Chan Chun Sing
Singapore
“Since 2002, the Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) has worked with the autonomous universities (AUs) to establish arrangements that minimise disruption to National Servicemen (NSmen) who are pursuing full-time studies up to the undergraduate level, while meeting the Singapore Armed Forces' (SAF's) operational and training needs.”
“Secondments help to build up the range of competencies and work experiences of public officers to strengthen their longer-term employment relevance and resilience. The Public Service Division's guideline to agencies is to support public officers even while they are on secondment.”
“The priority of our National Servicemen must be their military duties and operational training, to meet the Singapore Armed Forces's (SAF's) operational requirements.”
“In January 2026, I had informed this House that the Government had convened an independent committee to conduct a review of the political salary framework that was laid out in 2012. The Committee has completed the review and submitted its recommendations to the Government in April.”
“All countries seek to develop mutually beneficial partnerships, and the United States-Indonesia Major Defence Cooperation Partnership is one such example.”
“Since the Singapore Armed Forces Volunteer Corps (SAFVC) was established in 2014, over 1,500 men and women have completed training and served as SAFVC Volunteers (SVs). Presently, there are about 1,100 in-service SVs, comprising 52% male and 48% female. About seven in 10 of our in-service SVs are new Citizens or Permanent Residents.”
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“The Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) and the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) continually monitor the changing nature of security threats and warfare. We also scan the horizon to identify and assess new and emerging technologies that can complement the SAF's existing capabilities. Unmanned systems is one example. The SAF has operated drones since the late 1980s, starting with the Scout Remotely Piloted Vehicle. As unmanned technologies progressed, the SAF acquired and introduced other unmanned systems and operational concepts, and provided relevant training to its personnel, including Full-Time and Operationally Ready National Servicemen. More SAF units and personnel will be equipped with and trained in unmanned systems and other emerging technologies in the years ahead. MINDEF and the SAF will continue to invest the defence budget prudently and consistently to build up our capabilities in a systematic and sustainable manner.”
“The preferred and most effective model of humanitarian aid delivery to Gaza is via land transfer. Airdrops, which entail higher risk and cost, are a last resort when land transfer becomes restricted and the humanitarian situation is dire. To reduce the risk to the intended recipients, the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) worked with the Royal Jordanian Air Force to select suitable drop zones, taking into consideration the safety of civilians in Gaza. Checks were conducted to ensure that the parachutes and loads were rigged in accordance with established safety standards and practices. The RSAF crew also carried out detailed planning to ensure the aid loads would land within the identified drop zones safely. If needed and tasked to conduct airdrops in Gaza as a last resort, the RSAF will continue to take similar precautions.”
“A change in the personal particulars of a voter's National Registration Identity Card does not automatically result in a change in the constituency where the voter is registered to vote. Instead, voter addresses are updated from time to time via an exercise to revise the Registers of Electors (REs), based on the Government's records as of a date prescribed in legislation. The current date for voters who are eligible to be included in the REs for an election is 1 February 2025. This approach balances the need to safeguard the integrity of voter rolls and to ensure that the REs used for an election are updated, while providing certainty to prospective candidates on the number of Singaporeans who are qualified to vote at the election in each constituency.”
“We procure both overseas and locally made defence equipment, based on what best meet the Singapore Armed Force's (SAF's) operational needs in a cost-effective way. It is common for defence equipment to come with end user obligations, such as conditions related to the protection of proprietary technology and third-party equipment transfers. Before making any acquisition, we would have assessed that the SAF can deploy the equipment to meet our operational needs, while complying with the obligations. In many instances, certain elements of the foreign defence equipment purchased by us are also localised, through technology transfers and building up of local maintenance capabilities, giving us added assurance.”
“At the 2025 General Election (GE2025), the Elections Department (ELD) received 2,561 reports on possible contraventions of traditional election advertising (TEA) regulations. All the reports were investigated, of which only 1,840 reports required further follow-up as they appeared to be in breach of the TEA regulations. For 1,595 reports lodged with ELD between Writ Day and Cooling-off Day, notifications were sent to the relevant candidates and/or their election agents to rectify the breaches within three hours of the notification. ELD enforced against 100 reports, comprising 139 TEA, which were not rectified within the stipulated timeframe. For the remaining 245 reports on Polling Day, no rectification notification was sent to the candidates and their election agents. ELD had assessed that it would not be appropriate to request candidates or election agents to follow up on the rectification by the start of polls, given the inclement weather that morning. Instead, ELD undertook on-site verification of the TEA, of which 36 reports, comprising 88 TEA, were found to be in breach of regulations, and proceeded to directly remove all 88 TEA. In total, 227 TEA were removed by ELD from Writ Day to Polling Day. Table 1 below shows the breakdown by political parties.”
“The Public Service-ITE Internship Programme has, since 2023, benefited 284 Institute of Technical Education students in internships across 41 agencies. The feedback has been positive and the Public Service Division plans to continue this programme.”
“Under the law, any posters, flags or banners that are displayed during the election period for the purpose of promoting or procuring the electoral success of a candidate or political party would constitute election advertising and would be required to comply with the election advertising rules. If a grassroots adviser (GRA) runs for election as a candidate, whether pre-existing displays that are maintained during the election period and bear his photograph constitute traditional election advertising would depend on the context, intention and timing of the display. For instance, banners containing expressions that can be reasonably regarded as appealing for continued support from residents so that he/she can serve them as a Member of Parliament, could constitute election advertising. If so, they would need to comply with election advertising rules for their continued display during the election period. On the other hand, pre-existing banners that continue to be displayed during the election period and serve a purpose unrelated to elections are unlikely to constitute election advertising. This is because they can be reasonably regarded as not intended to promote or procure the electoral success of a political party or its candidates in connection with the election. Examples of such banners include, "welcome" banners depicting a group of GRAs with "welcome to our town" text message or "festive greetings" banners that are typically displayed around the time of the festival.”
