Edwin Tong Chun Fai
Singapore
“These questions have been answered in the reply to Questions Nos 26 to 31 for Oral Answer on today's Order Paper. [Please refer to "Addressing Issues Identified in Legal Profession Sustainability Study", Official Report, 7 July 2026, Vol 96, Issue 32, Written Answers to Questions for Oral Answer not Answered by End of Question Time secti…”
“I am answering in my capacity as the Minister charged with the responsibility for the People's Association. The Community Development Council (CDC) Vouchers Scheme was first introduced in June 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic with two key objectives: one, to help Singaporean households cope with daily expenses; and two, to support hawker…”
“If the incident is a result of bilateral obligations relating to data protection and inviolability of equipment not being complied with, then the Government will consider all available legal and diplomatic options, in accordance with the bilateral RTS Link treaties, as well as the relevant international law.”
“In 2024, community sentences under part 17 of the Criminal Procedure Code 2010 (CPC) were imposed in 86 criminal cases handled by the State Courts.”
“It is a five-minute journey across both ways; and with the availability of closed circuit television coverage and the real-time monitoring that will be done by the officers on both sides, we did not think that this will be necessary.”
“The Ministry of Law will provide an oral reply to this Parliamentary Question, together with other Parliamentary Questions which have been filed on this topic at the next available opportunity.”
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“There are currently 242 Chinese clan associations representing more than 115,000 individual members registered under the Singapore Federation of Chinese Clan Associations (SFCCA), which is the umbrella body for Chinese clans in Singapore. There may be other clan associations that are not members of SFCCA. The Government recognises that clan associations play an important role in preserving and promoting our local heritage and culture. They reinforce uniquely Singapore Chinese traditions and build a connected and cohesive community. We often partner them in various ways to serve the community and celebrate our heritage. To facilitate this, the Government set up the Chinese Community Liaison Group (CCLG) in 2000. The CCLG seeks to partner the Chinese community organisations to strengthen our Singapore society. Our agencies also work closely with and support SFCCA and other clan associations on a range of community and heritage programmes and initiatives. The National Arts Council (NAC) and the National Heritage Board (NHB) regularly support initiatives by clan associations. These include digital performances and festivals that celebrate traditional art forms and intangible cultural heritage, heritage galleries as well as documentation projects. NHB also partners clan associations to document and identify intangible cultural heritage elements and curate exhibitions on the Singapore Chinese heritage. In addition, we co-fund the maintenance and upkeep of the National Monuments owned by clan associations via the National Monument Fund. The Government also supports the Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre (SCCC) as the pinnacle institution for the promotion and development of Singapore Chinese culture.”
“Since 2014, new Singapore Citizen and Permanent Resident members who sign up for ActiveSG membership will be given free ActiveSG credits worth $100. ActiveSG members who utilise their credits at least once during the year could have their balance credits extended to the end of the following year. This would mean that the credits would be valid for more than a year, to the end of the subsequent year. In addition to this, given that there were fewer opportunities to utilise the credits during the COVID-19 period, SportSG granted ActiveSG members further unconditional extension of any unused credits for further successive periods up to 31 December 2022, that is, even if no credits were utilised in the course of the year. ActiveSG members who have utilised their credits at least once in the course of 2022, could have their balance credits extended up to 31 December 2023. Apart from this, there will be no other extensions of credit to ActiveSG members. The credits have already been valid (and extended) for a period of time, and, since early 2022, SportSG’s facilities and programmes have resumed to pre-COVID-19 norms. Members have been able to use their ActiveSG credits to book a sports facility or sign up for a sports programme. To accommodate more users, SportSG also increased its number of programmes by 70% in 2022 as compared to 2021. As of 31 December 2022, about 639,000 ActiveSG members have remaining credits in their e-wallets. SportSG will continue to encourage and support Singaporeans to participate widely and actively in sports and physical activities through other existing and new measures and programmes.”
“Under the Sport Excellence Carding (spexCarding) programme, the Singapore Sport Institute (SSI) provides all national carded athletes with medical insurance for sports-related injuries sustained during national training and competitions, both locally and overseas. Coverage applies throughout an athlete's time on the spexCarding programme. In addition, the Singapore National Olympic Council (SNOC) and Singapore National Paralympic Council (SNPC) provides athletes participating in the Major Games with additional insurance that covers personal effects, personal injury or death, and lasts the duration of the Games. National Sports Associations (NSAs) are also encouraged to obtain insurance to cover their athletes – including those who are not carded – during their own overseas training and competitions. The SSI, SNOC/SNPC and NSAs' insurance coverage are also supplemented by the athletes' own insurance coverage. So far, the vast majority of our athletes' injury claims are fully covered by insurance. Should any of them face financial difficulties, they are advised to seek further assistance from SSI. Besides insurance coverage, all national carded athletes also have access to medical, physiotherapy, and rehabilitative services at Sport and Exercise Medicine Centre at SSI (SSMC@SSI), provided in collaboration with Changi General Hospital (CGH).”
“Fundamentally, the administration deals with the same end outcome – which is better and more efficient recovery of assets from the bankrupt's estate. So, I think that broad architecture will align the interests of both the PTIB and the OA. In the example that the Member cited, perhaps, that might be extreme cases where there will be some element that might interest the OA which might not result in or relate to recovery from the bankrupt's estate. Mr Murali Pillai knows that the statement of affairs as well as regular reports are provided to the OA. And, in those cases, I am sure the OA will, if his interest is piqued by any of these reports or findings, take steps to further investigate, and the powers of the investigation, and indeed, any other matters which aid the investigations, still continue to lie with the OA.”
“We will take on board the suggestions that various Members have raised and which we can consider as we implement the Bill. I would like to thank the Members for the support of the Bill, which will ensure better utilisation of public resources in bankruptcy administration. It will also support the PTIB industry and help the MSCs in the context of the SIP, and enhance protection of persons dealing with bankrupts in commercial transactions. Sir, with that, I beg to move.”
