Cheng Hsing Yao
Singapore
“In Singapore, we will have to continue to deal with all sorts of divisive issues, such as on wealth, foreigners, as well as race and religion. We need to be careful with the kind of ideas we promulgate. We may unwittingly cause fissures, as well as erode trust and cohesion in our society.”
“Thank you, Mdm Chair, last year, MOT shared about plans to enhance walkability at Tanjong Pagar and other areas. For Tanjong Pagar, MOT sought inputs from the local community and carried out a number of enhancement works.”
“Sir, we are entering into a post-COVID-19 world with travel restrictions easing and borders reopening. There is a strong pent-up demand for travel and Singaporeans are once more beginning to travel in large numbers across the globe.”
“Mdm Chair, in land-scarce Singapore, we should optimise the use of land to cater to both short-term and long-term needs. Although the interim use of land is being applied, their tenures tend to be not more than 10 years.”
“This does not mean the policy has failed. As I said earlier, a separate support measure can be introduced for those who are seriously affected. We should upkeep such an enlightened way of discussing and making public policies.”
“Even if we cannot agree, we must always uphold mutual respect and be prepared to listen and to try to understand each other. In conclusion, I hope we can continue to work to eliminate all forms of discrimination and learn to embrace all fellow citizens as equal members of our society, while always maintaining mutual respect and being acco…”
The complete record
Every one of 45 lines we hold for Cheng Hsing Yao, in date order, each linked to its source. Free to read, in full, without an account.
“Thank you, Leader of the House for the response to my cut. Chairman, I beg leave to withdraw my amendment.”
“In Singapore, we will have to continue to deal with all sorts of divisive issues, such as on wealth, foreigners, as well as race and religion. We need to be careful with the kind of ideas we promulgate. We may unwittingly cause fissures, as well as erode trust and cohesion in our society. Having rigorous debates on policies and issues in the parliament is important. Bringing up alternative viewpoints is critical to preventing us from groupthink. However, there is a constructive way to do it. We can promote critical thinking among our populace, but not cynicism. I would thus like to propose four principles to guide how issues should be brought up and debated within our Parliament: one, being factually accurate; two, highlight both benefits and trade-offs; three, being constructive; and four, avoid creating polarisation. I hope that the Singapore Parliament will always remain functional and respected by our people. I hope our parliamentarians can be an inspiration for Singaporeans on how to engage with each other on difficult subjects. [Applause.]”
“Chairman, I beg to move, "That the total sum to be allocated for Head F of the Estimates be reduced by $100." Chairman, my cut is about how to ensure that our Parliament will always be an effective and respected political arena. This is important because our Parliament is where laws are passed and the country’s future is charted. Looking around the world, we can find many examples of parliaments, or equivalent legislatures, degenerating into dysfunction. Many of them are of older and purportedly exemplary democracies that the rest of the world should aspire towards. We should be careful who we emulate. Proceedings at many of these legislatures or parliaments sometimes look like "reality TV". Legislators or parliamentarians shout, interrupt, fight or do whatever they can to prevent a genuine debate. What is more concerning is the amount of half-truth rhetoric that can be promulgated inside and outside of the parliaments. Some of these ideas even garnered enough support from their people to change the course of their country, often for the worse. The parliament is a reflection of the society, but it also sets the tone for the society. A dysfunctional parliament tends to go hand-in-hand with a society that is highly cynical and distrusting of their politicians and public institutions. Singapore’s heterogeneous society is still relatively cohesive. There is a small number of people who are cynical of everything and extreme in the way they see the world. However, the vast majority of our people are reasonable, rational and still exhibit a high level of trust. This majority is precious, they are the ones who will decide on the fate of the country.”
“Thank you, Mdm Chair, last year, MOT shared about plans to enhance walkability at Tanjong Pagar and other areas. For Tanjong Pagar, MOT sought inputs from the local community and carried out a number of enhancement works. These works include enlargement of walkways, introduction of new zebra crossings, new road islands to facilitate pedestrian crossings, traffic calming features and also a cycling route through the area. I am aware of this because I am a member of Discover Tanjong Pagar, a local business association. I would like to commend the MOT and LTA for a job well-done. Such works are not iconic and do not draw much attention nor publicity. However, they are what matters on a day-to-day basis, in enhancing the experience of pedestrians and commuters. Can the Ministry provide an update on its effort to enhance walkability and whether any new areas are being considered for such enhancement projects? Lifts for Pedestrian Overhead Bridges”
“Chairman, last year, MND and URA concluded the Long-Term Plan Review. Can MND provide an update on how key findings of the review will feature in our land use plans? When can we expect the next Masterplan? What will be featured in the next Masterplan? Our land has to cater to many competing needs and demands. How can we ensure we will not sacrifice the long-term flexibility for future generations in order to meet immediate demands? Are there any key emergent trends that have changed the assumptions or objectives of our plans? For example, Singapore has set a target to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050. How will that affect our plans and how will that percolate down to other policies? If our plans were to help us accelerate into a low-carbon built environment, we need to consider that buildings account for over 20% of our carbon emissions. The bulk of the buildings is the existing stock of older buildings which may be less energy-efficient. MND announced earlier that it was exploring whether to require building owners to conduct energy audits to improve the energy performance of their buildings. Can we have an update on this? Such a requirement will add on to the cost of operating buildings. How can this be done without overburdening building owners?”
