Grace Fu Hai Yien
Singapore
“The Government takes a multi-pronged approach to address the disamenities from second-hand tobacco smoke. The National Environment Agency (NEA) works with Government agencies, Town Councils and community leaders to promote considerate behaviour and strengthen social norms.”
“The Government recently announced land-use changes in Lim Chu Kang to optimise our scarce land to meet our growing and evolving needs. We are at the initial planning stage and agencies are still working out the detailed development proposals.”
“Public Waste Collectors and Town Councils have trialled the collection and treatment of segregated food waste from households. However, participation rates are poor despite regular engagement and reminders.”
“The quality of incense offerings and the practice of burning incense are not regulated by law. Instead, the National Environment Agency (NEA) works with stakeholders, such as Town Councils, agencies and religious organisations, to encourage responsible burning of joss paper and incense.”
“The National Environment Agency (NEA) monitors public cleaning contractors through regular physical audits and remote monitoring, complemented by video analytics. NEA also regularly assesses the cleaning quality and outcomes of public cleaning contractors.”
“This question has been addressed in the Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment’s combined answer to Question Nos 15 to 18 on the Order Paper for 7 July 2026. [Please refer to "National Recycling Rates, Plans and Targets", Official Report, 7 July 2026, Vol 96, Issue 32, Oral Answers to Questions section.]”
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“Mr Speaker, thank you for the opportunity to speak as we round up 2019's Budget and Committee of Supply debates. Some months ago, the BBC Global Survey found that three in four people around the world thought their country was divided, and six in 10 felt their country was more divided now than it was 10 years ago. With the prevalence of identity politics, many countries today find themselves fractured along partisan lines, or struggling to bring communities across racial and socio-economic divides together. So, I am heartened to see that over the last 10 days, Members of this House were unified by the common goal of creating a better future for all Singaporeans. In 2017, this Parliament set its teeth on economic transformation; last year, we tackled social inequality. This year, Members seized recent developments in our geopolitical and digital world with the high number of questions received by the Ministry of Communications and Information (MCI), Ministry of Defence (MINDEF), Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) and Ministry of Health (MOH) on our diplomatic relations, physical security as well as cybersecurity. The social Ministries also received a record high number of cuts, as significant emphasis was placed on educating and training Singaporeans for the future, and caring for the aged and the vulnerable. MCCY received the highest number of cuts and longest “cut” time, reflecting Members’ interest in volunteerism, art and culture, and community relations. We have had robust debates over the past weeks. I observe that Members agreed on three key things. First, that we need to put Singaporeans at the heart of our policies. A good many Members stressed that in pursuing economic progress, we must not leave our workers behind.”
“We are making our facilities a lot more accessible. We are offering more programmes so that more persons with disabilities can participate and we definitely want to support persons with disabilities like Ms Yip Pin Xiu and many other inspiring athletes. All of them, every single one of them, has inspiring life stories. And they are such good role models for every one of us. We would like to support them, but we need to find the best modality. We are not starting from a blank canvas. We are starting with an existing set of organisations. So, just let us move at the pace and the direction that are acceptable to all stakeholders.”
“As we have seen in many cases, it can only go that much. NSAs are independent bodies. They can elect members into their council. They can also decide how they want to run the sports. So, it has to be a partnership that we build up over the years. We understand, we totally appreciate the points that Ms Denise Phua and Ms Yip Pin Xiu talked about, if I may use the word "mainstreaming" athletes with disabilities with able-bodied athletes. But in this process, I would just like to urge Members' patience and due consideration, so that we do not dismantle an organisation that has already worked for many years and has worked well for a long period of time. The main consideration really is whether the interest of athletes with disabilities are better-served. Can they be served in the mainstream so-called able-bodied NSAs? NSAs that have the capability, we would like to encourage them, we would like to work with them to make the change. But at the same time, we also need to consider all issues. Also, we would like to mention that it is not just in high performance sports that we have an interest in getting into sports persons with disabilities. It is also the broad-based participation. Very often, it is the ability to bring in a suite of activities that makes a lot of sense and provides value to the Special Education schools, because people like Whee Boon started with swimming, goes on to scuba-diving, and goes on to do rugby. It is because we have the ability to bring options to him. 3.15 pm So, if we have the sports embedded in 20-over NSAs, sometimes, we may lose some of that synergistic effect of having it in one. So, it is a long story. And the long or short of it is this: we are always looking at how to improve the system.”
“I would just like to share my perspective on this. In my earlier years in MOE, I had the privilege of making some work visits to Australia to study the special needs education sector. In one of those visits, we were in a suburban area, and they showed us a school which was supposed to be very inclusive. It takes in any child that basically requests to be in that school. So, it sounds very ideal. I was very attracted to the idea that if the parents so request – you can request for any school, mainstream school – to house the child, to provide education to the child, accept the child. But when I went there, what I found was that, indeed, a child with special needs was in that school. But I must say that the teacher was not well equipped, and the child was left pretty much alone. So, this is where, sometimes, when we say that we want to mainstream the athletes, we would like the NSAs to have them. But if they are not ready, if they do not have the coaches, if they do not have the training facilities because some of them do require special training facilities, then we may not be serving the interest of the athletes with disabilities. While SDSC currently has many sports under its umbrella, it has some advantages as well. For example, when it is promoting sports to persons with special needs broadly, they can do so because resources are within them, the coaches are in their network. When they want to organise a disability sports festival, they can do so with good effect. So, we must always make changes carefully. As we said in the speech, it is the interest of the athletes that we place front and foremost in our decision. While NSAs can be persuaded sometimes by funding, but we are also quite realistic about how effective funding can be used as a tool to influence.”
“I would just like to clarify. When we first came up with the spexScholarship, it was really to support athletes who want to train full-time. In other words, the athlete who declares, "I want to dedicate my time, maybe next two, three, four years, to competitive sport and I really want to have the support to do that." That was the genesis of spexScholarship. It is not just money, it is a commitment about dedicating your time and energy. There is also underlying it a sort of an undertaking that you will do well. There are certain targets that we will set out, together with the athletes, coaches and the NSAs. If someone has a well-paying job, then, actually, the question is: where do sports stand in relation to the career? So, whether he will still be able to meet the kind of expectation under a spexScholarship, that is something we need to discuss with the athletes and also with the NSAs. It is important for us to see that in perspective. Definitely, if the athlete is already well-supported, does not need to have the income to train, I do not think we need to put a scholarship in front of the person. We can use the money for other purposes. If that athlete is also joining the team in overseas training and so on, it will be considered as part of the funding grant.”
