Cheryl Chan Wei Ling
Singapore
“I note that Singapore has been pursing discussions with multiple countries over the past few years, regarding these cooperation activities. Will the Government be able to provide an update on the status of these cross-border discussions and whether they are progressing as expected, and aligned with our infrastructure plans and timelines?”
“Speaker, I have one supplementary question for the Minister of State. I want to ask the Minister of State, given the fact that we do this environmental impact study, will there be a study that will be conducted for every single oil spill and, if so, how long would the monitoring period be?”
“Speaker, I have a supplementary question for the Senior Minister of State. As we go for more resource- and energy-efficient models of agri-tech production, would the Ministry consider taking a more active stand, beyond just grants, to look at areas of R&D, scaling and commercialisation?”
“Speaker, I have a supplementary question for the Minister. I agree with the Minister that these software systems are relatively complex and, generally, you do not just have a single supplier supplying to the overall system.”
“I have got a supplementary question for the Senior Parliamentary Secretary. From now till when the official regulation is in place is still some time away. For home owners, they would not have a means to be able to detect formaldehyde levels because they would not know.”
“Thank you, Mr Speaker. I have one supplementary question for the Senior Minister of State. I recognise the challenges and headwinds that the Senior Minister of State has mentioned, but the reality is beyond just capability building and the grants that are given.”
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“Thank you, Chairman. As with every COS at MND, we always run out of time to ask all the clarifications. But I think people can appreciate the amount of effort and the wide span of topics that MND covers. I thought there is always worth mentioning and sometimes credit has to be given where it is due. For example, it is really not an easy task to be able to recover in terms of the public housing supply during the pandemic till now, because my Government Parliamentary Committee (GPC) Members and I have been fully involved during that time and we know how difficult it was for the contractors and also, for the agency to be able to get the supply back on track. So, I have to say kudos to the Ministry, thank you to Minister Desmond Lee and all the office holders, especially the MND family, I think everyone has contributed to this. Chairman, I beg leave to withdraw my cut. [(proc text) Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. (proc text)] [(proc text) The sum of $8,344,980,000 for Head T ordered to stand part of the Main Estimates. (proc text)] [(proc text) The sum of $11,140,637,200 for Head T ordered to stand part of the Development Estimates. (proc text)]”
“Thank you, Chairperson. I have a clarification for Minister Desmond Lee. Beyond the Home Improvement Programme, does the Government have other plans around rejuvenation for Singapore on a broader level?”
“Sir, beyond housing policy, we should also work towards fostering a more compassionate society through public education and outreach programmes. Apart from individual housing needs, we must, over time, address the topic of social cohesion between private and public housing. Forward Singapore is fundamentally about community building and we should ensure that our urban planning reflects this vision by fostering greater neighbourliness and mutual understanding. Shared facilities are just one means towards this, but the interaction of people from diverse backgrounds and housing types are more critical in enhancing community bonding. The need for social cohesion is even more pressing in today's society, where income disparity, housing segregation and other factors can inadvertently lead to division. We should not allow a housing type to define social circles or create barriers. By designing common spaces that are welcoming to all, we can cultivate a shared identity and strengthen our social fabric. Let us work together to ensure that our housing policies and urban planning align with the evolving needs of our citizens. [(proc text) Question proposed. (proc text)] Resale Flats and Retirement Adequacy”
“Moving multiple times between flats is not ideal for them for the reasons stated. They are also worried whether they are able to find an affordable interim place to rent and whether the landlord is willing to accept them, given their son's condition. This couple's only hope is for the HDB flat to be a more permanent home for their son and is certainly not expecting to purchase it for windfall proceeds from a future sale. I fully appreciate there are many requests and families with varying conditions in Singapore. However, families with special needs adults form a very small proportion of all our housing needs. I hope the Ministry can introduce special exemptions that would allow these families greater flexibility in choosing a suitable flat, whether they are purchasing a new home or downgrading to a more manageable space. Another area for the Ministry to consider is how to cater for those living in Adult Disability Housing as the current enrolment age is between 18 and 55 years old. Should some families be unable to care for them at a later age and begin to look for housing option when their charges are past 55 years old, how can they be cared for as these special needs adults are incapable of self-care? Caring for one with special needs requires extensive resources, patience and a conducive environment. Unfortunately, when these families faced unkindness or intolerance from neighbours, it places even more stress on the caregiver. Some families are compelled to move multiple times in search of a more understanding community. I believe the Ministry can play a role in alleviating these struggles by ensuring that such families have options in securing homes where they feel safe and supported.”
“I wish to raise this point again, but more on the perspective of long-term housing for any family with special needs children or adults. For these adults, I refer to those who are diagnosed with special needs or disabilities since young and are now in their adulthood. Personally, I have encountered families with such situations and some of whom are my residents. These families often struggle to find an HDB flat that meet their unique requirements. In some cases, they need to relocate due to the difficulties in the current or former neighbourhoods that they lived in. It is disheartening to hear of families facing hostility from neighbours who may not fully understand or be willing to accommodate the challenges of caring for special needs children or adults. Noise disturbance being a common issue for dispute. To cite another recent example of a resident living in private property with a remaining lease of less than 10 years. Given that he and his wife's age are both nearing eighties and they are caring for a handicapped son in his forties, they hope to downgrade to an HDB flat while they are still mobile. However, they have repeatedly failed in their appeal for waiver on the wait-out period of 15 months in order to purchase a 5-room flat. One is a retiree and the other a housewife, they do not have active income nor huge savings and will unlikely make much profit from the sale of their private property given its running out lease. The reason for them wanting a larger flat is solely because their son can only move around on a wheelchair and, with other medical conditions, he requires the space; especially, they have a live-in helper since the elderly couple cannot physically manage their son independently.”