“Chairman, the combination of inflationary pressures, increased interest rates and shortage of manpower across many sectors have made it challenging for many businesses, especially SMEs. Although we want companies to invest in job redesigns and technologies to improve their productivity, such transformation will take much time and resources to plan and realise. To transform, companies require specific new areas of expertise that are short of relevant local talents, for example, in the areas of sustainability and digital. In the built environment sector, it has also lost many highly skilled hands-on or craft-based labour. Such roles are not popular with locals. They are critical even as we try to transform the sector towards higher productivity. In view of the unprecedented confluence of challenges companies are facing, how can the Government better help companies to deal with the immediate labour shortages, while supporting their transformation? Even as we try to raise productivity, there are just insufficient locals to fill the demand for certain roles, especially the ones not favoured by Singaporeans. Can the Government adopt a variegated approach to allow more foreign workers to supplement local workers for such roles? Strengthening of Singaporean Core”
“Mdm Chair, in land-scarce Singapore, we should optimise the use of land to cater to both short-term and long-term needs. Although the interim use of land is being applied, their tenures tend to be not more than 10 years. This limits the amount of investments that can be made into such lands or properties, therefore also limiting the range and quality of interim uses. Can state land that is not slated for development for 15 years and beyond be put to longer-term interim use? I am mindful that entrenchment of interim uses can also impede long-term flexibility. Are there better ways to address that? Would it help if we supplement our master plan with an interim use plan that could guide land use on say 15, 30 and 45 years usage? Revitalising State Properties and Lands”
“Sir, we are entering into a post-COVID-19 world with travel restrictions easing and borders reopening. There is a strong pent-up demand for travel and Singaporeans are once more beginning to travel in large numbers across the globe. Given that it has been two to three years since people have travelled, many Singaporeans have forgotten some of the precautions and preparations needed when travelling overseas. For example, there have been stories of Singaporeans forgetting to apply for travel insurance, falling ill overseas and racking up thousands of dollars in medical expenses. Other Singaporeans have lost their passports or had been the victims of theft. Moving forward, we can expect more Singaporeans to invariably encounter problems. With the easing of travel restrictions worldwide, what can Singaporeans do to better prepare themselves for their overseas trips and does MFA reach out to Singaporeans to share with them travel tips? Evolving Singapore Cooperation Programme”
“This does not mean the policy has failed. As I said earlier, a separate support measure can be introduced for those who are seriously affected. We should upkeep such an enlightened way of discussing and making public policies. In recent past, we can see many examples around the world of how countries would get charmed by appealing rhetoric that understates the trade-offs and real costs. They ended up making very poor choices for themselves. Eventually, it is still the people and the man-in-the-street that suffered the most. What worries me is our sense of Singapore's vulnerability seems to be eroding. This is perhaps because we have been doing so well for such a long time. Sometimes, I think people do not believe the trade-offs we are grappling with are real. It seems they believe we can just tap into our reserves to pay the trade-offs away. In business, every promise for a reward is usually accompanied by a corresponding risk. When we look at business deals, the ones that are too good to be true usually are. Public policies are the same. [Applause.]”
“To have a sustainable renewal programme, there has to be a sustainable way to fund it. The Government cannot run huge losses for each SERS project. Furthermore, as so much public funds are involved, a strict discipline must be maintained in its execution. The methodology of valuing and pricing old as well as new flats in a SERS programme must follow a consistent and established professional practice and public policy. This allows the Government to properly assess the feasibility of each SERS project and carry it out according to plans. It also maintains impartiality as the Government moves from one SERS project to another. We should not allow the methodology to be modified at will because it is equivalent to having the Government dictate values arbitrarily. This will open the doorway for manipulation and other dire consequences. Valuation and pricing must be rational and untainted by emotions. This is not to say we ignore the plight of the individuals who may have extenuating circumstances. Assistance can be offered through separate designed schemes based on a different set of policies. Lastly, I would like to talk about trade-offs in public policy making. Public policies and programmes have a multitude of imperatives to fulfil. These different imperatives converge and contradict at the same time. They also have to cater to a multitude of stakeholders with very different needs and wants. An enlightened public leader will carefully weigh the pros and cons of each policy option, never downplay the trade-offs and never sacrifice the long-term benefits for short-term gratification. The enlightened leader will choose the most optimal pathway that best meets the policy objective. Whichever path is taken, some will be more adversely affected than others.”
“So, buying into a non-mature estate and paying lower prices can be a good option because they will be tomorrow's mature estates. I would now like to talk about the Selective En bloc Redevelopment Scheme (SERS) programme. Many of us think of SERS as a means to intensify land use. Many older HDB estates are built to lower densities and specifications. In land-scarce Singapore, SERS help to optimise the use of land. SERS also has another very important function, that is, urban renewal. Many cities around the world face the problem of urban degeneration in their older city core or ageing estates. Buildings, infrastructure and local community degenerates through time if they are not regularly renewed. Older buildings are built to lower specifications and are less able to meet new expectations. For example, many older HDB flats are not designed for universal access. Without urban renewal, estates go from degeneration into decay. People will move out and property values will fall drastically. For many city authorities, they are unable to effectively carry out urban renewal because it is very costly. It is challenging to acquire existing properties or relocate people living there. As a result, many city authorities put substantial resources into developing new districts on unencumbered land while leaving older neighbourhoods to fend for themselves. When a precinct goes through SERS, there is an uplifting effect on the surrounding neighbourhood as well. New amenities are introduced, more young people move in, some infrastructure also get upgraded, the vitality and attractiveness of the surrounding older neighbourhoods are also improved as a result. Urban renewal is not a one-time affair but a continuous effort. Each SERS project requires a lot of capital.”
