Alvin Tan
Singapore
“And if our companies can use Johor as a complementary base to scale, serve larger markets and strengthen their regional competitiveness while retaining their core capabilities here, that is also additive integration.”
“Sir, I have answered the Member's questions specific to HDB car parks. Specifically, I think, with the provision of hose reels, fire engine access, natural and mechanical ventilations that will help in the event of a fire, and that the HDB carparks must comply with these technical specifications and safety requirements under Technical Ref…”
“Sir, all Housing and Development Board (HDB) car parks are designed and constructed in compliance with the prevailing Fire Code stipulated by the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF). This includes provisions such as hose reels, fire engine access and natural or mechanical ventilation to disperse smoke and heat.”
“What was left unsaid was that in the emails and in the MP Appeal System (MPAS), the Member was informed that: one, he was aware of the fact that AVS had investigated the incident; he was aware of the processes; he was aware that AVS found no professional negligence or misconduct by the vet; he was aware and noted that AVS had found no rel…”
“As we have observed a growth in the range of animal-related services offered by non-vets that may pose a risk to animal health and welfare, Part 4 of the Bill will introduce various offences and penalties to safeguard against unlawful practice and misrepresentation by or about unauthorised persons.”
“Owners are responsible for providing for their pets' needs, including medical care. So, we strongly encourage prospective pet owners to thoroughly consider the full cost of raising a pet before committing to becoming a pet owner. Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, vet professionals form an important pillar of our animal health and welfare system.”
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“I just wanted to say that since March 2020, pubs, bars, nightclubs, discotheques and karaoke lounges have not been allowed to operate as their operations pose higher risks of transmission arising from prolonged contact over a period of time. But I wanted to assure the House that the Government has been in consultation with the night life industry and we are finalising the support measures to assist them with the affected firms and employees and we will announce more details shortly. But moving forward, we need to reposition our economy to capture these new opportunities and support our enterprises as they transform and restructure. We must also set our sights on capturing new growth trends brought to the fore by COVID-19 and by positioning Singapore as a global-Asia node for technology, innovation and enterprise – the points raised by Members Mr Saktiandi Supaat and Ms Jessica Tan. But in an increasingly complex global economy, we will not compromise on our hard-won reputation as a safe, trusted and well-connected business hub for companies and workers to pursue growth. We have a good foundation; we have worked hard to create the right macro-conditions for cross-border trade and investments and innovation – even at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. What is critical is that we have kept our supply chains going, our businesses open and ensured that goods and services continued to flow freely and efficiently through Singapore and we will continue to do so. In MTI's discussions with foreign chambers and businesses, they have recognised these efforts and deeply appreciate our commitment to a free and open trading system. Earlier, Member Ms Jessica Tan had mentioned about the new economic space in an increasingly digital world.”
“Since the start of this year, ESG has supported over 28,000 projects under these schemes to help our companies increase productivity, build new capabilities and expand overseas. We have also announced enhancements to these schemes, as we continue to support companies to tap new sources of growth and adjust to the new operating environment. For instance, we are expanding the scope of the Market Readiness Assistance grant to include support for participation in virtual trade fairs, so that companies can find new business opportunities overseas without any physical travel. But as I have said earlier, our economic recovery will be uneven. So, some sectors will progressively recover, while others will have to pivot or restructure. That is the reality. We must, therefore, also ensure, as Members have suggested, that our assistance is more nuanced and targeted. MTI looks at the firms in three broad areas. First, for the firms in sectors with good growth prospects, such as biomedical manufacturing, we will help them scale faster and create more jobs for our workers. For firms the second bucket where they are in sectors that are facing a temporary drop in demand due to COVID-19 but will eventually recover, such as F&B and aerospace manufacturing, we will help them to preserve capabilities, consolidate capacity and tide them through this period. Third, for firms in sectors which have changed permanently, such as social entertainment, we will help them to pivot into new markets and businesses. Earlier on, the hon Member Mr Dennis Tan had mentioned about discotheques.”
