Hamid Razak
Singapore
“The test is whether a worker can quickly see the right course, for the right job, at the right time. Whether a parent can feel confident about their child's runway and future, and whether the citizen's journey feels seamless.”
“Moreover, a number of disadvantaged Singaporeans work beyond their main jobs to supplement household incomes. Others face health and family constraints. These realities limit their capacity to train after hours.”
“This division of responsibility should help the public know where to go to and help the sector operate with greater clarity, purpose and confidence. With these observations, Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, offered in the spirit of strengthening the implementation and preserving trust, I support the Veterinary Practice Bill.”
“Decisions would need to be made quickly, so I ask how will enforcement agencies operationally distinguish between these categories of devices and substances, especially when they are doing their ground checks and when they need to respond rapidly? Clear differentiation matters for two reasons.”
“(In English): In Tamil, please. (In Tamil): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] Mr Chairman, though the Indian/Muslim community is a small one, it has made sustained contributions to our nation building. The Indian/Muslim community today is diverse. There are many organisations. Every organisation has its own strengths.”
“Another one will be the M3@Towns, where every town which has a M3 will be able to work with the MMOs, IMOs and most other informal groups. So, we want to see how we can navigate this together. We will discuss further during the networking session.”
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“Such a strategy could bring together Government agencies, industries, our IHLs and SkillsFuture partners to regularly identify emerging skills, develop future-ready curricula, expand internships and overseas industrial attachments to ensure that Singaporeans are well positioned to take on the high-value jobs that will emerge across our transport sector. Doing so would also reinforce one of the key objectives of this Motion, which is to anchor good jobs in Singapore. The best way to anchor good jobs is not simply to attract investment, but to ensure that our Singaporeans possess capabilities that investors cannot easily find elsewhere. Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, technology will continue to evolve, whether through AI, automation or innovations that we cannot yet foresee. Our task is not to predict every technological change, but to ensure that Singaporeans have the adaptability and the opportunities to keep learning throughout their careers. If we do that well, technology will strengthen our workforce rather than displace it. Singapore's transport success has never depended solely on just our ports, runways or logistics networks. It has always depended on our quality, adaptability and resilience of our workers and our people. I believe we can better develop Singaporeans who will become the future leaders of the transport sector, identify where the skills gaps lie and determine how our existing platforms can better support this transition. Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, we plan our ports decades ahead. We plan our airports decades ahead. We should plan our people with that same discipline and rigour. If we do so, I am confident that Singapore will continue to be not just a global transport hub, but a global transport leader. With that, I support the Motion.”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, as we invest in Tuas Port, Changi Airport T5 and the next generation of transport infrastructure, just like a few of my Parliamentary colleagues, I would like to focus on another form of infrastructure that will determine our long-term competitiveness: our people. Ports can be built, airports can be expanded, but a future-ready workforce cannot simply be assembled overnight. If Singapore is to remain a leading global transport hub over the next two or three decades, our human capital strategy has to evolve with our infrastructure strategy. The transport sector is indeed evolving rapidly. Digitalisation, AI and automation are reshaping aviation, maritime and logistics. The jobs of tomorrow will certainly demand different skillsets, stronger interdisciplinary capabilities and a commitment to lifelong learning. The key challenge then is to ensure that our education system and our training pathways evolve just as quickly or even quicker, to keep up with the pace. The question is this, do our IHLs provide sufficient opportunities for students of today to combine engineering with AI, logistics with data analytics or maritime operations with digital technologies? Equally important, are we providing enough opportunities for today's workers to continuously reskill as technology evolves? Our transport strategy should therefore not simply be viewed as purely an infrastructure strategy. It should also keep in mind that it has to be a human capital strategy as well. Singapore has always stayed ahead because we invested in our people ahead of demand. As we strengthen our position as a global transport hub, we should consider a more integrated National Transport Talent Strategy.