Edwin Tong Chun Fai
Singapore
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“Members can take time to study the Bill and take part in the debate on 16 October and raise clarifications on the Bill and related matters during that debate.”
“NE then converted all its shares in Income to permanent shares, which could count towards MAS' capital adequacy requirements. This rendered NE's 2015 undertaking no longer relevant, because NE's shares were now legally locked in and Income's capital base had stabilised. When Income subsequently corporatised, NE's shares in Income, the co-op, were converted into shares in the new company, which are also not withdrawable. Therefore, there is no longer a need for any undertaking by NE not to redeem its shares because all the shares are now permanent. I hope this makes the position clear. Mr Deputy Speaker, co-ops remain an important pillar of our society. Co-ops have been helping the community, providing affordable services, especially to the underserved for close to a century. They reinforce our nation's social fabric, complementing the efforts of the public and private sectors, helping to create a caring and cohesive community in Singapore. We appreciate that co-ops have to balance the constant tension between doing good and doing well. On its part, the Government agrees that co-ops must do well before they can do good. MCCY has been and will continue supporting the co-op movement through various capability building efforts and enhancements to legislation. At the same time, MCCY is responsible to ensure that the co-ops continue to uphold their social missions to benefit Singaporeans and our wider society, as they seek to do well. This is why we have seen it fit to intervene, in the proposed transaction. Sir, I would be happy to address Members' clarifications on the Ministerial Statement today. As I said, the amendment Bill to the Insurance Act will be tabled after this.”
“Our fact finding shows that Mr Tan did indeed state, when he was Group CEO of NE, at a meeting of the Income Board on 21 November 2014, that he, referring to Mr Tan, was, I quote, "confident that the NE Board would agree to a request to extend this undertaking not to redeem to an indefinite period, as NE was prepared to convert its shares to the new class of irredeemable shares once the legislation was passed", unquote. However, the letter that was eventually sent by NE to Income on 11 February 2015 stated, and I quote, "Our shareholding in NTUC Income is thus committed over the long term, and there is no intention of withdrawing the share capital to be subscribed". In short, the answer is, there was no specific commitment that the shares would not be redeemed indefinitely; neither was there a commitment that the shares would not be transferred to someone else. More importantly, Sir, the commitment given by NE to Income in 2015 is no longer relevant in today's context. Back in 2015, Income was a co-op whose members had the right to withdraw their share capital at any time. This was a problem because Income needed a stable capital base to support its insurance business, but its members' share capital, being redeemable at any time, could not be counted towards MAS' capital adequacy requirements for insurers. NE's commitment not to redeem its shares was meant to assure Income of the stability of its capital base, pending legislative amendments to provide for a more permanent class of share capital for co-ops. The CSA was subsequently amended in 2018 to allow institutional members of co-ops, like NE, to hold permanent shares so that the capital could not be withdrawn.”
“The amendments will be scoped specifically to only apply to a licensed insurer that is the subject of an application under sections 26 and 27 of the Insurance Act and, where the licensed insurer is a co-operative, has acquired the business of a co-operative, or has a substantial shareholder or effective controller which is a co-operative. This is based on the Government's recognition that insurance co-ops are a special category of insurers with a social mission for which the views of the Minister overseeing co-ops need to be considered. The Bill will therefore provide for the Minister-in-charge of MAS to consider the views of the Minister responsible for the administration of the CSA. And for the Minister-in-charge of MAS to withhold approval to such applications if he considers that it is in the public interest to do so. Following this Ministerial Statement, Minister Chee Hong Tat will table the First Reading of an amendment Bill to the Insurance Act on an urgent basis. Given the time sensitivity of this matter, the Second and Third Readings are proposed to be taken on Wednesday, 16 October 2024. I should add that MCCY may also consider future amendments to the CSA to give the Government stronger levers over co-ops that may wish to be corporatised. Sir, before I conclude, I would also like to address an outstanding issue raised by the Leader of the Opposition at the 6 August Parliament Sitting. At that time, I had replied that we were still looking into the issue. Mr Singh had asked whether NE had given its undertaking to hold on to its shares in Income, and I quote, "for an indefinite period", unquote, referring to views that Mr Tan Suee Chieh, a former CEO of Income and Group CEO of NE, had published.”
“Hence, our assessment of the viability of this transaction must go beyond prudential considerations alone. Whilst we will not allow the proposed transaction to proceed, we are nonetheless open to any new arrangement which Income may wish to pursue, whether with Allianz or any other partners, so long as the concerns highlighted are fully addressed. Sir, let me now set out the steps which the Government will take. As Income is now a corporate entity, it is no longer subject to the jurisdiction of the Registrar of Co-ops. The approval or otherwise of the proposed transaction now rests with MAS under the Insurance Act. Sections 26 and 27 of the Insurance Act require a person to seek the prior written approval of MAS to obtain effective control or become a substantial shareholder of a licensed insurer incorporated in Singapore. The proposed transaction therefore requires MAS' approval to proceed. When MAS assesses an application under these sections, it considers a range of criteria on prudential grounds such as the financial strength and track record of the applicant, and whether it is fit and proper. There is currently no provision in the Insurance Act for MAS to consider the views of MCCY, in the case of an application relating to an insurer that is either a co-op or linked to a co-op. We therefore intend to amend the Insurance Act to provide a clear statutory basis for MCCY's views to be considered in any approval involving such applications.”
“We had known earlier that the proposed transaction would leave NE as the minority shareholder in the new entity, with a minority of board positions and no ability to nominate the Chairman of the new Income entity. On their own, these factors would not have caused MCCY to object to the transaction. However, taken together with the proposed capital extraction and the lack of structural protections in the deal to ensure the continuation of Income's social mission, cumulatively, they pose a risk that MCCY judges not to be acceptable. As such, it is the Government's view that it is not in the public interest for the transaction, in its current form, to proceed. I should, however, make clear that the Government understands and accepts the strategic purpose behind Income's corporatisation exercise and its subsequent decision to form a partnership with Allianz. It was to strengthen Income and make it more financially sustainable in the longer term. The Government also does not have concerns over Allianz's standing or suitability to acquire a majority stake in Income. As I noted earlier, MCCY supports Income's efforts to find a strong partner so as to strengthen its capital base and market position. Allianz is a major global insurance company and asset manager that can bring financial strength and expertise to Income. Our concern is only over the terms and structure of this specific transaction, particularly in the context of the preceding corporatisation exercise. Income was a co-op, and subject to the objectives and obligations of being a co-op. Therefore, we also have to take into account the circumstances in which Income was corporatised and obtained an exemption from section 88 of the CSA.”
