Azhar Othman
Singapore
“In conclusion, Mr Speaker, Singapore prides itself on being a first world nation with world-class infrastructure. But our energy architecture remains a 20th century central model in a 21st century risk environment. We cannot rely solely on imported gas, central plants and diesel generators that fail when we need them most.”
“Thank you, Speaker. I just want to thank Minister of State Gan for the sharing about the strategy. Just a couple of comments, if I can. One is that, yes, we go into data centres, it is a highly huge power guzzler, typically about 70 MW to 100 MW per centre, and they are running on diesel as a back-up.”
“Thank you, Mr Speaker. I would like to ask a question regarding security. Looking at our situation right now is not that dire, but taking a worst-case scenario, every country tends to look at itself, tends to look inwards.”
“(In Malay): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] Chairman, I would like to request that the Ministry consider allowing MENDAKI funds be used to establish a community of excellence.”
“Thank you, Chairman. The COE in Singapore aims to prevent road congestion, which is a commendable objective to control the number of vehicles on the road. However, imposing the COE on a motorcycle seems illogical, as they do not significantly contribute to traffic congestion in the country.”
“In light of recent incidents regarding dissatisfaction with rising rental prices, I propose that a council, like the Public Transport Council, an independent regulatory Statutory Board and in this case, under MND, be established to monitor rental rates in the market.”
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“Thank you, Speaker. I just want to thank Minister of State Gan for the sharing about the strategy. Just a couple of comments, if I can. One is that, yes, we go into data centres, it is a highly huge power guzzler, typically about 70 MW to 100 MW per centre, and they are running on diesel as a back-up. So, this is something we may look into closely because that would create another set of carbon emission. Having said that, on a final point, the micro-grid itself is just another, I would call it a, if you look at the highway, it is just another road, path, for every commuter to use as well. On that note, thank you so much.”
“In conclusion, Mr Speaker, Singapore prides itself on being a first world nation with world-class infrastructure. But our energy architecture remains a 20th century central model in a 21st century risk environment. We cannot rely solely on imported gas, central plants and diesel generators that fail when we need them most. The solution exists. It is proven. It is clean. And it can be built block by block, constituency by constituency, without waiting for a crisis to force our hand. I urge the Ministry to review and approve the establishment of a multi-agency task force, including the Energy Market Authority (EMA), HDB, the Building and Construction Authority and industry experts, to pilot the first constituency-scale microgrid with solar and BESS. I offer my engineering experience to that effort without reservation. Let us not wait for the next blackout to remind us what resilience means. Let us build it now.”
“It is not only for power back-up, it can also be used for peak shaving. EMA could aggregate them as a virtual power plant (VPP), generating revenue that offsets capital costs. Third, faster recovery. After a major outage, central plants require hours to resynchronise. A microgrid restores power locally in milliseconds. Lifts restart immediately. Water pumps resume. Elderly residents on upper floors are not stranded, nor will they be in the dark. Fourth, climate alignment. BESS with solar produces zero operational emissions. Every kilowatt-hour of diesel displaced reduces CO2 by approximately 2.7 kilogrammes. Nationally, this could cut 200,000 tonnes annually, the equivalent of removing 60,000 cars from our roads. The last part, part seven, implementation pathway, practical and phased. I propose a three-phase roll-out. Phase 1, 12 months. Pilot in one constituency – Macpherson or Sengkang. Deploy solar plus BESS on 30 HDB blocks, integrate with microgrid controller and run parallel to the grid for one year. Collect real-world performance, load data and resident feedback. Phase 2, 24 months. Scale to five constituencies. Refine smart loading algorithms, integrate with main grid control room and establish VPP (Virtual Power Plant) dispatch protocols. Phase 3, 36 to 48 months. Nationwide rollout. Every HDB block, every major commercial building, every industrial facility. Mandate new buildings to include solar-ready roofs and BESS-ready electrical rooms. Even though we have somewhat approximate figures for the capital cost for the above, but it is best we compute thoroughly. I believe the ability to ensure the reliability of power for all residents during grid failure is immeasurable.”