“I am very heartened to hear Prime Minister Lawrence Wong's announcement that the EASE programme will be extended to private property owners. I have made these requests before based on my residents' feedback. 5.30 pm We are encouraging our seniors to age in place. Yet, ageing at home is not easy. Depending on the needs and mobility of the seniors, the cost of modifications can be prohibitive. At times, individual homeowners may not be able to secure contractors who are willing to take up what we call the "small" jobs. A home that is not equipped to support the seniors' needs can become a significant hindrance to their well-being. Small but essential modifications, such as grab bars, non-slip flooring and ramps, can greatly improve their quality of life. These would also help the caregivers. Can the Minister elaborate on what the EASE programme for private property entails and when it will commence. Will the programme begin with EASE 2.0 work scope and what would the subsidy support look like? By extending support to seniors in private property, we send a strong message that every senior matters; regardless of where they stay. Even if the scope of support is smaller than the public housing, providing some level of assistance to these seniors would ease their financial burden and improve their quality of life. Our population is ageing and we must take proactive steps to ensure our elderly citizens can live with dignity and comfort. Third, housing option for families with special needs children or adults. In 2024 Ministry of National Development's (MND's) Committee of Supply (COS), I spoke up for divorcees with special needs children and asked whether interim housing can be provided for these divorcees or those that are still in the process of finalising their divorce.”
“In today's market and for those who are 35 years old and above, there are many whose income would exceed this threshold and be disqualified to purchase BTO flat, not to mention that some singles are still facing difficulties in being allocated a flat in the regular BTO or Sale of Balance Flats exercise. Further, despite having been given the option to purchase all flat types, there are singles who are still unable to buy BTO flat and have to settle for a resale flat. Many of them wish to be living near their parents or siblings to provide caregiving and support as they age. But these resale flats are typically in mature estates, and singles face the same issues as that of the middle-income couples. Based on a single income, it is even harder for singles to consider purchasing a private property. I would like to ask the Minister when the Ministry will re-evaluate the income thresholds and the eligibility criteria for HDB loan. Also, what viable options can be made available for these groups within the decade? While there are Singaporeans who aspire to progress from public into private housing, this is not a default choice for many young couples and singles who wish to have the option of living in public housing purchased from the Government. I acknowledge that the Government has continuously adjusted policies to cater for different population segments to ensure their basic housing needs are addressed. I hope more can be done for these specific groups so that they could also enjoy the benefits of our nation's progress and not be caught by the affordability gap to own a home within their means. Second, Enhancement for Active Seniors (EASE) programme for private property owners.”
“Chairman, I move, "That the total sum to be allocated for Head T of the Estimates be reduced by $100." Sir, as we continue to strive to make Singapore a more inclusive and liveable city, it is crucial that our policies evolve to meet the new trends and needs of all Singaporeans through different generations. Today, I wish to highlight a few observations in housing options and offer suggestions for consideration. First, Housing and Development Board (HDB) Build-To-Order (BTO) flats for middle-income households and singles. The younger generation are now settling down much later and many begin to purchase their first home closer to or after the age of 30. Given the rise in median income and ability of our younger generation to secure better paying jobs, this meant that a dual-income household will easily surpass the current HDB total income ceiling of $14,000 around the age of 30. For these couples, they usually find that they are left out of a prized opportunity to purchase their first BTO flat from the Government which can form a part of their nest-egg for retirement. Some even do not qualify for the direct purchase of executive condominiums and have no choice but to purchase a resale flat or a private property. Depending on the age of the resale flat and its location, it results in some inherent restrictions to the buyer, for example, the loan amount available, inability to access HDB concessionary housing loan and others. Similarly, we are seeing a growing trend of more singles within our community. The same BTO challenge applies for singles purchasing flats under the Single Singapore Citizen Scheme where its current income ceiling threshold is $7,000.”
“I note that Singapore has been pursing discussions with multiple countries over the past few years, regarding these cooperation activities. Will the Government be able to provide an update on the status of these cross-border discussions and whether they are progressing as expected, and aligned with our infrastructure plans and timelines? Sir, the impact of climate change is evident today. Inaction would only make things worse. Despite the global headwinds and geopolitics, I am heartened that Singapore remains fully committed to climate action, guided by science and facts. The steps we are taking today would be the cornerstone for our future low-carbon economy, where Government, industry and citizens can work collaboratively to achieve a greener Singapore.”
“Based on preliminary estimation by the Energy Studies Institute at the National University of Singapore (NUS), importing an additional four gigawatts of green electricity could abate about 10 million tonnes of carbon dioxide. However, beyond electricity imports, does the Government aim to implement any significant initiatives or mandate the industrial sector to further support our decarbonisation targets? How can our local industries contribute towards such efforts to enable structural shifts beyond just relying on the reduction of Singapore's grid emission factor? Further, how can the Government support them in such activities? For Singapore to become a low-carbon economy and with limited access to low-cost renewable energy, we need to heavily rely on low-carbon energy technologies. Yet, many of which are still nascent or not at full commercial scale. I commend the Government for continuously monitoring, developing and testing new low-carbon technologies, including in bolder areas, such as nuclear energy, to ensure Singapore pursues optimal pathways to achieve net-zero. As we explore all these new technology frontiers, there are benefits to take stock of earlier studies and to reflect as a nation how we can collectively leverage upon these learnings. Among the multiple studies on low-carbon energy technologies the Government has undertaken, can Minister share some of the key opportunities and challenges identified? Within this portfolio of technologies studied, are there any promising ones which can be further scaled with partners and piloted before end of the decade? Beyond technology considerations, many low-carbon solutions, including electricity imports, carbon capture and carbon markets, would require international cooperation before deployment can take place.”
“Chairman, let me begin by declaring that I am a senior executive with a local enterprise and I deal with matters related to sustainability. Despite impeding global climate action due to geopolitical uncertainties, I am encouraged that Singapore remains committed towards climate action, taking critical and bold steps to shift our nation towards a low-carbon society. Climate change is evidently impacting our lives today. As a nation, we must be steadfast in our actions to fight against this existential threat. Singapore's recent submission on our 2035 NDCs states that we target to reduce our emission to 45 to 50 million tonnes by 2035. This target puts us on the right trajectory for Singapore to achieve net-zero by 2050. However, achieving this level of carbon abatement is no mean feat. To put it in perspective, to achieve 15 million tonnes of carbon dioxide abatement from today's emission level, Singapore would need to either halve our primary emissions from the industry sector or reduce the emissions from our power sector by around 70%. Achieving such a level of abatement would require significant structural shifts in our infrastructure, economy and technological landscape. We are already witnessing such a transition due to the Government's push to increase adoption of solar power and electric vehicles in Singapore. While these activities do contribute towards our decarbonisation efforts, similar deployment efforts would need to be needle-moving in other sectors as well to achieve the level of abatement mentioned earlier. I would like to ask Minister what the Government's deployment strategy for Singapore are to achieve our 2035 NDC target. I acknowledge the Government's push to significantly increase electricity imports to Singapore by 2035.”
