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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“In addition, HDB has awarded three tenders totalling 166 Megawatt Peak (MWp) of solar generation capacity and will be awarding a fourth tender of 70 MWp shortly. These panels will be installed on over 4,500 HDB blocks, as well as on the roofs of other Government buildings. By 2020, HDB aims to have 5,500 HDB blocks fitted with or identified for solar installation. Solar power is our most viable clean energy option, given our land constraints, urban density and geographic and climatic conditions, which pose challenges in tapping on other alternative energy sources, such as hydro, wind and geothermal energy. Hence, the Government will actively continue to work with all stakeholders, including households, to maximise solar energy adoption in Singapore.”
“There are about 950 private residential solar photovoltaic (PV) installations, and more than 1,400 installations on Housing and Development Board (HDB) block rooftops island-wide that are connected to the power grid. Together, they make up more than 80% of the total number of solar installations in Singapore. These installations contribute about 0.16% of Singapore's electricity generation and reduce our carbon emissions by about 35 kilotonnes per year. This is equivalent to the emissions produced by the annual electricity consumption of almost 20,000 HDB 4-room households. SP Group launched a blockchain-based platform called the Renewable Energy Certificate (REC) Marketplace in 2018. This REC Marketplace aims to enable the transaction of Renewable Energy Certificates, or "green credits", which are sold separately from the actual clean electricity generated. So far, various companies, such as the Development Bank of Singapore (DBS) and City Developments Limited, have signed up to participate in the platform. We understand that the REC Marketplace is currently open to businesses only, but SP intends to extend the platform to residential consumers with solar PV panels at a later stage. The Government has also implemented various initiatives to encourage the deployment of solar installations by households. We have simplified the process to enable households to sell their surplus electricity to the grid through SP Group as an intermediary. Households may also enter into commercial arrangements to sell their excess solar electricity to retailers, who can then on-sell the solar electricity to other consumers in the Open Electricity Market.”
“The Prime Minister has not yet appointed the Electoral Boundaries Review Committee.”
“House unions are valued partners of public sector agencies but are not part of the organisational structure. They are separate entities regulated by the Trade Unions Act and other legislation administered by the Registry of Trade Unions. In general, public sector agencies allow their union branch leaders to use their non-exclusive office facilities, such as meeting rooms, without any charges. They are accorded the same treatment as any other employees who need to use the office facilities. However, in instances where the unions have requested for dedicated office space for their exclusive use, they would be charged market rental rates. This is in line with the Ministry of Finance's policy that all Government premises should be rented at market rates.”
“As a result, SPPG is putting more resources into monitoring and maintaining substations and renewing key assets. They will also extend the use of technologies, such as online condition monitoring, and deepen the core skills of their workforce. EMA will continue to work closely with SPPG to ensure a high standard of reliability for our power system.”
“Based on the Energy Market Authority's (EMA's) investigations, the power failure at the Carlton Hotel on 14 February 2019 was due to a short circuit in the substation switchgear, which started a fire. The insulation between two components in the switchgear had failed due to heat stress from foreign contaminants, which could have been introduced during maintenance. EMA determined that had SP Power Grid (SPPG) complied with its standard operating procedure for monitoring work, the incident could have been prevented. As a result, EMA imposed a financial penalty of $1,000,000 on SPPG. As for the power failure at Bright Hill that occurred on 26 January 2019, EMA's investigations showed that a faulty voltage transformer (VT) had started a fire in the substation. EMA found that SPPG was using the faulty VT beyond its Original Equipment Manufacturer's recommended lifespan. Thus, EMA imposed a financial penalty of $750,000 on SPPG. SPPG is replacing all the VTs that have exceeded their lifespan, starting with those of a similar make and model as the faulty VT in Bright Hill. EMA has also worked with SPPG to place such equipment within a protection zone where, in the event of failure, the impact will be isolated to minimise the risk of a cascading effect affecting other substations. The Government takes a serious view of ensuring that our power system remains reliable and secure. EMA has also stepped up its regulatory oversight on how SPPG monitors and maintains the health of our power system. Separately, SPPG has engaged an independent consultant to review and recommend enhancements to its equipment replacement and maintenance regime, as well as its monitoring work practices.”
“From 2014 to 2018, local visitors to the Singapore Zoological Gardens have remained at about 1.8 million a year. The number of tourist visitors increased from two million in 2014 to 2.7 million in 2018, in tandem with the growth in visitors to Singapore. The Singapore Zoo, Night Safari and River Safari will be rejuvenated to complement the two upcoming parks, an indoor attraction, and an eco-resort that is being developed in Mandai. For Gardens by the Bay, which has both gated and ungated attractions, the number of local visitors grew from 4.3 million in 2014 to 6.4 million in 2018. The number of tourist visitors grew from 2.5 million to six million over the same period. For Sentosa, the number of local visitors fell from 7.5 million in 2014 to 4.2 million in 2018, while the number of tourist visitors grew from 11.8 million to 15.5 million. Sentosa Development Corporation (SDC) is reviewing its plans and piloting new ideas to attract more locals by increasing the range and affordability of Sentosa's offerings. For example, the free-for-entry Sentosa FunFest, held during this year's March school holidays, featured more than 800 Sanrio inflatables along Palawan Beach, along with a Kid's Maze and a foam pool. The event attracted over 140,000 visitors over nine days. SDC is also working with private sector partners to implement the new initiatives, including night events and unique attractions, that will appeal to both locals and tourists.”