“A commercial building with a large rooftop array shares solar generation with nearby residential blocks. This is not theoretical. Similar microgrids operate today in various countries such as the US, Italy, China and many others. The technology is mature. Part five, scaling nation-wide. Every constituency, a power island. Scale this design to every constituency – Ang Mo Kio, Tampines, Tanjong Pagar, Jurong, Sengkang and beyond. Each constituency becomes a grid-forming island, capable of operating independently for eight to 24 hours without mainland utility power. If I were to summarise a national technical summary, that is approximately 10,000 HDB blocks with a total distributed BESS capacity of 1.5 gigawatt-hours and additional commercial and industrial BESS of about two gigawatt-hours. The national distributed storage is 3.5 gigawatt-hours, the equivalent to the output of a 500 megawatt gas plant running for seven hours. The total rooftop solar is around 1.5 gigawatt-peak potential across all suitable surfaces. This distributed architecture provides what no central plant can – inherent redundancy. A failure in one block affects only that block. A failure in one constituency does not cascade to another. Cyber attacks are localised. Physical damage is contained. Part six, economic and operational benefits. First, fuel savings. Diesel gensets cost approximately $0.40 to $0.60 per kilowatt-hour to operate, plus the cost of maintenance. With the current conflict in the Middle East, these prices have soared even higher. Solar plus BESS, amortised over 15 years, costs $0.15 to $0.25 per kilowatt-hour for back-up power. Second, grid services. These distributed BESS assets, when not used for back-up, can provide frequency regulation and peak shaving to the main grid.”
“A building energy controller (BEC) monitors real-time state of charge, solar generation and load priority. It uses Modbus Transmission Control Protocol or other forms of protocols to communicate with smart breakers and sub-metres. The priority levels will look at: Level 1: critical, always powered. For lifts, fire systems, water pumps, corridor emergency lighting and security cameras; and Level 2: non-essential, shed immediately on outage. For air conditioners, water heaters, non-critical office equipment and electric vehicle (EV) chargers. Residents would receive an SMS or app notification: "Grid failure detected. Your block is on battery back-up. Non-essential load has been temporarily disabled. Lifts and water pumps remain operational." Transparency builds trust. Part four, from individual blocks to microgrids. Multiply this model. One HDB block becomes energy-independent for essential loads, but the real leap occurs when we interconnect neighbouring blocks, commercial buildings and industrial facilities into a local microgrid. I will give you an example of the MacPherson constituency microgrid. There are 80 HDB blocks with a total of 12 megawatt-hour batteries, 20 commercial shophouses with about one megawatt-hour and five light industrial buildings with another one megawatt-hour. The total constituency storage is 14 megawatt-hour. The total solar generation potential is 25 megawatt-peak. These assets communicate via a microgrid controller. When utility power fails, the controller islanded the constituency from the main grid. Each block runs on its own battery initially. For longer outages beyond four to six hours, the microgrid controller enables peer-to-peer energy sharing. A block with surplus battery transfers power to a block running low.”
“Pair each solar installation with a lithium-iron-phosphate (LFP) BESS. LFP chemistry offers superior thermal stability, longer cycle life – 6,000 to 10,000 cycles – and no thermal runaway risk – critical for high-rise residential applications. I will give an example of technical sizing, for the sake of presenting my speech. Take Block 95 at Aljunied Crescent, with an estimated essential load per block, with two lifts, pump and corridor lighting, and a total load of 22 kilowatts. To protect the load running for four to eight hours, the required BESS for 22 kilowatts by six hours, assuming we take a safe margin, is 132 kilowatt-hours. A 150 kilowatt-hour LFP battery cabinet occupies roughly two square metres and fits in a corner of the existing electrical room or rooftop. That is the load profile for the flat itself. At the same time, with solar generation, the battery charges during the day. When utility fails, an automatic transfer switch with less than 50 millisecond transition seamlessly hands over to BESS. Smart power management controllers shed non-essential loads within 200 milliseconds, preserving stored energy for essential functions. The deployment of BESS can be done even on an apartment basis. In other words, every unit apartment will have a secondary power, which is another set of batteries, to ensure that every unit will run when the power fails. Like how every unit has a bomb shelter, now each unit has a BESS solution to power the apartment during emergency or power disruption situations. This will have a separate calculation for internal use. Element three: now that you have the solar power and the battery, comes the control system. Smart power management and load shedding.”
