Baey Yam Keng
Singapore
“Our next generation will have far greater opportunities to make their mark here. The Government will also guide them into the transport sector through scholarships, training and career development pathways, so that they can put their talents to good use and contribute to society.”
“I would say that the greening of bus stop roofs may not be something that is practical across all bus stops. I do not have the exact figures, but I am sure we must have tens of thousands of bus stops in Singapore. So, there is a cost element.”
“Based on earlier trials conducted by the Land Transport Authority (LTA), fans have a limited impact on the ambient temperature in an exposed bus stop environment. Commuter feedback from the trials was also unfavourable. Most bus stops are also shaded by surrounding buildings and trees, reducing the effectiveness of solar installations.”
“Certainly. Members would remember that over the years and decades, our bus stop designs have evolved. We have to take into consideration various factors, not just the comfort of commuters who are waiting there but also the practicality of sighting of buses coming ahead as well as maintenance, safety and different factors like that.”
“I thank Ms Gho for her concern for the arts and the artists. Indeed, it is part of our commitment to provide affordable, accessible spaces for artists and arts groups. We have announced last year that we are doing a study on how the arts spaces provision can be better improved and the study is ongoing.”
“Speaker, the median and maximum waiting time for pedestrians at signalised junctions are 120 seconds and 140 seconds respectively. Wait times for pedestrians depend on the nature of road, junction size and configuration, as well as prevailing traffic volume.”
The complete record
Every one of 912 lines we hold for Baey Yam Keng, in date order, each linked to its source. Free to read, in full, without an account. Page 8 of 19.
“I would like to see that Sports Hub will have value-for-money for Singapore. It is our national sports icon and we hope that Singaporeans would also participate in activities at the Sports Hub to help build a strong sporting culture for Singapore. ActiveSG's role is to promote the sporting culture. Member asked about the academies in football and tennis. These are academies' initiatives and programmes that SportSG initiated to bring sports to more people but working closely with the respective National Sports Associations. I do not think it is a fair statement to say that when you have renowned or very established coaches involved in the academy, it means that it is just elite sports and, therefore, it is at the expense of high performance sports training and development. I do not think mass or public sports should be denied good coaches, people who have the ability to bring the sports to a higher level and also to cultivate interest among especially young people.”
“Er Dr Lee Bee Wah asked about the sports industry. SportSG Vision 2030 seeks to inspire Singaporeans to live better through sports and as part of the eco-system there is indeed the industry's contribution to economy, as a culture of sports in Singapore. So, there are various platforms and initiatives including ActiveSG as the national movement of sports to engage our people and rally the nation, facilitate the master plan. But you must also take note that the sports industry is also an evolving landscape. There are many new interesting developments in sports, like we mentioned e-sports. We have recently set up the National E-sports Association. That is also in response to the interest among young people, interest among the corporates, local and international businesses. So, we will continue to monitor the emerging trends in sports. So, for example, sports development in Asia, its growing interest with China's growth as a global sports power, in the manufacture of sporting goods and the foray of Chinese companies into sports enterprises. So, we are looking into such opportunities for Singapore arising from these trends into developing an eco-system that can support sports business development and how we can further leverage on SportSG infrastructure and assets to nurture a market place for ideas and innovations with stakeholders. At Sports Hub, there is a commercial contract that we have with SHPL. So, as mentioned, there are deliverables, there are penalties that are part of the contract. So, they have been taken to task over areas where they have not met the KPIs and we are in continuous discussion with them, monitoring their performance and having their assurance that they are committed to building a sports hub, as what we envisaged.”
“Our work covers a wide range of areas – arts, heritage, youth, sports, community relations and the strengthening of a giving culture. At its heart, our efforts seek to make Singapore a caring, cohesive and confident nation. There is much we can achieve by working hand-in-hand and by encouraging individuals and groups to come together for the common good. Let us continue to celebrate our collective achievements and build a shared future together.”
“In order to bring our heritage to neighbourhoods where we live and play, museums, heritage institutions and community galleries operated by NHB will partner local shop owners to co-create Street Corner Heritage Galleries. These local shops will function as "mini museums" to showcase their history and heritage, trades and products through displays of historical documents, photographs and artefacts. We hope to encourage people to appreciate the heritage embodied in their daily lives through the lens of our heartlands. While our efforts to preserve and promote our intangible cultural heritage are ongoing, we have also diligently planned for the future by working on the succession of our heritage. There are risks threatening our local cultural heritage, traditional skills and craft, such as a lack of awareness or lack of interest in learning and passing them down. Through the inaugural Stewards of Singapore's Intangible Cultural Heritage Award which will be held this year, we hope to acknowledge the recipients' contributions and encourage them to continue safeguarding and transmitting intangible cultural heritage in their respective fields to the next generation. Over the past year, we have been heartened to see strong support from the community for our UNESCO Hawker Culture in Singapore nomination. In the coming year, we will continue to build community support through different platforms to celebrate our Hawker Culture. We will continue to safeguard and promote our intangible cultural heritage through different channels and plans, ensuring that more Singaporeans may come to understand and appreciate it. (In English): Mr Chairman, at MCCY, we are committed to providing opportunities for all, growing a democracy of deeds and nurturing a vibrant home.”
“NHB museums, heritage institutions and community galleries will partner local shop owners to create "mini museums" within their shops to showcase their history and heritage, trades and products through information panels, displays of historical documents, photographs and artefacts. The Street Corner Heritage Galleries may also develop programmes, such as tours and workshops, and participate in events such as Singapore Heritage Festival and the respective Culture Festivals of the heritage institutions. Balestier will be the first precinct, with five Street Corner Heritage Galleries opening to the public from tomorrow. Loong Fatt Tau Sar Piah along Balestier Road will host one such gallery. With a history dating back to 1948, visitors to the family-run business can watch the stallholders mould the dough, stuff with mung bean filling and bake using traditional gas-fired ovens. We have prepared some tau sar piah for tea later. By 2022, there will be Street Corner Heritage Galleries in four other historic precincts – Kampong Gelam, Kreta Ayer, Little India and Geylang Serai. These places will serve as reminders of our living heritage and anchor our memories as we move into the future together. Mr Chairman, I will continue in Mandarin, please. (In Mandarin): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] Singapore's rich history and diverse heritage belongs to every Singaporean. To sustain a culturally vibrant Singapore, it is important that we safeguard and promote our nation's rich and diverse intangible cultural heritage, as this defines our identity as Singaporeans and it is a duty we must fulfil. Beyond our shared stories and knowledge, our heritage is also embodied in our neighbourhood icons.”