“And, in these cases, for the OA to have to compile and maintain records of all individuals who are the subject of bankruptcy applications, so much more resources would have to be used. It is not cost-efficient for us to do that. I think Mr Zhulkarnain also asked about whether information collected by the trustee will be privileged. Mr Zhulkarnain would know that, when a party is bankrupt, the trustee, who looks after the estate, owes a duty to all the creditors. In other words, the bankrupt's estate is owned by the creditors in those cases. And, in that situation, information about the estate should be made available to the creditors, so that they can then decide whether the distribution is sufficient, whether any claims, additional claims ought to be made and so on. But save for this, the trustees in bankruptcy, generally – and we will reiterate this message – keep information quite discreet and it is limited to this pool of people who need to know and who have an interest in the bankrupt's estate. Finally, Mr Louis Ng asked how the Ministry ensures that our insolvency ecosystem is equipped to deal with the latest trends in the economy. We regularly monitor the latest economic trends, engage our international counterparts, look at the lay of the land and get plugged in, into developments in this field, to ensure that our framework is kept relevant. And indeed, that is why ever so often, we come to this Chamber; to amend, to update the IRDA and other related legislation, to ensure that that we keep up to date. In some cases, having done some market survey, the industry feedback has led to some of these proposals as well. Sir, I believe I have addressed Members' queries or, at least, the thrust of Members' queries.”
“So, whilst an offence under the proposed section 412(1)(d) will not be committed so long as each individual deposit collected does not exceed $10,000, but I think Mr Zhulkarnain also knows that if you are a bankrupt and you keep collecting as a habitual pattern smaller amounts under $10,000, there is a pattern of doing so – not disclosing your bankruptcy status, which is not an offence, but then you disguise that fact and you use the deposit for some other purposes, and because you are a bankrupt, it causes a loss to the person who has paid the deposit – then I am sure Mr Zhulkarnain knows that the OA would then have the ability to look into that conduct and there will be offences connected. So, this enhancement is designed only to deal with notification when you collect the deposit and we set the threshold at $10,000. But that does not mean that should you collect other deposits and indeed enter into other transactions of a lower value. If you behave inappropriately, there could be sanctions by the OA. Mr Zhulkarnain also asked about information on employment history and status, and I thank him for those suggestions for a searchable bankruptcy database. In accordance with our requirements, the OA allows, upon payment of a fee, inspection of this database for information on undischarged bankrupts, including PTIB details. With the amendments, we will include employment information in this service as well. The OA is not statutorily empowered to retain or provide information on persons who have not been made bankrupts, but who are only facing bankruptcy applications. I think Mr Zhulkarnain understands why, because it might not come to fruition, that you will be made a bankrupt simply because you are facing a bankruptcy application.”
“So, it is unlikely that if you have been taking part in the previous administration, receiving part of the proceeds and so on, that it would not be also the appropriate address for remuneration notices. Mr Murali and Ms Sylvia Lim asked how the PTIBs' fees can be kept reasonable. I had explained that earlier. I would supplement what I said earlier by saying this that the OA does not regulate the fees per se of each particular administration. It is left to the market forces in the manner I mentioned earlier and there are also parts of the legislation which ensure safeguards. PTIBs' fees also have to be approved by the creditors or the Court. Naturally, creditors have a strong interest to ensure that fees are reasonable because, ultimately, the recovery and the fees come out of the same estate. But I thank Mr Murali and Mr Zhulkarnain for their suggestions on various things, such as prescribing that notices on remuneration may be sent by emails. We will study them when we prescribe mechanisms. Next, on measures to protect individuals dealing with bankrupts. Mr Zhulkarnain asked about the threshold. You might recall that I said $10,000 per transaction would be considered an offence if the bankrupt dealing with a person in a commercial transaction does not disclose that he or she is a bankrupt in taking the deposit. This is an amount that will reasonably exclude most of the petty, lower-value transactions, which itself carries a lower risk signature. So, we determine a threshold. If you did set it too low, it would be too disruptive. Each time you take on a small amount, you have to make a disclosure. If you do not, then there will be an offence and that will be too prohibitive.”
“But ultimately, as I said at the outset, I wish to assure Members that, ultimately, the Court – which appoints all trustees in bankruptcy – has the power to make orders in relation to the acts of the PTIBs to address genuine grievances and when the party seek redress, in the administration of bankruptcy estates. Mr Murali raised concerns over how we can ensure the PTIBs have reasonably discharged duties that involve investigations into the conduct and affairs of the bankrupt, to check if offences have been committed. I mentioned earlier that these powers of investigation and, indeed, of prosecution are not devolved to PTIBs, and so, that remains within the province of the OA. In a context of a PTIB-administered bankruptcy, if there are instances where such offences might arise or where investigations are needed, then there is no change to the current position where the powers continue to vest with the OA who will carry out such investigations into the offences and make the appropriate prosecutions if any. This is what happens today by the way – the current position. On PTIB remuneration, Mr Zhulkarnain asked, in relation to the additional means of determining the PTIBs' remuneration, what safeguards to ensure that notices are appropriately given. Notices are sent to the creditor's last known address, which is also used for other communication between PTIBs and creditors during bankruptcy administration. So, typically, by the time it comes to remuneration, you will have gone some way down the administration, and that would have been the address, or the correspondence by which notices were given.”
“The role of the PTIB, as with the OA before in administering these cases, is to strike a balance in the interests of both the bankrupt and the creditor, to ensure a fair and judicious outcome for both parties in the administration. It is not so much about whether it is a better experience or not, but whether it is a fairer one, whether we can strike a balance and the appropriate outcome for the creditors in all these cases. Mr Zhulkarnain and Ms Sylvia Lim also asked if there have been complaints against the PTIBs' management of the bankruptcies. As I mentioned earlier, it is an adversarial process, so there are bound to be cases where interests differ or compete, and it is inevitable that there will be conflicts. There have been complaints raised to the OA on PTIBs' management of bankruptcy cases since 2016. Many of you might well have received complaints in the course of your regular Meet-the-People sessions where it is perhaps said: why is the OA asking for so much to be paid every month, because I only have a job that pays me this much and I have various dependants and so on. I am sure many of us have come across those cases. We received complaints like that, that the OA or the PTIB is too tough and asking for too much and so on, but we have looked into all of them, and none of them are misconduct cases. We have not found any of these complaints to be valid from a misconduct perspective. Of course, to the extent that there are differing views as to what are the appropriate contributions, there might well be conflicts.”
“Besides this, they must also pass various checks – including showing that they are fit, they remain fit and proper persons – to obtain their insolvency practitioners' licences. Without these licences, as Members know, they cannot carry out bankruptcy administration and doing so without a licence is an offence. In terms of ensuring that PTIBs are kept updated on applicable law and practice, the OA conducts regular dialogue sessions with PTIBs and will continue to do so after this expansion, to share best practices and developments in case law and practices. In addition, MinLaw collaborates with Temasek Polytechnic on a biannual customised training programme on individual insolvency for PTIBs. Ms Sylvia Lim asked whether there have been better experiences for creditors and debtors since the last bankruptcy amendment in 2016. Sir, over the last decade, the Ministry has steadily reduced the stock of active bankruptcy cases through the earlier mechanism, in particular the DDF. From 2011 to 2022, the total number of undischarged bankruptcy cases decreased by 63% from 25,028 cases in 2011 to 9,254 cases in 2022. The bankruptcy experience, Sir, is generally an adversarial one, in the sense that the bankrupt would be looking to ensure that there is less or minimal monthly or annual pay-outs; the creditor wants to enforce, wants more share of the pie and so on. So that is a natural adversarial process, with creditors wanting to maximise recovery, debtors wanting to pay as little as possible. In addition, undischarged bankrupts are also subject to various disabilities and restrictions.”
“Mr Louis Ng and Mr Zhulkarnain asked how the Ministry will ensure effective oversight and quality of the PTIBs. Sir, the OA has been regulating PTIBs since 2016 when it was made mandatory for ICs bringing bankruptcy applications to appoint PTIBs. The Ministry has put in place a robust regulatory framework to ensure that PTIBs perform their duties faithfully and observe all statutory requirements relating to the performance of their duties. For example, the law confers powers of oversight over PTIBs on the OA, to whom creditors and bankrupts can also provide feedback on the conduct of the PTIBs. In particular, Members would also be aware that under IRDA, there are obligations to notify; there are obligations to submit a copy of the Statement of Affairs, to submit a report 30 days after the relevant anniversary of the administration date of the bankruptcy and so on. So, this gives the OA the ability to look into the particular administration and for the PTIB to provide information to the OA. PTIBs are also required to put up security which the OA can forfeit if the PTIB does not fulfil duties and responsibilities in accordance with statutory requirements. Indeed, if there is dissatisfaction with the PTIBs' administration of the estate, the OA, as well as creditors or debtors, may apply to Court for various orders, including orders to modify the PTIB's acts or decisions, or indeed, in extreme cases, to also remove the PTIB. In this regard, it is important to emphasise that PTIBs have incentives themselves to uphold; they are held to their own high professional standards. PTIBs must either be accountants or lawyers and must comply with the professional standards of their respective professional bodies.”
“But let me just remind Members that this framework is designed to mandate the appointment of PTIBs. In other words, the whole raison d'etre behind this is to ensure that cases are administered by the PTIBs. So, when you asked about what happens when there is no such PTIB, or, in what cases can the OA step in, I would say as a starting point that it has got to be very narrow. That would be in line with the philosophy of this Bill – to keep it narrow so that parties go to the PTIBs. And it is only in the appropriate cases, like what I mentioned at the outset, for example, the public interest examples I cited earlier, or perhaps, given that the powers of investigation and prosecution do not devolve to the PTIBs – they remain with the OA. Perhaps in a case where you know from the outset very clearly that heavy investigation will be needed, or that there are likely to be prosecutions, in that case, perhaps it might be appropriate for the OA to take on that role from the start. But really, those are examples: as I mentioned earlier, they are non-exhaustive. Because you got to look at the entire factual matrix, the particular circumstances of each case, to decide whether or not the OA should grant consent or should take on the role itself. In addition, as provided by statute, the OA will step in to administer the bankruptcy estate in the interim. I think Mr Murali raised this point. So, in cases when an earlier appointment of a PTIB fails to take effect or the office becomes vacant after it has taken effect, then in such scenarios, the OA will step in. The OA will step in and this question of consent or otherwise becomes irrelevant, because the statute mandates that the OA steps in so, that there is no disruption to the administration.”
“These mechanisms collectively work in tandem to introduce checks on PTIBs' fees to ensure that they are in line with market and that they are reasonable. Mr Murali observed that debtors may face problems applying for bankruptcy, I presume, after these amendments. But I want to assure Mr Murali that the threshold for the filing fee, the bankruptcy fee, of $1,850 has not changed with these amendments being introduced. The PTIBs' fees, additionally, may also be recovered from the bankrupts' contributions during the lifespan and the whole duration of the bankruptcy. In other words, you do not need to have had sufficient assets at the outset to meet the fees before the administration can start. Along the way, there might be realisable assets that are called in, and this includes property acquired after a bankruptcy order as well. So, all that collectively comes out of the bankrupt estate and it goes towards the PTIBs' fees. Mr Zhulkarnain asked whether the PTIBs' work might overlap with the work done by debt recovery firms or credit counselling firms. The answer is no. These firms take on the work pre-bankruptcy – so they might go and recover debts; they might go and issue demands, and so on. But once the bankruptcy takes place, that is when the PTIBs step in. It is on the making of the bankruptcy order by the Court that the PTIBs are appointed and their jurisdiction then begins. There are various questions on the OA's role. Mr Murali and Mr Zhulkarnain, in particular, sought clarifications on the circumstances under which the OA is expected to administer the estate of the bankrupt. Sir, the Bill gives the OA the discretion, as I mentioned at the outset, to give consent to take on the administration in a particular case.”
“Thank you, Sir. Sir, I thank the Members for the support of this Bill and I will jump straight into answering the various queries that have been posed. Mr Murali Pillai, Ms Sylvia Lim, Mr Louis Ng, Mr Zhulkarnain Abdul Rahim and Mr Vikram Nair, I believe, asked how we can ensure accessibility to PTIBs. Sir, there are sufficient insolvency practitioners in Singapore to take on the new cases. I think Ms Lim herself, from her research, found 187 licensed insolvency practitioners. Of this, the vast majority – 183 of them – are eligible to take up bankruptcy administration at present, but only about a third of them – about 56 – currently do so. So, in other words, out of the 187, 183 of them are qualified to take on this role as PTIB, but only about a third of them are currently taking it up; obviously, under the older regime, where only ICs appoint PTIBs. So, in other words, there is headroom for this to grow into that space. Should there be a need to review these numbers, we will do so. Ms Lim also asked on whether information about the PTIBs could be made accessible and how would someone who wants to file a bankruptcy claim can access that. We will put a list of the PTIBs on the Insolvency Office's website. Debtors and creditors will be able to use information that is on the list to discuss with PTIBs about the appropriateness of taking up their cases and which PTIB they might want to go to for the appropriate administration. Some questions were also raised on the PTIBs' fees. Their fees are based on the work done in a particular case and determined in line with market forces. The fees, which are paid out from the bankruptcy estate, are ultimately approved by the creditors' committee or by the Court, if there is no prior approval by creditors.”
“With its six PAssion Wave outlets located at various reservoirs and parks, the People's Association (PA) offers a variety of open water sports programmes for Singaporeans of all ages, including dragon boating, kayaking, sailing, windsurfing and stand-up paddling. As these open water and sea sports are held at various existing and new water sports centres all across our island, including at our northern and eastern coasts as well as at our reservoirs inland, we have plenty of space for all these activities. We will continue to explore suitable venues for open water and sea sports activities. For instance, as part of the Punggol Eco-Town, SportSG is working with various Government stakeholders, through the Punggol Eco-Town Working Committee, to design Punggol Waterway into an Integrated Adventure Hub for Water Sports and Water-based Lifestyle Activities. The Government will continue to support efforts that promote Singaporeans’ participation in open water and sea sports.”
“MCCY works with a variety of stakeholders to provide opportunities for Singaporeans of all ages to participate in sea sports. These efforts include the promotion of open water sports, such as sailing, canoeing and dragon boating. There are many programmes across multiple locations that encourage Singaporeans, especially our youths, to try out and pursue various open water sports. SportSG runs the ActiveSG Canoe Academy (ACA), which offers programmes for children and youths to pick up paddling skills in a fun and safe learning environment. ACA works closely with the Singapore Canoe Federation (SCF) to develop those with potential to become athletes and represent Singapore, and support their development journey towards high performance. During the school holidays, students can sign up for ActiveSG School Holiday Programmes, which include water sports, such as snorkelling and scuba diving. National Sports Associations (NSAs) in charge of open water sports also run programmes to encourage broad-based participation in their sport. For example, the Singapore Sailing Federation organises Learn To Sail programmes to teach sailing to children as young as seven years old. The Singapore Dragon Boat Association holds their Dragon Boat Orientation Programme at Kallang Water Sports Centre, where experienced trainers and steerspersons guide interested members of the public to try out the sport. At Outward Bound Singapore (OBS), participants take part in open water activities like kayaking and sailing, as part of outdoor adventure education for youth development. These activities regularly spark interest in some participants to pursue open water sports further through the activities organised by SportSG and the respective NSAs.”
“For example, Mr Toh Lian Tai, aged 63, won Gold in the Men's Singles Intermediate (60+) category at the Asia Pickleball Open in April in Thailand; Ms Katherine Choo, aged 72, won Silver in the Women's 1,500-metre event at the World Masters Athletics Tempere in June in Finland. We are encouraged by the increasing participation rate of our seniors in physical activities – from about 40% in 2011 to about 70% in 2021. We will continue to pursue opportunities for sports and physical activities for our seniors.”
“As Singapore's population ages, MCCY and SportSG have been intentional in developing strategies to enable seniors to participate in sports and physical activities to ensure their health and well-being, as part of the national Action Plan for Successful Ageing and the recently launched Healthier SG initiative. In 2017, Sport Singapore established the ActiveSG Masters Club to bring together various sports interest groups and conduct programmes, such as fitness workouts, for those aged 40 and above. These programmes cater to a range of levels of fitness and allow seniors to progress at their own pace. The ActiveSG Masters Club partners various health and community organisations to provide expertise and support seniors in their sporting activities. This includes the Gym Tonic programme – an effective, evidence-based strength training programme that improves seniors' functional abilities. As part of the annual GetActive! Singapore initiative, Sport Singapore works with partners, such as the Agency for Integrated Care (AIC), Qi Gong Association, Senior Activity Centres and nursing homes, to provide friendly competitive opportunities during Seniors' Sports Day. For example, seniors enjoyed playing walking football, seated volleyball and walking captain's ball during the National Celebration of Seniors last month. In 2022, 150,000 seniors participated in ActiveSG competitions and programmes. For seniors who wish to engage in more competitive sport and represent Singapore at international competitions, the Temasek Foundation Inspire Fund for Athletes provides financial support for their sporting aspirations. This fund has no age limit or restriction on the type of sports. To date, the Fund has supported 50 seniors to compete overseas and fly our Singapore flag high.”
“The collective efforts to promote our four official languages have borne fruit. According to a poll by the Institute of Policy Studies in 2020, 78% of survey respondents said they could speak English "well" or "very well". For mother tongue languages, 80% of Chinese respondents, 95% of Malay respondents, and 75% of ethnic Tamil respondents said they could speak their respective mother tongue languages "well" or "very well". The language councils and committees will continue to refresh their respective language campaigns and programmes to ensure that they remain relevant. MCCY will encourage and support the continued growth of such efforts to maintain the momentum achieved, as our four official languages form an indelible and active part of our Singapore identity.”
“This year, in the area of the literary arts, the Singapore Writers Festival made special efforts to honour pioneer women writers of the Malay literary scene. The organisers also co-curated a range of programmes with local Chinese, Malay and Tamil language and literary partners and their communities. Over the recent years, we have observed continued positive public response to the various language campaigns and programmes. Before embarking on their campaigns, the language councils and committees would set their aims and key performance indicators to measure the outreach and impact of their efforts, such as the number of participants, programmes and supporting partners, as well the strength of the digital reach of programmes. We are heartened by the keen public response and participation in the different language campaigns. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, all four language campaigns presented an average of over 350 programmes annually from 2017 to 2019. During the pandemic period of 2020 and 2021, all four language campaigns pivoted to digital platforms and offered more than 600 programmes. This year, the language campaigns continue to receive strong support. For instance, (a) the Speak Mandarin Campaign's signature Family Talent Competition recorded its highest participation with 1,168 family teams in 2022. This is double the participation numbers before COVID-19; (b) the Malay Language Council, Singapore, reached out to some 75,000 participants in the recent Malay Language Festival or Bulan Bahasa 2022; (c) the launch programme of the Tamil Language Festival 2022 alone reached more than 50,000 viewers; and (d) the Speak Good English Movement's foray into TikTok with a hashtag challenge garnered 2.2 million views.”
“Our four official languages form key aspects of our Singapore cultural identity and heritage and collectively anchor our national identity. They also provide a common means of communication within and across communities, allowing us to establish connections with our families, friends, colleagues, neighbours and society at large. The various language campaigns helmed by their respective language councils and committees support Singapore’s bilingual policy. These efforts complement the formal learning of languages in schools and encourage greater mastery, use and appreciation of our official languages beyond the classrooms. The Speak Good English Movement promotes the use of proper English for effective communication in multicultural Singapore. The English language helps us maintain our advantage in doing business and communicating with the world. The Mandarin, Malay and Tamil language councils promote the appreciation and use of our mother tongue languages through programmes and festivals, such as the Speak Mandarin Campaign, Malay Language Festival or Bulan Bahasa and the Tamil Language Festival. These targeted efforts foster a greater appreciation of our cultural heritage and identity and enable us to better connect with wider communities in Asia and across the world. In addition to the work of these language councils, many community and interest groups also initiate and sustain efforts to promote their respective languages and cultures. For instance, Business China, the Tamil Representatives Council (TRC) and Angkatan Sasterawan ’50 (ASAS ’50) partner the language councils to expand the appreciation of mother tongue languages and culture amongst Singaporeans.”
“Under the Gambling Control Act (GCA) which came into force on 1 August 2022, any person who wishes to operate a gaming machine room would need to apply for a licence from the Gambling Regulatory Authority of Singapore (GRA) and meet the licensing criteria.”
“In July 2017, MHA tightened the regulatory regime for jackpot, or fruit machine (FM), operations to curb availability of FMs and strengthen social safeguards against gambling. Under this regime, clubs would only be allowed to provide FMs as an ancillary offering to their members, within a wider suite of substantive recreational and social facilities and services, and not a major offering in itself. Singapore Premier League (SPL) clubs with FM operations did not meet these revised criteria. Clubs, in general, did not provide any other recreational offerings or services other than FMs. Some of the SPL clubs had a high dependence on the FM operations for their revenue. With the new rules, SPL clubs would have to give up their FM operations completely. However, the clubs were given a grace period within which to gradually wind down their FM operations. This was to assist the clubs, so that they did not have to completely cease FM operations immediately. In 2018, the clubs were notified of a transition period, during which time they were required to reduce their FM operations to below a quota of 15 machines by November 2019. On this basis, their permits were then renewed for a year, with no assurance of any subsequent renewal. On 1 November 2022, the permits ceased altogether. In addition to the gradual wind-down, to further mitigate the impact of the FMs' cessation on the clubs’ core football operations, Sport Singapore (SportSG) will be providing support to eligible SPL clubs in the short-term. SportSG will also be working with the Football Association of Singapore and the clubs to develop a more financially sustainable operating model going forward.”
“(a) In March 2022, we introduced the Heritage Impact Assessment (HIA) framework to assess when and how heritage impact studies should be conducted as part of the urban planning process. Under this framework, public projects likely to cause a major impact on significant heritage sites will be assessed to ascertain the need for an in-depth and independent Heritage Impact Assessment. These findings will guide the agencies in developing ways to mitigate the impact of development, as well as engage stakeholders and the community to shape development plans. For Haw Par Villa, in particular, NHB partnered Singapore Tourism Board (STB) to study and document the park’s heritage features. These efforts have guided the upgrading and conservation works undertaken in 2020 and 2021. (a) The study included examining the built structures and statuary and recommendations on the appropriate methods to repair the features and upkeep the park’s heritage. Our heritage buildings and sites anchor our collective social memories, our identity as Singaporeans and the character of our nation. NHB will continue to work closely with agencies, such as URA and STB, to retain and promote our heritage, while maintaining a balance with future development needs.”
“The National Heritage Board (NHB) works closely with public sector agencies to incorporate heritage considerations in our land planning and development process through a systematic framework. Generally, all development proposals are subject to a robust planning evaluation process that considers impact across various aspects, including heritage. (a) NHB and URA carry out research and documentation efforts to identify these buildings and sites of heritage interest to guide downstream planning. (b) Sites which are found to have significant heritage value could be further studied for potential conservation or preservation as National Monuments. (c) In addition, both agencies regularly engage with expert panels, such as the Heritage and Identity Partnership (HIP) and Heritage Advisory Panel (HAP), as well as the community, to seek their views and suggestions on the heritage value of the sites involved. This extends to locations which are not studied for conservation or preservation. (d) The discussions also involve different ways to consider and recollect the heritage of these sites, such as the documentation of social memories. These could include, for example, installing heritage storyboards or markers, organising programmes, workshops and talks for the public on the heritage of the area and curating guided tours to these heritage sites. (e) These efforts allow the agencies to make informed decisions on how to integrate heritage sensibly into our modern cityscape while striking a balance between safeguarding our legacy and meeting future development needs. We are continuing to enhance these processes.”
“CDCs encourage all Singaporean households to claim and make use of their vouchers before they expire. The CDC Vouchers for 2021 and 2022 will expire on 31 December 2022. Another round of CDC Vouchers will be disbursed to every Singaporean household in early 2023.”
“We do not, as a matter of course, collect such data.”
“Every Singaporean household is eligible to receive $100 CDC Vouchers in 2021 and another tranche of $100 CDC Vouchers in 2022. Some Singaporean households may be unable to claim their CDC vouchers under certain circumstances. This could happen, for example, when more than one Singaporean household resides in the same rental address or when newlyweds move into a new address. In such cases, the households that have yet to claim their vouchers may make an appeal at any community centre/club. In general, the appeals will be approved as long as the appellants are not from the same household and have not claimed the CDC vouchers before. An average of 1,200 appeals, or about 0.1% of 1.22 million households, have been approved for each of the two tranches in 2021 and 2022.”
“The CDC Vouchers Scheme aims to support Singaporeans in their daily expenses as well as help heartland merchants and hawkers in their businesses. Heartland merchants in trades involving daily necessities and services (such as F&B, minimarts, household retail and salons/barbers) and hawkers would generally be eligible to be enrolled onto the Scheme. Heartland merchants or hawkers who are interested to be enrolled onto the Scheme, can register with the CDCs at the website: vouchers.cdc.gov.sg or through their respective Merchants' Associations, Hawkers' Associations, or Business Advisers at SME Centres@CDC. The CDC Ambassadors will then visit the merchants and hawkers in the heartlands to make an assessment and enrol them. Since the launch of the CDC Vouchers Scheme in December 2021, more than 18,000 participating heartland merchants and hawkers have been enrolled onto the Scheme. The CDCs will continue to reach out to a broad cross section of heartland merchants and hawkers so that more businesses can benefit from the CDC Vouchers Scheme.”
“Athletes may receive support to compete in international sporting events whether or not their sport is supported by a National Sports Association (NSA). Sport Singapore (SportSG) provides high-performance grants to NSAs1 that in turn will allocate these grants to support the training and development of their athletes. Athletes may also receive funding directly from SportSG through programmes such as the Sport Excellence Scholarship (spexScholarship). The spexScholarship was also recently extended to athletes competing in sports that do not feature in the Major Games, such as Indoor Skydiving. SportSG may also provide access to training facilities for athletes. Athletes who do not receive such support may also apply to the Temasek Foundation Inspire Fund (TFIF), jointly administered by the National Youth Sports Institute (NYSI) and SportSG, for funding support to represent Singapore at international competitions. This includes airfare, accommodation, registration fees, visa fees (if any) and travel insurance. Since January 2021, almost 50 applications have been approved under the TFIF, such as for athletes in Jiu-Jitsu, Wrestling and Ultimate Frisbee.”
“Under the MND Grassroots Organisation (GRO) Scheme, eligible grassroots leaders (GRLs) can apply for HDB BTO flats and ECs in constituencies within the Town Council boundary they serve in. GRLs are eligible after performing three years of continuous and active service at their GROs. In the last five years, about 87,000 homes were launched for public sale. An average of 42 GRLs obtained their flats under the scheme each year. As explained to this House in previous Sitting of Parliament, the number of GRLs who have obtained their flats under this scheme in each year accounts for approximately 0.1% of all GRLs.”
“The People's Association, including the Community Development Councils, works with corporate and community partners to help residents in need. In the past five years, an average of $29 million was raised each year to fund charitable and community programmes, such as welfare assistance, employment assistance and home refurbishments.”
“About 65% of the annual fee of $193.7 million goes towards SHPL's debt service repayments for the loan they took out to finance the Sports Hub construction. The remaining amount goes towards the day-to-day maintenance and operations, as well as lifecycle costs of the assets. These payments are subject to SHPL's achievement of a broad and comprehensive range of Key Performance Indicators (KPI) stipulated within the Project Agreement. These include the availability of Sports Hub facilities and performance of services, such as events and activity programming, as well as cleanliness, estate management, security and quality of customer care. Deductions to the annual payments can be made if the KPIs are not met.”
“This is the energy and spirit of collective action that we want to harness in our ongoing Forward Singapore exercise. An enduring and refreshed social compact that will set us up strongly to face challenges. It takes every single one of us. Not just Government, but with our community, with businesses and every Singaporean and Singaporean resident alike. Employers must create environments where workers can thrive. Singaporeans must engage one another with care, respect and dignity. And we must pledge to look out for one another and uplift those in greater need. Together, we can build a more united, caring and inclusive Singapore. Not just for ourselves, but for our future generations as well.”
“More recently, we have been creating additional opportunities for groups to come together. In schools, we have the MOE-OBS Challenge, which brings together participants from diverse social backgrounds. Our Strategic Partnership Co-Curricular Activities also allow students to mix with peers from other schools. Through our SG Cares movement, we have built a network of volunteer centres to make volunteering and mutual support part of Singaporeans’ daily lives. Since 2018, over 30,000 volunteers have served more than 240,000 beneficiaries2, many of whom become volunteers themselves and paid it forward. Corporates have also stepped forward to do their part. Last year3, two-thirds of businesses engaged in corporate giving. A strong civic culture of care, consideration and contribution to Singapore. Our culture of care has also become more evident in the past few years, as we stood united in the face of COVID-19. Singaporeans supported our healthcare and frontline workers. The Sayang Sayang Fund, established to deliver support to vulnerable communities, raised over $9.6 million and benefited nearly 360,000 recipients4. And we have introduced more opportunities for all stakeholders in our society to take action. Following the Emerging Stronger Conversations in 2020 and 2021, we formed 36 Alliances for Action (AfA). Over 140,000 individuals and 1,500 organisations came together to co-create and implement solutions to causes that matter to them. On such example is the Alliance for Action for Low-Wage Workers. Members focus on a whole-of-society effort to uplift low-wage workers. This AfA has created 13 projects so far. Reaffirm our shared values and refresh our social compact.”
“A united, caring and inclusive society does not happen by chance. We need to both aspire and take action to achieve this. Our aspiration to be one nation and one united people is enshrined in our National Pledge, reminding us never to take our harmony and unity for granted. But we must back our aspiration with action. Collectively and deliberately as Singaporeans. The deliberate measures we have put in place, while still a work in progress, are bearing fruit. These measures have created opportunities for us to live together in our housing estates, our children to study together in national schools, our men to serve together in National Service, and many of us to encounter one another daily in our public parks, hawker centres and sports facilities. Through these interactions, we grow to understand, respect and appreciate one another. According to a recent survey by the Singapore Kindness Movement1, three in four Singaporeans are satisfied with their relationships with their neighbours. We are good neighbours and friends. But we can always do better. It is natural for people to sort themselves into more homogenous groups. It happens in schools and in neighbourhoods. We can do more to know and befriend those who are different from us. The last comprehensive study on social capital was conducted in 2017 by the Institute of Policy Studies, with the support of MCCY. This study found that Singaporeans are more likely to mix with people of other races and age groups than those of a different social background. We need to expand the circle of people we care about to include not just those who are like us, but also see ourselves in fellow Singaporeans with very different life experiences. At MCCY, we work with Singaporeans to grow a culture of everyday care and neighbourliness.”
“If clinical expertise is required, they will be referred to the Singapore Sport and Exercise Medicine Centre (SSMC@CGH) for follow-up with a trained psychiatrist or clinical psychologist. Third, SSI works with coaches and other touchpoints who influence or interact with the athletes. SSI and NYSI partner the NSAs to strengthen our athletes’ mental resilience, by equipping them with the necessary knowledge to recognise symptoms of poor mental health, turn to appropriate coping mechanisms, and practise self-care. SSI runs a mental health literacy programme to empower coaches and other athlete support personnel to identify and support athletes who need help with their mental well-being. This programme has seen a healthy take-up. All NYSI staff will be completing a Psychological First Aid course this month and this further expands the touchpoints who can help detect issues early for intervention. Fourth, we will continue to raise awareness on the importance of mental well-being. For example, SSI and NYSI intend to launch a series of infographics on mental health for athletes on World Mental Health Day in October to make the information more accessible and easily understood. Finally, beyond these efforts, knowing that they have the support of Singaporeans greatly boosts our athletes’ mental well-being. I hope that Singaporeans will continue to cheer our athletes on and express support for them through the ups and downs of their sporting journeys, as they continue to do their best for the nation.”