“I consider this a blessing to have and one we should treasure to preserve and enhance for future generations. Our people is one key asset. Competition is inevitable, both locally and globally. It exists before and will only be more rampant in the years ahead. Thus, I advocate that we begin to emphasise on our goal of providing more pathways for success. By diversifying our talent development strategies, by offering broad opportunities for exploration from young, we aim to reduce the pressure and allow individuals to find and pursue their unique strengths and interests. By investing in our young talents and providing them with opportunities for global exposure, we not only secure their future but also fortify our nation's position as a leader in the international arena. Through our investment for individuals to understand the necessary skills to develop building upon their strengths, our workforce can truly live up to a continuous learning and adaptation mindset in the ever-changing global landscape. This will, over time, result in a more innovative, balanced and sound economy, enabled by the creation of the economic growth destiny that our citizens are a part of. With a healthier and happier workforce, we too look towards a more harmonious and prosperous society. I urge the Government to take a vital step towards broadening our definition of success and how Singaporeans can have more choices in their career pathway, as we join hands to ensure Singapore’s continued success on the global stage. With this, I rise in support of the Budget.”
“And, Sir, lastly, a healthy and successful career pathway must be balanced with one’s well-being and one that caters for their mental health and work-life balance. These are integral to our vision of a happy and thriving society. While economic success cannot guarantee a person’s well-being, expanding the options and pathways available to all Singaporeans for their career choices will help more people achieve their dreams, thus creating a more inclusive and cohesive society for future generations. Providing diverse opportunities for our citizens not only empower them to excel in their potential, it also fosters a greater sense of fulfillment and purpose. When individuals feel supported and valued, it boosts their overall happiness and contributes to a stronger and more resilient community at work. While we do not have infinite resources to double down and resolving all challenges, we should have faith that investing in Singaporeans will pay off in the future. We must believe that every Singaporean is capable and responsible and should be given every opportunity that the country can afford. To enable the future where equity and inclusivity are strong values that anchor this country, we need to commit to ensure that opportunities are accessible to all Singaporeans, regardless of their background. This includes implementing fair and transparent selection processes and providing additional support to those who need it. This is a long-term commitment and a topic we should focus on investing when we have Budget surplus. Sir, I see Singapore with a future of opportunities and hope. We have many assets that our forefathers and the current generation have built together as a united country. These are rare assets in a fractious world today.”
“By making them available for the SMEs, they will bring their valuable experiences and skills to strengthen our local businesses. Such talent flow would benefit both the individuals involved and yield significant advantages for Singapore as a whole. By cultivating a pool of experienced global leaders, we also enhance our ability to retain the MNCs within our borders. These leaders, equipped with a deep understanding of international business dynamics, will be better positioned to drive innovation, foster economic growth and ensure that Singapore remains a hub for global commerce for a long time to come. Next, about harnessing and broadening our talent pool. I would say, each year, over 9,000 youths sit for the “N” level examinations. Many of these students eventually go on to enrol in our ITEs. Have we considered to allow students who are not academically inclined to enrol in ITE much earlier, say, at the age of 13? This would allow them to begin skills development over a longer horizon and discover their niche in the various trade crafts that are suitable to their own abilities which can be useful, as they explore their future careers. Further, we can consider expanding ITE to have a stronger focus on technical skills development and if they can excel in some specific areas, for example, like cross-skills capability development in our youths, this will prove to be very valuable for the future unpredictable work environment. These initiatives, as much as I have said, will need to be implemented in phases, allowing us to evaluate and refine our approach that is based on feedback and outcomes. This will ensure that we can address any challenges and make the necessary adjustments in order to make sure they will become successful in the implementation.”
“Businesses thrive when there are economies of scales; and MNCs bring to Singapore important business flows, not only in terms of the scale of business but they also serve a broader region beyond Singapore, with a natural opportunity that allow SMEs to provide goods and services, which in turn help Singapore's economy to be more resilient. To make this implementation possible, I would like to suggest a few measures to be considered. One, differentiated quotas. Implement separate Employment Pass quotas for MNCs and SMEs, with a more generous quota towards our SMEs. This way, the SMEs can hire more talented foreigners without increasing the overall number of foreign workers in Singapore. Two, salary thresholds. Increase the minimum qualifying salary for MNCs to hire foreign professionals in junior roles. This merits the opportunity to develop a sizeable local workforce with time that will enhance the capabilities which can value-add to the company and support rotational roles when the opportunity arises. Three, skills transfer programmes. Encourage MNCs to implement skills transfer programmes where they are required to train local employees to take on senior roles gradually. Likewise, we need concrete steps need to be in place to ensure that Government-linked companies provide ample internships for the Institute of Technical Education (ITE) and polytechnic students, while we establish the mechanisms for accountability to ensure the initiatives can be successful over time. Four, talent flow to SMEs. Not everyone who undergoes a global job rotation programme will continue to work in MNCs. We should create a pathway for some of these trained talents to be able to flow into our SMEs.”
“We need to have all these global bright minds with us, but we also need to find a way in order to create opportunities for Singapore to become the bridges and connectors that he referred to. The question is how best do we do this such that Singaporeans continue to have equal opportunities to get good employment for a much longer period and also the opportunities to participate in the global arena. Taking a reference from this company called Atos, an international information technology services company who successfully implemented a global talent policy that aligns with their global and local talent management strategies. It has certainly proved to be effective for the investments they have made. Being in the digital space, Atos certainly faces the challenge of dynamic market trends and the constraint that needs to retain their own talents. Yet, they are focused on the skills development of their employees, ensuring development pathway and positive employee experience which translates to positive customer experiences that help sustain their business. We need an equivalent framework that encourages MNCs and large local corporates to provide similar approach in incentivising the development process and retention of talents. Next, shifting the implementation approach for MNCs and our local SMEs. We are committed to support both the MNCs and our local SMEs. By differentiating Employment Pass quotas and providing targeted incentives, we aim to create such a balanced ecosystem where both sectors can thrive. The Tech@SG Programme, a joint initiative by EDB and Enterprise Singapore, supports this balanced approach, helping both the fast-growing local companies and SMEs to access critical talent.”
“Many young Singaporeans aspire to work in MNCs given the global exposure, the career development opportunities, the competitive compensation package, the vibrant work culture that is in place, and the networking potentials that these companies offer. By working with MNCs to hire and train Singaporeans, we can help our young Singaporeans meet their aspirations and gain the international experience that is much needed in order to excel in future senior leadership roles. However, we do acknowledge that MNCs will not automatically hire more Singaporeans. As a result, I believe the Government will need to subsidise the cost of putting Singaporeans in the global job rotation programmes. This should be viewed as an investment in our local talent pool, which I believe can pay off in the long run. Second, a differentiated look at the way we embrace talents and allocate resources to support their development. Let me elaborate this on three aspects. The first, global talents with a much more local emphasis. This is an issue that I believe is not unique to Singapore. Many cities across the world grapple with this and today find that increasing availability of competitive talents providing services from offshore. Over time, this will be a formidable threat to our local workforce without having the overseas talent to even be present in Singapore. We are also cognisant of a shrinking workforce locally given our low total fertility rate (TFR) and this implies the need to augment workers in different sectors through more options. I totally agree with what Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat has just said.”
“Mr Speaker, our nation celebrates 60 years of Independence this year. Indeed, it is a proud milestone for a young nation and one that I believe many Singaporeans, including myself, celebrates with a smiling heart. As a country that began with virtually no resources when it first became independent, we have certainly built our assets over the decades with resolve and dedication. But this was never an easy path. The 2025 Budget certainly sets the tone on what it means to look out for all Singaporeans and how we can create our country together in the years ahead. One aspect of the Budget Statement that stood out for me is the human-centric approach and talent development. Singapore has long recognised the importance of investing in our young, ensuring they receive the best education and opportunities to contribute as our country grows. However, as we navigate the complexities of a globalised economy, it is imperative that we equip our young Singaporeans with the skills and experiences necessary to thrive in an interconnected world amidst increasing tensions across countries. Today, I will focus my speech on the need to shift our approach towards talent development in Singapore’s current and future workforce. First, I believe that forging more strategic partnerships with global companies and establishing a new talent development initiative is necessary. By collaborating with MNCs, we can create global rotation programmes where Singaporeans are hired and placed in various roles across the globe. This initiative would provide our young talents with invaluable exposure to diverse cultures, markets, business practices and honing their leadership skills in order to broaden their perspectives.”
“Speaker, I have one supplementary question for the Minister of State. I want to ask the Minister of State, given the fact that we do this environmental impact study, will there be a study that will be conducted for every single oil spill and, if so, how long would the monitoring period be?”
“Speaker, I have a supplementary question for the Minister. I agree with the Minister that these software systems are relatively complex and, generally, you do not just have a single supplier supplying to the overall system. The question would be, for the Government agencies, as we are going more digital or promoting digitalisation in our society, how can we ensure there is sufficient coordination with third-party suppliers, such that any change that they make on their independent end does not affect our overall system?”
“Speaker, I have a supplementary question for the Senior Minister of State. As we go for more resource- and energy-efficient models of agri-tech production, would the Ministry consider taking a more active stand, beyond just grants, to look at areas of R&D, scaling and commercialisation? What I meant by that is, for example, actively curating technologies that may be functional and would work to enable the success, and introduce it to the different businesses so that we have a higher chance of getting this programme on the road.”
“I have got a supplementary question for the Senior Parliamentary Secretary. From now till when the official regulation is in place is still some time away. For home owners, they would not have a means to be able to detect formaldehyde levels because they would not know. As much as we want to raise public awareness, this is after all a chemical. I just want to ask what recourse would these home owners or consumers have if they were being supplied this by the renovation contractors and are there other things that can be done more actively, because, today, all the actions that are taken are very reactive?”
“Thank you, Mr Speaker. I have one supplementary question for the Senior Minister of State. I recognise the challenges and headwinds that the Senior Minister of State has mentioned, but the reality is beyond just capability building and the grants that are given. There are really not many businesses that have been successful, or able to do it at this large scale of is required to support the "30 by 30" goals. So, my question to the Senior Minister of State is, will the Ministry consider doing a different test bed or model, where you can substantiate one or two businesses that can really scale, beyond just helping them create a demand. Because not many of these businesses have an idea how exactly to do this end-to-end. And if we want to succeed in our goal, I think the Ministry needs to reconsider using a different model.”
“Speaker. I have got two supplementary questions for the Minister of State. The first one is, as the Minister of State has pointed out, the labour market is tight and corporates are also finding ways to adjust with how to cope with the labour supply. Does Minister of State think that we will likely see an increase of offshoring of jobs as a result of this implementation of the guidelines? The second supplementary question is with regard to the union. Today, we are seeing an increasing trend of having more professionals, managers, executives and technicians (PMETs) as your union members as well. Would the Minister of State think that, especially in my Parliamentary Question, the Minister of State has not answered the part, with PMETs in the middle age group, between 45 and 60s, would the Minister of State think that this implementation of guidelines and the redesign of job scope would disadvantage them and make Singapore uncompetitive as a market to retain these PMETs?”
“Chairman, I will be brief, but I think this is the ninth year I have spoken on the MND COS and every year, we run out of time to clarify all the clarifications at the tail end. But I guess this is also a reflection of the uphill task and the challenge that we have in maintaining all the competing needs of usage in this very scarce land that we have in Singapore. With that, I still want to thank all the Government Parliamentary Committee (GPC) colleagues who have spoken on this and also all the other Members in the House who supported and also gave a lot of suggestions on what else can be considered in MND. I would like to thank Minister Desmond Lee, Minister Indranee Rajah, Senior Minister of State Sim Ann, Senior Minister of State Tan Kiat How and Minister of State Assoc Prof Faishal Ibrahim and the entire staff team in the MND family. With that, Chairman, I beg leave to withdraw my amendment. [(proc text) Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. (proc text)] [(proc text) The sum of $7,713,567,200 for Head T ordered to stand part of the Main Estimates. (proc text)] [(proc text) The sum of $11,610,741,000 for Head T ordered to stand part of the Development Estimates. (proc text)]”
“Thank you, Chairman. I have two clarifications. The first is for Minister Desmond Lee. I am actually happy to hear that the Government will be providing support through the enhanced Staggered Downpayment Scheme, or SDS, to help young couples pay for the downpayment of flats. However, if you want to bring assurance to the young couples, I think it needs to go beyond just financial support. So, if they needed more comprehensive support, can Minister share with us what are some ways that this can be done so that we can also address the problem around the falling TFR? The second clarification I have is for Senior Minister of State Sim Ann. In my cut, I asked about the MSO's Love Our 'Hood initiatives and also the fund that has been in place. I think the Senior Minister of State was probably tight on time just now, so you did not mention very much about some of the initiatives that have resulted in tangible impact in other neighbourhoods in your reply. I think having some insights to this will help others see how we can tap upon it and expand it across the island.”
“MND and the Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment (MSE) have repeatedly responded about the past effort and how regulations alone have limitations in tackling the issues resolutely. Beyond imploring for residents to just exercise more consideration, should we not take the opportunity to have users or those possibly affected to co-create community solutions to address these municipal issues?”
“Chairman, 2024 marks the 10th year since the Municipal Services Office (MSO) was set up. MSO was established to improve the Government's overall coordination and delivery of municipal services. In my past speeches, I noted that residents have been using OneService App actively and commended on its ease of use and good response by the agencies. Back in 2021, it also saw the introduction of the Love Our Hood initiative in partnership with Mountbatten, Pioneer and Bukit Gombak Constituency Offices that seeks to provide residents and community stakeholders to co-develop community-based solutions to manage municipal issues and foster neighbourliness. Can I ask the Minister provide an update on the progress of this initiative and any intention to further scale up the initiative for effective resolution of community issues? What were the nature of some issues that have been resolved in the past from such co-creation and are there any areas that could further be improved in order to allow more communities to benefit from them through best practice sharing? Of course, communal living brings along with it some inherent challenges and a need for much tolerance and civic mindedness of the general public. Can we leverage the learnings from the Love Our Hood initiative? I would like to suggest that MSO assist to look at a few perennial topics that have been consistently raised in this House. These include noise between units, second-hand smoking and the pigeon feeding. I know my Pioneer Group Constituency (GPC) colleagues and I have been repeating this in this House several times, including what you have just heard from the earlier cuts.”
“I would like to know what mechanisms the Ministry have in place to monitor how companies have invested in technologies to become more productive and innovative? Should the progress be slow, will more efforts be put in by the Government to encourage technology adoption? Low-carbon Built Environment”
“The Industry Transformation Map (ITM) is often keenly watched by industry players for it signals the strategic focus of the Government for the respective industries. In 2022, the built environment ITM was refreshed with a focus on improving the value-chain approach through digitalisation; with the incorporation of the Integrated Digital Delivery (IDD) in projects in the Built Environment sector as a case in point. In recent years, modular construction has been gaining popularity with results demonstrating its promise of improving completion rates over traditional construction methods. Further, this industry remains highly challenged by labour shortage with little signs of improvement in this respect ahead. Can the Government provide an update on the progress of the industry transformation after two years of its implementation? Indeed, digitalisation has its promise of helping to enhance efficiency with companies such as BHCC Construction and Pan-United Corporation being beneficiaries of these technologies resulting in cost and manpower savings. Some also demonstrated on their production processes and workflow that embracing artificial intelligence and virtual reality enabled more productivity and workers improving their work skills while adopting digital technologies. Despite advancement in technological developments, industry players have revealed that the Built Environment sector is still very traditional and has been a laggard in adopting technologies. Reasons for such are aplenty, ranging from adopting new technologies hindered by a mindset of “why fix it when nothing is broken” to outright resistance due to unfamiliarity of such technologies or concerns over long lead-time and high cost in embarking on digitalisation.”
“Blurring lines of work and leisure entails new options of how we define new land demarcation. "Vertical zoning" of used spaces and increased number of mixed-use developments may become more pronounced. So, what will future industrial areas be like? Can we support more economic activities and build industry verticals that are stacked in the same building or clustered in the same zones? All these require long-term planning and support from the market-led forces. The infrastructures will also not be complete without the greenery, recreational and transportation nodes that provide connectivity between towns. With Singapore being one of the most densely-populated countries in the world, the decision to conserve native green spaces, regrowth of secondary forests and other forms of vegetated sites will have an impact on our environment. Such planning requires expertise from different domains and even tapping on global experts. As part of the Forward SG movement, may I ask the Minister, how is the Government intending to involve citizens and residents in Singapore as we plan for future land use? Urban Heat and Density”
“Sir, in 2021, Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) engaged the community extensively with its Long-Term Plan Review. The objective was to reimagine Singapore's future together, shaped by Singaporeans aspirations and visions. I personally participated in some of these engagements. It was gratifying to witness the premium that many Singaporeans placed on sustainability and the consistent emphasis of ensuring Singapore is liveable for the future generations. Leveraging on these engagements, the URA is designing the Draft Master Plan 2025 that details land use for next 10 to 15 years. Saying Singapore has land scarcity is an understatement. Question is, how can we better utilise, transform and reallocate land parcels, visualise and plan future towns to fulfill the changing needs? There is no doubt that land use or exchange for different designated purpose of land parcels receive much scrutiny by the public today. It is even harder when we have to take into consideration the need to preserve our biodiversity or heritage at specific locations. With more competing needs for land use, what approach is the Ministry adopting to rethink about land allocation, classification of use and preservation of heritage assets in the Draft Master Plan review? The traditional way of viewing existing land allocation is through the demarcation of the Core Central Region (CCR), Outside Central Region (OCR) and Rest of Central Region (RCR). However, with the growing acceptance of work-from-home and evolving lifestyle needs, there is no longer a need where prime activities are conducted only in central region. People also wish for shorter commutes between where they work, live and play. This can be seen in the drive for Jurong's transformation and Punggol Digital District.”