“Last but not least, we will live by these values that we will put our collective before self, putting the "we" before "me" and taking care of one another, so that we can be truly proud that if you want to have the best opportunities in life, anywhere in the world, you want to be born in Singapore. I thank all Members for your vigorous and constructive debate over the course of this week. Your insights and ideas will help shape our policies and programmes going forward. As we chart our path towards SG100 and beyond, let us stand united in purpose in this House. For there will be no challenge too great, too daunting that we cannot overcome together. Our commitment is, as everyone has said, is to build a better future for everyone, including those Singaporeans who are yet to be born. Together, we will write the next chapter of Singapore's history. This Government will not only deliver for Singaporeans. This Government will deliver with Singaporeans. [Applause.]”
“Together we have weathered storms, overcome adversity and emerged stronger each time. Through crises such as the Asian Financial Crisis and COVID-19 pandemic, we stood together – Government, businesses, community, students – supporting one another, overcoming challenges and always promising one another that we will emerge stronger. These experiences have shown that our strength lies in our unity and our ability to trust and work with one another. Recently, I gave out scholarships to this year's Public Service Commission (PSC) and MINDEF scholarship recipients. I shared with them this simple message: "When I was awarded the scholarship, it was SG23. Nobody told me the challenges ahead". Now we are in SG60. I told this generation of scholarship holders, "You are taking up the scholarship at SG60. Your job is to get us to SG100 and beyond". I also told them, "If you have a doubt, there is a cooling-off period. You can don't take up the scholarship". None of them flinched. I am proud of them, because I did not promise them that if they get a scholarship with the PSC or MINDEF, that life would be a bed of roses. There is nothing that guarantees that we would get to SG100. I also told them that, well, if I am so lucky to be able to see the fireworks at the Padang on 9 August 2065, maybe they can spare me a pair of National Day Parade tickets. To take Singapore to SG100 and beyond, we will need leaders at every level of society – a nation of lions led by lions – to have a strong sense of mission and the gumption to defy the odds, to remember our vulnerabilities as a nation but never be shackled by them; a people who dares to dream and innovate, and are willing to match our aspirations with our perspirations.”
“We define our success by how well we enable the next generation to do even better than us. Changi Airport's Terminal 1 (T1), T2 and T3 that we enjoy now were built by the previous generation for us. And now, we are building T5 for the next generation. This is the spirit of Singapore. In the many Committees of Supply debate that I have attended in this House, we have not had to make very difficult decisions on what to cut in order to fund what we want to do more. We have been fortunate. We have a growing pie. But it is not the natural order of things in most countries. Even so, we should maintain our discipline. Every grant, expenditure and subsidy has a long tail. Once committed, they will be hard to remove. In Budget speak, or in Ministry of Finance speak, we must not use up our white space, our future spending capacity, without considering the need to cater to unforeseen circumstances, which will certainly happen from time to time, be it COVID-19 or SARS. This is where we go back to where we started. We must focus on growing the overall economic pie for us to have the options and the luxury to make easier decisions. The challenges ahead will be different from those in the past, but the core principles remain: to anticipate change, to be bold, innovative and pragmatic in finding solutions that work for us and keep building a fair, strong, united Singapore for generations to come. Mr Speaker, Singapore has come a long way in the 60 years since our Independence. Our Pioneer Generation and founding leaders have built a nation upon the foundations of conviction, not convenience. From the very beginning we have faced challenges head on, never shirking our responsibility to one another, nor to future generations.”
“We should not and cannot pretend that there is somehow, somewhere a free lunch. We must also be honest with our own residents where those trade-offs are. It also means making difficult political decisions, such as raising taxes when we need to, as we have done for the Goods and Services Tax (GST) increases to ensure that our revenues continue to keep up with our spending needs. I can understand. I can appreciate the calls for us to spend more, given our challenges. But I am always reminded of this. Let us think about it. Where did our Reserves come from? Our forefathers started saving in the 1960s. In the 1960s, we had the British withdrawal east of the Suez Canal. My grandmother and her family lost their job overnight from Sembawang Naval Base. In the 1970s, we had two oil crises. In the 1980s, we had the economic recession. In the 1990s, we had the Asian Financial Crisis. In the 2000s, we had the Global Financial Crisis. And of course, we had Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) and COVID-19. Were those not tough times? Did any of our Pioneers say that life was too hard and therefore we would not save for the next generation? No, they did not. No matter how tough those times were and arguably there were moments that were even tougher than now, they have made it a point to save up for us. Today, we are benefiting from this. I think it is only responsible of us to similarly hold on to this spirit. Of course, the Government will do what we can to spend carefully to take care of this generation but let us not forget that we must also take care of future generations, although they are not here to cast their votes. This is what makes Singapore special – that we do not define success by how well we do for ourselves in this generation only.”
“The Public Service will continue to remain open and attract diverse talent, including mid-careerists, and provide opportunities for officers to gain exposure to the private and people sectors. Now increasingly important, we must also expose our officers to the International Organisations to understand how the world is evolving and we must secure a place at the table where international rules are made. Otherwise, as the saying goes, we are either at the table or on the menu. From the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) in the 1970s to the recent debate on climate change, the biodiversity beyond national jurisdiction and the cyber domains, many new rules are made on the international front. We will need our people to be au fait with the developments in order to secure our interest. Next, after hearing all the many good ideas, this Government will have the difficult task of balancing our public finances. We have been fortunate so far that we have been able to afford what we wanted to, while delivering high quality services, because we run a tight ship. We have been prudent with our spending, saving a little year after year, invested these savings wisely and gradually built up our Reserves; and instituted rigorous safeguards to protect the Reserves, making sure that we only spent the money that we really needed to. However, just as over the course of this week's debate, we have heard many new ideas, many new demands and all of that will ultimately translate into some form of resources needs. Hence, in this House, we must be judicious in deciding how to spend our public funds and be honest with ourselves about the trade-offs. Everything we want to do more of, means something less for either current or future needs.”
