Transport Minister Khaw Boon Wan has warned of regulatory capture, where the regulator becomes too cosy with the regulated.

"A regulator working closely with the industry to advance consumer welfare is good. But a regulator getting too comfortable with the industry, neglecting consumer welfare, will be crossing a redline," he said yesterday.

Mr Khaw was speaking at the Eighth Joint Forum on Infrastructure Maintenance at the Land Transport Authority's headquarters in Hampshire Road, where he emphasised the need to focus on cost efficiency.

He also said Singapore has corrected the underinvestment in operations and maintenance "in our recent past history, when some operators got distracted", and added that striking a balance would require sound judgment.

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