“Their prices are higher because they offer more of what people desire. Their prices are higher because people are prepared to pay more to live there. If we artificially suppress their prices through some form of price controls, additional subsidies or grants to buyers, we will be distorting the real prices. Mature estates will be severely over-subscribed, which will lead to some form of balloting in order to allocate. The winners of the ballots would enjoy disproportionate benefit compared to those who did not. Singapore's public housing programme has gone way beyond providing just for necessity. It has been providing for wants and aspirations for some time now. Needs can be better defined but wants are much more difficult. Housing needs can refer to shelter function, basic amenities and transportation access. Housing wants can refer to location, views, size, lifestyle, special amenities, such as being near certain branded schools. The call to either bring down the prices inmature estates or provide more grants to make them more accessible will ultimately lead to the same things – more subsidies in the form of taxpayers' money or tapping into the reserves. In Singapore, we are not facing a severe housing shortage. Non-mature estates are well-planned, well-built, well-served by necessary amenities and public transport. Therefore, is living in the mature estate a necessity or a non-essential? To what extent should we use taxpayers' money or our reserves to fulfil non-essential demands of a specific group of people? I believe the Government's responsibility should not be extended indefinitely and it has to stop somewhere. Let us not forget the so-called mature estates were once new towns.”
“It also prevents undue windfall for certain people only. Next, I would like to talk about public housing prices in mature estates. Calling an HDB estate mature has come to mean better location and more desirability. Many have implied that their higher prices are somehow the failure of HDB or the Government. When we buy a product that is of better quality, has more special features or it is a well-recognised status symbol, we do not question why it is more expensive. This is because we know we are paying for the additional utilitarian and experiential value. Someone explained to me that this logic does not apply to HDB flats because public housing is a public good. It is for those in need. Because it is a necessity, prices should not differ too much between mature and non-mature estates. To consider public housing as a public good catering to those who are needy is perhaps true in many other countries or cities. Because they are unable to scale up their public or affordable housing programme, they are only able to cater to a small proportion of the population, perhaps 20% or significantly less. In Singapore, roughly 80% of Singaporeans live in public housing. We can academically assume that up to the 80th percentile income earners live in public housing, although I suspect many Singaporeans who belong to even higher income brackets also live in HDB flats. Therefore, we cannot look at people living in public housing in Singapore as a homogenous group. We have low-income earners, middle-income earners and a good proportion of rather affluent Singaporeans living in HDB flats. Mature estates command higher prices because they tend to be closer to town, have more established amenities, been renewed and upgraded.”
“Unless there is oil underneath, the land in the desert is not worth much. So, why is this piece of land in Queenstown worth so much more? Because it is in Singapore. We have a vibrant economy, functioning tripartism, harmonious society, many talented and hardworking people and Singapore is one of the most liveable cities in Asia. The public, private and people sectors work hard to make Singapore successful. Thus, our land becomes valuable. There are also direct investments made from taxpayers' money to make the land useful and more valuable. For example, the investment put into building an operating Changi Airport and the various maritime ports connects us to international travel and trade routes. There are also investments into laying the roads, MRT lines, sewers, water pipelines, power supply, optic fibre, tree planting and recreational parks. To omit or defer the value of land when computing the cost of our public housing means we are writing off generations of investment into our economy, society and environment, writing off the direct investments in planning, infrastructure and maintenance, writing off the value on behalf of past, present and future generations of Singaporeans. When our investment creates value, we need to be able to capture it and channel back to the state or our reserves so they can be reinvested to create more value. If we do not factor the value of land into the cost of public housing, we are creating an open loop for the land value to be given away for free. Some part of the society will enjoy a significant windfall from the free land while another part of society will be paying for the windfall. Factoring in land value into the costs of public housing closes the loop of value creation and value capture.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I would like to declare that I work for a private real estate company that develops residential projects in Singapore and several other cities in Asia. We also invest in residential projects in the UK and Australia. Previously, I was working as an urban planner with the Public Service and I studied architecture and urban studies in Singapore, the UK and the US. A shortage of housing and especially affordable housing is a serious problem for many cities. Most countries and cities have some form of public, social or affordable housing programme. Around the world, there are plenty of rousing expositions by housing authorities on their ambition to address the housing shortage and how they are going to do it. Few actually are able to follow through and realise their plans. What we have achieved in Singapore is unique, special and precious. It comes from generations of people who set enlightened policies, develop practical solutions and programmes and execute them systematically. When we critique our public housing programme and suggest changes, we should be careful we do not inadvertently undermine a system that works. I would like to touch on a few specific issues. First, I would like to discuss whether land price should be factored into the cost of public housing. Land is not free just because it is state land. In Singapore, we do not have much natural resources but our 700-square kilometres of land is one of the rare natural resources we do have. This is why it makes sense to safeguard our land as a reserve. The present Government is only a custodian and not the owner of the land. A piece of land has no inherent value. Compare a piece of land in, say, Queenstown versus a similar piece of land in the middle of a huge desert.”
“Even if we cannot agree, we must always uphold mutual respect and be prepared to listen and to try to understand each other. In conclusion, I hope we can continue to work to eliminate all forms of discrimination and learn to embrace all fellow citizens as equal members of our society, while always maintaining mutual respect and being accommodating towards each other. With that, I support the repeal of section 377A of the Penal Code.”