“With this, members of the public and venue partners can look forward to more vibrant spaces and a diverse busking calendar. Mr Darryl David asked about community engagement efforts to safeguard our cultural heritage. We will do this in partnership with the community, through public education and outreach, research and documentation. This year, there are two highlights – the Stewards of Singapore's Intangible Cultural Heritage Award and the outcome of the UNESCO Hawker Culture in Singapore nomination in December. The safeguarding, promotion and transmission of our intangible cultural heritage (ICH) will not be possible without the contributions of our ICH practitioners. These individuals will be honoured at the inaugural Stewards of Singapore's Intangible Cultural Heritage Award ceremony held in conjunction with Singapore Heritage Festival this year. Over the past year, we were heartened by the strong support from the community for our UNESCO Hawker Culture in Singapore nomination. We will continue to strengthen community support through platforms such as the Singapore Heritage Festival, community events and travelling exhibitions to schools to celebrate our hawker culture. We are lucky to have hawkers who continue to work tirelessly to serve Singaporeans amid this COVID-19 period. Beyond shared stories, traditions and practices that are passed on from generation to generation, our heritage is also embodied in historical buildings and neighbourhood icons. We will partner local shop owners within Singapore's historic precincts to co-create Street Corner Heritage Galleries and highlight heritage right in our neighbourhoods.”
“Since 2012, we have established 21 arts and culture nodes across the island to provide quality arts programmes in our neighbourhoods. Through programmes such as PAssion Arts, Arts in Your Neighbourhood and Artseen, we have co-designed community arts programming with the community and other partners. We have also brought arts and culture outside the confines of concert halls and museums and into public spaces during events such as the Istana open house. Through NAC's Silver Arts Programme, we have arts programmes designed for seniors. To provide youths with opportunities to showcase their creative talent and energy, NAC has partnered *SCAPE to roll out the BUSKING@*SCAPE programme. Under this programme, Singaporeans between 15 to 35 years old are not required to go through auditions or be endorsed under NAC's Busking Scheme. Instead, they can register for time slots to busk at the prominent *SCAPE front-of-house which faces Orchard Cineleisure. The scheme was piloted from October last year. To date, more than 60 young buskers have showcased their talents. To provide buskers with greater access to spaces, NAC will gradually introduce the concept of busking zones at Singapore River and Ang Mo Kio from April this year. Each zone comprises a cluster of busking locations, allowing buskers the flexibility to move between them. This offers a more varied busking experience for audiences and ensures equitable access to popular busking spots. NAC will continue to engage venue partners and the busking community to review busking locations, manage busking activities and co-develop suitable programmes. I hope my fellow members will also offer your constituencies for buskers to perform. NAC will also develop a digital scheduling tool for buskers to pre-book their performance slots.”
“This fund will bring together donations from corporations and individuals, which will be matched by CMF where eligible, to support small arts groups in developing robust governance structures and attaining charity and eventually Institutions of a Public Character (IPC) status as well as programming. Over the coming three years till 2022, NAC plans to build the stART Fund to $10 million, which aims to support about 100 arts groups. All eligible donations will receive prevailing tax deductions. Interested donors can reach out to NAC. In the sports arena, the One Team Singapore Fund (OTSF) complements the Government's investment in the high performance sports system by allowing individuals and corporates to make cash donations. The Government has set aside $50 million to match cash donations to encourage more to step forward. We wish to clarify that similar to other Government matching funds, the OTSF does not provide matching for commercial arrangements like sponsorships as the fund aims to encourage philanthropy to sport. But we are mindful that there are athletes outside the high performance sports system such as our indoor skydivers, national dodgeball and tchoukball squads who have done well in internationally. We want to support their aspirations. So, with support from Temasek Foundation, $100,000 will be set aside annually for a Temasek Foundation Inspire Fund for Athletes that will provide campaign funding for such athletes. More details will be announced in the coming months. Mr Chairman, I have spoken about how we are supporting our artists and athletes. Our efforts cannot stop here. We agree with Mr Lee Yi Shyan that arts and culture should be accessible to Singaporeans.”
“We note Ms Yip Pin Xiu's comment on the programme's limited reach. SSI is working to expand the reach of this programme to benefit more athletes as well as partners under the spexBusiness network to offer professional development support and opportunities for retiring athletes. Our athletes can also look out for one another. I encourage our retired athletes and veterans to take the lead to build circles of support, lend a listening ear, offer advice and help one another. Mr Muhamad Faisal Bin Abdul Manap asked about our plans for the Singapore national football team qualifying for World Cup 2034. The Government does not interfere with the management of our National Sports Associations, including the Football Association of Singapore (FAS). We were briefed by FAS on the plans for Goal 2034 and have given FAS feedback. We look forward to hearing back from them on their plans and how we can best support them. Supporting our athletes and artists is a shared endeavour. We have funds to encourage private and corporate philanthropy for the arts and sports, reinforcing the Singapore Together movement. Mr Terence Ho and Ms Yip Pin Xiu asked about the Cultural Matching Fund (CMF) and One Team Singapore Fund (OTSF) respectively. Since it was set up in 2013, the Cultural Matching Fund has benefited over 100 arts and heritage charities through one-for-one matching to over $215 million of private donations. We recognise that smaller arts groups may need more help as they lack strong fundraising capabilities. We will help these groups with the new Sustain The ARTs Fund, or stART Fund for short.”
“These athletes are supported through the spexScholarship programme or dedicated campaign funding for the games, as well as annual Government funding through the National Sports Associations. Specialised sport science and sport medicine support is also provided to help them achieve their best. For athletes going overseas, SportSG, together with the Singapore National Olympic Council and the Singapore National Paralympic Council, have developed detailed contingency plans to ensure the safety of our athletes and officials. The contingency plans for Tokyo 2020 are being developed and will include measures and precautions for athletes and officials with regard to COVID-19. We will also enhance our sporting infrastructure to support our youth athletes. The National Youth Sports Institute (NYSI) satellite facility will move to a bigger facility at the former Police Coast Guard Headquarters, next to the Kallang Basin in April. This will allow NYSI to scale up sport science support for more youth athletes. The new premises will be close to Singapore Sports Institute (SSI) and the Sports Hub where many athletes train, thus providing opportunities for interaction between the junior and senior athletes. Ms Yip Pin Xiu shared that she has seen many athletes face mental pressures from their sport and their daily lives. This also applies to retiring athletes. To ensure the mental well-being of athletes, the SSI sports psychology team has been equipping our athletes with skills to adjust to life post-competition and a post-sport career. They offer counselling services and a mental health literacy programme, Mind Matters, that helps athletes and coaches identify and understand mental well-being issues as well as when and how to seek help.”
“For example, SHPL is required to meet a minimum number of sporting event days at the National Stadium and Singapore Indoor Stadium each year. Where they have not met the standards, they have been held accountable and financial penalties have been imposed. We will continue to monitor and hold SHPL accountable to meet all their contractual obligations to deliver a first class and vibrant sports entertainment and lifestyle hub for all Singaporeans. Mr Darryl David asked how our athletes have fared internationally, how we are supporting our younger elite athletes and athletes who are competing in locations with a high rate of COVID-19 infections. Twenty-nineteen was a busy year for our athletes. I attended the 30th Southeast Asian Games in the Philippines where we fielded 659 athletes and achieved more than 50 gold medals. On the international stage, shuttler Loh Kean Yew beat two-time Olympics champion Lin Dan to win the Thailand Masters last year, and he defeated the world number two shuttler at the Badminton Asia Team Championships in February. Bowler Cherie Tan made history by becoming the first Singaporean to be named the World Bowling Athlete of the Year by World Bowling last year. In para sports, swimmer Yip Pin Xiu clinched two medals at the 2019 World Para Swimming Championships while archer Nur Syahidah Alim became the first Singaporean to be named Para Women World Archery Athlete of the Year for 2019. Looking ahead, we now have more than 10 athletes across six sports who have qualified for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics; and nine para-athletes who have qualified for the Paralympics.”