“On the other hand, our people must also accept that not everyone's idea will be adopted in full or in part. Let me share a little vignette I learnt from Minister Vivian Balakrishnan when I took over, the then-Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports, from him. The first thing he told me was, "Chun Sing, when you become the Minister, you must consult widely. But remember, after you have consulted 100 people and you have chosen your idea, you must go back to the other 99 to explain to them why their ideas were not chosen. Each of them must be convinced why their ideas were not chosen after they have given you their feedback". That was 14 or 15 years ago. I think that still applies today. All of us will contribute ideas just like in this House, but not all ideas may be implemented in full or in part. And we will debate it. We will take collective decisions and we hope that we will move forward in the right spirit. The other thing is this: as we evolve our processes and services at speed to achieve timeliness and relevance, we must also accept that we may not always achieve that perfect or flawless product or policy, if there was ever such a thing. What matters most is to learn and keep improving fast, rather than to let the pursuit of perfection paralyse us from timely deployment of new solutions. This is the spirit that CPF Board and Government Technology Agency (GovTech) have taken. No one in CPF Board or GovTech will claim that their product is perfect or flawless. They all know that they have to keep improving, but they all know that they have to be timely and relevant in their delivery. As the challenges confronting Singapore are multi-dimensional, we will also need the Public Service to acquire new capabilities.”
“This is a stark reminder to us that if we stand still, we will fall behind. Therefore, the Public Service will endeavour not just to do things better, we also need to do better things with our finite resources. An example is the way that the Government is serving citizens and businesses. Whether it is our ServiceSG centres, Municipal Services Office or the new SME Pro-Enterprise office, these are just ways that we are working across Government to make services simpler, more connected and more helpful to our people and businesses. Each of these reflect our determination to deliver greater value and to do better things with our finite resources. On the other hand, we must not copy blindly, but be bold enough to look for our own solutions. Our founding leaders and the Pioneer Generation did exactly that, from introducing National Service to safeguard our sovereignty and security, to setting up the EDB to attract investment and the HDB to provide affordable and quality homes. We did not copy others, but we found our own way. Even for something like the CPF, we have continuously evolved it over the years, expanding from retirement savings to meet housing and healthcare needs, while providing stronger safety nets for our elderly and vulnerable. Each of these decisions took courage, clarity of vision, a willingness to chart our path and the conviction to see it through. It is not just as simple as just plucking an idea from some other country and copying it. I come now to the most difficult challenge. Delivering with our people will require a new approach from our Government and a new understanding with our people. Delivering with our people means that our Government must be prepared to engage even before all policy details have been finalised internally.”
“Yes, look at the right side of the bell curve to try to aspire to do better, but never forget our responsibility to those who are on the left side of the bell curve. Let me move on to the issue of governance. Singapore has done reasonably well by most measures, but we must never be complacent. Our accomplishments are not predictions for future successes. And there are many matrices of whether a country, a government has done well. Sometimes, we get a good ranking – let it not get into our head. Sometimes, we do not get such a good ranking – it is time for introspection, but also never let it get into our hearts and wear us down. There will always be room for us to improve. But what is most important is for us to have the confidence and the conviction to do what we think is right for our people, by our people and to see it through. There is no shortage of good ideas on what other countries, our country, can do. But one of the most difficult things is to execute the average ideas consistently. Having average ideas executed consistently will beat that brilliant idea that is a flash in the pan. In Singapore, we have the privilege of being able to execute this consistently for many years. That was what I shared with my overseas counterparts when I was in MOE. They always thought that Singapore has some brilliant technology or system, but the truth is, whatever MOE can deliver today, we thank our predecessors who have seen it through consistently for us. However, let us not be complacent. Take the example of the adoption of technology, digitalisation and AI. Countries that once trailed us are now seizing opportunities to build momentum and to leapfrog ahead, and a key advantage being that they have fewer legacy systems.”
“It can be a life changing experience. When I was in school, I thought my mathematics was so-so. One day, my teacher told me, "Your mathematics is quite good!" Suddenly, I was like, "Wow, my mathematics is quite good. I must study harder." Simple words, changed my life. The other question that I think we can encourage ourselves to ask our children, especially during Chinese New Year, Hari Raya, Deepavali is, not so much, "What have you achieved?", but "Where would you like to make a contribution?" For every Singaporean child growing up to know that, regardless of your station in life, you can make a contribution because you have something special in you, and collectively each of us, just like the weiqi pieces, we will come up with that winning formulation. So, let us respect the diversity of talents and let us encourage our children to understand what makes them special, and how each and every one of them can make a special contribution. Beyond Government policies and institutions, such as the Ethnic Integration Policy, NS and our schools, I think many Members have also highlighted the need for us to enhance our interactions, so that we truly get out of our comfort zone to get to know people who are different from us. And more importantly, through this process, to try and find common ground, based on mutual respect. This is something that is a work in progress and something that as MPs, we all need to do. HDB can build us the most beautiful houses and towns, but it is us, the residents who will build the most heartwarming homes and communities. So, let us not be trapped by this incessant comparison among ourselves.”
“Different strokes for different folks, each according to our needs. I think all of us can agree on this. So, let us not be divided by invidious comparisons when this is actually executed. I am sure Members of the House would have this experience going around in your hawker centres and markets. Very often, someone would come up and ask, "Minister or MP, why is it this month, I did not get this payout that my neighbour got?" You can try your very best to explain why, but unfortunately, we are all humans and very often, invidious comparisons set in. If we are true to what we believe, that we should do more to help those with less, then when we execute this, we must also help to explain this to everyone. In Singapore, we do not have a single yardstick for success. When I was the Minister for Education, I have seen the diversity of talents among Singaporeans, and this is what makes our country resilient and special. As a society, we must truly respect and reward the diversity of strengths and celebrate excellence in multiple fields. For many of us, all this have been said very often. What can we do? I have two humble suggestions. Maybe it is useful for us to start our conversations with our children, not with: "What grades did you get in school? How did you score compared to your peers?" I have always asked two questions whenever I meet the students when I was Minister for Education. First question is, "Can you tell me what makes you special?" Because you can score however many "As" that you have, but if throughout the education process, you do not know what are your strengths and weaknesses are, and what makes you special, then I do not think we have succeeded. And for a child to know that he or she has something special is very important.”