“First, we find it difficult to reconcile the proposed substantial capital reduction, soon after the transaction is completed, with Income's representations to MCCY during the corporatisation exercise that it was aiming to build up capital resources and enhance its financial strength. As I had explained, as part of that exercise, Income had sought and obtained an exemption to allow it to carry over a surplus of S$2 billion to the new corporate entity. The proposed capital reduction runs counter to the premise on which the exemption was given. If not for the Ministerial exemption in 2023, Income co-op's accumulated surplus of some S$2 billion would have gone to the CSLA after being wound up, to benefit the co-op movement in Singapore as a whole. MCCY has not seen any arrangement within the present transaction to account for the estimated S$2 billion surplus that was carried over to the new corporate entity, due to the exemption. There is no clarity on how this sum will be directed towards advancing Income's social mission. Second, MCCY is not satisfied that Income will be able to continue fulfilling its social mission after the proposed transaction. There are no clear binding provisions or structural protections in the deal to ensure that Income's social mission will be discharged. It is also not clear what Income might do after the capital extraction, for example, to adjust or trim its insurance portfolio, and what impact this could have on policy-holders. NE has stated that it intends to maintain Income's social mission. MCCY accepts that NE is making this commitment in good faith. But MCCY is not confident that NE's intentions, or the assurances Income gave earlier to MCCY, can be upheld.”
“At that time, MAS had reviewed the information based on prudential grounds, focusing on whether Allianz was a fit and proper institution, and Allianz's financial strength and track record, so that the interests of Income's policy-holders would be safeguarded with a strong substantial shareholder. MAS considered the planned capital optimisation from a prudential point of view, in accordance with its regulatory mandate. Based on the plans submitted, MAS did not have reason for concern as Income was projected to continue to meet regulatory capital requirements with a healthy margin even with the capital reduction. However, after the 6 August Parliamentary Sitting, MAS saw that Income's planned capital optimisation could be relevant to MCCY's views on the proposed transaction. MAS then shared the information with MCCY, including the terms of the proposed transaction. It was at this point, after MCCY reviewed the information on the proposed transaction, that we became concerned. We decided that there was sufficient basis for the Government to intervene in the proposed transaction to protect the public interest, notwithstanding that the financial prudential requirements had been satisfied. Let me explain this. We accept that from a narrow commercial or even prudential perspective, capital optimisation measures that free up capital to be returned to shareholders, are not uncommon practices. However, MCCY is not confident that the proposed transaction would not affect the ability of the co-op movement as a whole, or of Income itself, to carry out its social mission.”
“He explained that MCCY appreciated the competitive landscape that Income was operating in and understood how the transaction with Allianz would help Income achieve longer term financial sustainability. Subsequent to the August session of Parliament, MCCY continued to do due diligence and enquire further into the proposed transaction, including on the various public queries which had been raised. In the course of this review, the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) provided MCCY with further details on the proposed transaction. This included information which Allianz, Income and NE had submitted to MAS in respect of initiatives to optimise the capital of Income post-transaction. MCCY had not seen this information earlier. From our review of this additional information, we gathered the following. The parties intended to implement a number of initiatives to optimise Income's insurance business after completion of the acquisition. The plan was for Income to run its insurance business more efficiently, without the need to hold as much capital as it presently does. As such, post-transaction, Allianz contemplates that Income could reduce its existing share capital and return this capital to shareholders. Allianz projects that Income would return some S$1.85 billion in cash to its shareholders, within the first three years after completion of the transaction. NE and Income focused on bringing in a strong shareholder and believed that, even with these initiatives, the proposed transaction with Allianz would allow it to continue with its social mission for years to come. These projections were submitted to MAS at around the time that the proposed transaction was announced, in mid-July 2024.”
“NE has supported Income with capital injections but cannot continue to do so on its own. That is why Income has proposed this transaction with Allianz, to find a strong partner that can complement NE in strengthening Income, so that it can sustain its social mission. Income, with Allianz and NE, had also committed to continue pursuing Income's social mission even after the transaction. For example, Income will maintain two low-cost insurance schemes as well as contribute $100 million over 10 years from 2021 for social and environmental causes. In its announcement, Allianz had also said that it intended for Income to continue participating in national insurance programmes. It assured the public of a seamless transition for policy-holders and said that it would continue to honour the contractual terms and conditions of the existing polices underwritten by Income. MCCY had no prior knowledge of the proposed transaction prior to the public announcements. When we first saw the announcements, we accepted the intent of the transaction, which is to strengthen Income. We saw that Income would be engaged in a strategic partnership with a major reputable player in the industry. This would strengthen Income's capital base and allow it to have more access to capital. This is consistent with the representations that Income had made to MCCY at the point of corporatisation. As we have said before, for Income to do good, it must first do well. In a Facebook post on 4 August, I pointed out that co-ops, as social enterprises, must be financially sustainable in order to better serve their members in a fast-changing economic environment. My colleague, Minister of State Alvin Tan, also spoke in Parliament in the August session.”
“Under section 88 of the CSA, when a co-op decides to cease being a co-op and is wound up, its members can only be paid their original share capital plus any unpaid dividends up to a cap, after settling the costs of liquidation and the co-op's liabilities. Any surplus in the co-op beyond that will be transferred to the Co-operative Societies Liquidation Account, or the CSLA, to be applied for the benefit of the co-op sector generally. This is the framework under the CSA, when a co-op is wound up. Technically, Income would be required to comply with section 88, as Income, the co-op, would be wound up after corporatisation. However, as I explained, Income was not in fact ceasing its business. It was proposing to convert from a co-op into a corporate entity for the reasons outlined above. The corporatisation was to strengthen Income's capital base and financial adequacy in order for it to carry out its business better. For these reasons, carrying over Income's surplus to the new corporate entity to support the business would be an integral part of the exercise. Income thus sought an exemption from section 88 of the CSA as part of the corporatisation, which I granted. Following this exemption, Income carried over approximately S$2 billion in surplus to the new corporate entity. The corporatisation exercise was completed on 6 April 2023. Sir, let me now come to the proposed Income-Allianz transaction, which was announced on 17 July 2024. In announcing the proposed transaction, NE and Income had said that it was needed to strengthen Income so that it could continue with its social mission. They explained that insurance is a long-tail business. Income's capital buffers have repeatedly come under pressure over the years.”
