David Neo
Singapore
“Take-up rates were approximately 80% of the 11,000 job taster opportunities in 2025. About 78% of the participants reported being more aware of the potential pathways to achieve their career goals.”
“From 2021 to 2025, the Office of the Commissioner of Charities received about 310 applications per year from charities wanting to obtain or extend their Institution of a Public Character (IPC) status. Within this five year period, less than 2% of the total number of applications received were rejected.”
“(In Mandarin): First of all, we Ministers have no time to watch movies. [Laughter.] (In English): But to the Member's question about the Hokkien and dialect classes, I think we work with the clan associations all the time and they are very interested in promoting their dialects, as well as all our own respective cultures, because like I s…”
“Mr Speaker, I thank the Member for her support. As I explained earlier, MCCY and MDDI are open to ideas about how can we preserve dialect cultures while upholding the importance of Mandarin, and we will continue to take in all the feedback and consider carefully the appropriate next steps on how to do this well.”
“Against such a backdrop, we take a practical and long-term view to partner with our stakeholders and invest in sports that show potential, building pathways and community participation, because we value sport and the positive benefits it brings to Singaporeans in and of itself, in addition to being ready should opportunities arise.”
“More than 1.78 million MyActiveSG+ members, comprising more than 42% of eligible Singaporean Citizens and Permanent Residents, claimed their SG60 ActiveSG credits. About 40% of them have used their credits at least once, most commonly for purchase of gym or pool passes, or booking of sport facilities, such as badminton courts.”
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“The Charities Act provides the legal framework for the registration of charities, administration and regulation of charities and Institutions of a Public Character (IPCs) and the regulation of fund-raising activities carried on or in connection with charities and other institutions. It seeks to ensure sound administration of charities and IPCs through regulatory oversight and mandatory annual submissions. This is also to ensure that charitable assets are managed properly and that fundraising appeals are conducted with accountability and transparency. The Code of Governance for Charities and IPCs, on the other hand, serves as a best practices guide covering key areas of governance and management. It consists of tiered guidelines that apply to registered charities based on their IPC status and financial size. The Code operates on the basis of "comply or explain". While it is not mandatory for charities to adopt and comply with all the guidelines, they are encouraged to do so as a matter of good governance. Where charities are unable to comply with certain guidelines, they should explain the reasons for the non-compliance in their annual submissions to the Commissioner of Charities (COC), which are published on the Charity Portal (www.charities.gov.sg) to promote transparency. Over the past three years, the Office of the COC received an average of 80 feedback each year relating to fund-raising conduct and charities' governance and internal controls. For context, there are approximately 2,400 charities registered with Ministry of Culture, Community & Youth. The COC will investigate such feedback.”
“The support that each athlete or sport receives is calibrated according to their needs, performance and potential to do well. This support is also reviewed annually to ensure adequacy and accountability. Therefore, we do not encourage focusing only on our financial payments to athletes or on comparisons across sports and across time without understanding the context specific to each athlete or sport. Third, we will continue to invest in the hardware, through the new home of Team Singapore, which will bring the Singapore Sports School (SSP) to Kallang and integrate all elements of the HPS ecosystem under one roof – sports science and sports medicine support, national training centres and sports administration. The Government will continue to review our policies and programmes for our athletes and for the HPS ecosystem. But we cannot achieve our ambitions alone. Alongside the Government's efforts and commitment, we encourage corporate partners and Singaporeans to come together and support our athletes, whether through donations to the One Team Singapore Fund or other means.”
“Our athletes have done well, as seen in the last few editions of the Olympics, Paralympics, Asian Games, Asian Para Games and most recently at the Southeast Asian Games in Thailand. The Government invests in various areas to build up a strong High Performance Sport (HPS) system in order to develop our athletes to their fullest potential. First, direct financial and programme support to athletes through our suite of Sport Excellence (spex) programmes. We design such support to be bespoke and holistic, based on our athletes' needs during different stages of their sporting career. Today, we support more than 1,500 carded athletes across 55 sports, compared to 272 athletes across 14 sports when we first started SPEX in 1993. This is a 450% increase in the number of athletes we support and a 300% increase in the number of sports. We have enhanced our spex programmes in recent years. We introduced the spexPotential programme in 2024, enhancing support for younger athletes making the transition to higher levels of sporting success. Last year, we awarded our inaugural batch of spexEducation Undergraduate Scholarships, providing greater assurance for our athletes' academic aspirations. We also introduced Central Provident Fund top-ups for spexScholars, bolstering their finances as they focus single-mindedly on sports. Second, systemic investment in our HPS ecosystem. We invest in coaching development, sport science and sport medicine, and athlete life management to give our National Sports Associations (NSAs), coaches and athletes the competitive edge. Our NSA leaders and administrators play a key role, and we partner them to provide our athletes, coaches and officials the training and competition exposure they need.”