“Critically, we have also ramped up our testing capability and capacity and we are evaluating alternative tests and sampling methods as they become available, to ensure they can be deployed safely and effectively. In the immediate term, countries that manage the COVID-19 situation best can reap economic dividends, as they will be able to minimise any further disruptions to lives and livelihoods. To do so, our business and community must continue to stay vigilant and exercise social responsibility as we resume more activities. Sir, in the past few months, many businesses have benefited from the schemes and programmes that we rolled out earlier this year to help them tide over the immediate challenges. For instance, our loan schemes have helped firms to address immediate cash flow issues. I want to update the House that as of September 2020, more than 18,000 enterprises have taken up loans under the ESG’s loan scheme, such as the Temporary Bridging Loan Programme. As announced earlier this week, we are further extending and calibrating the loan schemes to ensure enterprises can continue to access financing for their cash flow, trade activities and project needs. At the same time, there is a pressing need to help businesses build new capabilities, as Members have shared earlier, and adapt to new realities because there is no going back to a pre-COVID world. So, we are encouraged that many businesses have taken the opportunity to strengthen their capabilities and capture growth opportunities. For those that need it, they can get support available through grants, such as Productivity Solutions Grant, Enterprise Development Grant and Market Readiness Assistance.”
“We allowed more employees who have been working from home to return to their workplaces for up to half their working time. We have also allowed work-related events at the workplace to resume. But as we strive to maintain Singapore’s position as a business and transport hub, we are progressively reopening our borders. We are establishing reciprocal green lanes to conduct essential travel with other countries and regions and with the necessary safeguards in place to ensure the safety of Singaporeans and our international visitors. We are piloting new concepts to support our businesses in this new operating environment. These efforts will allow us to play a role in setting the global standards required to resume activities safely. A couple of examples. The first is cruise. Some cruise lines will soon start to operate cruises, under stringent hygiene and safety measures, for safe cruising. To ensure the highest hygiene and safety standards, Singapore is one of the first countries in the world to develop and implement a mandatory audit and certification programme for cruise lines. A CruiseSafe certification is required before a cruise can commence sailing, and cruise lines which have been allowed to operate have since reported an overwhelming number of bookings received. We have also begun pilots of events and activities with a larger number of attendees. For instance, we are piloting the resumption of MICE events of up to 250 attendees. Under STB’s Safe Business Events Framework, event organisers are required to demonstrate their ability to meet specified health and safety outcomes before they are allowed to pilot events. We will continue to adapt and adjust our protocols and assess how we can allow more large-scale events to proceed.”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, COVID-19 has disrupted the lives and livelihoods of Singaporeans and has also brought us together. I would like to thank everyone for cooperating with the safety guidelines and regulations and taking the necessary precautions to curb the spread of COVID-19. This has been a difficult journey for all of us and, because of all of our collective sacrifices and effort, we have managed to flatten the COVID-19 infections curve and have kept the number of community infections low. Based on MTI’s advance estimates released today, the Singapore economy contracted by 7% on a year-on-year basis in the third quarter of 2020. This was an improvement from the 13.3% contraction in the second quarter and came on the back of the phased re-opening of our economy following the circuit breaker. But we are coming from a low base. Notwithstanding the improved performance in the third quarter, the recovery path ahead is expected to be slow and uneven across sectors. As the COVID-19 situation here in Singapore stabilises, we have the opportunity to reopen our economy safely, in a careful and calibrated manner. And the importance of reopening in a careful and calibrated manner cannot be overly emphasised, as the hon Members Mr Louis Chua and Mr Sharael Taha had mentioned earlier. But since we exited the Circuit Breaker on 2 June, we have been resuming more activities in a safe and progressive manner. We are currently in Phase Two and have reopened most of our economy, subject to safe management measures in place. About 95% of businesses are now allowed to resume operations and more people are returning to office. About two weeks ago, we took another significant step towards restoring economic activity.”
“Just a second. "...we can choose how we define the moments of our time." Fifty-five years ago, our Pioneers found themselves in the moment of crisis, thrust into an independent nation, which was never expected to survive. Heroic as they have may have been too, it is okay to be worried. Courage, Mr Speaker, the quality which our Pioneers exemplified is not the absence of fear, but the will to overcome it. In our moment of crisis, we must meet this moment by overcoming our worries and seizing opportunities to build a better future, not clinging on to the shadows of a distant past, by working together in spite of our differences. Just as our forefathers did. Years from now, in this very House, our children and future generations will judge us by how we have met this moment. We hope they will judge us kindly, but that is for the future. For today, as long as we do our best, as long as we stick together and stay nimble and courageous with Singaporeans at the heart of all we do, I believe we would have met this moment. Mr Speaker, Sir, I support the Motion. [Applause.]”