“It may not be prudent to adopt an immutable stance towards any public policies, as we may find ourselves out of sync with the realities on the ground in time to come. Thus, it may be pragmatic for the Government to always adopt an adaptive stance towards public policies, including policies affecting gay Singaporeans. More importantly, we must not forget that gay Singaporeans contribute economically and socially to Singapore. They are also members of Singaporean families. They should be treated as full members of our society and be accorded the respect and support like any Singapore Citizen. As such, we should be careful to ensure that our public polices do not marginalise or pervade stigmatisation or discrimination against them. In the public discourse on the repeal of section 377A so far, I am heartened to see a lot more restraint exhibited, in comparison to what we saw back in 2007 when the repeal was first debated. This is a positive sign that our society has evolved and we are able to discuss difficult issues without being inflammatory. I hope the forward discourse will continue to be balanced, considered and secular. In a diverse and multi-faceted society like ours, fault lines exist everywhere. Some are deep and old, others are new and emergent. We only need to look around the world to see many examples of how once inclusive and tolerant societies could suddenly become severely polarised and fractured. As Singaporeans, we must remember to always demonstrate a high level of respect and willingness to engage with fellow citizens who hold different views. To promote social harmony and cohesion, our national values should promote mutual accommodation and compassion among the different segments of the Singapore society.”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, I support the repeal of section 377A of the Penal Code. As the Prime Minister had said in the 2022 National Day Rally, social attitudes towards gay people have "shifted appreciably" and the repeal of the provision will "bring the law into line with current social mores". This is an important step towards respecting and acknowledging gay Singaporeans as an integral part of the Singapore society. The colonial origin law is outdated and it ignores the objective reality that Singapore is home to many gay citizens and residents who are also contributing members of the Singapore society. To retain a law that criminalises a legitimate community of fellow Singaporeans in order to preserve traditional values is at best a stretched logic. There are other better ways to promote traditional values. While the repeal of section 377A is a major step in the right direction, we should also ensure that public policies that affect gay Singaporeans in their everyday lives do not result in any form of stigmatisation and discrimination on a practical level. I recognise that a significant segment of the Singapore society is still very conservative. Some fear the repeal will lead to a flood of changes to the complexion of our society. I also recognise that there is an appropriate time and place for all things. However, amending some public policies to fairly include gay Singaporeans does not equate to an erosion of the family as society's building block. Like all Singaporeans, gay citizens have everyday concerns about life and livelihoods that public policies can address without threatening the current definition of marriage. We also should be mindful that social norms change and evolve.”
“It is not just having access to power, but having stable, uninterrupted and reliable access to power. How do we manage potential fluctuations of power supply when a significant part is not "produced" domestically? The COVID-19 pandemic showed us that low probability and high impact events do happen. The transition of our energy supply model into a low emission one while promising and exciting, will be met with many unforeseeable and uncontrollable factors. We must also be prepared for the proverbial "Perfect Storm". Thus, I would appreciate if the Minister could outline, as we seek to cut our carbon emissions, how our energy supply model will always be secured, resilient and reliable. Notwithstanding my clarifications, I support the Bill.”
“What happens if hydrogen and other alternatives take much longer to become viable? Meanwhile, how do we balance encouraging the petrochemical sector to transit into a low emission model, against the immediate impact on our economy and energy security? For decades after our Independence, we have been subjected to frequent threats of having our water supply cut off. Thanks to technological advancement and the foresight of our leaders, we can technically achieve water self-sufficiency through harvesting our NEWater and Desalination National Taps. However, this is only true provided we always have access to energy. Losing energy security also means losing water security. Direct import of electricity from foreign renewable sources, such as hydropower from Laos and solar power from Australia, may form a significant component of our total energy supply in the future. While the supply source can be diversified, the supply cables will ultimately have to physically pass through the lands and waters of our closest neighbours. The uninterrupted supply of electricity imports may be subjected to geopolitical risks. Setting aside Government commitments, global investors and MNCs are already leading the way in factoring carbon emission into their business decisions. This will lead to higher demand for renewable energy around the world, including the countries that are exporting or planning to export renewable energy. If the source countries do not have sufficient renewable energy supply to meet their domestic demand, they may impose export limits. Singapore's power grid's reliability is one of the important factors that helped us advance as a high-value manufacturing base, as well as a technology and financial hub.”
“Thank you, Speaker, Sir. I would like to declare that in the preparation for this speech, I have sought inputs from private sector consultants in the carbon energy fields. I support the use of carbon pricing as a tool to help us peak carbon emission by 2030 and reach net zero by 2050. I also look forward to the transformative effect it will have on our economy and our environment. When Singapore says it is going to do something, it will. That is one of our strengths. However, for the transition to net zero, we should maintain some flexibility and adaptability for the pathway to get there and for the final energy supply model. Energy, along with water and food, are vitals that keep Singapore going. Losing security of any one of them can incapacitate us within a very short time. I would like to seek clarification on our strategy to maintain energy security. It was not too long ago that we courted some of the largest oil and gas companies to invest heavily into our Jurong Island. And Singapore became one of the world's largest petrolchemical hub despite not producing any oil or natural gas. Besides being a significant contributor to our GDP, it also contributed to our energy security. We managed to secure our access to oil and natural gas through building up a strong petrochemical ecosystem, that is, industry, supply chain and logistics in and around Singapore. One day, green hydrogen could replace oil and natural gas as the primary energy vector. We also need to likewise implement a similar strategy to plug Singapore into the production, supply chain and market mechanism ecosystem of hydrogen. This complex endeavour will require years of planning and execution. Green hydrogen shows promise, but when will it become ready to replace oil or natural gas is unknown.”
“Sir, recently, a foreign friend shared that one of the best things about Singapore is that people can walk freely and comfortably on the streets, even in the early morning or late at night. They do not feel that their safety is threatened. This is the combined efforts of MHA, which maintains a very low crime level in Singapore and the concerted planning and execution of various Ministries, like MND and MOT. I am a member of the Discover Tanjong Pagar Business Improvement District (BID), which is an association of private development stakeholders. We work together to find ways to enhance the Tanjong Pagar neighbourhood. Initially seeded by MND and URA, the Discover Tanjong Pagar BID has become a close-knit group of stakeholders. The BID had many positive experiences working with the agencies, such as URA, NParks, SLA, PA and LTA. On walkability, members of the BID had site walks with LTA officers to explain some of the areas of concerns for pedestrian safety or comfort. With the other agencies, we have jointly developed green spaces, introduced play facilities and tree planting. LTA considered the inputs from the BID and implemented improvements, such as introducing new traffic lights or widening of footpaths. These efforts cannot make news headlines, but they relate to the detailed on-the-ground adjustments that greatly improve the experience of the neighbourhood. Can MOT share more about how agencies and stakeholders can work together to make our city more walkable, vibrant and liveable?”