“In its letter to MCCY dated 27 June 2022, Income stated, and I quote: "We believe that, pursuant to the corporatisation, Co-Op", which is Income, in this case, "will be regarded to offer a more attractive proposition to investors and strategic partners. This would, in turn, allow Co-Op to raise capital more easily and thereby grow and unlock value for existing and new shareholders and policy-holders, and further its social mission through a sustainability agenda", unquote. The Registry for Co-operative Societies told Income that it had to address the public perception that NTUC social enterprises would be seen as moving away from co-op values. In response, the CEO of Income confirmed that even after corporatisation, Income would not change its purpose and values. Income repeated this point publicly. At its extraordinary general meeting (EGM) in 2022, Income reiterated that the new company would continue operating as a social enterprise of NE and sustain its social mission. The Government accepted Income's rationale for corporatisation. We agree that social enterprises need to do well in order to do good. This includes having good financial and market discipline, in order for Income to be able to pursue its social mission more effectively. At the EGM on 18 February 2022, Income's members voted overwhelmingly in support of corporatisation. I said earlier that as part of the corporatisation exercise, Income had applied for a Ministerial exemption from section 88 of the CSA. Let me now elaborate on this. Co-ops are regulated under the CSA.”
“Income pointed out that the local insurance market had matured by 2022, unlike in earlier years, when a significant working class segment was still underserved. At the same time, Income was facing increasing competition from large insurance players as well as new technology players in the market. Its existing structure as a co-op lacked the flexibility of a corporate structure and did not give it access to distribution channels or the ability to scale, either locally or globally. Second, there was growing pressure to inject capital into Income to build up its financial strength, in response to regulatory requirements and market competition. Income explained that corporatisation was critical for it to achieve operational flexibility. It also wanted to have better access to capital to pursue strategic growth options, compete effectively in the market and do well in its business in the long run. The third key point made by Income was that its social mission focus would not change. Income made clear to its members and to MCCY that the corporatisation exercise would only change its legal form from a co-op to a non-listed corporate entity. The new corporate entity would remain an NTUC social enterprise. In our discussions, Income assured MCCY, and I quote, that "post-corporatisation, Income will be able to grow more significantly in scale and deliver its social mandate as a significant player in the insurance industry". Income wanted more flexibility to establish partnerships that could build up its capital base so that it could sustain its social mission.”
“Income needed to evolve to meet tightening regulations for financial institutions. This required a strong capital base. However, the co-op structure has limitations and is not conducive to stronger capital access and good value strategic partnerships. In the face of increasing global competition, Income wanted a corporate structure which would put it on par with its competitors. Income therefore proposed to convert itself into a corporate entity, with the members of the co-op receiving pari passu distribution in specie of shares in the new entity. Income also sought an exemption from section 88 of the CSA – which applies when a Co-op is put in liquidation – because Income was not, in substance, being liquidated. It was only changing its legal form and would continue to be engaged in the same business. The exemption was therefore needed to facilitate the corporatisation exercise, so that Income's accumulated surplus, beyond par value, could be carried over to the new corporate entity to allow it to continue the business. I will come back to this point later in my speech. At that time, Income explained to its members, the public and to the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth (MCCY) that corporatisation would also empower Income to drive greater social and economic value in a sustainable manner. MCCY wanted to understand Income's position in greater detail and met with Income on several occasions to discuss the matter. In the course of our meetings, Income emphasised a few salient points to MCCY. First, the insurance landscape had fundamentally changed since 1970 and corporatisation was critical to allow Income to effectively compete with other insurers.”
“Income was subsequently established in 1970 under the name NTUC Income Insurance Co-operative Limited. It was Singapore's first co-op under the aegis of the Labour Movement. Over the years, Income played an important role in providing affordable insurance for workers and Singaporeans at large. NE was set up in 2012 as a holding entity for the various social enterprises under the Labour Movement. NE is also a co-op and currently holds about 72% of the shares in Income. Since 2012, NE has strongly supported the growth of Income, progressively contributing to the share capital of Income. NE injected a total of $630 million into Income between 2015 and 2020. This included $100 million of capital during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, which was critical for the continued viability of Income. With NE's support, Income has grown through the years to serve Singaporeans' needs. As of 31 December 2023, Income Insurance covered close to 1.7 million customers, with an ambition to serve one in two Singaporeans by 2025. Income has also made progress in its social mission to provide accessible and inclusive insurance. For instance, it launched the Complete Cancer Care to offer Singaporeans comprehensive support from cancer diagnosis to recovery. It has also launched a suite of products over the years to cater to the financial needs of specific underserved segments. These include SpecialCare Autism and Down syndrome, Care4MigrantWorkers, and products that provide coverage for mental health conditions. In 2022, Income embarked on a corporatisation exercise. It wanted to change its legal form from a co-op to a company and to replicate the existing co-op shareholding profile in the shareholding profile of the new corporate entity to be set up. Its reasons were as follows.”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, on 17 July 2024, Allianz Europe BV, or Allianz, announced its Pre-Conditional Voluntary General Offer (VGO) to acquire the shares of Income Insurance Limited (Income). I will refer to this as the proposed transaction. As part of the proposed transaction, NTUC Enterprise, or NE, had given a legal commitment to sell a proportion of its shares in Income to enable Allianz to acquire a majority stake in Income. The Government has assessed the proposed transaction and has decided that it would not be in the public interest for the transaction, in its current form, to proceed. I am therefore making a Ministerial Statement today to explain the Government's position and to set out the steps which it proposes to take. I will start by setting out the circumstances in which Income, a former co-operative society or co-op, was corporatised in 2022, as that background has relevance to the proposed transaction. I will also explain the exemption from section 88 of the Co-operative Societies Act or CSA which Income had obtained in the course of its corporatisation. I will then set out our views on the proposed transaction and the next steps. Sir, let me start with some background on Income. Income has a unique history and has played a special role in serving Singaporeans. The concept of Labour Movement co-ops, also known as social enterprises, was first conceived at NTUC's Modernisation Seminar in 1969, where Mr Devan Nair articulated the need for the Labour Movement to turn into a social institution to serve Singaporean workers in various ways. Then, Dr Goh Keng Swee urged NTUC to set up social enterprises in areas such as life insurance and essential consumer goods to meet the needs of the working population.”
“Youths keen on the arts or who want to test their creative ideas can do so with our vibrant creative arts communities at *SCAPE. The School of the Arts has also been supporting youths who want to pursue an education in the arts, and so too the University of the Arts Singapore, for youths to pursue arts at a higher level. At this year’s National Day Rally, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong announced that the Government will subsidise Singaporean students studying at the University of the Arts Singapore at the same level as students attending other Autonomous Universities. Just last week, the President announced that the refreshed President’s Challenge will extend its focus to support the arts and sports as fields for nurturing potential, especially among the less advantaged. This will be another avenue to support our youths to pursue diverse pathways and aspirations, especially those who start with greater odds. The Government is committed to expand the space and opportunities for our youths to be the best version of themselves. This will require all of us – parents, friends, mentors, and employers, to believe in and support them on their journey, particularly on a road less taken.”