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, my third point relates to the public impact of anti-competitive conduct, which the Bill seeks to address more effectively. When markets become concentrated, or when certain players can unfairly leverage control over essential resources, harm flows directly to our citizens. Anti-competitive conduct can lead to fewer choices, weaker incentives to innovate, poorer service quality and higher costs over time. It can also create barriers for smaller or newer players, reducing dynamism and entrenching incumbents. The Bill gives IMDA stronger tools to intervene in relation to market conduct and essential resources in the media industry. Competition policy is not merely about punishing bad behaviour. It is about preserving healthy market conditions so that consumers are not disadvantaged by structural imbalances. And in the media space, competition issues are not just economic. They can shape who gets distribution, whose content reaches audiences and which firms survive. In other words, competition shapes openness. On the new power to issue directions for fair and efficient market conduct, can the Senior Minister of State clarify what procedural safeguards will apply where practicable, such as notice, representations and review avenues, so that speed is balanced with due process? Mr Speaker, Sir, I would add that the success of these powers will depend on how transparently and consistently they are applied. Industry players will need clear signals about the thresholds, obligations and enforcement expectations. The public, too, should be able to see that these interventions are designed not to over-regulate, but to preserve fairness, openness and resilience in a converged digital landscape. With these observations, Mr Speaker, I support the Bill.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, my second point concerns media ownership and control, and why it matters. The Bill strengthens IMDA's framework around ownership, control and regulated persons, including powers linked to controllers and essential resources. It also tightens oversight of significant controls and transactions, including where a party crosses key voting control thresholds. This matters because media ownership is never just a corporate matter. It affects the diversity of voices, the resilience of public discourse and the range of perspectives available to citizens in a small and highly connected media market like Singapore's, concentration of ownership or opaque influence can have outsized effects. So, when we review ownership rules, we are asking a wider societal question. How do we preserve a media environment that remains trusted, diverse and resilient in an age of consolidation and digital concentration? For the ordinary citizen, this is not abstract. It affects whether one receives information from a range of credible sources or from an ecosystem that is overly shaped by a few dominant actors. It affects whether media remains plural enough to support informed citizenship and it affects whether public trust in information ecosystems can be maintained. In that sense, stronger ownership safeguards are not only about control. They are about protecting the quality of the information space that citizens inhabit every single day. At the same time, these powers must be exercised with clarity and discipline. In a globalised environment, the framework must be robust without becoming unnecessarily rigid. The objective is to guard against harmful concentration and opaque influence, while allowing legitimate investment, innovation and sectoral development.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I rise in support of the IMDA (Amendment) Bill. This Bill strengthens fair and efficient market conduct and effective competition in the media industry, reduces regulatory burden in prescribed areas, provides IMDA with additional powers and align certain provisions with the Telecommunications Act. In plain terms, it strengthens oversight of ownership control and strengthens IMDA's ability to act when market conduct harms competition or consumers. Mr Speaker, Sir, my first point is that harmonising media and telecommunications regulation is no longer merely administrative. It is now a policy necessity. In the past, telecommunications could be understood as infrastructure and carriage. Media was understood as content and publishing, but today consumers do not experience them separately. A citizen watches news, entertainment and commentary over data networks. Digital platforms operate across both infrastructure and content ecosystems, and a small number of major gatekeepers can influence both access and visibility. In such an environment, if our frameworks remain too fragmented, we create uneven rules for functionally similar activity that can encourage regulatory arbitrage, where firms structure themselves to exploit gaps between regimes rather than compete on service quality, innovation and value. The Bill's effort to bring media competition and conduct provisions closer to the telco model is therefore a necessary response to technological convergence. In this regard, can the Minister clarify how IMDA will ensure consistent principles across telecommunications and media competition regulation while still accounting for the media sector's distinct public interest considerations?”
“The test is whether a worker can quickly see the right course, for the right job, at the right time. Whether a parent can feel confident about their child's runway and future, and whether the citizen's journey feels seamless. If we keep this direction and refine delivery with tripartite resolve, Singapore can deploy AI effectively, responsibly and at speed, while strengthening trust and protecting dignity. With these observations, Mr Speaker, I support the Motion.”