“To her advantage. She texts me using text-to-speech recognition software and is now working in the communications team in a technology department of a multinational. She adapted using technology to augment her ability and benefited from having an inclusive employer who treasured for her abilities. Mr Speaker, Sir, as a young boy I read a JRR Tolkien's work and there was a Frodo Baggins, who was the main character who said this, "I wish it did not have happened in my time," said Frodo and Gandalf, the wise wizard responded, "And so do all who live to see such times, but that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us." Mr Speaker, we cannot choose the moments in time —”
“In my constituency, we have had a number of suicides since COVID-19 started and I just visited the family of one of the seniors I knew, who sadly he took his own life. When I worked on cyber safety in the tech sector, I also saw first-hand the impact of social media abuse on social, emotional and mental health all over the world. I remember dealing with "live" suicide cases around the world and working furiously with my team and our partners to intervene. Closer to home, I remember one of my residents refusing to call the Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) careline because she felt it was shameful to do so. We need inclusive policies and norms to ensure that people feel safe and unashamed to use Mental Health resources. When we fall down, we suffer physical injury. What about mental injury? How do we heal? If we can accept seeking help for our body, there is no reason why we cannot accept the same for our mind, and this is a point that my colleagues the hon Mr Don Wee and Mr Fahmi Aliman had mentioned in their own speeches. Mr Speaker, Sir, while we need to do more to be inclusive of those struggling with mental ailments, we also have the opportunity to do more to include those who are differently abled, physically. I have a friend, her name is Hui Xin, she was born visually impaired but has yet —”
“In my time interviewing and hiring people for our companies, I looked beyond traditional barometers of success, like grades and schools to skills and micro-credentials, which is what Ms Mariam Jaafar mentioned yesterday, the Google credentials. Work or volunteer experience and, most importantly, one's professional reputation. The needle is indeed beginning to shift, and we are now seeing some exceptions to the old narratives of success. In her Address, Mdm President spoke about the work that schools and Institutes of Higher Learning (IHLs) and the Public Service Commission, employers and even political parties are doing in this regard. This is good progress, but we must make these exceptions the norm. Failure will have consequences, but we must not and should not bind people to their past failures denying them the chance to learn from them and shape their futures differently. Embracing failure and giving second chances will help strengthen our social mobility and, at the same time, it will encourage people to be bold enough to try new things and potentially fail or innovate. Most importantly, it will make us an even more inclusive society. Mr Speaker, the second aspect of inclusion is for us to better include those who are differently abled, physically and mentally. Globally, as we all know, COVID-19 has caused untold mental and emotional stress, and revealed underlying biases and stigma to those suffering silently. Singapore is no exception. Mental ailments affect us regardless of age, background and where we live in the world. We all know someone who struggles with mental ailments. I have friends and, indeed, immediate family members, struggling with the stigma brought about by schizophrenia, depression and other silent mental illness.”
“I had to repeat a year in junior college and even so, did not do well enough for my "A" level examinations to qualify for any local universities. I remember feeling dejected, uncertain about my future and dealing with the societal stigma. Even later on in my career, I faced other rejections, but along my journey, some took a chance on me, not really based on my grades but on my ability, reputation, values, work ethic and even volunteer experiences, and I will always be thankful for these chances. But Mr Speaker, we cannot just rely on these second chances. We need to level the playing field with policies and norms that systematically empower people and give them the chance they need to prove themselves. To this end, the Government has rolled out measures in recent years to mitigate the lottery of birth. And yet too far, we often hear concerns that our system penalises people too heavily for the setbacks of their past – where grades from your "O" levels or "A" levels disproportionately dictate your career path; where we congratulate people for defying the odds without questioning why the odds were put there in the first place. I remembered years ago, applying for a few mid-career jobs in Government and having to input my Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE), "O" level and "A" level grades and the recruiters not valuing my experience in the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) or even volunteer work. Conversely, the private sector firms I interviewed with, did not require those grades and they valued my experience even in the SAF and volunteer work among others in their hiring decisions. It was an easy choice for me to choose which sector to join.”