“We are also giving our youths the tools to be the best versions of themselves, in line with the Forward Singapore vision to embrace wider definitions of success. First, we are evolving our approach to education. We are providing multiple pathways for our students. Our secondary schools implemented Full Subject-based Banding this year to cater to the different strengths and interests of our students. Through the Direct School Admission, students can progress to their preferred schools through an alternative pathway that recognises their diverse talents and achievements. Second, we are giving youths more support to navigate and thrive in a complex world. Youths tell us they would like more support as they navigate through life transitions, such as moving from school to work, or when making decisions about their careers. That is why we launched the Mentoring SG movement, to develop a culture of mentoring to support youths as they navigate their future. Since its launch in December 2022, Mentoring SG has expanded its outreach. It has engaged over 2,500 skilled mentors and more than 6,000 youths, to connect youths from all backgrounds to networks and resources. Third, we are helping our youths to develop their potential in different fields, including sports and the arts. In sports, we are enhancing support to our national athletes through a new spexEducation scholarship, increasing the allowances for our spex athletes, and working with companies through spexBusiness to open viable career paths for our athletes during and even after their sporting careers. In the arts, we are providing more pathways for youths to pursue an arts education and make a career of it.”
“This response to Mr Christopher de Souza will also address a related question filed by Mr Christopher de Souza for a subsequent Sitting. The Government works closely with our partners to provide platforms and opportunities for our youths to contribute to causes they care about and shape the future of our nation. At the community level, the People’s Association (PA) empowers our youths to be involved, such as through the PA Youth Movement and the Youth Chapters of the PA Residents’ Networks. These initiatives provide opportunities for our youths to work on community projects. This is complemented by ground-up initiatives such as KampungKakis, which connects youths and seniors, and Good Hood, an online network for neighbours to connect and help one another. At the national level, we have been expanding opportunities for our youths to contribute to policy development, including through the Youth Panels. Our recent Youth Policy Forum provided over 1,000 participants the opportunity to discuss issues that our youths care about – financial resilience, jobs, digital well-being, and sustainability. Our National Youth Council (NYC) also runs programmes such as Our Singapore Leadership Programme and NYC Leaders Course, which bring youth leaders together to gain a deeper understanding of Singapore’s policy considerations. Beyond conversations and policy discussions, we are empowering our youths to turn their ideas into action, through programmes such as NYC’s Youth Action Challenge, which has supported about 1,000 youths to develop over 280 initiatives. Our Youth Corps Singapore too, has enabled about 6,000 youths to volunteer for meaningful causes at home and abroad.”
“The Founders' Memorial will be an integrated gallery and gardens experience at Bay East, commemorating the values and ideals exemplified by Singapore's founding leaders and generation. When it opens in end-2028, the Memorial will serve as a space to capture the spirit of our nation and unify Singaporeans by enabling different generations of Singaporeans to reflect on our past and be inspired for the future. The development cost of the Memorial is estimated at $335 million, based on current outlook and projections. The estimated cost encompasses building construction and fit-out costs for the exhibition galleries, viewing gallery and outdoor amphitheatre, education and family spaces and amenities and a 5-hectare outdoor public garden. The annual operating cost is being worked out in tandem with the development of operational plans.”
“The 2023 SWF included a Malay panel session Layar ke Teks featuring Jamal Ismail, Asnida Daud and Fadhli Fadzil, as well as a panel session Perspectives on Literary Critique in Tamil Literature featuring local Tamil writers Azhagunila and Neelakandan Sivanantham alongside Indian writer Suneel Krishnan. The Government has a range of initiatives that offer minority artists opportunities to engage younger audiences. For example, NAC's Arts Education Programme features over 180 programmes conducted by minority artists and arts groups that the Ministry of Education schools can use in their arts education plans. These include, workshops and performances in traditional arts, such as Malay and Indian dance and music; as well as visual arts workshops, such as Batik painting by Kamal Dollah and screen printing by Shariefah Shamsir. At the community level, the Government also organises several initiatives that allow minority artists to reach wider audiences. For instance, the recently launched ArtsEverywhere@CDC initiative brings quality performances by professional arts groups, including minority arts groups, to heartland locations across the island. Traditional Malay drumming group NADI Singapura performed at the launch event in July 2024 and the current series of performances also involves Indian music troupe Brahmastra. Such community-based initiatives enable our minority artists and arts groups to extend their offerings beyond traditional arts spaces and develop new audiences.”
“These programmes provide our Malay and Indian artists opportunities to create and present their works to local and international audiences. For example, for the 2024 edition of Pesta Raya, Esplanade commissioned Teater Ekamatra to present Bangwang Putih Bangwang Merah, a retelling of a Nusantara folktale. The production, which was written by Malaysian playwright Ridhwan Saidi and directed by Singaporean director Mohd Raren Jainal, featured a cast from Singapore and Malaysia. Esplanade also co-produced Arisi: Rice with Apsaras Arts, which was presented at Kalaa Utsavam in 2022 and, subsequently, at the Madras Music Academy in India in January 2024. The Esplanade's cultural festivals and series also allow our minority artists to collaborate with their regional counterparts. As part of Pentas, traditional Malay music troupe Persatuan Pemuzik Tradisional Melayu Singapura organised Gemada, a two-day gathering of audiences and artists interested in Malay traditional music. Meanwhile, Raga has supported Apsaras Arts to organise the upcoming Indian Performing Arts Conference. The annual Chingay Parade, organised by the People's Association (PA), is another opportunity for our minority artists to reach out to a wide audience. Each year, PA recruits over 300 performers to present the Malay and Indian ethnic segments of the Chingay performance. Past participants in Chingay include, the Sri Warisan Som Said Performing Arts Group, Sakthi Fine Arts, Singapore Indian Fine Arts Society (SIFAS), Damaru Singapore and Manimaran Creations. In the area of literary arts, the Singapore Writers Festival (SWF) has consistently featured non-English Language programming.”
“The Government provides significant support for minority arts groups to develop their craft and reach out to wider audiences. The National Arts Council (NAC) offers several grants and initiatives to support content production and audience development in the arts sector, including for minority artists and arts groups that perform and present their work in non-English language mediums. For instance, NAC's Major Company Scheme has provided multi-year funding to groups, such as Malay dance company Era Dance Theatre, Indian dance company Apsaras Arts and Malay theatre company Teater Ekamatra, to present their shows and festivals. Under the Presentation and Participation grant, NAC has supported the creation and presentation of works by minority artists and arts groups. Examples include, singer-songwriter Ahmadul Amin's debut album Bukan Untuk Semua, the Singapore Malayalee Association's annual Varnum exhibition and the Singapore Indian Orchestra and Choir's Spring Harmony concert. The Government also supports platforms that enable minority artists and arts groups to showcase their work to diverse audiences. For example, the annual Malay CultureFest, a signature programme by the Malay Heritage Centre (MHC), is a key platform for local Malay artists to showcase traditional and contemporary craft and performances. Some arts groups that have worked with MHC include, Malay folk music ensemble Nobat Kota Singa, traditional Malay orchestra Orkestra Sri Temasek and fusion Indonesian-Western ensemble Djoko Mangkrengg. In addition, Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay presents two annual festivals, Pesta Raya – Malay Festival of Arts and Kalaa Utsavam – Indian Festival of Arts, as well as the year-round cultural series Pentas and Raga.”