“We hosted the International Summit of the Teaching Profession last year. When other people host us, they showed us their best school. One school. When we hosted them, we showed them 10 schools every day. Any school that they chose, we would allow them to walk into the school. Many of them asked us, "Are you showing us your best school?" We said, "No, we are just showing you the diversity of our schools. We will show you schools from Raffles Institution to Northlight, because all of them will have different challenges and we will have different curricula for all of them." In fact, one remarked that he was most impressed, because in Singapore, your zip code does not determine or overwrite your genetic code, as in some other countries. But having said this, we are not done. All these programmes by themselves will not be enough. Each of us, even those of us who may not feel that we have the most, can and must contribute in our own ways to support those with less and to uplift the less privileged to keep our society mobile. This is why we mobilise the time, talent and treasures of people to complement what the Government and taxation already do. This reminds all of us that we have agency and responsibility towards one another. As we hear the calls to do more for various groups, each one meritorious in its own right, we must also be clear-eyed that because resources are finite, we will need to come to a societal consensus about who we should help more. This means that some of us will have to moderate our expectations, because there are others who need help more than we do. Everyone gets help, everyone gets something. But not all of us will get the same. I am sure Members of the House also agree with me that it also does not make sense for all of us to get the same.”
“And therefore, the more successful we are, the greater the dangers we face, and the more we need to double and re-double our efforts to break this inter-generational transfer of disadvantage, which many Members have spoken about. As Minister Desmond Lee has spoken yesterday, we will do what we can as a Government, we will try to do more and do better. Over the years, as Minister Desmond Lee has said, we have rolled out various programmes: KidSTART, UPLIFT, Comcare, ComLink+. You name it, we will try it. We are doing this not just only in the early years of a child's life. We are systematically combing through the entire life cycle of a person to see how we can help everyone who needs the help to break that cycle. It is never-ending work. In fact, the more successful we are, the more we need to try. But we must also see things in context. Our challenge is not so much that the people in our society are left behind, that they are not catching up with the world. If you look at the statistics, our challenge is slightly different from others. Our challenge is that our gap is not a result of the bottom falling way off the chart. In fact, 80% of our students are above the global average; 90% of our students are above the global average in terms of maths and science. Our gap is the result of the top being even further. That tells us two things. First, we should never cap the top, but we must keep lifting the bottom. Second, we must not make our own children feel that just because they are relatively behind, that somehow they have failed themselves or failed us. Our average is way beyond the global average. Even the students from our so-called neighbourhood schools, as some of you would describe them, are generally above the global average.”
“But the best strategy for us is to make sure that we continue to attract good quality investments so that our people can continue to have the diverse opportunities that they would aspire towards. And all of us, at every opportunity, will have to chip in. And that is why we say we are all part of MTI and EDB. On the social side, let me say that Singapore's success has never been about economic growth alone. Ultimately, economic growth needs to translate into growing the overall pie for Singaporeans, creating good jobs and enabling all Singaporeans to improve our lives. Every one of us aspire to do better. We also want our next generation to do even better than ourselves. It is only human nature for parents and grandparents to want to give our best that we can do for our children and grandchildren. However, we must not forget that our successes are not just because of our hard work and abilities. It is built upon our society and the help that we receive along the way which enable us to achieve what we have. And therefore, when we are successful, all of us must remember that we have responsibilities towards those who are further behind. As societies mature and become more developed, there is always the risk that resources, as well as disadvantages, get passed on from generation to generation. This accentuates inequality and reduces social mobility, and stratification happens. We see this happening in many countries throughout history. But I think all of us in this House would be united in saying that we do not want to see this happening in Singapore. This is what makes Singapore special.”
“However, I believe we can still be net positive if we play to our strengths. We have seen this already being played out in various sectors that are visited in the aerospace Maintenance, Repair and Operations (MRO), semi-conductor sector. We win some, we lose some, but we can be net positive. To do so, we will double down on our man-made competitive advantages. It is often said that Singapore has no natural resources, but Singapore has many man-made competitive advantages. First, we will continue to invest in our education and workforce – not just for the first 15 years, but for the next 50 years when they are beyond the school years, by uplifting everyone to embrace the latest technological tools to enhance our productivity. AI is part of this important effort where we have the programme called “AI for Everyone”. Just as what we have done for the computerisation drive in the late 1980s, early 1990s. Second, our ability to uphold the rule of law for investors to have the confidence to mobilise their capital, aggregate their talent and protect their IP here will remain important and more so than ever before. Third, having a stable Government and forward-looking Public Service, so that investors can be confident that we think and execute long-term. This is especially for investments like pharmaceuticals and semi-conductors that require a long gestation period. To conclude this section, may I also say that actually, we are all also part of the Economic Development Board (EDB) and MTI. Whenever we interact with people overseas, we will also need to pitch for Singapore. I can understand the concerns that many of us have in the job security front.”
“As the world becomes a more dangerous place, our attractiveness to talent can actually reinforce our competitiveness. This is an opportunity for us. But we will need to carefully balance our needs of integration with competitiveness. It is not a binary option of zero or one. It is about balance. And this will be a topic I am sure we will come back to in this House for many more times to come. It is about balance and never about a binary option. On the other hand, when long standing platforms or networks no longer work, we will have to set up alternative networks to uphold a more integrated global trading and investment system. Many years ago, we pioneered comprehensive Free Trade Agreements that went beyond traditional tariff reductions to encompass services, investment and regulatory cooperation. When the digital economy demanded fresh approaches, we led the creation of the Digital Economy Partnership Agreement (DEPA), establishing new standards for cross-border data flows, digital trade and technological cooperation. As the support for free trade and globalisation fray, we will work with like-minded partners to create new plurilateral and multilateral networks. For example, Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong has just announced the Future of Investment and Trade Partnership to support open and fair trade. This is our little contribution to try and uphold the Global Free Trade Order which is in our interest. As tariffs and retaliatory tariffs reshape trade and investment flows, there is also an opportunity for us if we can position ourselves as a reliable and resilient partner. Many companies are now talking about their "plus one" strategy. We aim to be their "plus one". We can expect to win some and lose some.”