“The Government is committed to supporting our Team Singapore athletes throughout their sporting journey. A lot is asked of our athletes, from pushing the boundaries of what they can achieve in their sport, to bringing sporting glory to Singapore and becoming role models for others to follow. The Singapore Sports Institute (SSI) and the National Youth Sports Institute (NYSI) take a holistic approach to preparing our athletes to excel in a high-performance setting and this includes support for their overall psychological and mental well-being. By doing so, our athletes are equipped with the skills and mental resilience to deal with the demands they face. Let me share some ways in how we do this. First, ahead of major competitions, SSI and NYSI assign dedicated teams of sport psychologists and Athlete Life personnel to provide support for the psychological and mental well-being of our national athletes. This includes one-on-one consults and imparting skills and knowledge to cope with mental and emotional issues, also known as psycho-education. For this year’s Major Games, namely, the Southeast Asian (SEA), Commonwealth and ASEAN Para Games, SSI piloted a Fitness and Freshness Survey to measure and monitor athletes’ injuries, physiological and psychological health before the Games and identify areas for closer monitoring and support. Second, beyond competitions, SSI also proactively monitors our athletes’ mental health. A well-being survey was added to its Sport Excellence (SPEX) programme’s regular medical check-up in 2020 to screen for possible psychological and mental distress, including eating and sleeping disorders. Cases requiring attention are flagged and assessed by SSI’s sport science team.”
“The SG Mental Well-Being Network is a network comprising citizens and partners aimed at strengthening Singaporeans' mental well-being. Launched in July 2022, it is an expansion of the Youth Mental Well-Being Network, which was set up at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic primarily for youths. The Network will focus initially on destigmatising and raising awareness of mental well-being issues, build mental well-being literacy and strengthening community and peer support. One key deliverable under the Network is to pilot Well-Being Circles in the community. The Circles will train and equip citizens with the skills to look after themselves and support one another. The Circles will be led by grassroot leaders and community volunteers, and the Network will support them with resources, partnerships, and training. The training provided to the Circles will equip individuals with the knowledge and skills to: provide basic socio-emotional support, encourage help-seeking in persons with mental health challenges, and support wayfinding to resources for self-care as well as further interventions. The Circles cater to individuals with less intensive mental health needs, complementing the role of other mental health services in the community. Partner organisations of the Network will be encouraged to implement safeguards for their own volunteers' well-being. These include organising routine check-ins with volunteers or providing counselling support if volunteers experience significant emotional distress when supporting others.”
“The SG Mental Well-Being Network is an expansion of the Youth Mental Well-Being Network. Launched in July, the expanded Network aims to strengthen whole-of-society partnerships and citizen action, on mental health issues faced by Singaporeans. The Network will serve as the partnership arm of the Interagency Taskforce on Mental Health and Well-being. It will first focus on strengthening community and peer support, and raising awareness through engagement initiatives to encourage help-seeking, tackle stigma, and improve mental health literacy. MCCY’s reply to Written Question No. 56 raised by Mr Christopher De Souza on the Order Paper on 12 September 2022 elaborates on the initiatives under these areas. We will subsequently expand our focus to include workplace and family support. In terms of timeline, we have started our engagement with community partners and volunteers, as we need their support to succeed. The Network held a partnership event in July, with over 100 participants from the mental well-being space coming together to share ideas and opportunities for collaboration. Partners and volunteers will be able to tap on available grants such as the National Youth Fund and the Our Healthy Singapore Fund to fund ground-up initiatives. For specific initiatives under the Network, MCCY will work with the Network partners to roll these out when ready. For example, we are working with partners, such as Happiness Initiative and the National Council of Social Service, to pilot Well-being Circles in a few grassroot divisions. We will review these efforts after they have run for a while, before scaling up.”
“When NSAs are displaced from Sports Hub facilities due to events and competitions, SportSG works closely with the NSAs to book alternative ActiveSG facilities for training. After the Government takes over the ownership and management of the Sports Hub, NSAs will continue to have access to Sports Hub and ActiveSG facilities. SportSG will continue to work closely with the NSAs to understand and meet their needs. We will have more flexibility to optimise the use of Sports Hub and ActiveSG facilities across the NSAs, athletes, members of the public, and event organisers. This allows us to strike a better balance in meeting our stakeholders’ needs. We will assess usage and allocation across stakeholders more fully and holistically, after we have taken over the Sports Hub. This is important because our sport facilities cater not only to High-Performance Sport, but also to the recreational and sporting needs of all Singaporeans.”
“The National Sports Associations (or NSAs) are key stakeholders in our sports ecosystem. (a) NSAs identify promising athletes and groom them. They support athletes by coordinating training and competition schedules, hiring suitable coaches, and monitoring athletes’ progress. (b) Furthermore, NSAs play an integral role in promoting a broad-based sporting culture in Singapore. They run outreach programmes to increase Singaporeans’ exposure to their sport, as well as pathway programmes to cater to those who wish to pursue their interests further. Therefore, the Government works closely with and supports NSAs to achieve the best outcomes for our athletes, and for sports in Singapore. Today, more than 50 NSAs receive grants from Sport Singapore (SportSG). (a) These grants defray the operating costs of high-performance and outreach programmes run by the NSAs. (b) Government funding is augmented by the One Team Singapore Fund (OTSF). Under this scheme, NSAs that are Charities and Institutions of Public Character (IPCs) receive matching grants from Government for donations they raise. This funding to NSAs will not be affected by the government’s taking over and running of the Sports Hub. The Government already sets aside funds for operating and maintaining the Sports Hub today, and this will continue to be the arrangement. Today, the NSAs are accorded priority in the booking of Sports Hub facilities for the training of our national teams and athletes. NSAs also have priority access to ActiveSG facilities for this purpose. NSAs are allowed to and do book Sports Hub and ActiveSG facilities up to one year in advance.”
“These plans have taken into consideration Farrer Park’s association with Singapore’s sporting heritage and feedback from various stakeholder engagements, including Friends of Farrer Park (FOFP) and the sports community. Overall, we remain committed under the Sports Facilities Master Plan to ensure that there are sufficient sports facilities to cater to both national level and town level demand. This includes exciting developments at the Kallang Alive! precinct, including the new Kallang Tennis Centre which will have seven covered courts and 12 outdoor courts, as well as new sports centres that are being built in several HDB towns.”