“There were 3,698 cases of gas leaks involving Housing and Development Board (HDB) flats in the past three years. This is equivalent to an annual average of 0.15% of all HDB flats with town gas pipes. Most of these cases are minor leaks with the common causes, including loose connections to the gas appliances, corroded/damaged pipes, or damaged gas appliances. As a safety measure, home owners must engage a gas service worker licensed by Energy Market Authority (EMA) to install the town gas pipes and gas appliances, as well as test for gas leakages, before their gas supply can be turned on. Subsequently, PowerGas, which maintains the town gas network, is responsible for inspecting the gas pipes within HDB flats once every 15 years to check for any gas leaks or defects in gas installations. As an added safety precaution, City Gas is required to odorise town gas to make it easier to detect a gas leak. Home owners who suspect a leak can contact the emergency services hotlines, as well as PowerGas' 24-hour hotline. PowerGas will dispatch a response team within an hour. Additionally, EMA and PowerGas regularly use various platforms to raise public awareness about gas safety, such as how to respond to a suspected gas leak.”
“The Fair Tenancy Framework was developed by the Singapore Business Federation (SBF) in 2015. The Framework encourages tenants and landlords to conduct open, transparent and fair tenancy negotiations by establishing a set of clear leasing guidelines and negotiation principles for businesses looking to rent premises for commercial activities. Since the launch of the Framework, SBF has been actively promoting its adoption through its small and medium enterprise (SME) Conventions and quarterly seminars. SBF does not collect statistics on the adoption rates of the Framework. The Government welcomes this ground-up initiative by the business community. Government landlords which offer retail space to the private sector, such as the Housing and Development Board, are broadly aligned with the Framework. The Government has also released more data on retail rents to help retail SMEs make more informed leasing decisions.”
“Mr Png Eng Huat asked for an update on the new initiatives for the next general election. As announced previously, the Elections Department (ELD) intends to implement e-registration of voters to make the process more efficient. This will be ready for the next general election. For the polling booths, ELD worked with students from the Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT), and a prototype booth using low-cost environmentally friendly recyclable material appears promising. ELD is in the process of finalising the design with SIT and will pilot these booths at the next election, if ready. ELD has also designed a portable booth so that voters on wheelchairs can mark their ballot papers by placing such booths on their lap. ELD will also introduce the use of self-inking pens, which imprint an "X", to allow voters to mark their choice clearly and easily without ambiguity. Such self-inking pens require minimum pressure to mark the ballot papers, making it easy for everyone, including the elderly, to use. During vote counting, the use of this self-inking pen will reduce the need for Assistant Returning Officers to adjudicate ballot papers, since the voter's choice is clearly marked. ELD will arrange to show these new initiatives to representatives of political parties and allow them to try and provide feedback on the new equipment later this year. ELD will subsequently conduct roadshows to familiarise voters with the new equipment.”
“The simple example is this: for what we call the low-mix, high-volume production, most of them will not come to Singapore because they compete on the basis of scale, labour costs, land costs. But what will come to Singapore will be what we call the high-mix, low-volume. This is where trust, standards, quality, assurance, intellectual property (IP) protection will become very important. And we have seen more of such investments siting in Singapore. So, just to give an example, last week, I went to GSK to open the new facilities. Today's precision medicine is no longer just producing high volume at low cost. Those kinds of medicine and drugs will probably shift to other countries where there is a cost-competitive advantage. But GSK will be very keen to work with EDB to site their high-mix, low-volume pharmaceutical products in Singapore. Why? Because for such high-mix, low-volume production, they require speed to market. Which means that your supply chain, your distribution networks must be robust. That, we do better than most other countries. For such industries, it will require a strong IP regime where people can enforce their IP. That, we also do well. For such productions to happen in small batches, high volume, you require a certain agility in your regulatory framework, which we also do well. So, there are and there will be sectors that will play to Singapore's advantage. But it does not mean that everything that moves out of China or moves out of India will necessarily come to Singapore. That is not our strategy. 3.04 pm”
“Mr Speaker, let me deal with the first one. Indeed, the restrictions on export of what is deemed as a sensitive technology will have implications for the entire global technological ecosystem. In the short term, various companies and countries may be able to take measures to shift their production or supply chains elsewhere. This is what we call the substitution effect. But, in the longer term, what we are most worried about is that it will lead to a bifurcation, if not a fragmentation, of the entire technological space. If that happens, then we are all the worse for it because it means that the global production system cannot be optimised as a whole, but it will be sub-optimised in parts. This will lead to increased costs, a fragmented production chain and so forth. So, that will be the greatest concern. Our Singapore strategy remains that we will thrive to be able to interoperate across the different jurisdictions and different systems. But we must also inspire confidence in people who put their investments here that, even in such a world, we are able to manage the different sensitivities across different countries properly. On the Member's second part about the shifts in the global supply chain, indeed, to use a very specific example, some people have said that various productions and supply chains have shifted out from China in the global reorganisation of that product chain. Some of it will come to some parts of the region, around here. Some of it might come to Singapore. But I must say that Singapore does not compete with the rest of the regional economies for the entire shift in the global production chain. There are some things that we do much better; there are some things that will not be re-allocated here.”
“The third prong which we must always bear in mind and, sometimes, not so obvious in the public consciousness in our economic strategy, will be how we manage our Reserves and where we put our investments. Today, we are in a fortunate position whereby for every $5 we spend in the Budget, slightly more than $1 this year comes from our returns from our investment. This has given the Singapore economy a significant boost and helped our budgetary constraints very much. And thus, we must continue to harness our Reserves judiciously to make sure that we create the biggest positive impact for Singaporeans. So, going forward, our economic strategy is not just about looking at what we can do domestically, between local firms and foreign firms operating here. We must also look at how we grow the external wing, our GNP, and how we master our investment resources to make sure that we have the ammunition for us to weather the storm.”
“How do we have a sizeable base of companies that operate beyond Singapore but contributing back to the Singapore economy? And I will use the example of PSA. Once upon a time, we believed that the port is critical to Singapore and we continue to believe so. But a port has two possible functions. One is to promote trade with a particular country. The other – most ports are like that – they serve the local domestic economy. But there is a second way of looking at the port, which is the way the Singapore port has developed. We are an exchange platform so that people do not just trade with Singapore; people trade through Singapore. So, night, the vast majority of the containers that come to Singapore come through Singapore and we are a major exchange hub. But having done that, it is still not sufficient because trade routes might change, and the global supply chains and patterns will also change, which is why, over the years, PSA has built up a string of ports all around the world, allowing them not just to be a port operator, but allowing them to be global logistics players. So, even if the goods do not come to Singapore or come through Singapore, they will trade on the PSA platform or on the Singapore platform. This is a new way of looking at how we should do business. That is why Enterprise Singapore (ESG), together with the rest of our economic agencies, is spending so much effort to help our companies to use the world as our hinterland and never be constrained by our geographical size or geographical location. And that will be the next lap of our economic development, and that will be one way where we break the conventional paradigm of the GDP equation which Mr Liang mentioned C+I+G+X-M.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, indeed, Mr Liang Eng Hwa has raised a very serious concern for all of us, not just Singapore, but for all countries that are participating in the global trading system. As countries become more nationalistic and undertake more unilateralist or protectionist measures, it is a concern to all. The concern will be that there will not just be a shift in the supply chains or the distribution networks or the production sites. The greater concern will be a general fall in investor and consumer confidence. For Singapore to respond to this scenario, we must make sure that our companies have real capabilities that can allow them to interoperate across a more fragmented landscape. This is not easy. But this is something that we must do in the face of a potential fragmentation of the global economy. On the Member's second question, as any economics student will know the GDP equation of C+I+G+X-M, that is, for GDP. How must Singapore grow our economy, going forward? What the Member is alluding to, if I read him correctly, is that we must not just look at what is happening domestically in Singapore. And indeed, that is true. There are three things that we should be focused on. First, what happens domestically. How do we help our companies and workers to build real capabilities in order to contest in the new world environment? That is domestic. How do we help them access markets; how do we make sure that the rules allow our companies to overcome both the tariff and the non-tariff barriers? So, that is the first part of how we need to run our economy. The second part of how we need to run our economy goes beyond the GDP equation that we just mentioned. And we talked about the gross national product (GNP).”
“Once concluded, RCEP will be the world's largest free trade area, bringing together economies accounting for a third of the global GDP and almost half of the world's population. The potential for Singapore businesses will be enormous. At the same time, we will also review and upgrade our current partnerships, including the China-Singapore FTA, and the Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA) with India. These upgrades will increase the benefits that Singapore companies already gain from the existing FTAs. Today, more than 90% of Singapore's trade is covered by our various FTAs. These efforts will ensure that our external linkages remain strong whatever happens elsewhere in the world. And collectively, they will give Team Singapore the best chance for success. As Members can see, we are closely monitoring economic developments. While there are clouds looming, we believe we have the fundamentals to weather the storm. Our economic fundamentals are sound. We are in a strong fiscal position, and we are making good progress in restructuring our economy. The Government also stands ready to step up our support for companies and workers in sustaining our core capabilities, enhancing our competitiveness to seize new opportunities. So, let us work together, plant the seeds for tomorrow's growth, till the land, and we should have a good harvest.”
“But we can do a better job helping our companies scale up and grow. Enterprise Singapore will, therefore, launch the "Scale-up SG" programme on Wednesday to provide customised assistance to high potential companies to grow and internationalise. We must also continue to work hard to translate our R&D capabilities into new business opportunities with our companies. And there is no lack of opportunities and possibilities in Singapore. We can only be constrained by our imagination. To realise all these plans, we will continue to do our part to promote a conducive global and regional business environment with like-minded countries and companies. This is the third prong of our economic strategy. Digital trade is one such example. It is a key driver of our future economic growth. We will continue to advocate for an integrated, global digital economy. This includes our efforts to co-develop international trade rules for the digital economy. This is the reason why we are co-convenors of the Joint Statement Initiative on E-commerce (JSI) at the WTO which has since attracted participation from 78 countries. We are also pursuing a pathfinder Digital Economy Partnership Agreement with Chile and New Zealand, and we are working with Australia on digital economy initiatives, which will all help to provide greater opportunities for our businesses in an increasingly digitalised future. We will also continue to strengthen and deepen and diversify our trade links. We will forge new partnerships through ongoing negotiations in the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), as we call it, and the Pacific Alliance Free Trade Agreement (FTA).”
“We will also redevelop entire tracts at Sungei Kadut and Kranji for new industries. To enrich our tourism offerings, we are rejuvenating the two Integrated Resorts, transforming Orchard Road and exploring a tourism site at Jurong Lake District. We will also be developing Mandai and the Greater Southern Waterfront. These initiatives will enhance our position as a global city for business and leisure. Beyond transforming existing sectors and industries, we are also developing brand new sectors. For example, we are establishing a new Agri-Food Innovation Park in Sungei Kadut to realise our agritech ambitions. The Innovation Park will bring together high-tech precision farming and research and development (R&D) activities, including indoor plant factories, insect farms and animal feed production facilities. This will create a completely new range of jobs in agriculture and give a new generation of young technopreneur farmers the platform to commercialise their ideas. Another new area that we are focusing on is Precision Medicine. This uses each patient's biological data to more precisely predict, diagnose and treat diseases. EDB is working hard to bring to Singapore various biotech firms, medical technology firms and digital health players. I have just opened Glaxo Smith Kline's (GSK's) two new manufacturing facilities last week. GSK is investing more than $100 million in Singapore to produce new medicines faster, with a lower carbon footprint. GSK's investment reflects their continued confidence in Singapore's future. Besides transforming entire sectors, we will also support our companies to better harness the regional and global opportunities. We already have a vibrant startup sector at Block 71, one-north.”
“Third, superior connectivity in supply chains and distribution networks, spanning the physical dimensions like air, land and sea, and including the non-physical dimensions of data, finance, talent, technology and rules. Fourth, a skilled workforce that continues to upgrade itself through training and retraining. Fifth, a progressive tripartite partnership that enables the Government, businesses and labour to overcome our challenges together. Each of these attributes enhances our competitiveness. Collectively, they enable Singapore to be much more than the sum of its individual parts. That is why the International Institute for Management Development (IMD) recently ranked Singapore the world’s most competitive economy. We must, however, extend our lead, by continuing to build on these fundamentals and seizing new opportunities. Let me now touch on the new opportunities, that is, the second prong of our economic strategy, and it is to constantly refresh our offerings to business and investors. As a small, open economy, Singapore must always adapt to changing external circumstances, and harness the power of our people and technology. We are making encouraging progress transforming our industries through the work of the Future Economy Council (FEC) and the Industry Transformation Maps (ITMs). For example, in Advanced Manufacturing, we are creating new niche areas, such as additive manufacturing and advanced materials. Our strong manufacturing sector will allow us to plug into global supply chains to meet demand from emerging adjacent industries, such as electric vehicles. We will build the next-generation industrial and technological estates, such as the Jurong Innovation District (JID) and the Punggol Digital District.”
“Unfortunately, the multilateral trading system is currently under stress. The risks of economic balkanisation, where markets are bifurcated and trade, talent and data flows are disrupted, have grown. An increasingly protectionist global environment would reduce our access to markets. When we are all reduced to competing for a slice of a shrinking economic pie, no one wins. The second is the emergence of global rules that may affect our status as a global trading hub. For instance, ongoing discussions to introduce minimum effective tax rates across countries will affect our competitiveness and carbon caps will constrain our growth potential. We must navigate this carefully to preserve our economic space. The third is our ability to harness our new technologies and create opportunities, especially in the digital economy. I will elaborate on this shortly. Let me now talk about our strategies to manage these challenges and to seize the new opportunities. To overcome these challenges and seize the opportunities, we will focus our economic strategy on three prongs: first, strengthen our fundamentals to distinguish ourselves from the competition; second, create opportunities by constantly refreshing our offerings to business and investors; and third, promote a conducive global and regional business environment with like-minded countries and companies. Let me elaborate on the first, strengthening our fundamentals to distinguish ourselves amidst the uncertainty. Our fundamentals that have put us in good stead include the following: First, a stable political environment with a competent and united leadership. Second, a pro-business environment, including rule of law, a pro-innovation regulatory environment, and a safe harbour for talent and ideas.”
“MTI will review our forecast in August, taking into account the full set of economic data for the second quarter, as well as the latest external economic conditions. Let me touch on the second part of my answer and the medium-term outlook for Singapore. The medium-term outlook for the Singapore economy will be determined by the following factors. First, how the US-China trade conflict develops. Further tariffs will impact more goods and bring about even greater reorganisation of global supply chains. The IMF had estimated that the US-China tariffs could cut global economic output by 0.5 percentage points in 2020. Both countries' agreement to resume trade negotiations is welcome news, but there are fundamental disagreements between them and those will take time to resolve. Prolonged US-China tensions will further undermine global business and consumer confidence. Second, our medium-term outlook will depend on how our major export markets perform. Southeast Asia remains a bright spark, and the US economy appears to be holding up. However, China's economy could slow down more sharply than expected due to the trade conflict with the US and this could further dampen its import demand from the region. And Europe needs a decisive resolution on Brexit. While we must weather these immediate challenges, we must, more importantly, navigate more fundamental shifts in the global economy that will shape our medium- to long-term prospects. One is the future of the multilateral trading system. Over the past 40 years, Singapore has benefited from increased economic integration and free trade, underpinned by international rules that apply to countries big and small, and anchored by the World Trade Organization (WTO).”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I will group the answers into three parts: first, the state of Singapore's economy; second, our medium-term outlook; and third, our strategies to manage the challenges and seize new opportunities. The global economic environment has weakened. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has lowered its forecast for global gross domestic product (GDP) growth this year by 0.2 percentage points, from 3.5% to 3.3%. Key uncertainties include (a) the United States (US)-China trade dispute, which has gone beyond retaliatory tariffs to other areas, including restrictions on technology access and sales; (b) the uncertainty and risk of a disorderly Brexit; and (c) the political uncertainties of some regional economies. All these have dampened consumer and business confidence. Lower demand in our key export markets has, in turn, affected our outward-oriented sectors, such as electronics, precision engineering and wholesale trade, whose performance remains weak. Although the Economic Development Board (EDB) is on track to achieving its foreign investment targets for this year, we are watching businesses' investment decisions very closely. However, there are pockets of strength in our economy. The information and communications sector is expected to grow, given firms’ robust demand for information technology and digital solutions. The education, health and social services sector is similarly expected to remain resilient. The construction sector has also turned around after three years of contraction. Our labour market remains resilient. Employment continued to increase in the first quarter of the year, while unemployment remains low at 2.2%. In May, the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI) projected that our economy would grow between 1.5% and 2.5% this year.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, may I have your permission to answer Question Nos 12 to 17 together?”
“To grow a pipeline of software engineers who can develop mobility solutions, we have also been supporting various artificial intelligence and data analytics training programmes. I encourage Singaporeans to take advantage of these training opportunities to upgrade their skills and prepare themselves for these new opportunities.”
“Attracting investments to build electric cars is part of our larger strategy to develop a smart mobility ecosystem in Singapore. This ecosystem includes hardware, such as highly automated vehicle assembly and automotive component manufacturing, as well as software, such as smart mobility platforms. This, in turn, will create many more new jobs. For instance, Dyson’s new automotive manufacturing facility in Singapore will require more engineers. Grab’s new research and development centre at one-north can house 3,000 employees. A vibrant smart mobility ecosystem will not only create new jobs but also benefit adjacent industries which we have already established here. Our semiconductor companies, such as ST Microelectronics, will see increased demand for high-value automotive electronics, including sensors, processors, communication and power electronics. Our information and communications technology companies, such as Singtel, will benefit from the demand in secure and reliable communications systems. Our financial institutions can also develop new financial or insurance products for the mobility businesses. Smart mobility is a rapidly evolving industry. While we cannot provide exact numbers now, the Ministry of Trade and Industry is confident that the whole ecosystem, including the supporting industries, will create many diverse and exciting jobs. Government agencies will continue to work with companies, training providers and the unions to prepare Singaporeans to take on these jobs. For instance, for manufacturing-related jobs, we have been supporting workers to learn and adopt Industry 4.0 technologies.”
“These moves will ensure that Singapore has a good chance of sustaining our competitiveness and remaining relevant in the global economy. The Government is also committed to work in tandem with leading global and local ICT and tech companies to encourage industry investments that complement Government efforts in building a thriving ecosystem of digital opportunities for all.”
“There is strong mutual desire between Singapore and GBA authorities to nurture and grow a vibrant digital economy. The various platforms that have been established allow for active exchange of ideas and collaboration between government, companies, universities and research institutes. This will lead to opportunities for Singapore’s information and communications technology (ICT), financial and other companies in the GBA in the areas of technology innovation, infrastructure development, data management, and digitalisation. We will also continue to build on our competitiveness as a financial hub. Singapore has deep strengths across a range of financial activities, including asset management, foreign exchange and derivatives, insurance and reinsurance. We are a major United States dollar funding market and our capital markets serve not just Southeast Asia, but the pan-Asian region. Singapore is also a leading centre for FinTech. At the same time, the Singapore Government continues to invest heavily to help our businesses and people remain competitive and translate opportunities into tangible gains. We do so by continually strengthening our value propositions by acquiring deep skills, improving our productivity, and encouraging innovation. For example, the Digital Economy Framework for Action introduced last year covers programmes, such as the small and medium enterprises (SMEs) Go Digital Programme, which supports SMEs in their digitalisation efforts to improve their productivity. The TechSkills Accelerator programme, on the other hand, equips ICT professionals to take on deeper tech roles, and for non-ICT workers to switch to a tech career.”
“Singapore welcomes the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA)1, which is part of China's strategy to promote the integrated development of its various regions2. The GBA aims to become a vibrant world-class city cluster and global innovation hub that will lead China's further reforms and opening up. This will create new opportunities that are beneficial to regional economies. Given our strong ties with GBA cities and businesses, Singapore is well-placed to tap on potential business opportunities in the GBA. Singapore agencies and counterparts at the Guangdong Provincial People's Government know one another well. Singapore holds regular ministerial meetings with Guangdong through the Singapore-Guangdong Collaboration Council. In November 2018, the China-Singapore Guangzhou Knowledge City (CSGKC) was also elevated as a State-Level Bilateral Cooperation project to promote cooperation in areas, such as technology innovation, intellectual property rights, and advanced manufacturing. The GBA outline development plan highlights the CSGKC as a key technology innovation platform. As part of our engagement with the GBA, Singapore will also twin with Shenzhen under the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Smart Cities Network. Hong Kong is another GBA city which Singapore is well-connected to. The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) and the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) meet regularly to discuss financial regulatory issues. MAS and HKMA have signed agreements to cooperate, including a financial technology (FinTech) Cooperation Agreement and a Memorandum of Understanding to facilitate digital trade and trade financing between our two markets.”
“Where a child's entire weight is to be placed on a product, parents should check the product's recommended maximum weight capacity to ensure it is suitable for their children. Baby rockers should only be used on the floor and not on elevated or soft surfaces as they may tip over and cause injury or suffocation. Parents should also supervise their children and secure them with restraints when they are in baby rockers.”
“Enterprise Singapore (ESG) oversees the safety of general consumer products sold in Singapore. General consumer products, including products for use by children, that are not regulated under any other legislations, are required to meet applicable international safety standards under the Consumer Protection (Consumer Goods Safety Requirements) Regulations administered by ESG. While these general consumer goods are not required to be pre-approved before they are sold in the market, ESG monitors safety issues in such goods via consumer feedback and overseas consumer product notices and will work with suppliers to address any safety concerns quickly. Based on the information it gathers, ESG conducts tests on selected consumer products in the market to ensure that they are safe. Suppliers found with non-compliant products will be asked to rectify or stop sale. This risk-based approach towards product safety regulation allows general consumer products, which have lower safety risks, to enter the market quickly without the need for comprehensive but resource-intensive testing. This approach balances safeguarding consumer safety and ensuring market efficiency. ESG is aware that Fisher-Price has issued a voluntary recall globally, including in Singapore, of its Rock 'N Play Sleepers and has issued an alert warning consumers to discontinue the use of the product. ESG has also published the alert on its website in April 2019. Consumers are strongly encouraged to respond to the product recall by Fisher-Price. Parents should exercise vigilance when buying and using products for their children, including observing the safety labels on products.”