“With regard to the Major Games Award Programme (MAP), it is a private award scheme managed by the Singapore National Olympic Council (SNOC) and funded by their sponsors. SNOC reviews the scheme periodically and decides on the categories of awarded medallists and the monetary rewards offered to each of them, in consultation with sponsors. The MAP award structure takes into account the level of competition and the frequency of the Major Games. The Olympic, Commonwealth and Asian Games have more competitive fields and take place every four years, compared to the Southeast Asian Games that takes place every two years. We encourage more corporates and sponsors to come forward to support our athletes and contribute to MAP. Beyond MAP, the SNOC and the National Sports Associations (NSAs) recognise our athletes' achievements in other ways, such as SNOC's annual Singapore Sports Awards and NSAs' awards nights and dinners.”
“The Government directly invests in the development of our athletes in a few areas. First, we give direct support to our athletes through the Sport Excellence initiatives, commonly known as "spex". This includes our spexCarding, spexPotential and spexScholarship programmes, where athletes receive holistic and individualised support encompassing sport science, sport medicine and athlete life support, as well as grants to offset training costs and loss of wages. The spexPotential and spexScholarship programmes provide monthly stipends to athletes, recognising their commitment to an increased training and competition load. Second, we invest in building up support services needed by our athletes, such as providing dedicated funding for sport science and sport medicine, coaches, athlete life services and sporting infrastructure. We are committed to sustained investment in developing athletes to their full potential and such support is not conditional only on winning medals. Recognition and rewards play a complementary role in incentivising our athletes. The Government recognises this. SportSG administers the Singapore Sport Hall of Fame, which celebrates the exceptional achievements and contributions of Singapore's sporting heroes. The Singapore Sport Hall of Fame now includes a new category for sport leaders and recognises the achievements of athletes beyond medals, including contributions back to sport and the community. But it takes a whole Singapore village to journey with, support and develop our athletes. We greatly appreciate efforts by the community to step forward to recognise and support our athletes in all forms.”
“The Hougang Sport Centre is targeted to be reopened by June 2026. Residents in the area can look forward to an expanded gym, additional fitness studios and a sheltered teaching pool with ramp access for enhanced accessibility. New additions will include water play features, activity areas, fitness stations along with a refurbished running track, as well as a refreshed indoor sports hall for activities, such as basketball, badminton and pickleball. The refreshed sport centre will be accessible to all in the community with barrier-free access, sheltered drop-offs and facilities connected by covered linkways.”
“The SG Culture Pass programme was introduced on 1 September 2025. Its main objective is to enhance access of Singaporeans to local arts and heritage and to help local arts and heritage groups. Earlier this year, the Government announced that we are working to include SingLit books under the SG Culture Pass. The Government is working closely with literary arts sector stakeholders, including bookstores and publishers, to roll this scheme out. As the intent is to support the local literary arts community, the focus will be on SingLit books, meaning, works of literary arts that are written by locals. More details on the eligibility criteria for SingLit works will be released soon.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I thank the Member for the subsequent clarification. Unfortunately, I am not the Minister for National Development. I am not totally au fait with what is required under the Land Acquisitions Act, but my commitment to the Member is that due process will be given and it will follow the requirements under the Land Acquisitions Act, and an independent valuation will be done. If the Act requires a disclosure, the disclosure will be done as well. 2.15 pm”
“Mr Speaker, I thank the Member for his points and indeed, it is the Government's intention to make sure that if the property, if the site is preserved and if it is eventually acquired, that we will make a decision that is sensitive, one that is tactful and one that will benefit not just the current, but also future generations of Singaporeans, and one that is keeping and befitting of the site's historic importance and national significance. So, it is my assurance to the Member that all these things will be taken on board, and the Government will make an informed and responsible decision, for the best of Singapore.”
“Mr Speaker, I thank the Member for her question. I think the answer I had given earlier to another Member, which is that there is something different about being in the same place, where these events took place. Like I mentioned in my Ministerial Statement, we have very precious few sites, where there is a confluence of people, events and place. The Founders' Memorial is recreated on reclaimed land. It is not the same space where the events took place. It is not the same space where the people came together. It is not the same space where the struggles took place. There will not be that same sense of authenticity and which is why, like I explained early in my clarification, this site is unique, and it behooves us to preserve it. If the preservation were to go through, this site will augment the Founders' Memorial to give Singaporeans a fuller understanding of what it means to be Singaporean, our sense of national identity and how we can forge forward as one people.”
“Some examples include the former Supreme Court, currently the National Gallery of Singapore, and the Sun Yat Sen Nanyang Memorial Hall. They have all had their interiors somewhat significantly altered, although the exteriors have been preserved.”
“Mr Speaker, I thank the Member for his clarification. While the site has witnessed discussions and meetings that proved to be foundational in the course of Singapore's history, we also recognise that the site was the private residence of Mr Lee and his family. To his question about the private dining room, there are spaces within the buildings that have been widely documented in different forms of media in the past, and all these were done prior to Mr Lee's passing, the basement dining room being one of them, that we would consider less private. But there would be other spaces, such as bedrooms, which do not have any association with the historically significant events that took place at the site, and to respect Mr Lee's wishes, such personal spaces would then be reconfigured or removed, and it will range from removing furnishings, fixtures or any objects still left, to potentially also tearing down such spaces, while taking into consideration issues like structural integrity and the safety of the buildings. And the exact nature of the removal will only be determined subsequently when we are able to access the site and the relevant officers have had a chance to go through, as well as the eventual treatment of the buildings and the structures within the site. But I would like to reassure the Member and all Members in this House, that the measures that we are putting in place are not exceptional measures. All historic sites, generally, will involve some modifications to some extent, to allow for adaptive reuse, and this also ensures that the site remains something that is beneficial and useful to current and future generations of Singaporeans.”
