Cai Yinzhou
Singapore
“Dialect artists are gradually passing on, with no one to carry the torch, and the flame risks being extinguished. What concrete plans does the MCCY have to support the preservation of dialect arts and ensure that they continue to thrive in Singapore? Mandarin is the bridge that connects us in society.”
“Thank you, Speaker, and I thank the Senior Parliamentary Secretary for the response. A learner who fails or cannot complete a course through no fault of their own due to illness, family circumstances or a programme that was poorly matched to their needs currently has no clear published appeals process to help recover their course fees.”
“This also aligns with pricing transparency, where the Veterinary Therapeutic Guidelines already recommend that vets provide clinics with cost estimates and disclose the evidence base for such treatments, but this is currently voluntary.”
“I thank the Minister of State for the clarification. My supplementary question is similar to the $200 cash disbursement for platform workers to cushion rising fuel prices. Can we also consider some immediate stopgap disbursement for ComCare recipients, especially those with young children who have very little buffers to begin with?”
“How can we better take into account other areas that the seniors might be active in, for example, in faith-based or Community Club or Centre events or course-based initiatives that they might be volunteering at? How do we take that into account?”
“We must catch these impairments before the rapid decline in quality of life. Fourth, I ask the Ministry to consider introducing degree or diploma courses for audiology and podiatry in tertiary institutions, to increase the number of Singaporeans specialising in these areas and in turn, be better able to serve our seniors who require such…”
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“Dialect artists are gradually passing on, with no one to carry the torch, and the flame risks being extinguished. What concrete plans does the MCCY have to support the preservation of dialect arts and ensure that they continue to thrive in Singapore? Mandarin is the bridge that connects us in society. Dialect is what connects us, heart to heart, with our grandparents at home.”
“Thank you, Speaker. I would like to declare my interest as Advisor to Chinatown Heritage Centre, an attraction referencing 1950s' Singapore, with our exhibits featuring dialect content. "Parasite" sparked conversations on inequality. "How to Make Millions before Grandma Dies" spurred end-of-life conversations. "Dear You" has renewed interest in the sacrifices of our forefathers and personal heritage. Locally, "Parasite" screened close to 12,000 sessions. "How to Make Millions before Grandma Dies" around 5,000. "Dear You", in Mandarin, 2,570; while its Teochew version, the original, a mere 126 public screenings as of early-July. My first question to the Ministry of Digital Development and Information (MDDI) is, today, cinema is the only mainstream medium in Singapore where Chinese dialect content is restricted. Over-the-top (OTT) streaming on social media platforms and YouTube all already carry dialect content without equivalent restrictions. Should cinema remain subject to the campaign's dialect restriction rationale? There is also a commercial case, our cinema operators have been under real pressure. "Dear You" shows that original dialect programming can be an asset, not a niche indulgence. "Dear You" has drawn families off their sofas and back into theatres, together across generations, including older Singaporeans, who, otherwise, might not step into a cinema at all. Would the Ministry go further in the review to consider removing this default restriction? In Mandarin, please. (In Mandarin): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] As the saying goes, "The master leads you through the door, but the practice is yours to pursue." Yet dialect arts face a more fundamental problem today – the masters are growing old and no young people are walking through that door.”
“Thank you, Speaker, and I thank the Senior Parliamentary Secretary for the response. A learner who fails or cannot complete a course through no fault of their own due to illness, family circumstances or a programme that was poorly matched to their needs currently has no clear published appeals process to help recover their course fees. I note the Senior Parliamentary Secretary's response was that it should be a mutually made arrangement between the learner and the training provider. But given that some of these learners are mid-career workers who took a significant financial and personal risk to upskill and the published appeals process to recover their course fees is not clear and formalised, will the Ministry consider having clear appeal criteria and committing to a minimum review standard, so that deserving cases are not simply disheartened by the process of recovering?”
“This also aligns with pricing transparency, where the Veterinary Therapeutic Guidelines already recommend that vets provide clinics with cost estimates and disclose the evidence base for such treatments, but this is currently voluntary. Given that vet fees rose by up to 20% between 2022 and 2023, and that this Bill may add further compliance costs, will the Ministry therefore consider making pricing transparency and informed consent on costs a statutory obligation under the Bill? Notwithstanding these clarifications, I support this Bill and look forward to the Ministry's response.”
“Fish cosmetic surgery is a particularly stark example of invasive procedures carried out without medical oversight. In Singapore, Arowana fish are routinely subject to eye lifts, chin jobs, scale shaving and swim bladder repairs by non-vets. A Singapore aquarium magazine also once published a step-by-step guide to tail amputation on Flowerhorn cichlids using scissors without anaesthetic and dye injection into Parrot cichlids using hypodermic needles. Many of these aesthetic services continue to be openly publicising in the ornamental fish industry. Will the Ministry or Veterinary Council issue clear guidelines on which procedures might need a licensed vet and consider a basic certification framework for pet groomers? A related concern is the rise of non-conventional animal therapies – from stem cell treatments to administering horse injections, medications to dogs and cats – amplified by social media. AVS and the Singapore Veterinary Association in this regard, have jointly published the Veterinary Therapeutic Guidelines in response and these remain voluntary. Will the Ministry consider empowering the Veterinary Council to enforce minimum standards for non-conventional therapies, protecting pet owners from treatments that are unproven or potentially harmful? Fourth, the Bill will first apply to veterinarians before eventually extending to veterinary nurses. I welcome this. However, the Veterinary Council was originally slated for establishment last year and was delayed. Will the Ministry provide a concrete timeline for when veterinary nurses will be brought under the framework, so the profession can anticipate and plan accordingly?”
“There is currently only one non-profit community animal clinic in Singapore, run by the SPCA, serving pet guardians in financial hardship, supplemented by ad hoc free health screenings for lower-income households. This is insufficient for our growing pet population. I would highlight two groups that we might consider subsidies for. First, rescue and shelter pets. Adoption rates at the SPCA have decreased sharply, from 979 in 2019 to just 250 last year, while rescues have climbed from 2,813 in 2023 to 3,763 last year. Vet bills have risen over 30% since 2022. Subsidised veterinary care for adopted rescue pets from approved rescuers could incentivise adoption and relieve pressures on overstretched shelters. Animals serving an assisted function deserve some considerations too. Guide dogs for the visually impaired, or therapy animals that provide genuine medical and social value. While Guide Dogs Singapore subsidises some routine care, some financial burden on dog owners remains significant. Will the Ministry consider formalising support for these animals? Third, I would like to ask the Ministry to clarify the scope of practices that must be performed by a licensed veterinarian, in particular, whether the regulation of pet groomers or practices in the ornamental fish industry can be considered alongside the Bill. There is no legal requirement for pet groomers to be professionally trained or certified. We have also heard about the tragedies – the death of Fendi the Corgi, who choked during a grooming session; the ACRES White Paper last year had also flagged concerns about the unregulated industry. There is a growing grey area where grooming shades into veterinary practice. For instance, when a groomer handles a pet with an existing skin condition or infection.”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, I rise in support of the Bill. It strengthens animal welfare by ensuring veterinarians are held to high professional standards. It builds public trust through mandatory licensing and clearer processes for managing feedback and complaints. Nevertheless, I would like to raise some points for the Ministry's consideration. First, I would like to ask what steps the Ministry will take to attract and retain talent in our veterinarian industry. The supply-demand gap is stark. The number of licensed veterinarians in Singapore has grown significantly from just 122 in 2006 to 674 as of September last year. Yet demand has grown even faster. We have an estimated pet population of about 700,000, including some 114,000 dogs and 94,000 cats, with about one in three households now owning a pet. That is a lot of pets. This translates to roughly one veterinarian for every 1,186 animals, with some of the 674 not working full-time. The profession has expanded, but it has not kept pace with demand. It also suffers from high stress, long hours and burn-out, driving many local vets to work in Australia or the UK. The brain drain has a direct knock-on effect on costs. Vet fees rose by up to 20% in 2022. The Bill's additional regulatory requirements risk compounding this, adding compliance burdens that may deter talent from entering or staying in the profession. Will the Ministry consider expanding the list of recognised overseas veterinary qualification and exploring Singapore-based pathways to licensing, so that aspiring vets are not compelled to study abroad and potentially settle there? Secondly, staying on the topic of cost, I would like to ask whether the Ministry will consider targeting veterinary subsidies for specific groups.”
“I thank the Minister of State for the clarification. My supplementary question is similar to the $200 cash disbursement for platform workers to cushion rising fuel prices. Can we also consider some immediate stopgap disbursement for ComCare recipients, especially those with young children who have very little buffers to begin with?”
“Thank you, Chair. I would like to ask how would MSF evaluate project success of progress packages launched? I thank the Minister of State for sharing that families can enjoy community events and attraction tickets at discount, but these activities still require supervision. Money is scarce and time is even more. Are there any other initiatives with supervision that can be formalised across neighbourhoods, such as the Touch Young Arrows Children's programme? My second question is that I understand ComLink+ families become FSC cases during crisis and family coaches take a step back. Will the Ministry consider allowing family coaches to continue journeying with the families on the context that in times of crisis, more hands-on-deck is needed, and trust and relationship built with coaches can be more pertinent in these moments? Third question, has the Ministry explored grants to support caregivers with entrepreneurial endeavours with PwDs that they are caring for initiatives, such as Junlefont and Bakes by Ben? They are both started by caregivers with children with special needs, and they continue to provide and allow the children to be meaningfully engaged, yet allowing income generation and flexibility. Lastly, riding on Member Denise's points to reduce wait time in the pressure valve of DACs, has the Ministry considered pilot integrating Senior Care Centres and DAC for adults, since DAC residents are getting older, and I have also been a care staff in both settings, and care needs of toileting, feeding and cognitive engagement are similar in objectives. A pilot integration could help the pressure valve queue of an average of six months.”
“In my interactions with families, I have observed recurring challengea: families who remain uncooperative or deeply disengaged. This is often driven by the exhaustion of juggling multiple commitments, personal crisis or a lack of trust in the cobbling system. This lack of engagement creates a critical blind spot. It makes it difficult for family coaches to assess genuine needs, maintain continuity of care, or escalate cases where serious concerns, such as family violence or child safety may be involved. When engagement is inconsistent, the human touch and the trust built by a dedicated coach are easily lost. We must recognise that unresponsiveness itself is often a signal of deeper and more complex challenges. We cannot allow these families, especially their children, to fall through the cracks. I have two clarifications on this front. First, what specific protocols for engaging within the ComLink+ Alliance Working Group and its partner agencies to re-engage families who have become unresponsive? Second, would the Ministry consider a formal escalation pathway for such cases to Family Service Centres for deeper social work intervention when initial coaching efforts fail to gain traction? Ensuring the safety and well-being of the children in these households must remain our absolute priority. 7.00 pm Enhancements to ComLink+”
“Thank you, Chairman. My both cuts will address guardrails for protecting our children in low-income families. In the book "Alone together", author Turkle examines the increasing reliance on digital devices and social media and the paradox of being alone, together. Feeling both connected and disconnected in an increasingly digital world. Apart from loneliness, academic studies show how technology addition leads to anxiety, depression and even aggression and attention-deficit and hyperactivity disorder symptoms. While the Government has banned smartphone use in secondary schools, excessive screen time outside school hours remains a challenge, especially for children from lower-income families. In my house visits to rental blocks, I often see parents occupying children and even infants, with screens – smartphones, tablets and TVs. Parents have shared with me their challenges of being busy at work, health or caregiving responsibilities. Therefore, children are often left to their own devices – literally. In this case, the ones occupied with digital screens are unsupervised and without parental restriction guardrails. It is crucial that whilst we push nationwide for a reduction of our children's exposure to screens in schools and age appropriate content, our home environments are not left behind. I would like to ask the Ministry how it specifically considers the needs and context of lower-income families and work with other agencies to provide additional support when developing screen time policies in school, after school and at home. Protect Children in Disengaged Families Mr Chairman, while Budget 2026 rightly strengthens support for ComLink+ families, the effectiveness of this support relies entirely on successful engagement.”
“Thank you, Chairman. I am still a youth, so, thank you. First, I would like to declare my interest as the executive director for Chinatown Heritage Centre. I understand that MCCY is developing placemaking initiatives in the locale of Kampong Gelam and Little India, with the hopes to activate spaces and support heritage businesses. I would like to highlight that Chinatown should also be considered appropriately a historic district with culturally rich, including SG Heritage Business Scheme awardees like, Say Tian Hng Buddha Shop, which started in 1896; and Pek Sin Choon which celebrates its 101 years this year. I would also like to ask if the Ministry will therefore consider expanding the coordination and support to Chinatown? My second supplementary question is for Senior Parliamentary Secretary Goh. Will the MOE-OBS Challenge Programme be implemented only in OBS campsites? I ask this because there are other campsites, like Changi Coast, Dairy Farm and Jalan Bahtera. So, I am wondering if those other campsites will be utilised and whether OBS will be the only operator for the MOE-OBS Challenge, or will there be other private outdoor adventure companies be operating it as well?”
“How can we better take into account other areas that the seniors might be active in, for example, in faith-based or Community Club or Centre events or course-based initiatives that they might be volunteering at? How do we take that into account? Senior Minister of State Tan also highlighted there were studies ongoing with schools and if he could share a bit more details about what that entails?”
“Chairman. I have four supplementary questions. The first is for Senior Minister of State Koh. It was mentioned that there was a Masters in audiology. But my question is whether we have plans for a diploma or undergraduate in audiology, as well as podiatry, which I understand we do not have any localised courses as stated on the NUHS website. My second clarification is for Senior Minister of State Tan on flexible work arrangements for supporting caregivers. I understand that flexible work arrangements are differing context to context and workplace to workplace. How can MOH help to formalise the caregiver status and legitimise their need for flexibility in a way that they can better demonstrate to their employer the need for that flexibility? The third question is on the Integrated Community Care Provider arrangements. I thank Senior Minister of State Tan for sharing about the One Care Assessment Plan and one assessment, which is clinical. Would there be enhancements in the pipeline beyond clinical outcomes to also having access one financial assessments, as well as a one employment coordinator for seniors who might be looking for part time employment? My last question is on social prescription. We do see the need for social prescription in combating loneliness, which, as Senior Minister of Tan had highlighted, is equivalent of smoking 15 cigarettes a day. My question is, as we measure medical prescriptions, how are social prescriptions therefore measured and interventions tracked? My question also stems from how AAC participation is the current measure from a previous Parliamentary Question that I filed regarding attendance as well as participation.”
“We must catch these impairments before the rapid decline in quality of life. Fourth, I ask the Ministry to consider introducing degree or diploma courses for audiology and podiatry in tertiary institutions, to increase the number of Singaporeans specialising in these areas and in turn, be better able to serve our seniors who require such specialised care. By streamlining access, measuring what matters, expanding specialist care and building local expertise, we ensure our seniors are not just "ageing", but are living with agency. Enhancing Elderly Care and Support”
“For many seniors I have spoke with in Bishan-Toa Payoh, the answer is not just more handouts, but dignity, choice and the agency to live their golden years on their own terms. 7.45 pm To this end, I have four proposals. First, expanding the Integrated Community Care Providers into a "Senior Concierge". Minister Ong has spoken about a single coordination point for care and 85 sub-regions, which will soon provide coordination across Regional Health System, Home Personal Care Plus, Singapore Counselling Centre, Drug Rehabilitation Centre and Active Ageing Centres with One Ring to Rule… excuse me, One Care Plan to coordinate them all. I propose beyond clinical outcomes, to further centralise touchpoints for participating in Employment and Employability Institute for job search, People's Association for community events and Social Service Offices for financial aid applications. One contact, one coordinator, for the whole senior as a person and being. Second, to measure what truly matters. In our October Sitting, the Ministry's reply on tracking social isolation focused on attendance and outreach numbers. Loneliness cuts deeper and these numbers only scratch the surface. I ask the Ministry to partner with our educational institutes to conduct regular, widespread surveys on the social determinants of health. We need a localised version of "Quality of Life" indicators to understand how our efforts are truly reducing isolation. Third, bringing specialist healthcare to the heartlands. Not being able to eat, hear or walk, is directly linked to cognitive decline and increased mortality. Yet, access to specialised help remains a hurdle. I ask the Ministry to ramp up dental, audiology and podiatry facilities, specifically to estates with high concentrations of seniors.”
“Thank you, Chairman. Following the invisible costs highlighted in my Budget speech, I want to address the struggles of those with invisible conditions. With the helping hands scheme supporting those on public transport, many with hidden medical, autoimmune or chronic diseases still face judgment in daily life. Will the Ministry consider expanding these initiatives outside of public transport to more settings like hawker centres and libraries to fostering a society that leads with patience rather than suspicion? In Singapore, one in five children and one in 10 adults endure the constant, debilitating itch of this atopic eczema. While manageable, the cost of continuous treatment, including wet wraps and phototherapy, is a significant financial and emotional burden. Will the Ministry consider adding atopic eczema to the Chronic Disease Management Programme, which already covers similar conditions like psoriasis? Lastly, some youths are deterred from sharing suicidal thoughts with school counselors because they fear an automatic, mandatory reporting to their parents, especially when those thoughts might stem from family circumstances. To encourage greater help-seeking while ensuring safety, will the Ministry implement a tiered reporting framework that allows for greater confidentiality in a risk-proportionate manner? Chairman, we must ensure our infrastructure of care is robust enough to support the struggles we cannot see. I look forward to the Ministry’s vision for a more inclusive and empathetic healthcare landscape. One Touchpoint for Seniors My second cut addresses the age-old question: what is a life well lived?”
“If we truly believe in social mobility, we must prioritise the design of the space where that mobility begins. Homes for Life is more than a slogan, but about ensuring our residents feel secure in the longevity of their community, where they do not just have a roof over their heads, but a place where their roots can grow with confidence. Third Spaces in Urban Growth My late grandmother lived at Old Airport Road, where her life and friendships were deeply rooted. In 2014, when nearby Dakota Crescent residents were told to move, I founded Dakota Adventures, co-guiding tours with senior residents for over 1,500 Singaporeans, including hon Minister Grace Fu. In 2017, then-Minister Lawrence Wong announced the conservation of six blocks, out of 15, to allow future generations to build their memories. We need a more robust and local framework for urban renewal. Will the Ministry implement a formal Social and Heritage Impact Assessment? This would allow us to proactively reimagine existing spaces rather than retrospectively conserving them. And also, to account for the heritage and social impact that potential relocation might have towards, especially, the seniors living in those estates. Furthermore, our ABC Waterways network spans 8,000 kilometres through our homes and communities. I hope the Ministry can move beyond aesthetic "water views" as a mode of promotion and instead, incorporate active "blue spaces" for recreational activities, like water sports and fishing, and even consider exploring water-based transportation. Chairman, I look forward to a vision for a more social- and heritage-conscious urban landscape that truly reflects the social value of landmarks, like Dakota Crescent, which remains hoarded up today.”