“They worry that jobs may disappear, that the value of skills may diminish and what may happen to the future of children. These concerns are real. The questions are also difficult, but our response is not to fear. AI is advancing quickly, but human mercy, trust, sense of justice, creativity, language, culture – all these cannot be fully replaced by any machine. AI can compute; but the human connection, human judgement and the human responsibility will always remain with us. So, we must move ourselves from the path of fear to the path of opportunity. The rise of AI does not mean that humans are no longer needed. Rather, it makes it clearer on what truly are the important tasks that humans must do. In this regard, the humanities are important; language skills are important; cultural nuances are important; social understanding is important. Healthcare, caregiving, education, social services, counselling and work that involves direct contact with people – these are fields that AI cannot replace. The Tamil language and Tamil culture are a support in this endeavour; our literature nurtures the human feeling. Our culture strengthens social responsibility. That is our strength. So, this is what we must tell our young people: embrace AI but also grow the human capability. Learning is not merely a certification. It is a path, a belief, a plan for the future. When growth comes, employment opportunities must come with it. Support for change must also come with it. So, do not fear. Let us have faith. (In English): Mr Speaker, Sir, no jobless growth must mean one thing. Growth that workers can feel, in wages, in dignity, in a clear next step. So, I offer one governing standard. The test is not how many schemes we have.”
“Productivity must show up as better work and, ultimately, better wages for our workers and not only a shrinking headcount. This is not meant to be punitive. It is meant to be practical. This is where our tripartite partners can help with playbooks, with templates and advisory support so that SMEs are not left alone to figure it out. Third, bring AI readiness to the professional sectors, like clinics, law firms, accounting firms. Many are small, PMET-heavy and time poor. They want to adopt AI but they worry about safety, confidentiality, liability and trust. One practical model already shared in this House is already emerging in healthcare. In April this year, HSEU and GP+ Co-operative signed an agreement to train primary care clinic staff in AI awareness, and to help primary care clinics adopt technology and redesign their workflows, supported by the CTC approach and the CTC Grants. I observed this partnership up close. The value is in making adoption practical, responsible and anchored on job redesign, and not just a tool roll-out. I hope that we can extend this cluster-based, CTC-style approach to other professional sectors too, including law and accountancy, so smaller practices can move from uncertainty to readiness, with clear governance standards and worker protection. For our workers, support should begin when need is recognised. That means faster job matching, modular training that fits real-life schedules and practical guidance for responsible transitions. In practice, structured coaching and a clear next step reduces anxiety, because it shifts a worker from waiting to acting. Mr Speaker, Sir, I will now speak in Tamil. (In Tamil): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] Hon Speaker, many feel concerned when talking about AI.”
“It should be about humans working with AI, with judgement, with verification and with accountability. This Motion is just not about technology. It is about trust, job redesign and the worker journey in whole. Trust will determine if this adoption would succeed. If AI is experienced by workers as surveillance, the trust will thin and eventually break. And when trust breaks, adoption will slow and gains will not be sustainable. Prime Minister Wong spoke about protecting every worker and scaling practical tripartite tools, like the CTCs for the AI transition. This is the direction we should double down on and I offer four practical moves on this front. First, skills must be a pathway and not a menu. SkillsFuture is a major national asset. But on the ground, many workers tell me this. It is useful, but it is also overwhelming. Too many courses, too many badges, too little signal. So, the problem now is not just access. It is navigation. A worker should not need to scroll for hours to guess what really matters to him or his next job. So, I suggest that we curate clearer AI-relevant pathways by sector, by job role, with a clear front door and clear employer recognition. And we can consider additional incentives for those who choose priority courses that support AI-enabled growth, especially when there is clear employer demand. This could mean higher subsidy tiers or outcome-linked support, such as completion plus interview, attachment or redeployment pathways subject to design and feasibility. Second, tie AI adoption to job redesign. Many Members have spoken about this. If we fund adoption, we should ask, how will tasks change, how will workers be redeployed and how will the performance measurements continue to remain fair?”