“Mr Speaker, I thank the hon Member for the clarification. As I stated in my Ministerial Statement, the acquisition will be done in accordance with established processes and any compensation will be made in accordance with the Land Acquisition Act. And as part of this, the owner, occupiers, any other persons interested, will be given the opportunity to submit their claims to SLA to determine the compensation amount. And then a professional private valuer would also be appointed to assist SLA in determining the market value of the land, and taking into considerations any claims submitted. If any owner or person is not satisfied with the compensation awarded, a Notice of Appeal can be filed together with the Land Acquisition Appeals Board, and all these will be taken as part of the due process that is stated under the Land Acquisition Act.”
“Mr Speaker, I thank the Member for her two clarifications and please allow me to respond in English. On her first clarification about the significant role of this site. If the site is preserved and acquired, we will leverage on it to educate the current and future generations on this significant part of Singapore's history. And this is the main reason why the Government intends to make the site publicly accessible, to be a place for all Singaporeans, to allow our future generations to visit and to foster their own connection to the site. There is nothing quite like being in the same place as our forefathers had been, those who had played a key role in our struggle for self-determination. And in doing so, the NHB will engage potential users of the site, as I have mentioned to other Members before, such as educators and heritage groups, on the different ways in which we can help shape the most appropriate future use of the site for public education purposes. And if the site is preserved as a National Monument, the site and its historic significance could also be profiled and featured, as part of NHB's efforts to celebrate our National Monuments. In terms of different ways and different programs to remind Singaporeans of the significance of the site, I think that these are things that either NHB or the Ministry of Education can subsequently think about and look at. But it is our intention to fully allow Singaporeans to really come and appreciate those pivotal events that took place at the site, so that we can enhance our understanding of what it means to be Singaporean and build on our collective and shared identity, so that we can become stronger as a nation.”
“Mr Speaker, I thank the Member for her two clarifications. On the clarification about area zoning, as I mentioned in my Ministerial Statement, while the Government intends to preserve the site, there is still a due process that the Government has to follow as required of us under the Act. Any decision on the preservation will only be made after considering any objections received during this notice period. Until a decision on this preservation has been made, it will be quite premature for the Government to review the planning and development controls for the neighbourhood. On the Member's second question on whether it is necessary, the 2018 Ministerial Committee has always said that it has prepared the drawer plans and the options for a future government to decide on what to do with the site when the time comes. I agree with the Member that we should make an informed and considered decision, because what is demolished, what option is taken away, can never be brought back. But at the same time, I think this Government has a duty to make a deliberate decision to decide. Because, as I said in my Statement, the time has come, this is the relevant time. And we do fully intend to make a decision well within this term of government and make a final decision that will be for the benefit of Singapore and Singaporeans now and for the future. It will be an informed and considered decision.”
“Mr Speaker, I thank the hon Member for his three clarification questions. Please allow me to respond in English. On the first question, when it comes to the objective standards and independent assessments, I think I had sort of covered those in my response to the hon Member Assoc Prof Jamus Lim; and I would not repeat those answers here. On the second question about how we ensure that this decision process is in the public interest and it is done in an open, transparent and accountable way, if the site is preserved as a National Monument, our agencies will engage with all the relevant stakeholders, such as heritage enthusiasts, educators, conservation experts as well as some of the target demographic groups, like youths, seniors, to explore possible options for the future use of the site. Therefore, this whole process will be something that is open, transparent and it also ensures that it will be accountable. And then, given their technical expertise in fields, including history, architecture, conservation, the PSMAB will also be consulted to make sure that the treatment of the buildings and the structures of the site befit the assessed historical significance and national importance. On the third point about forming an independent committee, I think covered that in the second clarification. This is also similar to the clarifications I have given to Member Mr Alex Yam as well as Member Joan Pereira, that we will be involving Members, relevant technical experts as well as important stakeholders and some members of the public in consultations to look at the future use of the site.”
“I think the second point is that, as I mentioned in my Ministerial Statement, our colleagues and our technical experts have not had the chance to visit the site. They need to go in, they need to assess all the different buildings and structures of the site, weigh the cost and benefits before coming to a recommendation. And the third point, as I stated in my Ministerial Statement, at this moment in time, all options are open when it comes to the final configuration. So, some of those options that the Member suggested could well be possible. But at this point in time, it is premature to comment.”
“Mr Speaker, I thank the Member for his two clarifications. On the first point, I just want to make a point that PSMAB is an independent board made up of experts from different fields that are relevant to this subject matter, and their job is to assess the merits of each case independently. So, there is no policy tension on their part. They do not consider other things, like individuals' wishes; they are just scoring it based on technical merit. The established process for which all national monuments are assessed includes both qualitative and quantitative assessments of the identified sites' national significance, historical merit and architectural design merit. These criteria are all based on international best practices for heritage assessments. The PSMAB will first consider if the identified site is nationally significant, such as whether it is directly linked to key events or people who have had a significant impact on our history. If it is assessed to have national significance, the PSMAB would then deliberate the site's historic and design merit from a technical perspective. For example, sites that have been assessed to be deeply relevant to these historic events or individuals would have to be considered to have strong historic merit. And sites which have been assessed to be of national significance and of exceptional historic and/or architectural design merit would then be considered worthy of preservation. For the Member's suggestion about the different configurations that can take place as part of subsequent developments, I want to reiterate, first of all, that it is still premature for us to state, because at this moment in time, the Government has not made a decision as to whether it will be preserved, and if preserved, it will be acquired.”
