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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“Do we want such an investment in Singapore or should we turn it down and let the company invest in another country? If we turn it down, we immediately lose the large number of good jobs that Singaporeans can have, brought about by this investment. We also lose the opportunity for Singaporeans to take on higher level positions over time, as these jobs are no longer in Singapore. Our strategy is to win the investment first and work hard to quickly upgrade the skills of our workers to take on those higher paying jobs as soon as possible. Our strategy is to win the investment first not just for this generation, but for the next. Work hard to quickly upgrade the skills of our workers to take on these higher paying jobs as soon as possible. Progressively, our workers will have opportunities to take on those jobs. And, certainly, the next generation who are better educated, will have better opportunities as shown in Figure 4. Over time, more and more of the lower-wage and lower-productivity jobs will be moved out of Singapore. Within Singapore, these jobs will be increasingly filled by foreign workers as companies are unable to attract enough Singaporeans to take on these positions, as shown in Figure 5. In this process, we have grown the size of the economy, created better job opportunities for Singaporeans, higher paying jobs for Singaporeans, with a foreign complement appropriately sized. This is not the end of the story. This process is repeated for every generation. Every generation, with a combination of a local and foreign workforce working together to win the next better investment for this generation and the rest. Every generation, working hard to upgrade the skills to take on the higher-skilled jobs progressively, earning higher pay in the process.”
“The red Lego bricks we see in Figure 1 represents the Singapore workforce. If we only have the Singaporean workforce, the size of our economy will only be so big and the wages of our people only so high, as shown in Figure 1. That is the baseline case. If we bring in some foreign manpower to complement our local workforce, we can grow the overall size of the economy and, more importantly, allow our people to take on higher wage jobs that are commensurate with their education and aspirations. The foreign complement is the one in yellow. However, even at this stage, there will still be many Singaporeans with the talent and aspirations to achieve even better prospects and higher wages, either in Singapore or elsewhere in the world. To achieve that, we need higher quality investments that can create even higher paying jobs. This will often require us to bring in some foreign workers at different skills levels to complement the local workforce to win the next slate of high-quality investments that can provide more high-paying jobs for Singaporeans, as shown in Figure 3. Otherwise, our globally mobile and competitive Singaporeans will leave for greener pastures elsewhere. We may ask, "Why do we not have all the Singaporeans doing the highest paying jobs immediately?" This was where I left off in the last Parliament session where I explained the dilemma and the trade-offs, and asked if we would take a new investment that provides many good jobs for Singaporeans, but some of the higher paying jobs in the company are initially filled by foreigners, as shown in the diagram in Figure 3. At the first step, we did not have all the Singaporeans taking all the highest paying jobs.”
“Talent is an even more critical success factor for our new growth sectors, such as information and communications technology (ICT), Finance and Advanced Manufacturing, which compete on the basis of ideas, knowledge and skills, more than just size. Talent is thus critical to ensure that we are able to win the quality investments not only for this generation but also for future generations. On the other hand, the loss of a quality investment means more than the loss of competitiveness and good job opportunities for this generation of Singaporeans. It also means the loss of competitiveness and good job opportunities for future generations, where we run the risk that our children and grandchildren will end up having to seek better job opportunities elsewhere because these high and higher paying jobs are no longer available in Singapore. Hence, to allow our people and enterprises to punch above our weight, we need a certain local foreign complement, both in terms of quantity and quality. Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, with your permission, may I illustrate with a simple model using the slide on the LED screen, how we create good jobs for Singaporeans with a foreign workforce complement, but without being overly reliant on foreign manpower?”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, we strive for economic growth to achieve three objectives: to give our people better jobs and better lives; to provide our people the opportunities to fulfil their potential and aspirations; and third, to grow Singapore's economic strength for strategic relevance in the world. Our economic strategies are developed to improve the quality of life and livelihoods for Singaporeans. Quality jobs provide good wages; and good wages and opportunities enable Singaporeans to pursue our dreams. Quality jobs come from quality investments, both local and foreign. The competition for quality investments has never been easy. Without natural resources, we strive hard to create our own competitive advantages and build up a strong reputation and trusted brand name for Singapore based on the following: political stability, rule of law, a progressive business environment, cohesive tripartite relations, skilled workers, physical and non-physical connectivity of air, land, sea, data, finance, talent, technologies and regulations, intellectual property protection and consistency of policy execution over the long term. However, Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, beyond all the above factors, the size and quality of our talent pool still matters. Size confers certain economies of scale. Too small a talent pool and our enterprises will find it hard to compete with the big global players; an inability to scale or transcend our geographical size and location will hinder our overall competitiveness. The quality of our talent pool is equally important. It allows us to overcome the limitations of size to attract high-quality and high value-add investments.”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, I cannot comment on the specific case without further details. If Ms Anthea Ong has the specific details, we welcome her to provide MOE or PSD with the details and we can follow up on that. We do not have "mental health leave" at this point in time. But I am sure if somebody, for medical exigencies, needs extra care, they can contact their respective supervisors and we can work out the appropriate arrangements.”
“For instance, the National Council of Social Service has a group of Wellness Warriors to provide a listening ear to their colleagues who need one. Our officers' overall well-being is important to us. PSD seeks to continually learn and enhance our initiatives to enhance workplace mental health. Therefore, we welcome and participate in the Workwell Leaders Workgroup, which is a useful platform to learn best practices. PSD will continue working with our public agencies to strengthen a caring workplace culture for all.”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, on behalf of the Prime Minister. Since 1 May 2017, the Singapore Public Service has removed declaration questions on medical health from our Public Service job application forms. We do not track the number of applicants with mental health conditions who have joined the Public Service. The Public Service is also committed to providing our officers with an inclusive and mental-health friendly workplace. Our public agencies provide support at different levels to our officers. Alternative work arrangements, such as part-time work, can be explored between officers with mental health conditions and their supervisors to better manage their condition or recovery. The Public Service Division (PSD) is actively encouraging and facilitating public agencies to provide their officers with access to counselling services and, as such, 24/7 hotlines and face-to-face counselling are available in the majority of public agencies, which have put in place Employee Assistance Programmes. However, we understand that this alone is not enough. We need to establish higher awareness of mental health and a strong culture of peer support. Therefore, we are promoting wider training of our managers and human resource officers to extend appropriate care, when necessary. We tap on training programmes, such as the Health Promotion Board’s (HPB's) Management Training workshop, to equip managers with skills to detect early signs of distress and to support employees in managing them. More than 500 public officers have participated in the HPB workshop so far and we continue to send more officers to the programme. Several public agencies have also built up a network of officers to provide first-in-line peer support to their colleagues who are in distress.”