“Chairman, I would like to thank Ms Irene Quay for her suggestion. Definitely, we can work with our colleagues in the Building and Construction Authority and the Ministry of National Development to look at how we can improve safety in the pools. But at this point in time, the funding is for public pools. And as Members can see, the implementation is quite phased out because we are still testing the technology and want to make sure that it gives us good value before we decide on broad-based implementation.”
“NHB launched the DigiMuse programme last August, and will be holding another edition this year to trial new technology, such as Virtual Reality, Augmented Reality, chatbots and assistive technology in its galleries. On the sporting front, we are implementing the Computer Vision Drowning Detection System at our public swimming complexes. Using a network of overhead infrared cameras, the system enables earlier detection of possible drowning, thus making our pools safer. The system will be installed at pools in Bukit Batok, Jurong West and Our Tampines Hub later this year, with another seven to follow by April 2020. Mr Chairman, we are living in times where the only constant is change. Change can be unsettling and may leave some people behind. We need to ride the wave of change together. At MCCY, we will continue to foster a culture of care and trust. We will ensure that everyone has the opportunity to contribute to society and pursue their dreams. But we cannot do all this alone. Every Singaporean has a part to play, from volunteering, leading ground-up projects, contributing to a cause, empowering our youths, to supporting our artists and athletes. And it is not just in MCCY's domain that Singaporeans can contribute. And we have seen many impactful Government-citizen partnerships in different sectors, and we look forward to many more meaningful engagements and collaborations in the years to come. Together, we can inspire confidence that Singapore will continue to succeed and be a place we are all proud to call home. 2.00 pm”
“Last year, we leveraged digital technology to engage 5,000 youths online, as part of Youth Conversations. Later this year, we will be launching an online site so that youths can participate in conversations with one another and engage with the Government on issues close to their hearts. This digital deliberation platform will complement the live Youth Conversations, and the Senior Minister of State will elaborate further. During the Budget Debate, Mr Terence Ho gave a thoughtful speech on the application of technology in arts and culture to meet the changing needs and preferences of audiences. We thank him for his thoughtful suggestions. This year, we will roll out the first phase of our plan to digitalise the culture sector, to engage new audiences and make it easier for all Singaporeans to enjoy arts and culture as part of daily life. Our initiative under this plan is a Cultural Concierge, a one-stop online platform to discover arts and culture activities and content. Users will be able to search for event listings according to individual preferences, using key words, such as "nearby", "weekend" or "family-friendly", as well as interact with a chatbot for event and content recommendations. The website will also be integrated with relevant ticketing sites, for a seamless user experience. We will also launch the Cultural Resource Ontology, to enhance online search capabilities for both the public and researchers to access cultural resources more easily. We will leverage technology to enhance visitor experiences and improve operations at our cultural and sporting spaces.”
“Our musicians' talent and dedication to the craft exemplify the Singapore spirit and show the world what we are capable of achieving. We hope that showcasing our culture and heritage internationally will help people around the world learn more about Singapore. Later this year, artefacts from the Asian Civilisations Museum's special exhibition, "Raffles in Southeast Asia", will be displayed at The British Museum. This will be the first time Singapore's National Collection will be showcased at this world-famous institution. Next, digital transformation. I would like to touch on harnessing the power of technology. While much has been said about digital technologies and transformation in the media and business realms, technology is also relevant to our sectors. First, technology enables closer partnerships. We rolled out volunteer.sg, a one-stop online platform for public agencies to engage and support our volunteers. Through volunteer.sg, volunteers can search for opportunities related to their interests and skills and share them with friends and family on social media. Volunteers can also indicate their availability and choose preferred shifts, mark attendance and, with smart phones, track their volunteering hours, and provide feedback to organisers with ease. For our volunteer managers, this integrated system provides a digital solution for better management of volunteering opportunities and engagement of volunteers, thus enabling them to scale up. As we bring more agencies on board the platform to provide a wider range of volunteering opportunities, we hope to see even more Singaporeans come forward and contribute to our culture of care. Technology can also be an effective tool for engagement and dialogue.”
“It is also an encouraging sign that our investments in the High Performance Sports (HPS) system are bearing fruit. The Senior Parliamentary Secretary will speak more about our plans for the HPS system later. As raised by Dr Lim Wee Kiak, Mr Saktiandi Supaat and earlier by Mr Terence Ho, our artists also pursue their aspirations internationally and have done Singapore proud on the world stage. For example, our artists regularly participate in international Biennales, which showcase Singapore to the world and increase the visibility of our visual artists, curators and technical specialists. This year will mark Singapore's ninth appearance at the Venice Biennale. We will be presenting the work of multidisciplinary artist Song-Ming Ang and curator Michelle Ho, who use music to explore ideas of public involvement and the ways people relate to music, both individually and as a society. Our performing artists are flying the Singapore flag high beyond our shores. In May, our Singapore Chinese Orchestra (SCO) will perform in South Korea, before embarking on a tour of Europe, covering Germany and Italy, later in the year. We are proud of our "people’s orchestra", whose performances will feature Singaporean artists, such as acclaimed violinist Kam Ning and percussionist Benjamin Boo. I would like to tell Members a story about Benjamin. He holds a Bachelor of Music from the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts, and a Master of Performance from the Royal College of Music. Benjamin joined the SCO full-time last year, following in the footsteps of his father, Mr Boo Chin Kiah, a veteran Suona musician. They are the first father-son duo in SCO's history and will be touring together for the first time.”
“The Nomination Committee, led by the National Heritage Board (NHB), the National Environment Agency and FMAS will continue to facilitate such ground-up efforts in support of our Hawker Culture, and we hope to see many more Singaporeans rallying behind this. In 2015, we started the Founders' Memorial project. Through the Founders' Memorial Committee’s engagements with the public from 2015 to 2017, Singaporeans voiced their desire for the memorial to be anchored on the values and ideals exemplified by Singapore's first generation of leaders who played important roles in Singapore's path to Independence. Assoc Prof Daniel Goh suggested a memorial for fallen soldiers at the Founders' Memorial. The Founders' Memorial, given its said purpose, would not be suited for this. We honour, in other ways, the memory of those who have given their lives for Singapore, as the Ministry of Defence mentioned in their response to a related question. Dr Lim Wee Kiak asked about the next phase of development for the Founders' Memorial. An international architectural design competition was recently launched to invite potential designs for the memorial. In May, Singaporeans will be engaged to offer views on the shortlisted designs, before the winning design is selected and showcased through a public exhibition in early 2020. The memorial will be an expression of our identity and belonging to this nation we call home. As we commemorate our history and culture, we celebrate our shared values and the success of Singaporeans on the international stage. I mentioned achievements of our Team Singapore athletes at last year's major games. The success of our athletes is a result of years of hard work, discipline and resilience.”