“That is not just for the use of the site within itself, but it also includes other agencies, such as the Land Transport Authority, to look into things, such as the traffic impact, parking impact, public access, so that this is more holistic. And then, we can look at doing it in a way that befits its importance and significance, and in a way that allows the public to be able to appreciate the site and at the same time, not create disamenities. We will also engage residents, and we will consider their feedback as part of this process. And we will also be very happy to work with the Member, if acquired, if preserved, on how to be able to develop this site in a way that is in harmony with its surroundings.”
“Sir, I thank the Member for her clarifications. As stated in my Ministerial Statement, we have currently only issued a Notice of Intention to preserve the site, which was done on 3 November. Under the law, the owner and the occupier of the site has to be given a reasonable period to raise any objections and then, thereafter, the Government has to carefully consider any such objections before deciding whether to make a Preservation Order on the site. This is the established process for all National Monuments and we are adhering to this same process for the site as well. Therefore, for this reason, as I also mentioned to Member Mr Alex Yam, no decision has been made yet on whether or not the site will be preserved. Therefore, it is very premature for the Government to commit to any timelines in terms of the future milestones and timelines. And this is also the point that I made in my Ministerial Statement, where I said my colleagues and the relevant technical experts have not had access to the site for quite a while. We need to gain access to look at the condition of the site, the buildings, the structures of the site, and weigh the costs and benefits, before we can make a decision and before we can commit to a key timeline. But the point I made remains that this Government intends to make a deliberate decision on the exact configuration well within this term of Government. I thank the Member, also, for her second question. If the site is preserved and acquired, like I said earlier for the first clarification, our agencies will conduct a holistic feasibility study on the potential options and the future use.”
“So, the reason for the preservation of the site is because it bore witness to pivotal events that brought Singapore from colonial to self-rule to our independence as a sovereign nation.”
“Mr Speaker, I thank the hon Member for his two clarifications. First, on why is there a need for Government to acquire, the Government has assessed that if the site is preserved, the public interest is best served by acquiring the site to safeguard it and to maintain it in keeping with its historical significance and national importance. For example, the Government has the resources and the expertise at its disposal to ensure that the site is properly maintained and it is maintained in a manner that will be able to benefit Singaporeans. This is the most responsible course of action to ensure that our future generations of Singaporeans can appreciate the significance of the site, and it can be a part of a collective memory and help to build our shared identity. On the second question, the point-blank question, well, I want to restate, as I had stated in my Ministerial Statement that the site has been objectively and independently assessed by the PSMAB. And I would also like to quote the Statement of Assessment by the PSMAB, "the site was more than just the home of Singapore's founding Prime Minister Mr Lee Kuan Yew, who lived and worked there from 1950 until his death in 2015. It bore witness to pivotal events in the 1950s that marked Singapore's transition from a colony to an independent nation. The modest buildings contrast with the impactful and consequential decisions taken there." It is very clear that the historical significance of this site is not solely about Mr Lee Kuan Yew. The individuals that participated in these meetings and the discussions at the site, they came from across the political spectrum. There were journalists. There were students. There were trade unionists.”
“And if preserved, this site will then help to augment the Founders' Memorial by providing a site that gives our visitors a first-hand appreciation of the things that took place at the very same site and provides that historical context and background to some of these ideals that the Founders' Memorial is commemorating. Mr Speaker, on the third clarification by the Member about the Government's policy position on National Monuments, there is no change in the Government's policy. The NHB and the Government has always sought to identify sites of national significance to be assessed as potential National Monuments, particularly if they attest to parts, key parts, pivotal parts of our national history that is under-represented by existing National Monuments. As a young nation in our 60th year, it is not unexpected that most of our National Monuments originate from before our independence. But this also means, like I mentioned in my Ministerial Statement, sites that attest to our founding independence and our nation building, there are only those a very precious few, which is why it is so important for us to look at this site with all the full considerations of handing it down to future generations, and what is good for Singapore and Singaporeans, both current and future. And as important events in our national history, it is important that we continue to look for these sites and to preserve them if they are assessed to be worthy in a way that can allow it to better contribute back to society and to enhance the public's appreciation of some of these very pivotal events.”