“The Department of Statistics (DOS) already compiles Consumer Price Indices for different household income groups, as well as retiree households. DOS is currently assessing the feasibility of developing Consumer Price Indices for other key demographic segments in Singapore. This process takes time as relevant data needs to be gathered, compiled and analysed. The Ministry of Trade and Industry and DOS will provide an update when ready.”
“Based on reports filed by consumers with the Consumers Association of Singapore (CASE) from 2017 to 2019, the value of reported prepayment loss can be attributed mainly to motor cars, renovation services and beauty services. The breakdown of the reported loss in these three areas can be found in Table 1 below. Escrow arrangements have been implemented for some services like conveyancing services and major payment services. However, such arrangements may not be suitable for all businesses. Some use prepayments to facilitate the cash flow of their business operations to allow them to offer more competitive pricing to their customers. To help consumers identify businesses with good trading practices and shop with peace of mind, CASE has worked with industry associations to develop CaseTrust accreditation schemes for specific industries. In particular, the CaseTrust schemes for motor cars, renovation services and beauty services require accredited businesses to safeguard consumers' prepayment through the purchase of insurance or insurance bonds. The Government will continue to monitor developments and consider additional sector-specific prepayment protection requirements as necessary, taking into consideration the cost impact on businesses and consumers.”
“Since 2017, we have extended the Civil Service inpatient medical benefits to cover hospitalisation expenses, including medication up to the point of discharge, incurred by pensioners at Community Hospitals. Our coverage rules for medication apply equally across Restructured Hospitals and Community Hospitals, including those run by Volunteer Welfare Organisations. If a pensioner requires continuous medical management at a primary care provider, Civil Service medical benefits also provide for outpatient care expenses at polyclinics and general practitioner clinics, on top of existing Government subsidies. The Civil Service will continue to review its medical benefits in consultation with the Ministry of Health as the healthcare landscape and model of care evolves.”
“This year marks the 5th anniversary of the China-Singapore (Chongqing) Connectivity Initiative, which is a priority demonstration project under the BRI that brings Southeast Asia and China closer together. In addition, Singapore can also leverage our position as a trusted financial hub, to enhance the sustainability of BRI projects by intermediating financial needs in Asia to tap on opportunities in third country markets. Even as we continue to deepen our engagement with China, as a small and open economy, we must remain open and connected to the rest of the world. We currently have an extensive network of 25 Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) with 64 trading partners which collectively account for more than 85% of global GDP and more than 90% of Singapore's trade. We will continue to expand and diversify our trade linkages through new FTAs with economies, such as the Eurasian Economic Union, the Pacific Alliance, and the Southern Common Market in South America. We will also pursue new forms of partnership to facilitate digital economy activities and digital trade. We have recently concluded negotiations on our first Digital Economy Partnership Agreement with New Zealand and Chile and have also embarked on bilateral Digital Economy Agreement negotiations with Australia. To help Singapore companies venture into overseas markets and take advantage of these FTAs, we will continue to support companies in going overseas and conquering new markets. We will enhance our support for companies and grow our network of overseas centres to provide Singapore companies assistance in business advisory services, business matching and market set-up overseas.”
“The Chinese economy grew by 6.1% last year. Even though this is its lowest rate of growth in the past 30 years, it is still higher than the average growth rate of 1.7% among advanced economies, and 5.6% among emerging and developing economies in Asia.1 China's slowing rate of growth is not surprising as its economy matures, and shifts towards a more sustainable, consumption-led model of growth. Looking ahead, China's gross domestic product (GDP) growth is projected to moderate slightly to 6% in 20202, although there remain downside risks, such as the potential economic impact of the novel coronavirus. China's slower growth is not expected to have a large impact on the Singapore economy. While China is our largest trading partner and top destination for our outbound investments, it does not account for a disproportionately large share of our well diversified economy. For instance, China accounts for 13.4% of our total trade, compared to other major trading partners like Malaysia (11.1%) and the United States (10.3%). We will continue to ensure that our economic relations with foreign partners are balanced and diversified, and that we are not over-exposed to any one foreign country. We will continue to strengthen our economic relations with China, as well as our other trading partners. Bilaterally, we have been working closely with China to deepen our economic linkages. For example, the China-Singapore Free Trade Agreement Upgrade Protocol that entered into force on 16 October 2019 keeps the agreement up to date by improving trading rules and investment regimes for our companies.3 We are also cooperating with China on international initiatives like the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). Singapore is an early supporter of the BRI.”
“In 2019, Singaporeans made about 24.9 million overseas trips. Over the last five years, the number of overseas trips has shown a gradual increase of about 0.2% per annum. We do not have data on the average number of days Singaporeans spent overseas. Over the last five years, tourist arrivals grew at an average rate of almost 5% per annum, to more than 19 million tourists in 2019. Their average length of stay is 3.4 nights.”
“As there are no reporting requirements, we do not have the exact number of Singaporeans who are working in specific professions abroad. However, Singaporeans can work overseas under three broad categories of commitments. Firstly, under the World Trade Organization (WTO) General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS), Singaporeans working in companies with overseas presence may work in other WTO members as intra-corporate transferees (ICTs) for a specified number of years, depending on the commitments made by the host member. Secondly, Singaporeans may work in other countries with which we have Free Trade Agreements (FTAs). For example, Singaporean professionals can work in the United States (US) via the H1B1 visa, which was made available to Singapore under the US-Singapore FTA. Our FTA partners may also make more favourable commitments on Singaporean ICTs, such as by extending the number of years in which Singaporean ICTs may work in their country, going beyond their commitments made in the WTO GATS. Thirdly, mutual recognition agreements (MRAs) and memoranda of understanding signed by our professional bodies allow Singaporean qualifications and licences to be recognised overseas and vice versa, enhancing the mobility of our professionals. For instance, through the MRA between Singapore's Institution of Engineers and the Royal Netherlands Society of Engineers signed in July 2018, Singaporean Chartered Engineers whose qualifications are recognised may practise in The Netherlands and vice versa.”
“Ultimately, EMA's primary responsibility is to maintain a well-functioning and sustainable market that promotes competition and an electricity supply that is efficient, reliable and secure. EMA cannot be responsible for the commercial viability of individual firms. EMA will continue to work with the gencos to ensure that information is available to help them make the best decisions and ensure that our energy market remains resilient and competitive.”