“While I totally understand the rationale of the current rules are meant to protect our public housing supply, which is already heavily subsidised, there is an increasing group of Singaporeans who need homes to raise the next generation. Could we not consider some form of additional rules to be added to existing ones so that we can also enable support to this group of Singaporeans? Sir, home ownership will always be an emotional topic for every individual and families. After all, it is the roof over our heads that give us peace of mind to focus on work and to raise families and also other aspects of life. While I acknowledge MND has certainly put in tremendous efforts to ensure Singaporeans have access to affordable homes, the work will continue and it needs to continue to evolve as we deal with the changing family unit structures and the future aspiring lifestyles of our population. [(proc text) Question proposed. (proc text)] HDB Works and Delays”
“More recently, the Community Care Apartments in Bukit Batok, whereby residential units will be integrated with a hawker centre, activity centre and community gardens, have proven to be popular for its refreshed idea in enabling ageing well, while not institutionalising residential living in a nursing home. Indeed, it is heart-warming to see how HDB has evolved in designing housing spaces based on multigenerational assumptions to allow more solitary seniors to mingle. While the hardware and infrastructure are essential for ageing in place, the psychological and emotional aspects of our seniors cannot be neglected. I would like to ask MND for more information on the progress of the Age Well SG scheme? The third group, families with a foreigner spouse. With Singaporeans being more globalised, there is an increasing trend of cross-national marriages. I have received many anecdotal sharings during the Meet-the-People sessions and interactions with my residents where some revealed that having a foreigner spouse makes them feel disadvantaged living in Singapore, the reason being as they relocate back from overseas work or they married a foreign spouse with plans to set up their family in Singapore, they encounter difficulties in securing affordable home options with their spouse as a family unit. Family planning is always critical for many of them and access to public housing is an important first step as they enter a different phase in their lives. Today, their access to BTO or Sale of Balance Flats (SBF), grants and housing loan assessment, are impacted if their spouse is not already a Permanent Resident (PR).”
“A divorce and its aftermath are always challenging to deal with, much less for individuals who have to single-handedly care for special needs children in the process of the divorce. The challenges exacerbate when they have no certainty of a place to live in when the matrimonial flat is going to be sold. Without a final Court judgment, they are also unable to rent interim housing from HDB and most have difficulty renting from the open market since the landlords are unwilling to rent any rooms, given their child's condition. Under the Parenthood Provisional Housing Scheme (PPHS), married couples and family units who have booked an uncompleted unit are able to obtain interim rental from HDB. In Budget 2024, more concessions and expansion have been made to these couples and families via the PPHS Open Market Voucher. While these initiatives align with Singapore's pro-family stance, in which I am also supportive, we cannot overlook and deny the evolving and changing family structure that is happening. Will MND consider providing interim housing for divorcees with special needs children and are still in the process of finalising their divorce, or provide a scheme that is quite similar to that of a PPHS Open Market voucher? The second group, seniors who have no family support. With an ageing population in Singapore, much has been discussed on how best to age in place. Many initiatives have been introduced, ranging from the Lease Buyback Scheme (LBS) to the introduction of 3G flats, Married Child Priority Scheme to encourage intergenerational living and even subsidies to enable an elder-friendly home.”
“Chairman, I beg to move "That the total sum to be allocated for Head T of the Estimates be reduced by $100". Sir, the past two years have seen a slew of initiatives announced by the Ministry of National Development (MND) ranging from the introduction of the Prime Location Housing (PLH) model to the reclassification of flats and enhancing singles' access to public housing. These challenges have generally been met with much appreciation as mitigating solutions against the backdrop of escalating rents and housing prices. I am in full support of Minister Desmond Lee's commitment in ensuring better access and affordable public housing for Singaporeans. Affordable housing is often a debated topic in cities across the world. It impacts people's lives and their long-term family or career planning. For Singapore, it entails a continuous effort to balance the multitude of conflicting needs from ensuring affordable housing with a growing population and limited land availability, exercising inclusivity for different segments in society and evolving our public housing to meet the future aspirations of Singaporeans. With a record 9,250 private housing units released in 2023, the highest in a decade, and the Housing and Development Board's (HDB's) 2024 target to complete 19,600 Build-To-Order (BTO) flats amongst other initiatives, housing supply has increased significantly, with signs of a property market appearing to abate. I wish to ask the Minister to provide a holistic picture of how MND intends to address the housing demand in the next five years. Further, I hope to hear how more effort will be placed to support the following three group of people for their housing needs. First, interim housing for divorcees with special needs children.”
“These would then allow impactful first steps that can give a sense of the state of things in the SMEs and, subsequently, the Government can consider to provide useful targeted support accordingly to them as they transition over time. More Climate Support for Businesses”
“Can the Minister share what and how are the green procurement criteria decided for these sectors? Finally, I want to reiterate my previous call for support towards SMEs on this sustainability journey. Inevitably, there are many requests and requirements when new frameworks are introduced that will effect changes to the traditional industrial practices and processes. SMEs throughout the world face the same challenges in learning the state of things for sustainability, how to comply with new regulations and where to find essential information that enables necessary compliance, and how to build their business processes and models around sustainability. The issue here is beyond carbon tax or GHGs emissions for any SME. The crux of managing the issue is knowing where to begin. Apart from cost, SMEs struggle to implement needful processes and require handholding from understanding the current gaps in their company, and the next steps that are critical for them to becoming a sustainable supplier. SMEs need more than just advice or grants, but actually, a 101 guidebook. Many corporates in Singapore rely on local SMEs to fulfil their procurement needs. We want to help them and support their transition towards sustainability. But corporates alone will not make the cut for levelling their capabilities. What will the Government do to assist them in reaching the first milestone of understanding their current position and assess the needs to improve upon? Is it possible to categorise the assessment of SMEs and their needs by nature of businesses, ranging from trading, manufacturing, consumer sales or others.”