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I declare that I am a business owner for a private orthopaedic practice, which is unionised, and also an advisor to the Health Services Employers Union (HSEU). I rise in support of the Motion, an AI Transition with No Jobless Growth. AI is already here. It is not a pilot; it is already becoming a platform. Sir, our question is not whether we adopt AI. We will. The broader question is whether we grow without leaving our workers behind. In the next decade, Singapore should be judged not by how fast we deploy AI, by how well we translate adoption into better jobs, better wages and stronger trust at the workplace. I speak in three roles today as a professional, as a parent and as a Member of Parliament listening to my residents. First, the professional anxiety. Many PMETs, they are not afraid of technology, they are uneasy about the uncertainty because AI rarely replaces the whole job. It unbundles tasks, it compresses teams, it changes what employers hire for. And when you cannot see how your role evolves, anxiety rises. Second, the parental anxiety. Parents today ask very simple questions: will my child have a fair start? What will entry-level work look like? And if entry-level work shrinks, who will then train the next generation? Third, the resident anxiety and this is the most practical one. Mid-career workers worry about displacement. Caregivers worry about time. Many people cannot just stop their work to train or retrain. They are not asking for guarantees. They are asking simply for a fair chance and a system that they can navigate. Mr Speaker, Sir, we should be candid about AI. AI is smart, but it is not wise. It can hallucinate, it can sound confident and yet still be wrong. So, the future should not be about humans competing with AI.”
“I just want to mention for the record that I declare that I am an orthopaedic surgeon in private practice, and also a visiting consultant at public healthcare institutions.”
“Thank you, Mr Speaker, Sir. I thank the Minister of State for the reply. I generally accept that the Ministry does not want to intervene in the arrangements within private insurance companies and in the private healthcare, but I am coming from an angle of not overburdening the public healthcare. Because we do not want a sudden surge of patients from private healthcare going to the public hospitals. So, in that regard, I would like to ask if the Ministry has studied the components of bill sizes that have contributed to the recent increase in medical costs in the private healthcare. Because we have had measures to cool down, for example, the cost attributed to doctor's fee sizes with fee benchmarks as well as panel arrangements. So, has the Ministry studied whether other components – for example, facility costs, consumable costs and whether these have been riding steadily and whether there are plans to have similar benchmarks for these bill size components? Following on to that, can I also ask the Ministry whether it has studied the effects of the panel arrangements on whether they have equitably kept doctors' fee sizes manageable compared to the fee benchmark that the Ministry already has? Because my worry is that with entrenching panel behaviours by insurers, that we are also limiting access to equitable healthcare in the private sector.”
“Moreover, a number of disadvantaged Singaporeans work beyond their main jobs to supplement household incomes. Others face health and family constraints. These realities limit their capacity to train after hours. I would therefore ask the Minister how the new agency will ensure that these training pathways remain accessible and relevant to these groups I have mentioned. How will support be sufficiently intensive to those who face greater barriers? And how will outcomes be tracked, not just in aggregate, but across different segments of the workforce? Because if the system is seamless only for those already in advantaged positions, then it truly is not seamless. Mr Speaker, Sir, the SWDA Bill represents a significant step forward in how Singapore approaches workforce policy. It shifts us from separate interventions towards a more integrated, continuous and responsive system. But integration cannot be just WSG and SSG shaking hands. Our residents must feel that their hands are held throughout the employment journey. With these comments, Mr Speaker, Sir, I support the Bill.”