“Senoko Energy Pte Ltd (Senoko) has clarified publicly that its current financial situation does not require additional funding from the Government in the foreseeable future, and that its outlook on the local power industry remains positive. Power generators have long asset lives of about 30 years. During this period, the investment of power generating companies (gencos) is subject to cyclical fluctuations in demand and supply, given that Singapore's electricity market is a competitive one. We are currently in a situation where there is an excess supply of generation capacity. Over time, this oversupply should ease as demand rises and old capacity is retired. To help the gencos weather the present circumstances, the Energy Market Authority (EMA) has introduced several measures. For instance, since August 2018, flexibility was provided for gencos to retire their steam plants. EMA also worked with the gencos to reduce their contracted Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) supply and divert their excess LNG purchases. The LNG terminal tariff payable by the gencos was also lowered, which would provide gencos with cost savings. In addition, EMA developed a scheme to support gencos to maintain high operational reliability and adopt good labour management and capability-building practices. Over the longer term, to ensure our electricity market remains economically efficient and resilient, EMA is also working on initiatives, such as introducing a Forward Capacity Market to procure in advance the generation capacity we need, to ensure reliable electricity supply. This should also provide a more steady income stream for gencos.”
“A key priority for the Energy Market Authority (EMA) when rolling out the Open Electricity Market (OEM) is to ensure that the terms and conditions of retailers' price plans are clear and easy for household consumers to understand. Thus, EMA requires all OEM retailers to provide a Fact Sheet using a standard template for every price plan that they offer to household consumers. The Fact Sheet highlights the key features of a price plan, including the billing arrangement and any penalty charges, such as late payment or early termination fees. All OEM retailers must make their Fact Sheets easily available on their websites and on EMA's online Price Comparison Tool. They also need to obtain the consumer's explicit acknowledgement that he has read and understood the Fact Sheet during the sign-up process. EMA monitors the situation via consumer complaints, Mystery Shopper Audits and Consumer Satisfaction Surveys. Thus far, the overall level of satisfaction has been high. There have been very few complaints about payment arrangements. Retailers are given the flexibility to offer different payment arrangements to meet the needs of their customers. The more traditional payment arrangements offered by SP Group, such as General Interbank Recurring Order (GIRO), credit card and AXS Stations, are usually available. Some provide new payment methods, such as PayNow, which is not offered by SP Group. Others have chosen to engage SP Group to bill and collect payment on their behalf, thereby saving their customers the need to change their billing arrangement. We encourage consumers to consider all these options and choose one that best suits their needs.”
“Food price inflation has been relatively stable in recent months. Overall non-cooked food prices rose by 1.3% on a year-on-year basis over the October to November period, slightly higher than the 1% increase in the third quarter of 2019. In terms of specific categories of food, the prices of chilled pork fell by 0.3% while the prices of vegetables rose by 2.3% over the same period. The increase in vegetable prices during this period could be due in part to weather-related disruptions in Malaysia, a key import source. Although weather-related and seasonal factors are not within our control, the Government helps to reduce the impact of such factors on food prices by diversifying our food supply sources. This includes working with industry to buy from different countries and building up local capacity where it makes economic sense. By buying from different sources, Singapore can reduce the impact of food supply shortages and price changes. The Government will also continue to work with the Consumers Association of Singapore (CASE) to promote consumer awareness and help consumers get better value for money. One of CASE's latest projects is a mobile app, Price Kaki, to help consumers compare the prices of common household items, such as groceries and cooked food, so that consumers can make more informed purchasing decisions. CASE started a pilot of the app in September 2019 and plans to roll it out nationwide in early 2020.”
“The Electoral Boundaries Review Committee (EBRC) has not completed its deliberations. When the EBRC has completed its work, the report will be presented to this House and released to the public.”
“We can get the Member the numbers but let me say this. What is the point behind the questions? First, has local unemployment increased with all these efforts? The answer is a resounding no. Our people are getting good jobs. Are our wages going up? Yes, and it is faster than many other countries. Those are the proof points to show that we are doing right by Singaporeans. I am always very cautious about this constant divide – Singaporeans versus PRs. The insinuation seems to be that somehow Singaporeans are not benefiting. I have just spent the last half an hour explaining and sharing with this House how we are working hard to make sure that Singaporeans do so. It is not the data. It is the point of the question. And I would like to remind this House, the ultimate competition is not pitting Singaporeans against the PRs; it is about Team Singapore comprising Singaporeans and PRs, and even the foreign workforce complementing, competing to give Singaporeans the best chance possible. How many of the increased jobs go to Singaporeans? Enough for us to keep the unemployment rate at the level which many countries would say it is fiction. And that is how we have done it.”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, I do not think we have anything to hide. We have just shared the data.”
“So, we will do more because we understand and I would say that we would start with the 40s and 50s, but if we have the chance, to extend it to even the 30s, as time comes. Youth unemployment. It is a theoretical argument as to how to calculate underemployment. But what is even most important is not how we calculate underemployment. What is most important to get people out of underemployment is to grow the job opportunities for them to go on and take on better-paying jobs. This is why, in MTI's strategy, we are spending so much effort to strengthen the mid-sized companies, so that they can create more and better-paying jobs, more opportunities, for the rest of Singaporeans who are not in such high-paying jobs to get into those jobs. So, yes, we will look at how to get the statistics but I will go beyond what the Member suggested. And, in fact, we have done that. We will go beyond to make sure that we create those good jobs to pull Singaporeans out from the lower productivity sectors, so that they can enjoy the good wage growth that is commensurate with our economic growth. That is our promise to all Singaporeans.”
“So, we have diversified our economy as we matured over the years and, today, our performance is much more stable, providing a stable platform for us to continue to invest to create good jobs for Singaporeans tomorrow. That is the answer to the second question. To the third question, let me amplify what I have just said. We spent 20 years of our life preparing for the first job. We spent 20 years of training and education preparing every Singaporean child for the first job. But let us ask ourselves, how much do we invest in the next 40, 50 years for the subsequent second, third, fourth, fifth job? This is a challenge which the whole world is waking up to, but not the whole world has the means and the organisation to tackle this. We will announce more plans to tackle this in the Budget. We know that people in their 40s and 50s, including those in the ICT sector, they need a skills top-up, they need a refresh. In fact, when I was in Switzerland some years back as the NTUC Secretary-General, I learned one thing from the Swiss. They never plan to top up their skills at 55 and 60 years old to extend the career lifespan of their people. They told me it is too late. The correct approach is that every 10 years or so, if we can afford it and have the organisation, we should top up the skills of each and every one of our workers. This is the same thing I challenged the Public Service to do. Even if someone wants to join the Public Service for 50 years, we cannot assume that the same skillsets will be necessary and sufficient for the 50 years. Continuous training must be in our DNA and then we can get into lifelong employability and not lifelong employment.”