“The redevelopment plans for Farrer Park presents an opportunity to enhance the existing sporting and recreational facilities to better serve current and future residents and bring the community together to create new shared experiences. The myriad of sports and recreational spaces within the new housing estate will include the following: (a) The existing swimming complex will be replaced with new sheltered and outdoor swimming pools in a new sports centre at the same location, which will also house a gym and fitness studio. (b) The existing boxing gym will be retained and converted to a multi-purpose sporting space. (c) More sports facilities, such as a flexible indoor space ,which can be used for sports like table tennis will be incorporated within the multi-storey car park in the estate. This will complement other facilities around the estate such as fitness corners, providing multiple avenues for the community to keep fit and active. (d) A jogging track will weave through the entire new housing estate and connect the various sports and recreational facilities. Notwithstanding our limited land and need for space to develop new HDB flats to meet strong demand for housing, we will still ensure that there will be spaces for the community to enjoy sports and that they are readily accessible. There will be open spaces for sports and recreational uses, including an approximately 1.2-hectare central green space (equivalent to the size of two football fields) comprising a multi-use field and park that can be used for various activities, such as community football programmes amongst others.”
“Following the launch of the $130 million CDC Vouchers Scheme 2021 in December 2021, the CDCs rolled out another tranche under the CDC Vouchers Scheme 2022, on 11 May 2022 to support 1.22 million Singaporean households in their daily expenses. As of 19 July 2022, or more than two months since the launch, 86.8% or 1.06 million Singaporean households have claimed the 2022 CDC Vouchers with about $62 million spent in over 17,700 participating hawkers and heartland merchants. In total, more than $163 million has been spent with the 2021 and 2022 CDC Vouchers. Of this amount, $27 million or 16.6% of the vouchers was spent in 2,800 stalls in 677 coffee shops. We are encouraged by the positive feedback received on the Scheme from Singaporeans, many of whom found the CDC Vouchers easy to use. Apart from supporting Singaporeans in their daily expenses, the CDC Vouchers also help boost businesses for heartland merchants and hawkers. Of the more than 17,700 participating hawkers and merchants onboard the Scheme, one in six stalls are in coffee shops. The CDCs will continue to onboard more heartland merchants and hawkers so that more people and businesses can continue to benefit from the CDC Vouchers Scheme.”
“Our public agencies make available a wide range of data, which includes race- and community-based statistics. Some examples of such data are set out below. This data is used to inform the formulation of our policies, including those which are designed to address community-specific needs. The Government does not make all race-based data publicly available, for reasons which have been previously explained. However, where appropriate, the Government would discuss such data with community leaders and/or other stakeholders in a confidential setting. This assessment, as to when this is done, and with which groups of community leaders and stakeholders, is guided by what is in the public interest, including the relative benefit of so doing against any negative impact. This has to be assessed on a case-by-case basis. Some examples of publicly available data with breakdown by ethnicity include: (a) For education, the Government publishes data on the level of education that students are attending, the highest qualification attained and the fields of studies by polytechnic and university graduates. (b) For housing, the Government publishes data on the type of housing, home ownership, and the geographic distribution of residences. (c) For health, the Government publishes data on the prevalence of obesity, chronic health conditions, smoking and poor mental health. (d) For income and employment, the Government publishes data on household income, employment status, the type of industry and the type of occupation. (e) For other important social areas, the Government publishes data on religion, marital status, the number of children born and the language most frequently spoken at home.”
“As they do so, our social capital is strengthened. MCCY will continue working with all Singaporeans to harness places, programmes and partnerships, and people to build a more cohesive society that we are proud to belong to.”
“But these virtual interactions, while they were the best we could do under the circumstances, were not the same as connecting in person. Recognising the vital need to strengthen our social capital, I highlighted during the recent Committee of Supply debate, how MCCY is fortifying the social connections and "glue" that binds us together. We will continue to boost our social capital and deepen connections through the four Ps – Places, Programmes and Partnerships, and most crucially, People. First, through common places, specifically social infrastructure, we aim to provide opportunities for people to meet and build friendships. An example is the "Bring Sport Back" programme where the public gets a chance to interact and participate in mass sports activities at common sports spaces. Next, we foster greater connections in the community through programmes and partnerships designed to encourage people from different backgrounds to interact and bond together. These include efforts such as the Inter-Racial and Religious Confidence Circles (IRCCs), BRIDGE programme (Broadening Racial and Religious Interaction through Dialogue and General Education), the MOE-OBS Challenge and volunteering opportunities offered by Youth Corps Singapore. Last, MCCY builds social capital by facilitating connections among people. To foster a culture of care and neighbourliness, initiatives such as the SG Cares movement and the national network of volunteer centres seek to make volunteering part of our daily lives. In addition, PA will launch a new Community Volunteering initiative to allow people to work with their communities on causes they care about. Through these various initiatives, we hope to provide our people with opportunities to connect, bond and feel a sense of belonging to one another.”
“Social capital – our social networks of trust and mutual support – is critical for building a shared identity and sense of belonging in the community. Whom people interact with, how actively and intensely they engage with others and the trust they have for each other, determine how cohesive our society is. The last comprehensive national study on social capital was conducted in 2017 by the Institute of Policy Studies (IPS) with the support of MCCY. Following this 2017 study, we have been monitoring indicators relating to social capital through various other studies. From the IPS World Values Survey1 conducted in 2020, we noted that generalised trust was slightly lower in 20202 during the COVID-19 period compared to 2012. Trust is built through interpersonal interactions. If safe management measures during the COVID-19 period were to persist for a longer time, the social capital we have could well be eroded by the extended reduction in social interactions. In studies conducted in 2020 and 2021, the National Youth Council found that the pandemic had reduced opportunities for interactions between our youths with those outside their households or social circle. Social interactions emerged as one of the most prevalent challenges for youths and especially for those in schools3. The pandemic also impacted working youths psychologically and economically. A recent study found that lower wage youths experienced greater wage disruption and earnings loss, and also reported higher levels of anxiety4. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Singaporeans quickly adapted to the social restrictions, moving many interactions online. Families gathered and connected on the Internet, while volunteers engaged with beneficiaries virtually by holding their activities online.”