“We are taking this opportunity to recognise and show appreciation to our hawkers, who reflect the trade, family spirit and rich cultural life that Singaporeans can be proud of. We will continue to engage them by featuring selected hawkers and their stories as part of the Support Our Hawkers Social Movement. We also hope more Singaporeans will share their own hawker stories on social media with the hashtag #OurHawkerCulture. I am happy to report that support for the nomination has been encouraging. Following the initial announcement, an online poll was set up for the public to pledge their support. More than 14,000 pledges were received within the first five days of the announcement and, as at 5 March, more than 700,000 pledges had been received online, through our travelling exhibitions and mobile pledging stations. Our schools have been very supportive. Students from both Pei Chun Public School and First Toa Payoh Primary School have worked on projects related to Hawker Culture. One such project is Fond Memories of Toa Payoh, which saw students of both schools come together to uncover the people and stories behind hawker food in Toa Payoh, a place they proudly call a "hawker food haven". In addition, many private organisations and civic groups have stepped forward to support the nomination. You may have seen videos publicising our Hawker Culture while travelling in taxis, supported by Moove Media. The Ministry of Communications and Information and the National Geographic collaborated to organise the #OurHawkerCulture Photo Contest, which has seen many stunning entries. Food bloggers and influencers have been sharing stories about their favourite hawkers and hawker food and encouraging Singaporeans to do the same.”
“To bring Active Health closer to the community, Active Health Mobile Labs were introduced last July, along with Active Health programming at the Sport-in-Precinct facilities at Jurong Spring. We are on track to open four Active Health Labs at our sport centres in Bishan, Jurong East, Sengkang and Woodlands this month, in addition to existing ones at Our Tampines Hub and Heartbeat@Bedok. We will also open two new Active Health spaces in partner facilities by May. The first space has already been launched as part of Singapore's flagship Decathlon store in Kallang, with another to follow at Admiralty Medical Centre. Like at the Labs, Singaporeans will be able to undergo free health and fitness assessments at these spaces and set personal health and wellness targets in consultation with sport scientists. We hope to see more Singaporeans come on board Active Health in the years to come. Next, confidence – celebrating shared values and achievements in nation-building. It is vital to our future to remember our heritage. Only by knowing where we came from, what we stand for and who we are, can we stride confidently into the future. Prime Minister Lee announced at last year's National Day Rally that we will be nominating Hawker Culture for inscription on UNESCO's Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. Hawker Culture reflects an integral part of our way of life. A successful inscription will not only showcase our multicultural heritage to the world, but also our pride in our hawkers and Hawker Culture. Mr Darryl David asked for an update on this. We will be submitting the nomination form for our Hawker Culture to UNESCO by the end of this month, with the outcome expected to be announced around end-2020.”
“These initiatives help Singaporeans embrace an active lifestyle and connect with one another through sports. This year, two more Academies and Clubs in Canoeing and Gymnastics will be launched, bringing our total offerings to 18, including the ActiveSG Master Club for seniors, as well as various individual and team sports for children. I have seen and heard many positive stories of Singaporeans’ experiences in these Academies and Clubs and would like to share one example. Earlier this year, I met nine-year-old Ethan Loh at a community event. Ethan first joined the ActiveSG Football Academy in 2016 as a beginner. He has since gone on to represent the Academy in local and international football tournaments. Last July, he participated in the Kanga Cup in Perth, where Ethan and his team put in a strong performance, progressing to the semi-finals. I understand that Ethan also represents his school and, just yesterday, they competed in the West Zone semi-finals for the first time ever. Beyond providing a platform for Ethan to hone his footballing skills, his father credits the Academy for helping Ethan develop into a more mature person, a testament to the holistic sporting education that ActiveSG's Academies and Clubs can provide. 1.45 pm Active Health, launched in 2017, is another important programme that we hope will equip every Singaporean to take ownership of their personal health and wellness. Mr Yee Chia Hsing asked for updates. So far, more than 10,000 individuals have been onboarded through Active Health lab assessments and workshops, with other programmes, such as Active Health roadshows reaching over 80,000 people.”
“For Yishun, Sport Singapore has plans to upgrade the existing sports facilities and has engaged local community leaders on the proposed improvements. More details will be shared in due course. We will rejuvenate existing ActiveSG facilities like the Bishan Stadium, the former Boon Lay Swimming Complex, Jalan Besar Stadium, Jurong East Stadium and Kallang Practice Track with new innovative features by the end of the year. One example is the upcoming installation of LED display scoreboards and match play highlights, as well as stadium bucket seats to enhance the spectator experience. Singaporeans will also have the chance to play a bigger part in the co-creation of sporting spaces to come, such as the upgraded Choa Chu Kang Sports Centre, which will be ready in phases from 2020. As with our cultural institutions, we are designing our sporting spaces to cater to all age groups, including our seniors. Like Ms Joan Pereira, we want our seniors to stay healthy and connected through sports. Later this year, an ActiveSG gym will be opened in Ang Mo Kio CC, where seniors can participate in elder-friendly exercise programmes. Over time, we will ensure that all our ActiveSG gyms provide safe and accessible environments that are equipped for our seniors, with qualified staff onsite to provide any assistance required. Aside from our sports infrastructure, our programmes will enable Singaporeans, young and old, to lead active lives. ActiveSG, our national movement for sports, has gained momentum over the years. In 2018, ActiveSG reached over one million people from diverse backgrounds and demographics and will continue to expand its programmes through its Academies and Clubs, as well as GetActive! Singapore.”