“When I was at my previous company, my team and I partnered with the Institute of Technical Education (ITE) to help all of our ITE students showcase their skills on their digital resumes so that machine learning algorithms can help notify them of potential job matches in Singapore but also outside of Singapore, opening the market for our students. So, I look forward to working with SkillsFuture and MyCareersFuture teams to better prepare but also promote our people, so that they can better compete for jobs in Singapore and beyond. For younger Singaporeans, the SGUnited Traineeships Programme is enhancing their competitiveness too, helping them get valuable on-the-job training. I remember taking on an unpaid internship when I was younger, and the experience and networks I gained stood me in good stead for the future jobs I would apply for and take on the future. So, we must continue to support Singaporeans young and old, transform themselves out of this crisis. The choice is clear. We either reinvent ourselves to meet the demands of the future or be relegated to the footnotes of the past. This brings me to the third opportunity, that is, the opportunity to include and to be more accepting of people with different backgrounds and journeys. I will speak on including Singaporeans of different abilities and emphasise two aspects. The first is something close to my heart and it is related to the ability to succeed and the stigma of failure. Mr Speaker, when Mdm President spoke about including people who have traverse different paths, it reminded me of my own journey, and I reflected on how far we have come and how much further we still have to go.”
“] Mr Speaker, preparing Singapore well for global competition also means preparing our firms well to seize global opportunities. Given the rapid global digitalisation, Singapore benefited from its early investment in digital transformation. We had a head start in the race and while we were preparing for a marathon, COVID-19 has forced us into a sprint. Coming from the private sector, I look forward to working closely with our industry partners, as we step up our digitalisation efforts, supporting businesses, including family-run small and medium enterprises (SMEs). Second, our people. LinkedIn data shows that the most in-demand jobs globally are in sales, healthcare, software engineering and project management. Three out of these four jobs are also highest in demand for remote employment. This means that, as Mr Sharael Taha mentioned earlier, they can be performed anywhere in the world, regardless of their employer's location. Remote jobs are a double-edged sword. On the one hand, it means anyone living outside of Singapore can get a job based in Singapore. But on the other hand, it also means Singaporeans can apply for a job overseas while living at home right here in Singapore. Jobs are now increasingly not confined by geographical borders. We must prepare our people to compete on the global platform and take on these emerging jobs. But this is easier said than done. Advising a mid-career administrator to take on a software engineering role is tough and difficult. Upskilling through SkillsFuture can help but once you have acquired that skill, how do you then make that shift? This is a question I have heard many times on the ground from jobseekers and I am sure many in this House have also heard from your residents as well.”
“The hon Mr Leon Perera referred to our economy yesterday as a Titanic. I would like to suggest that this is a mis-characterisation. Our economy has been going on for 55 years, not always smooth but always delivering opportunities for Singapore and Singaporeans. We have encountered many major problems and crises – the separation, the British withdrawal, the oil crisis, the 1985 recession, the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) pandemic, the Asian Financial Crisis and the Global Financial Crisis. We have never encountered a problem we did not bounce back from stronger. This is the mettle of our country and our people. Why? Because we do not assume that we are invulnerable. We are always worried, in fact, about our vulnerability, almost to the point of paranoia, planning for contingencies, learning and adapting. We have been driving transformation and re-engineering our economy as we keep going. The Industry Transformation Maps are the latest version of a long line of efforts to ensure that we keep Singapore in the best possible condition, not just for now but also for the future. During calmer waters, there were voices in this Chamber telling us not to worry, that we can risk our stability and our Reserves. Well, we have seen clearly why we have safeguarded our Reserves. We have now deployed them in this crisis to help our people to reinvent themselves and to create opportunities for us to keep on going into the future. So, Mr Speaker, I would like to suggest that we are not quite the Titanic. I would like to suggest we are the Starship Enterprise, always exploring new frontiers and making friends with people from many different places. As my colleague, Dr Tan See Leng, had mentioned a couple of days ago, we will live long and prosper. [Applause.”
“Protecting our environment is not just about protecting our lives but also securing our livelihoods, which brings me to my second opportunity, which is the opportunity to create. Mr Sharael Taha had mentioned earlier the great reset has accelerated the process of digitalisation faster than any of us has expected. It has displaced jobs and many of our industries like aviation, tourism and construction have been significantly hit. It has affected how we consume and how and where we work. At this juncture, there are opportunities that we can create, find and must seize. We must be nimble and use it to our advantage for our country and our people. First, our country. We must continue to strengthen Singapore's position regionally and globally, an oasis in a COVID-19 world – safe, stable, incorruptible and open to the world. These are traits that my former colleagues and I in the private sector, even pre-COVID-19, looked for when deciding where to situate billions of dollars of investments. And make no mistake. When we draw up plans, our strategic investment plans, Singapore is but one of many countries we considered. If we and others decided to choose another investment destination, these jobs would have been situated elsewhere. And Singaporeans would certainly be poorer for it. So, we must continue to enhance this reputation, as investors look for a place they can trust, unleash their ideas, talent and capital. The result is innovation, investments and opportunities for Singaporeans. Of course, as my colleagues have said, we must ensure that Singaporeans are treated fairly. Investments and opportunities can choose us or choose others. I would much rather they choose us. And they will be choosing a steady ship that is sea-worthy in a storm.”