“Sports also plays a crucial role in strengthening our community bonds. Er Dr Lee Bee Wah asked about our plans for a sporting Singapore. As part of Vision 2030, SportSG is partnering stakeholders to develop a strong sporting culture and grow our standing as a major sporting hub through local and international events, such as the Singapore Rugby 7s, FINA World Cup and the Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon. The GDP contribution of the sports industry has grown steadily, reaching $1.7 billion in 2018. This figure excludes growth areas like sports broadcast, infrastructure projects, sports events and conferences, as well as e-sports, which SportSG, Enterprise Singapore and Singapore Tourism Board and local and international businesses have been seen working together to develop the e-sports scene. 1.00 pm Mr Chairman, the Singapore Sports Hub hosted 212 events last year. The precinct has seen increased footfall, with regular activities such as quarterly Community Play Days and a variety of programmes. Like many Singaporeans, we want to see it succeed as the integrated sports and lifestyle destination that we envisioned. Regarding the acquisition of majority stakeholder InfraRed Capital Partners by Sun Life, we recently sought clarification from Sports Hub Private Limited (SHPL) and we have obtained their assurance that this will not have any direct impact on the Sports Hub operations. We have made our views and expectations known and SHPL agrees that Sports Hub should be a place that all Singaporeans can be proud of. SportSG is in regular communication with their top management and closely monitors performance to ensure that agreed standards for availability of facilities and performance are met.”
“Mr Yee Chia Hsing asked for an update on the Gillman Barracks Art Cluster. Gillman Barracks provides Singaporeans and tourists access to high quality arts programmes through educational art and history tours, performances, as well as talks and workshops by long-term tenant galleries. This includes the current edition of the Singapore Biennale, which had tours led by seniors and concerts by students from Ngee Ann Polytechnic. Two successful editions of SEA Focus in 2019 and 2020 also enhanced Gillman Barracks' standing as a locus of Southeast Asian Art. Mr Terence Ho asked if we will provide more shared spaces and resources to bring people together via arts activities. To facilitate networking and to optimise available spaces, arts practitioners will have access to our arts centres. In January, we opened two physical spaces under the Arts Resource Hub at Goodman Arts Centre and Stamford Arts Centre. Plans are underway to have a third physical hub at Waterloo Street by early 2021 that will offer incubation and presentation spaces for arts freelancers. These plans complement schemes like the Community and Sports Facilities Scheme to provide artists with greater access to spaces. I encourage more arts groups to consider how they can pool their resources. Those with existing facilities, for instance, could share them with others. Mr Chairman, technology will also be used to strengthen our arts eco-system. NAC is collaborating with NLB to develop a National Online Repository of Singapore Arts to facilitate access to information on Singapore arts and deepen the expertise of arts researchers. This will complement other digital platforms, such as the Cultural Concierge and Offstage, which seek to widen the public's engagement with the arts.”
“The grant will be open for application from 16 March and will subsidise local courses and programmes. These two initiatives are part of the Support and Stabilisation Package announced by Deputy Prime Minister in Budget 2020. Arts groups and practitioners, including those who already enjoy subsidised rentals under NAC's arts housing scheme, can benefit from both these initiatives. The package also the new self-employed persons' (SEPs) training support scheme recently unveiled by MOM. Under this, all SEPs will be paid an hourly $7.50 training allowance when attending eligible programmes. NAC will continue working with SkillsFuture Singapore on a curated list of arts and culture courses for arts freelancers. This will complement existing initiatives, like the Arts Resource Hub, which is working with partners to provide shared services in areas like legal and financial matters. We encourage all eligible arts and culture professionals to tap on the available measures, including subscribing to the Arts Resource Hub, which is free, and prepare themselves for the post-COVID-19 upturn. As Mr Ho suggested, we encourage arts practitioners to support one another during this time. SportSG is also engaging stakeholders, especially coaches and fitness instructors to use this time to retool and upskill through various courses offered by CoachSG and partner institutions, supported by SkillsFuture Singapore and SkillsFuture Credits. Sports coaches registered with the National Registry of Coaches (NROC) can apply for financial assistance under the Coach Development Grant to attend courses and programmes to upgrade themselves. MOM's SEP training support scheme will also benefit these sports freelancers. We will also ensure that our arts spaces are effectively used.”
“Mr Chairman, the arts, heritage and sports play an important role in making Singapore a vibrant and liveable city. They bring people together, inspire them and root us as Singaporeans. Earlier, Minister and Senior Minister of State spoke about our efforts to build a home that provides opportunities for all. This is exemplified through the celebration of different pathways to success for our artists and athletes and the nurturing of a vibrant arts and culture ecosystem. The partnership among the Government, arts patrons and arts community forms the basis of a sustainable arts scene. Mr Henry Kwek and Mr Terence Ho asked how MCCY will support the arts community during COVID-19. We want cultural performances to continue during this time as the arts inspire us and lift our spirits, as long as necessary precautions are in place. This is what MCCY agencies and institutions, including NAC, NHB and PA will commit to, where possible. We also want to encourage arts and culture practitioners to take this opportunity to develop their capabilities and better position themselves for the future. MCCY will therefore set aside around $1.6 million to support the arts and culture sector and to prepare the sector for the post-disease recovery. MCCY will provide a new 30% subsidy for venue rental and associated costs at our national cultural institutions. including the Esplanade, Arts House Limited venues, and the Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre. This subsidy will be for arts and culture activities, including productions and workshops taking place from 7 March, tomorrow, to 30 June. In addition, NAC will provide a one-time, enhanced capability development grant for individuals and arts organisations, to promote upskilling and organisational capability development.”
“Mr Chairman, good health is not something we can buy, nor can it be taken away by people. One golden rule to good health is regular exercise, which can be free of charge, for example running. The other is a balanced diet. Food is not free, but the best and healthiest choice is home-cooked food. Buying fresh produce and cooking at home is generally cheaper than eating out. I have come across low-income families who do not cook. One common reason is lack of time, because some have more than one jobs to make ends meet. I especially worry for their kids who might resort to convenience food like instant noodles, which offer little nutrition. I have also met some seniors who live by themselves in rental flats. It is too much of a hassle for them to cook for themselves or he could be a widower who does not cook. So, I would like MOH to share if it has done some studies on this issue and how it plans to help low-income Singaporeans.”
“Working closely together with commuters, the industry and the community, we will achieve our vision of a safe and inclusive transport system for all.”