“It is a lesson that is seared in the minds of all the officers of the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI) for generations to come. That is why when the Economic Development Board (EDB) goes out and compete for investment, it is not just about making more money only. It is about making ourselves as a critical node that cannot be easily bypassed, so that in times of need, we will have what others need, in order to get what we want. For our economy to be more resilient, many have talked about the need to diversify. Yes, we agree. However, we must also be aware that diversification comes with risks, it requires resources and it requires our ability to attract and work with talent beyond our own. Imagine if Singapore only focused on one or two sectors. Then surely, we will have enough of our own people to staff all of those positions in that one or two sectors and achieve critical mass. But when we say that we want to diversify our economy for us to be more resilient, when we say that we want to give more options to our younger generation to chase their dreams in diverse sectors, then we need many more sectors. We have to admit that it will not be easy for us to achieve critical mass in all of these sectors unless we are able to network with the global talent to compliment the best in Singapore. This is why we must continue our efforts to make sure that we remain an attractive partner for others to want to work with us. We must continue to grow our homegrown talent so that we can remain an attractive partner. If we do not have people that can match up to the best in the world, I am not sure many people will want to partner us. But there is also an opportunity amidst the crisis now.”
“By strengthening our indigenous capacities and developing unique value propositions, we will position ourself as a partner of choice in the capability development, technological innovation and supply chain resilience. Today, this is exactly what DSO National Laboratories (DSO), Defence Science and Technology Agency (DSTA), and ST Engineering are doing. We aim to go beyond a buyer-seller relationship whenever we deal with others. Ultimately, our strongest defence and our strongest deterrence is not any weapon system, it is our collective will to fight for what we believe in. Together, we must contribute as a whole of nation to safeguard our future. Every one of us is in some way MINDEF and everyone one of us is also an ambassador, a little ambassador, acting on behalf of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs when we interact with the rest of the world. We share with the world what we stand for, how we do business and why they should trust in us. Let me now move to economics, which is not so different. We also must earn our keep. No one deals with Singapore out of charity or sympathy. We also need to create our own value propositions. This means deeply understanding market needs and identifying what I call "acupuncture points" that make it harder for people to bypass us. Many Members in this House will be familiar with our experiences during COVID-19. I was then the Minister for Trade and Industry. During the crucial moments, very often my team and I have to call up partners to ask for essentials, to ask for people to sell us essentials. Even if we had or more money than others, we did not always get what we wanted. Only when we had what our partners needed, could we trade for what we wanted.”
“But ultimately, we need real capabilities, in all domains from economics to defence, for others to see value in working with us. External parties have asked me what makes the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) strong. Our disciplined investment in equipment and people over the years have certainly helped. But to me, the biggest advantage the SAF has over many others is that we can draw upon the talent and energies of our entire nation. The best operational and technical ideas do not just come from our regulars, technicians or scientists. They come from all over, our Full-time National Servicemen (NSFs), NSmen and even pre-enlistees. Today if you fly the unmanned aerial vehicles in the SAF, you will see them using a console that is exactly like the Playstation console. This idea came about many years ago from our pre-enlistees. They helped us to design the systems even before they came into NS. And when they came into NS, the system was ready for them. When I was a young officer, the first person to introduce computers into our battle planning process was not a regular. He was an NSman working at Apple and he was wondering why we were still using pen and paper. That is the power of the SAF, drawn from our people. This is the concept of all of us chipping in, a mindset of delivering with to build defence capabilities ahead of time. For Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) and the SAF, we will continue to spend wisely and consistently as warfare is redefined, we will make judicious decisions on what to buy, what to build and what to co-develop with partners. We will also need to evolve our capability development and acquisition processes to deliver at speed. Timeliness, rather than perfection, matters more very often.”
“While we will not take sides, we must take positions based on principles, principles that best promote Singapore's long-term survival and success. We are ultimately responsible for our own destiny. But we must earn our right to determine that destiny. Only when we are successful, can we have the right to choose our path and not be held ransom or hostage by others. Then, we can truly say that we will neither be bribed nor bullied. That is something that we have to earn. Foreign policy is not about balancing, calibrating and remaining neutral. Being neutral and principled are two different concepts. Neutrality is especially a dangerous concept for small states. Trying to maintain neutrality and balancing without principles, will only invite contesting larger powers to put more pressure on us to try and shift our "balancing point". You can imagine if two giants are pulling at us and if we are just trying to maintain neutral, when one side squeezes us a bit harder, we move a bit to that side. What would the other side do? It would just encourage them to squeeze us just as hard so that we move back to the balancing position. And that is why I always encourage all Singaporeans to make a nuanced but important distinction. Not saying that we are neutral, but that we are principled. How then, can we remain relevant and earn our right to be principled, and be valued on the global stage? We need to have our own perspectives and not be a mouthpiece or proxy for others. We need to develop capabilities that cannot be easily replicated by others – the ability to think and execute long-term, the ability to build trust internally and externally, and the ability to foster cohesion amidst diversity.”
“And this is why I have consistently encouraged our students in the Institutes of Higher Learning and our Public Service officers who have the opportunity to travel overseas, to go beyond the beaten path, go beyond the guided tour that the Embassy can organise. I do not need them to write long reports when they come back. Just come back with a fresh perspective, a new idea that can enrich us. I learned this when I was younger and I was deployed to Indonesia after the Fall of Suharto, where our greatest fear was what would happen to this big country. We made it a discipline to travel out of Jakarta at least seven days a month. We made sure that we covered as many provinces and as many regional commands as we could, making new friends, understanding the diversity of perspective and never kid ourselves that just because we have been to Jakarta and Bali, that therefore we seem to understand Indonesia. And today, that same principle must apply – just because we have been to Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, it does not mean that we understand China; and just by going to California and New York does not make us an expert in the US. With my recent trips to both China and the US, we could understand and appreciate the diversity of views and the complex dynamics even within their own country. If we do not understand or appreciate this deeply, we cannot come up with value propositions that will make us relevant. However, while we adapt our approaches, we must remain a consistent and principled partner where we can continuously strengthen our relevance for others to want to partner us. I am sure we want to partner everybody, but that is different from other people wanting to partner us. And this applies in the security and economics domains.”