“We do have back-up supplies, but after that, power plants begin tripping. Without distributed backup, entire neighbourhoods go dark. Scenario B: a cyber attack. A coordinated cyber attack targets the main power control systems and several power plants' supervisory control and data acquisition networks. Centralised command is lost. Even if generation exists, dispatch fails. Scenario C: extreme weather. Increasingly intense tropical storms, lightning or flooding events can cause simultaneous faults on multiple transmission lines. The grid sheds load in cascading sequences. In all these scenarios, a single centralised solution – building more gas plants or interconnectors – does not solve the fundamental problem. The problem is architectural, not just volumetric. Part three, the proposed technical strategy. I propose a layered, distributed architecture comprising three technical elements. Element one: rooftop and space-optimised solar building integrated photovoltaics, which has been well implemented by the Government. I am glad to see that solar photovoltaics have been deployed on Housing and Development Board (HDB) blocks' rooftops and floating farms on reservoirs. We should aim to have deployment on every available suitable surface – multi-storey car parks, school roofs and industrial warehouse roof tops. Modern solar modules achieve 24% to 25% efficiency. In Singapore's solar irradiance of approximately 1,580 kilowatt/square metre/year, a typical HDB block roof of 1,500 square metres can host a 250 to 300 kilowatt-peak system, generating roughly 340 megawatt-hour annually – enough to cover common area and essential load needs during daylight hours. Element two: battery energy storage systems (BESS).”
“Approximately 95% of our electricity is generated from natural gas, imported via pipelines from neighbouring countries and liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminals. These gas-fired combined-cycle plants are highly efficient, but they remain single-point-of-failure risks. A supply interruption from a foreign source, a gas pipeline breach or a simultaneous failure of two major plants could cascade into a system-wide blackout. We have already seen warnings. In 2018, a major blackout affected parts of Ang Mo Kio, Yishun and other areas. Each time, the root cause traced back to a localised fault that propagated because our grid lacks sufficient segmentation and distributed back-up. At the building level, many industrial and commercial facilities maintain diesel generator sets to power critical loads. But these come with well-known limitations – fuel storage constraints, refuelling logistics during extended outages, emissions, noise and maintenance burdens. Public housing estates, which house 80% of our population, largely lack any form of backup beyond emergency lighting in stairwells. When the grid fails, lifts stop. Water pumps stop. Lightings off. This is not resilience; this is dependence. On a side note, I understand that a micro-grid project has been initiated by the Government in 2018 but till now, we have not seen the outcome of the project nor implementation of the solutions in a bigger scale. Probably the Ministry-in-charge can update on the development of the micro-grid project in Pulau Ubin. The second part, disruption scenarios beyond the conventional. We must think beyond routine failures. Consider these credible high impact scenarios. Scenario A: regional gas supply interruption. A geopolitical event or natural disaster disrupts gas supply.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I rise today to move a Motion for a national energy resilience strategy, specifically the adoption of decentralised off-grid and micro-grid power solutions, integrating solar photovoltaic generation and battery energy storage systems, along with a customised smart energy management solution. There are other forms of renewable energy we can consider, such as small unit waste to energy, hydrogen-based genset and wind energy. But in this Motion, we will only consider battery and solar for simplicity. Kindly take note, any proposed design and data used in my speech are primarily from our very own assessment and should the government of the day would like to comment, correct or even share their data, I truly welcome the initiative. Before I proceed further, I declare my position. I am the Executive Chairman of an engineering firm that designs and integrates customised power systems and energy management solutions. My company has completed over 3,000 projects across 20 countries. I hold an engineering degree and have practised in this field for more than two decades. Mr Speaker, let me frame this Motion with clarity. I shall first describe Singapore's current power generation architecture. Second, I will examine credible disruption scenarios, both historical and future. Third, I will present a technically grounded, decentralised strategy to counter those disruptions. Finally, I will explain how this strategy makes every estate or constituency in Singapore a resilient node in a national fabric of energy security. There are seven parts to my speech, and these are very succinct. Part one, current standing; centralised vulnerability. Today, Singapore's electrical grid is overwhelmingly centralised.”
“Thank you, Mr Speaker. I would like to ask a question regarding security. Looking at our situation right now is not that dire, but taking a worst-case scenario, every country tends to look at itself, tends to look inwards. What is the possibility of a country that agreed to supply gas to us suddenly saying it cannot and that it has to supply to their side first? What is the institution we are taking, in terms of MFA's relations with them, in terms of our position of supporting our supply to our own Singaporeans? Maybe I can get some clarification on that, please.”
“Thank you, Speaker. A couple of clarifications and suggestions, if I may. Looking at the critical nature of this situation, will the Government be imposing a curb on private transportation use as what other countries have been deploying, in Malaysia and Indonesia? The whole idea is to reduce our consumption and plan further when the urgency is needed. That is number one. Number two is that if you look at the Energy Efficiency Grant and if we are relying on households to reduce their consumption, if I may recommend that we reward reduced consumption? Because only then will the value of using energy more efficiently be taken into account. If typically, their consumption is $100 a month and they manage to reduce it by $20, a percentage of that can be returned to them as a reward. I think that puts Singaporeans in a mindset of using energy wisely, in terms of how we can encourage the efficiency of consumption. Thirdly, looking at this situation of energy dependency, it is important to ensure we are energy independent. If I can ask the Ministry, how serious this situation is and how this situation expedites the possibility of deployment of small modular reactor or nuclear energy in the context of being independent?”
“Thank you, Chairman. Allow me to address my question in Malay. (In Malay): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] We know that AI is going to penetrate every aspect of knowledge, learning and work. I have two questions for the Acting Minister. First, do the courses at the SCIS include subjects like AI to stay relevant with the times? Second, I hope madrasahs throughout Singapore will also receive Government support so they can learn about and get exposure to AI. Assoc Prof Dr Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim: (In Malay): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] I wish to thank Mr Azhar for asking the questions. It is a good suggestion. AI is a national initiative. So, SCIS and our madrasahs will sustain it so that we can benefit from AI and look at how students will not only benefit from it, but also deepen their understanding in their learning process. So, I will bring this suggestion back to MUIS and share it with the madrasahs because this is an important platform and we will look at how we can provide development opportunities for our students so that they remain relevant, regardless of what discipline they pursue.”
“(In Malay): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] Chairman, I would like to request that the Ministry consider allowing MENDAKI funds be used to establish a community of excellence. While we understand that most of the funds are set aside for education, it is important to recognise that the finances within this organisation is still robust. We need to look beyond education as the sole pathway to success and explore other forms of achievement, like the arts, sports and career development. We want to ensure that every individual receives the necessary support and becomes the best version of themselves. MENDAKI should also look into providing holistic support to families that encompasses financial literacy education and strengthening family bonds. MENDAKI should be able to envision how this community can be developed and ensure that the programmes designed to support it are implemented holistically and professionally. 1.15 pm Preparing Malay/Muslim Children for an AI Economy”
“Visiting hospitals can often be an unpleasant experience, unless one is expecting a newborn. I want to address the challenges faced by many individuals, including my own experiences. As many are aware, when our elderly parents go for check-ups, they often require the assistance of their children. This process typically involves several tests, followed by consultation with a doctor regarding the next steps. I am aware that certain medical institutions offer video consultations. If I may propose that we utilise video calls to all hospitals and polyclinics and minimise waiting times and the hassle of hospital visits for simple updates. While I understand that some situations necessitate in person consultation, technology can significantly enhance the overall experience. By leveraging available technology, and now with AI, we can support especially the sandwich generation who juggle responsibilities for both their children and ageing parents. These caregivers often need to take time off from work for medical appointments and the lengthy waits sometimes over an hour; even two or three hours for brief updates can be frustrating. For instance, when my son had a football injury, we faced a similar situation. After waiting for over an hour, the doctor's update lasted for only for five to 10 minutes. Such interaction could be efficiently handled through video calls, which would also allow for real time updates on waiting times for treatments. The time and energy required for parents to attend these appointments can be overwhelming. I hope the Ministry considers implementing solution that facilitate a similar experience for those caring for both elderly parents and young children. Clinical Capacity and Social Prescribing”
“This question is for the Acting Minister. He mentioned about the shared space of motorcycles on the road. There are 140,000 motorcycles, if I got it right, and there are 70,000 motorcycles from the causeway that goes to Singapore. Almost half of them come from the other side. And yet, they do not pay any COE, they do not pay any road tax. How do we justify Singaporeans paying so much, sharing the same space, and yet the other side are not doing so?”
