country?

The government now owns around

90% of the land

Most cities have the compulsory Land Acquisition Act, but few use it to the extent that Singapore has. The government, which now owns around 90 per cent of the land, has consistently demonstrated that the acquired land has improved the quality of life, hence winning the support of the people and private landowners.

We have also been fussy about writing our planning rules and regulations clearly and making them available to the public. This gives potential local and foreign investors confidence in their investment. Setting clear legal guidelines can therefore help the economic growth of Singapore.

For more insights, read more pieces like this at

lkyspp.sg/globalasia This interview was conducted by Journal of Infrastructure, Policy and Development of the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy