Darryl David
Singapore
“Mr Speaker, Sir, just have two supplementary questions. While it is heartening to know that there have been no evidence of external influence in this case, I would like to ask if the Government does indeed keep track of possible cases that fuel the possible coordinated efforts of organisations and agencies that may not be made so public a…”
“Thank you, Mr Deputy Speaker. Just two supplementary questions for the Minister. The Minister mentioned earlier about the revamping of CCE. I would like to ask Minister that are there specific strategies or techniques taught to students, either within CCE or in other aspects of school, in terms of self-regulation, how to manage their emot…”
“Three clarifications, please. The first for the Minister. I suggested in my cut, Minister, about the possibility of using AI to create avatar teachers to to minimise or to positively impact the teacher-student ratio. Can the Minister share if MOE is willing to consider this?”
“I ask for leave to withdraw my cut. [(proc text) Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. (proc text)] [(proc text) The sum of $15,473,381,200 for Head K ordered to stand part of the Main Estimates. (proc text)] [(proc text) The sum of $1,185,000,000 for Head K ordered to stand part of the Development Estimates. (proc text)]”
“A dedicated AI CET centre could offer modular programmes ranging from foundational literacy to advanced applications in responsible AI governance, sector-specific problem solving and workplace integration.”
“By situating enrichment within neighbourhood schools, broadening the scope of learning beyond examinations and nurturing pathways for high-potential students, we can combine academic excellence with inclusivity and social cohesion.”
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Every one of 500 lines we hold for Darryl David, in date order, each linked to its source. Free to read, in full, without an account. Page 10 of 10.
“Mdm Speaker, the transformation of Singapore into a Garden City began in the 1960s. Then-Prime Minister Mr Lee Kuan Yew envisioned Singapore to be a highly liveable city-state that not only provided economic opportunities to her residents, but would also have a high quality of life. People would be able to live in a beautiful environment where roads were tree-lined and parks and green open spaces were freely accessible to everyone. Over the years, NParks has spearheaded the development of new parks and green recreational spaces. It has also continued to promote and develop research in botany, environmental biology and forestry management. To continue this work, I believe it is necessary to strengthen NParks' regulatory function and power and would thus like to speak on three specific amendments of the Bill. First of all, the designation of "marine park" as a type of "public park". As we have already heard from Senior Minister of State Desmond Lee, the Straits of Singapore is one of the busiest commercial shipping routes in the world. In spite of this busy maritime traffic, the Straits has a remarkably diverse marine life. Some of the marine animals spotted in the Straits of Singapore include the Hawksbill Turtle, the Indo-Pacific Humpbacked Dolphin and Black-tipped Reef sharks. These animals and the marine biodiversity of the Straits of Singapore are part of our natural heritage and should be protected and preserved. I am thus glad that amendments made to the Bill in clause 2 will designate "marine park" as a type of "public park" and that NParks will have juridical control and enforcement rights over A good example that illustrates this point is the recent 300-tonne oil spill that occurred in the Straits of Johor when two ships collided northeast of Singapore.”
“I would like to urge the Member, if he has any cases which are unique and need MOE, and as far as the insurance coverage is concerned, to look at it deeper, you can flag out to us. We will certainly look at it and see how we can assist the student.”
“I thank the Parliamentary Secretary for his answer. It is great to know that the welfare of our students are taken care of. I just have two supplementary questions, Mdm Speaker. One of them is how comprehensive is this insurance coverage for the students and is this coverage portable and is it, perhaps, extended up to a certain period of time? The reason why I ask the Parliamentary Secretary is because, say, in a scenario where a student is in the last year of his time with the school, perhaps, Secondary 4 or Junior College 2 before they move on to the next level of their education, should they suffer bad injury like breaking their leg while playing football for the school, and then this injury may take some time to heal – there may be follow-up operation, complications that may take a year or a year and a half later – does the insurance plan that the MOE may have for the student then cover him or her, even though they may have left the particular MOE school and moved on to the next course of their life? Assoc Prof Dr Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim: Madam, I thank the Member for the question. I would like to assure the Member that we will do our best to assist our students. Like what I have said, the safety and well-being of all our students are of paramount importance. What happens is that if there are injuries sustained while the students are, let us say, doing the CCAs, we will work with the student to see how we can facilitate; one aspect is in terms of getting treatment. The other aspect is to see how we can work with the insurance companies to look through and journey with the students on the process of the claims and how this process of recovery can be made together. Nevertheless, each case is unique on its own.”
“A circuit breaker "closed-election" that ensures that an eligible and qualified president from a particular ethnic group is elected from time to time is not merely tokenism or "affirmative action"; neither is it a compromise on the values of equality and meritocracy. Rather, it is an acknowledgement that the core Singaporean values of multiracialism and meritocracy can and should coexist with each other. The sociopolitical challenges that Singapore faces are unique, and that is why we need to create a unique political system that suits our needs. Madam, I mentioned Encik Yusof Ishak earlier in my speech and since Encik Yusof passed on in 1970, we have not had a Malay President, in 46 years. In the course of my lifetime, and many of my generation, and the generation that has come after me, we have never known a Malay President. I am heartened, however, that should this Bill get passed, and should an eligible candidate step forward that next year, this will change and I can then put my hand on heart and say that I am proud to have known a Malay Singaporean as my Elected President in my lifetime and it is something that not just me, or my generation but all Singaporeans should be proud of come 2017. And with that Madam, I end my speech in support of the Bill.”
“This indicates that the issue of race and ethnic identity is deeply ascribed, and many people still feel a strong sense of affinity to their own ethnic group. Also, each respective ethnic group surveyed had different preferences and attitudes with regard to national leaders of different ethnicities, depending on which ethnic group that leader would hypothetically come from. Many of the other Members of this House have made reference in their speeches to other data and surveys that indicate that racial bias does exist in Singapore. Indeed, my own experience with residents on the ground in the heartlands has also led me to believe that this is so. But based on this, I feel that while Singaporeans might be accepting of other ethnic groups in terms of their cultures and traditions and that we all live in peace and harmony, this harmony and tolerance might not translate to truly "race-blind" political elections. This is a sobering reality that we have to face and acknowledge that race continues to be a significant factor in our sociopolitical sphere. So, while we have our ideals, we also have to live in reality. Mdm Speaker, I feel that while meritocracy is a cornerstone of our society, the other "M" – multiracialism – is also a key foundational pillar of our social fabric. While I believe in equality of all races and equal opportunity for all, I also believe that certain measures must be in place to ensure that our multiracialism is not compromised. The President is a symbol of our society, and he or she should epitomise the values and philosophy of Singapore. Going for many years without an Elected President from a particular ethnic group is certainly not desirable and does not reflect the multiracial and multicultural spirit of our country.”