“But we are highly cognisant of the fact that, going forward, for us to improve our productivity, we need to emphasise much more on R&D and not just R&D but the translation of the outcomes of R&D into commercial enterprises. And we are going to do that. That is why I talked about just now the revamping of our business models, internationalisation and so forth. All these will add up to strengthen our TFP beyond a residual of what can be accounted for by capital and labour inputs. So, that is the answer to the first question. The second question: do we look at forward indicators? Of course. MTI looks at all sorts of indicators and, definitely, forward indicators. But having said that, the Member asked what is the outlook for the economy this year. We can take a leaf from the economic performance last year. How did we avoid a recession last year? Last year, a large part of our economy was actually under the water. The downturn in the global electronics cycle has hit our Semiconductor and Electronics sectors. The structural and cyclical factors have also pulled down our performance in the Retail sector. On the other hand, there are three sectors, three shining examples holding up the economy – Banking and Finance, Professional Services, ICT. By design – this is a design feature of our economy – we have diversified our economy. And because we have diversified our economy, we have avoided the extremes of either recession or very sharp ups and very sharp downs. That is how we have to continue to navigate carefully. Diversification gives us resilience but diversification also comes with a cost. When the global electronics cycle goes up, if we have just depended on the global electronics cycle, we might get a 20% growth in that sector. But that is not sustainable.”
“Each one is $20,000 to $30,000, with high-quality control. So, we look at the job and see whether Singaporeans can do it. I will give Members another example on the other side of the spectrum. ExxonMobil and Shell, they have been in Singapore for decades. Today, we are very proud that the Heads of ExxonMobil and Shell operations in Singapore are both Singaporeans. But they did not get to the top job to head the ExxonMobil and Shell operations in Singapore in one step. Mr Gan Seow Kee and Ms Goh Swee Chen went around the world, took on various appointments in ExxonMobil and Shell, acquired the skills and experience and, today, these top jobs are helmed by Singaporeans. We are very proud of them. But we never feared, because when ExxonMobil and Shell first came to Singapore, we were far away from taking any of those top jobs. But today, we have people there. So, that is my assurance to Mr Patrick Tay and all the brothers and sisters in the Labour Movement. You have an ex-Secretary General as Minister for Trade and Industry now. To the four questions that Mr Leon Perera asked, first, outliers. Indeed, we look at all the outliers. We look at everyone that does better than us and ask ourselves: why are they doing better than us? But I want to caution against reading too much into some of the statistical anomalies. Because, statistically, the TFP is a residual, after you take away the capital and the labour inputs. In fact, as an example, during the Global Financial Crisis, when we rebounded from the Global Financial Crisis, that particular year, our TFP was over 9%. It cannot be accounted for by all the labour and input factors. It is probably accounted for, largely, by the growth momentum and economies of scale, not even just by R&D and so forth.”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, if you do not mind, maybe let me complete the answers for Mr Patrick Tay's question, and then, I will go on to the four supplementary questions from the Member Mr Leon Perera. Mr Patrick Tay asked whether the economic agencies will put Singaporeans front and centre in our search for investment and the creation of quality jobs. The answer is YES, in capital letters. Yes, we do that. We have always done, we are doing that and we will continue to do that. Yes. Let me just share a bit about the work of EDB, ESG and so forth. People have asked me, "Why do we not go and take all the investments that are queuing up at our doors?" And that is a simple way to do so. But for every investment that we take into Singapore today, we not only consider the land constraints, the carbon constraints, the energy usage and all that kind of things but, most importantly, as the Member has said, we ask ourselves is this going to create a good job for Singaporeans? Can our Singaporeans take on this job? If not now, if not immediately, can it be in the near future? If not this generation, can it be the next generation, in the fastest possible time? And we have always abided by that principle. Because what is the point of creating the jobs in Singapore if Singaporeans do not have the chance of ever doing it? What is the point of having a good job in Singapore if Singaporeans never have a chance to do it? But how long will it take? It depends. Edwards Lifesciences, making heart valves. When they wanted to make heart valves, they needed seamstresses. We do not have many seamstresses in Singapore anymore. We went out to search for many home makers who at least still know how to sew. Train them. Heart valve is not a joke.”
“If we get this balance right, as we strive for this Goldilocks balance, we must firmly reject extreme positions, one extreme position being to open the floodgates and drown Singaporeans. But neither can we take the other extreme position to close our borders and reject foreigners in our workforce. Above all, in this House, we must firmly reject efforts to stoke anti-foreigner sentiments by spreading falsehoods or creating invidious comparisons out of context. This is not the kind of politics we want – with far-right parties in the European continent stirring hate and fear against foreigners for political advantage. This is not how Singapore transformed ourselves from Third World to First, and this is not how a confident and capable Singapore should face the future. Yes, the future will pose many challenges. But the future will also pose many exciting opportunities. We will continue to work with Singaporeans to steer the Singapore ship through the stormy seas and we will make sure that we will not allow opportunists to stir fear and hatred amongst ourselves. The real competition is not between the Singaporean versus the PR here versus the foreigner here. The real competition is Team Singapore comprising Singaporeans, PRs and foreign workers here, competing with the rest of the world to give our fellow Singaporeans the best chance possible to win not just in Singapore but across the entire globe, that the wages of our Singaporean workers will continue to grow faster than the rest of the other people in other countries. On that note, let us work together to go through these difficult moments.”
