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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“When Singapore was hit by the Financial Crisis, Mr Nathan, with thorough deliberation, acted decisively and approved the Government to tap on national Reserves, leading to the timely launch of the Resilience Package, which enabled a quick recovery for our economy. Mr Nathan championed the Singapore spirit of "one united people regardless of race, language or religion". He actively participated in events by various communities and groups and warmly engaged people from all strata of society. Mr Nathan was also very close to the Chinese community, actively participating in and supporting various charity and community events. Mr Nathan presided over the opening ceremony for events, such as the River Hongbao, Singapore Chinese Cultural Festival and the Mid-Autumn Festival by the River. In support of charitable causes, Mr Nathan demonstrated his calligraphy skills on many occasions. The numerous precious calligraphy pieces he had left us embodied his support for Chinese culture. Mr Nathan was very committed to racial and religious harmony, calling on Singaporeans to unite as one people and forge ahead together when he gave speeches in Parliament. On behalf of my Parliamentary colleagues, I would like to convey our condolences to Mrs Nathan and the family. Let us remember Mr Nathan. Let us salute this extraordinary Pioneer and let us bid farewell to a son of Singapore. (In English): As President, Mr Nathan came to represent the pragmatism of the rugged Pioneer Generation, and the promise of a compassionate and cohesive society. In him, we see a reflection of what we should all aspire to in our lives: the determination to succeed against the odds, the generosity of spirit shown to people from all walks of life and a deep sense of duty to nation.”
“His former Principal Private Secretary, Mr Tan Eng Beng, shared how Mr Nathan would meticulously examine every item put up by the Government before making his decision. In all things, he discharged his duties with the utmost diligence and did full justice to his role as President. Mdm Speaker, I will now say a few words in Mandarin. (In Mandarin): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] Whenever we think about former President Nathan, his amicable and friendly smile immediately comes to mind. Mr Nathan was the people's President. He was also an outstanding civil servant. When he was serving at MFA, he initiated decisive reforms and raised the standards of MFA. During the Laju hijacking incident in 1974, Mr Nathan, then working at MINDEF, led a team of his colleagues to accompany the terrorists during their departure from Singapore in place of the hostages. With his outstanding wit and courage, he managed to protect the safety of Singaporeans. Mr Nathan dedicated himself to the country and devoted his life to the people. He is a role model for all public servants. When Mr Nathan was sworn in as President, he promised to look after every community in Singapore and to become a President for all Singaporeans. During his 12-year presidency, Mr Nathan fulfilled this promise impeccably. Coming from a humble background, Mr Nathan constantly had the people's interests at heart. The President's Challenge, which he set up in 2000, encourages people to give back to the society. So far, it has raised about $160 million and has helped numerous Singaporeans.”
“He connected effortlessly with others from all backgrounds and was a familiar presence at countless events, big and small. He also had a talent for remembering names and faces, including the names of one's family members. He always made time for others, even as he occupied the highest office in the land. Another of Mr Nathan's enduring legacies is the President's Challenge. Since 2000, it has raised about $160 million to help the less fortunate. And with his patronage of more than 30 organisations, including the Singapore Children's Society, the Boy Scouts and Boys' Brigade, Mr Nathan was a President who had the people's interests at heart. Mr Nathan helped steer Singapore through our ups and downs with a steady hand. During his 12-year Presidency, we experienced the Asian Financial Crisis in 1997, and recessions in 2001 and 2008. Mr Nathan was focused on the need for Singaporeans to stay united as a people, and forge ahead as one nation. He made this rallying call each of the five times he addressed the Opening session of Parliament. Mr Nathan also made important decisions as a steward of our Reserves. He approved the use of past Reserves to fund land-related projects, and the Net Investment Returns framework, which allows the Government a prudent use of the returns on our investments, for the benefit of Singaporeans. During the 2008 Financial Crisis, Mr Nathan decisively sanctioned the unprecedented use of Reserves to partially fund the $20.5 billion Resilience Package. Singapore's economy duly recovered and, by 2011, two years after his decision, the Government returned the sum to the past Reserves. Mr Nathan did not make these decisions lightly. He consulted closely with his Council of Presidential Advisers. He would ask questions and express his independent views.”
“Mr Nathan implemented decisive reforms and set high standards that are still upheld in today's MFA. Mr Nathan's accomplishments as a diplomat would later hold him in good stead. I had the opportunity to accompany Mr and Mrs Nathan on a State Visit to Japan in 2009. I was impressed by how he won everyone over with his sincerity and easy demeanour, while maintaining the dignity of a Head of State. These qualities were undoubtedly honed over his years in the Foreign Service. But they must ultimately have come from within, from a genuine and authentic place in his heart. Mr Nathan was a public-spirited man and a leader in the Indian community. As Chair of the Hindu Endowments Board (HEB) in the 1980s, he was instrumental in developing good governance standards for the HEB and ensuring it served the modern needs of the Hindu community. He was also a founding member of the Singapore Indian Development Association (SINDA). Throughout his career, Mr Nathan consistently wielded his best qualities and displayed his strongest commitment to building an outstanding Public Service that would stand the test of time. We owe him a great debt. Mdm Speaker, Mr Nathan is perhaps best remembered for his role as Singapore's third President with an Elected President's powers, our longest-serving President, serving two terms from 1999 to 2011. As a minority race President, Mr Nathan embodied the best of multiracial Singapore. He was a friend to all Singaporeans, regardless of race or faith. When he was sworn in as President in 1999, he said, "I will be a President for all Singaporeans, with every community of Singaporeans as my parish". Indeed, Mr Nathan's warm embrace of Singaporeans across different races and religions and all strata of society is what all of us will remember fondly.”
“Mdm Speaker, Singapore has lost one of its finest sons, and one of its most inspiring and illustrious public servants. I extend my deepest condolences to the family of Mr Nathan. Throughout his life, Mr Nathan lived by a simple code based on an unyielding sense of duty to the nation. "Duty – to friends and family, to my fellow men, to country – is paramount to my view of life, and I have tried my best to live up to this ethic." This is what Mr Nathan said, reflecting on his path to the Presidency. Nothing demonstrates this better than the "Laju" incident in 1974. Mr Nathan risked his life to lead a team of Singapore officials to accompany the hijackers to Kuwait. Thanks to his courage, quick thinking and calm temperament, the Singaporean hostages were released, and no innocent lives were lost. Many Singaporeans were unaware of Mr Nathan's role in this episode until recently. With his passing, he has become a hero for a new generation. Mr Nathan was a public servant for almost 60 years. As a young medical social worker, he fought poverty and sickness in the community. He went on to win the trust of workers and unions in Singapore's turbulent years. Later, he contributed to the development of Singapore in several key capacities, including two postings to MINDEF as Director of the SID, and to MFA, as High Commissioner to Malaysia and Ambassador to the US respectively. Time and again, Mr Nathan was entrusted with important responsibilities. He was known as a man who will get the job done. In 1979, when he was appointed Permanent Secretary at MFA, he was given an ultimatum of two years to raise standards in the Ministry, failing which, the Prime Minister intended to disband MFA and make it a part of the Prime Minister's Department. The Prime Minister was not disappointed.”