“The Competition and Consumer Commission is also empowered with investigation and enforcement powers under the Consumer Protection (Fair Trading) Act to take action against errant suppliers who persist in unfair trading practices. The Police can also investigate if there is fraudulent activity involved in the sale of tickets. We assess that our current position strikes an appropriate balance between protecting consumers and allowing market forces to operate. We will continue to monitor international developments and the experience of countries with anti-scalping laws and adjust our position if necessary.”
“Generally, there is no prohibition against the resale of goods and services in Singapore, including concerts and sports events tickets, subject to the terms and conditions of the event organiser. The margin which resellers can command is freely determined between willing buyers and sellers. Event organisers can prohibit resale. Some have put in place measures to curb the unauthorised sales of their tickets. These include printing the names of event goers on tickets and stating clearly that the tickets are not transferrable. Event organisers may also conduct identification checks and void tickets which have been sold by unauthorised sellers. The Government's approach on consumer protection is based on promoting fair trading by businesses and helping consumers make informed purchasing decisions. We encourage consumers to take steps to protect themselves before making their purchases. Consumers who are purchasing tickets of concerts and sports events can, for example, check the terms and conditions of such tickets carefully before making their purchases, and compare the resale price with the original price of the tickets. If consumers are unsure about the legitimacy of the tickets they are about to buy, they should approach the official event organisers for verification to avoid paying for a ticket which may be subsequently voided by event organisers. If consumers have reason to believe that suppliers have engaged in unfair trading practices in the sale of tickets, for example, false and misleading claims, they can approach the Consumers Association of Singapore (CASE) with details of these practices for CASE to assist them in seeking redress from the suppliers.”
“My Ministry and agencies do not have comprehensive data on the amount of medical expenditure incurred by overseas visitors in Singapore. Medical tourism is not part of our tourism strategy.”
“Consumers should also be aware that the usage of every product will carry inherent risks. We strongly encourage consumers to exercise vigilance when purchasing and charging electrical devices. When purchasing PABs and PMDs, consumers should buy from reputable sources and be alert to prices which look too good to be true. Besides ensuring that the Safety Mark is on the adaptor, consumers should also avoid overcharging or tampering with the electrical components of their devices.”
“Electrical devices, such as power-assisted bicycles (PAB) and motorised personal mobility devices (PMD) should be tested for their safety as a whole, rather than having components, such as lithium-ion batteries, tested in isolation. Unlike most consumer electrical devices, PMDs and PABs are exposed to harsher conditions, such as wet weather and uneven ground. In this regard, the testing of the device, as a whole, takes into consideration how the overall design and materials used are able to withstand expected operating conditions of the device. To safeguard fire safety risks, the Land Transport Authority announced earlier that it will require all motorised PMDs intended for use on public paths to be certified to the UL2272 standard from 1 January 2021. PABs that are approved after 1 February 2016 for use on public roads and paths are also required to adhere to the EN15194 standard. Both the UL2272 and EN15194 standards can improve the fire and electrical safety of PMDs and PABs respectively. Enterprise Singapore (ESG) oversees the product safety of 33 categories of common household appliances, including power adaptors used to charge PABs and motorised PMDs through the Consumer Protection (Safety Requirements) Regulations. These goods have to be registered with ESG and affixed with the Safety Mark before they can be sold in Singapore. In addition, ESG administers the Consumer Protection (Consumer Goods Safety Requirements) Regulations, which requires general consumer products not regulated under any other legislation to meet applicable international or regional safety standards. ESG conducts post-market testing, and suppliers found with non-compliant products will be asked to rectify or stop sale.”
“First, I would like to reiterate that the exercise is one for the safety of the team and the crew and also to bring out the best from each. So, the correct way for us to do is that when someone comes into a job, the HR will work with them confidentially to see whether there are any limitations that that person might want to highlight, so that HR knows how best to put the person into the correct fit. It would be quite bad for us to put someone into a job that demands something from that person which is beyond what that person is capable of doing. We should be very careful to do that for the safety of the individual and the safety of the organisation. So, these are things best for us to work confidentially between the HR and the respective individuals. But I just want to say that nobody should feel that by revealing your medical record you would in any way impede your career progression. The revelation of the discussion of one's medical history with the HR is for the purpose of the safety of the individual so that the organisation can extend the necessary help and design the appropriate job scope for the individual. And that is my assurance to the House. 11.32 am”
“I would put it down to job fit. The job fit requires us to understand the capabilities of the individuals concerned. The job fit also requires the organisations to have a clear understanding of what the individual is capable of. From my experience in the Ministry of Social and Family Development, it is not just in the Public Service sector alone. Many organisations can do much better than in our efforts to try to understand the capabilities, the abilities of the people that we are talking about and not the disabilities of the people we are talking about. So, that is the first part. The second part, it does and it is true that organisations will need to take on a bit of work, responsibility to redesign some of the jobs from the type of tools that are being used to the workflow that is being used. That requires a bit of effort and that is another area that we can do much more together, with SG Enable's help, to see how we can redesign the job processes. Sometimes, it is not as difficult as we imagine it to be. So, these are the two key factors as to why it is so. The third factor that I have come across is this. We also need to be able to do a much better job in helping our people with disability to profile what they can do to bring out the best in them. And this is something that we can all help, together with SG Enable. These are my own experiences of how we can lift the numbers of people with special needs in employment.”