“The question is: how do we anticipate, pre-empt and respond collectively? I say collectively, because I think all of us can and need to contribute. And if I may, I can suggest four lines of effort for all of us. First, understand the world deeply; second, create propositions for us to remain relevant; third, maintain our cohesion; and fourth, uphold our principles. Let me begin with understanding the world deeply. Compared to the past, we all can now access much more information and travel more widely. However, we must not fall into the trap of our own echo chamber to confirm our own biases. There will also be no shortage of external influences that attempt to shape our views and hopefully our positions. To safeguard ourselves from being pulled apart in different directions, we will need to understand our own national interests, read and think deeply, speak widely to different people to understand their perspectives and agenda and also to access content with discernment. We have seen this being played out over the Russian-Ukraine conflict, the situation in the Middle East and even closer to home, in the conflicts and contestations that have happened of late. Only when we deeply understand ourselves and the world we are operating in, can we come up with propositions that are relevant for our partners so that we can be of value-add in the relationship. It is a discipline to not just view or read what the search engine algorithms throw at us. It is also a discipline to seek out fresh perspectives with all the people we meet in our travels, to hopefully bring back new ideas and stress test our own assumptions.”
“Instead, it is about mobilising the full spectrum of our society’s capabilities, creativity and commitment to overcome our challenges ahead. Our Government will continue to lead where it must and can. We will strive to do more and do better. But having said that, we are realistic enough to know that our Government cannot do it all, and certainly not alone. We aspire to evolve from delivering for Singaporeans to also delivering with Singaporeans. I always remember this that was taught to me since young. No one can do everything, but everyone can do something. Together, we can overcome anything. In his speech earlier, Mr Zhulkarnain Abdul Rahim spoke about chess and its life lessons for his son and Singapore. It inspired me to think about the game of weiqi, a board game played with white and black pieces. The aim of the game is to fence off more territory than the opponent. However, unlike chess, weiqi pieces are all the same and are used similarly in the game. Just like the weiqi pieces, our individual efforts may be insignificant, but together, all of us play a part and any one of us can be that strategic piece in the evolving formation to win the game as the circumstances evolve. Perhaps, that is the Singapore that we can all aspire to. Today, I will share my reflections on ways we can deliver with our people and progress towards a "we first" society. Let me first start with security. The world has changed, yes. The world will change even more and faster in the years to come. We must prepare ourselves for a much wider range of scenarios than ever before, including dangerous discontinuities. We should not count on assumptions that have guided us for decades, nor should we expect other countries to respect international laws and norms as in the past.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I rise in support of the Motion. Over the course of this week, many have spoken about how we can become a "we first" society. Many have suggestions on how our Government can do more or better. On behalf of the Government, I would like to thank everyone for your suggestions. Our Public Service will certainly study all these suggestions and especially the new ideas. As I listened to all the speeches, it struck me that all of us share pretty much the same objectives. We want a fairer society, we want to give opportunities to everyone regardless of their background. We want a Singapore that will not only survive, but thrive. And, most importantly, we want to give our best to the next generation. We may differ here and there on some details and those we can discuss. Sometimes, our differences are not as large as we make them out to be and certainly, none of us have a monopoly on care, compassion or fairness. I think that we can agree. But ultimately, true victory for us is not about winning arguments in this House. True victory for us is winning the trust of our people, uplifting lives and delivering a better future for all of us; or in Chinese, we would say: "口舌之争, 胜负一时, 行动耕耘, 造就一世", which means, arguments bring momentary victory; actions forge lifetime success. As the Prime Minister has said during his National Day Rally speech, a "we first" society is not something that the Government can force or direct. It will be up to all of us, as fellow Singaporeans, to encourage each other to step forward and take responsibility for one another. As mentioned, “we first” does not mean there being no place for individual aspirations or expressions.”
“The specific training plans for the P-8A operators are currently being developed.”
“Our maritime security environment is increasingly complex. The P-8A Maritime Patrol Aircraft (MPA) will strengthen the Singapore Armed Forces' (SAF’s) maritime situational awareness and ability to counter sub-surface threats. The acquisition of the P-8A MPA is part of a broader upgrade to Singapore’s maritime security surveillance network, and additional complementary platforms will be announced in the future. The F-35 acquisition is part of the Ministry of Defence's (MINDEF's)/SAF's long-term strategy to build up the Republic of Singapore Air Force's (RSAF's) future fighter fleet, which will comprise a diversified fleet of F-35As, F-35Bs and F-15SGs. Both the F-35As and F-35Bs have advanced sensor suites, while the F-35Bs provide an additional short take-off and vertical landing capability. They complement the F-15SGs to maintain a strong fighter fleet to meet our operational requirements and safeguard our skies. MINDEF/SAF's capability acquisition approach for the F-35s and P-8As caters for the platforms' logistics and life cycle needs. For example, to assure long-term supportability, we account for the acquisition of spare parts, engineering support by the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM), and the establishment of local maintenance capability. The capability acquisition approach also ensures that our personnel will be trained well. For example, the initial batch of F-35 pilots will be trained by qualified United States Air Force (USAF) F-35 instructors. The RSAF will also establish a new training detachment in Ebbing Air National Guard Base to train alongside other partner nations operating the F-35s. Additionally, the SAF's P-8A and F-35 operators will have opportunities to train in exercises with partner nations who operate the same platforms.”
“Singapore-US defence relations are excellent and longstanding, underpinned by a mutually beneficial partnership. This was recently reaffirmed during my meetings with Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, senior administration officials, as well as US Senators and Representatives. After a review of the Republic of Singapore Air Force's (RSAF) overseas training requirements, the Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) and the US Department of War mutually agreed to discontinue discussions to establish a RSAF fighter training detachment in Guam. As no infrastructure has been constructed, the only costs incurred were for design works. We appreciate that the US has supported our decision and look forward to continuing our partnership. The RSAF will continue to conduct periodic short-term training and exercises in Guam, including an upcoming fighter training detachment in October to November this year. In addition, the US continues to support the RSAF's existing fighter and helicopter detachments, and we are also working closely together to establish a new RSAF F-35 fighter training detachment in Ebbing Air National Guard Base in Fort Smith, Arkansas.”