“With a unified view of skills and employment data, the agency can offer more proactive, tailored and personalised support. It can identify at-risk workers earlier, guide them towards the relevant training and support smoother transitions into new roles. At the same time, I seek clarification on how the agency intends to balance standardisation and customisation. A centralised and standardised system of course can achieve efficiency. But it must remain responsive to diverse needs. This includes mid-career professionals, lower-wage workers, gig workers, those in emerging sectors and those returning to work after caregiving responsibilities. In other words, Mr Speaker, Sir, the system must be integrated, but it cannot become impersonal. Mr Speaker, Sir, my third point relates to equity. Singapore has achieved high participation in training programmes. But participation alone does not necessarily translate into equitable outcomes. We must ensure the benefits of this integrated system are accessible to all, especially those who need it most. This includes lower-income workers, those with lower educational attainment and workers in sectors undergoing disruption. Those in the low buffer households. Equity is not just about access to training. It is also about whether the system is navigable for those with the least time, least confidence and least support. We should also recognise a practical constraint here. The ability to upgrade while in employment is not available to all. While we have encouraged employers to send workers for training, companies may still prioritise those who are already seen as higher potential. More vulnerable workers can be overlooked or sidelined and this becomes a compounding disadvantage when they eventually face displacement.”
“It is linkage. The linkage between training choices, employer recognition and hiring outcomes. Courses build capability but pathways will build confidence. The new agency presents an opportunity to close this gap. It can move us towards a system where training is not only supply-driven but aligned to real labour market demand. And it can make pathways clearer at the point where a worker must decide what he must do, he or she must do next. But integration is not automatic. It takes coordination. It takes timely intelligence. And it takes a clear focus on outcomes. I therefore seek clarification from the Minister on how the new agency will define and track success. For example, will the agency track placement rates within six to 12 months? Job match quality? Wage outcomes? And progression over time, especially for mid-career switches? Ultimately, the goal must be simple. Every Singaporean who invests his time and effort into upgrading should see a meaningful return, in real employment opportunity. Mr Speaker, Sir, my second point relates to a life-course approach to workforce development. Many Singaporeans may have to reskill and pivot multiple times in their career. So, workforce support cannot be activated only when one loses a job or signs up for a course. It must be continuous, anticipatory and personalised. Some workers may also need more flexible routes to sustain household income during these transition phases, including fractional work arrangements or micro-entrepreneurship, where appropriate. But for many, the barrier is not motivation. It is time. It is confidence. And it is navigation. The formation of this new agency provides an opportunity to move in that direction.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, one issue I have observed is expectations. When some mid-career workers used SkillsFuture to take courses in high demand areas like AI, data or project management, product management, they may understandably hope to re-enter at the same level of seniority and remuneration they previously held. But in practice, they are competing with candidates who already have track records in these sectors and employers may be hiring for proven experience, not only course completion. When outcomes do not match expectations, some become discouraged, disgruntled and conclude that their training did not work even though the real barrier may be the entry point into a new industry. This raises a policy question for the new agency. Could the Minister clarify how the new agency will position SkillsFuture as a pathway for sector entry and conversion or as a pathway for in sector progression? Because the citizens advice and expectations differ in each case. If we try to signal both at once, we risk sending mixed messages and confusing citizens at the very point that they seek and need clarity. I therefore suggest that the new agency consider finetuning SkillsFuture into clearer pathways. One pathway could focus on sector entry and conversion with transparent expectations on likely starting roles, salary ranges and the additional steps needed beyond courses, such as supervised projects, apprenticeship or structured workplace attachments. Another pathway could then focus on progression for those who are already in the sector where SkillsFuture support deeper specialisation and advancement of skills. This distinction will make the citizen journey clearer and help training translate more reliable into hiring outcomes. So, the key issue here is not willingness of the individual.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I rise in support of the SWDA Bill. This is a significant and forward-looking Bill. It reflects a deeper shift in how we think about jobs, skills and careers in Singapore. At its core, this Bill recognises a structural reality, that skills development and employment outcomes can no longer be treated as separate policy domains. So, training and employment must connect more tightly, not only in policy design, but in how Singaporeans experience the system. The merger of SSG and WSG into a single agency is therefore not just an administrative consolidation. It is a deliberate move towards a more integrated, end-to-end workforce system. In the next decade, we should be measuring success by not how many courses a worker attends but how many transitions are completed into good jobs with progression. Mr Speaker, Sir, my first point is about integrating with the labour market. Today, training and employment are delivered by separate agencies and both have done commendable work. But separation can create a gap. Skills are acquired, but jobs may not follow. Workers may complete courses without clear pathways into employment. At the same time, employers may report difficulty finding job-ready talent. Some residents have shared these concerns with me. They are middle-aged, mid-career PMETs who have lost their jobs. They made the effort to upskill. They used their SkillsFuture subsidies and trained in areas like AI, data analysis and project management. Yet despite their efforts, they still find it difficult to secure work that is commensurate with their skills and seniority. Some have also shared that while they are prepared to learn, they are less clear about what a realistic entry point looks like when moving into a brand new sector.”