“Physical spaces provided by ARH are well-used, with an average utilisation rate of around 75%. Nine in 10 survey respondents who attended the 2023 "ARH Connects" events were satisfied with the programmes and indicated that they would attend again. Today, ARH has more than 3,200 members and the number is still growing. In the coming years, NAC will further enhance the ARH with a focus on two key areas. Firstly, the ARH will provide SEPs easier access to professional expertise. Two specific examples that are in the works include, greater access to legal knowledge and advice as well as programmes relating to mental and physical well-being. Secondly, the ARH aims to create more platforms for SEPs to meet, network and collaborate. This will be especially useful for young and emerging SEPs. More details on these initiatives will be announced soon. NAC will continue to work closely with the arts community to improve the resources and offerings of ARH.”
“For instance, ARH recently collaborated with creative director, curator and producer Mr Jeremiah Choy to create a series of videos, equipping arts practitioners with the know-how to start and sustain their own arts businesses. (c) Access to co-working and collaboration spaces for SEPs to create, network and collaborate. These include meeting rooms, a rehearsal studio, a black box and co-working spaces. Many of these affordable spaces are utilised by younger and less-well-established artists and arts groups to help them kickstart their careers. (d) Events for arts SEPs to build community and networks. SEPs have shared that they often feel isolated in their work and would benefit from structured programmes and events to build their sense of community and peer support networks. NAC has organised various "ARH Connects" events to upskill arts SEPs and provide opportunities to meet other SEPs in the arts space. (e) Resources for SEPs to learn how to protect their own well-being. ARH has collaborated with an arts collective, Care, Intimacy, TRaUma-informed and Safer (CITRUS) practices, to put together resources, including a series of peer-sharing sessions and workshops, designed to help improve care and wellbeing for arts workers. (f) ARH also serves as a way for NAC to reach out to the community of arts SEPs to better understand their needs. This was particularly important during the COVID-19 pandemic. The impact of ARH has been significant. During the pandemic, for example, the ARH was an important sensemaking and community outreach platform that allowed NAC to engage SEPs and roll out the Self-Employed Persons Grant (SEPG) based on their feedback. The SEPG supported more than 800 SEPs to carry out projects that generated more than 5,000 work and training opportunities.”
“The National Arts Council (NAC) set up the Arts Resource Hub (ARH) in 2019 after extensive consultations with over 370 arts and culture practitioners across disciplines and practices. The ARH aims to enable Self-Employed Persons (SEPs) in the arts to develop their practices, unlock opportunities and grow meaningful careers. SEPs in the arts have less access to some resources compared to their peers in regular employment. For instance, many companies have human resource professionals to support employees in upskilling and career development, legal professionals to provide advice in case of any contract disputes and venues to rehearse and exhibit their works. The ARH provides arts SEP with these resources. Since its establishment in 2019, the ARH has implemented an array of initiatives and programmes to support SEPs in these areas, including: (a) Professional career development guidance to help SEPs chart out their skills and career progression pathways. The recently launched Ignite Mentorship is one example. It was designed for new and emerging practitioners to develop critical skills, such as entrepreneurship, personal brand management and project management. The Coaching for Creatives programme is another example. It provides opportunities for SEPs to work with certified life and career coaches, to develop clarity on their career goals and explore strategies to enable sustainable careers. (b) Seminars and digital resources on topics, such as intellectual property, copyright and fair use, arts entrepreneurship, financial planning for healthcare and retirement, and more.”
“SportSG agrees with the objective of enhancing access to sports for persons with disabilities (PwDs) and has facilitated free group entries for PwDs from Special Education (SPED) Schools and Social Service Agencies through the Social Service Corporate Membership (SSCM) scheme since 2022. This corporate membership also provides $1,000 ActiveSG credits for the booking of sports facilities for regular sports programmes. Around 50 SPED Schools and Disability Adult Centres/Homes have enrolled on the SSCM scheme. To promote inclusive sports participation, SportSG has also introduced a range of programmes so that PwDs can take part in sports. These include learn-to-play programmes, recreational programmes and the annual Play Inclusive campaign. We will also continue to enhance our facilities so that persons of all abilities can use them comfortably. We recognise that more can be done to increase access to opportunities for exercise and sports participation among PwDs. We have, thus, been working with various partners to engage stakeholders to gather ideas to update the Disability Sports Master Plan. We will study the suggestion on extending the senior citizen rate for usage of mainstream ActiveSG's sports facilities to PwDs as part of our ongoing efforts to promote inclusive sports.”
“SportSG staff conduct daily routine checks and walkabouts at ActiveSG sport centres to detect faults and irregularities that are discovered on a daily basis. This is done on top of regular scheduled cyclical maintenance and upgrading plans. From time to time, SportSG receives feedback on ActiveSG facilities through the feedback form on the ActiveSG website and feedback provided to staff at sport centres. The feedback received include the cleanliness of facilities and faulty or damaged equipment and fixtures. Upon the discovery of any faults during routine checks or when public feedback is received, the ActiveSG facilities management team and contractors will carry out rectification works promptly. SportSG will continue to keep ActiveSG facilities well-maintained to meet the sporting needs of Singaporeans.”
“The publishers reported a total of 14 sales of rights post-fair, including rights sold by Marshall Cavendish and World Scientific for Singapore literary titles and children’s picture books respectively. Such deals are part of NAC’s efforts to help our writers monetise their intellectual property, finding wider audiences and contributing to their income. With wider audiences and strong demand, we will be able to create a robust ecosystem capable of supporting strong companies and good jobs for arts workers. The effort to improve employment outcomes for arts workers is an ongoing one. Earlier this year, we announced that the Government would be investing another $100 million to grow the arts sector over the next four years under the Our SG Arts Plan 2023-2027, on top of existing funding. This will support our efforts to build a wider audience for the arts, develop our arts workers and strengthen a robust ecosystem, all of which will contribute to creating good jobs and work opportunities for Singaporeans in the arts sector.”