“There may be some initiatives that are difficult for the Government to mandate and implement alone. An example would be the provision of child seats in taxis. This was discussed extensively during our public consultations for the P2P regulatory review and had mixed views from drivers, operators and the public. Today, I am pleased to announce that SMRT will be leaning forward to pilot the provision of booster seats in all its taxis, at no additional charge to commuters. This will enhance safety for children in taxis and provide parents of young children with a safer transport option. Over the past weeks, we have seen even more instances of the industry stepping up to partner the Government, coming together during these difficult times. For example, Grab and Gojek have rallied their drivers to step up in this time of crisis to provide on-demand transport services for our healthcare professionals. This had helped to provide peace of mind for the frontliners of our battle against COVID-19, to know that they can have a much needed, more comfortable ride home after a stressful day at work caring for fellow Singaporeans. While COVID-19 would eventually run its course, the partnerships forged during this difficult time cannot end. We will continue to strengthen these ties and forge new partnerships as we build a transport system that is safer and more inclusive for all Singaporeans. Such partnerships are pivotal in the next phase of Singapore's development. The Government cannot and should not do this alone. We will need to tap on synergies across sectors and harness the strength of our entire community. As a whole, we are greater than the sum of our individual parts.”
“We can harness these individual acts of care into a national movement and build a culture where showing care for fellow commuters becomes a way of life. Hence, to galvanise commuters and other key stakeholders into action, the Public Transport Council has set up a new Caring SG Commuters Committee to help grow this movement: Firstly, the Committee will help to facilitate greater awareness of the challenges faced by commuters and show commuters how to care for others. It is not always easy to know what kind of help others need, or if and when we should even offer help. Sometimes, we feel quite "paiseh"! This is why one of the Committee's first goals is to help commuters better understand other commuters' needs. We will encourage commuters who need help to ask for help too, so that it is easier for their fellow commuters to step up and provide the necessary care. Secondly, the Committee will engage commuters and other stakeholders to explore ways we can grow the caring commuting movement further, as part of the broader SG Together movement. Over the next six months, the Committee will organise two series of engagements. To begin, we will engage widely to gather ideas and views on how we, as commuters, can contribute to this cause. Then, we will engage commuters in targeted ways to pilot and co-create solutions that can help to grow the movement. The Committee will submit a report to the Minister for Transport in a year's time on its findings and recommendations on how we can continue to work with commuters and other stakeholders to build and sustain a caring commuting culture in Singapore. Mr Chairman, the industry will also need to lean forward to play their part in making our land transport system safer and more inclusive for all Singaporeans.”
“I am happy to share that towards the end of this year, we will expand the MAVIS trial progressively to all the buses on services 139 and 141, which serve the Enabling Village and the Singapore Association of the Visually Handicapped. Members would have also read about LTA's upcoming hands-free ticketing trial, which supports our effort to make it even more convenient for commuters with special needs to travel on our buses and trains, without the need to tap their fare cards. Mr Chairman, the Government's efforts alone are not enough to make our land transport system safe and inclusive. For example, even if we build more lifts at existing train stations, it will not help vulnerable commuters if others compete to use the lifts. Commuters play a very important role too. We will continue to encourage individual commuters to be more understanding about those with different needs from ours, be more gracious in putting others' needs before ours, and even better, be more caring by going the extra mile for fellow commuters, especially the elderly and those with special needs. Let me share this story on how some commuters have done so. Mr Lester Wong was on the train when an elderly woman fell with her groceries and could not get up. Lester went out of his way to accompany her home, to make sure that the elderly was alright. Upon reaching home and taking a rest, the elderly was still not feeling well, so Lester insisted on sending her to the hospital to make sure that she got the medical care and attention she needed. Lester was the winner of the first Caring Commuter award last year. Over the past years, we have heard many stories like Lester's and there are probably many more that we do not know of.”
“As Singaporeans' mobility needs change, our transport system also needs to keep pace. Where suitable, the Government will continue to make our transport system even safer and more inclusive. To enhance road safety for senior pedestrians, we have introduced 17 Silver Zones since 2014 with 18 currently in progress. These zones have narrower roads, speed humps to reduce traffic speed and two-stage crossings for senior pedestrians to pause and rest, making road crossing safer for them. Over the past six years, accidents involving the elderly have reduced by almost 80% within these Silver Zones. With these encouraging results, we will continue with our plans to build a total of 50 Silver Zones island-wide by 2023. We are also constantly looking to improve upon existing results, for example, we will be trying lower speed limits at specific Silver Zones in the coming months to enhance road safety for our senior pedestrians. To help the visually impaired navigate through our transport system, we piloted the mobile application, Mobility Assistance for the Visually Impaired and Selected Users (MAVIS). The app was piloted on selected buses since January 2019. MAVIS alerts bus drivers when commuters with special needs are boarding and alighting and allows visually impaired commuters to activate an audio announcement at the boarding bus-stop to guide them to their arriving bus. This might not mean a lot to able-bodied commuters, but to the visually impaired, these functions help them get around more conveniently and safely. We have received heart-felt feedback from commuters on how MAVIS had made a difference in their lives, giving them more confidence to take the bus, especially when there is no one around to help.”
“It is important to ensure that vocation drivers are fit to drive as they perform a public service. However, we are aware that with improve healthcare, drivers may be able to drive longer. We are studying the possibility of raising the statutory age limits of our elderly vocation drivers together with the Singapore Medical Association. Mr Png Eng Huat also asked about Pedestrian Overhead Bridges (POBs). Indeed, our preference is to build crossings at-grade, rather than POBs, as they are all barrier-free and can be more easily accessed by the elderly and people with mobility challenges. However, there are instances where such at-grade crossings are dangerous, for example across major roads with fast-moving traffic, or when they may cause serious traffic congestion. In such cases, we will provide POBs. Even then, we will do our best to meet the needs of our elderly and the less ambulant. We plan to install lifts at all new POBs near major transport hubs and other existing POBs, if possible. As these lifts are costly, priority is given to the POBs which will most benefit the less mobile. Since March 2015, we have gradually introduced priority queues at transport nodes, so that individuals with special needs can board buses and trains more easily. Building on this effort, we will also start trialling the use of priority cabins on the North East Line trains towards the end of this year. Commuters in these cabins, which will be located near station lifts where possible, are encouraged to give way to the more vulnerable commuters, such as the elderly, wheelchair users and families with young children. The idea for this initiative came from the various public engagements done to better understand commuters' needs. So, thank you for the suggestion.”
“Mr Chairman, the COVID-19 situation over the past weeks has reminded us of the importance of safety and inclusivity in Singapore’s transport system. During this difficult period, it is even more important that we ensure that no one is left behind, especially the elderly and vulnerable. In fact, safety and inclusivity have been priorities for transport, way before COVID-19 outbreak. Over the last five years, we have invested about $200 million on various safety and inclusivity-related transport initiatives. Let me highlight a few. In 2018, we announced plans to implement the Red-Amber-Green (RAG) arrows at all feasible traffic junctions to replace discretionary right turns and improve pedestrian safety. Mr Png Eng Huat will be pleased to know that we have implemented these RAG arrows at more than 300 junctions and target to have the arrows at a total of 1,200 junctions by 2023. We continue to strive towards a "Vision Zero" environment with fewer land transport-related fatalities, through regulations at the vehicle, driver and operator levels. This includes stringent medical examinations for drivers. Not only will this give confidence to commuters, this is also for the drivers' own safety. Mr Muhamad Faisal Manap asked about streamlining the medical examinations for elderly taxi drivers. As shared in the House last week, by the end of this year, elderly taxi drivers who have passed the medical examinations for their Taxi Driver Vocational License (TDVL) can use them to renew their Class 3 personal driving licences. 12.00 pm On the statutory age limit, we need to bear in mind that taxi driving is physically and mentally demanding, and can have serious impact on commuters and other road users. This move will bring greater convenience to our elderly taxi drivers.”