“What about growth in earnings? Growth in real average monthly earnings for employed local workers was 3.2% per annum during this period, higher than the 2.4% per annum in the preceding three years, higher than most advanced economies, such as the US, which is 0.5%; Japan, 0.8%; Germany, 1.2%. We are at 3.2%. But let us not be complacent. It requires a lot of hard work, and a lot of hard work on the ITMs as well. ITM is a system that we put in place for us to pool together companies, trade associations, unions, the Government, research institutions – all five partners – coming together to transform the industries. Because the old way of competing just by increasing the factor input of labour and capital can only go so far. The next lap of our economic development will require us to increase our productivity, not through the injection of capital and labour, but through innovation, the revamp of our business model, internationalisation, the economies of scale that we can achieve through expanding our economy, not just in Singapore but beyond. All these are important work for us to work together to use the ITM as the platform to raise the total factor productivity so that our workers can continue to enjoy sustainable real wage growth in the years going forward. So, Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, I hope that I have given a comprehensive answer on the questions that both Mr Pritam Singh and Mr Liang Eng Hwa asked. The answer is yes. We have done the right things by getting that balance right and the Government will continue to calibrate this balance carefully. That balance is struck by considering three factors: the needs of our industries and enterprises, the needs of our workers of this generation and the opportunities for our children in the next generation.”
“Not every country can say that. Not many countries have the political mandate, the political will or the necessary resources to do that for their workers. That is why their workers push back against global integration, trade liberalisation and so forth. But we are different. And we can continue to distinguish ourselves through our tripartite partnership to make sure that our workers are never left behind, that while we seize these new opportunities, our workers will have every opportunity to get that $10,000 job as soon as possible. So long as we have the drive and stay united as one people, building on the strong tripartite partnership, we will win together as Team Singapore. Overall, this balanced approach has worked for Singaporeans. Between 2015 and 2018, local employment increased by nearly 60,000 for the whole economy. The PMET share of local employment increased to 57%, one of the highest rates in the world. It means that for every 100 locals in the workforce, 57 of them are in PMET jobs, one of the highest in the world. And the trend is continuing to grow in that way because we understand the aspirations of our next generation. If 70% of our people are going to graduate with degrees and diplomas, you can see the tremendous pressure on the aspirations for the next generation. Our youth unemployment is amongst the lowest amongst the advanced economies, a testimony to the fact that our education system is providing the right foundation for our people to take up those jobs that are being created in the new economy. This is not something that happens naturally in every country. In fact, in many other countries, many of them in the Asia Pacific, you will see youth unemployment as one of the most significant challenges for those countries.”
“They groom Singaporeans not just because we asked them to but because it makes business sense for them to localise and avoid concentration risks for business continuity as well as to grow the Singapore ecosystem and win the support and respect of fellow Singaporeans and for generations of Singaporeans to come. That is how successful enterprises have done well in Singapore. However, we do know that there are some black sheep amongst the enterprises. Their employment practices must change. If not, we will come down hard on them. They know this. We have taken actions against them, and we will not hesitate to do so again. Businesses also understand the need to be responsible employers. They keep asking the Government to relax the foreign workforce controls because they want to expand their businesses. They tell us that they cannot get enough Singaporeans to do all the jobs available. Our answer to them is simply this: work with us. Help us to manage the sense of fair play and opportunity for all Singaporeans. Our businesses understand this and they are responding. This Government is on the side of all Singaporeans. We will grow our economy and attract investments to create many good jobs for Singaporeans. We will continue to devote resources to help our people stay competitive through lifelong learning and skills upgrading so that they can continue to stay relevant and move into higher paying jobs. Unlike other countries, Singapore does not need to fear competition and Singaporeans do not need to fear competition. We know we have to remain open to the world. We know that a Singapore that is closed in cannot survive. We have the resilience to overcome challenges and the means to help ourselves. And this is important. We have the means to help our workers.”
“Otherwise, we will lose the $7,000 job and we may never get the $10,000 job. Work hard, train our people, upgrade our skills to take over that $10,000 job as soon as possible. But do not exploit the sentiments to create envy, anger and frustration towards that foreigner who is now taking the $10,000 job. I ask the House, frankly, do we agree with this approach? Do we hold that we should reject the investment on the grounds that the investment will result in more foreigners in Singapore and some earning more than Singaporeans in the same company? Would we reject the investment from Google, Grab and Facebook? I think most Singaporeans understand and accept why we cannot reject such investments on that basis. Singaporeans are fair-minded. What Singaporeans want is a fair chance to get that $10,000 job as time goes by, if not as soon as possible. What Singaporeans do not want are unfair employment practices where Singaporeans are passed over for non-meritocratic considerations. The Government understands these concerns, and we stand together with fellow Singaporeans on this matter. This is why MOM has the Fair Consideration Framework (FCF) and is continually updating the system to ensure a fair, level playing field for Singaporeans. This is our commitment to Singaporeans. The Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI) and our economic agencies will watch over the enterprises to get them to train up and groom Singaporeans as part of this commitment to Singapore. I believe the vast majority of our companies know the deal. They play ball.”
“Many of those early engineers and technicians went on to become senior executives in this sector and, in turn, they mentored a new generation of Singaporean technicians and engineers in the semiconductor industry that we have today. Today, the same thing is happening in the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) and software industries. ICT and software will underpin many other industries that we desire to have in the future – banking, finance, advanced manufacturing, artificial intelligence, precision medicine and so forth. They all need highly specialised skills and knowledge. When global companies like Google, Grab and Facebook invest here, the reality is that we do not have enough Singaporeans with the relevant skills and experience to fill all the jobs they are going to create. We have raised our intake of Computer Science students in our universities in recent years, but there is a limit to further increases. Not every student has the interest or aptitude to study computer science, and we also need to groom talent in other sectors for our economy. Young Singaporeans who are coming out from universities and polytechnics to join these new companies are better educated and have much better opportunities than the previous generations before them. Colloquially, as we say, our future generation does not need to take over the jobs of the previous generation, earning the salaries of the previous generation. So, do we go out and attract these investments like Google, Grab and Facebook not just for this generation, but, more importantly, for the next generation? What should our choice be? I say we go for it. Land the investment first, just as our previous generations did in the electronics industry. Create those jobs in Singapore first.”