“The closure of ethnic-based schools and the introduction of a common curriculum allow primary school children to mix freely and to be comfortable with members of a different race. The ethnic-based public housing quota ensures that the resident composition of each block of flats within each housing estate is an approximate representation of ethnic composition based on the national average. The formation of the Inter-Racial and Religious Confidence Circle (IRCC) further reinforces the importance of us standing united as one country regardless of race and religion. These policies have worked well for us over the years. If I may reference Minister Masagos, the statistics that were published by SingStats indicate that the number of interracial marriages is on the rise, from approximately 7.6% of all total marriages in 1990, to about 21.5% of all marriages in 2015. That is one in every five marriages. However, while these are positive signs and we continue to make progress, we also have to acknowledge that race and ethnicity are still deep and visceral concepts, and they not only shape our own identities, but also how we feel towards others. In a series of landmark studies on implicit bias, Harvard social psychologist Mahzarin Banaji and her colleagues found that people are influenced by their implicit biases towards races. These biases exist at the subconscious level, often affecting our decisions and interactions with others without us being consciously aware of their existence. The much-quoted CNA-IPS survey of Singaporeans conducted earlier this year supports this. More than 85% of respondents indicated a preference for national leaders from their own ethnic group.”
“However, I believe that the overall recommendation to change the eligibility criteria for candidates from the private sector is timely and appropriate, especially when we consider how the economic and business environment has changed in the last two decades. I have also noted the Government's point that these changes are by no means permanent and will be reviewed from time to time. As such, I am supportive of the proposed changes to the criteria and would thus like to spend a little more time discussing the issue of ensuring representation across the different ethnic groups. Since Encik Yusof Ishak became our first President more than 50 years ago, the President's Office has been occupied and represented by distinguished individuals from different ethnic groups. In that regard, the notion of having presidents from different ethnic groups in Singapore's context is not new. What is new, however, is that this Bill, for the first time, will enshrine in our Constitution that Singapore is guaranteed to have an Elected President from a particular ethnic group from time to time. This will be done via a proposed "closed-election" system reserved for that particular ethnic group, should there be no president from that group after a certain period. Madam, multiracialism has always been one of the core pillars of Singapore since we achieved our Independence. Yet, while the various races have the freedom to celebrate their religion and culture, the Government has always been mindful of the need to maintain racial harmony, and rightfully so. Many of our policies today are deliberately designed to prevent the formation of racial enclaves and to create common social spaces and a common community experience so that the different races can understand one another better.”
“Mdm Speaker, a Bill proposing an amendment to the Constitution does not happen very often. And as expected, we have had many issues here being debated in the House over the past few days. This has brought up some intriguing debates. We have heard debates involving references to shoes and when shoes should be changed, when shoes should be used. We have had certain Members talked about Senate and Senators, which, in my opinion, has raised a lot more questions than the solutions that it proposes to solve, and it also had the "R" word, "referendum", being bandied about in a far too casual and cavalier manner, in my opinion. No doubt, this has led to some strident and vigorous debate in this Chamber. But I would like now to shift the focus a little bit back to, not so much what has been debated in this Chamber, but also what has been debated and discussed outside the Chamber – in the streets, among the people – based on my interaction with my residents and also with my constituents and some feedback that I have got from the ground with regard to the issues raised in this Bill. And that is the proposed changes to the eligibility criteria for the Presidential candidates and also the proposed changes that ensure all ethnic groups have the opportunity to be elected President from time to time. I think that most of us will agree that if the elected President has custodial powers, as meant to be the second key to our country's Reserves, then we need to ensure that whoever is elected to the Office has the right combination of the appropriate skillsets, experience and gravitas to take on the mantle of that role. There will never be a list of specific eligibility criteria that everyone will agree on.”
“Sir, I just have a question of clarification for the hon Member so that I can understand. The Member, therefore, does not agree that there should be a reserved election for the Malay community or any other minority, is that correct?”
“In such an environment, the Government will no doubt continue to offer more citizen-centric online platforms for Singaporeans to interact with the various public agencies. And as these platforms emerge and evolve, we also need to ensure that we have a robust network and security system to support these e-services. Sir, I am heartened to note that GovTech will be set up to address these issues and I stand in support of the Bill.”
“I believe that it is thus imperative for GovTech to explicate clearly how it will work hand in hand with CSA and perhaps other agencies to enhance cybersecurity across the different Government entities. Most importantly, GovTech needs to ensure its own gates are secure because it now holds the master key, as it were, to our e-Government system. Although primarily focusing on public agencies, I was heartened to hear the Minister say earlier that GovTech would also work closely with private corporations of public interest to enhance the quality of services that these entities deliver to public consumers. Two examples I can think of are in the public transport and public healthcare areas. Page: 141 Although co-operation in these areas are with private organisations that are currently outside the official public sector framework, they provide essential services to Singapore. I believe that it is thus in the public interest that GovTech work very closely with corporations in such areas as developing actionable intelligence by using big data analytics techniques so that these corporations can better predict usage patterns of their service and design more consumer-centric service delivery models. GovTech should also work with these private corporations to ensure that their cybersecurity systems are not compromised, as that would have a negative impact on the public and society at large. Sir, as mentioned in my earlier speech on the IMDA Bill, the increasingly powerful processing prowess of digital devices, coupled with greater and easier access to novel online content, has certainly brought about a new dawn in media consumption.”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, I thank you for the opportunity to speak on the Bill. In our electronic global village, cybersecurity is of the utmost concern. Based on a source cited by Tech Insider, there were more than a thousand successful cyberattacks in 2015 that led to a leak of 300 million records and almost $1 billion in stolen money. Although a large proportion of these attacks are cybercrimes targeted at siphoning money from corporations and individuals, there were also cases of cyber espionage and cyber warfare targeted at Government systems. In today's electronic day and age, a successful attack on our e-Government system will have widespread social and economic impact on our nation. With more than 3.3 million Singpass users transacting with the Government, it is not hard to imagine how a breach in Singpass security, for example, would cripple our e-services system and would have serious repercussions on the personal data of Singaporeans. The fallout from such an attack could be likened to the detonation of a cyber-nuclear bomb, leading to a long nuclear winter in cyberspace where the Government system would be paralysed for a sustained period of time. The danger is very real and it is not one that we can afford to take lightly. I am thus particularly glad that one of the key roles of GovTech is to coordinate the Government's cybersecurity jointly with CSA. While there are obvious advantages of adopting a centralised Government-wide cybersecurity framework, it also means that the impact of a successful intrusion will increase exponentially, since intruders can now exploit the same backdoor that exists in the entire e-Government system.”
“During the earlier debate on the SkillsFuture Singapore Agency Bill, Acting Minister Ong Ye Kung talked about how competencies and skills matter and how organisations should hire based on competencies and skills, and not just academic results. I wholeheartedly agree with the Acting Minister. So, I hope therefore, that MCI can work with the Ministry of Education (MOE) to expedite the process of combining the career paths and compensation packages of the two tracks in these PSEIs to facilitate the hiring of talented and capable infocomm and media professionals who actually display competencies and skills. This hiring right will boost the quality and training and education of infocomm and media students, which will, in turn, help strengthen the output in the infocomm and media industries. With that, Sir, I conclude my speech in support of the Bill.”
“Sir, the infocomm and media industries typically reward skills-mastery over academic qualifications. The notion of college dropouts who go on to create successful multi-million-dollar Internet companies might seem like a cliche but, in truth, there are many such stories. Likewise, there are also many infocomm and media professionals who have succeeded with a diploma, and Page: 122 not a degree. Teaching and training talent are as important as attracting talent to enter the industry and I believe that we need to ensure that our schools and training providers recruit good educators from the field to train the next generation of infocomm and media professionals. Although our post-secondary educational institutions, or PSEIs, are increasingly working closely with industry experts to bring their knowledge to the classrooms, they continue to use academic qualifications as one of the primary employment criteria for lecturers and educators. As mentioned earlier, the infocomm and media industries reward talent based on abilities and skills, and not academic qualifications. So, using academic qualifications as a key evaluation tool to decide on whether a particular talent would be employed, and which scheme or career track they would enter into is counter to what is valued by these industries. Sir, in March 2015, Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean announced that there would be a common career track in Government Ministries for degree and non-degree holders. While many Ministries and Government agencies have combined their two tracks, I believe that this has yet to be the case in some of our PSEIs in terms of hiring educators.”
“Or should we encourage and support our homegrown mobile app developers to tap on augmented reality technology to create the next Pokemon Go! even as we are aware of the potential issues that such apps might cause? Sir, this somewhat illustrates the paradoxical and complex role that IMDA has to play, which is balancing between regulating infocomm and media content and fostering the creative development of local infocomm and media companies. From an ontological perspective, having a regulator which is also supposed to encourage the flourishing and development of what it regulates is inherently contradictory. So, how can IMDA ensure that it will play these dual roles impartially? I am sure that the regulation department would be a separate entity from the department that looks after the creative development of infocomm and media. However, how can we ensure that there will be no self-censorship from the creative department when they would or could be subconsciously toeing the line set by their regulation colleagues? I think these are important details that IMDA needs to flesh out. Sir, the next area I would like to speak on is the development of infocomm and media talent, and before I continue, I would like to declare my interest as part of the management team in the School of Design of Temasek Polytechnic. Having spent a substantial amount of my career in the media and education industries, I am of the opinion that the best way to foster creative infocomm and media industry development is to ensure a pipeline of high-calibre talent supply. As the agency now responsible for developing the infocomm and media landscape of Singapore, it is thus paramount that IMDA has a comprehensive roadmap in place to attract and develop talent.”
“Deputy Speaker, in early 2012, the then Ministry of Information, Communications and the Arts, or MICA, appointed the Media Convergence Review panel to study how a converged media space would impact Singapore as a whole and the type of regulatory framework that would be best suited in the new converged media space. Page: 121 One of the key factors then that led to the appointment of the panel was the increasing speed of how previously distinct media platforms were being merged and how the merger of these platforms was changing the way that content was being distributed and consumed. Four years later, in 2016, this convergence has only intensified, and the setting up of IMDA is thus timely as the proliferation of Internet-enabled devices and the digitisation of media have enabled content to be consumed in novel and innovative ways. Take, for example, the latest mobile app, Pokemon Go!, that has taken the world by storm and was launched recently in Singapore. I am sure many Members here have their own encounters in their constituencies, of groups of people coming together almost in a zombie-like daze; and even some Members here might have evolved into pretty good Pokemon hunters themselves. But my point is this. Pokemon Go's augmented reality engine allows players to interact with in-game characters based on their geographical location in real time, which further blurs the line between digital content and real life. With Pokemon Go! being a massive global hit now, more app developers will emulate the likeness of that app and create more digital content that uses what we call augmented reality. So, would IMDA consider extending its regulatory framework to cover these mobile apps so that we could avoid the possible downsides of some of these apps?”
“Will such advocacy be considered as "interfering with" or being "prejudicial to" Court proceedings, as mentioned in clause 3 of the Bill? Mdm Speaker, this Bill ensures that the right to a fair trial is protected for all Singaporeans. It is also important as it ensures that both mainstream and alternative media are held to similar reporting standards when covering ongoing cases. As someone who has been involved with the media industry for more than 20 years, I am heartened that these changes will help our media scene raise its standards and avoid descending into sensationalism and tabloid journalism. With that, Madam, I conclude my speech in support of this Bill.”
“Going back to Illustration 2 in clause 3(1) of the Bill, if the Internet news site had been allowed to run amok with its unprofessional reporting, the accused's name would have been dragged through the mud, regardless of the outcome of the Court case, and on the basis of probably inaccurate information. If the accused were then to be acquitted, this would be a pyrrhic victory, indeed, as he may well have been vilified in the press, long before the delivery of the verdict. To summarise, while most public discussions of ongoing legal cases are well-meaning, it is possible, in the course of such discussions, that reports can interfere with or prejudice an ongoing case. Such trial by media compromises an accused person's right to a fair trial. And even if no actual prejudice is caused to the outcome of the Court proceedings, the damage done to the individual's and, indeed, their families' reputation, psychological well-being and privacy may be irreversible. Mdm Speaker, while I support this Bill, it is important that Singaporeans understand the full significance of it and are assured of their rights and obligations under the law. To this end, I would seek the following clarifications from the Minister. First, is the Minister able to shed light on the practical enforcement of this Bill? In particular, how will this Bill affect the current reporting practices of the mainstream media and alternative media? Next, concerns have been raised that the Bill will affect the coverage of activist campaigns related to ongoing Court proceedings. Could the Minister explain how he will ensure that public discussion or advocacy on matters of public interest is not unnecessarily stifled?”
“However, I feel that, sometimes, they do so perhaps with less of a sense of what constitutes professional and proper publication for public consumption. Mdm Speaker, there are a number of legal aspects of this Bill, which my legally-trained Parliamentary colleagues have addressed and will no doubt continue to address in the speeches to come. I am no lawyer and would leave the technical legal points to my learned colleagues. I am, nevertheless, aware that one argument against sub judice laws is that they are irrelevant in a country like Singapore, as we do not have a jury system. The thinking here is that judges should be impartial enough to consider a case without being influenced by any extraneous material. While I have full confidence in the quality of our Judges and in our Judiciary, I would like to take a different perspective to consider the wider effects of a trial by media. Consider such a situation that is set out in Illustration 2 listed in clause 3(1) of the Bill. The illustration refers to a situation where an Internet news site might claim to have "discovered" the identity of an unknown assailant while a criminal case for assault is still under investigation. In this type of case, the consequences of factual misrepresentation in the media would be severe. Sub judice rules would prevent the dissemination of such possibly erroneous information until the evidence has been properly weighed and the Court has made a decision. This is a fair outcome for both the accused and the victim and, in my view, is consistent with the basic principle that a person is innocent until proven guilty in a Court of law. Intense media speculation may also affect witnesses and colour their evidence when they take the stand.”
“Mdm Speaker, thank you for the opportunity to speak on the Administration of Justice (Protection) Bill. The Bill has certainly received a great deal of attention and I am speaking today to offer my views from the perspective of someone who has spent a few years in the media industry. I feel that the Bill is an important one because it helps to avoid situations where an accused person may be put on trial by the media. This is a particularly relevant issue today, especially with the advent of social media and citizen journalism. Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Snapchat, blogs – many Singaporeans use these platforms to share their views and engage on social issues of the day. The pervasiveness of media outlets is, of course, a double-edged sword. Wider access brings with it wider responsibilities, of course, for debate in a civilised and productive manner. It is certainly no laughing matter when a person is on trial facing criminal charges, or if he or she is embroiled in a civil case before the Courts. Our sub judice laws, which this Bill largely codifies, serve to ensure that when a person is on trial, no outside interference should come into play to prejudice or obstruct the administration of justice by our judges. This is a rule that our mainstream media tends to observe strictly, with reporting on Court cases being limited to factual representations until such Court proceedings have come to an end. However, with the proliferation of different types of media platforms, journalism is no longer the preserve of trained reporters. Again, this comes with advantages and disadvantages. As we have heard from my colleague, Ms Kuik Shiao-Yin, more people are able to air their views and share their thoughts and debate issues.”
“I would like to thank the Senior Minister of State for her reply. It is heartening to know that this is going to happen, but until the developers provide these facilities, I was wondering whether under the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) or LTA, we could consider providing those lockers, showers and facilities at the dedicated bicycle hubs or terminals. Many of us would like to try to cycle to work, but due to our weather, by the time we get there, whether we are caught in the heat or in a storm, we are drenched. Would the Government consider this?”
“I am happy to hear that the Acting Minister for Education said at an earlier COS debate last week that all Singaporean youths would have the chance to experience OBS within the next few years. In this light, I would like to suggest that the next batch of students from not just different schools but also from different types of academic systems and institutions get to undergo their OBS experience together. For example, students from the Institute of Technical Education, could undergo their OBS with their peers from an International Baccalaureate (IB) through train school. And those from a Special Assistance Plan (SAP) school could go for OBS with unique schools like School of the Arts or even NorthLight. While this would require some logistics and planning, I believe that it would also be beneficial as students now not only get stretched physically and mentally, they also get to develop their emotional quotient and empathy by learning how to interact and cooperate with other young Singaporeans who are different from them. In addition to continuing their collaboration with MOE, I hope that MCCY can share with the House how we can all work together to create a new generation of Singaporeans who are physically and mentally tougher and ready to accept any challenge that comes their way. Outward Bound School at Coney Island”
“Chairman, while we can debate the role of education or parenting in growing young people with strength and fortitude, I believe that experiential learning is critical to developing our youths holistically in this area. I was thus heartened to hear that the Government will soon be building a new OBS on Coney Island to enhance the OBS experience for our youths. I believe that every child should, at some point, be given the opportunity to spend time in OBS. The experience of being in a natural setting, away from urban familiarity, to have one's physical and mental abilities stretched to the fullest, should be offered to all Singaporean youths. Indeed, I was just at OBS on Pulau Ubin few days ago on Sunday and just being there for few hours really helped alleviate pressures of being in an urban environment and brought back fond memories also of my time in OBS. Many of us who have also spent time in OBS would attest to the benefits of that experience, not only because of the confidence that they gave us but also the resilience and strong bonds of friendship, camaraderie and teamwork that we build up not only among our school mates but also across schools. What is my wish? That going for an OBS experience could thus be something that all Singaporean youths eventually go through as a "rite-of-passage", the same way that all male Singaporeans go through National Service. One element of National Service which is important is the social mixing that it involves. Singaporeans of all races, religions, socio-economic groups and educational backgrounds get to mix together, and this strengthens and enhances the social fabric of our community.”
“Chairman, SG50 was notable for many things, not least the Southeast Asian (SEA) Games and Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Para Games. Then, we saw the entire country come together as one family to support our national athletes who truly did us proud. Indeed, one enduring memory of that period was when the entire country almost seemed to sing our National Anthem a capella after the sound system failed at one of the venues. We have seen how our athletes have inspired a palpable sense of national pride in Singaporeans through these Games, often at great personal sacrifice. I would like to ask MCCY how they will continue to support our athletes in their pursuit of sporting excellence? What support will be provided to Team Singapore athletes who will be competing in this year's Rio 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games?”
“Mr Chairman, I would like to direct my clarification to Senior Minister of State Josephine Teo who mentioned that there will be a lot of support that is given in the period just before birth. And perhaps in the first, second year of pregnancy, I think the Government has done a wonderful job and I hope it will continue to do a good job in the area of providing that financial support. What about other support in the area of, say, services like counselling, and more support groups to even advise new parents on how to raise their children? Currently, there is a plethora of such courses but they are expensive sometimes. If you have the means, I know many young parents who have signed up for such courses. But parents from the lower-income groups may find it a bit prohibitive. 6.15 pm So, would then Government please, either working with the grassroots or through other organisations, set up more support systems in the area of parenting classes, parenting workshops and so on, especially for new parents?”
“However, for those who have made the choice to have children, I believe that we can certainly help to make the child-raising experience a smoother and more enjoyable one. This would then have a positive effect on parents' decision to have more children in the future. To echo what my colleague Ms Sun Xueling said, "Children, why not?" Or better still, "Children, of course!" I would thus like to ask NPTD what can be done to foster more supportive social norms and positive mindsets towards marriage and parenthood in the future. Social Cohesion and Immigration I think we all agree, Madam, that Singapore needs to have talent from all over the world to benefit our economy and support our economic growth. And I agree that many of these foreigners add to the richness and diversity of our society as well. Singapore has been, and always must be, a multiracial and multicultural society, with each group retaining its own identity while remaining cohesive as One Singaporean People. 5.15 pm I would like to ask NPTD how we can sustain social cohesion as Singapore's society becomes more diverse with immigration and foreigners. And also, would NPTD consider working with ICA to perhaps implement certain assimilation criteria before we grant Singaporean citizenship? Building an Open and Cohesive Society”
“Mdm Chair, unlike some other countries and societies, our Singaporean socio-cultural norms dictate that marriage typically precedes having children. First, couples would get married. Then they would decide whether or not to have children. Once they have had a child, they would then decide whether or not to have more children. These three key decision-points in a couple's life also correspond to three different demographic groups, each of which, in my opinion, requires a different approach and strategy in terms of encouraging them to have more children. I would like to suggest that the National Population and Talent Division (NPTD) take this into consideration when coordinating and planning their strategies to improve Singapore's TFR. Madam, as a parent of two young children, I will say that children are life's greatest blessings and they are truly a joy. However, the reality is that the process of raising a child can also be a challenging one at times, especially for first-time parents. Expenses aside, there are times when first-time parents are grappling with new experiences that can seem rather stressful. I know, like my Parliamentary colleague Mr Yam, I have changed my fair share of diapers, too. I feel that the Government has done well to help with child-raising expenses via initiatives, such as the Child Development Account (CDA) and this year's First Step Grant. However, I feel that perhaps more could be done to enhance the entire ecosystem to provide more holistic support for parents, especially during pregnancy and in the first year after birth. Mdm Chair, I think we all will agree that, ultimately, the decision to have children is a matter of choice and we respect that choice.”
“Mdm Chair, I would like to speak on the mental well-being of youths. Mdm Chair, young students today face many different challenges. First, they have to deal with the pressures of school. Assessment and homework are followed by more assessment and homework. Then, you have enrichment classes and tuition and everything culminates in examinations at the end of primary and secondary school. They are also increasingly exposed to the digital world. While infocommunication technology can be a great learning tool if employed correctly, this digital world also presents its own set of challenges, such as the exposure to too much unfiltered knowledge. And the pervasiveness of social media also means that these young students sometimes find themselves the victims of cyber-bullying. Such issues used to be typically associated with teenagers, but we have to acknowledge that pre-teen students are facing these challenges as well. I have personally spoken to a few parents of children from this age group who are seeing psychologists to help their children deal with the stress. In fact, some parents feel that they should see a psychologist as well. On the risk of falling into mental health problems, it is usually precipitated by experiencing simultaneous multiple stressors in life. In addition to those stressors mentioned above, these could also arise from problems in their family and personal relationships. I would like to ask what the Ministry is doing to help students build up their mental resilience and mental well-being to better prepare them to cope with these stressors in life. Also, would the Ministry consider having a decentralised community-based mental wellness facility not just for students, but for others, too? Children's Mental Health”
“Madam, the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) is committed towards developing Singapore as a car-lite city and making cycling a more attractive transportation option, as my two Parliamentary colleagues Mr Louis Ng and Mr Saktiandi Supaat have already mentioned. Mr Louis Ng talks about the need for more bike rental options, possibly in town and residential areas as well. But I think more needs to be done to support the overall cycling infrastructure, as dedicated cycling routes that have been designed with cyclists in mind should be considered to better connect our towns to the city. Mr Saktiandi Supaat talks about the design of HDB towns, and I agree that URA should work with HDB and other agencies to build a car-free, pro-cycling and also pro-pedestrian network. The ideal scenario for such new towns would be entire vehicle-free zones where residents can walk, cycle and scoot as they go about their activities. While mature towns would provide a different challenge, I would like to ask the Ministry if they could share what its plans are for enhancing mature towns to ensure better car-lite connectivity. Electric Vehicle Charge Points”
“I do not want to go into this now, but suffice to say that, coming from the ground, it does make a difference when you teach subjects like design to have smaller class sizes – admission based more on aptitude, passion and interest than aggregate at the various entry points; and the recruitment of design lecturers from the pool of design practitioners based on skill sets and experience, rather than educational and academic qualifications. I sincerely hope that MCI will engage MOE and various other stakeholders in a deeper discussion to make all these aspects of design education realistically possible. The next area to consider, then, is accreditation. With the many design courses in the market and so many education providers, professional accreditation and benchmarking are important to maintain standards in the industry. For example, right now, anyone with a bit of aesthetic-sense can call themselves an interior designer. I understand that the Singapore Institute of Landscape Architects (SILA) has taken a step forward towards accreditation for landscape architects. Can the Ministry provide an update on the plans for possible design accreditation for other sectors in the design industry? Promoting a Reading Culture Madam, I will next focus on promoting a reading culture in our society. Copious amounts of research have shown that reading is critical to children's neural, intellectual and even socio-cultural development. Reading also introduces children to magical worlds of adventure and fantasy that allows them to develop creatively. I would just like to ask the Ministry if we can do more to nurture a love for reading, not just among the young in our schools, but also for young adults, adults and even seniors, and possibly across different languages as well.”
“The dialogue with design begins at the primary school level at least and should continue into the later years. I believe this is important as this exposure to design and design thinking should be for all students and not just for those who want to pursue a career in the creative industries. Having such an early foundation produces curious and innovative thinkers who are analytical, bold, experimental and expressive, skillsets that would serve them well in this 21st century world. This would perhaps lead to the creativity and innovation of our society that my Parliamentary colleague, Ms Kuik Shiao-Yin, was talking about in her earlier Budget debate speech. Finally, to raise the bar for design professionals entering the industry, we should take a closer look at design education in our Institutes of Higher Learning (IHLs) as it is now, and to boldly seek ways to approach this differently and creatively. Madam, my experience in design education has taught me that design should be taught differently from other courses in business, engineering, ICT and so on. There should not be a one-size-fits-all approach to design education and greater autonomy should be given to design schools to shape their own pedagogy, for example, the formation of smaller class sizes. I know we talked about class sizes in the COS debate when the Minister for Education spoke.”
“Thank you, Madam. Madam, before I begin, I would like to declare that I am part of the Management at the School of Design in Temasek Polytechnic. Madam, Singapore has increasingly recognised the significance of design and the creative industries as an important growth factor. We have continued to grow the Singapore design brand globally, culminating in 2015 when Singapore was designated a UNESCO Creative City of Design. Today, more and more businesses, even in traditionally non-design fields, are utilising design strategies and design thinking toolkits in planning better customer experiences and product innovations. My own experience as an educator and part of the team at the School of Design in Temasek Polytechnic has reinforced how critical it is to embed design awareness and appreciation into young people as a whole. My Parliamentary colleague, Dr Teo Ho Pin already mentioned the Design 2025 Masterplan, which is the way forward for the design and creative industries and has mapped out several strategic thrusts and focus areas. I would like to pay attention to the recommendation to infuse and build a greater sense of aesthetics and design awareness in the young. While this is commendable and desirable, I hope that the Ministry could share their plans on how they intend to move this forward. Given the already highly packed school curriculum geared towards high-stakes exams, design studies and design appreciation should not be tagged on as an afterthought, or be perceived as an unnecessary addition to the already heavy load our young students bear. In fact, I believe it should be integrated as seamlessly as possible, through lively discussions and exposure to arts, popular culture, photography, film, fashion, architecture and so on.”
“Mdm Chair, to say that the TV landscape has changed in the past couple of years is an understatement. Indeed, there is an increasing number of viewers who no longer even use an actual TV set to consume their content. Mobile phones, tablets, laptops, personal computer (PC) monitors, these are the screens that are becoming more popular. There are also new players entering the market, new genres of programmes and new production models as well. Anyone who understands the references to "House of Cards" and "Orange is the New Black" will know what I am talking about. Yet, in this landscape, I agree with my Parliamentary colleague, Mr Vikram Nair, that we cannot ignore the need for public service broadcasting (PSB). Like Mr Nair, I would like to ask what the Ministry is doing to ensure that PSB remains relevant and continues to capture Singapore viewers, in particular, the young. I also have another question for the Ministry whether they would consider extending PSB funding to more media organisations and companies if they meet the PSB criteria? PSB”
“Madam, I would like to focus on improving the quality of media content. Mdm Speaker, legendary film director Alfred Hitchcock once said: "To make a great film you need three things – the script, the script and the script." At the heart of every successful film, video or television (TV) programme is a top-notch script. Go further beyond that and you could argue that at the heart of every successful script is an engaging and well-told story. I recall the Ministry of Communications and Information (MCI) previously announcing that it would develop a Creators' Space to nurture the digital film and video sub-sectors. Could the Ministry provide an update on this Creators' Space and also what is being done to enhance the quality of idea generation, storytelling and scriptwriting in the media industry? Public Service Broadcast (PSB) and Industry Development”
“" Perhaps a decentralised approach to mental wellness could be a better way to build community awareness around stress management and mild depression, and this will also encourage residents who need such services to be more receptive to getting help. I believe this is important as providing easily accessible mental health support would be increasingly important for our society as Singaporeans search for more ways to cope with the stress of living in a fast-paced society, and to also better manage and negotiate the economic challenges that are coming our way. Sir, this year's Budget has continued the momentum of previous years' where the Government continues to support local SMEs to restructure their operations and manpower needs. It is a conservative and balanced one that has addressed economic concerns while acknowledging the need for measured and sustainable social spending. It is heartening to know that the Government has recognised the importance of experiential learning for our youth and will make significant investments in this direction. I also hope that more attention can be given to improving the "heart-ware" infrastructure to provide more support for the vulnerable members in our community. Sir, I look forward to the future with hope and optimism, and I support the Motion to pass the Budget. 5.18 pm”
“Mdm Tan's husband is heavily dependent on her to take care of him, and she has to juggle this responsibility with caring for her son and holding a part-time job. Although the family is receiving Public Assistance and ComCare aid, Mdm Tan is herself under a lot of stress as she finds herself being pulled in many different directions due to her multiple commitments. Sir, with the economic slowdown and the shadow of structural unemployment looming, this storm of stress will explode into a typhoon of trauma should individuals like Mdm Tan lose their jobs. The Government has done a good job of putting in place social safety nets such as financial assistance schemes and even MediShield Life to keep financial and medical expenses low. However, I feel that we need to see how we can assist these individuals to cope with the emotional and psychological burden of being caregivers simultaneously to two groups of dependents, the young and the aged, who have differing caring needs. And all these while also dealing with their personal issues and challenges. We know that social services have been decentralised from the five CDCs to the Social Service Offices (SSOs) that are now located in their various constituencies. In this regard, I would like to ask the Government to consider providing community-based mental wellness centres that offer solutions to stress-related problems or issues related to mild depression for residents who need such services. Unfortunately, Sir, mental wellness is still very much stigmatised in Singapore where Singaporeans would often equate a visit to the Institute of Mental Health (IMH) with schizophrenia or some other catastrophic mental health issue. Indeed, many of my residents still colloquially refer to the IMH as "Siao-Lang Keng" or the "Insane Asylum.”
“I understand the need to keep the qualifying criteria simple and straightforward, so that the scheme can be administered fairly quickly without the need for too much analysis. However, I would like to ask if the Finance Ministry could also consider certain cases that are in obvious need of help, but might not qualify for the scheme based on these broad criteria. For example, there might be those who have made more than $70,000 contribution to their CPF by age 55, but who presently find themselves in a financially challenging position for one reason or another. The same could also be said for some seniors who might be living in a 5-room flat or larger, that they do not own, but are struggling financially, without much support from anyone. This point was also raised earlier by the hon Member Mr Zaqy Mohamed and I hope that the Ministry can look into this. A final area I would like to speak on, Sir, is the need to provide more support for the emotional wellness of the sandwiched class. Earlier, my Parliamentary colleague, Mr Azmoon, used this term to refer to the middle-income group. I am using this term from a family structural perspective to refer to those individuals that have young or adolescent children and are also caring for ageing and chronically ill dependents, such as parents or even their spouse, at the same time. They are quite literally sandwiched between their obligations. Should the difficulties they face as providers and caregivers be compounded by the fact that they are from a lower-income strata, then we have all the elements of a perfect storm of stress. I would like to share the story of Mdm Tan, one of the residents in my constituency. Mdm Tan is the sole caregiver to her husband who has multiple health problems, and she also has a schoolgoing son.”