“In keeping an open mind regarding the buildings and the structures, we would then be able to best consider how best to strike the balance between preserving the historical significance of the site and maximising its public value to Singaporeans, and respecting Mr Lee's wishes. Mr Speaker, on the Member's second clarification regarding the Founders' Memorial, historic sites are preserved because they provide us with an authentic connection to the important events and the people of the past. What is unique is that it gives us an opportunity to stand on the same grounds and be in the very same space where pivotal events in national history took place and we are walking in the same footsteps of those who came before us. And therefore, it provides us with a certain frame of reference, a certain sense of place, to appreciate how far we have come. That is also the reason why we have preserved several sites in Singapore, such as City Hall, Padang and more recently, the former Kandang Kerbau Hospital, as they help us and the future generations recollect and connect with this critical history that we share as a nation. This sense of place, this being in the same space as those who came before us, it is not something that can be captured by replication at another site. The Founders' Memorial is a site that is reconstructed. It does not share that same sense of place, that same place that housed all the critical events. The Founders' Memorial is a place that is meant to allow our future generations to learn from the shared values that our founding generation, had which is quite different from the site of 38 Oxley Road.”
“Mr Speaker, I thank the Member for his questions. On the first one about Mr Lee's wish, I would like to reiterate to this House that at this moment in time and at this stage, no decision has been made yet. The issuance of a Notice of Intention is a process under the PMA, allowing for the owner or occupier of a proposed National Monument to submit any objections of the intention to gazette the proposed National Monument, before a decision has been made. As I stated in my Ministerial Statement, Mr Lee clearly wanted to protect the privacy of his family. Mdm Kwa had also felt strongly about this. And Mr Lee was also quite adamant in his life that he did not want to be idolised or memorialised, and therefore I believe that the approach as outlined in my Ministerial Statement is the best for way forward, given the circumstances. Because given the site's historic significance and national importance, the Government has a duty to consider this, not just from the lens of a private individual, but also from a good public policy lens – what is good for current and future Singaporeans. It is our duty to allow future Singaporeans to have the opportunity to visit the site and to appreciate the gravity of discussions that took place at the site, discussions that brought us to our independence. In committing to removing all traces of Mr Lee's and his family's private living spaces, we respect Mr Lee's wish for privacy. And we are also clear that it is our intention that we are not preserving the site and using it to showcase the personal effects of Mr Lee or his family. We are focusing on the nationally significant events that took place at the site and not memorialising his life.”
“This will inform our study on the potential options for future uses of the site, which will also include a holistic assessment on the impact of the surrounding neighbourhood, including possible options for public access, parking, traffic impact. And as I mentioned earlier, we will also conduct engagements with stakeholders and residents, and take in their feedback on the eventual use and the design of the site. These are all prudent and necessary steps that any agencies take in evaluating any potential developments. However, at this point in time, because a Preservation Order has not been made, it will be premature for us to provide any firm timelines on the site. For the Member's third clarification regarding how we will communicate this, especially to younger Singaporeans that this is something that intends to commemorate our shared independence journey. As I mentioned earlier in my Ministerial Statement, the reason why the PSMAB has recommended the site for preservation is because of its close association with our struggle for self-government in the 1950s, and this is a very rare location, where it is place, people and events – the confluence – and it is also something that is associated with most, if not, all the key participants in this anti-colonial struggle. If the site is preserved and it is acquired, we will convert it into a public space, possibly a heritage park through which we will educate the current and future generations on this very significant part of Singapore's journey. The focus of this education, therefore, is on the pivotal historical events that happened there, one that brought us from colonial to self-rule to independence, rather than the lives of those people who lived there.”
“Mr Speaker, I thank the hon Member for his three clarifications. First is regarding structured public engagements. If the site is preserved and acquired, the agencies will look to identify possible stakeholder groups and conduct engagements to help shape the future of the site and to ensure that the potential of the site for public education is maximised. This is something we do with all our National Monuments. Some of the possible stakeholder groups include heritage enthusiasts and educators, to ensure that the site can enhance their efforts to enhance public education of our history. Other groups that could potentially be engaged would also include people who represent target demographic groups, for example, the youths or our seniors, to ensure that the stories and the memories are also captured within the use of the site. And most importantly, like I mentioned in my Ministerial Statement, we want to ensure that some of these stories are able to be handed down to the next generation and the generation after that. Given the technical expertise of the PSMAB in these fields, including history, architecture and conservation, the advisory board will also be consulted to ensure that the treatment of the buildings and the structures on the site befit the historical importance and the national significance of this site. To the Member's second clarification about key project milestones, Sir, I had earlier outlined to Members some of these key milestones from the issuance of the Notice of Intention to the intended acquisition of the site, if a Preservation Order is made. If the site is acquired and access to the site is obtained, our agencies will proceed to assess the condition of the site, and that of the buildings and the structures.”
“From 2000 to 2024, there was an average of about 20,700 civil marriages and 4,900 Muslim marriages a year. The Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth does not track the further breakdown requested.”
“Anyone or any entity raising funds in Singapore for foreign charitable causes must apply for a Fund-raising for Foreign Charitable Purposes permit from the Commissioner of Charities (COC) prior to the start of the appeal. The permit system serves to ensure that fundraising appeals carried out in support of foreign causes are legitimate and do not support unlawful activities. Details of fundraising appeals granted a permit are published on the Charity Portal. The COC's Office works with relevant agencies, such as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Home Affairs, when reviewing permit applications which may have foreign policy and security considerations. Permit holders are responsible for conducting the fundraising appeal in accordance with the details submitted in the application, and for complying with any additional conditions which may be specified in the permit. In addition, permit holders must comply with other relevant requirements, such as ensuring that information provided to donors is accurate and not misleading. A Statement of Accounts relating to the appeal must be submitted to the COC after the appeal has ended.”