“sg and on its HeritageTV YouTube channel. NHB is working on the basis of a 16-month project duration to derive findings in this survey of Singapore's intangible cultural heritage elements which can be shared with the public. As this is the first such survey to be undertaken, the length of time is assessed to be optimal for the scope defined and the resources to be dedicated to the survey. This survey is only the beginning of our efforts to deepen our understanding of our intangible heritage. After the survey is completed, NHB will continue to identify and document additional elements over time. NHB will also continue to collaborate with our partners to conduct more detailed research in selected areas. Currently, NHB's survey is guided by its Heritage Advisory Panel comprising external experts from different fields. Over the coming months, NHB will consult heritage groups, stakeholders and practitioners, as well as invite the public to contribute their knowledge, memories and stories.”
“The National Heritage Board (NHB) is committed to safeguarding our tangible heritage, such as our national monuments. Beyond such tangible heritage, we also want to safeguard and deepen our understanding of Singapore's intangible cultural heritage. We are guided by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in definitions of "intangible heritage". UNESCO describes intangible heritage to include practices, representations, expressions, knowledge and skills that communities and individuals recognise as part of their cultural heritage. Intangible cultural heritage is "living" heritage that is transmitted by communities, organisations and individuals from one generation to the next, and will evolve over time. These include rituals, traditions, foods and ways of life that bind us as Singaporeans. While Government agencies can support their promotion and transmission, the community and practitioners play a major role in safeguarding these aspects of our shared heritage. The upcoming survey will identify key elements of Singapore's intangible cultural heritage. It will complement the tangible heritage survey that NHB embarked on last year. As with all Government procurement, we will evaluate the tender for the survey based on the key principles of transparency, open and fair competition, and value for money. The selected vendor needs to demonstrate their expertise in intangible cultural heritage as well as heritage research and fieldwork. We will share the findings on NHB's online platforms, such as the Roots.sg heritage portal, and through exhibitions and educational programmes that NHB will be developing. NHB's past research findings on topics, such as traditional trades, are already available on Roots.”
“Mdm Speaker, I beg to move, "That Parliament do now adjourn." [(proc text) Question proposed. (proc text)] Addressing Challenges Faced by Caregivers of Children with Special Needs 5.08 pm”
“It is a key focus of MCCY but it is also receiving attention from many agencies and Ministries. And as community leaders, all of us here in this House have a role to send a very positive message to our community because how we treat each other – do we take an inclusive view or an exclusive view will set the mood for our community. I encourage the Member to help us move social cohesion along the line of greater unity and greater cohesion. And I look forward to Members playing an important role in your community towards building a stronger people. 4.00 pm”
“Madam, on the Member's suggestion about discussing sensitive issues in a broader forum, we are undertaking such an effort to discuss sensitive issues with groups comprising youth leaders, as well as amongst school leaders. Also, in IRCCs and IRO, we have held conferences as large as 200-300 strong to discuss issues confronting us on racial and religious lines. So, these are our efforts towards sanitising people of all segments with larger groups to come together to have a good, frank discussion about the challenges that we are facing as a nation and what we can do to help ourselves build a stronger and united people. With regard to MCCY reviewing the processes of whether we have been successful in promoting racial harmony, I think my answer has actually been prepared on that basis. I note that the supplementary question is very similar to the Member's original Parliamentary Question. So, I Page: 48 think I have answered the question that he has posed. On whether MCCY reviews the successes of the other agencies, of course, we work very closely with our sister agencies. For example, on the National Integration Council, we have MOM leading the sectoral discussion on the workplace. We also have different agencies represented on the National Integration Council which is represented by many Ministers. In short, this is a very important question for us because, as a very young nation, we do have our natural fault-lines along race and racial perspectives but also, increasingly, we have new fault-lines, new forces that are pulling us apart. And even more established societies are finding themselves being pulled in many directions. So, nation-building, social cohesion are an ongoing process.”
“The battle against discrimination is an ongoing one and, as a society, we must continue to maximise our common space, minimise our divides and move forward as one united people.”
“More generally, the Media Development Authority (MDA)'s Programme Code for TV states that programmes should not encourage or in any way discriminate against any section of the community on account of gender, age, disability or occupational status. We also have legislation in place to protect minority interests and to uphold a fair and harmonious society. Our Constitution guarantees that all persons are equal before the law. We have legislative safeguards, such as the Presidential Council for Minority Rights, which protects the rights of minorities; the Sedition Act and the Maintenance of Religious Harmony Act, which act as a deterrent against any group attempting to cause racial and religious conflict; and the Employment Act which protects employees against unfair dismissal. While measuring discrimination is not easily quantifiable, we have surveys on attitudes that we can use. For instance, as an indication of the state of racial and religious harmony, a survey by OnePeople.SG and the Institute of Policy Studies in 2013 showed that eight out of 10 respondents were comfortable having a close friend from another race or religion. As a measure of the state of our gender equality, the UN's 2015 Human Development Report ranked Singapore 13th out of 155 countries on the Gender Inequality Index, which means that we are good, right up there in the top percentile – the lower the ranking, the higher you are – we are more equal. In the long run, the harmony in our society speaks for the work we do. However, we can also do more as individual citizens by speaking out against discrimination, be it derogatory speech or exclusivist attitudes.”
“Mdm Speaker, the social harmony we enjoy today is a precious legacy, one which we continuously work at. The focus of all our efforts, through our various initiatives and programmes, is to build bonds and understanding between people and communities, so that discrimination can be minimised. For example, the Inter-Racial and Religious Confidence Circles (IRCCs) allow community leaders to build friendships and speak up when they see fellow Singaporeans being discriminated against across ethnic and religious lines. The National Integration Council works to reduce discrimination along foreign-local lines. Our Youth Corps reaches out to all segments of society, including the elderly. Through its events and programmes, the People's Association reaches out to residents of all races, age groups and socio-economic backgrounds to promote social cohesion and racial harmony. When we see each other as friends and as fellow Singaporeans, the tendency to cause hurt will be reduced. Page: 47 We are not alone in our efforts. Other Ministries and agencies also work to reduce discrimination. For example, in the workplace, the Tripartite Alliance for Fair and Progressive Employment Practices (TAFEP) takes a promotional and capability-building approach in helping employers adopt fair employment practices and addressing employment discrimination. The Government has also made efforts towards eliminating gender stereotypes, as well as discrimination based on age, race or religion, through civic education in schools, as well as through public education.”