“The greatest assurance is what I have just spoken about. I am the Minister-in-charge of the Public Service and I tell everyone that when we ask people for their medical condition, it is not to blacklist anybody or that this will in anyway limit their progression. In fact, we want the person to be safe, we want the workplace that they work in to be safe, so we need to understand their medical conditions and we see how we can help them in that sense. That assurance comes from me down to every level in the Public Service. The safety of the individual, the safety of the team and the crew are of utmost concern to us when they conduct any jobs. We always teach our people, even from my own organisation – I grew up in the SAF – that we must make sure that we know ourselves, know the capabilities of ourselves, know the capabilities of our team members so that we do not put one another in danger, so that we can all accomplish the mission together. That philosophy remains that we should not see their declaration of medical condition as a blacklisting exercise or in any way impeding their progress. It is an exercise to make sure that we know the capabilities of the respective members, the limitations of the respective members, so that we can put everyone's potential to good use.”
“Many of the declarations on medical things are in confidence, so when we ask people to let the organisation know, it is not with the view of a punitive action. It is, in fact, to make sure that there are some special needs that the organisation should be aware of, then to make sure that we can better take care of the person. Let us say the person, for whatever personal reason, decides not to declare medical in staff confidence questions, I think we can understand that. But I also want to reassure the House that it is not for punishment or to blacklist anybody. In fact, if anybody declares a medical condition, it is so that we can better take care of the person and that we will not unnecessarily stress the person beyond the point of their capability. Just to follow on Ms Denise Phua's point, I agree with the Member that we can do more to help our people be aware of the opportunities and the potential of the special needs community. I think the greatest rewards for our public servants who embrace such things is because they know deep in their hearts that they are doing the right thing. They are upholding the kind of values that we exemplify and this is much more important to them than any tangible, physical awards. That should be how we go forward as a society. It is the kind of values that we want to express, rather than tangible rewards per se.”
“So, my assurance to the public is that, for the Public Service at least, they have the latitude to go forth in this, and they are not constrained by the manpower quotas in the usual sense.”
“I think I did not use that word but Ms Denise Phua used the word. We do not want tokenism. That is not what we want. We want people to really focus on the abilities of what this community can provide. Today, as for the Public Service, it is not a secret as in nobody knows about it. Actually, they all know about it. But I think what we can encourage people to do is to see the examples of those who have embraced the community with special needs and how they have played a constructive and positive part in this whole journey. And that will encourage more people to come on board. Today, I looked at the numbers, they are not under any constraints. In fact, they are free from the manpower constraints. They have not hit anywhere near, if you like, the pool of available quota that we have made available. This is over and above what the usual manpower quotas will be. So, I think there is great scope for us to do more and I will take the Member's suggestion that we can definitely do more to promote good practices and share some of the best practices in many of these jobs available. Personally, I have visited some of the call centres, including the private ones, where people think that people with special needs are less efficient. But actually it is not true. Because sometimes when we have a disability in one of our faculties, we become much more focused in another, and they end up being even more productive than what we call normal people. So, there are some stories that we can share to encourage our people to embrace them. At the same time, we all need to take some effort to redesign some of the jobs in our respective organisations.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I thank Ms Denise Phua for her suggestion. This is something that is close to my heart and I have discussed this long and hard with my staff as to whether we should set a target. Today, we do not set a target, but we have something better than that. Let me explain. If we set a target, people usually try to meet the target. But I really do not want people to meet the target for the sake of meeting the target. I want people to look at the people based on what they can do, to focus on their abilities rather than their disabilities and fit them into the job, redesign the job to fit the person. The best incentive for the Public Service to do this in a manpower crunch situation is this: we have a separate quota. In a sense, we do not count in against the usual manpower headcount. So, you can employ more people that is not under your headcount. And every agency has great incentive to do this when there is a manpower tightness in the labour market.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, on the challenges that the Public Service sector faces, they are no different from any other in the private sector. Basically, we look for a job fit, and, in line with the Member's second question, the issue is really not to look at what the people cannot do, but to look at what the people can do and then to design the job scope to fit it with the abilities of the people. So, we look at the abilities rather than the disabilities.”
“Beyond tapping on the support schemes provided by SG Enable, the Public Service is also committed to providing opportunities for our officers with special needs to develop their skills and enhance their ability to perform work in different areas. One good example is Vital, which employs a number of persons with special needs in the Payroll and Claims division. Initially, these officers were assigned duties in claims verification. Once they were familiar with claims verification, they were exposed to payroll processing and eventually were able to take on work in this area as well. Our officers with special needs are also given a fair chance to be considered for promotion, if they demonstrate good performance and the ability to take on a larger role. In fact, more than 70% of the officers with special needs in the Civil Service had been promoted at least once. We hope that our commitment to supporting the employment of differently-abled individuals, and the positive experience that we have had doing so, will encourage other employers to come on board in this effort. To this end, some of our public agencies like MOM and the Government Technology Agency (GovTech) have worked with SG Enable to feature some of our officers with special needs in their outreach efforts.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, as at 31 December 2018, there are more than 300 persons with special needs employed in the Public Service. We do not track the number of officers who are recovering from mental health conditions. As an inclusive employer, the Public Service is committed to supporting the employment of persons with special needs to take on meaningful jobs in accordance with their abilities. Public agencies have been working closely with SG Enable to drive the hiring of persons with special needs in the Public Service. Our efforts include advertising suitable vacancies on SG Enable's job portal and participating in career fairs and programmes, such as job shadowing, internship and mentorship organised by SG Enable. Agencies can also tap on SG Enable’s Workplace Disability Inclusive Index, advisory and consultancy services, attend disability management workshops and training, or access SG Enable's online resources. Once these individuals are in our employment, public agencies also work with SG Enable to train and integrate them into the organisations through employee training, workplace modifications and job redesign. For instance, the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth had installed magnifier software and equipment to help two officers with special needs read documents on the computer screen and in hard copies more clearly and easily. The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) had also modified its workplace to improve wheelchair accessibility for an officer with limited physical mobility and provided a modified telephone and headset to enable her to make and receive phone calls with greater ease.”