“Chairman, let me begin by declaring that I am a senior executive with a large local enterprise and I manage the sustainability business and practices for the company, among other roles. Sir, it is heartening that the Government has published the first GreenGov.SG report for FY2022. In the FY2022 report, it mentioned that post-pandemic, an increase in activities is expected during the recovery, thus the GHG emissions in the near term will also increase. I understand that we have been measuring and disclosing these emissions on Scope 1 and Scope 2. When do we expect GHGs for Singapore to peak, so that efforts can be further focused on reduction towards net-zero? Today, the Government is the largest procurement party for the public sector. Can I ask what will the Government plan to include in the next GreenGov.SG report? Will the disclosure begin to include Scope 3 emissions, as that is a critical aspect of the products or services procured? Furthermore, any GHGs reduction targets without Scope 3 may not be meaningful, since we do not have the visibility on the full supply chain, nor its materials at source or manufacturing processes to produce the products or services. While I recognise it is difficult to grapple with Scope 3, the position that the Government takes in this respect will be a signal of what the industry, especially the corporates, should endeavour to achieve. In our next phase of urbanisation and economic growth, many projects that we are undertaking from public housing, transport infrastructures to connectivity service provisions, the criteria that the Government sets for these sectors will imply the need for early planning and ability to comply by all parties, particularly the construction and ICT sectors.”
“Proliferation of such community, as well as commercial-led efforts are essential to ultimately mainstream the inclusivity of special needs individuals into Singaporeans' daily way of life. I hope the Government will expand its support for such ground-up efforts, both in the commercial and the community space to help those with special needs. Deputy Speaker, to conclude, I am optimistic about Singapore's growth ahead despite the global headwinds. Budget 2024 provides a view of how we can shape our economy to embrace a new demand, which also ensures our workforce can be better placed for future job propositions. While the Government plans for the nation, I also seek fellow Singaporeans to take an active role in our path forward. This country can only benefit from our collective wisdom, efforts and willingness to see it succeed. Success is not simply a definition of being the best, but one where we feel proud and comforted that our success includes those who are needy and vulnerable in society as well. And with that, Sir, I rise in support of the Budget.”
“To be a caregiver for someone with special needs is not only a matter of financial cost, but it also takes a toll on the entire family as their lifestyle completely changes beyond one about affordability, to one that focuses on how best to enable the special needs person to live a life. One resident who approached me for help recently had an issue with her daughter's application for a transport concession card. The issue of not getting the approval was one around definition of disability and the assessment criteria. The fact of the matter is her daughter has been diagnosed with varying degrees of disability since young. Now at 20, her condition has not improved, and she faces other societal challenges and the lack of opportunity to participate in the workforce. What her parents are concerned about is not merely about a transport concession card, which is lesser in value than GST Voucher or even the CDC Voucher support that were generously given. The concern they have is that the availability of options their daughter has for rest of her life is determined by what others are willing to provide and the decisions to support rely on rulebooks that are seldom exercised with a sense of understanding. I do ask if there are more we can do as a community to support such individuals. I am heartened to see that there are more commercial facilities setting aside space and adjusting their operational procedures to make spaces that are more welcoming to those with special needs. Places like Gardens by the Bay plans to have a quiet hour for people with autism and an inclusive playground for children. Other similar efforts are also taken by corporates, such as Frasers Property and its tenants, who chose to be the inaugural "Inclusive Champions".”
“While such schemes have instant effect to address current inflation challenge, the long-term deployment of such schemes, likewise places a fiscal burden on the Government. There is a need to continually track the impact of such packages and to regularly benchmark it with the intent of the package or the policy. With Singapore's continued investments into new high value economic growth areas and as we continue to support upgrading our workforce to undertake higher value jobs, I am hopeful that the real wages for Singaporeans will continue to grow. I am not against the provision of financial support for targeted groups of individuals who have needs and are unable to support or manage without additional support or truly needs a helping hand in that manner. The question I have for the Government is whether the plan is to continue making some of these support schemes, like the CDC Vouchers and AP a permanent one, and how are we intending to fund these. Everybody likes "free money", but it is important that we always prioritise our fellow Singaporeans who might need a bit more help and continue to support them as a national family. And this brings me to the last aspect of helping those who need more support and in a targeted manner. I am very encouraged by the announcement of the increased support to be provided to families of persons with special needs. I believe that inclusivity is an important pillar in our social fabric, and we should continue to aspire and rally more Singaporeans to support and integrate people with special needs into our community to the largest possible extent. Lowering the cost of monthly fees at special education (SPED) schools and increasing support for employment and integration of special needs individuals are moves in the right direction.”
“To ensure the safety of these structures, especially the ones spanning across the roads, are both expensive to construct and maintain. Have we considered how to minimise high recurring expenses to maintain these assets for decades? Were there options to modify the usage of these sheltered paths to serve a wider community, or other innovative and cheaper ways to provide such shelter? Such decisions do require some level of judgement. Given our limited resources and the possibility that some day, we will have little foreign workers to serve our daily needs, will the public works regulatory evolve to allow citizens to volunteer their expertise or knowledge on potential technology and designs that can be used? Third, I welcome the move to help address the immediate cost of living and to enhance the AP. Our GDP per capita stands at about S$91,100, according to the World Economic Outlook in 2022 and ranks amongst the top three globally. For a young nation with relatively high median income, it is hard for some to apprehend that we have amongst us the low-income workers, a sandwiched middle-income group and seniors or retirees who may not have sufficient financials to support their retirement. With impending global headwinds that may adversely affect our economy and our ageing population, I am concerned for the future for this group of citizens, especially given the uncertainty it may bring. While the country prospers, a key topic we have to face squarely is whether our wealth and social equality is keeping pace across the different segments in society. The prices of essential goods and services have increased over the past year and the provision of the CDC and U-Save vouchers would go some way to help many Singaporeans cushion a part of the escalating cost burden.”
“But while we push the frontiers of innovation – and it is critical – it is the ability to imagine the future of Singapore's economy that presents hope and possibilities to all segments of workers that will keep our economy going. Second, I am enthused that we will be allocating budget for key infrastructure development to support the transition towards clean energy through the Future Energy Fund. These spendings are important to ensure that Singapore remains a good participant of global climate action and potentially be a beacon to other countries in transiting towards cleaner energy. These infrastructural developments are, however, costly; and could entail higher risk of being stranded, given the uncertain energy landscape. A prudent allocation of these funds must go beyond just evaluating the capital. It requires Government leaders to make good judgement calls on the risk of such investments and to consider the potential high recurring cost and approach to maintain such infrastructures for usability over a defined lifetime; so as to prevent wastage both now and in the future. In the same vein, we should follow this philosophy when developing any infrastructure projects to ensure we can stretch every dollar spent. Take, for example, many sheltered linkways have been constructed to provide increased convenience to our citizens and give them the comfort during the hot and wet weather. However, some of the sheltered linkways are not built at areas with heavy footfall and they are under-utilised. The lightings that are required to keep them bright for usage at night is also drawing more energy from the grid when it is already lighted by parallel streetlights.”