“Mdm Speaker, I beg to move "That notwithstanding Standing Order 22 (1), Question Time at this day's sitting shall continue for up to two-and-a-half-hours from the commencement of the Sitting." [(proc text) Question put, and agreed to. (proc text)] [(proc text) Resolved, "That notwithstanding Standing Order 22 (1), Question Time at this day's sitting shall continue for up to two-and-a-half-hours from the commencement of the Sitting" – [Ms Grace Fu Hai Yien.] (proc text)] Page: 11”
“Mdm Speaker, I beg to move "That under Standing Order 10(2), the business Motion standing under the Leader of the House as listed in the Order Paper for today be taken now." [(proc text) Question put, and agreed to. (proc text)] [(proc text) Resolved, "That under Standing Order 10(2), the business Motion standing under the Leader of the House as listed in the Order Paper for today be taken now." – [Ms Grace Fu Hai Yien.] (proc text)] Page: 10”
“The new Outward Bound School (OBS) @ Coney, together with OBS' existing premises on Pulau Ubin, will expand OBS' capacity to provide outdoor adventure training opportunities for every youth as they go through upper secondary school. Our priority in the next few years will be to recruit and train additional quality instructional staff to provide safe and meaningful experiences for all students attending OBS programmes. OBS' priority is to develop resilient youths through shared challenging experiences. Corporates can tap on outdoor adventure providers in the private sector.”
“In 2015, 86 applications were made for charity status. As at 31 March 2016, 41 of these have been registered as charities and 17 charity applications were rejected. In the same period, 39 applications were made for Institution of a Public Character (IPC) status. Of these, 30 were granted IPC status and three were rejected. The remaining cases were withdrawn or are still under consideration. Most of the rejected applications for charity registration were unable to meet registration requirements, such as having objects which were exclusively charitable. Some were rejected due to the lack of substantive activities, programmes or plans to demonstrate their sustainability. Others were rejected because they did not have clear intended beneficiaries or because their activities did not substantially benefit the community in Singapore. The main reasons for rejecting IPC applications were poor governance, qualified audited financial statements, regulatory non-compliance or because applicants conducted activities which were not wholly beneficial to the community in Singapore.”
“Mdm Speaker, I thank the Member for the supplementary questions. NHB will work very closely with the related agencies on the standard of protection and record keeping. I must say that right now, we are working with very good professionals who themselves have a great interest in protecting the artefacts and there is a close collaboration on ensuring that the artefacts are well kept and protected for all to appreciate in the future. On maritime archaeological finds, this is generally supported by the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) through the Merchant Shipping Act. We are working closely also with MPA with regard to maritime archaeological finds. We place great importance on maritime artefacts. We display maritime artefacts in the Asian Civilisations Museum (ACM), for example. And with the support of philanthropists, such as the Khoo Teck Puat family foundation as well as Kwek Hong Png's family, we are able to have good displays for the public to appreciate such finds. With regard to the public, as I have answered earlier on, this is an area that we are looking further into. We are looking at how we should improve our laws and regulations to not discourage the public from having an interest, but to embrace and engage the public who are interested in archaeology to cooperate with NHB. Ultimately, I think we share the same common purpose. It is to understand the history of Singapore through archaeology. And that history is really for the public, both present and future generations, to appreciate. So, we want to keep artefacts as evidence of history for the benefit of many generations to come.”
“The review will seek to better support the conduct of archaeology in Singapore, and address any gaps in our laws, regulations and norms. NHB will seek feedback from stakeholders, such as archaeologists, heritage experts and non-government organisations (NGOs) in its review.”
“Mdm Speaker, all archaeological materials unearthed on state land belong to the state. This includes most archaeological excavations conducted in recent years, such as the excavations at the National Gallery of Singapore in 2010 and Empress Place in 2015. When commissioning archaeological excavations, the National Heritage Board (NHB) makes it a requirement for the agencies conducting the excavation works, such as the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies (ISEAS)-Yusof Ishak Institute, to document and submit reports on the archaeological finds to NHB. Important archaeological materials from these digs that support the interpretation of Singapore's history have been accessioned into the National Collection managed by NHB on behalf of the Singapore Government. They are carefully documented and conserved at the Heritage Conservation Centre (HCC), when not on display. Remaining artefacts may be stored by partner agencies, such as the ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute. NHB typically does not have legal ownership of archaeological materials unearthed on private land. NHB has, nevertheless, worked closely with stakeholders to identify and protect important artefacts. An example from the past five years would be artefacts recovered from the Cathedral of the Good Shepherd, which are owned by the Roman Catholic Church. A number of artefacts recovered from the Cathedral are displayed at the Cathedral's Heritage and Resource Gallery. Selected artefacts are also displayed at the Indian Heritage Centre, managed by NHB, for the public to access and appreciate. The legal ownership status of archaeological materials unearthed on private land is an area that NHB is studying as part of a broader review on archaeology in Singapore.”
“Mdm Speaker, this Budget and COS debate could not have reached such a smooth conclusion without your even-handedness. On behalf of the House, we thank you and your Deputies for so ably presiding over the sessions and holding the debate proceedings to high standards. We also wish to thank the staff of the Secretariat in Parliament for their wonderful assistance and support. Page: 60 There are also people who are not present in this House that I wish to acknowledge. They are the hardworking and dedicated officers from the Ministries and agencies who have supported us in the front bench; the members of the media who have brought the debate on our policies to Singaporeans. With this Budget passed, we are one step closer towards SG100. We have a full agenda ahead of us and much work to do. Will we still be a shiny red dot in the next 50 years? This will depend not just on this House, or the Government, but the whole of Singapore. It is a shared responsibility. The next chapter of the Singapore story will be written in partnership with Singaporeans. That is how we build a stronger, better Singapore that we can all be proud to call Home. [Applause.] 2.46 pm”
“Finally, the challenges we face today cannot be solved by the Government alone. In this Budget, we are partnering Singaporeans across the whole-of-Government to achieve a brighter future. We are working with the community to strengthen vigilance through programmes like SG Secure. We are involving industry players to develop transformation maps for each sector, including making Smart Nation a reality. We need parents, students and employers to join us in order to achieve holistic education with less emphasis on grades. For the Fresh Start Housing Scheme to benefit families with children, we need families to commit to stable employment, managing their finances and ensuring that their children attend school regularly. MOH's dementia-friendly communities will activate community volunteers to be trained and help look out for persons with dementia. Mdm Speaker, after nine intensive days of debates, we have finally come to the end of the Budget debate for Financial Year 2016. This was the first Budget and COS for the 13th Parliament after the 2015 General Elections. We have a total of 27 new Members of Parliament (MPs) – 19 newly elected, three new Non-Constituency MPs (NCMPs), five new Nominated MPs (NMPs). Several of them made their debut speeches over the past nine days, including the NMPs who were sworn in on the day of the Budget debate. The learning curve was steep but they have picked up very quickly the official jargons and acronyms, which, I confess, can be confusing even to multi-term MPs like me. Members in this House would agree with me that we have heard many impactful speeches, with robust and discerning arguments. They have added to the quality of our debates and enabled this House to scrutinise Budget 2016 thoroughly and holistically.”