“This is part of our wider strategy to ensure that we will never be held ransom by any one particular market for our supply chains or for the market for our products and services. So, this, we must continue to do, regardless of whether it is Malaysia or any one particular market. But the Member is right, Malaysia is our next-door neighbour, our closest neighbour. Because they are our closest neighbour, all the more we must make sure that we continue to diversify and take this issue very seriously, that our economy is never held ransom or dependent on a single source.”
“Mr Chairman, let me thank Mr Low Thia Khiang for his two clarifications. Let me take the second one first. Whether we see the defence industry as able to contribute to our overall economy, the answer is definitely yes. In fact, if you look at ST Engineering today, I do not have the exact numbers, but if I am not wrong, almost half of their business comes from the non-defence sector. So, there is some cross-pollination of ideas and benefits in growing ST Engineering companies. And there are examples that my colleagues have given just now. So, the answer is definitely yes. The defence industry, either directly or indirectly, through the use of the related technologies, can benefit the wider economy. On Mr Low Thia Khiang's first question about the impact of the issues with Malaysia on the Singapore economy, there are two levels that we must always bear in mind. First, is that Malaysia is part of the wider ASEAN economy and, obviously, any uncertainties in Malaysia's economy will affect Singapore, just as it will affect the regional countries. Our position is that we continue to look for win-win situations and win-win projects together with Malaysia because we always believe that a prosperous Malaysia that is doing well economically is good for Malaysia, is good for the region. We will continue on this mode, this kind of mental model that we are seeking win-win cooperation. Having said that, of course, any disruption to the Malaysian economy can have and will have a significant impact on Singapore's economy, which is why, over the last few months, MTI has been encouraging our companies to seriously consider the impact of Malaysia’s political and economic trajectory. We asked and encouraged our companies to diversify their sources, their supply chains and their markets.”
“This will be a critical milestone because this will be a point where we will make the political decision and show the political commitment that all the 16 countries want to get it done this year. So, the first part of the year, we will see the frontloading of the technical aspects of the work. In the third quarter of this year, we hope to see a resolution on the political direction after the completion of the four regional elections. In the meantime, the respective working groups are working hard to close off the remaining chapters and the technical issues.”
“Mr Chairman, let me thank Mr Liang Eng Hwa for his question. Yes, indeed, I just came back from Cambodia. In Cambodia over the weekend, the Ministers had a good discussion on RCEP. What I sense from my RCEP Ministerial colleagues is that all of them have reaffirmed their determination to try their best to conclude RCEP this year. More so than last year, they understand the strategic significance of RCEP and also the criticality of the timing of RCEP. In a world where we see the rise of protectionism, unilateral moves by various countries and so forth, many in Southeast Asia and in the rest of Asia see the urgency to try to conclude this, not just for the economic benefits alone but also because of the positive message we want to send to the rest of the world of how we collectively believe in greater integration for the greater good of our peoples. Over the weekend, the Ministers have agreed on a 2019 workplan which will include intermediate targets to be achieved each month for us to ensure that we get to the finishing line by the end of this year. Under Thailand's ASEAN chairmanship, we see this as a very positive development. However, as Mr Liang Eng Hwa said, there are a few uncertainties. In particular, there are four regional elections: India, Indonesia, Thailand and Australia. From now till the end of May, these four countries will be very involved in their domestic elections. What the Ministers have directed the negotiators to focus on is to make sure that we clear as much of the technical issues as possible from now till June. The next critical milestone for the Ministerial meeting will be in August this year in China.”
“Senior Minister of State Chee Hong Tat will elaborate on Scale-up SG and our enterprise-centric approach to move away from grants to support enterprises in levelling up and teaming up to build real capabilities. And we agree fully with the comment that we need a customised approach and it will not be a one-size-fits-all approach for all our 200,000 enterprises that are of varying sizes with differing needs. Our final strategy is to ensure that we have an ecosystem that empowers businesses and consumers. Senior Parliamentary Secretary Tan Wu Meng will speak about the enablers we are developing to support a well-functioning market. This includes creating a pro-enterprise regulatory environment, promoting competition, and protecting consumers. Mr Chairman, I have outlined the measures in place to ensure that the Singapore economy is prepared for its next phase of growth. By developing markets, industries, enterprises and enablers, we can be confident of overcoming our limitations of size and punching above our weight. This will include making sure that our workers keep pace with the skills upgrading necessary for them to get better jobs with better pay. Economic growth cannot be an end in itself. It is the means by which we generate good jobs and better wages for all Singaporeans. It is the strong foundation upon which we build our social progress and mobility. And this is our social compact. Amidst global uncertainty, Singapore can once again distinguish ourselves by transforming ourselves to take advantage of new technologies and new markets. Together, we can create a better future for all Singaporeans.”