“Thank you, Chairman. The COE in Singapore aims to prevent road congestion, which is a commendable objective to control the number of vehicles on the road. However, imposing the COE on a motorcycle seems illogical, as they do not significantly contribute to traffic congestion in the country. It is noteworthy that approximately more than 60,000 motorcycles cross the Causeway daily to commute and work in Singapore. This influx indicates that motorcycles owned by Singaporeans are not the source of congestion. The traffic issues we face are not stemming from motorcycles, yet the COE imposes a financial burden on those who purchase them. Typically, buyers of motorcycles of lower- and middle-income earners who rely on these vehicles for work, including roles in delivery services. Penalising them with the COE is unjust, especially when they do not contribute to traffic congestion. Removing the COE for motorcycles would alleviate financial strain and allow these individuals to save money, ultimately enabling them to generate more income and improve their livelihoods.”
“In light of recent incidents regarding dissatisfaction with rising rental prices, I propose that a council, like the Public Transport Council, an independent regulatory Statutory Board and in this case, under MND, be established to monitor rental rates in the market. This initiative will provide the public with assurance that effective measures are being taken to address rental issues faced by fellow Singaporeans. Additionally, council members will be positioned to identify potential money laundering activities, particularly in cases of unusually high rental payments. Currently, it is generally acceptable for rental prices to increase between 3% and 15%. Any growth beyond this range should be reviewed closely and carefully before a decision being made to approve or disallow to proceed.”
“Trade is the lifeblood of Singapore, making it essential for us to facilitate as much trade as possible. This requires a focus on establishing numerous companies and fostering a mindset of entrepreneurship that can create significant impact. Nurturing this entrepreneurial mindset and skill set should begin at a young age and schools are the perfect environment for this exposure. By integrating entrepreneurship into the CCAs, students can learn about business establishment and experience what it means to be an entrepreneur. There are already some schools implementing this but we should make this apply across all schools for students to be given the opportunity to participate. This co-curricular activity can be one of many programmes launched in primary and secondary schools. Trade associations and chambers can play a vital role in developing the curriculum and nurturing young entrepreneurs. For instance, the Singapore Malay Chambers of Commerce and Industry has initiated a programme where students visit the chamber to gain insights into how businesses are established and operated. By implementing such a curriculum, students will acquire a diverse range of skills, including marketing, distribution, operations, finance, resourcefulness and negotiation. Introducing entrepreneurship in schools will activate their innovative and creative minds, positioning us as a nation of creators and innovators capable of establishing companies and business solutions. In time, this initiative will not only increase the number of companies but also enhance our global trade presence, connecting Singapore with other regions of the world. Air-conditioning in Every Classroom”
“Chairman, I would like to declare that I am the executive chairman of Enercon Asia, a company with presence in seven countries. In light of the tariffs imposed by the US on various countries, including Singapore, it is crucial for the Ministry to explore potential partnerships with other nations and develop additional Free Trade Agreements (FTAs). The importance of diversifying our business relationships cannot be overstated. It would be beneficial for the Ministries to provide guidance on which countries present valuable opportunities for our businesses to establish connections and a presence. As a small nation, Singapore must seek assistance and explore opportunities globally to thrive in the current economic landscape. Becoming a Networked Economy”
“Thank you, Chairman. As far as I made aware that we are planning to import green energy from different countries – being vulnerable to these kinds of power sources, can the Deputy Prime Minister clarify how do we mitigate the risk of importing such power from these countries? As we all know, certain position or a certain situation can happen that this may be blocked or disrupted?”
“Thank you, Chairman. I would like to request an update from the Ministry regarding our progress towards achieving net zero by 2050. As a small nation, there is so much we can do to harness solar energy through rooftop installations and water-based solutions. Given our limited land resources, it is understandable that we are focusing on importing green energy from neighbouring countries. However, this approach carries risk, including high costs and the vulnerability of relying on external sources, especially in adverse situations. I would appreciate insights from the Ministry on the specific actions taken to reach net zero. I do support the importance of energy efficiency, and the Energy Efficiency Grant is a positive step in this direction. It is crucial for Singapore to demonstrate its commitment to climate change mitigation and carbon reduction. By doing so, we not only showcase our responsible actions to the world, but also protect ourselves from severe flooding and rising sea levels with the counter measures in place. Effect of Carbon Tax”
“So, this is the point I am saying: how do we prepare our workforce towards this technological change?”