“For example, we recently introduced "Reminiscence Walks", a programme that is both facilitated and attended by seniors to visit the various historical sites in Singapore. Through this programme, senior volunteers can make new friends, hence, reducing the risk of social isolation. In their golden years, seniors can enjoy an enriching life while still learning new knowledge. They can be trained to become tour guides, allowing them to pick up new skills and benefit others as well. (In English): Similarly, in the sports sector, we want to ensure access and opportunities for all Singaporeans to live an active and healthy life. Mr Darryl David and Mr Mohamad Irshad spoke about the importance of social mixing and a more inclusive society. Our sports facilities are key to this. They are important community spaces where Singaporeans can meet, play and connect with one another. We will roll out accessible play spaces and facilities island-wide to bring sports closer to all Singaporeans. Mr Henry Kwek asked about our sports facilities and programmes going forward. Like Er Dr Lee Bee Wah, we recognise that new and improved facilities are required to cater to the growing needs of residents and towns. In 2019, we will continue to develop and upgrade our infrastructure in accordance with the Sports Facilities Master Plan. We can look forward to the opening of 52 new indoor school sports halls and 32 new free-to-play school fields under the Dual-Use Scheme, as well as two new Play Fields in Jurong Lake Gardens and Yan Kit. Another nine Sport-in-Precinct facilities in Buona Vista, Choa Chu Kang, Chong Pang, Mountbatten, Punggol East, Sembawang, Ulu Pandan, Whampoa and Woodlands will be ready by 2021.”
“An important focus is to ensure our cultural offerings continue to be inclusive, particularly for underserved groups like the elderly and persons with disabilities. An accessibility audit will be rolled out across our museums and heritage institutions this year. The first phase of the audit will relate to infrastructure, such as general access, connectivity and wayfinding. We will also consider how we can improve the accessibility of our exhibitions and programmes. Accessibility at some of our museums and heritage institutions is already being enhanced. The ongoing and upcoming revamps at the Changi Chapel and Museum, Reflections at Bukit Chandu, the Peranakan Museum and the Singapore Philatelic Museum will provide Singaporeans with wider passageways, lifts and ramps for wheelchair users, more nursing rooms, as well as accessible vehicle parking lots and washrooms for persons with special needs. In the ongoing revamp of the Singapore Art Museum, these considerations will also be key features. For our students, the Senior Parliamentary Secretary will share more on how we are expanding access to the arts through our schools, including School of the Arts. Chairman, I will speak in Mandarin, please. (In Mandarin): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] Besides improving the infrastructure, we also provide new experiences and skills to seniors through a variety of activities. Our heritage institutions, such as Sun Yat Sen Nanyang Memorial Hall, the Indian Heritage Centre and the Malay Heritage Centre, have been designated as Silver Hubs, to develop senior-friendly programmes and serve as community spaces for our elderly to come together.”
“About 80% of youths surveyed indicated a better understanding of issues that Singapore faces through Youth Conversations, and close to 90% agreed that they have become more aware of different views. To better support our youths and answer their call for greater space for civic participation, we will embark on a major collaboration with our youths. We now want to move from conversation to action, through the SGYouth Action Plan. The SGYouth Action Plan will define our youths' vision for Singapore, and lay out how youths and Singapore can work together to achieve it. Youths will have the chance to debate and discuss issues, examine policies and initiate change for the future. MCCY will be appointing a panel, comprising youth representatives, to lead this effort. Senior Minister of State Sim Ann, who will be co-leading the panel, will elaborate. Next, cohesion – providing opportunities for all. In recent years, our arts and sports scenes have flourished. It is crucial that participation in the arts and sports remains something that all Singaporeans can enjoy and benefit from. It should not be a luxury for a privileged few. To ensure that opportunities remain inclusive and accessible to all, we are undertaking strategic reviews of these sectors, in consultation with citizens. For example, we are encouraged by the outcomes of the Arts and Culture Strategic Review (ACSR) in developing a vibrant and sustainable cultural landscape. But we also recognise the need to update our strategies and measurements to incorporate developments since the ACSR was launched in 2012, so that our arts and culture continue to strengthen our social fabric and unity. The Senior Parliamentary Secretary will elaborate later.”
“In June, Singapore will be hosting an international conference on Cohesive Societies, organised by the S Rajaratnam School of International Studies with the support of MCCY. The conference will discuss themes on building cohesive societies and interfaith harmony, bringing together international thought leaders across academia, governments, religious groups and the civic sector. We can learn from the experiences of others and share best practices with one another. The conference will also include a track for youth leaders in the form of a young leader programme to provide the next generation of leadership a platform to tackle social challenges and find like-minded collaborators. By partnering youths, we benefit from their ideas and energy. Young Singaporeans want to be heard. They want to have the chance to shape the future, partner the Government and participate in change. In this Budget, Minister Heng Swee Keat emphasised supporting our youths by improving our education system, topping-up the Edusave Account and Post-Secondary Education Account (PSEA), investing in our economic sector to create more good jobs for our young people, and preparing our youths to take advantage of international business opportunities through mentorship and internship platforms. We recognise that our youths have to navigate the ups and downs of education, work, adulthood and more. To our youths, we hear you and understand your concerns. We hear you through the Youth Conversations. Since its launch last year, we have engaged over 8,000 youths from different backgrounds and stages of life, both online and face-to-face. We listened to their interests, needs and aspirations as they spoke about various topics from mental health to environmental sustainability.”
“In 2017, we launched BRIDGE, a series of community-driven initiatives, to foster better understanding and appreciation of the diverse religions and cultures in Singapore. To date, we have reached out to more than 10,000 Singaporeans by collaborating with community partners like the Whitehatters and OnePeople.sg. In particular, the "Ask Me Anything" series, which is a platform to learn about different faiths, has seen a high degree of interest, with some 80% attendance from first-timers at each session, while more than 90% of participants indicated that they gained a better understanding of different faiths. Through this series, we have also seen more people indicating interest to be facilitators of interfaith and intercultural dialogues. We will continue to work with our community partners to expand BRIDGE, as well as involve different segments of society in nurturing racial and religious harmony in Singapore. Given the important role our partners play, we will help them grow their capabilities where needed. Dr Lim Wee Kiak pointed out that we have conducted several counterterrorism seminars for religious organisations in recent years. We will be launching the SGSecure Community Network Crisis Preparedness Accreditation Scheme for religious organisations (ROs) in the second half of 2019. This will include a checklist and resource guide that will help ROs improve their crisis response capabilities. Mr Alex Yam would be pleased to note that. We urge religious organisations to come on board, as we work hand in hand to ensure Singapore remains safe and united in the face of future crises. Mr Alex Yam also asked about the international conference on Cohesive Societies.”