“Diminishing lease is a genuine concern for many Singaporeans. I urge the Ministry to shift the narrative from flats of stored value depreciating. They must be Homes for Life. This means ensuring every Singaporean, regardless of age or ability, to live in the same home through every life stage of changing needs, with dignity and security. I have four proposals to make in this reality. First, reimagining HIP I and II. Has the Ministry studied increasing the list of modification options during upgrading? For multi-generational families, this could include space partitioning and soundproofing. And extending EASE to supporting families with persons with special needs. Second, tech-enabled eldercare. Can we expand HIP to include built-in for fall-detection sensors, fire sprinklers and emergency alert buttons? Third, for the most vulnerable in our society. In response to a Parliamentary Question I filed in October, I note only 7,000 of more than 50,000 public rental flats have air-conditioning. Will Ministry consider resources for public rental flats to be more climate resilient, noting that they are space constrained and structurally disadvantaged for natural ventilation. Fourth, creating spaces for success. If education is the great social leveler, then study space is essential equitable infrastructure. In a cramped two-room rental flat with six children, there is no quiet corner or dedicated desk for one, let alone six children. We already have the EASE programme for seniors. I propose a new ACCESS scheme under ComLink+. ACCESS would provide a milestone incentive for modular, space-saving furniture for families with young children in rental flats. As suggested during the Budget debate, it could stand for Adaptable, Compact, Child-centric, Enhancements for Small Spaces.”
“We stand at an inflection point. As HDB supply ramps up to meet demand, we must move beyond merely providing "roofs over heads" to refining the inclusivity of our social compact. I ask the Ministry for clarity on how it will prioritise five key areas. First, the middle-income squeeze. With median households crossing $12,000, many young couples are trapped – ineligible for BTO or Parenthood Provisional Housing Scheme (PPHS) support, yet priced out of the resale market. Is it time to recalibrate income ceilings to reflect today's wage realities? Second, on mobility for right-sizers. The 15-month wait-out period was a necessary cooling measure, but for families and citizens in life transitions, it remains a blunt instrument. Can we move toward a more nuanced, case-based approach to facilitate downsizing? Third, on the aspirations of singles. Many young Singaporeans are pursuing non-traditional life paths. Will the Government weigh the call to lower the BTO eligibility age from 35, allowing them to anchor their futures earlier? Fourth, Singaporeans with foreign spouses often face more restrictive pathways to home ownership. Housing stability for these families in a globalised environment is a matter of long-term domestic stability for our own citizens. Finally, our single unwed parents face the steepest climbs, longest waits and fewer grants. I ask the Ministry to consider a more sympathetic prioritisation based on the child's age and to equalise subsidies so that every child, regardless of family structure, starts life in a secure environment. Let us dare to imagine a Singapore where affordable housing is not just available to some, but truly accessible, at the right price and the right size, for all.”
“I thank the Minister of State for her response. I was just wondering further if there are studies on in the impact of thermal comfort on academic performance and with effects, like the urban island heat effect, are there hotter schools than cooler schools, and is there studies on the correlations of academic performance based on that?”
“Did you know Singapore has 8,000 kilometres of ABC waterways, 17 reservoirs and yet, only 15 designated fishing spots? We lament that our children are addicted to screens and thus must do more. To encourage them to spend time outdoors, children and youths I have met in Toa Payoh turn to fishing to manage stress and connect with nature. However, with no designated fishing spots in close proximity, they resort to fishing in unauthorised and often more dangerous areas, areas with high human traffic, fast water currents or precarious physical barriers. Often, youths fishing illegally are met with negative public sentiment or disproportioned aggression. 8.00 pm If we want our youths to be the stewards of our environment and their outdoor safety, we must first allow access to legal and safe interactions. I ask the Ministry to consider opening more designated fishing spots within our reservoirs and waterways by providing convenient and legal access, move away from culture — Thank you.”
“Chairman, if sea-based farming is a pillar of our resilience, we must protect its viability. In 10 years, will open-cage fish farming remain part of our food story or merely our history? Singapore Hawker and Food Story 2”
“Before 1940s, Teochew-run kelongs accounted for nearly half of almost 400 sea farms. Today, this heritage is at a crossroads. Between 2023 and 2024 alone, we lost a quarter of open cage fish farms and 74 remain. As a Teochew-nang and all of us as residents of Pulau Ujong, or what some call Mainland Singapore, the nautical way of life is close to our nation’s heart. Recently, I visited open cage fish farmers offshore with fellow PAP MP Valerie Lee. Farmers shared that while they can meet production targets, they struggle to compete with cheaper imports. To ensure our farms thrive and as follow up to Parliamentary Questions I have filed, I have three suggestions. 7.45 pm The first, in supporting public accessibility, I note that visits to sea-farms are "not encouraged" due to biosecurity concerns. Will the Government provide technical and financial support to help farms meet these standards? Managed public access is a vital tool for education and brand-building. Second is tracking the aquaculture talent pipeline. Aquaculture programmes are in ITE, Temasek Polytechnic, Republic Polytechnic, Nanyang Polytechnic and James Cook University (JCU). But Singapore Food Agency (SFA) currently does not collect data on the proportion or age of local sea-farm workers from relevant institutes of higher learning (IHL) or continuing education and training (CET) programmes. I ask the Ministry to reconsider. Without this data, we cannot address the long-term manpower resilience of the sector. Third, will the Ministry partner with Singapore Tourism Board and National Heritage Board to integrate sea farms into heritage and tourism products? Telling the story behind our food can drive local demand necessary for food security.”
“Thank you, Speaker. Thank you, Senior Minister of State for the reply. I have a question regarding foreign domestic workers in Singapore. I understand we have 300,000 foreign domestic workers who form about one-fifth of our foreign workforce. Many of them work in the homes in the care settings at home, taking care of seniors with a range of conditions as well, some more severe than others. May I ask the Senior Minister of State if we are considering having a professionalised track for foreign domestic workers to specialise in the aspect of palliative or geriatric care, considering that is part of what they are already doing at home, in order to professionalise our home care setting? My second question is also for foreign domestic workers who are really good in taking care of seniors. Sometimes, after the seniors pass on, they are unable to continue taking care of another senior in another home setting. Do we have options for these foreign domestic workers to progress to also join the community care sector as a care staff, or even nurses as well?”
“Technology should not bring distance, but societal cohesion with love. (In English): In conclusion, Speaker, a rich Singapore is not defined by the size of surplus in our banks, but by the strength of the bonds in our community. It is a place where a senior feels valued, a caregiver feels seen and our social fabric and cohesion remain strong. Let us invest in the high touch human connection that no AI Mission can ever replace too. And as Benjamin Kheng would sing in our 2024 National Day song, Not Alone: "If we just look to each other, then this house will feel like home." Mr Speaker, I support the Budget. [Applause.]”