“We understand these sentiments. We also want the $10,000 job to go to the Singaporean. But if we do not accept that investment for this reason, it will go elsewhere and both the $7,000 and $10,000 jobs will disappear from Singapore. The Singaporean will continue to earn $5,000 and he will have fewer opportunities to rise to a higher paying job. But what is even more important is that his son or daughter currently in school receiving one of the best education in the world will not be able to aspire to the $7,000 or $10,000 job. So, which is the better outcome and what should we do and do right by Singaporeans, not just for this generation but for the next? Now, is this story very far-fetched? No. It has happened before. Indeed, in every generation throughout our history as an independent nation. We can learn from how the previous generations deal with this challenge and dilemma. In the 1970s, this happened when we went out to attract the electronics industry. Over a span of three years, the first three semi-conductor companies in Singapore – National Semiconductor, Fairchild Semiconductor and Texas Instruments – created more than 7,000 jobs, but our people did not get the best paying jobs immediately. They certainly did not get all the best paying jobs immediately. Indeed, many of our Pioneer and Merdeka Generation Singaporeans worked under higher paying foreigners. This was because, at that point in time, we lacked the skills and experience to take the highest paying jobs. But we did not reject those investments as a result. Instead, we worked hard. We learned, upgraded our capabilities, but at no time did we fear. And in time, we took over many of these higher paying jobs, including the better trained and educated children of the Pioneer and Merdeka Generations.”
“Too few foreign workers, especially PMETs with skills required for our growth sectors, mean that our businesses cannot seize the opportunities out there and, in the process, create better jobs for all Singaporeans. Too many and there will be a push-back, especially if Singaporeans feel unfairly treated. It is a never-ending balancing act with difficult tradeoffs. I often ask Singaporeans when I meet them: if we can only bring in one more foreigner to complement the Singapore workforce – one more – who will we bring in? Someone who is above our national average or someone who is below our national average? The most memorable answer that I have ever been given was by a young student. He told me, "Minister, Sir, the answer is simple. Bring in the above average one to grow the economy, but below me." This summarises the fears, concerns and aspirations of our people. We know we need the above average foreigner to complement our domestic workforce so that we can build a more competitive economy and to provide better jobs and better pay for all Singaporeans. But we also know that foreigners will compete with us and we need to provide some safeguards for our people. This is an evergreen challenge. How do we grow our existing companies and bring in new investments that can create good jobs for Singaporeans? Let us suppose a Singaporean worker is earning $5,000 today. And we have an option to bring in a new investment that will create two new jobs: one paying $7,000 and another paying $10,000. The Singaporean can only get the $7,000 job today because he does not yet have the skill or experience for the $10,000 job. Should we take the investment? The Singaporean may feel frustrated. He may think that he is being unequally treated because the foreigner earns more than him now.”
“The Government will always have your backs. This is why we have invested so much in SkillsFuture and programmes like Adapt and Grow and the Professional Conversion Programmes. This is why continuing education has been our priority. If we take 20 years to prepare for our first job, it is not enough for us just to assume that the next 30, 40 years of our career lifespan, we do not need any fresh new injection of training and skills. We do all this to help Singaporeans to prepare for future jobs so that those currently employed can remain future-employed. And as I have always said when I was in the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC), we are not satisfied to put today's unemployed into today's job. Neither are we satisfied to put today's unemployed into tomorrow's job. We want to prepare tomorrow's unemployed, put them into tomorrow's job, ahead of time. We are also aware that mature Singaporeans in the middle of their careers may be more anxious about the future. Many of them may not have done any upgrading since they started working 20 years ago after their studies. And I want to assure this group of Singaporeans that the Government will do more to support them in staying skilled and employable, not just for now but also for the future. We will talk more about this in the Budget. It is not just about lifelong employment; it is about lifelong employability. The crux of the Members' questions is this: have we gotten the local-foreigner workforce balance right, not just in terms of quantity but also in terms of quality? These are questions that the Government and our economic agencies constantly ask ourselves.”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, let me address Mr Liang Eng Hwa's three questions holistically. That is the reason why I think it is useful for us to consider both the ITM question and the Total Factor Productivity question together, because all these questions pertain to our strategies to grow our Singapore companies and create good jobs for Singaporeans. Mr Pritam Singh alluded to this issue of the benefits – in fact, asked by Mr Liang Eng Hwa as well – the benefits of our growth towards Singaporeans and on Singaporeans. Let me take the second question first, which is fundamental. Have economic growth and job creation benefited Singaporeans? And more importantly, as Mr Liang Eng Hwa asked, have economic growth and job creation benefited Singaporeans more than foreigners? Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, the short answer to both questions is a resounding yes. This Government puts Singaporeans at the heart of everything we do. We pursue growth not for growth's sake alone. We pursue growth so as to improve the lives of Singaporeans. I believe Singaporeans understand and support the Government's position. At the same time, we must acknowledge the anxieties that lie behind the Members' questions. Responsible political leaders must try to allay those anxieties, not prey on people's fears for political advantage. We have all met Singaporeans who are concerned about the future, especially in times of economic uncertainties. Some may have been displaced and are looking for a new job, others may still be employed but are wary and worry whether they are ready for the future. In short, we have many Singaporeans who worry whether tomorrow will be better than today. To all fellow Singaporeans, I will say this: we understand your worries and we will walk this journey with you.”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, let me take Parliamentary Question No 4. Between 2008 and 2018, Singapore's Total Factor Productivity (TFP) grew by 0.5% per annum. This is about 12% of our gross domestic product (GDP) growth of 4.5% per annum over the same period. Since 2016, TFP growth has increased to 0.9% per annum or around 27% of GDP growth. Singapore's TFP performance was stronger than or comparable to most Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) countries. Between 2008 and 2018, France's TFP rose by 0.3% per annum, while Finland's TFP growth was 0% per annum. TFP growth in Germany and in the United States were similar to ours, at about 0.5% per annum. The pickup in our TFP growth in recent years can be attributed to our economic restructuring efforts, which are important to raise productivity and to transform our industries through innovation and internationalisation. Initiatives like SkillsFuture to upskill our workers and support lifelong learning would have also contributed to this. Transforming our economy and raising TFP are long-term efforts. We are making progress, but we must continue to focus on these areas in the years ahead, building on the strong tripartite partnership among the Government, employers and the Labour Movement.”