“The aims are two-fold: one, to help employees with continuous learning and upgrading of their professional skills; two, to help employers better recognise and reward higher skill levels. Can MND comment on how to better build up a critical mass of talents in urban sustainability? Developments in Urban Sustainability”
“Sir, Singapore should build up our capabilities in urban sustainability to help solve our own problems and to develop an exportable industry. To do so, we can look at R&D and talent development. The Government announced last year it is driving R&D in urban sustainability. Can MND update on the progress of the efforts in R&D? As the R&D topics are so wide-ranging, does it make sense to focus on specific areas, such as coastal protection and issues unique to the region or the tropical belt? This can help us focus, as well as differentiate, our capabilities. Can the R&D be commercialised by Singapore companies and developed into exportable services? The built environment (BE) sector will be the key sector that needs to be transformed to fulfil our future urban sustainability needs. However, the built sector has difficulty attracting more talent. 11.45 am To build up a critical mass of talents, we should have a holistic approach. For example, curriculum in schools and tertiary institutions should be updated and jobs redefined to better reflect the new capabilities needed. It may also be useful to reframe the built environment jobs to better reflect their contribution. Jobs in this sector are not just about building things. Rather, they help to enhance our liveability, support our economy with intelligent infrastructure while allowing us to be sustainable. We should also seek more ways for public-private sector collaboration. For example, I co-chair with BCA the Central Procurer Panel that works with various built sector trade associations and chambers (TACs) to administer accreditation of professions, such as construction manager, surveyor and facilities manager.”
“Can MOM consider a deeper dive into the nature of the work of various economic or social sectors that we are trying to drive higher productivity and differentiate them into two categories? One, jobs that can be significantly reduced through job redesign and use of technology. Two, the dexterous and eye–hand–leg coordination type of jobs that cannot be easily replaced by automation or process redesign. Following that, a set of differentiated and more targeted policies can be applied. Singaporean Core”
“Chairman, Sir, some have said that certain economic or social sectors are over-reliant on foreign workers, for example, in retail, F&B, construction and healthcare amongst others. This implies that at least some companies or organisations in these sectors are unwilling to change, slow to adopt technologies and redesign jobs to make them attractive to Singaporeans. When I look at these sectors, I see potential for process and production redesigned to increase productivity. However, the delivery of their products and services also encompasses a particular type of work, the type which requires dexterity and eye–hand–leg coordination. This type of work is difficult to be replaced or designed in a way, not until mobile robotics are advanced and economical enough to be widely deployed. Most of these jobs may not qualify as complementary because they can, theoretically, be done by Singaporeans. Meanwhile, we may not have enough Singaporeans interested in such jobs, especially when other economic sectors are also competing for Singaporeans to join them. We also demand more from these sectors. For example, we want better service at retail and F&B shops, more BTO flats, more MRT lines and stations closer to homes and more help to care for our young, our old and the sick. I understand the objective of tightening access to foreign labour is to drive companies and operators to improve productivity. However, there may be scope for a more differentiated approach. I would like to suggest we work with the various industries to quantify, from bottom-up, how much improvement in productivity can really be achieved. So, we roughly know what is an achievable target, what is a stretch target, within a certain timeframe.”
“Without the relevant IT professionals, these companies may have to slow down and suspend their transformation or digitalisation plans. This, in turn, will make them even less competitive. I expect that when the need for decarbonisation gains pace, professionals in those fields will also be in short supply. It is counter-intuitive, but the less competitive and more traditional sectors should be given more flexibility to tap into foreign labour, with the condition that it is only for fields where there is a severe shortage of Singaporean talent and only for professionals who will help the companies innovate, raise productivity, digitalise or decarbonise. Providing funding and technological support is useful, but to do the work, companies still need the warm bodies and brains. The cost of the manpower must also be sustainable for these companies. I would like to suggest that the Government consider a more differentiated and dynamic approach for foreign labour policy that takes into account the inter-sectoral competition for talent and provide more leeway for less competitive sectors to tap into foreign labour to help them transform and innovate.”
“Mr Chairman, Sir, one of the key limiting factors going forward for us to achieve another economic growth trajectory is skill and knowledge-based manpower. I am concerned that our manpower policies use a macro approach without sufficient differentiation to help the whole economy transform. I am also concerned that our policies, such as salary threshold and dependency ratio ceilings, can only move in one direction every time they are reviewed, that is, further tightening. Recovery or growth will be uneven across different sectors. Singaporeans can choose their jobs from different sectors of the economy. When a company wants to hire a Singaporean, it is competing with companies within its industry as well as with companies in other sectors. The larger, better capitalised companies in growth sectors have an advantage in drawing talent. Take the example of digitalisation: when traditional sector companies want to go into digitalisation, they will need relevant IT professionals. However, with the growth of the tech sector in Singapore, IT professionals are in short supply. Singapore has become an important technology hub today and draws tech companies to headquarter and expand their activities here. This is the result of many years of building up the infrastructure and ecosystem. We should support the tech sector's growth to its fullest. However, as the tech sector grows rapidly, it will hollow out relevant manpower from other sectors. This applies not just to IT professionals but also finance, marketing and compliance ones. Companies in more traditional sectors may not be able to compete for the limited pool of Singapore talent in terms of pay or prospects.”
