Some go-kart firms exempted from permit requirement

Rules must keep pace with evolving needs of amusement rides industry, says minister

- Ng Keng Gene Correspondent

Operators of some go-kart rides have been exempted from applying for installation and operating permits since Jan 2, following rule changes.

The exemptions apply to operators of battery-powered go-kart rides that have a speed limit of under 6kmh, and have mechanical parts that are safely covered, the Building and Construction Authority (BCA) announced on Jan 5.

In a Facebook post on the same day, National Development Minister Chee Hong Tat said that in his previous role at the Ministry of Transport, he had received an appeal from some entrepreneurs about the permits needed for battery-operated go-karts under the Amusement Rides Safety Act.

Without giving details of the appeal, Mr Chee said that the company operates low-risk, low-speed rides for children in a shopping mall, and that he understood its concerns.