“This use of technology extends to non-economic sectors, too: security Page: 59 cameras for law enforcement; automated clearance facilities at our airports and land checkpoints, better defence technologies; digital technology to enhance access to Government information and e-services. Thirdly, the debates reminded us that we live in an era of "troubled peace". Singapore is not immune to global terrorism and the repercussions of geopolitical instability, both near and far, such as the ISIS, the tensions in the South China Sea or the Middle East conflict. To stay on top of the evolving security threats and safeguard our sovereignty, we need to strengthen the capabilities of our Home Team and the Singapore Armed Forces, but we also need the community to be vigilant. We must continue to build a cohesive, resilient and rugged society by strengthening racial and religious harmony and through initiatives like outdoor adventure education and the Outward Bound School. Fourthly, as we forge ahead to achieve stronger competitiveness, we must also ensure that we move together as one. This is in keeping with the spirit of our national anthem, "Majulah Singapura", that we progress together as a nation. The theme of inclusivity cuts across various Ministries. We are improving our civil and criminal justice system to ensure fair access. The Ministry of Communications and Information's Smart Nation movement will be an inclusive one, encompassing the needs of the elderly and persons with special needs. MOE, too, will be enhancing support for children with special education needs. And the Ministry of Social and Family Development is embarking on the third edition of the Enabling Masterplan and more support for unwed mothers.”
“This reflects Members' interest in community building and the "softer" side of nation-building, which has clearly taken on greater emphasis in this post-SG50 year. Even as we look ahead to build Singapore's future economy, we are also asking ourselves how we can better tackle challenges on the social front – preparing for an ageing society and building a united and resilient people. Mdm Speaker, this year's COS saw several underlying themes coming to the fore during the debates. Firstly, economic transformation. Members discussed at length about preparing our industries and our workforce for the future economy. This theme of transformation continues from previous Budgets, but has taken on renewed emphasis. The Committee on the Future Economy is looking ahead and studying long-term trends to chart the way forward for our economy. MOM has shared how it will help Singaporeans and industries "Adapt and Grow" and ensure our workforce remains competitive globally. The Ministry of Education (MOE) is preparing our young by expanding SkillsFuture and helping them to make better career choices. The Ministry of Trade and Industry is empowering our industries to create more value through the Industry Transformation Programme. Secondly, we are looking at ways to harness the potential of innovation and technology. We are supporting our small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to automate, seizing new opportunities for growth, such as in robotics, leveraging productivity-boosting technology to become more manpower-lean. We are encouraging the use of new technologies to reduce labour demands in the construction sector.”
“Mdm Speaker, please allow me to make some round up remarks on this year's Budget and Committee of Supply (COS) debates. This year's debate comes at a major turning point in our nation's history. Our achievements over the past 50 years have given us plenty to cheer about, but the challenges ahead remind us that we cannot take these successes for granted. In his Budget Statement, the Minister for Finance said that, "Budget 2016 is the beginning of a journey towards SG100." The focus is squarely on the future and getting there together. The emphasis of this Budget is on economic transformation and building a more caring and resilient society. Over the past nine days, many echoed the Finance Minister's call for this twin spirit of enterprise and care for one another. In total, 499 amendments or "cuts" were filed this year. That is an increase of about 7% from last year, and the highest number in the past five COS debates. We can all pat our backs and claim that we have improved productivity in this Chamber. A key focus of last year's Budget was to help Singaporeans upgrade their skills and achieve retirement adequacy. With the successful introduction of SkillsFuture, the Silver Support Scheme and a slew of other initiatives, cuts for the Ministry of Manpower (MOM), which received the most cuts last year, fell by almost half. This year, the Ministry that received the highest number of cuts was the Ministry of Health (MOH), which has exploited its pole position wisely by declaring a "War on Diabetes". My Ministry, the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth (MCCY), though coming in second, topped the list on total speech time for the cuts filed, the first time in the short history of MCCY.”
“Mdm Chair, allow me to just clarify on the earlier point to Miss Cheng Li Hui. I said that half the cost of the $250 million relates to the campus per se. That is correct, but the remaining half − I have just been alerted − not all of it is first-mover cost. Forty-five million dollars is needed to link the OBS campus to basic facilities, such as water and sewage, and $75 million has to do with increased staff, equipment and programming costs, to ensure safety as we triple the capacity of OBS.”
“Mdm Chair, I do not think this point was specifically brought up. Neither did the Member file a cut on this. Nevertheless, I will attempt to clarify. As I explained earlier on, there have been works that showed dissent, including what I have just mentioned, this play about "Gemuk Girls" that has been put up by one of the groups that has received funding. And that play was critical about the political system. So, I think we have gone quite far already about allowing dissenting voices and different voices to be voiced out in the arts sector. Let me just put it this way. If we agree that there should be rules and regulations to protect and maintain social harmony, then I think we can talk about how this is calibrated and whether the calibration is the right one. There will always be differences at the boundary because it is in the nature of art to want to break away. As Mr Kok Heng Leun so appropriately said in his Budget speech, artists want to − if I paraphrase him correctly − tear down the pieces and improvise. That is the nature of artwork. They always want to challenge themselves. They challenge the boundaries Page: 52 and the regulator would want to maintain the space for the majority in the middle. So, there will be tension always but, as an art promoter, we will work as much as we can to facilitate respectful discussions among the artists, the arts industry, as well as the regulator. So, I do not agree with what the Member has said that we have withheld funding from arts groups that have been critical of the Government. Far from it. Many of the arts groups that have put up plays, that have been critical of the Government, continue to be funded. In fact, some have had their funding increased over the years.”
“This is a project that Parliamentary Secretary Baey has been assigned to look into, so I will leave the work to him.”