“This division of responsibility should help the public know where to go to and help the sector operate with greater clarity, purpose and confidence. With these observations, Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, offered in the spirit of strengthening the implementation and preserving trust, I support the Veterinary Practice Bill.”
“This Bill defines what constitutes the "practice of veterinary medicine" and draws boundaries around key acts that require professional judgement, such as diagnosis, surgical treatment, prescription and certification. At the same time, the consultation outcome makes clear that specified groups, including students and other persons such as nurses, may perform a specified scope of activities under prescribed conditions and supervision. This is the right principle. It protects animals and the public by keeping core judgement where it belongs, while allowing team-based care to scale safely in a protected environment. But implementation will matter. I suggest two practical considerations. First, provide clear and plain guidance on safe delegation and team-based workflows, including what may be done under supervision, what documentation is expected, and how accountability is preserved. Second, I note the stated longer-term intention to regulate veterinary nurses, with an adequate transition period. A phased approach is sensible, allowing engagement, capability building and continuity of services while raising standards across the wider care team. Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, I close with one guiding standard. Good regulation is not only how strongly we deter misconduct. It is how confidently good professionals can practise and how clearly citizens can navigate that system. I also note the importance of clarity in the roles of institutions. The consultation materials make clear that AVS would continue to regulate veterinary clinics and animal-related businesses and remains the first responder for animal feedback, while the Veterinary Council itself will regulate professional standards for veterinary practice.”
“Next, Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, my second point relates to affordability and consumer trust. The consultation feedback reflected public concerns about transparency and the pricing of veterinary services. NParks has also been clear that this Bill or the scope of this Bill does not cover pricing and fees matters and that separate measures may be considered to address these concerns. While I do agree that the Veterinary Council itself should not be the price setter, but affordability is shaped by more than just price controls. It is shaped by transparency, clear communication and the confidence pet owners have when making often difficult decisions under time pressure. When treatment plans are especially complex and costs are uncertain, asymmetry between provider and consumer can lead to disputes, mistrust and delayed care. That certainly does not help animal welfare, and it does not help the profession. So, even if fees are outside this Bill's scope, I encourage the Ministry and the Council to consider what can be done, through professional standards and guidance, to strengthen transparency in practice, clearer expectations around communication of options of treatment, informed consent and upfront cost discussion, especially in urgent or high-stakes situations. This is again similar to the medical practice where financial counselling requirements come under Healthcare Services Act. This is not about policing fees but is about strengthening trust through clarity. Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, my third point is a system-level one, the development of the whole animal care ecosystem.”