“The SG60 ActiveSG Credit Top-Up seeks to encourage broad-based sport participation across all segments of society. The $100 SG60 ActiveSG Credits are given to all Singaporeans and Permanent Residents (PRs) who log in to MyActiveSG+ from 2 June 2025 up till 31 December 2025. Once claimed, the credits are valid until end-2026 and will be automatically rolled over to the following year, if at least one transaction is made. These credits can be used to fully cover booking fees for ActiveSG sport facilities, and gym and pool passes. They can also be used to offset ActiveSG programme fees, such as Active Health programmes, Learn-To-Play programmes and ActiveSG Academies and Clubs. As of 30 September 2025, more than 1.1 million members have logged into MyActiveSG+ and claimed their SG60 credits. Out of these members, about 41% of them have used their credits on at least one transaction. Sport Singapore will continue to implement more programme offerings to encourage Singaporeans to use ActiveSG facilities and adopt active lifestyles. Some examples include pickleball, street dance as well as workshops that promote muscle fitness, balance and nutrition planning.”
“Religious leaders in Singapore play an important role. They promote values like care and compassion and help their congregants navigate contemporary issues in a multicultural and multi-religious society. It is crucial that religious teachers in Singapore are committed to maintaining social harmony, regardless of whether they are trained locally or abroad. Hence, we welcome efforts by our religious communities to train religious teachers who are grounded in the Singaporean context, such as through the Trinity Theological College, St Francis Xavier Major Seminary, and the Buddhist College of Singapore. The Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (MUIS) also conducts the Postgraduate Certificate in Islam in Contemporary Societies (PCICS) course to equip returning asatizah with the knowledge and skills to provide religious leadership for the Muslim community and is establishing the Singapore College of Islamic Studies (SCIS) to train future asatizah locally. Programmes are also in place to promote continual social mixing and improve mutual understanding between communities. For instance, our Racial and Religious Harmony Circles organise events and dialogues to build understanding and trust among different racial and religious groups. We need individuals and communities to continue to build trust and embrace our differences in order to build a cohesive society where everyone can live together harmoniously.”
“The World Aquatics Championships Arena (WCH Arena) received positive feedback from international and local spectators, athletes and officials. Following the completion of a feasibility study, we are pleased to announce that the use of the WCH Arena will be extended until 2030. The WCH Arena will complement existing ActiveSG swimming facilities and be open for public use and national team training. This means Singaporeans will be able to swim in the same pool where top international and TeamSG aquatics athletes, such as Katie Ledecky and Gan Chin Hwee, competed in. The WCH Arena could also be used to host future aquatics events, such as the Southeast Asian Games and ASEAN Para Games in 2029. Public can look forward to using the WCH Arena by end October. More details will be shared in the coming weeks.”
“Sport Singapore (SportSG) plans and develops various sports facilities, such as dedicated sport centres, sports facilities in integrated developments in the community and Sport-in-Precinct (SIP) facilities. Majority of these facilities include sheltered multi-purpose courts, which can be used in the event of inclement weather. SportSG makes use of underutilised spaces. For example, the CTE viaduct space in Jalan Bukit Merah has been transformed into a touch tennis court, while the space under Gali Batu Flyover will be used for futsal, pickleball courts and a fitness corner. Rooftops of multi-storey car parks are also being repurposed as recreational spaces, such as the upcoming SIP facility in Dover Crescent. SportSG will continue to work with other agencies to explore more opportunities to better utilise such spaces.”
“The SG Culture Pass programme was introduced on 1 September 2025. Its main objective is to enhance access of Singaporeans to local arts and heritage and to help local arts and heritage groups. Since 1 September 2025, over 400 programmes – including plays, concerts, heritage tours and workshops – have been put on the SG Culture Pass. The Government would want to support local films as part of supporting local artists and local works. These are films that are written, directed or produced by Singaporeans. Therefore, the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth (MCCY) is in discussion with the Singapore International Film Festival, which takes place from end-November 2025, to include eligible local film programmes and activities in the Culture Pass programme. MCCY will also discuss with cinema operators on the technical feasibility of bringing local films that are screened in cinemas onboard the SG Culture Pass. We thank the community for their support for our local arts and culture sector.”
“Talented athletes seeking to benefit from SSP's high-quality Daily Training Environment are afforded ongoing opportunities to join the school. At the secondary level, athletes can apply for a transfer from their existing schools as mid-stream applicants. At the post-secondary level, SSP also facilitates the entry by high-performing athletes into its programme, with support from their NSAs. We will continue to develop and strengthen sports as a viable career. We will enhance our support for athletes to balance their sporting aspirations alongside their academic and post sports career needs. We introduced the spexEducation Undergraduate Scholarship last year, to provide greater assurance to our athletes for their undergraduate studies, whether during their sporting career or after they retire from active competition. In April this year, SSP and the six Autonomous Universities (AUs) signed a Memorandum of Understanding to enhance the AUs' athlete-friendly practices and strengthen support for carded student-athletes. The Government is committed to working with partners to support student-athletes and parents in balancing their sporting and academic pursuits.”