“This benefits not just our artists, but our society as well, nurturing social and emotional well-being, connection to our roots and social bonding. Under Our SG Arts Plan 2023-2027, we are creating more ways for Singaporeans to get involved in and support the arts. For instance, ArtsEverywhere@CDC is a partnership between NAC and the five Community Development Councils to bring high quality arts experiences to major heartland nodes, such as Our Tampines Hub and Toa Payoh Hub. Through monthly performances and activities, we aim to engage more than 50,000 residents in various communities across Singapore, significantly expanding opportunities for Singaporeans to support local artists and arts groups. This initiative also creates job opportunities for artists and arts groups, helps them reach new audiences to grow their audience base and generates greater awareness of their art forms. NAC is also supporting our arts companies and artists in reaching new audiences and markets. This helps our artists to enhance their stature and marketability. For example, in the visual arts sector, NAC has consistently worked to raise the prominence of Singapore’s visual artists on the international stage by supporting their efforts to expand their reach to new audiences and collectors. In 2024, NAC supported numerous artists at overseas exhibitions and Biennales, including Robert Zhao, Ho Rui An, Bani Haykal, Zarina Muhammad and more3. NAC also supports art galleries to present Singapore artists’ works at key international fairs, including Frieze Seoul, Asia Now and Taipei Dangdai. NAC has also supported our local writers in finding international audiences. For example, NAC worked with publishers to participate in the 2023 Frankfurt Book Fair.”
“It is also important that arts workers who are already in the industry are able to further upgrade their skills and keep current. NAC provides support for arts workers to undergo continuing education and training, so that arts workers can continually improve their skills. We have introduced programmes to help arts workers to equip themselves with new and emerging skills to ensure their competitiveness and employability. To maximise employability, we aim to help arts workers continually enhance their skillsets. First, workers need to know what skills they need to acquire. We have introduced initiatives like the Skills Framework for Arts, jointly launched by NAC and SkillsFuture Singapore in 2023. These structured frameworks are beneficial to help practitioners understand skill needs, improve their own capabilities and forge their own career pathways. Second, when workers have understood what skills they need to acquire, NAC provides assistance to help them acquire those skills. For instance, NAC has introduced new training initiatives, such as the Backstage Affair’s Apprenticeship Pilot. This programme allows apprentices to learn the ropes of stage and production management through a hands-on approach in actual productions, providing valuable work opportunities to acquire new skills and build their work experience. With these strategies, we will ensure that our arts workers are well-positioned to take advantage of the work opportunities available. Developing Audiences. Finally, we will need audiences to be supportive of and willing to pay for the arts. Having a healthy demand for the arts and culture is key to ensuring that there will continue to be opportunities for arts companies and artists.”
“Strong companies are significant in the overall ecosystem landscape, as they provide opportunities for our artists to hone their craft to and be recognised both locally and internationally. One example is Jazz Association (Singapore), or JASS, founded by Cultural Medallion recipient Jeremy Monteiro in 2016. JASS’ vision is to expand the jazz community, advance jazz education and bring jazz music to new audiences through their outreach efforts. NAC has supported JASS over the years through project and organisational funding. JASS today is a staple of the arts scene and they have made it a part of their mission to give back and hone the next generation of our musicians. For instance, JASS has played many gigs with Rit Xu, an outstanding Singaporean flautist who received NAC’s Young Artist Award in 2022 and who was celebrated as the first Southeast Asian to win a solo jazz competition in the United States. Through such opportunities and many others, Rit has been able to hone his practice over time, perfecting his craft with every gig and has been on world tour with the Jacky Cheung 60+ World Concert tour since 2023. Skilled Practitioners. The second prong is to develop a pipeline of skilled practitioners who would be able to take on these jobs. Over the years, the Government has invested heavily in building up the local talent pool in the arts. For instance, we have set up arts education institutions, such as the School of the Arts and the new University of the Arts Singapore. These schools produce a pipeline of forward-looking, talented arts graduates with a good base of skills who enter the arts workforce already ready to contribute and share their unique voices and perspectives.”
“There are various opportunities which we can harness, such as improving technology, which makes it easier for artists to share their work with audiences worldwide. The Government is committed to working with the arts sector to help our artists take advantage of these opportunities and earn sustainable, competitive livelihoods. The Government believes that creating good jobs and gigs in the arts sector requires a multi-pronged approach. It is not about setting salary guidelines per se. Rather, creating good jobs for artists requires a competitive and sustainable arts sector, with a strong foundation. That, in turn, requires three components: strong arts companies and skilled practitioners representing a diverse range of art forms, as well as a wide audience base supportive of and prepared to pay for the consumption of local arts. Under Our SG Arts Plan 2023-2027, the National Arts Council (NAC) aims to advance all three of these causes. Strong companies. First, we need to strengthen Singaporean arts companies. Strong companies will be able to provide more and better work opportunities for arts workers and better pay. We are starting from a good base. The number of arts companies has increased over the past few years, from around 3,700 in 2019 to over 4,800 in 2022, showing that many recognise that there continues to be strong demand for arts products and services, and artists are prepared to set up companies to make art. NAC has provided support to help our arts companies grow, whether through organisational schemes, such as the Major Company Scheme, or through the various project grants that cater to different purposes.”
“Singapore’s vibrant arts and culture sector has grown over the years. We intend to continue to nurture the sector to evolve and develop to meet our society’s artistic and cultural needs. At the same time, it also presents a diverse range of job roles and work opportunities, along multiple career pathways. The arts sector and incomes of arts workers have been growing. The evolving strength of our sector reflects the talent and industriousness of our arts practitioners, along with the Government’s continued investment in the arts sector to sustain and nurture its development. During the COVID-19 pandemic, for example, the Government intervened heavily to support the sector. We rolled out the $75 million Arts and Culture Resilience Package which helped to sustain arts companies and preserve jobs, including for self-employed persons, within the industry. It also provided a boost to the sector, helping it emerge stronger from the pandemic when we fully resumed activities last year. With the Government, arts community and private sector working together, the arts sector has been able to resume its growth trajectory. The nominal value-added of the arts sector rebounded from $740 million in 2020 to $910 million in 2022. This is nearly back to the pre-COVID level of $950 million in 20191. Median nominal gross monthly incomes for full-time employed residents in the arts sector have also increased by 26.5% between 2018 and 2023. This is higher than the rate of growth for national median nominal gross monthly income, which increased by 17.1% over the same period2. The Government, through Arts Plan 2.0, which will be elaborated upon below, and other initiatives, intends to further the growth of the arts sector.”
“The People’s Association (PA) is a Statutory Board under the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth. Its mission includes fostering social cohesion and racial harmony, building a strong and resilient community as well as good people-to-people and people-to-Government ties. This is the core purpose of PA’s activities and programmes, which are open to everyone to attend, regardless of their background and political affiliation. We have explained previously, in past Parliamentary Questions, that PA does not conduct any activity with any political party, nor does it allow its events or venues to be used for partisan purposes by any political party. In line with these principles, PA does not invite persons in their capacity as politicians to events that it organises or co-organises.”