“An old flood gauge still sits at the corner of Carlisle and Cambridge Road, reminding us of our vulnerabilities. One of my first priorities as Member of Parliament of Moulmein-Cairnhill was also to do with the environment. I am sure many in this House also have been dealing with it – dengue. We have dengue clusters across our country and even in my constituency, and we have set up a Dengue Taskforce to deal with it decisively. Locally, we have also set up "Our Green Pek Kio", a popular ground-up initiative to drive awareness and action against climate change. It is a popular initiative with our residents, very young residents devoting their energy to transform their communities and neighbourhood. Specific projects include climate change conversations, which speak about the impact of climate change or the relationship between climate change and our fragile environment. We have our "Bring Your Own Container" initiative which helps our residents reduce plastic waste. So, these are all ground-up initiatives we should encourage. But these are small steps which are slowly, certainly changing attitudes and practices on the ground, and we should do more of these. Mr Speaker, environmental concerns can indeed be balanced against economic growth. This pandemic has given us the chance to restructure our economy towards sustainable and green solutions, while remaining economically competitive. As the Minister for Sustainability and the Environment mentioned last week, 55,000 new jobs will be created in the sustainability sector over the next decade in areas such as high-tech agriculture and aquaculture. This reflects the Government's commitment to foster a greener economy and we must press on with these efforts.”
“Mr Speaker, we are living through what has been termed as a great reset. While this poses many unprecedented challenges, it also provides us with an opportunity to do things differently, to re-imagine and rebuild on the strong foundations of our forefathers. I will touch on three such opportunities – the opportunity to protect, the opportunity to create and opportunity to include. To begin with, the opportunity to protect. COVID-19 forced the whole world to a pause. Unintentionally, this pause gives us a chance to take a step back, examine and be deliberate as we move forward. One of the first and possibly the only direct positive outcome of COVID-19 is its impact on the environment. The sound of planes was audibly replaced by the sounds of birds. Nature was recovering as humanity stayed at home. And now, as we slowly try to unpause, we have the opportunity to better balance the sounds we would like to hear, to better protect and steward the environment for our children as we rebuild our economy. And now, we have an opportunity to do this, as Eli Sim of Palm View Primary School wrote in a published National Day essay. Eli wrote that he hopes that Singaporeans will "learn to protect the precious forests, beaches and reservoir parks. I hope everyone in Singapore will do his or her part to turn Singapore from a little Red Dot into a big Green Dot in future and be a role model for other countries." Indeed, as Eli says, Singapore must be a big Green Dot in a rapidly warming world. Global warming has led to higher temperatures and rising sea levels. We have seen the effects of this in the past right in my constituency where our low-lying Pek Kio and Cambridge Road neighbourhood experienced floods.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I rise in support of the Motion to thank our President for her Address. Last week, I was sworn in as a Member of Parliament at Old Parliament House. Standing in that Chamber, taking my Oath of Allegiance, a sense of history overwhelmed me. I could not help but wonder how our founding leaders – Mr Lee Kuan Yew, Mr S Rajaratnam and Dr Goh Keng Swee – must have felt in the Chamber, the fate of Singapore in their hands, facing a bleak and uncertain future. They must have been in their late 30s or 40s, around my generation. How did they feel inheriting a newly independent country facing a crisis of survival? What went through their minds as they wrestled with the exigencies of their time? Were jobs the priority? Defence, the environment, social cohesion, race and religion; where did they start and how did they start? So, we stand here today as one House in this new Chamber, facing the proverbial crisis of our generation. And we are again faced with the questions that confronted our forefathers. Where do we find jobs? How do we build a cohesive Singapore? How do we protect our environment? Our founding leaders found opportunities and hope in crisis by finding new ways of doing business, making tough decisions about race and religion and building a clean and green city. They developed our industries, forged a new society and built a modern Singapore, handing it over to us in excellent order. That Singapore is now in our hands and what we do in this crisis matters. This crisis is not a temporary deviation from our previous path but one that will permanently change our lives as we know it. As President Halimah Yacob said last week, there is no going back to the status quo ante and COVID-19 has indeed reshuffled the deck.”