“We will begin first with our polytechnics, ITE and universities before progressively expanding to all IHLs and some Private Education Institutes in the near future. Participants will go through a camp where they can meet like-minded, passionate youths, access YCS' networks and receive community leadership and skill-based training. These youth leaders will catalyse more volunteer projects as they galvanise their peers to join them. They can tap on the National Youth Fund and Young ChangeMakers Grant for funding support. By supporting their development as community service leaders and helping them build bonds with the communities they serve, we are hopeful that our youths will continue their volunteering journey even after they leave their institutions. Similarly, we will work with companies to incorporate senior volunteerism into their pre-retirement planning programmes, to encourage more seniors to volunteer. The Government will also take the lead in volunteerism through Public Service Cares, as part of the SG Cares movement. The Senior Minister of State will provide more details on this. Next, cohesion – fostering mutual understanding and trust. In a diverse society like Singapore, it is important that we continue to build mutual trust and understanding in pursuit of the common good. We cannot take for granted the harmony we enjoy in Singapore and the sense of shared future we feel as one people. We need to work constantly at it. 1.30 pm Our partners contribute to growing a more cohesive society in different and important ways. They bring with them much needed capabilities, for instance, in consensus-building and interfaith and intercultural dialogue. Mr Alex Yam and Dr Lim Wee Kiak spoke about interfaith harmony.”
“The target is to appoint another five VCs by the end of the year. Thereafter, we will review our progress before expanding our efforts. Chairman, in Mandarin, please. (In Mandarin): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] Last month, I came across a forum letter in Lianhe Zaobao, titled "Do not forget kind deeds just because they are small", written by Mr Zheng Zhaorong. He said that while the large-scale programmes under SG Cares have served the community well, it is important to continue to perform small acts of kindness to one another. I agree with Mr Zheng. Besides supporting Singaporeans to participate in more volunteer work in order to help the needy groups, we should also pay more attention to people around us. The spirit of care is often shown from being observant and from thoughtful acts of kindness. In his letter, Mr Zheng thanked a young Singaporean who helped him pick up a coin he had dropped while buying a drink. Such simple acts can have profound effects. As the Mandarin saying goes, "do not do bad deeds just because they are minor, also do not forget kind deeds just because they are small". Acts of kindness come in all forms and sizes, and this is the spirit of "SG Cares". I hope Singaporeans will continue to show this spirit of care as we partner citizens in building a more caring society. (In English): Dr Lim Wee Kiak asked about our support for youths in contributing to social causes. We will partner IHLs to help students transitioning from secondary school keep up their community involvement. A new Youth Corps Singapore (YCS) Programme will start this year to develop community service youth leaders in IHLs, bringing together youths from different educational institutions.”
“As announced during Budget 2019, SG Cares is a major undertaking of my Ministry. SG Cares brings out the spirit of giving inherent in our DNA, making it a way of life for all of us. It starts with helping those around us, be it in our neighbourhood, school or workplace. This year, we will be providing more resources and platforms to facilitate this as we build on our corporate, youth and senior volunteerism initiatives. We can achieve much more by sharing information and resources and leveraging the strengths and experiences of different community and corporate partners. We will expand our SG Cares Community Network, which connects volunteers, social service organisations and community resources to areas of need. We will identify community-based organisations across Singapore to take on the role of Volunteer Centres (VCs). These VCs will recruit, manage and develop volunteers on a sustained basis, create volunteering opportunities based on local needs, and build partnerships with stakeholders. Two VCs have been appointed in Bedok and Jurong East. In Bedok, Filos Community Services will be developing a volunteer engagement toolkit and framework to engage the stakeholders in Bedok to promote active volunteerism in the town. In Jurong East, Loving Heart Multi-Service Centre has kickstarted "Neighbour Cares", a programme to mobilise neighbours as volunteers to look out for lonely seniors who need befriending services. We recognise the value in mobilising the strengths of communities. In the long term, we hope to grow "Neighbour Cares" in different neighbourhoods, where residents connect with and look out for one another with the help of the VCs. Mr Saktiandi Supaat and Dr Lim Wee Kiak asked if the VC initiative will be extended to more towns.”
“sg and the SG Cares app have helped connect hundreds of thousands of volunteers and donors to more than 500 charities. The year 2018 was a busy one for our athletes who, once again, flew Singapore's flag high at various major games. Team Singapore fielded 323 athletes across the 21st Commonwealth Games and 18th Asian Games, winning a total of 31 medals. This was followed by Team Singapore's best ever away performance at the 3rd Asian Para Games in Jakarta, with a medal tally of three golds, two silvers and five bronzes. Developments on the cultural front have also been encouraging. In 2017, we saw record highs, with more than 11 million attending non-ticketed arts and culture events, and 5.4 million visiting national museums and heritage institutions. Singaporeans were also able to enjoy over 9,500 performing arts activities throughout the year. Eight in 10 Singaporeans agree that Singapore is a caring and cohesive society and are satisfied with race and religious relations. According to our 2018 Sports Index Survey, 64% of Singaporeans developed a stronger bond with people of different backgrounds by watching or participating in sports, an increase over 2017. More than seven in 10 are proud of Singapore's culture and heritage, with over 90% proud to be Singaporean. Our work does not stop here. Dr Lim Wee Kiak asked about our plans. This year, MCCY will make partnering Singaporeans a focus of our work, and we will do so in the following ways. First, in caring for the community. Second, in fostering mutual understanding and trust. Third, in providing opportunities for all. Fourth, in celebrating our shared values. And fifth, in realising the benefits of digitalisation. First, care – enabling caring communities.”
“On the security front, more Singaporeans are playing their part as we expand the Community First Responders Network to mobilise and support those with relevant skills to help in emergencies. As the nature of national security evolves, the Government will work with businesses, schools and cybersecurity practitioners to strengthen our sixth pillar of Total Defence – Digital Defence. On the social front, the Government is partnering VWOs, Family Service Centres and other community bodies, to strengthen support for students from disadvantaged families, and facilitating ground-up movements to grow their strengths and interests. Businesses are stepping forward to provide employment opportunities for marginalised groups. When we harness the talent and creativity of our citizens to achieve more together, we can build a more inclusive Singapore that is home for everyone. Everyone has a place here. And in speaking to Singaporeans, I know many want to contribute to making Singapore our best home. And this is the heart of MCCY's work – building together with Singaporeans a home that we care about and feel proud of. We build a better home and grow together as a nation by creating community spaces for social interactions, designing programmes that create shared experiences and promote mutual understanding, and encouraging Singaporeans to pursue the common good. Our spirit of giving continues to grow. Over the last five years, total tax-deductible donations have increased by more than $80 million, to $1.05 billion in 2017. Individual volunteerism rates have almost doubled, and one in two businesses gave back to society in 2017. Meanwhile, digital platforms, like giving.”