“When I was younger, tree-top adventures meant you went out with some friends and you climbed trees. Today, apparently, you have to pay a fee, put on a safety harness, get your helmet on and attach your pulley to a safety line to ensure you have this tree-top adventure. But no matter. Along we went. My children are built rather differently. My five-year-old daughter took to the course four times and had to be stopped from going on for a fifth time. But my eight-year-old son found certain parts of the course rather challenging, struggled at points and, at one point, even froze some 10 to 15 feet above the ground. Through cajoling, through persuasion, through determination, he completed the course, I am happy to say, and came down with a wild look of exhilaration in his eyes. And he said, "Dad, I was scared but I did it. Let us do it again." This real adventure I had with my children re-emphasised the importance of exploration and experimentation for young children; of situational learning for youth, and the crucial life lessons such as perseverance and resilience are best learnt in experiential settings. I am confident that the brand new Outward Bound campus will be the vital catalyst that will kick-start and accelerate adventure learning. I will speak more on this during the COS debate. Sir, another area that I would like to comment on is the Silver Support Scheme. What is radical about this scheme is that it does not tie the payout to "work" or any form of active contribution or participation on the part of the elderly. They only need to qualify for the scheme to get this payout. The Silver Support Scheme will thus not only help these elderly who qualify, but also their family members by alleviating the family's overall financial commitments.”
“Mdm Speaker, I thank you for the opportunity to join in this debate. I would also like to commend the Finance Minister for delivering a Budget that is progressive yet balanced, with specific focus on certain key groups, organisations and individuals. The Automation Support Package aims to spend over $400 million in the next three years to support firms in scaling up their automation projects. This is a clear sign that the Government is aiming to stay ahead of the curve by recognising that the next technological transformation of our economy is already taking place and will inexorably continue. [Deputy Speaker (Mr Charles Chong) in the Chair] It is also clear that our Government would like our SMEs to be at the heart of this economic development and transformation, with various financing and tax incentive support provided to our SMEs. Sir, many of my colleagues in the House have already commented on the financial, enterprise and innovation aspects of the Budget. The focus of my speech today will thus be on how our Budget aims to set the foundation towards building a caring and resilient Singaporean society. In an earlier speech I made in response to the President's Address, I spoke about the importance of imbuing our youth with the psychological capital to persevere in the face of setbacks, and the need to introduce experiential learning components into our schools' formal curriculum. It is thus heartening to know that this year's Budget intends to put in place a masterplan for outdoor adventure education, with the aim of developing ruggedness and resilience in our youth. Sir, a few weeks ago, I had my own "outdoor adventure experience" when I took two of my kids to a tree-top adventure at Bedok Reservoir.”
“I thank the Minister for the reply. I would like to raise a supplementary question, Madam. Besides the financial support given to NSAs and so on, and the other activities which I am heartened to hear that MCCY is doing, for sports that are not so popular – the Minister mentioned flippa ball and tchoukball – I was approached online recently by someone who organises dodgeball and I had to Google to see what dodgeball is all about. I understood it is a version of "hantam bola" but played a little bit differently. His point was that he was going to take part in an international competition and he was wondering if he were to do this, would he be able to compete under our flag, with the pride that he is representing Singapore, albeit not in a popular NSA sport but nevertheless in a sport that has Singaporeans participating? Could the Minister please share the other forms of support that could be given to these sport activities?”
“Mdm Speaker, I thank the Parliamentary Secretary for the answer. I have a question regarding the application process for LTVP and LTVP+. For applicants, for example, who have Singaporean children – one or two children or even more – are they regarded any differently in terms of the application process? Is the process, perhaps, expedited for such situations? I ask because I have seen quite a few families, where the father is a citizen and the child is a citizen, and the mother had been trying but had not been able to get an LTVP. Could the Parliamentary Secretary shed some light on this, please?”
“I thank the Minister for answering all the questions. I have a question pertaining to how we can address a potential shortage in this area, that is, from people with foreign qualifications in this childcare or child education sector. I have come across a couple of Singaporeans, for example, who have studied overseas, they have the relevant qualifications. I am wondering what paths are there for such Singaporeans, or even PRs with these qualifications. Does ECDA recognise them and, if not, are they obliged to go through an ECDA-certified process before they are allowed to work in the child education industry?”
“I thank the Minister of State for his answers earlier on. It is good to know all that is being done to increase the local core of the healthcare system here. I have a question, and that is to ask whether MOH would consider working with MOE perhaps, to allow for more discretionary admission into tertiary programmes, like nursing programmes, for example, and explore possibilities for more bursaries, more scholarships, to entice and enhance more Singaporean students to take up nursing in these institutions as a career and also to develop a career path for such students. Perhaps, even in areas such as mentorship and internship, to holistically develop these future healthcare professionals.”
“These measures would, undoubtedly, help new citizens assimilate and integrate better into our social and community fabric and that, in turn, would allow them to better contribute to Singapore's growth and development. This would also allow all Singaporeans to have what the President referred to as, "a shared understanding of what unites and binds us to one another." Sir, Singapore has achieved much in the last 50 years. On the horizon is a "New Singapore" that faces a set of radically new challenges that are different from what we once encountered. While we will adapt and adjust to meet these new challenges, let us also continue to hold true to our unassailable principles of democracy, meritocracy and equality of ethnicities and religions. This will ensure that Singapore will always be that special and unique place in the world that Singaporeans are proud to call home. Together, we will navigate these uncharted waters with courage and look ahead to SG51 and beyond. On this note, Sir, I support the Motion of Thanks to the President.”
“At a community event welcoming new citizens last year, I observed that there were quite a few new citizens who had trouble communicating because of their inability to speak basic English. Grassroots leaders have also provided feedback that some of the new citizens tend to not get involved in community activities, because they feel that they are not able to communicate with their fellow residents of different ethnicities. Sir, my esteemed colleague, Mr Seah Kian Peng, earlier talked about how Singlish defines us as Singaporean. To respond to that, I would like to say, "I double confirm, agree, with what my brother says lah". However, I would also like to add that English, specifically standard Singapore English, is possibly the most common language that is used in Singapore. It is the main language of commerce, information and, more critically, of communication across the different ethnic groups. It is, in short, our lingua franca today. As such, it would be useful to explore how we can make it mandatory for potential new citizens to attain a basic level of English language proficiency before they are given Singapore citizenship. Another pre-citizenship requirement could be to consider mandating annual community service hours for the new citizens in their local neighbourhoods or with an NGO of their choice. This would allow them to develop a deeper understanding of the wider community and society that they are in. For Singapore to progress as a country, I believe that we need to attract the best talent from around the world and bring in new knowledge and skillsets that are not available locally. However, I would urge the Government to consider introducing language and other assimilation requirements for PRs before they are granted Singapore citizenship.”