“Yes, the reason why OBS @ Coney is such an important location for us is because for us to ramp up the capacity by three times on an island that is only connected by ferry would have cost a tremendous strain on logistics. You can imagine having to do that high volume of students, plus food, supplies, coaches, instructors, it would have been really quite unsustainable when it is not part of the mainland. Nevertheless, there are still some programmes that would require the use of the OBS in Ubin. We talked about how, with Coney and Ubin together, we can look at some programmes that probably require the crossing of the straits on canoes, kayaks. We also talked about how we intend to continue with 21-day programmes for some of the student leaders. So, there are still programmes that we can do and probably make full use of OBS at Ubin. But like in Coney, it is occupying a small part of the island. There is no intention to expand OBS at Ubin at this point in time and we will find ways to coexist with the other facilities on Ubin Island. Page: 51”
“Thank you, Mdm Chair, for the opportunity to clarify. Of that $250 million that we have spoken about, half of it has to do with being the first-mover onto Coney Island and having the need to lay down infrastructure, power, electricity, boats and so on. That is the reason why the overall figure for the funds needed seemed high. The amount needed to build the facilities per se is about half of the amount. On the second point about whether we will be conducting an EIA, the answer is yes. In fact, we have already started consultations and focus group discussions with stakeholders who are interested in the flora and fauna on the island. So, please be assured that OBS itself wants to be part of the nature. That is the spirit of OBS. It is about being in nature and having adventure in nature. So, it is in the OBS' mission to protect the environment as much as it can. In fact, we have started discussions with some groups about incorporating some knowledge about the flora and fauna on Coney Island into the OBS curriculum. We can work hand in hand and have a win-win outcome on the environmental front. It is not in the opposite direction. Was there another question that I have missed out?”
“On the second question about place-making, some parts of it may seem to be top-down initially, but it has evolved. Let me give an example. I think PA PAssionArts, when it first started, was top-down. We needed to have some organised activities; we needed to provide some training; we needed to decide what was the theme and so on, because it was something new. But without a push from the agencies, probably we may not have been able to develop it as quickly as we would have liked. Page: 47 But over time, you have seen certain local communities embracing a project and making it their own. They are putting in their themes; they are staking their claim; they are deciding what to be depicted, what to be portrayed. That should be the way to go. With the local community stepping forward, agencies like PA would gladly step back and let the locals have greater decision-making. Also in some projects, we have deliberately assigned the job to a theatre production professional. Let me give Members the example of (SIFA). SIFA is actually undertaken by Mr Ong Keng Sen who is not part of the agency. That is a way for an art practitioner to take a leading role in curating and in assisting the Government in producing works for the public to enjoy. Although it is top-down in the sense that the Government is coming up with the funding, but the actual production, organisation, commissioning work are actually done by someone from the private sector. I will leave Parliamentary Secretary Baey to address the question on traditional arts.”
“Thank you, Mdm Chair. I do agree that in art, we look for opportunities where we can have discourse. I think art has that potential of allowing the expression of opinions. But we also need to recognise that art has this ability to evoke emotions. I think artists want to see that their work has that ability to influence and to affect. Having these considerations in mind, I think discourse, dissent, disagreements can take place and have their place in Singapore, and we do that by classification, by giving advisories. Creating a space where certain segments, perhaps the more mature, perhaps those able to deal with the issue, can be engaged in that discourse. I would like to reiterate the point that if you look at the art scene, over time, we have actually moved. Artworks that were not shown in the past, now have been shown regularly, including some of the forum theatre work that Mr Kok himself is so closely associated with. In terms of diversity, too, topics that were perhaps uncomfortable in the past, whether they deal with specific lifestyles or values, or deal with issues, such as conservation of an environment – I think Mr Kok recently also did a work on Bukit Brown – issues that arouse disagreement and dissent in the society get a hearing, get their place in the arts, including works like "Gemuk Girls" which has criticised parts of the political system. We have, over time, allowed more variety, greater diversity in artworks. I hope that the arts community will give the regulator acknowledgement that it has happened. Having said that, as I have explained earlier on, we do need regulations in order to maintain a common space that is as wide as possible, so that people, the audience and the artists can engage in art making and art appreciation in a safe environment.”
“I realise that OBS is very popular but I did not realise it is that popular. I can fully understand where Ms Joan Pereira is coming from because I, too, joined a group of my grassroots leaders on an OBS trip. This was a visit to the OBS facility and we spent one day doing team-building in the OBS facility. I remember one of my group mates was 74 years old. She made the climb up to the highest rock-climbing facility. So, that impressed every one of us. Obviously, to her, it is really an experience of her lifetime. It is a life-changing moment. I am not sure what she has gone on to. Maybe she is going to try some sky-diving. I do not know. But I think it has given her a new sense of life and also a new sense of confidence. Having said that, our priority right now is to build OBS @ Coney so that it can have the capacity to allow us to reach out extensively to the Secondary 3 cohorts of our students. That is our priority. We do see the opportunity for the adventure learning type of team-building activities. Perhaps, some of our private adventure learning service providers who could now be operating in some of the facilities – I know outside Science Centre on Jurong Road, there is one; also in Kallang Wave, there is another one which is just outside NTUC. These are all possibilities where the private providers could also actively participate in giving our elderly a sense of what outdoor adventure could bring.”
“But I think many of them were quite daunted by the steps that they had to navigate. As you know, it is quite a big structure over quite a large extensive area. So, I have asked my museum colleagues to see how we can tailor a programme that brings them to as many Page: 44 noteworthy artworks with as economic use of steps as possible. The other segment is the children because, to me, that is the generation that we need to reach out to. It is developing the next generation of audience. The earlier we can reach out to them, the earlier we can build up a pipeline of people who appreciate art, people who see art as part of their lives. Again, we need to have a different language. We need to present art in a different way that will make it appealing to them. Given their limited life experience and the context that they are in, we need to bring art education to a different level. So, that is the priority given to my colleagues. I would like to assure the Member that developing local audienceship, visitorship is top of my priority.”
“Madam, our Singapore Fund is a $25 million fund for five years. We are very keen to see it extended beyond that and will work very hard to justify the Fund. To us, to have enthusiastic participation from as many wide-ranging groups as possible is our objective. So, I would like to assure the Member that we are totally in line with his recommendation to have greater publicity so that all sectors of the community know about it and will come forward to tap on the Fund. For museum numbers, I am not able to give the Member the numbers in terms of breakdown of foreigners and locals. But if my memory serves me right, for the National Gallery and museum, we have a sizeable number that is made up of foreigners, probably about one-third foreigners, two-thirds locals. But the local numbers are the ones that have been growing quite encouragingly. As Members would remember, we extended free admission to our museums and that has been quite well-received. My direction to colleagues in NHB and the art institutions is make our world-class facilities and collections speak to the population. I totally agree with Members who said if it is just hardware, it will remain hardware. We need programming to make it work. To me, the success will be decided as to whether our collections can speak to two segments of the population. First, the young; and second, the old. Why do I say that? Because I think the elder generation requires, sometimes, a vernacular interpretation, requires some more thoughtful guidance of the exhibition. So, if we are able to attract more of them to return, I think we would have made the museum experience meaningful for them. Recently, I accompanied a group of residents to the National Art Gallery. They spent 45 minutes in the museum.”