“Since MCCY was formed six years ago, our cultural, community, sports and youth sectors have grown more vibrant. We are a strong society, built on firm foundations. But the future is becoming more uncertain. Geopolitics and extremism threaten to unsettle the peace and stability we enjoy. At home, our population is ageing, while our youths have diverse aspirations, different from past generations. There are growing concerns of widening inequality. Business, work and daily life are being disrupted by digital technology. These challenges are real and can fracture our society if not addressed. In this complex world, we need new ways of working together, partnering one another to create innovative solutions and building trust. In recent years, the Government has been engaging citizens, corporates and communities more deeply and extensively, to consult, co-create and co-deliver on issues that Singaporeans feel strongly about. On the economic front, we have seen many fruitful partnerships. Looking ahead, the Government will accelerate the upskilling of our workers by deepening partnerships with employers, unions as well as Trade Associations and Chambers. We will also collaborate with the Federation of Merchants' Association Singapore (FMAS) to reach out to and help transform our heartland enterprises. We will continue to partner investors and corporates to grow more local businesses. On the environmental front, we are reaching out to citizens and corporates to make a decisive shift towards sustainable lifestyles and practices. We have started building such partnerships via MEWR's 2018 "Year of Climate Action" and will work with citizens and industry to take collective action for 2019's "Year Towards Zero Waste".”
“Chairman, today being International Women's Day, I would first like to thank our Members before me for your well wishes and also take a moment to acknowledge the achievement and the contributions of Singapore women to our families, to our society and to Singapore. And to all my sisters, Happy International Women's Day. With your permission, my Ministry will display some slides, Chairman.”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, I beg to report that the Committee of Supply has made progress on the Estimates of Expenditure for the financial year 2019/2020, and ask leave to sit again tomorrow.”
“Mr Chairman, may I seek your consent to move that progress be reported now and leave be asked to sit again tomorrow?”
“Three, if a respondent breaches the CDRT's order, his affected neighbour can apply to CDRT for a Special Direction (SD) for the respondent to comply with the order. The CDRT can order a third party, such as the respondent's family member, to enter into a bond with conditions that the respondent goes for psychiatric assessment or treatment. If the respondent breaches the SD and is convicted, the Court can call for a psychiatric assessment to determine whether it would be appropriate to make a Mandatory Treatment Order for the respondent to undergo psychiatric treatment.”
“The safety of residents is a priority for the Government, and the Police will not hesitate to intervene where there is a threat to life and property. However, not all cases are of this severity, and there are other avenues to resolve these issues. Parties can seek mediation through a neutral third party, such as a grassroots leader, or approach the Community Mediation Centre for help. Persons who suspect that their neighbours are displaying disturbing behaviours due to mental health issues can contact the Agency for Integrated Care (AIC), which will assess and make the necessary referral for medical assistance and social support. Agencies, such as the Housing and Development Board and the People's Association, grassroots leaders, voluntary welfare organisations and the AIC will come together to find a sustainable solution with the parties involved. Where community-based solutions are not sufficient, we have other laws and procedures that allow parties to deal with persons with mental health conditions who are posing disruption to the community. One, if the person is becoming a risk to himself or poses a danger to others, the Police can apprehend the person and take him to a doctor. The doctor will assess the person's mental health and send the person to a psychiatric institution for treatment if necessary. Two, for intractable cases where parties are unable to resolve their disputes through voluntary mediation, parties can file a case with the Community Disputes Resolution Tribunals (CDRT) as a last resort. The CDRT judge can order the parties to attend mandatory mediation or counselling or fix the case for hearing if mediation and counselling are not suitable.”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, I beg to report that the Committee of Supply has made progress on the Estimates of Expenditure for the financial year 2019/2020 and ask leave to sit again tomorrow.”
“Mr Chairman, may I seek your consent to move that progress be reported now and leave be asked to sit again tomorrow?”
“For example, people could indicate their preference for roasted versus steamed chicken rice by throwing their litter into the corresponding bin. The students tested their idea and found that people are more minded to discard their trash in the bins. The students gained from understanding gamification and its impact on behavioural change. We also want to encourage residents to do their part in improving their living environment. We launched the HelpBuddy app pilot last year, where residents can take part in activities offered by agencies. Checking if the gravitraps set up by NEA to monitor the mosquito population, whether they are in good condition, is an example. Going forward, we will enable residents to put up simple activities on the app. For example, residents can help spot missing pet dogs or share household tools with one another. If the pilot is successful, we will incorporate it in the OneService app. To conclude, in the coming year, we will work closely with our partners to enable more convenient, effective and efficient services for residents. But we also want to do this with residents because municipal issues ultimately impact us all in our daily lives. By so doing, we can build a better home for all, together. 6.30 pm”
“Mr Baey Yam Keng and Miss Cheryl Chan asked about the efforts of MSO and our municipal agencies in partnering the community in tackling issues and building greater ownership. They highlighted the value of residents' feedback, which MSO can study using data analytics to understand root causes and develop more effective and targeted solutions. We fully agree with them and are progressively doing so as we build up our database to tackle complex issues. Mr Baey Yam Keng asked if we could enable residents to easily alert agencies through the OneService app for municipal offences that may require enforcement action, such as illegal parking. We are studying this carefully with the agencies, taking into account the need to ensure responsible reporting for the purpose of enforcement. Beyond giving feedback, when private individuals and groups come forward, we can tap on diverse ideas, deeper knowledge and stronger networks to solve our problems effectively. This is why agencies are collaborating extensively with grassroots organisations, Community Development Councils, Institutes of Higher Learning (IHLs) and the public. These partnerships enable us to harness ideas, co-create and pilot solutions for issues with the local community. Last year, MSO organised the OneService Innovation Challenge and the Love Your Living Environment Youth Challenge. Residents from all walks of life came forward to contribute suggestions and work with agencies to implement ideas to deliver better services or tackle municipal issues. A group of National University of Singapore (NUS) students participated in the Youth Challenge and designed rubbish bins that allowed people to have some fun in expressing their opinions. They call it "PollBins".”