“Thank you, Mr. Speaker. When we mentioned about space technology, quantum technology, AI technology and decarbonisation technology, if we look forward, it is very exciting to see all these coming. But, at the same time, we must also understand the capacity of our workforce. At one point, they must be prepared to train towards a certain skill and these skills are somewhat, I would say, common across the board and these technologies need expert skills or those who are highly skilled. Having said that, how do we ensure that our workforce can keep up to the change? And furthermore, does our education allow that to happen as well? Because the speed of technology moves so fast; in other words, the speed of the education must also follow through as well. So, these are things that that become very clear and very apparent of what I think we must prepare the workforce for: the ability to learn, the ability to quickly learn become crucial. Secondly, the point I want to raise is that I look at countries who have 2040 vision, 2050 vision. I am sad to say that the fundamentals of the citizens are not able to cope to the change where the country wants to go to. In other words, as a country move forward and get better and better, the workforce or the people still lag behind. At one form, they try to get better because of their own internal problems or their own family problems. Another section is that how do we improve, how we make them improve to keep up to the technology, to the change? So, Singapore in the context whereby we are moving quite rapidly; so does the world. But is the workforce, is the citizen able to do so? And how do we change the structure or allow the structure to be evolved, starting from education and looking at how the workforce can adapt to it because —”
“We know that a family in a 3-room flat caring for a special needs child or an ailing octogenarian faces vastly different pressures than a young couple in the same block. I am confident with the data that we have, the support should be calibrated based on household dependency ratios to ensure that those who need the most help receive it regularly until they can truly fend for themselves. Finally, Mr Deputy Speaker, we must protect the Singapore Dream. This dream is a promise that every citizen, whether their passion lies in the arts, sports, business owner or the boardroom, can become the best version of themselves. But the dream is about more than just economics. It is about the spirit. We must ask ourselves: are Singaporeans proud of the country they were born in? Are they happy? Will they sacrifice for their children's children's future so that they may live with dignity? The answer will be yes, if we continue to provide that this Government is a caring, responsible partner in their success. By strengthening our economy, companies, global outreach, respected career for our workforce and refining our family support, we ensure that the Singapore Dream remains a living reality for all. Mr Deputy Speaker, I support the Budget.”
“The support provided by the Government through initiatives like SkillsFuture has been very encouraging. New industries such as space technology, advanced manufacturing, utilisation, data centres and renewable energy are emerging, offering a wide range of employment opportunities. As with every sector, AI will play a significant role in enhancing productivity within these fields. Singaporeans are navigating the transition from sunset industries to these new sectors and the ability to learn quickly is essential, especially as AI becomes integrated into these industries. Therefore, the support from both the Government and employers is invaluable. Training and transition to these new industries to be made easily accessible. A strong foundation for any worker lies in the attitude and many Singaporeans exemplify qualities such as intelligence, hard work and honesty. By enhancing their skills with AI competency, they can become valuable assets to companies. Sir, turning to the Singapore family. I often think of the Government as the greatest family of all. Just as a parent ensures each child gets the specific support they need, our Budget must reflect that same targeted compassion. The CDC vouchers are a welcoming support. If I can propose that, as other Members have done so, that this support be paired with the performance of the Singapore economy. Singaporeans can enjoy when the country does well – similar to companies who issue bonuses to their staff when their companies do well too. We can even call these the "Singapore Bonus". On providing support for Singapore families, we must also move towards a more sophisticated, data-driven model of support.”
“The Ministry for Foreign Affairs to look at having our passport be visa free in as many countries as possible. We are already in good position, but there are still countries we need to apply visa and these are countries we need to ensure visa free to ease travelling and business operation. Establishing more free trade agreements (FTAs) and strengthening our partnership with ASEAN partners, such as the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone (SEZ), and various other countries will ensure our local companies are welcome in the region and do extremely well via partnership or even merger and acquisition. In addition to the grant, it is essential that trade associations and chambers, and the Enterprise Singapore, which has an international network, aid our local companies. I am pleased to note that the Singapore Business Federation (SBF) has established an office in Dubai. I had the privilege of speaking with Miss Anita, the lead manager of SBF in Dubai, and discussed ways to grow business effectively and understand the landscape and culture of the local country. I have also participated and at times led numerous business missions organised by SMCCI, SBF, Enterprise Singapore and the UAE Singapore Business Council. These missions are crucial for companies to receive support, minimise errors in establishing their business in foreign markets and gain access to the robust network developed by Enterprise Singapore and trade associations and chambers. The ecosystem will empower Singapore companies to set up their operation overseas in the most effective manner possible and be very successful. Mr Deputy Speaker, I will next touch on employment and employability, which is crucial in today's evolving landscape.”