“If demography is destiny, and families are bucking the trend to hold up our TFR, we must increase direct tiered support for families with three or more children to ensure that the invisible infrastructure of a large family remains a source of strength rather than a driver of household debt. Mr Speaker, I will now address some of the concerns of my residents in Mandarin. (In Mandarin): Mr Speaker, the Government is investing heavily in artificial intelligence, but when I visit Toa Payoh, I often hear seniors express a complex sentiment about AI, in Hokkien: "Ai lai, Mai lai". Please allow me to explain. The first "Ai" is AI – artificial intelligence. This Chinese New Year, I believe many received AI-generated cartoon-style family portraits and even saw friends galloping with horses in the images. This technology makes everyone's "good morning images" more interesting – this is the kind of AI application that everyone welcomes. But technology's value should not stop there. We must harness AI's powerful organisational capabilities to handle complex administrative work. Technology should not bring distance, but societal cohesion with love. Because the second "Ai"; must be the "Ai" of "爱心" or love. What seniors worry about is not how smart machines are, but that machines replace human warmth. What they "Mai lai" or do not want to come, is that kind of cold interaction that has only graphics on a machine, without human dialogue. We must be clear: AI is the "ladder" that helps us identify vulnerable groups, but every node in the care network must be filled by humans. Mr Speaker, facing the technological wave, I hope our society will not be replaced by cold AI systems, but should embrace the spirit from Aaron Kwok's classic song, "对你爱、爱、爱不完" (ln English): Loving you endlessly.”
“Thousands battle autoimmune and invisible conditions that demand immense stamina. We must fund better diagnostic support and workplace flexibility, ensuring our infrastructure of care includes the struggles we cannot see. The rising tide of youth mental health challenges is a cry for presence. We must divert resources to give parents the commodity of time, prioritising parenting over productivity during critical development windows and crisis. Family must always be our first line of defence. While staff in senior care centres uphold basic care and nursing competencies, yet when those same seniors requiring specialised care return home at night and on weekends, we do not require our foreign domestic workers to have these similar qualifications. We should subsidise upskilling specialised in geriatric and palliative care. Offering these professionalising home-based services can extend ageing in place and provides our seniors dignity and our families a peace of mind. For the vulnerable and persons with disabilities, we must move deeper for them. This means moving beyond vouchers towards long term coordinated interventions that break the cycle of poverty, safeguard our children and ensure every Singaporean is an active contributor to our nation. For large families with many children, costs do not merely add up. They multiply: from space at home, food portions to educational expenses and transportation costs. These scale exponentially with every single member. Unfortunately, childcare leave and Community Development Council (CDC) vouchers does not follow the same logic of proportionality.”
“If we truly believe that education is a vital tool for social mobility, let us reconsider and prioritise the design of spaces and rules in our homes and communities. We have the Enhancement for Active Seniors (EASE) Programme for retrofitting seniors' homes. How about access as a ComLink scheme milestone? Incentive for retrofitting modular furniture for families with young children in rental flats? I have even thought of the acronyms – ACCESS can stand for Adaptable, Compact, Child-centric Enhancements for Small Spaces, or Augmenting Conducive Childhood Environments for Student Success. Our income inequality is at its lowest on record, but the more insidious wealth inequality has widened. When a few accumulates significant assets, properties, equities and growing bank balances in an uncertain world, the instinct to secure one's future can easily transit into a cycle of accumulation where enough is always just beyond reach. The gap between the haves and the have nots threaten to wedge society psychologically. As President Tharman Shanmugaratnam reminded us at the Opening of this Parliament, we must resist the trend where wealth and trenches and inequality is passed down. With a $15.1 billion surplus, we have the fiscal capacity to do exactly that. We must be surgical in a moral division of resources to reinvest in our collective social capital, beginning with the stability of homes. Caregivers often torn between being at work and the bedside, just as childcare leave supports the role of a parent, we must fund paid parent or elder caregiving leave. Workplace accommodations so that choosing to care for parent does not mean a blow to one's career for the sandwiched generation. Not every disability requires a wheelchair.”
“In Toa Payoh, we have 17 rental blocks in Toa Payoh Central. I noted in a Parliamentary Question reply this week that the median number of occupants in a two-room rental flat is four. Allow me to visualise what I have seen. You step into a flat with multiple children, up to eight or 10 people in a two-room. One room, one hall and one toilet. The only room is typically wall-to-wall with mattresses with clothes piled, strewn all around. the living room doubles as a kitchen and a nursery. Young children lie, occupied with screens while parents cook or rest after a long day of work, if they are even home. Sometimes, you find a charging personal mobility aid. Within these four walls, a conducive environment is a state of mind, staying on the right track in life and keeping up with educational goals is a daily uphill struggle. While our nation's commitment to education reform is a vital tool for social mobility, school only accounts for a fraction of a child's day. What happens during the school holidays or the unsupervised hours after the bell rings? I have sat with primary school students who shared a cigarette, exchanging tips on which shop to shoplift. And this is a friction of inequality that no Ministry alone can solve. What is heartening, though, is the organic resilience of our community. Youths from the youth network have formed a kids club in Toa Payoh Central. What started as weekly activities at the basketball court during school holidays have become homework sessions during school term. These same children are now supervised at least for one night in seven days. Mr Speaker, these children want to study, but they can only do so in the right environment, with the right role models.”
“The terms "silver tsunami" or "super-aged society" are used with a sense of gloom and burden. I call for a reframe. Let us strive amidst a "silver opportunity" for a "super healthy society". It is heartening to see the expansion of the SG Partnerships Fund, but we can be bolder. I propose a specific seniors-led tier within this fund offering higher funding for ground-up initiatives led and participated by those above 60. Let us empower our active agers to be perceived not just as recipients of help, but mentors to youths and first-responders to frail neighbors in community. Let us build a silver economy where products and services are designed by seniors, for seniors, allowing them to age with agency and purpose. Next, as HDB supply gradually begins to meet demand, the anxiety of our residents shifts. It is moving from "Will I get a BTO?" to "What happens to my home in the long run?" And for those still on the margins – single unwed parents or Singaporeans with foreign spouses – the question remains, "Is there a place for me here, for me and my family?" We must reframe the narrative of home ownership. HDB should not be viewed through the lens of ticking depreciation or potential profit. It must be seen as a home for life. When a resident feels secure in the longevity of their community, they do not just live there. They invest social capital and their generations after continue aspiring to remain as many generations have in Toa Payoh. While we await the details of the Voluntary Early Redevelopment Scheme (VERS), it is an opportunity to reframe and offer a vision of Singapore where HDB ownership provides psychological and social security through every transition of life. Mr Speaker, the true test of resilience is only discovered when it is tested.”