“Our student-athletes face the demanding challenge of juggling academic excellence with athletic pursuits. Our national high-performance sport (HPS) system provides student-athletes support to pursue sporting and academic aspirations. Under the Sport Excellence (spex) programmes, the High Performance Sport Institute (HPSI) partners national sports associations (NSAs) to do long-term planning for student-athletes' competition, training and academic needs. HPSI provides our national athletes psychological and athlete life support, delivered through consultations and educational programmes by sports psychologists and athlete life managers. Such support aims to help athletes manage the pressures of balancing training, competition and academics. Athletes in schools are also supported through partnerships between the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth, Sport Singapore and the Ministry of Education (MOE). Most times, national athletes do get exemptions from school activities and even examinations to attend to their national training and competition demands, and we will continue to work with MOE on this. The Singapore Sports School (SSP) also plays a crucial role in our HPS system. It provides a dedicated high-performance developmental pathway for youth athletes to achieve both sporting excellence and their academic aspirations. In the SSP, education is wrapped around sports, helping student-athletes maximise their training while balancing the demands of education. SSP collaborates closely with NSAs to ensure student-athletes are supported through athlete-friendly academic programming and practices, together with specialised sports coaching, sports science support, and international training and competition opportunities, to maximise their potential.”
“The Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth does not provide guidelines to organisations on religious prayer rooms.”
“ActiveSG Sport Centres play a key role in supporting Singaporeans to adopt healthy and active lifestyles. All food and beverage (F&B) tenants at ActiveSG Sport Centres, including fast-food businesses, must comply with the Whole-of-Government healthier F&B policy. They must provide beverages that are healthier, that is, Nutri-Grade A or B, and use healthier oil and lower-sodium ingredients for all food preparation, or they may also be certified as Health Promotion Board’s Healthier Dining Programme Partner that uses healthier oil and provides healthier beverages and food such as dishes lower in calories, lower in sodium, and/or higher in wholegrains. Operators must meet these requirements before Sport Singapore (SportSG) leases these spaces to them. SportSG will continue to ensure that ActiveSG Sport Centres offer convenient dining options that meet health and nutritional requirements and support Singaporeans to stay active and live healthy.”
“The Government is committed to ensuring that sports facilities are accessible and affordable for Singaporeans. Singaporeans can use ActiveSG credits to book public sports facilities or sign up for programmes. Since 2014, Singaporeans who sign up as new ActiveSG members are given $100 ActiveSG credits. The Government has recently topped up members' accounts: in 2023, $100 more ActiveSG credits for children aged 4-12; and in 2025, $100 more SG60 ActiveSG credits for all Singaporeans. These credits assist Singaporeans and their children, especially those from lower-income families, to play sports and live healthy and active lifestyles. SportSG, through SportCares, also supports lower-income families by providing access to free programmes and initiatives, such as Fun Starters, Saturday Night Lights as well as sport bursaries for participation in ActiveSG Academies & Clubs' seasonal programmes. SportCares also works with a wide network of partners through their Communities of Care initiative to offer a wider variety of programmes. Since the launch of MyActiveSG+ last year, SportSG has allowed the use of PayNow and debit cards for facility bookings to provide inclusive payment options for those without credit cards. Those unable to do so may either use their remaining ActiveSG credits or approach SportSG Champions at Sports Centres for further assistance if required. SportSG is working on enabling the use of ActiveSG credits for school facility bookings under the Dual-Use Scheme and will provide an update when ready. SportSG will continue exploring ways to enhance the affordability and accessibility of sports facilities.”
“Sir, in line with the Civil Service provisions that were updated earlier this year, that is now included as part of the leave provisions.”
“Mr Speaker, to the Member's question, the Ministry has already included spouses in the category of people whom teachers are entitled to take pro-family leave. It is already part of the Civil Service provisions, as it stands.”
“This question is addressed in the reply to Question No 31 for oral answer on the Order Paper for the Sitting on 25 September 2025. [Please refer to "Recent Closures of Local Arts Spaces and Additional Support to Promote Vibrancy in Arts Scene", Official Report, 25 September 2025, Vol 96, Issue 5, Written Answers to Questions for Oral Answer not Answered by End of Question Time section.]”
“Examples include fitness testing, as well as game analysis using data. Under the spex framework, six netball athletes have benefited from the spex Grant for Loss of Wages (spexGLOW), a financial assistance scheme for spexCarded athletes who opt to train full-time for up to 12 months in preparation for a Major Games. This gives our netballers greater assurance to focus on their preparation for SEA Games 2025 in December. Beyond Government support, we encourage fellow Singaporeans to support our athletes' development through contributions to the One Team Singapore Fund, which the Government matches dollar-for-dollar.”