“At our last meeting, they recommended sonic repellents to help deter cats from venturing into certain areas. Tampines Town Council has bought some and we will be trying them out. However, CWS has very thin resources and are not able to follow up fully on all cases. They also do not have authority over cat lovers, cat feeders or pet owners, some of whom may not be very cooperative. So, in some cases, CWS has admitted that they would not be able to do anything. Sir, instead of letting a voluntary group bear the responsibility, should a Government agency take ownership? Would it be HDB, NEA or maybe AVS or maybe NParks? For such issues, could the MSO play the role to coordinate and help set up a sustainable working system to handle such cases? MSO's Technology Improvements”
“Mr Chairman, the Municipal Services Office (MSO) was set up to coordinate between agencies and Town Councils to improve the delivery of municipal services. One key initiative has been the set-up of OneService app. I have tried it a few times and found it easy to use and more importantly, effective. Behind the convenience at my fingertip, I am sure there is a lot of work done behind the scene to make sure the right agency receives the feedback and takes necessary action in time. On behalf of the public, I thank the good men and women at MSO. Some municipal issues are complex and require various agencies to work hand-in-hand. Sometimes, other non-governmental stakeholders are involved. Let me use the example of community cats. In Tampines, we do have many cases relating to community cats that have been difficult to resolve. These could be cats roaming at corridors, defecating, scratching cars, caterwauling, irresponsible cat feeding and so on. Some residents are bothered by what the cats do, some are just afraid of cats, while others just do not like them. On the other hand, there are many cat lovers who spend their own money to buy cat food and go around the estate feeding them every night. To many residents, they just turn to the Town Council to solve such issues on the ground. The Town Council has to work with HDB which regulates that cats are not allowed to be kept within flats, and NEA, which can go after cat feeders who leave the cat food as litter. However, the current practice has also been to work with the Cat Welfare Society (CWS) as a first call. I have met some staff and volunteers at CWS. They are all very passionate and dedicated people who love and care for cats. They have deep knowledge of how cats behave.”
“Mr Chairman, Singapore and the US established official diplomatic ties in 1966. Since then, we have enjoyed deep and long-standing relations. More importantly, the relationship has been based on substantive cooperation across many areas, particularly in the economic and defence/security sectors. Our economic links are robust. In 2019, the US was Singapore’s third largest trading partner in goods and top trading partner in services. The US is Singapore’s largest source of foreign direct investment. Conversely, Singapore is the US' fourth-largest Asian investor after Japan, China and the Republic of Korea. There were several high-level exchanges in 2019. Prime Minister just met President Donald Trump in September last year. It is their fourth meeting since Mr Trump took office three years ago. Twenty-nineteen also marked a key milestone in our defence relationship. A Protocol of Amendment signed between Prime Minister and President Trump extended the 1990 Memorandum of Understanding, which covers US access to Singapore military facilities, for another 15 years. Given our mature and multi-faceted links with the US, how has MFA sought to deepen cooperation between Singapore and the US? The US today has been quite different since three years ago, with a current President who is very different from his predecessors. Its role in the global landscape is also changing with very different dynamics. I hope MFA could enlighten the House on how Singapore has been responding, and the way forward. Relationship with USA and China”
“We are actively digitising our national collection and making this accessible through platforms, such as NHB's Roots.sg as well as the National Library Board's National Online Repository of the Arts (NORA). Most recently, the Esplanade launched a multimedia site Offstage in October 2019, hosting behind-the-scenes, broadcast, interactive and archival content of the performing arts. Through such initiatives, we seek to bring our arts and culture to new audiences while simultaneously engaging existing audiences in new and meaningful ways. Mr Deputy Speaker, to realise our shared vision of a vibrant and sustainable arts landscape in Singapore, it is in our arts and cultural groups' own interest and responsibility to ensure their long-term relevance and success. This can range from developing audiences to appreciate their work, to creating new works of art which can appeal to a wider audience and continually enhancing their governance and financial processes to attract and retain donors and sponsors. MCCY and NAC are committed to working with our arts practitioners towards this end. [(proc text) Question put, and agreed to. (proc text)] [(proc text) Resolved, "That Parliament do now adjourn." (proc text)] Adjourned accordingly at 7.24 pm.”
“I agree with Mr Terence Ho that it is important to promote the arts to as wide an audience as possible and to give everyone the opportunity to experience our vibrant culture and for it to become a part of all Singaporeans’ lives. NAC already works with mainstream media platforms to showcase the arts. For example, Hear65, a national movement launched in 2018, partnered local radio station UFM 100.3 in 2019 to present six shows profiling our local artists, drawing an audience of over 1,500 and 80,000 views online. In addition, Mediacorp, as our national broadcaster, continues to make arts content accessible and enjoyable to the public across its free-to-air and digital platforms, where appropriate. Arts and culture-related programming that have been broadcast recently include SPOP Sing!, Lights. Camera. Singapore, and Singapore Talent Night, which showcased performances by local artists who performed at River Hongbao 2019. MCCY and NAC will continue to explore opportunities to work with mainstream media to reach out to radio and TV audiences. However, with the increasingly widespread use of technology, coupled with global trends on declining TV viewership and radio listenership, it is important to also tap on digital platforms and channels to complement traditional media to transform the way in which audiences engage with our arts and culture. As Minister Grace Fu announced at the 2019 Committee of Supply debate, MCCY, NAC and the National Heritage Board (NHB) are developing new digital initiatives, such as the one-stop online Cultural Concierge for arts and culture activities and content and the Cultural Resource Ontology, to facilitate easier public access to our cultural resources.”
“Arts groups like Wild Rice, Singapore Dance Theatre and The Rice Company Limited are examples of organisations that have successfully benefited from this scheme through retail operators like CapitaLand, Far East Organisation and Frasers Centrepoint. We hope that more developers and venue owners could support this scheme and provide space for artists to flourish and contribute to their communities. Other partners are the CCs. Mr Terence Ho would be familiar with community orchestras and bands that have been formed and housed at our CCs, such as Keat Hong Chinese Orchestra at the Chua Chu Kang CC and West Winds at the Bukit Batok CC. These groups are dedicated to developing young talents and are useful platforms for many to continue pursuing their passions even after leaving school. In addition, NAC also works with the People’s Association (PA) to facilitate co-location of arts groups within community facilities, such as Our Tampines Hub and Wisma Geylang Serai. As Mr Terence Ho noted, the arts groups in such venues can contribute to the vibrancy of their neighbourhoods and grow their community stakeholders. NAC and PA are open to considering more of such co-location opportunities if there is a good fit between our CCs and the needs, priorities and commitment of arts groups, including alumni arts groups. On their part, arts groups should be responsive and adaptive to the needs of local audiences and community stakeholders, such as grassroots organisations and space owners. Mr Deputy Speaker, let me now turn to Mr Terence Ho's other suggestion, namely, the reinstatement of a radio station and TV channel to promote the arts.”