“Next, we are working with our partners to respond better to residents, by using technology to re-engineer our processes. First, we have implemented case routing using artificial intelligence (AI). This enables cases to be routed automatically to the right agency, freeing up officers to focus their efforts on solving more complex problems. Second, agencies can access one another's proposed and ongoing projects through a new Infrastructure Works Dashboard. They can use system tools in the Dashboard to deconflict overlapping works for better coordination. Hence, we can minimise inconveniences arising from infrastructure works to residents. In the future, we want to bring about more service improvements through the Municipal Services Productivity Fund introduced in 2017. An example of a funded project is Parking.sg, developed by Government Technology Agency, HDB and URA. Besides making it more convenient to pay for parking, removing the need for the paper coupon system, Parking.sg has actually resulted in savings for motorists. Nearly half of parking sessions are ended early, and drivers have been able to get more than $3.3 million in total refunded to them for unused time so far. So, we have extended the fund and set aside $25 million for agencies to tap on over the next five years. We have approved two new projects under the extended fund for drones by the Singapore Land Authority for early detection of maintenance issues, and a trial deployment of compactor litter bins by NEA for more efficient waste collection. In total, we have awarded $5.2 million for six projects, and expect about five times that in productivity gains.”
“For example, we jointly evaluated a request supported by the Citizens' Consultative Committee for a footpath with lighting under the Sengkang West vehicular bridge. For the safety of residents, the Public Utilities Board tapped on the scheme as the implementing agency to build the infrastructure. Their efficiency in meeting the needs of the residents won them compliments from the residents. As Mr Ong Teng Koon, Miss Cheryl Chan and Mr Amrin Amin have suggested, technology offers us great potential in achieving better services with high operational productivity. As part of the Smart Nation movement, we have been harnessing technology to deliver smarter municipal services. We have started enabling residents to do more with the OneService app to meet their diverse needs. This year, we will progressively introduce new features to transform the app into a one-stop community platform not just to report feedback, but also to perform transactions, engage one another and access information. For example, residents will soon be able to book and pay for neighbourhood facilities, such as the barbeque pits near their block through the app. Motorists will be able to obtain paperless Electronic Parking Systems receipts for HDB and URA car parks through the app, which can be useful for tracking expenditure or claims. Residents can also receive alerts on happenings in their neighbourhood, such as roadworks and hawker centre closures for maintenance. We will be implementing these enhancements in the coming year. And I thank Miss Cheryl Chan for her suggestions on how we can deepen connections and community involvement through the app. We will continue to engage our users and partners with these ideas as we transform the OneService app.”
“Mr Chairman, I would like to thank Members Mr Baey Yam Keng, Mr Ong Teng Koon, Mr Amrin Amin and Miss Cheryl Chan for their questions on the MSO, and also earlier, Ms Denise Phua, for her positive mention of MSO in her speech on MSF. MSO was set up with the belief that public services should be focused on our residents. I am happy to share that the collective actions and efforts of Government agencies, Town Councils and MSO have translated into tangible improvements for residents over the past four years. Residents can now conveniently access the services they need with the OneService app. We now have 157,000 app users who have reported 288,000 cases. Today, about one in five municipal feedback received by Government agencies are reported through the app, double the one in 10 over two years ago. Residents can now expect more timely responses to their feedback. On average, cases are addressed within three working days. For cases that require multiple agencies to work together, we have improved case routing processes and integrated agencies' feedback systems for greater efficiency in case management. With the inclusion of all Town Councils in September 2016, the number of cases referred among these systems has increased from about 5,000 cases per month then, to 14,000 cases per month last December. Today, 90% of such complex cases are closed within 13 days, while the average time taken has fallen from 8.5 to 6.5 days over the past three years. Residents' issues are being addressed more effectively. Last year, we introduced the Local Infrastructure Projects scheme to enable MSO and agencies to assess residents' requests for small-scale infrastructure in a timely manner.”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, may I seek your consent to move that the debate be now adjourned.”
“We call on the arts community to come in and support Singapore Art Week and any subsequent shows that we may have in Singapore.”
“Mr Speaker, as I mentioned in my reply, our job as a regulator and a promoter is to help grow the market for local arts and also as an arts marketplace. In this process, we welcome participation, ideas and suggestions, and I am sure many of these commercial players would take viability into consideration. As we have seen in the Singapore Art Week, the number of people participating, the number of collectors visiting our shows have actually been increasing in good numbers. We are hopeful and optimistic about Singapore as an arts market. Whether there will be another Art Stage and in what form, it is early days to comment. As I said, we are always open to suggestions and proposals from commercial players. Whether there will be an early warning system, I would say that the reason why MCCY and NAC were particularly disappointed with this cancellation is because we have had occasions where we presented Singapore Art Week to the community together with Art Stage. And even in the few media meetings that we had, there was no inkling about plans to cancel the show. As I mentioned earlier on, Art Stage is a commercial organisation and we do not have sight of its financial numbers. Like all commercial entities, financial situations are not something they would openly display or share with the public. It is also not something we ask of participants. NAC does not have a direct financial interest in the show, so it would not be appropriate for us to be demanding commercial organisations to show us their financial situations. It is important for us to always remember that the art marketplace is not one where the regulator itself can decide its viability, and its growth requires all the parties in the visual arts landscape to play their part.”
“These ideas help us to innovate and bring different offerings to serve the local and global arts fraternity and enable Singapore to distinguish itself from the others. As is the nature of innovation, some ideas take off, others do not. In working with commercial partners, it would not be appropriate for the Government to use taxpayers' money to underwrite all the risks. Art Stage's cancellation was a disappointment for Singapore's art sector. However, the sector is sufficiently resilient and deep to overcome this disappointment. We believe that Singapore remains a viable location for art fairs. In fact, the efforts of many parties to deal with the aftermath demonstrate the depth and breadth of the network of the arts fraternity in Singapore, and the camaraderie among our arts community. It reinforces the progress that we have made to develop a healthy and vibrant arts ecosystem in Singapore. MCCY and NAC will continue to foster a vibrant and robust visual arts landscape in Singapore. We continue to welcome ideas and activities that show a deep understanding of, and engagement with, our arts stakeholders, and a commitment to connect with Singaporean audiences.”