“The Government recognises the value that team sports bring to society. Team sports have the potential to mobilise communities, foster social bonding and inculcate values such as teamwork, camaraderie and resilience. The High Performance Sport Institute (HPSI) in Sport Singapore works with and supports National Sports Associations (NSAs) and community partners, such as schools and private sport academies, to develop sports at grassroots and community levels and strengthen athlete development pathways towards elite sport, including team sports. In addition, HPSI provides grants to more than 50 NSAs to defray the operating costs for facilities, pathway development and high-performance programmes to support our national teams' training and development. We guide NSAs to fulfil the requirements for obtaining charity status, a key prerequisite to be considered for funding support and to receive donations. HPSI also works closely with the NSAs to provide the best daily training environment for our national athletes. NSAs have priority in booking Sports Hub and ActiveSG facilities for national team training. Athletes from both individual and team sports benefit from various training grants and support schemes under the Sport Excellence (spex) framework that support them throughout their sporting journey and transition to life after sport. Take netball as an example. Netball Singapore receives annual facility grants for their National Training Centre (NTC) and administrative office. HPSI has been working closely with Netball Singapore to ensure that their new NTC at the Toa Payoh Integrated Development from 2029 onwards will support their needs. Our national and under-21 netballers receive sports science and specialist support from HPSI.”
“The SG Culture Pass programme was introduced on 1 September 2025. Its main objective is to enhance access of Singaporeans to local arts and heritage and to help local arts and heritage groups. Since 1 September 2025, over 400 programmes – including plays, concerts, heritage tours and workshops – have been put on the SG Culture Pass. The Government would want to support local films as part of supporting local artists and local works. These are films that are written, directed, or produced by Singaporeans. Therefore, the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth (MCCY) is in discussion with the Singapore International Film Festival (SGIFF), which takes place from end-November 2025, to include eligible local film programmes and activities in the Culture Pass programme. MCCY will also discuss with cinema operators on the technical feasibility of bringing local films that are screened in cinemas onboard the SG Culture Pass. We thank the community for their support for our local arts and culture sector.”
“There are currently no plans for the building.”
“Since the start of ActiveSG membership in 2014, every new ActiveSG member will be given $100 ActiveSG credits to encourage them to kickstart an active lifestyle and experience the various ActiveSG sports facilities and programmes available. The credits have been well received by Singaporeans, with visitorship at our facilities increasing more than 60%, and we are happy Singaporeans are leading more active lifestyles. There were other ActiveSG credit top-up exercises recently. For instance, in 2023, a ActiveSG credit top-up of $100 was given for children aged four to 12 years old, to encourage more children to take up sports. This year, a SG60 ActiveSG credit top-up of $100 was given to encourage broad-based sports participation across all ages and abilities. ActiveSG members who utilise their credits at least once during the year will have their remaining credits automatically extended to the end of the following year. In addition, all unused ActiveSG credits during this SG60 year will enjoy a one-off automatic extension to 31 December 2026. We will study the technical feasibility of converting the Health Promotion Board (HPB) Healthpoints into ActiveSG credits on MyActiveSG+, and will update when we are ready.”
“NAC is working to expand such touchpoints further. NAC will continue to review our strategies and support for the literary arts to remain responsive to the needs of our literary community.”
“Between FY2020 to FY2024, the National Arts Council (NAC) directed approximately $20 million to supporting the literary arts across our four official languages. This includes direct grants to writers, publishers and literary practitioners, sector development schemes, and major events like the Singapore Writers Festival (SWF). NAC assesses the impact of Singapore Literature (Sing Lit) programmes through a combination of ticket sales, attendance, readership and professional outcomes, for example, overseas recognition. For example, with NAC's support at international book fairs, the rights to over 30 Sing Lit titles have been sold between 2023 and 2024. NAC offers a comprehensive suite of grants and programmes to support writers at different stages of development and help them diversify income streams. This includes support for the creation of new works, arts housing, capability development, showcase and networking opportunities, and international exposure and transmedia adaptations. NAC's initiatives and support measures aim to nurture a vibrant literary ecosystem, support our writers' professional development, and ensure that Sing Lit is not only produced but also read and valued as an integral part of our cultural identity. NAC constantly evaluates new ways to embed Sing Lit into Singaporeans' daily lives. Today, local works are already part of English Literature and Mother Tongue curricula. To make Sing Lit more accessible to our multilingual population, NAC also worked with the National Library Board on the One Story Project, which translated short stories by local writers into the other official languages. Beyond traditional spaces for literature, NAC launched the Poems on the MRT initiative, which features over 100 poems on SMRT's train network.”
“NAC's Framework for Arts Spaces provides affordable arts housing to artists and art groups in addition to facilities-for-hire, which are made available at subsidised rates, such as the Arts Resource Hub. The Government also engages with the wider community to support our local artists and art groups in finding new spaces to create and present their works. NAC, in collaboration with the People's Association and the five Community Development Councils, has launched ArtsEverywhere@CDC initiatives which allows the arts to be accessed and appreciated by all Singaporeans. NAC also partners with the Urban Redevelopment Authority to support the co-location of arts organisations at commercial developments under its Community/Sports Facilities Scheme, through facilitating partnerships between private companies and arts organisations. Examples include the Singapore Ballet at Bugis+, The Artground at One Holland Village and 10 Square by TRCL at Orchard Central. We recognise that local companies, including our arts and culture groups, face a range of challenges, including changing market conditions and consumer patterns. The Government will continue to provide wide-ranging support to help arts and cultural organisations cope with changes. Beyond this, we also rely on the collective support of Singaporeans and private companies to ensure that local arts and culture companies continue to thrive.”