“GAC's multidisciplinary tenant mix was a purposeful design by NAC to catalyse diverse and quality artistic works, create greater synergies and collaborations amongst the various art forms, and introduce appreciation of different art forms and genres to audiences. Today, GAC is an energetic arts enclave, drawing in the public interested in experiencing the diverse range of art forms and arts activities on offer. We agree with Mr Terence Ho's suggestion that NAC can grow the Stamford Arts Centre's potential to similarly develop into a vibrant and attractive arts venue with the mix of performing arts groups which share its spaces. NAC will continue to review arts spaces under its care and will prioritise shared and common spaces that benefit more groups. As Mr Terence Ho mentioned, there are two co-working spaces for arts freelancers at GAC and SAC. They will be officially launched in the coming weeks, which would further contribute to the dynamism of our arts spaces. Mr Terence Ho's idea of a shared warehouse is a good one that NAC will explore as a way to diversify our art space offerings. Given our limited arts GFA, however, we would also encourage our arts practitioners to consider how they can pool their resources to rent commercial spaces, or for members in the arts community with existing facilities to open them up for sharing with or rental to others. Aside from arts spaces under NAC, we also work closely with corporate and community partners to unlock new space for arts practitioners. One such partner is the Urban Redevelopment Authority, which encourages developers to allocate space in malls for arts, sports and social groups with strong community links through its Community Sports Facilities Scheme.”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, I thank Mr Terence Ho for his suggestions to improve the vibrancy and sustainability of the arts and culture in Singapore. MCCY and our cultural institutions recognise the importance of fostering the sustained and sustainable growth of Singapore’s arts and culture over the longer term. We have been and are committed to working closely with partners from the private and people sectors towards this end. I will start by addressing Mr Terence Ho's first and third suggestions on the use of spaces for the arts and culture. I agree that it is important to ensure efficient use of physical spaces in land-scarce Singapore. The gross floor area (GFA) that is dedicated to artists and arts companies has grown almost five-fold over the last 30 years. Venues, such as the Goodman Arts Centre (GAC), Stamford Arts Centre (SAC), Aliwal Arts Centre, and the Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre, currently provide our arts community with many creation and presentation spaces. However, demand for art spaces continues to increase and remains high. Given our limited resources with rising rental costs and increasing competition for space, co-location initiatives and shared spaces are necessary to ensure that our existing spaces are effectively used for the benefit of more arts practitioners. Multi-purpose studios, performance venues, office spaces and storage rooms are co-shared at our arts centres. This arrangement not only maximises available spaces but also allows the arts community to strengthen their networks, facilitate exchange of ideas, and increase opportunities for collaboration and partnership. For example, the GAC offers arts practitioners the use of facilities, such as a Black Box, dance studio and acoustically-treated music studios.”
“In fact, more than half of Singaporeans do not pay the full adult fare, so they are already taken care of under the concessionary fares schemes. But the needs of every individual or household could differ. It could go beyond public transport. That is why there are various other schemes available, some are automatic, some are upon application, so that tailored assistance could be made available to help these residents. We look forward to the local CCCs' support to help us reach out to these households so that help can be rendered to them.”
“Sir, PTVs have been in existence since 2007, so, more than 10 years. The number of vouchers made available has increased over the years. For the latest exercise, in 2018, the number of vouchers made available was the highest amount at that point. The quantum and the numbers benefiting from the PTV exercise have also increased, although given that the fare increase typically follows a certain timeframe, for example, end of the year. Therefore, the PTV take-up rate may not be reflective of the economic climate or the needs of low-income households. We respect the decision of each household to apply for PTVs. When we look at the proportion, there is no discernible trend of whether it is decreasing or increasing. I think this depends on the individuals or the households' decision whether to apply or not. In fact, there are times when we advise residents to apply for certain social assistance schemes and the response is that they can cope and they do not see the need to go forth and apply for these schemes. Having said that, we are committed to raising awareness of the PTV exercise so that those who are in need are not deprived of it because of ignorance. Given this time, for the 2019 PTVs, we have raised the household income eligibility criterion, so we expect more households to benefit and hopefully they can come forward to apply for the PTVs. As to the Member's second question about the consolidation of different assistance schemes, our fare structure does take care of different vulnerable groups. For example, low-income workers who are already on the Workfare Income Supplement (WIS) scheme can already qualify for the concessionary fare. Students, senior citizens and people with disabilities also enjoy concessionary fares.”
“Speaker, the Government is committed to helping needy commuters cope with public transport fare increases through providing them with Public Transport Vouchers (PTVs). We regularly review the PTV process to set appropriate eligibility criteria and the quantum for each exercise. This year, we have expanded the criteria so that one in five resident households are eligible, doubling the proportion for the 2018 PTV exercise. In addition, we will continue to make available more PTVs, over and above the number of eligible households. This is so that local Citizens' Consultative Committees (CCCs) can have the flexibility to provide additional assistance to needy households with special circumstances or those that marginally miss the eligibility criteria. We actively reach out to eligible households to encourage them to apply for the vouchers. In addition to media announcements, we work with the People's Association to raise awareness, including distributing publicity collaterals in four languages at all Community Clubs, as well as through house visits and events. The PTV application process allows us to directly engage and better understand each household's needs, which may go beyond transport costs. Through this process, the CCCs have been able to provide tailored support through other Government assistance schemes. We will continue to explore ways to streamline the process for future exercises.”
“Moving forward, NAC will continue to work with various partners – buskers, venue owners and managers – to enhance the Busking Scheme. I strongly encourage the public to take note of and support our busking scene, so that it will continue to flourish for years to come, just like the song "Friendship Forever". (In English): In conclusion, I thank Mr Louis Ng for his suggestions, initiatives and commitment to bring busking to the next level. We look forward to our continued partnership with him, the busking community and venue partners, as well as the support of the public, to achieve our shared vision for a vibrant and sustainable arts and culture scene in Singapore. [(proc text) Question put, and agreed to. (proc text)] [(proc text) Resolved, "That Parliament do now adjourn." (proc text)] Adjourned accordingly at 7.29 pm.”