“But we can overcome them in the spirit of partnership. Engagement is not a one-off endeavour. It has to be an ongoing interaction to build durable partnerships among the people, private and public sectors. This will require new skills on the part of the Public Service and taking some risks. But by working together, we can build an even better Singapore in the next 50 years. In the end, every one of us is going to have to share the future. The question is what kind of future and whether we can create a future of shared responsibility and shared prosperity. The road ahead will not be without challenges. But we can achieve our common vision of a harmonious society, a caring people and a confident nation if every individual, family and community play their part together. My Ministry will partner Singaporeans to build a stronger Singapore and a better home for all of us. In this way, we will secure the best future for Singapore. [Applause.]”
“Many ground-up projects have surfaced during these engagements. One project is being developed by a young social entrepreneur, Cheryl Lim, who wants to encourage intergenerational interaction between the elderly and young children, by training active agers to be facilitators and mentors. Intergenerational activities are incorporated to promote education and health issues among the active agers and the young children. Cheryl did her own research to develop an intergenerational curriculum and shared her ideas at a recent Ministry of Health (MOH) SGfuture dialogue session in February. MOH is linking her up with National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) Health and My First Skool to explore how her ideas can be tried at childcare and senior activity centres. And we are seeing Singaporeans coming forward to partner the Government to build a better home together. These are exciting new developments and mark a new approach to governance. Through SGfuture, we are defining our future together and how every Singaporean can play a part in realising it. As we transit from the highs of celebrating SG50 to the next 50 years, engaging citizens will take on a new urgency for the Government to grow a strong society and a robust social compact. The series of SGfuture engagements represents a major step towards promoting citizen engagement across all of Government. We hope it will jumpstart the building of the whole-of-Government capacity in citizen engagement, extending and expanding citizen engagement efforts in the years to come. With SGfuture, my Ministry is taking the lead in coordinating with agencies across the Government to co-create solutions and co-deliver services with citizens. There will be areas of disagreement and issues of complexity that are not easy to navigate.”
“Student internships will be enhanced to provide more time for on-the-job learning to cover key skills critical to the job, as well as structured mentoring. Ms Kuik Shiao-Yin also suggested having bespoke plans for youths. The National Youth Council (NYC) today offers a plethora of programmes that engage and develop youths of diverse backgrounds and aspirations. For example, Youth Corps Singapore provides youths with opportunities to be developed as community service leaders. OBS also offers a flagship 21-day programme to develop leaders through outdoor adventure. Many young Singaporeans can pursue their aspirations through *SCAPE, music, media, dance and personal development programmes. Last year, the *SCAPE media hub was launched to provide creative space for young media enthusiasts who lack space to work on projects after they leave school. At the same time, NYC continues to encourage and support ground-up initiatives through our National Youth Fund. We want to better support youths as they transit from schools to work. MCCY will coordinate efforts across the Government to engage youths on their need and aspirations at their different life stages. Let me end with SGfuture. We embarked on SGfuture in November last year. Page: 31 SGfuture asks Singaporeans to share their ideas on building a better future for Singapore and act on their projects to help realise this future. It explores with Singaporeans how we can foster a caring community, build a sustainable home, create opportunities for learning and strengthen community and national resilience. It calls on Singaporeans to play their part and partner the Government and one another to realise a shared vision. So far, we have organised around a hundred sessions, involving around 6,000 Singaporeans.”
“It is a major step in social levelling of opportunities. Unlike today, when the majority who go through OBS go with their classmates, we will mix students from different schools. They will make new friends and journey together throughout the five-day OBS camp. We hope this experience will form lifelong bonds for many. 1.00 pm As we proceed on this project, Parliamentary Secretary Baey will take the lead in engaging our stakeholders and the public. We are open to Members' ideas on how we can build this campus together to provide a safe and meaningful experience of a lifetime for our children. I wish to assure Miss Cheng Li Hui that the general public will continue to enjoy full access to the spaces and facilities of Coney Island Park, which will retain its rustic nature. Ms Kuik Shiao-Yin asked how we were helping youths to find their place in the future economy. OBS @ Coney is one of many efforts to prepare our youths for the future. OBS will inspire a sense of adventure, resilience and teamwork in our youths. These are the skill sets that they will need later on in life. The Committee on the Future Economy is engaging Singaporeans, including young Singaporeans, whose views will factor into the bespoke plans for the economic sectors that the Government is developing. MOE is shifting away from a prior emphasis on grades to lifelong learning and skills which will prepare our children and youths for the future. Through SkillsFuture, we are building a movement for lifelong learning, skills mastery and re-skilling to keep up with evolving industry needs. In our polytechnics and ITEs, education and career guidance will be structured into the curriculum and developed through industry immersion programmes, talks and workshops.”
“Members Ms Denise Phua and Dr Intan Azura Mokhtar spoke in favour of outdoor adventure education, and Mr Darryl David, Ms Sun Xueling, Miss Cheng Li Hui asked about our plans for the OBS Campus on Coney Island. For any individual, the OBS experience can be transformational. During the Budget debate, Ms Kuik Shiao-Yin spoke about the need to overcome the habit of fear. Mr Darryl David spoke as a loving father about how his young son overcame fear and gained confidence through outdoor adventure learning. Indeed, the physical challenges at OBS make you confront your fears and overcome them. When before, fear was a limiting factor, by the time you complete the course, having conquered your fears, you realise there are endless new possibilities. You are ready for the fears that life might throw at you. Whether it is the inverse tower or kayak expedition, our youths will be presented with obstacles, challenges and unfamiliar situations. They will learn to work with one another. They will venture out of their comfort zone. They will have a chance to experiment, fail and learn from that failure. As Seow Bei Yi noted in her recent article in Page: 30 The Straits Times, students are allowed to push their limits, fail and recover from it. She said, and I quote, "If the OBS experience has taught me anything, it is to face fears head-on, or at least try." Beyond individual development, OBS @ Coney will enable all youths from all backgrounds to benefit from a common OBS experience. When it is completed in 2020, OBS will be able to serve 45,000 youths per year, triple the capacity today. Every young person, not just the student leaders, will have an opportunity to go through a five-day OBS camp at least once in their schooling years.”