“Government agencies are presently reviewing the facts and circumstances in relation to the proposed transaction between NTUC Enterprise and Allianz Europe BV. This includes the issue raised in this Parliamentary Question. It will not be appropriate to answer this Parliamentary Question until the agencies have completed their review.”
“At Budget 2024, the Government announced the launch of the Overseas Humanitarian Assistance Tax Deduction Scheme (OHAS). OHAS will be piloted for four years, from 1 January 2025 to 31 December 2028, to encourage more support for those in need overseas. Under the OHAS pilot, individual and corporate donors can receive 100% tax deductions for qualifying overseas cash donations. These donations must be made through a designated charity and directed towards a fund-raising appeal for emergency humanitarian assistance that has a valid Fund-Raising for Foreign Charitable Purposes permit issued by the Commissioner of Charities. Currently, a total of eight charities have been invited to apply to be a designated charity under OHAS. These are charities with enhanced governance and controls against illicit fund flows and whose charitable objectives allow them to support overseas emergency humanitarian causes. At the same time, these charities still substantially benefit the community in Singapore. The list of designated charities will be made available from 1 January 2025.”
“The purpose-built venue will be designed according to competition standards prescribed by AQUA, as well as provide sufficient ancillary facilities that will allow spectators to have a positive experience. This includes provisions for sheltered seating and accessibility to community activities which will be co-located within the Kallang Alive precinct. To maximise the usage of these pools, we have made plans to use them for the World Aquatics Masters Championships that would be held from 26 July to 22 August in the same year. We are also exploring the feasibility of extending the use of the competition venue before and beyond these Championships.”
“To this end, we have undertaken detailed planning and implemented stringent budget measures, taking reference from the learnings of previous hosts of the Championships as well as Singapore’s experience in hosting other large-scale sporting events. Over the past year, we have been working closely with World Aquatics (AQUA) to understand and agree on the operational and technical requirements for a competition of this scale and to draw up the budget required to host the event. The estimated budget is sufficient to allow us to meet AQUA’s requirements and is also comparable to previous editions of the World Aquatics Championships. With less than a year away to the Championships, the organising committee has commenced efforts to secure sponsorships and negotiate service contracts for the event. As these are presently ongoing, due to commercial sensitivities of these efforts, we are unable to disclose the budget at this point. The costs to be borne by the Government and sponsorships will only be finalised after the event has concluded. The competition venues, including temporary ones which will be constructed, will meet international standards. The temporary competition venue will house a competition pool, a warm-up pool, ample spectator seats and dedicated areas for community events. Hosting swimming and artistic swimming events in temporary competition venues is comparable with other major games and previous editions of World Aquatics Championships in Hungary, Japan and Qatar, where the respective local organising committees had built up to six temporary pools for each of the Championships they hosted.”
“This response to Ms Hazel Poa and Ms Joan Pereira will also address a related Parliamentary Question filed by Mr Zhulkarnain Abdul Rahim for a subsequent Sitting. As part of our strategy to bring world-class sporting events to Singapore, we aim to attract events that will bring economic, social and sporting benefits to Singapore and Singaporeans. These events draw in overseas spectators and boost tourism spending. Local entities will be involved in the organisation of these events which will create job opportunities for Singaporeans and build deeper capabilities for future events. Singaporeans can spectate the main events and watch our Team Singapore athletes have an opportunity to compete against world-level athletes. At the same time, Singaporeans can also look forward to participating in a variety of community activities organised at the sidelines of the main event. These will garner interest for the sport and inspire our next generation of sporting talents. Our athletes can also gain valuable experience and be inspired from competing against the best athletes in the world. Such opportunities, for example, obtaining wild card entries, would not have been available if these competitions had not taken place in Singapore. When the opportunity to host the World Aquatics Championships 2025 arose, Singapore decided to pursue it. This is the highest tier of world championships in aquatics, and will attract the best in the world to compete in Singapore. As the host, our aim is to deliver a positive event experience for athletes and spectators, while being fiscally prudent and cost-effective.”
“ActiveSG Sport Centres play a key role in promoting healthy and active lifestyles. As part of the Government’s efforts to promote healthier dining, Sport Singapore (SportSG) requires food and beverage (F&B) tenants at ActiveSG Sport Centres, including fast food establishments and drinks kiosks, to adhere to guidelines including to use healthier oil and provide a minimum number of dishes prepared using lower-sodium ingredients, or to provide a minimum number of drinks of lower or no-sugar. SportSG ensures that ActiveSG Sport Centres’ tenants have met the licensing requirements before leasing the commercial spaces to them. Sport Singapore will continue to encourage and work with their F&B operators at ActiveSG Sport Centres to promote and offer healthier lifestyle choices in their establishments, while providing a range of options for the community.”
“One of the basic conditions for registration as a charity is that the purposes of the organisation must be beneficial wholly or substantially to the community in Singapore. However, the Minister has the discretion to waive this condition on a case-by-case basis. In the past five years, from 1 January 2020 to date, the Commissioner of Charities granted charity status to 16 organisations which had obtained a waiver of this charity registration condition as their purposes and activities were not substantially beneficial to the community in Singapore. This makes up about 7% of the total of 221 charities registered over the same period. The majority of the organisations which were granted waivers are the Qualifying Grantmakers who applied for charity status under the Grantmaker Scheme administered by the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth. This is because, unlike typical charities, Qualifying Grantmakers are solely funded by an individual, family or institution, do not solicit for public donations and engage predominantly in giving out grants to charitable causes. Therefore, they are regulated under a lighter-touch regime, with certain regulatory requirements waived. That said, Qualifying Grantmakers are still encouraged to apply some of their funds in Singapore, and the majority of them apply at least 50% of their funds locally.”
“The buses have drawings of iconic Marine Parade landmarks as well as caricatures of Marine Parade grassroot advisors, which and whom local residents can recognise and will be familiar with. This makes it easier for residents to identify the buses and build awareness, so more residents can use the buses to get to their destinations. This is not dissimilar to other grassroots programmes, which have banners of the grassroot advisors hosting the programmes. The cost is part of the overall contract with the bus operator so we do not have breakdowns on the cost of this aspect alone.”