“NAC is also working with *SCAPE, already a designated busking location in Orchard Road, to assess how current spaces can cater to a greater diversity of performances. NAC and *SCAPE intend to test new ideas to better support the aspirations of our buskers today, especially youths, such as through performance spaces that showcase budding youth talents. This, along with other ideas, are currently being considered as we work together with youths to co-create a master plan to develop the Somerset Belt into a vibrant youth district that supports their aspirations and interests. I encourage other venue owners and managers to contact NAC if they are similarly keen to re-imagine how busking can add to the vibrancy of their spaces. It is heartening that individuals who are passionate about busking have already decided to come together to take greater ownership of the busking scene in Singapore. Therefore, I welcome the initiative of Jonathon, Fadhil, Yong Kang, Benjamin, Firdaus and Marcus to register a Busking Association. NAC is already engaging the new Busking Association to co-create and co-develop a code of practice for our busking community. This seeks to encourage good busking etiquette among our buskers, as well as sensitivity to the different groups who use the public spaces where busking takes place. Mr Deputy Speaker, in Mandarin, please. (In Mandarin): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] Mr Deputy Speaker, Mr Louis Ng spoke about the passing of Singapore artist and busker Yu Xuan in March this year. Those familiar with Xinyao would remember Yu Xuan, Joi Chua and Cai Li Lian’s rendition of the popular local composition “Friendship Forever” (细水长流). Buskers like Yu Xuan add vibrancy to our public spaces when they showcase their talents.”
“Notwithstanding these developments, we recognise that the utilisation of busking locations can be uneven and there is sometimes intense competition for locations deemed to have higher footfall and visibility. NAC, therefore, welcomes suggestions from members of the community like Mr Louis Ng and our buskers. NAC will be happy to work with Mr Louis Ng to trial allocation mechanisms, such as balloting and the designation of sites for busking, in his Nee Soon East Division. In this regard, I am delighted to learn that Mr Louis Ng has identified two new locations for busking in Yishun and invited interested parties like Timbre+ to pilot new busking models with him. NAC will also take up Mr Louis Ng’s suggestion of using technology, like apps, to share information. To help us ensure that the Busking Scheme succeeds, owners and managers of busking locations must also be on board. They must be comfortable opening their venues for busking and with the type of busking acts being performed, for example, circus acts, and also be confident that buskers will be respectful towards the space and the different members of the public who use it. Busking that is congruent with the identity of the space will help to create value and thereby help busking flourish with strong public support. NAC is currently in discussion with some venue owners and managers to explore different models, including Mr Louis Ng’s suggestion for buskers to be allocated busking areas instead of sites. This will shape the busking experience on their premises with them. For example, NAC is in discussion with Singapore River One, the venue manager for Singapore River, to explore ways to enhance the busking experience along Boat Quay, Clarke Quay and Robertson Quay in a holistic manner.”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, I thank Mr Louis Ng for his suggestions to improve the Busking Scheme in Singapore. The Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth agrees with Mr Louis Ng that busking adds vibrancy to our streets and public spaces and showcases the creative energy and talent of our performers to public audiences. In managing the Busking Scheme, NAC stands guided by the priorities outlined in Our SG Arts Plan. These include nurturing creative excellence, connecting communities through the arts, and presenting Singapore’s diverse arts and culture to as wide an audience as possible. NAC is committed to working with its partners to improve the Busking Scheme and ensuring that it grows in a manner that benefits performers, venue owners and audiences alike. Since its introduction in the 1990s, the Busking Scheme has undergone several enhancements due to feedback from members of the public, venue owners, buskers and Government agencies. For example, NAC has increased the frequency and capacity of busking auditions in response to growing interest over the years, especially from younger performers, who want to express their artistic interests. Currently, there are about 300 endorsed buskers under the Busking Scheme, with one in two buskers below the age of 35. This is more than double the number and proportion in 2008. To cater to this demand, NAC has worked with venue owners to increase the number of designated busking locations. Where there had only been three locations when the Busking Scheme was first started, there are now 81 locations across Singapore for busking, from Suntec City and Tanjong Pagar to Lot One and Downtown East.”
“Some who perform well at such events and competitions are engaged by our national companies, such as Moses Gay, a prize winner at the National Chinese Music Competition in the early 2000s, who is now a colleague of Mr Terence Ho as an Assistant Conductor with the Singapore Chinese Orchestra (SCO). In addition, NAC will continue to provide opportunities for our artists to participate in overseas residencies and exchanges, from Indonesia to China and Australia. These allow our artists to learn from others, build their markets overseas and share what Singapore is capable of. MCCY and NAC are committed to developing our young talent and are constantly exploring new ways of doing so. NAC is currently working with our flagship arts companies and institutions to take in NAC scholarship recipients after they return from their studies. This will help the scholars further their development under the tutelage of experienced professionals, while the companies gain from an injection of new ideas and energy. I would like to thank Mr Terence Ho and the SCO for being part of this effort to groom our young talent and help them fulfil their potential. We look forward to his continued partnership and contributions to the development of a vibrant and sustainable arts landscape in Singapore. [(proc text) Question put, and agreed to. (proc text)] [(proc text) Resolved, "That Parliament do now adjourn." (proc text)] Adjourned accordingly at 6.45 pm.”
“The success of a sustainable arts ecosystem is determined not just by the quality of artists and their works, but also by whether they succeed in connecting with and growing their audiences. NAC will, on its part, also step up efforts to help our homegrown talents grow audiences. An example of how NAC has partnered the community to build our audiences is the Hear65 initiative launched in April 2018. This was done in collaboration with independent music media company Bandwagon to celebrate and promote all forms of Singapore music. Finally, I will address Mr Terence Ho's third recommendation of supporting our young artists locally and internationally. Two other priorities in Our SG Arts Plan are to build diverse capabilities in the arts sector and to take Singapore's arts beyond our shores. Our arts ecosystem is made up not only of artists but also other arts practitioners, such as managers and administrators, educators, researchers and academics. NAC will continue to support the development of arts professionals in all these areas through its initiatives and funding schemes. For example, Jean Hair was awarded an NAC scholarship in 2018 to pursue a Master of Arts and Cultural Management and has since returned to Singapore to continue her work at the National Gallery of Singapore. We are also proud of our 2011 Young Artist Award recipient Joshua Tan, who was appointed Associate Conductor of the Singapore Symphony Orchestra in the same year and went on to be the Principal Conductor of the Singapore National Youth Orchestra. There are multiple platforms for young artists to showcase and develop their talent, such as the annual SHINE festival organised by the National Youth Council and the Noise Music Mentorship programme by NAC.”
“Altogether, there is a total of 70 diploma and around 30 undergraduate degree courses offered in the creative arts catering to students who are keen on specialised disciplines, such as Music and Fine Arts, as well as those who are interested in more broad-based and multidisciplinary programmes, such as NTU's degree in Media Art. With the competing manpower needs of our economy, it is also the responsibility of the Government to ensure that arts education is competitive in quality and relevance with other disciplines in enhancing the employability of our students. MCCY and MOE will, therefore, study carefully Mr Terence Ho's suggestion for an arts university, taking into account the evolving arts education landscape. I will now turn to Mr Terence Ho's second recommendation. We agree that it is important to establish a robust ecosystem that contributes to the development of artists who can make Singapore and Singaporeans proud. To achieve this, NAC's Our SG Arts Plan has identified eight priority areas which range from using digital technology to maximising the impact of the arts on society. We are also committed to providing sector-wide support for our freelancers to look after their own financial and healthcare needs over the longer term. With their range of skills and expertise, freelancers make an important contribution and should have access to resources that will better equip themselves for the nature of their work. MCCY and NAC have been working with our partners to further develop the plans to support freelance artists that we shared at the Committee of Supply debates earlier this year and we will be sharing more details in due course. Another priority in the Arts Plan is to grow our audiences, who are critical to a thriving and sustainable arts ecosystem.”