“On the second question, on RCEP, last year, at the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Leaders' Summit, the 15 RCEP countries have essentially concluded all the tax-based negotiations. There are a few outstanding bilateral market access negotiations between some of the RCEP countries. The leaders of the 15 countries have given their commitment to sign the agreement in Vietnam in 2020 and all the officials are working hard to realise that. In fact, the legal scrubbing for the text have commenced and our team is currently now in Jakarta working with our counterparts on that. The door remains open for India to join RCEP and I think that is the common position for all the 15 member states. I think every one of the 15 member states would welcome India's continued participation. We have continued to keep India in the loop for all the discussions and also the legal scrubbing.”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, let me first take the question on the US-China tensions. We are encouraged by the conclusion and the impending signing of the Phase 1 agreement between the US and China. I have spoken to both my counterparts in the US and China. I think the significance of the deal goes beyond just the lines of agreement and the specific line items in the agreement. I think both the US and China are very clear that this is a basis for them to establish the strategic trust between both countries because a deal is a deal. More important is how we implement the deal and, along the way, there will be further negotiations between them. And I am quite certain of that. So, we are cheered by the conclusion of Phase 1. But having said that, we are very clear – and I think both the US and China are also very clear – that the challenges between the two countries go beyond the trade numbers. They have differences between themselves; how they see they should structure their economies in terms of subsidies; they have differences in how they see trade relationships; they have differences in how they see the subsidies for their technology, research and development, so on and so forth. So, there are deeper structural issues that have to be settled between the US and China. I think that we will have to wait for the strategic trust to be built up for them to move on to the next step of their agreement. Given the political dynamics in the US in 2020, we can also expect some surprises along the way. So, while we are cautiously optimistic, we are cheered by the trade, the Phase 1 trade deal, I think there are many other issues that still need to be resolved in time to come between the US and China.”
“Through this, we hope to create new career opportunities and grow a new generation of technopreneur farmers. To capture opportunities in the digital economy, Singapore is co-leading the WTO Joint Statement Initiative on E-Commerce (JSI). JSI will establish multilateral rules to help companies navigate the complex e-commerce landscape. We are exploring deeper collaborations with key economic partners like Chile, Australia and New Zealand through a new generation of "digital economy agreements" to open up more opportunities for our companies. Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, as a small country, Singapore cannot completely insulate ourselves from ups and downs in the external environment. But there are steps that we can take to strengthen our economic competitiveness and build stronger capabilities in our enterprises and workers. Our success has always been predicated on our will to make the best of what we have, and our resolve to turn adversity into opportunity. If we continue to stay united and work together as one people, we can all look forward to a brighter tomorrow for all of us.”
“To further strengthen the linkage between enterprise transformation and benefits to our workers, we will include commitment to worker outcomes as a mandatory condition for companies that apply for EDG funding from 1 April 2020. These outcomes may include wage increases, job creation, job redesign or hiring of older workers. It will reinforce our message of building an economy that is both pro-enterprise and pro-worker. Besides EDG, there are also employee-specific schemes like the Professional Conversion Programme (PCP) to help mid-career professionals, managers, executives and technicians (PMETs) reskill and embark on new careers, and the Global Ready Talent (GRT) programme to equip workers with skills relating to internationalisation. Through these programmes, we hope to prepare more Singaporeans to compete and succeed across the region and in the world. The Government will announce further initiatives to help our businesses transform and build stronger capabilities at this year's Budget. Third, we are pursuing new growth opportunities. Through the work of the Future Economy Council (FEC) and the Industry Transformation Maps (ITMs), we are developing new industry niches in areas, such as additive manufacturing, robotics and sensors. These build on our existing strengths in sectors, such as electronics and precision engineering, and will enhance Singapore's position in the global value chains. We are also partnering industry players to develop new capabilities in promising growth areas, such as agri-food, urban mobility and precision medicine. For example, we will be establishing the Agri-Food Innovation Park (AFIP) in Sungei Kadut, to bring together high-tech farming and research and development activities in areas, such as urban agriculture and aquaculture.”
“This is why the Economic Development Board (EDB) has attracted more than $8 billion of investment commitments in 2019, despite the global economic uncertainties. These investments are in high value-added sectors, such as electronics, aerospace and pharmaceuticals. I have not included investments from other sectors in the above figure, such as the $9 billion expansion plan for the two integrated resorts. These investments will create many good jobs for Singaporeans, and they reflect the global business community's confidence in our future. Moving forward, we will continue to deepen our linkages with key markets and transcend our geographical boundaries by pushing into new dimensions of connectivity that include the flows of data, talent, ideas and technology. Second, we are helping Singapore companies and workers to internationalise and turn the world into our hinterland. The preconditions are in place, thanks to our excellent connectivity and our extensive network of 25 Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) with 64 trading partners, which collectively account for more than 85% of global GDP and more than 90% of Singapore's trade. Last year, as of September 2019, we gave out 800 companies grant support for their forays into overseas markets through the Market Readiness Assistance (MRA) scheme. In the same period, about 1,700 companies were supported in growing their businesses both domestically and overseas through the Enterprise Development Grant (EDG) programme in the areas of capability development, market access and manpower development for internationalisation. These transformation efforts have translated into higher pay and better career progression opportunities for our workers. As businesses grow, they will create more good jobs for Singaporeans.”
“And although the IMF has downgraded the global growth forecasts, Asia remains a bright spot with growth estimated at 5.1%. In sum, there will be both uncertainties and opportunities in the year ahead. It is incumbent on us to ensure our ship is seaworthy, set our sails to catch the wind. The Government will help Singapore businesses navigate the challenges and seize the opportunities. This includes helping Singaporean companies to expand into overseas markets, as well as providing customised support for companies to press on with productivity improvements, innovation and the training of our workers. Singapore has to adopt a long-term perspective in our economic strategies, even as we tackle the short-term headwinds. Allow me to elaborate on three strategies that the Government has taken to grow our economy and create good jobs for Singaporeans. First, we are strengthening Singapore's fundamentals to distinguish ourselves amidst the uncertainties. In July last year, I shared with Members some of the factors that have enabled Singapore to stand out from the competition. Our stable political environment and united leadership empower us with the capacity to plan for the long term; the rule of law and pro-innovation regulatory environment provide certainty for businesses to thrive; our superior connectivity with the rest of the world allows us to look to the world for opportunities; our strong tripartite partnership and a skilled workforce that continually upgrades and generates new ideas, and acquires new skillsets and knowledge that can redefine what is possible for a country with no natural hinterland. The international community recognises these strengths.”
“Since 11 December 2019, the World Trade Organization's (WTO's) Appellate Body has been non-functional because there are not enough appellate judges to meet the quorum. The WTO's appellate function is an existential one for the multilateral trading system, because it ensures the robust enforcement of multilateral trade rules. Without this binding and neutral mechanism to resolve trade disputes, the risk of a fragmented trading system will grow. There will be severe consequences for all WTO members, including Singapore, should trade, talent and data flows become disrupted. The strategic question confronting the world is whether we continue to turn inward and less open, or we find a new balance that enables economies to remain open and connected, while ensuring that our people benefit equitably from such integration. Apart from these challenges, there are also unanticipated issues that may affect the global economy, such as the situation between the US and Iran. Any escalation between the two countries may portend further instability in the Middle East which could have negative implications on the global economy, including Singapore. I should add that this is not all doom and gloom for the world. There are also many exciting opportunities to harness. For example, the digital economy is a major opportunity for us in Singapore. Digitalisation enables small countries like Singapore to transcend our size and geography and helps our enterprises to penetrate new regional and global markets. Within Southeast Asia alone, the digital market is estimated to exceed US$300 billion by 2025, almost the same size as the current Singapore economy and right at our doorsteps!”