“NHB also works closely with other agencies on initiatives to profile our heritage businesses, such as the Street Corner Heritage Galleries in Little India, Chinatown, Kampong Gelam, Katong Joo-Chiat and Balestier. As part of this initiative, NHB partners with local shop owners with at least 30 years of history to develop the showcases, as well as to develop programmes, such as talks, tours and workshops, to promote greater public awareness and appreciation of these heritage businesses. Heritage Activation Nodes (HAN) which provide opportunities for the community, including heritage businesses, to co-develop and participate in projects celebrating their neighbourhood's heritage. The first HAN was launched in Katong-Joo Chiat in April 2024 and a second HAN will be launched in Clementi in the second half of 2024. NHB has partnered with the Urban Redevelopment Authority on the Kampong Gelam Citizen Engagement Project, to map and document heritage businesses in the precinct. The findings from the project will guide future initiatives and partnerships with the community to better preserve the precinct's identity and character. NHB is currently preparing for a similar project for Chinatown. NHB's Heritage Institutions and Community Galleries also partner stakeholders in the community to showcase the unique history of their precinct and inject cultural vibrancy through programming. NHB is committed to supporting our heritage businesses whilst partnering them to document, preserve and safeguard their heritage, as part of a whole-of-society effort.”
“The Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth and the National Heritage Board (NHB) recognise that heritage businesses contribute to the overall character of an area and serve as important community anchors. To increase their business sustainability, heritage businesses can tap on the wider ecosystem of business and financial support offered by Government agencies, such as EnterpriseSG, as well as organisations, such as small and medium enterprise centres, business chambers and trade associations. This includes the Heartland Enterprise Placemaking Grant, which supports heartland merchants in organising innovative placemaking activities that can contribute to business growth and footfall and to raise their profile. In addition, NHB has introduced initiatives to encourage innovation to help our heritage businesses and practitioners reach out to new markets. NHB's Organisation Transformation Grant supports heritage businesses in adopting and implementing business transformation efforts to enhance their longer-term sustainability. For example, Deli Maslina, a multi-generational family business specialising in traditional Malay kueh, utilised the grant to undertake redevelopment and rebranding efforts for their line of kueh lapis (layered cake). The project aimed to cater to changing consumer tastes and expand their appeal to a wider pool of customers and clients. NHB's Craft x Design initiative seeks to reinvigorate interest in traditional crafts by pairing traditional craft practitioners with contemporary designers to co-create innovative products. This pairing allows them to draw on traditional craft sensibilities and contemporary design, raising the profile of these traditional crafts and enhancing practitioners' access to new markets, networks and designs.”
“PAssionArts initiatives, including Malay dance and music, are showcased at PA's community events in the local neighbourhoods. PA also encourages and supports residents to form Malay arts and culture interest groups at PA Community Clubs and Centres. Bulan Bahasa (Malay Language Month), an initiative by the Malay Language Council Singapore, encourages the Malay community to embrace the Malay language and deepen its appreciation of Malay arts and culture. In conjunction with Bulan Bahasa, Esplanade organises Cipta Cita, to celebrate the Malay language through music. Online resources are also available for the public to learn more about Malay arts and culture. On Esplanade Offstage, Esplanade's one-stop arts content and education platform for the performing arts in Singapore and Asia, traditional and contemporary Malay arts and artists are profiled through documentary videos, recordings of performances, articles, podcasts and educator resources.”
“NADI Singapura is one such beneficiary of the MHC programme. There are also multiple platforms for Malay artists and arts groups to showcase their work to a broad audience at the international, national and community levels. At the international level, Esplanade's annual Pesta Raya event offers Singaporean Malay artists and arts groups opportunities to celebrate and showcase their work to local and international audiences as well as collaborate with their regional counterparts. For example, Teater Ekamatra's sold-out production, Bawang Putih Bawang Merah, this year, featured artists from both Singapore and Malaysia. At the national level, the People's Association's (PA's) Chingay Parade recruits over 150 performers to present the Malay ethnic segment, across various performing groups, such as music, percussion, dance and martial arts. At the community level, as part of Wisma Geylang Serai's (WGS') programming, PA regularly engages Malay artists and arts groups to showcase their work. There is a wide range of initiatives that promote broad-based interest and engagement in Malay arts. NAC's Arts Education Programme (NAC-AEP) provides all students with access to quality arts education experiences. NAC-AEP includes more than 120 programmes conducted by Malay artists and arts groups that the Ministry of Education (MOE) schools can use in their arts education plans. The Cultural Performance Exposure Fund by the Malay Language Learning and Promotion Committee, MOE, exposes students in schools to Malay cultural performances. In addition, WGS works with the National Heritage Board to offer museum-based learning at the Geylang Serai Heritage Gallery for Primary 4 students.”
“Malay arts and heritage are a key part of our Singapore culture and essential to our national identity as Singaporeans. The Government provides holistic support to develop Malay artists and arts groups. This enables them to continue creating and contributing to our vibrant Malay arts and culture landscape. The National Arts Council (NAC) offers a suite of grants and initiatives to support content production in the arts sector, including by Malay artists and arts groups. For instance, NAC's Cultural Medallion (CM) and Young Artist Award (YAA) are pinnacle awards that recognise exemplary Singaporean artists. Award recipients have access to the CM Fund and YAA grant to further develop their artistic practices. Malay artists who were award recipients include, singer Mdm Rahimah Rahim (2021 CM recipient) and Mr Norhaizad Adam (2021 YAA recipient). NAC's Major Company scheme has supported groups, such as Era Dance Theatre, that was co-founded by CM recipient, Mr Osman Abdul Hamid, to present annual events, like the Muara Festival which celebrates Malay dance. Under the Presentation and Participation grant, NAC has also supported performances organised by groups, such as the Persatuan Pemuzik Tradisional Melayu Singapura and many more. To support capability development of young artists, NAC offers partnerships with local and international institutions for mentorship opportunities and the NAC Arts Scholarship for further education. The NAC Arts Scholarship has been awarded to many Malay artists, such as Nurul Shaza Binte Ishak, Muhammad Noramin Bin Mohamed Farid and many more. The Malay Heritage Centre (MHC) also offers an Arts Incubation Programme to nurture up-and-coming Malay arts groups through collaborations with seasoned practitioners.”
“The Community Development Councils (CDCs) and the Ministry of National Development are working with coffee shop chains to offer residents more budget meal options. Besides providing value meals and drinks, the stalls in these coffee shops also allow the redemption of CDC Vouchers as participating CDC Voucher scheme stalls. The presence of these food and beverage establishments helps Singaporean households further stretch the value of their CDC vouchers and better cope with their living expenses.”
“Examples include the Arts and Disability Forum, jointly organised by NAC and non-profit organisation ART:DIS, and the Accessibility and Inclusion Month, organised by NHB for the Museum Roundtable members. Both platforms share best practices on access and inclusivity in the arts and heritage sector. To expand access to quality arts experiences for PwDs upstream, NAC also supports arts education efforts in Special Education schools through its Artist-in-School Scheme and the Tote Board Arts Grant subsidy.”