“A surplus of $15.1 billion. Mr Speaker, Sir, this year we find ourselves in a position of remarkable fiscal strength. Much of the debates in this House has been dedicated to "national AI Missions" and our digital frontier. With the privilege of being the last speaker of the Budget debate, I want to speak about a different kind of infrastructure, one that does not run on silicon or servers, but on the time, heart and grit of our people. I am referring to the Care Economy. When we say "Care Economy," we are not just talking about a sector of work. It refers to the unpaid labor of a daughter waking up at 3.00 am to check on the rise and fall of breath of her bedbound father. The teacher conducting a welfare check in the evening at home of an absent child. It is the parent caring for an adult child of special needs worrying about the future when they pass on. Or a retiree delivering lunch to a lonely neighbour unwell for the day. Currently, the national accounting of our GDP struggles to see that work. It is invisible. The World Economic Forum estimates compensation of unpaid care labour globally to be in the tune of roughly $11 trillion – 9% of global GDP. Closer to home, a 2024 Duke-National University of Singapore (NUS) study revealed that informal caregiving for our seniors aged 75 and above is worth $1.28 billion annually, an equivalent to 11% of our total Government expenditure on healthcare, which is today's second after defence. Behind every fiscal surplus is an "invisible surplus" provided by our caregivers. Their time is uncounted, but without it, our society would fracture. We must recognise that care has a cost, often paid in the currency of burnout by those who give the most. First, I would like to call for a flipping of paradigms.”
“Thank you, Speaker. Seven clear days ago, I filed this question, not knowing that a few hours later, the Prime Minister would raise cigarette tax, answering part (b) to the question. I have three supplementary questions for the Minister of State. In 2022, The Straits Times reported over 50% of cigarettes sold in Singapore are flavoured. This was noted to be far more than in other countries where the market share is typically 5% to 25%. There are also countless scientific studies that have shown that added flavours make cigarettes more appealing to youths, as they mask the harsh tobacco taste. Some flavours, like menthol, also interact with nicotine in the brain, making them more addictive. Given this, my three supplementary questions are: were there studies that found correlation between the popularity of vape and flavoured cigarettes amongst youths, which was due to the variety of flavours that they were sold in; two, are flavoured cigarettes in Singapore, more addictive, and what is the current market share of these cigarettes; and thirdly, are there plans to reduce the proportion of flavoured cigarettes sold or to entirely cut them out?”
“Considering the potentially long wait for an internationally recognised fire standard for PMAs to be established, I call upon the Ministry to strengthen fire regulations for PMAs with periodic inspections. Notwithstanding these clarifications, I support this Bill and look forward to the implementation on 1 June 2026.”
“Does the Ministry have plans to work together with platform operators like Grab and Foodpanda, to introduce initiatives that will ease the burden of the impact of new regulations on their livelihoods? My fourth point relates to fire safety. The disproportionate fire risk and danger of AMDs is widely recognised, with data shared by MHA revealing that while such devices accounted for less than 5% of residential fires in the past five years, they caused more than 25% of fatalities. I note that the bulk of these fires occurred from devices that were illegally modified, or those that were not tested and certified. This highlights the significance of robust fire safety standards and enforcement measures. To this end, LTA has implemented a series of regulations, such as the UL2272 standard and periodic inspections every two years for PMDs and the EN15194 standard for PABs. These comprehensive measures have undoubtedly prevented many fires and greatly improved the safety of AMDs. In my Parliamentary Question filed on 23 September last year on having PMAs to undergo periodic inspections, the reply noted that there are currently no commonly recognised international fire safety standards for PMAs. However, the fire risk posed by PMAs is no less serious than that posed by PMDs and PABs. Furthermore, PMAs are used by individuals like seniors with walking difficulties, who may not be able to escape to safety without substantial assistance in the event of a fire. For this vulnerable demographic, fire regulations should be even more stringent, as commensurate with the increased vulnerabilities of the persons involved.”
“I support this move, as it better reflects the intended use of PMAs to replace walking for users with mobility challenges. For vehicles on the road, there are cameras to track when vehicles go past the speed limit. Will the Ministry also install similar cameras along walkways and shared paths to ensure that errant PMAs are properly fined for speeding offences? While members of the public may report incidents of errant device users on public paths to LTA, it is more often difficult to do so practically. Similar to how the Police and NEA has volunteers with enforcement powers, will the Ministry consider empowering LTA volunteers instead to check on PMA licences? Enforcement of the new rules should not just focus on the behaviour of PMA users in our communities, but actions should also be considered to be taken against retailers and sellers of these non-compliant PMAs and illegal PMDs. In this vein, I would like to clarify whether the Ministry will move beyond physical patrols to collaborating with community marketplaces, like Carousell, to automatically flag and delist these devices, and whether a proactive social media monitoring unit or public whistle-blowing mechanism will be established to identify users and retailers of modified devices. How does the Ministry intend to address the issue of platform workers who currently use PMAs for food delivery, who are concerned that the lowered speed limit would affect the number of deliveries they can make and their livelihoods directly? Platform workers are a valued part of the Singapore workforce, many of them work tirelessly to make ends meet.”
“I would like to highlight that the Disabled People's Association has published a very comprehensive commentary on the Bill and I hope that the Ministry will consider their perspective for genuine users of PMAs. My second question relates to the disposal of non-compliant PMAs. The Bill introduces new size and design requirements of a PMA, such as requiring it to only have one seat and to not exceed the maximum dimensions stated. I note that the Bill will also make it illegal to keep unsafe devices at home and those who currently possess non-compliant PMAs will have to dispose of it. I would like to ask the Minister for clarifications on the disposal process, especially for some owners who may fear reproach or penalties and instead discreetly dump it. When the Government introduced regulations against PMDs in 2019, LTA worked with e-waste recyclers to set up designated disposal points across HDB estates, which facilitated the disposal of PMDs at no cost to existing owners. Moreover, to incentivise early disposal, registered owners who stepped forward for disposal qualified for an early disposal incentive. Separately, weeks before etomidate was classified as a Class C illegal drug, the "Bin the Vape" Campaign offered a form of amnesty period – voluntary, no-questions-asked disposal of vape devices and related products. I would like to ask whether the Ministry will consider setting up similar initiatives this year in partnership with agencies like HDB, Town Council and People's Association for the disposal of non-compliant AMDs. My third point relates to the enforcement and implementation of speed limits. A key development in this Bill lowering of the speed limit from 10 kilometres per hour to six kilometres per hour for PMAs.”