“I want to, once again, thank the MTF and the whole of Singapore for the way we responded to the pandemic. The last two years were a big shock to Singapore and the world. In business, sometimes the best time to reform a company is after it has gone through a major disruption. Perhaps, we can use this time to put together a refreshed Singapore vision. The Minister has addressed a similar point, in terms of "renewing and strengthening our new social compact". In the 1980s, when I was in Secondary school, the Government's "Vision 1999" had a big impact on me. It was a vision that covered many different aspects. But the parts that I related to the most were the target for Singapore to achieve the Swiss standard of living then by 1999 and the plans for Singapore's New Downtown. The latter played a part in why I have become an architect and joined URA to be an urban planner. For mid-career folks like myself, who have gone from having handwritten letters to emails and then social media, what would inspire us? For the young ones who are digital natives, what would inspire them? It will be exciting to find out. As we "chart our new way forward", to "emerge stronger" and "towards a low-carbon society", it might be useful to also define the qualitative aspects and value system of our society that we want to have in future. After two years of pandemic talk, I like the idea of having a holistic, refreshed and inspiring Singapore Vision to strive towards. With this, I support the Budget.”
“As we become more aware of the trade-offs on the environmental and social aspects, we must not under-emphasise the economic ones. The concept of "complementarity of foreign labour" is an excellent guiding principle that ingeniously addressed all the conflicting concerns. I would like to highlight two considerations when we translate this principle into policies. Firstly, the growth and demand for talents will be extremely uneven across business sectors and companies. Even as some experience huge labour shortage, there will still be a significant number of people who are unemployed or under-employed. As businesses are being disrupted at a faster pace, so will the rate of displacement of jobs and skills. I expect the pace at which people will find their skills and knowledge getting outdated to increase going forward. For traditional sectors that we want to transform to raise productivity, the more successful we are with the transformation, the more people will be displaced by new machines and talents. When crafting our policies, we should separate the needs for growth, from the need to care for the displaced workforce, so that we do not unnecessarily limit our growth potential. Secondly, opportunities come to those who are strong and successful. Not to those who are weak and needy. To stay successful, we have to keep seizing new economic opportunities while we are still doing well. If we forego one or two opportunities, we are unlikely to sense any difference. But that is a slippery slope. By the time we have lost our appeal, it is already too late. The difficulty for the Government is to convince the public of a future-oriented policy when nothing seems to be broken yet. My final point is about a Singapore vision or dream.”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, I support the Budget as outlined by the Minister for Finance. I would like to touch on a few points that I think need emphasising. In my interaction with various people in business, I can sense an admiration for Singapore. Our consistent past achievements and how we are seemingly the only Asian society that managed to move towards endemic COVID-19 are two aspects that they admire. The interest to invest or expand in Singapore is strong. However, one of the most common concerns is whether we have the manpower and talents to support the growth. The reality is that the Singaporean labour force is not big enough. Thus, I am very glad to hear in Minister for Finance’s speech that we will remain "open and welcoming to talent from around the world but we will focus on complementarity". This message is very important. I would like to urge the Government to repeat and say it more. This is because of late, the voice of xenophobia has become louder. We need the business leaders and investors to be clear where we stand. As a relatively wealthy nation, some of us might get complacent and believe that economic development is no longer the main priority. That cannot be further from the truth. The various vulnerabilities we face as an island city nation must be familiar to Members already. And we also have, as the Minister for Finance pointed out, more and more social needs that have to be paid for. We can and should look into refining our progressive and wealth tax regime, with a caveat that we need to be careful of any unintended consequences. Ultimately, unless we can develop and keep our economy vibrant, we will struggle to keep our Budget balanced and start to have surplus again. Every public policy comes with an underlying trade-off.”
“In a way, they continue to contribute even after they have left Singapore by helping to bridge understanding and forge business relationships for us, not unlike a school alumni. Mr Speaker, Sir, I support the Motion put forth by Minister for Finance, Mr Lawrence Wong.”
“Mathematically, the size of our local talent pool is insufficient to meet their needs. This is a genuine concern of many corporation executives, who are further unnerved by anti-foreigner public discourse. If our total workforce cannot meet the needs of companies, they will move out. All the jobs that could have been taken up by Singaporeans and foreign workers will be lost. Thus, as a society, we need to embrace the concept that foreign talent and labour are complementary to our local talent and labour. We seem to take it for granted that people always want to come to Singapore to live and work. Today, we remain attractive, but our attractiveness is relative. It depends as much on what we do as what our present and future competitors do. One critical trend to note is how digital connectivity has facilitated working from home. "Home", in this context, need not be in Singapore, it can be anywhere. The person competing for a job need not be physically in Singapore. There is no stopping this trend. This will heighten the competition for businesses, investments and talents among cities and facilitate the emergence of new and credible competitor cities to Singapore in the future. To conclude, managing a complementary local and foreign workforce is a complex and emotive endeavour. It requires careful calibration. We also need to be mindful at the cusp of emerging stronger from the pandemic. We should try not to let great opportunities slip by. In the course of my work, it is always nice to meet overseas executives who had previously worked in Singapore. They understand Singapore and still have positive regard for us.”