“NSmen are a key pillar of our national defence. NSmen are called up for In-Camp Training (ICT) for periods necessary to meet operational and training needs. To remain operationally ready, NSmen focus on refreshing their military skills and fulfilling their training requirements each ICT. During their ICT, NSmen's military training and operational duties should take precedence over other personal or professional commitments. Allowing NSmen to attend non-military training, such as courses funded by SkillsFuture credits, during ICT, would dilute military training outcomes and compromise the SAF's operational readiness. Nonetheless, the Ministry of Defence supports national efforts towards skills upgrading and lifelong learning and encourages NSmen to pursue their non-military learning needs outside of their ICT. NSmen are typically notified of their call-ups up to six months in advance, so that they have adequate time to plan suitable work coverage arrangements and other professional and personal pursuits.”
“Basic Military Training Centre (BMTC) buildings, like all others in the Singapore Armed Force, comply with national fire safety standards and codes, and are routinely audited and inspected by certified fire safety inspectors. BMTC staff also hold regular fire drills to keep themselves prepared, and all recruits undergo a fire drill within 48 hours of enlistment. BMTC works closely with the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) to regularly review fire safety and emergency response protocols so that its emergency readiness remains high. The two fires at BMTC on 20 June 2025 and 11 July 2025 occurred in unoccupied accommodation blocks. No personnel was injured. The SCDF has completed its investigations into the two fires. It concluded that the ignition source in both instances was consistent with a naked flame applied to combustible materials, and was unlikely to be due to an electrical source. Following the two fires, BMTC has increased patrols around unoccupied buildings. It also plans to install closed-circuit television cameras at such buildings for added security.”
“Contract appointments are offered by Public Service agencies for roles on specific projects over a specific period, or as a means to assess officers' suitability for a long-term career in the Public Service before offering them permanent appointments. This approach has benefits to the agencies and the officers. Both sides can assess the officers' fit for the job. The majority of our new hires are offered a contract appointment. Some agencies may offer permanent appointments for certain roles, such as those that require recruits to attend training over an extended period, for example, those in the education or Home Team uniformed services. Nevertheless, these officers are also generally required to serve a probation period of at least one year before they are confirmed in their jobs. Between 2020 and 2024, the Public Service recruited about 14,000 officers a year. About 76% of these appointments were on contracts-of-service. Of the new recruits appointed into the Civil Service on contracts-of-service in 2020 and 2021, about 45% have been emplaced, 28% exited within two years of their appointment, and the remainder could be (i) considered for emplacement later; (ii) exited or (iii) appointed to projects that had a finite tenure. The Public Service Division does not have data on the proportion of emplaced officers in Statutory Boards.”
“At the General Election 2025, 45% of the postal voting return envelopes containing postal ballot papers which reached the Returning Officer in time, that is, by the 10th day after Polling Day, were rejected for counting due to (a) faint, illegible, or missing postmarks; (b) mismatched specimen and wet-ink signature; and (c) torn or opened return envelopes. Before each postal voting return envelope is rejected, it would be shown to the candidates and counting agents present and the reason for rejection would also be pointed out to them. To reduce the attrition rate, the Elections Department will continue to strengthen its outreach efforts ahead of the next election, to educate postal voters on what to do to better ensure that their postal ballot papers reach Singapore in time and be accepted for counting. These include ensuring that postal voters use the same signature as that presented as their specimen signature and posting their postal ballot papers early. To minimise the problem of missing postmarks, even though the postal voting return envelope is pre-paid, postal voters may wish to affix a postage stamp. This is because postal service operators are more likely to postmark postage stamps on the envelopes to prevent their reuse. Postal voters can also consider using express airmail services to have greater assurance of the proper delivery of their postal voting return envelopes.”
“Cyber threats are constantly evolving, and the lines between cyber threats in the military and civilian domains are increasingly blurred. The Singapore Armed Forces' (SAF's) Digital and Intelligence Service (DIS) works closely with other Government agencies and key private sector organisations in defending Singapore’s critical information infrastructure. Through these collaborations, including in responding to specific threats, the DIS also derives useful insight for its further development. In terms of organisational structure, the DIS inaugurated a Defence Cyber Command (DCCOM) earlier this year that consolidates the SAF's cybersecurity entities to strengthen capabilities and operations. DCCOM also serves a focal point that deepens the DIS' partnership with the Cyber Security Agency of Singapore (CSA), other Government agencies, and critical information infrastructure owners in areas such as operations, training and sharing of technical expertise. On the manpower front, the DIS will continue to strengthen its pipeline of cyber talent through a variety of initiatives. It works with schools, through the Sentinel Programme, to engage Singaporean youths early and equip them with cyber defence skills. The DIS has also introduced a Cyber Work-Learn Scheme with several polytechnics and universities where their students can take on advanced operational cyber roles during their National Service or Regular Service, while undergoing their diploma or degree courses. For Operationally Ready National Servicemen, those who have relevant skills to contribute to cyber defence can be redeployed to the DIS. We will continue to expand the number of ways that National Servicemen can contribute in the DIS.”
“Under the Military Manoeuvres Act, unauthorised persons are not allowed to enter restricted areas designated for Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) live firing in consideration for their own safety. Clear and visible signs warning the public are displayed at various entry points leading to these areas. The signs were in place during the incident where a cyclist was injured, when he wilfully trespassed into a restricted area in June 2025. After the incident, the National Parks Board and the SAF have added more warning signs in the vicinity to remind members of the public to stay out of restricted areas.”
“We will continue to hire people with the right skills, values and attitudes to the Public Service, and we welcome capable and committed Singaporeans to come forward to take up the vacancies. To further support fresh graduates in gaining experience and practical skills that will strengthen their employability, we will be introducing the GRIT@Gov Traineeship Programme from October 2025. We will continue to monitor the situation and longer-term trends closely.”