“We look forward to learning about the details of the Phase 1 deal on 15 January 2020 and working with both countries to grow our economies. Another uncertainty pertains to Brexit, for the United Kingdom (UK) and the European Union (EU) are collectively our third largest trading partner in goods, and our biggest trading partners in services. Mr Seah Kian Peng had filed a Parliamentary Question for the next Sitting on the implications of Brexit on Singapore and Singaporean companies. I would like to take this opportunity to address Mr Seah's question as well. Based on the terms of the draft Withdrawal Agreement, the immediate impact of Brexit is likely to be limited. This is because, until 31 December 2020 at the least, the UK will functionally be treated as an EU member state and remain a party to the EU's international agreements, including the EU-Singapore Free Trade Agreement (EUSFTA) which had just come into force. However, this may change depending on what the UK Parliament decides in these coming weeks. In addition, what happens after 2020 has not yet been determined. Singapore is, therefore, working with the UK on an economic agreement to maintain continuity in our economic relations after the EUSFTA no longer applies to the UK. I wish to remind Members that these uncertainties are not unrelated. What is happening between the US and China, the UK and the EU, and other economies like India, Chile and Hong Kong, are manifestations of a deeper unhappiness over the inequitable distribution of gains from globalisation, and a concern that tomorrow will not be better than today. This is why the multilateral trading system, which has underpinned decades of economic integration and free trade, is itself under significant stress.”
“I will group the answers into two parts: first, global developments and their potential impact on Singapore's economy; second, the Government's strategies to grow Singapore's economy and create good jobs for Singaporeans. Twenty-nineteen was a volatile year for the global economy. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) downgraded the 2019 global growth forecast five successive times in each of its quarterly reports since October 2018 to 3%, down from the 3.6% achieved in 2018. Fortunately, the global economy avoided several worse scenarios, including an all-out trade war between the United States (US) and China, but downside risks remain. As a small, open economy, Singapore was affected by these macroeconomic conditions. Our non-oil domestic exports declined by 10.1% on a year-on-year basis between January and November 2019. Advance estimates show that Singapore’s economy grew by 0.7% in 2019, slower than the 3.1% recorded in 2018. Looking ahead, the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI) expects Singapore's gross domestic product (GDP) growth to pick up modestly to between 0.5% and 2.5% on the back of a slight uptick in global economic growth and a gradual recovery in the global electronics cycle. Even though we are cautiously optimistic, there remains several uncertainties in the global economy. The biggest uncertainty is the relationship between the US and China. This is the most important bilateral relationship for both countries, and indeed for the entire world. We welcome the announcement of the Phase 1 trade deal, especially the cancellation of further tariff hikes in December 2019. Averting further trade tensions is positive news for all countries. We hope that this is the first step towards putting the relationship back on a stronger footing.”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, may I have your permission to take Question Nos 1 and 2 together, please?”
“Those applying for welfare assistance under CDWF should minimally fulfil the following criteria: (a) Residents of the constituency or Division of Group Representation Constituency where the CCC serves; and (b) Singapore Citizens or Permanent Residents (PRs) or their children must be Singapore Citizen or PR. Established under the ComCare Endowment Fund (ComCare), CCF offers interim assistance to needy residents who require urgent and temporary financial relief. The CCC helps to administer the scheme based on the eligibility criteria set by the Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF). For the amount and duration of assistance rendered by CCF, the CCCs can grant up to three months of financial assistance per application, capped at $200 per month. Residents with longer-term financial needs will be referred to the MSF's Social Service Offices. Residents can apply for both the CDWF and CCF at the Community Centres/Clubs. In instances where applications for the CCF or CDWF do not meet the eligibility criteria, the CCC and CDWF committee may seek the help of the GRA to identify and connect residents with other sources of Government and community support. Based on an average of financial year (FY) 2016 to FY2018, the amount of direct grant given by PA to the CCCs and CDWFs is about $290,000 per CCC and $9,000 per CDWF per FY. These grants are used towards welfare assistance and community bonding programmes.”
“Members of Parliament (MPs) are elected to represent their constituents in Parliament, to debate and make laws. They conduct Meet-the-People sessions and lead their Town Councils in managing the municipal operations and issues of the estates. The role of Grassroots Advisors (GRAs) is different from that of MPs. GRAs are appointed by the People's Association (PA), a Statutory Board under the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth. The PA's role is to promote social cohesion, and to act as a bridge between the Government and the people. PA appoints GRAs to guide its grassroots organisations (GROs) in communicating and implementing the policies and programmes of the Government of the day. These include difficult and unpopular policies which are necessary for the good of Singapore, such as Central Provident Fund cuts during the 1986 recession, the increase in retirement age and the Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Act (POFMA). In appointing GRAs, the PA, therefore, looks to those who can be entrusted to carry out this role faithfully. Similarly, PA appoints grassroots leaders, including volunteers, who serve on the Citizens' Consultative Committees (CCCs). Among other things, the CCCs help the PA to administer Government and local schemes, such as the Community Development and Welfare Fund (CDWF) and CCC ComCare Fund (CCF), based on established criteria. CDWF supports community bonding programmes and welfare assistance for needy residents. The CDWF Committee, appointed by CCC, manages and oversees the disbursement of funds.”
“Sentosa Development Corporation (SDC) decided to demolish the Sentosa Merlion after exhausting all options of retaining or relocating it. The size and location of the Sentosa Merlion will severely constrain the development of the surrounding area. It will also block access along the thoroughfare for the elderly and less mobile. It is not feasible to relocate the Sentosa Merlion. It is 37 metres tall, which is the same size as a 12-storey building with staircase, lift and other structural installations within it. We recognise that some members of the public have sentimental regard for the Sentosa Merlion. This is why its removal was a difficult decision for SDC. As there are five other replicas of the original Merlion in different parts of Singapore, there are no plans to build a replacement.”