“Our objective in establishing SOTA more than 10 years ago as a premier arts school to nurture leaders in all fields remains relevant today. SOTA was set up to provide a learning environment where both the artistic and academic potential of our students can be realised, and where a culture of experimentation and expression allows them to discover their passions and their strengths. SOTA has attracted some of our best and brightest students who are capable of succeeding in many fields of study and of gaining entry to some of the top academic institutions in the world. A SOTA education develops the skills and confidence for students to follow the pathways they wish to pursue in life. SOTA's success is not defined only by the number who progress to higher-level arts institutions and become future art practitioners and leaders of arts and culture institutions, but also those who go on to take up other non-arts disciplines, and who then infuse their creative bent and skills into diverse professional fields and industries, such as engineering and law. These graduates of SOTA are the future patrons, supporters and audiences who champion the arts. I agree with Mr Terence Ho that it is important to provide opportunities for students to pursue creative arts at the tertiary level. There is currently a wide range of diploma and degree programmes in arts, design and media, more than 90% of which are Government-subsidised. They are offered at all five polytechnics, Lasalle College of the Arts, NAFA, NUS, including the Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music, the Nanyang Technological University (NTU) and Singapore Institute of Technology.”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, I would like to thank Mr Terence Ho for his suggestions to grow arts excellence in Singapore. MCCY and NAC work closely with partner agencies and the arts community to develop a rich and vibrant arts landscape in Singapore, including through arts excellence. Mr Terence Ho spoke about the important role the arts play in building our national identity, bringing different communities together and presenting Singapore to the world. I agree. MCCY recognises that the arts play an important and critical role in building a caring, cohesive and confident Singapore. We are committed to partnering the community to nurture arts excellence even as we grow broad-based engagement. I will address Mr Terence Ho’s three suggestions in turn. First, I agree with Mr Ho on the importance of providing opportunities for our children to experience the arts. Exposure to the arts at a young age can nurture creative thinking and help our children develop empathy and confidence. In addition to the initiatives already highlighted by Mr Ho, NAC has worked to enable quality arts experiences during different life stages from preschool to tertiary education. To give one example, The Artground at Goodman Arts Centre is an incubator space that offers arts programmes for children as young as a few months old, such as the recent programme called "Baby Space" held in April. NAC has also collaborated with partners like the Early Childhood Development Agency and the National Trades Union Congress' My First Skool to bring our artists to preschools to enrich their first encounters with the arts. Mr Terence Ho asked about the diverse pathways beyond arts practice that have been taken by students from SOTA after graduation.”
“Sir, I thank Mr Alex Yam for the question. As I have explained earlier, there are various ways that SportSG can support NSAs in the development of athletes. In a case where the athlete is already receiving a full-time pay – as I gather – from STTA, there are also other spex grants, and also the multi-year sports plan that we can work out together to see how best to support them. So, if STTA could put into its plan the support required for full-time players under its payroll, I am sure we can work out something. So, perhaps the Member can take this outside of the Chamber to discuss how we could support STTA more.”
“I thank Ms Yip Pin Xiu for the question and would like to applaud her for all these years of hard work and bringing glory to Singapore. Her story is an inspiration for all of us. As for funding for SDSC, it is part of SportSG's overall plan to support all NSAs. Depending on the plan, the strategy is to develop that sport or many sports in SDSC. So, the achievements of Team Singapore athletes, and also efforts promoting mass participation, will all be taken into consideration. We note that SDSC's plate is very full with different sports, and we will give them our best support to help our athletes achieve their dreams.”
“For someone to take up the spexScholarship, there is a commitment to train full-time. And we respect athletes' own decisions whether or not to take up the spexScholarship and commit to the set of conditions. 3.00 pm I had shared earlier about the campaign funding which, this year, we have increased by 50%, to provide resources to athletes to train for the major games. These are athletes who are not on the spexScholarship. So, if someone turns down the spexScholarship and if the person is a potential to represent Singapore at major games, the support under campaign funding will be available to the NSA to send the athlete overseas for competition or for training so that the athlete or the NSA is not worse off. Besides this, NSAs also put in place multi-year plans, which the NSAs can discuss with SportSG. This includes support for the training and development needs of athletes, including athletes who turned down spexScholarship. Because the timeframe for both the spexScholarship and the multi-year sports plan is synced, NSAs would have a good picture of what is coming up and, therefore, will be able to put together the resources. SportsSG's commitment is that as long as the athlete has the potential and is willing to give the commitment, resources will be provided for, whether in the form of spexScholarship or campaign funding.”
“I was referring to today's media report about what FAS has said – that they are at the tail-end and are looking towards appointing the national coach in time for the competition in June. So, I think by June, they will appoint the national coach. This is a selection process by FAS itself. I do not know exactly what caused the duration of time for the process. But I believe the selection of the national coach is a very important part of the development of high performance in football. So, I believe the FAS leadership must have taken a hard look at evaluating the choices for the national coach.”
“MCCY and its family will be part of the tripartite arrangement. And we look forward to working with various partners, including the National Trades Union Congress, to see how we can help our freelancers in various areas, including contracts, job opportunities, working conditions, well-being and financial stability. In terms of a shared workspace, that is, indeed, part of the plan as we develop the freelancer resource hubs which will take the form of both an online resource portal as well as physical spaces. We are in the midst of planning and developing the concept of the resource centre. We will share more details at the end of this year.”
“Mr Chairman, building a strong nation requires us to recognise the diverse talents, gifts and dreams of each individual, and to support one another to be our best selves. Together, we can celebrate our collective achievements and be confident in our future.”
“In 2018, Adam, who was previously with Albirex Niigata Singapore Football Club (FC), played a key role in his team's SPL title win. I am happy to hear that he was later named the SPL Young Player of the Year. He has since transferred to Home United FC in January to further his sporting career. For the wider community, SportSG's ActiveSG Football Academy partners FAS to develop structured programmes to provide opportunities for more young Singaporeans to develop football skills. We hope that this will encourage and sustain mass participation in football, build a wider talent pool, and foster a stronger football culture. While the impact of these efforts will not happen overnight, I am encouraged by the uplift in our national team's performance in the past year, such as their achievements in international matches like the ASEAN Football Federation Suzuki Cup. This year, Fandi Ahmad will be leading the National U-22 team at the upcoming SEA Games. Meanwhile, FAS will be appointing the national coach for the Senior team soon. The FAS leadership will also continue to and has to engage the clubs, stakeholders and fans, and work closely with them on this journey to improve the state of Singapore football. In response to Mr Faisal Manap's point, all our Team Singapore athletes have coped with and have strived within Singapore's unique ecosystem. It is not easy, but many of them have been able to balance their sporting pursuits with commitments, whether it is National Service, education or career and they have done well. Kudos to them. We wish FAS all the best and we will continue to support FAS and our national team to raise the standard of Singapore football.”