“Volunteers with disabilities worked alongside those without; volunteers in their teens alongside those in their 70s; children alongside their parents; expatriates alongside locals. Team Nila was a mirror of Singapore's diversity, coming together as one to make the SEA Games and ASEAN Para Games successful. Rain or shine, our volunteers turned up in full force. When Maximillian Tan, a para equestrian athlete, found out that his event was not staged in the ASEAN Para Games, he volunteered himself with Team Nila. Together with his father, he helped train our volunteers in disability etiquette. Doreen Cady cancelled her holiday plan and went out of her way to take care of the Myanmar delegation. Budi, a new citizen, volunteered with Team Nila multiple times and proudly hosted our Indonesian guests at the Games. Some volunteer leaders like Ms Dawn Lim went the extra mile to cover shifts for fellow volunteers who had to call in sick. She even treated her volunteer group to a barbecue to thank everyone for their work. The volunteers whom I have met personally were unanimously motivated to leave a good impression with the foreign guests and do Singapore proud. Our foreign guests were able to feel the dedication and sincerity in them and were full of praise for our volunteers. I would like to say a big thank you to our Team Nila volunteers. Team Nila made the SEA Games and ASEAN Para Games much more than events for winning medals. They made them a precious opportunity for volunteerism and the building of social bonds and national identity. Creating platforms for Team Nila and growing the group of volunteers not just in sports but also in the arts, heritage and the community are important tasks for my colleagues. Next, the Outward Bound School (OBS) @ Coney.”
“Senior Minister of State Sim Ann will share more about our efforts to support corporates' CSR efforts. For citizens with good ideas on making Singapore a better home, we will support them with resources to realise their ideas. During his Budget speech, the Minister for Finance announced Our Singapore Fund to support meaningful projects by passionate citizens who wish to help others, meet community needs as well as support ground-up initiatives to celebrate and exemplify our Singapore spirit. Up to $25 million will be allocated to Our Singapore Fund, including grants by MSF, Tote Board and MCCY. Page: 29 Through Our Singapore Fund, MCCY will encourage citizens to take ownership of the future of Singapore and keep the momentum of SG50 going. Dr Lim Wee Kiak asked what lessons we have learnt from the SG50 Celebration Fund. From the many meaningful projects that surfaced during SG50 that brought our community together, we know there is a rich store of enthusiasm and public spirit. We want to unlock it with a little support to translate these ideas into reality. Next, active and engaged citizens. Mdm Chair, I would like to highlight three major initiatives in our nation-building effort. First, Team Nila. I do not think you could miss them in their purple shirts during SEA Games and the ASEAN Para Games. At its peak, Team Nila had 23,000 members. These volunteers were deployed in a wide spectrum of roles from ushers, anti-doping officers to safety officers. They are not athletes and do not compete in the Games, but Team Nila allowed them to participate fully in the Games. It was a movement and an inclusive community.”
“SG50 saw many examples of Singaporeans contributing time and effort to various causes, offering help during the mourning period for the late Mr Lee Kuan Yew, volunteering for Team Nila during the SEA Games and ASEAN Para Games and donating generously to Care&Share@SG50. We want to grow this culture of caring and giving. MCCY will encourage more citizen participation and create more volunteering opportunities. Take this as an example. Students at the Nanyang Technological University's (NTU's) Welfare Services Club created a novel water sports programme called the SEA Lions. It teaches under-privileged youth how to swim first and then, when they can swim, they will go on to sailing and windsurfing. The students raised $50,000 for the project by themselves and Sport Singapore is matching them dollar for dollar. You can see the results of their good work at Jurong West Swimming Complex, where the first batch of youngsters began learning to swim in February. This is volunteerism at its best and we want to enable more of such efforts. We see companies as key partners in growing a culture of giving. Working adults often do not have time to organise something on their own. So, companies play an important role in creating the opportunities for employees to volunteer for a worthy cause. Corporate giving also builds relationships between businesses and the communities they serve. For the employees and beneficiaries involved, corporate social responsibility (CSR) or volunteerism projects are opportunities to make new friends beyond their usual circles. It is a natural setting for employees from different nationalities and ethnicities to get to know one another better. Mr Thomas Chua, Mr Henry Kwek and Ms Joan Pereira spoke on encouraging corporate giving.”
“The academies will offer structured programmes in selected sports for youths to develop their skills. The clubs will organise events to enable all Singaporeans to enjoy sports. They will host interest groups, community and corporate leagues with varying levels of competitiveness for participants of all ages and skill levels to stay active and grow their social networks through sports. So, perhaps, we should revive our MP Page: 28 Football Club and participate in one of these corporate leagues. These leagues and community clubs will complement and supplement the schools and address concerns, such as inability to get into a school team, and provide opportunities to play even when a sport is not covered by a particular school. Mdm Chair, next, shared responsibility, a caring society. A caring society is one enriched by service and responsibility to one another. It is a society where we give back our time, talent and treasure freely. It involves active citizenship, which matters because, in a more turbulent future, the challenges we face will require action that exceeds the limits of the Government. The Government will build strong partnerships with the people, the theme of this Budget. For many years, the Government has consulted citizens on policies and to gather feedback. The Ministries conduct surveys and consult stakeholders in our policy-making process. To build a common future together, MCCY will create more avenues for citizens to step forward, lend a hand and be part of the solutions to the problems we face. The public can contribute by giving views on policies, organising local activities or volunteering a service to the needy. Members Ms Joan Pereira, Dr Lily Neo, Mr Melvin Yong spoke on the importance of volunteerism.”
“Compared to a generation ago, there is more space for expression and experimentation, while still preserving peaceful social relations. But there is, ultimately, a need for rules of engagement to safeguard the social harmony that we cherish, which then creates the safe space for citizens to pursue their aspirations and for art to do its work. To quote Henry Kissinger: "Any system of world order, to be sustainable, must be accepted as just – not only by leaders but also by citizens. It must reflect two truths: order without freedom, even if sustained by momentary exaltation, eventually creates its own counterpoise; yet freedom cannot be secured or sustained without a framework of order to keep the peace. Order and freedom, sometimes described as opposite poles on the spectrum of experience, should instead be understood as interdependent." While Kissinger wrote these words in the context of world order, I think it appropriately describes the Singapore context as well, a recognition that the Government has to balance order and freedom; and that our role is to drive progress while remaining in step with the populace and maintaining societal order. It is only with social harmony that we can enjoy the peace and, ultimately, the freedom that comes with it. Sports. Sport is a great way to bring diverse communities together. ActiveSG, which was launched two years ago as our national movement for sport, contributes to this. ActiveSG has over a million members now and offers a wide range of programmes catering to different ages and interests. Mr Henry Kwek asked about sustaining sports participation across life stages. ActiveSG will launch sports academies and clubs across Singapore.”