“I will answer the questions filed by Mr Low Wu Yang Andre and Mr Pritam Singh together, as they both relate to public sector hiring. To Mr Low Wu Yang Andre's question, employment rates are affected by various factors, such as economic and labour market conditions. Increases in public sector hiring in response to economic downturns will take the cue from the larger national response to economic conditions. In deciding whether to trigger further support for Singaporeans during an economic downturn, the Government closely monitors a range of economic indicators, such as Gross Domestic Product growth and sectoral value-added growth, as well as labour market indicators, such as unemployment rates, employment growth, retrenchments and polls, that track firms' hiring and wage expectations. Beyond specific trigger points based on the economic outlook, we also stay responsive to feedback on the ground to address specific concerns as they arise. Based on economic and labour market data for 2Q 2025, economic conditions remain stable, but this is set against a backdrop of some uncertainty as a result of trade tensions and geopolitical conflict. Mr Pritam Singh asked about the status of public sector hiring. Around 45% of the earlier projected 2,400 vacancies in the public sector have been filled. To increase awareness of the job opportunities in the public sector, we have expanded our outreach through additional efforts, such as the SG Public Service Career Fair held on 23 August 2025. The Fair attracted around 1,800 fresh graduates. There will continue to be new vacancies as needs of public agencies evolve. For example, more than 300 new vacancies for fresh graduates have been added as of 11 September 2025.”
“The Singapore Armed Forces plans to train all service-fit recruits to operate and counter drones. After Basic Military Training, they will continue to hone these competencies during their full-time national service, in both our leadership schools and Army units. Drone training will also be progressively rolled out for Operationally Ready National Servicemen. The first National Service units will start operating with drones during their in-camp trainings from mid-2026.”
“The naming of the department is an internal matter for the United States' (US) administration to decide. During my recent visit to the US in September 2025, I had a productive meeting with the Secretary of War Pete Hegseth. We reaffirmed our excellent and longstanding bilateral defence relationship and discussed ways to deepen cooperation. Singapore supports the US' continued engagement in the Asia-Pacific, in line with the 1990 Memorandum of Understanding which was renewed in 2019 by President Donald Trump and then-Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.”
“Local flying training is critical to keep Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) pilots proficient and to maintain the RSAF’s operational readiness to safeguard Singapore skies. To reduce the impact to residents living in the vicinity of our air bases, the RSAF has adopted several noise abatement measures, which include: conducting about 50% of RSAF flying training overseas, shifting some of the local flying requirements to simulators, planning for local flying routes away from residential areas where possible, and adjusting flying training tempo and hours during school examinations period. Less than 1% of the RSAF’s flights, helicopters and planes take place from 10.00 pm to 8.00 am over Singapore, unless for operational reasons. The planned relocation of Paya Lebar Airbase (PLAB) remains on track for 2030 or beyond. The relocation of an airbase is a complex endeavour, and will be done progressively as essential aircraft support infrastructure become ready at their respective air bases. Concomitantly, the frequency of flights from PLAB will also be reduced progressively during the relocation phase.”
“The Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) service personnel who are medically and physically fit are allowed to participate in self-initiated physical fitness activities on SAF premises to improve their personal fitness. In doing so, they are required to take precautions to mitigate risks, which include bringing their mobile phones with them and remaining contactable, and pairing with a buddy if the activity is done outside SAF premises, for example, for an out-of-camp run. SAF units also remind their service personnel to contact the emergency ambulance service in the event of medical exigencies and provide forms to help service personnel assess their suitability for self-initiated activity as an additional precautionary measure. Gyms and swimming pools in SAF premises are manned by duty personnel or lifeguards during operating hours. SAF service personnel are allowed to use these facilities outside operating hours without duty personnel or lifeguards on site, as long as they take the precautions required of self-initiated fitness activities. Since late August 2025, added precautions have been implemented for self-initiated swimming activities. Service personnel are now not allowed to swim alone with no one else at the pool, if there are no lifeguards on site.”
“The Public Service supports skills-based hiring and most of the Public Service job advertisements today do not include specific academic requirements. Agencies will consider candidates holistically, based on their skills, competencies, work experience and alignment with the job's requirements. However, for certain jobs, such as those in specialised or technical fields, such as accountancy, engineering and legal services, candidates may still be required to acquire the relevant professional qualifications to perform their job effectively. In such cases, agencies would explain the need for such requirements.”
“On the date for Polling Day, I do not think it is possible nor in the interest of Singapore to commit to not holding an election on a particular date or during a particular period. The date depends very much on the exigencies of the situation at the time. On Mr Pritam Singh's second question on the number of restored voters, as of 1 September 2025, 99,140 non-voters from the General Election 2025 have restored their names, which is more than half of the total number of non-voters. About 97% of those who restored their names did so via Singpass, with the remainder doing so in person at community centres/clubs, ServiceSG Centres and the Elections Department office. For those who have not restored their names, I encourage them to do so early so that they can vote at the next election.”
“According to the Census of Population 2020, around 11% of the resident Malay population aged 25 years and over had a university degree. This compares to 35% of the resident Chinese population and 41% of the resident Indian population. For those aged between 25 and 34 years, the proportions were 20% for Malays, 66% for Chinese and 50% for Indians. The Ministry of Education does not actively track university graduation, that is, completion rates by ethnicity. Our approach is to ensure that all students, regardless of ethnicity, receive the appropriate support so that they can maximise their potential throughout their education journey. Accordingly, our autonomous universities admit students based on merit and have various academic and student support initiatives to help their students complete their courses.”
“The number of teachers who used the Ministry of Education's (MOE's) in-house counselling services averaged about 60 per year in 2022 and 2023. The number of MOE staff across schools and headquarters who used the whole-of-Government's counselling hotline over the same period has consistently been about 90 per year. In addition to free counselling, teachers have access to resources that support their well-being, including online platforms, like Well‑being@Gov. They can also participate in MOE-organised wellness programmes and connect with designated wellness ambassadors who offer peer support in schools.”
“This question has been addressed in the reply to Question Nos 1, 2 and 3 for oral answer on the Order Paper for 7 March 2025. [Please refer to "Analysis of Decreased Employment in Permanent Jobs for Fresh Graduates in Past Two Years and Measures to Monitor and Boost Employment", Official Report, 7 March 2025, Vol 95, Issue 160, Oral Answers to Questions section.]”