“This can also be achieved by having entrepreneurship as non-examination subjects introduced at the primary, secondary and high institutions. Such subjects will enhance their creative and innovative minds. We should be a country of creators and innovators that develop new businesses, thereby increasing the economic status of Singapore and Singaporeans. Mr Deputy Speaker, SME Centres@SMCCI's business advisors have provided business advisory to 3,000 businesses annually. Other forms of programmes, like Partner for Business Growth, were performed. When guided effectively, economic growth driven by these companies benefits not only the business owners, but also the employees they hire. Mr Deputy Speaker, strengthening support for Enterprise Singapore, SME Centres and trade associations and chambers will enhance the ecosystem and network of assistance available to local companies. As a small nation, our greatest asset lies in our ability to forge a powerful coalition of companies, Government bodies and trade associations and chambers working collaboratively to support one another. Next, I would like to touch on support for international growth. The enhanced Grant and Market Readiness Assistance are welcome initiatives that can significantly benefit our companies. It is crucial for our business to expand beyond our shores and establish presence in various regions, including the Association of Southeast Asia Nations (ASEAN), Africa, Middle East, Latin America and many others. Financial support plays a vital role in this expansion. I propose that enhanced grant be provided to trade associations and chambers and SMEs to facilitate regular business missions. This initiative enables companies to explore the best opportunities in their target countries.”
“The Budget includes a tax rebate of 40% and the benefit of $1,500 for active companies with at least one local employee. This initiative serves as an immediate short-term support to alleviate operational costs. In addition to these, there are various forms of support by the Government, such as increased funding for grants, loans and international growth, which are highly crucial. Nevertheless, I would like to propose that the Government extends support to micro and home-based businesses. During the pandemic, the Singapore Malay Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SMCCI) engaged with 1,800 home-based businesses which embody the spirit of entrepreneurship and have shown resilience in managing their operations. Some of these businesses have successfully transitioned to formal companies. Dr Malik Hassan, whose parents started their business selling nasi lemak, I think some of you may know, from a stall at Adam Food Centre. Dr Malik, who is also the president of the SMCCI, has expanded to now having 40 branches across Singapore and has evolved to provide a variety of food and beverages. On a personal experience, Deputy Speaker, my mother ran a home-based business selling rojak initially at our kampong house and then moved to our three-room HDB flat. Sometimes, I helped make the rojak to be sold to our neighbours. Today, our engineering company has offices in seven countries – Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Uzbekistan, with our headquarters in Singapore. My mother's entrepreneurship spirit has rubbed onto her son that has allowed his company to grow regionally. Mr Deputy Speaker, it is essential to embed the DNA of entrepreneurship in as many Singaporeans as possible.”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, first and foremost, I would like to wish Members of the House, "新年快乐", Happy Lunar New Year; and our fellow Muslim colleagues, "Selamat menyambut ibadah puasa", welcome to the holy month of Ramadan. Mr Deputy Speaker, my speech will be touching on three aspects that I hope will set the tone forward. The Singapore company, which covers business, local and international, employment and employability, Singapore family and the Singapore dream. Singapore has achieved significant success through strong and clean leadership. Pragmatic long-term economic policies, a pro-business environment and substantial investment in human capital. However, we now face unprecedented challenges. Internally, we are dealing with an ageing society, low birth rates and high cost of living. Externally, geopolitical tensions, a multipolar world and a shift from rule-based to a power-based order that are influencing our landscape. The Singapore company reflects the good work of the Government of Singapore, managing Singapore like a well-run engine. The recent Budget announced by our Prime Minister is a positive step in supporting businesses and fellow Singaporeans. Yet in this transformed environment, we must act differently and decisively. Trade remains the life blood of Singapore's economy, making it essential for the Government to support companies in maintaining strength and pursuing global growth. It is crucial for the Government to provide support to businesses at all levels, whether they are startups, SMEs or MNCs based in Singapore. We ought to build resilience, be adaptable and constantly innovate to stay competitive and be relevant. The Budget 2026 shows that the Government does listen to the ground.”