“For example, as we pursue new high value activities, such as R&D, we should not neglect strengthening our foundational engineering capabilities or to continue encouraging our high value-add manufacturing base. The pandemic has shown that over reliance for core parts of a supply chain globally has its downside. Offshoring some of these jobs not only impact our blue-collar workforce, but it could also risk Singapore losing our ability to effectively translate innovation into market-ready products. On the long run, this limits Singapore's capabilities of being a "one-stop" shop for such innovation deployment. Deliberate planning of lifelong learning and scoping career transition pathways through the newly launched SkillsFuture Level-Up Programme will help develop our workforce to deliver products and services in the new economic growth areas. However, we must continue to support capability development in tradecrafts and some blue-collar domains, to ensure we have a holistic workforce to drive our economic plans forward. I am happy about the new ITE progression award to support students to upskill in more practical and hands-on areas. I hope similar schemes would continue to support and enhance our workforce to develop mastery in key skills which are needed to drive some fundamentals in Singapore's growth forward. To be clear, I am in full support of our future economic thrust, such as preparing for the digital and green transition, continuously moving up the value chain and finding niche areas where we can be globally competitive and differentiated.”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, the fate of a country through the ages has been that it either rises, falls or stagnates. We are lucky that in Singapore – against massive odds – we have continued to do well. Budget 2024, which is a part of the Forward Singapore movement, aims to keep the upward trajectory going. But even as we grow our economy, the immutable fact is that resources will always be finite but wants unlimited. Our needs rise with each generation and their aspirations for a brighter and progressive future imply we have to keep adapting and evolving. We need to take deliberate actions to stretch every dollar we spend to ensure we continue to meet the growing aspirations of our citizens and expand our economy in a holistic manner. Thus, strengthening key areas and preventing unnecessary resource wastage, while ensuring that our wealth and social equality keep pace across different segments in society, is necessary. In this Budget 2024 Statement, there are four areas stood out for me. First, I agree with the need for our economy to continue growing at a healthy pace, but not at all costs. I applaud the Government in planning for the future of economy and setting a direction of what industries and jobs will anchor this little red dot beyond a decade or two. However, we have to be careful not to be blindsided by the potential unseen structural and social costs that such development could bring. We have to plan for such economic activities in a holistic and calibrated manner and, most importantly, as part of a whole-of-Government effort to ensure we consider all dimensions of each plan.”
“I thank the Senior Minister of State for his replies. I guess it is never easy whenever it comes to neighbourly disputes and we all know we have received such feedback. Trying to do that mediator role is probably one of the most challenging. I have got three supplementary questions for the Senior Minister of State. The first one is, back in 2018, the Ministry made the decision to reduce the number from nine to six in terms of the occupancy cap. There are always questions: while this is a temporary measure, why is the number increased back to eight and not nine? That is the first supplementary question. The second one is, given the very robust rental demand at present – and that is the reason for this temporary measure – would the Ministry have sufficient capacity to do the enforcement to make sure that the landlords stick within the number that has been put as a cap? And lastly, given the disamenities that have been happening, there is still a lot – particularly, noise between neighbours – that we have still not resolved, even with the current limitations. What is HDB's plan on trying to manage the situation? Sometimes, it is not enough to just tell them to go for mediation through the Community Medication Centre. Would the Senior Minister of State elaborate on this?”
“Thank you, Mr Speaker. I have got two supplementary questions for the Minister. The first one is with regard to the population. While there is reclamation and there will be additional land mass at the area, I think the East Coast residents would be concerned, partly because there is already a Bayshore Build-To-Order (BTO) project that is upcoming. While the "Long Island" project may be decades out, it would increase the entire population around the area. So, that is the reason behind my question. What is the population framework control that is thought behind this? The second supplementary question is, the Minister has explained that this entire project planning and implementation will take several decades. So, the whole idea is there will be newer technologies around coastal protection that may come up over time. How are we going to integrate some of these newer technologies, in terms of the protection around the "Long Island" project or along the East Coast, so that we will not just put all the expenditure only on one project, particularly around the "Long Island" project?”
“Speaker, I want to thank the Minister for his reply. And in actual fact, I want to also commend them because I think the SSOs have been extending a lot of help to those who were in need. In particular, I just want to raise one supplementary question on two cases. First and foremost, if any help can be given, for example, for seniors, whom we know while they have got family members and their support, well, deemed support, because we always feel that family should be the first line of support. But unfortunately, not everyone is blessed to have families who really want to support them. So, I think for these kinds of seniors, because of their age as well, do we need them to go on that quarterly basis – every three months – to go for interviews to ask and repeat their cases and situation again. While I understand it is about public funds and it needs good governance, can we do more to help the seniors? That is the first question. The second group of individuals are those who while they may not be senior in age, but we believe they have some level of mental condition, and it is very unlikely that they will find long-term employment. Can more be done by the SSOs?”
“I would like to say in the past six hours, we have deliberated and have had a very robust discussion on many topics in this Ministry. It is probably one of the Ministries that covers and spans so many things: builds into the sky, on land, beyond ground, on lakes and into the sea as well. So, I want to thank the entire Ministry, especially the two Ministers, our two Senior Ministers of State as well as Minister of State Faishal and the entire MND team. I think the Members have raised very valid issues and also, they have brought up their concerns but they also brought very good suggestions which I think we need to take forward if we want to be able to build in a very sustainable way and also to make sure that we integrate and build a stronger social compact moving forward. Madam Chair, with that, I beg leave to withdraw my cut. [(proc text) Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. (proc text)] [(proc text) The sum of $7,532,862,200 for Head T ordered to stand part of the Main Estimates. (proc text)] [(proc text) The sum of $9,379,351,000 for Head T ordered to stand part of the Development Estimates. (proc text)]”