“Speaker, Singapore has excelled as a regional hub for businesses and talents for a number of business sectors. A few of Singapore's success factors are: one, public policies that prioritise the long-term interests of Singapore; two, pragmatic execution of public policies; three, open and multicultural society; four, in the face of competition, we always choose to level up by improving ourselves; and five, never wasting a crisis to emerge stronger. The COVID-19 pandemic has been a huge crisis for us but, through the methodical way, we have handled it. It is beginning to turn into a great opportunity. We are one of the few Asia Pacific countries that have a real plan for transiting into an endemic COVID-19. Global Investors have seen not just the resilience of the economy, but also the resilience of the society and the people of Singapore. We can now see the conditions for Singapore to develop into an important regional or even global hub for the technology sector. In due course, we might become a hub for the pharma-medical and sustainability sectors as well. However, opportunities come and go. They seldom come around a second time. When we have the chance to develop both the breadth and depth of a desirable industry cluster, we should do so quickly and decisively. Once we have achieved the ecosystem of companies and talents, we will likely continue to attract even more investments. Conversely, if we were hesitant or slow to act, the ecosystem takes root somewhere else, future investments and talent will be drawn there instead. One of the most important considerations for businesses to locate or expand their HQ operations or R&D centres in Singapore is the availability of the right talent pool to support their growth.”
“I understand that these measures are extraordinary and even necessary, and the Government has explained that these unprecedented steps are not to be taken as the norm. However, it is fair to assume that the path to recovery will be long and arduous. It is also fair to assume that there will continue to be shocks and disruptions that will require the Government to activate decisive steps for future lockdowns or other responses. A critical part of Singapore’s foundation for its economic success is being business-friendly and transparent and demonstrating a respect for legal contracts. Rare instances of intervention in private contracts are understandable, but repeated interventions will make businesses and investors wonder if that will be the Government’s modus operandi going forward. It would be useful if the Government could outline its philosophy on intervening in private contracts. For example, what are the considerations to activate such interventions and whether intervention is limited to certain sectors or would be applied more broadly, if need be? Besides the actual substance of the policies, the signalling from the policies is also important, especially for the business and investment communities that are making decisions on future long-term commitments. Notwithstanding my clarifications, I support the Supplementary Supply Bill.”
“Thank you, Mdm Deputy Speaker. I would like to declare that I work for a private real estate company. Yesterday, I was very heartened to hear from the MTF an unequivocal commitment for the transition into living with the virus. I cannot emphasise enough how important this commitment is to the local and international business and investment communities who are making their long-term investment decisions into Singapore. Some have started to refer to Singapore as a "zero COVID-19 society", implying that we do not have the psychological resilience to transit into living with the virus. It is thus important for Singapore to signal our commitment clearly, not just to Singaporeans but also to the rest of the world our commitment. And it will be a great story to tell the world we will transit into the new normal through the methodical and pragmatic Singapore way. Moving on, I would like to express that I support the Supplementary Supply and Budget Adjustments Bill and support the fact that, in this time of hardship, we must support one another where we can. I would like to raise a relatively philosophical question on the sanctity of contracts. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we are living in exceptional times and the Government has the unenviable task of making difficult decisions like the need for a circuit breaker or the Heightened Alert. The Government has been very proactive in supporting businesses and saving jobs through very substantial schemes, such as JSS, tax rebates and so on. In addition, the Government has, through legislation, such as COTMA, directly intervened into private agreements. In essence, it has appropriated private resources to support certain segments of the value chain.”
“Chairman, the key component of a liveable city is its walkability. I would like to ask about the walkability of the areas of historical significance. These areas such as the Civic District comprise many interesting buildings streets and public spaces of historical significance. Through a combination of public and private efforts, there has been a lot of capital and resources pumped into these areas to transform the users as well as the older buildings. What has the Government done to enhance walkability in Singapore in areas of historical significance? What are the Government's upcoming plans for these areas? Active Mobility and Safety of Riders”
“They are different from service apartments as they are meant for longer term stays. I have observed overseas that they are attractive to young people, families, as well as retirees. They are professionally managed, often with handymen service, housekeeping or community engagement programmes. For retirees, they provide an option to monetise their homes and go for professionally managed rentals. HDB has been very proactive in coming up with new solutions. I would like to see more private expertise, creativity and capital being tapped to create new housing solutions too. In our highly regulated environment, the Government policies have a big impact in shaping the future of housing. The form of public/private sector participation as well. The BTR sector, for example, is an asset class sought after by many global institutional investors. In the BTR sector I mentioned earlier, the private global capital is ready to be tapped in this instance. I hope the Government will find it useful to review a number of areas to encourage active and responsible participation by the private sector. These include land supply, zoning and development policies, how we attract capital and manage liquidity, how to encourage adoption of technologies and how to create a healthy eco-system of innovative developers and service providers.”
“Chairman, I would like to declare that I work for a private real estate developer. Our housing market comprises broadly two distinct sectors, public HDB and private. I think the private sector can play a bigger role in innovating and scaling up new housing solutions to meet the needs of changing demographics, lifestyles and aspirations of our people. Drivers for demand in the market is quite complex, with an interplay of many social and economic factors. It never stands still. We may need to review some of the longstanding assumptions that continue to shape our policies. One recent trend that rapidly became the norm is work from home. Its impact can be managed with a variety of new solutions. What is more complex to manage is our ageing population. It is not just a quantitative issue, it is also about the quality of life of our citizens, both young and old. It requires both hardware solutions, like age friendly designs, as well as software solutions like assisted living. And even if we found a suitable model, there is still the question of how to scale it up in a financially sustainable way so that we do not need to burden the state to continue to provide more subsidies. Yet another trend is the reduction of household sizes. Besides more singles and smaller families, I have observed families splintering up into separate households when they have the means to. On the other hand, I have seen examples of relatives or friends buying separately in the same apartment block to create a kind of interdependent household. A kind of housing that is becoming more prevalent in many other capital cities is Built To Rent (BTR), otherwise known as multi-family. These private rental developments are owned and managed by institutional landlords.”