“For instance, the AMAP noted during their focused group discussions, that several participants were confused about the distinction between PMAs and PMDs. This points to a potential gap between legislative intent and user awareness. Thus, changes brought about in this Bill must be communicated effectively to ensure compliance. In addition, some of the changes introduced requires active steps to be taken by existing PMA users, such as visiting their healthcare provider for a certification that they are eligible to use or registering and obtaining an identification mark for their PMA. Genuine users have raised concerns and questions as to what this will entail. The Disabled People's Association has recommended that the Ministry optimise inclusivity and ease the process for obtaining medical certification and registration for genuine users, such as by: (a) ensuring that grants or subsidies be established to cover any potential costs of certification and registration; (b) clarifying that the relevant "certification" needed does not require a formal medical diagnosis, but simply documentation from an assessor noting the need for the use of a PMA; and (c) ensuring that "medical need" to ride a PMA is assessed on a broad and inclusive basis. I would like to ask the Minister, what specific plans will be put in place to ensure the proper dissemination of information to existing PMA users, such as the elderly and the disabled? How can these groups, particularly the elderly, be supported in navigating changes such as obtaining medical certification and registering their PMAs, in time before the enforcement of the new rules?”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, between July and October last year, I walked through the aftermath of three major fires in Toa Payoh Central. I stood alongside neighbours during chaotic moments of evacuation, offering immediate aid and a listening ear. In one of these fires, we faced the ultimate tragedy – the loss of two of our own residents. Post fires, residents shared insecurities of living in their own homes. One major concern involved living near neighbours with AMDs. Since debates commenced in this House in September, I have asked seven Parliamentary Questions on AMD safety, six Parliamentary Questions on electrical battery safety and three Parliamentary Questions on fire safety. I filed a total of 16 questions across MOT, MHA and MTI, because one fire is a fire too many, especially in what is supposed to be a safe abode. And it is given this context that I respond to the Bill. I rise in support of the Bill and commend its decisive measures to improve the safety of our public paths and roads for all. In particular, it addresses common concerns of Singaporeans about the misuse of PMAs. By strengthening enforcement powers against AMDs, the Bill ensures safer roads, fairer usage of transport infrastructure and more sustainable mobility for all. To better aid enforcement and implementation of the Bill, and to support vulnerable demographics that may be impacted, I would like to raise four points of clarification for the Ministry's consideration. First, there is a need to complement the implementation of the new regulations with community education to avoid inadvertent violations by genuine PMA users, particularly on the new rules regarding medical certification and registration. Some users, such as the elderly, are already not familiar with existing regulations.”
“Operating social enterprise models allows them to reinvest their profits in their social missions. This provides a more sustainable income stream for the organisation, reduces reliance on donations and provides employment for beneficiaries and expands the capacity of their social programmes. I note that many social enterprises might be members of raiSE Singapore, which is a cross-sector collaboration between MSF, NCSS and others. In line with the vision of expanding NCSS' role as sector developer, I would like to ask whether social enterprises will be eligible to register as members under NCSS or, if not, how NCSS plans to provide greater support for our social enterprises. Such support could take the form of linking social enterprises with investors, connecting social enterprises with individuals in need of employment more effectively and centrally. Additionally, could the Ministry clarify the distinction between NCSS and raiSE, in terms of the functions they will play in supporting social enterprises? Social enterprises would also benefit, knowing whether they can seek support and membership with NCSS in addition to with raiSE. Notwithstanding these clarifications, I support the Bill for its decisive update to NCSS and the strengthening of the social service sector in Singapore.”
“The ethos of the NCSS to unite communities for an inclusive and caring society is important. We should encourage not only a diversity of sectors represented on the Board, but also diversity of individuals of different genders, age groups, ethnic backgrounds, experience and skillsets. I strongly believe that doing so would support NCSS in its work and facilitate the balanced and holistic development of the social service sector. My second clarification relates to the relationship between NCSS and social enterprises. Membership in NCSS is a valuable platform for the sector for networking, cross-learning and community-building opportunities. One of the amendments proposed in the Bill is to streamline the membership of NCSS, such that a member must either "have the primary function of providing a social service in Singapore", or "have the primary function of directly supporting the provision of a social service in Singapore". I note that, currently, some NCSS members have registered separate social enterprises as separate entities. In general, the operations of most social enterprises are closely intertwined with the social service sector. The social enterprise sector strengthens social service delivery in Singapore. As the saying goes, "Give a man a fish, and you feed him for a day; but teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime." Social enterprises adopt diverse business models to better align with the complex needs of different stakeholders. For instance, many provide underemployed communities with critical employment and training opportunities, such as the Social Kitchen which employs disadvantaged individuals and their caregivers; or Foreword Coffee which hires workers with special needs.”
“Thank you Mr Speaker. Mr Speaker I would like to declare my interest in NCSS, having been a past beneficiary of the NCSS 40-Under-40 Youth Leadership Development Programme. I rise in support of the NCSS (Amendment) Bill. Recognising the importance of SSAs in providing support to Singaporeans and Singapore. This Bill codifies the role of NCSS as a sector developer and strengthens the delivery of social services to underserved groups in Singapore. Nevertheless, I would like to raise a few key areas for clarification, particularly on maintaining sector representation on the Council’s Board and furthering support for social enterprises. My first clarification relates to ensuring sector representation on the Board of the Council. The social service landscape in Singapore is highly diverse with NCSS representing over 500 SSAs that support a variety of causes such as eldercare, persons with disabilities, youths at risk, lower-income families and mental health needs. The public consultation on these amendments, conducted by MSF and NCSS indicated that ensuring sector representation on the Board is a priority. I commend the Ministry for taking this feedback into account and increasing the proposed Board size to 15-27 members and ensuring that half of the Board will be appointed by the Minister from sector members’ nominations. To help the social service sector and public better understand how these new processes will be put into place, I would like to clarify the criteria for appointment to the Board. What specific criteria will be used to select Board members and what mechanisms will be put in place to ensure a diverse and representative demographic of organisations and members on the Board?”
“These additional measures will ensure that the public continues entrusting personal data to the Government and, by extension, its external partners, upholding its commitment to data security. Notwithstanding these clarifications, I support this amendment Bill.”