“The fabric of a society is delicately woven, strand by strand, from the small daily interactions we have with our neighbours, friends and family. Page: 27 Research tells us that the experiences we share and the everyday exchanges we have are the building blocks of social cohesion. This is why we see public spaces like our museums, galleries, sports facilities as important common spaces where everyone of us from different walks of life can meet one another, experience the same things together and build trust, consideration and understanding on a daily basis. Our museums and galleries have a special place in the hearts and minds of Singaporeans. Visitorship reached a high of almost four million last year. The National Gallery alone saw almost 700,000 go through its doors since it opened late last year. We will ensure our collections and facilities are meaningful to Singaporeans from all walks of life, through programming and place-making. We will design our programmes to enable everyone to participate, whether young or old, rich or poor, able-bodied or not. During the Budget debate, Mr Kok Heng Leun spoke about the lack of space for discourse and for art to ask difficult questions. He also quoted Lu Xun to explain that the nature of art is to examine change, to pursue truth. However, as the nature of politics is to maintain the status quo, according to Lu Xun, art and politics will diverge. I agree with him, but only partially. Politics in Singapore does not seek to maintain the status quo. Neither do Government policies. Good politics and good policies are forward-looking. So, we have made changes and adjustments along the way. Norms of what are acceptable or not, evolve.”
“It takes an objective approach in its curation of history and invites visitors to examine different perspectives and engage in critical thinking, rather than impose a "standard" or "official" account of history, as Mr Low Thia Khiang says. Let me give Members an example. The Singapore History Gallery has a showcase displaying published political material leading up to the 1962 Referendum on Merger. The showcase presents the Chinese, English and Malay versions of "The Battle for Merger" by then-Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew. This series of radio talks aimed to expose the goals, methods and organisation of the Communist movement. But the showcase also presents two alternative political perspectives published at the time. One was a booklet entitled, "The Truth Behind Merger?", written by Felice Leon-Soh, who was then-Secretary General of the Liberal Socialist Party. In the booklet, she urged the people to question the People's Action Party's (PAP's) campaign for merger and make an informed decision when casting their votes during the referendum. The other was "合并, 假合并与邦联" or "Merger, Phony Merger and Confederation", a booklet published by the Barisan Sosialis, in which the party disagreed with the Merger terms set out by the PAP and instead championed full and complete Merger. 12.45 pm The above example illustrates how NHB seeks to present curatorial viewpoints based on facts and comprehensive research from multiple available sources. At the same time, NHB welcomes new sources of information and viewpoints that enrich our understanding of our past through different perspectives. Madam, I will go to the next topic, which is shared experiences for social cohesion.”
“Mr Low Thia Khiang spoke about allowing different interpretations of Singapore history and setting up an independent commission to oversee NHB grants. NHB already taps on the expertise of independent external panels to evaluate its grants. The panels comprise representatives from different sectors, including academics and civic society groups, such as the Singapore Heritage Society, to ensure a wide range of opinions and views. To Page: 26 date, NHB grants have funded about 180 projects, ranging from publications, to documentaries, exhibitions, workshops and commissioned research. As NHB does not dictate content, we have seen many different topics and perspectives represented. NHB also draws widely on local and international experts in curating exhibitions. NHB has consulted such experts on the revamp of our Heritage Institutions and the Singapore history galleries at the National Museum of Singapore. In particular, on Singapore history, the National Museum is advised by senior historians from our universities who are acknowledged in their fields. The same applies to the recent exhibition at the Old Parliament House, which Mr Low Thia Khiang mentioned. Besides Pioneer leaders, various groups, such as opposition party members, minority members and women members are also featured in the visuals and texts of the exhibition. For example, Mr Chiam See Tong's quote capturing his perspective on being an opposition party Member of Parliament (MP) is prominently highlighted. As in other exhibitions, NHB and the Arts House would welcome views and additional information which can further enrich our understanding of history. Overall, NHB's approach is an open and consultative one.”
“Our shared heritage is an important marker of national identity. But at the same time, identity is not a fixed thing. There must be space for Singapore to evolve with new developments that meet the needs of future generations. NHB adopts a calibrated and sensitive approach, involving relevant stakeholders, to balance heritage preservation and development needs. There are inevitable trade-offs and differing stakeholder demands in this process. We have studied the HIA frameworks of several countries and have found that these are not fully applicable to Singapore's context. We have decided not to adopt such frameworks wholesale at this point in time, but to evolve an approach suited to our local context. To guide its HIA efforts, NHB has the Heritage Advisory Panel, which includes experts, academics and industry practitioners. The panel evaluates the significance of sites, buildings and structures and advises on mitigation measures if they are affected by development works. We agree with Mr Chen Show Mao's point to have closer coordination with Government agencies. NHB works with planning agencies, such as the Urban Redevelopment Authority, Land Transport Authority and Housing and Development Board, to incorporate heritage considerations into long-term and nearer-term land use and development plans. NHB is conducting a nationwide survey on Singapore's tangible heritage comprising sites, buildings and structures. When the survey is completed in mid-2017, we will have a comprehensive database that maps out Singapore's heritage assets. NHB will be able to identify Singapore's heritage assets and better advise on their historical significance to facilitate better decision-making by planning agencies.”
“Here, we are seeing performers of different backgrounds coming together for each and every one of the items. So, the performers are foreign and local, young and old, from different races and, by definition, probably have different religions as well. It opens a window into the different cultures of Singapore. It represents a country where race, language and creed do not divide, but instead drive a dynamic, multicultural society. Members talked about the relationship between people and places and the role public spaces have in building a sense of community. Dr Lim Wee Kiak asked what we can learn from other cities Page: 25 to make our works more accessible and pleasurable for Singaporeans. A strong sense of place and local artistic content feature prominently in culturally vibrant places. We will be doing more to enliven the Civic District and Bras Basah-Bugis precinct and deepen the distinctive character of places which make Singapore attractive and unique. Three million dollars will be channelled over the next three years to ramp up placemaking efforts in the Civic District. The funds will be used to expand programming and publicity and build social and civic connections. NAC and the National Heritage Board (NHB) will work with different stakeholders in the community, including arts and heritage groups, to create places that people want to visit and where they can enjoy outdoor and indoor experiences across sports, culture, food and entertainment. We have also started to bring art to local communities and engage them in arts activities that reflect their local identity, through initiatives, like PAssionArts. Parliamentary Secretary Baey will share more about these efforts. Mr Chen Show Mao asked about Heritage Impact Assessment (HIA).”