“Chairman, the growth of e-commerce has been accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic. It will continue to be more pervasive. What is MCI doing to guide the postal sector towards a better regulated environment to ensure that consumers' interests are better protected? How will MCI provide a guiding framework across public and private sectors for the provision of parcel locker infrastructure as well as service delivery standards to enable e-commerce to thrive and to enhance users' experience? The prevalence of e-commerce is also challenging the viability of many traditional retail companies, who need to review their distribution model. How will the new regulated environment enable traditional retail companies to pivot seamlessly to an online business model? Library in the Digital World”
“To emerge stronger, it will take many hands to work together and with a shared sense of purpose and ideals. Mr Speaker, Sir, I support the Budget.”
“And although the Singapore city is already held in high regard in terms of its infrastructure and quality of life, we can still do much better. For example, we can raise our green buildings standards even further; we can be a front runner in creating new economic infrastructure. How about a food-self-sufficiency urban system, or creating more biodiversity even as we are building? The list goes on. Private sector capabilities, capital and mindsets have much to offer. The public sector has a key role in opening up the space for the private sector to participate and innovate. Our future challenges are complex, in addressing them, more heads are better than one. We should bear in mind that private companies that have a long-term growth plan in Singapore, also want Singapore to be successful. I applaud the Ministries and agencies that have the wisdom to take on the twin role of regulator and promoter for the sectors they are in charge of. Even as they regulate the sector for "common good", they also promote the sector’s growth and innovation. If more government departments adopt the same, we will encourage more collaboration and creativity around us, and create even more engines of growth in the process. Private corporates, when called upon to act, need to step up and balance short-term pains with long-term gains. Private corporates have to broaden the mindset of just serving their shareholders to serving their relevant stakeholders better. To do so can in fact be good for business. Indeed, there is already a clear trend among global corporates and investors that ESG – Environmental, Social and Governance –considerations are being factored more in their business decisions.”
“Singaporeans and observers of Singapore take reference from what we say in public as indicators for the direction the country is heading. As we push for our personal subject of passion, we should strive to minimise any form of polarisation. To be constructive, we need to recognise the trade-offs the other side has to make. Sometimes, we have to make hard choices, but if we focus our energy on finding common grounds, we might end up with synergistic and creative solutions that make us collectively better off. Besides balancing the three key pillars of sustainability, in Singapore, whatever we do, we are always making a trade-off between the short term and the long term. No matter how sick we are of hearing this, it will always be true that we are an island with limited resources and a little more than 700 sq km of land to accommodate the needs of a city, country and nation. If we believe in SG100 or SG150, then our land use policies, for instance, cannot safeguard the needs just for the next 10 to 20 years. We have to think the next 50 or 100 years. Precisely because we cannot predict the future, we should be careful not to circumscribe the flexibility or options for the many generations of Singaporeans down the road. Because the planners in the 1960s and 1970s had the foresight to do so and safeguard future development options, we now enjoy the luxury of the choices we can make. Dealing with our resource constraints will not only solve our problems today, it can help us develop useful new capabilities for the future. Take the built environment sector for example, our drive for higher productivity in the construction sector requires bold moves, but the capabilities developed can enable us to find new opportunities overseas.”
“In fact, our local talent pool may not even be sufficient in numbers or expertise to meet the growth demand of some of the sectors, such as technology. Our economy and labour market will undergo massive re-ordering. The division between the haves and have-nots will increase. Having said that, standing still is not an option. I hope as a society, we will not opt to level down and forego growth for fear of the challenges that it brings. I hope we will be pragmatic as we have always been, by seizing the growth opportunities, while working hard on addressing empathetically, the social and human challenges that will arise. Such as, how to reskill our workers and also how to better share the benefits of growth equitably. After two consecutive years of dipping into our past reserves and being in a still highly uncertain economic situation, revitalising and growing the economy now is paramount. I believe in a balanced and pragmatic approach for sustainable development. I am very glad we are now giving climate change and social equity more emphasis. But we also have to remember, sustainable development has three key pillars: social, environmental and economic. Balancing the three pillars is key to success. Continued economic success gives us more means to fulfill the needs of the other pillars. For example, with our ageing population, the associated health care costs will increase. To provide more support for the less advantaged families and individuals, we will also need more resources. Thus, growing our economy sustainably will enable us to do more good. We should seek balanced and constructive ways to move ahead and not get stuck in binaries which polarises. That also includes the things we say.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, first of all, I would like to declare that I am the Group Managing Director of GuocoLand Singapore and a Member of the National Parks Board. I would like to speak about the importance of a balanced and pragmatic approach for Singapore to emerge stronger. In my conversations recently with some astute overseas investors, who are also keen observers of Singapore, I have received many positive feedback. They felt that Singapore has continued to demonstrate the ability to identify challenges ahead of time and more importantly, has clear and concrete action plans to address them. For example, our plans for rising sea levels and raising our local food supply. They were also impressed with the way we handled the COVID-19 situation; not just in tackling the public health crisis, including mobilising the support and unity of our people, but also with the proactive and pragmatic approach taken to mitigate supply chain and economic disruptions. Against the backdrop of the pandemic, polarising geopolitical competition and the social unrests in some cities in the region, Singapore stands out even more. Our long-standing socio-political order, our commitment to a plural and multi-ethnic society, our strong legal system and our highly liveable city, are a few of the things that make us stand out. The question is, going forward, how will Singapore balance economic growth against challenges of domestic issues. The current crisis is presenting us now with opportunities for growth. However, boldly seizing these opportunities will augment the K-shape economic recovery we are already seeing. New sectors of growth will require talents with skills which the people from sectors in decline may not possess.”