“Art Stage Singapore was a commercial art fair first organised in 2011. The National Arts Council (NAC), Singapore Tourism Board (STB) and Economic Development Board (EDB) supported the event through raising international awareness of Singapore’s art offerings, growing a strong local and regional collector base, and building local capability for art market development. However, we are not privy to commercial information of Art Stage, nor do we share in its commercial risk. MCCY and NAC were disappointed and saddened by the decision of the Art Stage organisers to cancel the 2019 edition at short notice. To help the gallerists and artists affected by the cancellation, a non-profit organisation, Art Outreach, organised a new art fair called ARTery, which NAC, STB and EDB supported. We understand that Art Outreach contacted 36 affected exhibitors, including all who had no alternative space in Singapore. Fourteen eventually took part in ARTery. Other organisations also stepped forward to offer assistance, including private galleries and non-profit spaces in Singapore, such as Gajah Gallery, PLOT, The Culture Story, Japan Creative Centre, and Marina Bay Sands. This was a demonstration of the strong spirit of the arts community in Singapore, and the close partnership among the public, private and people sectors. An international media outlet called it “a triumph of community spirit”. NAC promoted all their exhibitions as part of Singapore Art Week. As outlined in NAC's Our SG Arts Plan, our aspiration is for Singapore to be recognised globally as the visual arts city for Southeast Asian art. To achieve this objective, NAC has welcomed ideas and participation from a wide range of partners, including those from the private sector.”
“In conjunction with the launch of ActiveSG in April 2014, Sport Singapore introduced a one-off $100 credit to ActiveSG members upon joining. The purpose is to encourage Singaporeans to kickstart an active lifestyle. Currently, we have no plans to renew the credits for members who have utilised them fully, but we are regularly looking for ways to encourage Singaporeans to adopt a more active lifestyle.”
“I would like to encourage more NSAs to support their athletes in this regard. The Government's sustained investment in sports over the past years has led to a more developed and vibrant local sports ecosystem. This has, in turn, provided more prospects for retired athletes to pursue a career in sports that they are passionate about. Many former national athletes have successfully made the transition to coaching, including in our ActiveSG sports academies, and they continue to contribute to the development of a Sporting Singapore by mentoring the next generation of athletes.”
“We support our athletes on their journey of high-performance sports, extending beyond their competitive stage in life into their retirement from competitive sports. To do so effectively, the Government partners other stakeholders in the sports ecosystem. The Singapore Sport Institute works with corporate partners under the spexBusiness Network to offer professional development opportunities, such as internships, apprenticeships, part-time and permanent positions with flexible work arrangements (FWAs), as well as mentorship and advice on starting a business, to prepare our athletes for a post-sports career. The Network also organises career-readiness workshops and networking opportunities with corporate partners. Athletes who need career advice and support on other well-being issues can also approach SSI, which oversees athlete life management matters. Many corporates have stepped forward to support our athletes, and we hope to see more doing so. The spexBusiness Network currently comprises 60 companies across more than 25 industries to provide a wide array of career opportunities to our Team Singapore athletes. Since 2013, 230 former and current Team Singapore athletes have benefited from the spexBusiness, including (a) former shuttler Derek Wong who took on a full-time position at Deloitte, (b) former sprinter Calvin Kang who started a sports-related business, and (c) para-swimmer Sophie Soon who is now on a FWA with Toyota Asia, following her internship at Sport Singapore. Some of our National Sports Associations (NSAs) have also instituted programmes of their own, such as the Singapore Table Tennis Association, which has bursaries and arrangements with Institutes of Higher Learning to support their athletes to transition to a post-sports career.”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, "That Parliament do now adjourn." [(proc text) Question proposed. (proc text)] National Service – Balancing Operational Readiness, Safety and the Will to Fight 5.43 pm”
“The Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth, the National Arts Council (NAC) and National Heritage Board (NHB) recognise that culture adds to Singapore's vibrancy and liveability, helps to connect communities with one another, and roots us as Singaporeans. Our arts and culture play a critical role in fostering caring citizens, a cohesive society and a confident nation. Since 2013, all Singapore Citizens and Permanent Residents have been given free admission to the 10 national museums and heritage institutions.1 More people have visited our institutions, with visitorship numbers reaching an all-time high of 5.1 million in 2016.2 Throughout the year, NAC, NHB, the People's Association (PA) and our cultural institutions, such as the Esplanade, organise free arts and culture events. These include popular events like our annual Singapore Art Week, Singapore Heritage Festival, PAssionArts Festival and Singapore Night Festival. Singaporeans were able to enjoy over 6,000 of such non-ticketed performances in 2016.3 We also partner organisations, such as the National Library Board and PA, to bring quality arts and heritage programmes directly to the neighbourhood libraries, community clubs and other community spaces. We thank Mr Terence Ho and will consider his suggestion of a "culture pass" mobile application as part of our ongoing efforts in our SG Arts and SG Heritage Plans to grow audiences and enhance our outreach efforts by leveraging technology.”
“The community, including schools, businesses and other groups and organisations, has also stepped forward to support the nomination. For example, students from the Singapore Management University, Temasek Polytechnic, Republic Polytechnic, Pei Chun Public School and First Toa Payoh Primary School, among others, have submitted letters of support, initiated student projects to increase appreciation of our hawker culture, and volunteered their time to engage Singaporeans at the travelling exhibition. The Singapore Business Federation, Singapore Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Community Development Councils and the Eurasian Association have also pledged support for the nomination. Our hawker associations and FMAS have also submitted letters of support.”
“Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong announced that we will nominate our hawker culture for inscription on the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity during his 2018 National Day Rally speech. Our hawker culture is a total cultural experience of the place, food and people that binds us together as Singaporeans. It is an integral part of our daily lives, our collective experience and our national identity. The National Heritage Board (NHB) is putting together the materials for Singapore's bid, which will be submitted to UNESCO in March 2019. A 14-member nomination committee, with representatives from the public, private and people sectors, was also established in September 2018 to guide our efforts to secure a successful inscription. This committee will continue its work until the result of the nomination is known in late 2020. Support from the community will be crucial for us to secure a successful inscription. NHB, the National Environment Agency and the Federation of Merchants' Association, Singapore (FMAS) have been raising awareness and gathering support from Singaporeans and the wider society for the nomination. The nomination has received widespread support from Singaporeans from all walks of life. As of 7 January 2019, there have been almost 220,000 pledges of support for the nomination made online, through our travelling exhibition, and at pledging stations at hawker centres, public events, schools, libraries, museums and other public spaces. In addition, more than 8,000 pledge cards have been collected where Singaporeans expressed why hawker culture is so important to them.”