“This will help us build a generation of confident Singaporeans who can rise above adversity and grasp their future, and Singapore's future, firmly in their hands. Sir, I would now like to move on to the second portion of my speech on strengthening our social fabric and communal ties in a more pluralistic society. Singapore has always prided itself as a multiracial and multi-religious society where no one is disadvantaged or discriminated against because of the colour of their skin or because of their faith. While we continue to work through various grassroots organisations and committees to ensure that Singapore remains a tolerant society, we also have to acknowledge that the communal mix of Singapore today has changed over the years. Among us are foreigners, Permanent Residents (PRs) and new citizens who have decided to sink their roots into our country, which highlights the social reality that the "New Singapore" is facing today. This reality was acknowledged by the President in his Address when he commented on how we are becoming more diverse, and posed the question as to whether we will "remain a cohesive society, or will our differences pull us apart?" The oft-repeated message that Singapore has its roots as a migrant society and that immigrants need to be introduced in a calibrated manner to augment the low fertility rate is something that has been absorbed into the collective consciousness of Singaporeans. What we need to do, however, is to think about how we can better integrate these PRs and, especially new Page: 64 citizens, into our social fabric. An emerging challenge today is not so much one of integration among ethnic groups, but perhaps one that is between Singaporeans and new citizens.”
“The International Baccalaureate (IB) is a programme that is being increasingly adopted by independent and autonomous schools in Singapore in place of the GCE "O" and "A" levels. The IB Learner Profile is designed to facilitate 21st century learning and aims to provide the platform for lifelong learning and to give its graduates all the characteristics that are necessary to succeed in a 21st century society. Ultimately, IB aims to provide students with life skills that make them: (a) inquirers, (b) knowledgeable, (c) thinkers, (d) communicators, (e) principled, (f) open-minded, (g) caring, (h) risk-takers, (i) balanced, and (j) reflective. These are skills that will allow our youths to not only move across different career stages and pathways, but also allow them to traverse the diverse and sometimes, uncomfortable scenarios that this VUCA world will throw at them. Just as the base stroke of the capital "I‟ is what differentiates it from a "T‟, so, too, will these skills and attitudes strengthen and anchor the character of our youths. As an educator, I was heartened to read about MOE referring to the concept of "holistic education" to develop "life skills from a young age" in its recent Addendum to the President's Address. I would thus strongly urge MOE to examine how we can incorporate such life skills into the pedagogical content and curriculum of our schools as early as possible. The aim should be to go beyond broad and general statements in textbooks and to adopt a deep-rooted approach in building these skills into the whole learning experience. In this way, these skills will become second-nature to our youths by the time they reach adulthood.”
“That brings me to my next point: creating the "I" shaped graduate. Since the early 2000s, MOE has been advocating a "T"-shaped education where students are equipped with deep subject-matter knowledge and, concurrently, a breadth of other areas of knowledge that would give them the ability to operate across different fields. But we now need a new paradigm of learning. This is the concept of the "I" shaped graduate that some polytechnic colleagues and I have been advocating. Allow me, Sir, to speak more on this concept. The horizontal bar at the top of the capital "I" is the breadth of knowledge that is embodied by the same horizontal bar that denotes the T-shaped education mentioned earlier. The vertical bar in the "I" is the depth of subject matter knowledge and technical skills that will help our students master the key competencies of the field of their choosing. Page: 63 What I believe is important and is currently lacking, is the horizontal bar at the bottom of the "I". I believe that the bottom stroke on the "I" should be anchored by life skills. While there is currently no one recognised universal standard of what might constitute a "life skill," Ellen Galinsky, co-founder of the Family and Work Institute in the US, gives us some insight. She highlighted seven essential life skills that she believes could provide a useful framework that will help individuals to continue to grow and learn throughout their life. They are: (a) focus and self-control, (b) perspective taking, (c) communicating, (d) making connections, (e) critical thinking, (f) willingness to take on challenges, and (g) self-directed and engaged learning.”
“Our early leaders and Pioneers lived in a unique era where the exceptional circumstances that surrounded Singapore at that time produced tough and resilient men and women who were mature beyond their years. While it is impossible to replicate the exact same political climate and social settings of that period, I believe that it is important for us to imbue our youths today with the spirit of resilience that kept our Pioneer Generation going when things got tough. I have heard "resilience" being mentioned quite a few times in this august Chamber in the past few days. My "resilience" is defined by the American Psychological Association as "the ability to adapt well in the face of adversity, trauma, tragedy, threat or significant sources of stress." Contrary to what many people would think, resilience does not require extraordinary fortitude and strength. In fact, it is a concept that can be taught. Renowned psychologist Dr Martin Seligman created the Penn Resilience Program at the University of Pennsylvania for young adults and children. This highly successful programme has been run in many schools ranging from those in the US suburbs and inner cities, to schools across China. Youths and young adults who had undergone the programme were found to be more optimistic; they were more likely to interpret setbacks as temporary and regard them as learning opportunities; and they were less likely to display depression-like symptoms later in life. In short, they were more resilient than their peers. While training our youths in resilience will prepare them to ride the waves of change and challenges that will undoubtedly come their way, we also need to give them the tools that will allow them to master their own future.”
“Sir, I thank you for the opportunity to speak in support of the Motion of Thanks to the President. I agree with the first line of the President's Address that "SG50 was a defining year for Singaporeans". As we now move into SG51, we are entering a new era. Many citizens whom I have spoken to, feel a sense of excitement and optimism. Yet, this is also tempered with some caution and concern, due to the new challenges that Singapore is facing. Externally, we are dealing with an increasingly borderless world that military strategists would term as volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous, or "VUCA". This VUCA world presents economic, security and environmental challenges to a small country like Singapore. At home, we have a more pluralistic Singaporean society defined by a greater multiplicity of voices, perspectives and opinions on what is best for the country. The new generation of Singaporeans has to deal with education, transport, housing and healthcare landscapes that have evolved, and will continue to evolve, over the next few years. Indeed, we are not so much talking Page: 62 about a "new normal", but a "New Singapore". Sir, I would like to highlight two areas that are important to help navigate this new paradigm that we are facing today. I would first elaborate on how we can develop the next generation of Singaporeans and imbue them with the resilience and the necessary life skills to navigate this increasingly complex global and social landscape. Second, I would like to comment on how we can better strengthen our social fabric and community ties in this pluralistic society, so that we can tap on the collective wisdom of the crowd, while avoiding divisive forces that might segment our nation.”