“Secondly, I would like to ask whether the Ministry will consider introducing financial penalties against non-public sector organisations which have misused data shared under this Act. The amendment currently states that it is an offence for organisations to carry out improper disclosure or use of data/information by individual employees or officers of non-public sector organisations. Individual accountability is important, especially in cases where a single individual or a small group of individuals may be directly responsible for the misuse of shared data. However, in other data incidents, responsibility is unable to be traced back to one single employee. The failure may be organisational, for example, due to weak internal controls, poor access governance or inadequate training. In those cases, it is especially important for a strong framework of organisational liability to exist, to ensure that liability can be correctly attributed to a wider variety of situations. For example, under the PDPA, the Personal Data Protection Commission can impose financial penalties against an organisation for intentional or negligent contraventions of PDPA. I would like to clarify whether the Ministry intends to look into imposing similar financial penalties on organisations who have contravened data sharing and use directions issued under PSGA. This may be necessary considering the sensitivity of the information shared by the Government with non-public entities. Mr Speaker, Sir, in conclusion, I strongly support this amendment's efforts in further facilitating information sharing in a protected manner, ensuring that our Government's efforts will be better able to support Singaporeans nationwide.”
“We live in a day and age where no organisation is safe from cyberattacks, including our social service providers and charitable organisations. For example, in May 2019, more than 4,000 individuals had their personal information leaked after part of the reputable blood donation organisation’s website was hacked. Personal names, contact numbers, email addresses, declared blood types, preferred appointment dates and times and preferred locations for blood donations were compromised. According to the Singapore Cybersecurity Health Report in 2023, which surveyed more than 2,000 small, medium and large organisations in Singapore, over eight in 10 organisations encountered a cybersecurity incident that year. As hackers use sophisticated techniques to evade detection, they lurk in networks to spy over the long term, to steal sensitive information or disrupt essential services, among other objectives. Therefore, my question is, how will external partners be expected to keep up and maintain safeguards, before they can receive shared data from public agencies? Whether in the form of encryption standards or increased incident response capabilities, how regularly would these safeguards be reviewed? Risk profiles and ownership may change over time as organisations change systems, employees or subcontractors. Regular audits and reviews of the cybersecurity capabilities of external partners would ensure a safe and secure transfer of data between the public and non-public sectors. And I am sure what many SSAs will also want to know is the details of the terms of funding, which will be allocated specifically for beefing up of their IT infrastructure.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I rise in support for the amendments to the Public Sector (Governance) (Amendment) Bill. As Minister of State Jasmin Lau shared, I note that in tandem with the HIB, the Public Service (Governance) Bill complements and allows the Government to deliver better social services to Singaporeans nationwide, by permitting public agencies to share and use data across agencies, as well as with non-public sector partners. With the appropriate safeguards to prevent misuse, this amendment Bill will enable targeted and effective delivery of social services to those who need it the most. My Toa Payoh Central residents, with a significant elderly population, is supported by various social service providers, such as Care Corner, TOUCH, Dementia Singapore, NTUC Health, People’s Association, as well as many other local community healthcare services and organisations. Non-public social service providers would benefit from greater collaboration and information-sharing with the public sector agencies serving the same community needs. Similar to how schemes like the Housing and Development Board Flat Eligibility process and ComCare financial assistance require pulling of data from various sources, I agree that the enhancements will allow for timely access in delivering support and ensuring that no one is left behind. In order to better enable the delivery of social services to our communities, I have two points of clarifications for the Minister’s consideration. First, I would like to ask the Minister to clarify what safeguards will be put in place to ensure that data shared with non-public sector organisations is safe from malicious third-party cyberattacks and data breaches.”
“It is a necessary act of legislative fortitude to protect our citizens in an increasingly complex digital world. Notwithstanding these clarifications, I support the Bill.”
“I, therefore, seek clarification on the Commissioner's investigative process, specifically on the following questions: Will the Commissioner publish advisory guidelines indicating the expected timelines for the investigation and resolution of a complaint, with processes put in place for urgent investigations to take place? Will the perpetrator being investigated be made aware of the investigation, and at what stage? What information will be disclosed to the perpetrator about the complaint made against them? I understand the Commissioner is already working with SHE in the design of this initiative, including referral to SHECARES@SCWO for counselling and pro bono legal advice. Will the Commissioner consider engaging other organisations who provide victim care and support, like AWARE's Sexual Assault Care Centre and Project X, to improve trauma-informed processes and joint case management and outreach to encourage more victims, especially those in minority communities, to be assured when seeking help. For victims under immense stress, clarity on the steps involved for bringing a complaint and the expected time for resolution is vital. With great power holds great responsibility, and the transparency of the process can help reassure and encourage help-seeking efforts. Mr Speaker, Sir, I appreciate how this Bill is a product of extensive consultation. A month-long public consultation on the proposed legislation, which received broad public support and directly informed the final Bill. Our citizens have asked for accountability and this Bill delivers. This legislation strikes a critical balance. It empowers the victim, yet holds the perpetrator accountable, and sets clear expectations for platforms.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I rise today in support of the Online Safety Bill. A recent survey by MDDI found that in the past year, more than four in five Singapore residents encountered harmful online content across platforms, like Facebook, Youtube, Instagram, TikTok, X, Reddit, Telegram and WhatsApp. This highlights a clear and urgent need to enhance current mechanisms for help seeking relief. The Bill is, therefore, a crucial and timely step to ensure that the safety and civility we value in the physical world, on our streets, extend to our digital lives. An anecdote that Minister Edwin Tong had alluded to as well. An Institute of Policy Studies survey found that sexual content depicting voyeuristic or intimate images recorded without consent was overwhelmingly perceived as the most severe of online harms. Victims need fast action. The current reality, as an IMDA report revealed, is that major platforms often took five days or more to act appropriately on user reports of harmful content. For a victim whose intimate images have been non-consensually recorded and distributed publicly, five days can be catastrophic. I am, therefore, concerned about the need for timely relief and clarity of the administrative process for victims of online harm. The Bill rightly grants the Commissioner wide discretion to carry out its own investigation and empowers to issue legally enforceable directions to take down content and restrict accounts. I understand that it will take time and extensive consultations, after the appointment of the Commissioner and other relevant office holders, to formulate the detailed rules governing how the Commissioner may exercise investigative powers.”
“My last supplementary question references an initiative by MSF and Koufu that was launched in August this year, where 77 food court managers were trained by MSF to be the eyes and ears of the community and highlight NAVH hotline and the work that they do. So, my question is, how do we expand such initiatives, like Minister Desmond Lee mentioned, the rings of concentric circles where a society's collective responsibility to protect the vulnerable?”