“If standards rise while supply tightens, the lived outcome for pet owners may be longer waits, higher costs and delayed care. This of course is not the intent of this Bill. The Bill provides levers for calibrated professionalisation. It allows the Council to impose conditions on registration, including supervised practice, performance review, limits to setting and limits to scope for defined periods, to support safe entry and progression. In this regard, I would like to seek the Ministry's clarification on two practical areas. First, how will recognition pathways, including for overseas-trained veterinarians, be made clear and predictable, while maintaining standards. The Bill provides for prescribed qualifications, and also for Council assessment of other qualifications and competence, including examinations where appropriate. Clear published guidance will reduce uncertainty and support consistency. This is similar to the First and Second Schedules of the Medical Registration Act, where both local and overseas qualifications are listed. Second, what complementary measures will support retention and career development? Regulation is not only about disciplining errant practice; it is also about sustaining the workforce so that good professionals can stay and grow. I would not like to belabour the point but like to echo the points made by colleagues in the Chamber earlier that for the longer-term pipeline, I really hope that MOE and the relevant agencies can keep under review whether there may be a case for a locally administered veterinary degree. Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, good regulation should not only raise the bar. It should also widen the pathways for capable people to meet that bar, safely and fairly.”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, I rise in support of the Veterinary Practice Bill. This Bill is timely, because veterinary care today sits at the intersection of animal welfare, public trust and public health. As we have seen, as pet ownership rises, so too there are expectations of care. Our regulatory framework must keep pace, not just to deter poor practice, but to protect good professionals and strengthen confidence among pet owners and the wider community. Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, NParks conducted a public consultation from 31 October to 28 November last year and received 103 responses. This number reflects a sector and a public that both care deeply about standards, fairness and clarity. This Bill too advances that direction in a very structured way. I will raise three points, in the spirit of strengthening implementation, so that the Bill uplifts standards while preserving access and trust. Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, the first point is on workforce sustainability. Official consultation materials note that 690 over licensed veterinarians as of October 2025. Beyond veterinarians, there are around 1,000 to 1,500 veterinary nurses and technicians in Singapore. Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, we have also seen encouraging progress in responsible pet ownership. Since the cat management framework began on 1 September 2024, about 41,000 pet cats have been licensed, and over 41,500 people completed the online pet ownership course required for first-time applicants. These efforts work best when they are matched by a professional framework that keeps the standards clear, trusted and consistent. As we raise standards, we should also keep a close eye on a very simple reality.”
“Decisions would need to be made quickly, so I ask how will enforcement agencies operationally distinguish between these categories of devices and substances, especially when they are doing their ground checks and when they need to respond rapidly? Clear differentiation matters for two reasons. First, it ensures proportional enforcement; and second, it can reduce confusion, both for the officers and the public. Mr Speaker, Sir, trust is built not just by good policy intent, but by how people experience the system. If rules are clear, processes are fair and officers are supported, enforcement would become more consistent and confidence in the system would increase. This Bill represents a careful and calibrated response to the growing public health challenge of vapes and smoking substances. It strengthens prevention. It tightens enforcement and it recognises for many, especially the young, early intervention and rehabilitation must be part of the process. With these remarks, Mr Speaker, I support the Bill.”
“Will there be an increase in training supervising officers? Will counselling and psychosocial support services be expanded with these new pathways? How will community-based agencies be equipped to deliver effective rehabilitation programmes in a way that is structured, consistent and outcomes-oriented? Because rehabilitation is not just compassion. It is accountability coupled with support. It has to be credible. It has to work. Otherwise, we create churn where the system looks busy, but the outcomes do not improve. Next, on ground implementation and operational clarity. In Parliament, we can discuss and debate clauses, but on the ground, it comes down to people, processes and clarity. This Bill places duties on responsible persons of specified premises in relation to access controls, age checks and reporting obligations. These are important measures, but many smaller premises may not have the experience managing regulatory responsibilities of this nature, so I want to seek clarification on what operational guidance will be provided. Will there be practical tool kits, clear protocols, simple scripts for staff to use training for de-escalation so that they can comply with safety and be consistent about it? We should not put our frontline workers in a position where they must enforce rules without the support, and then face confrontation without adequate protection. Mr Speaker, Sir, there is also a second operational issue. Frontline enforcement officers will now operate in an environment where substances regulated under this act may coexist with substances governed under the MDA. In reality, an officer conducting a ground check may see a device, a liquid, a cartridge or a mixture.”
“Many young people do not start because they want to intentionally break the law. They start because they underestimate the risk. They trust what they see online. There is a lack of information, there is peer pressure and they tell themselves, "Well, it is just a vape." So, my first clarification is this. Alongside enforcement, how the Ministry will ensure that there is preventive education and health literacy alongside and in a strong way? How will we then equip students and young people to recognise the risk early on? How will we support parents who may not even know what to look out for and how to start conversations with their young ones? How will we keep our messaging current, when products evolve so quickly? Because a strong preventive framework is not just regulation. It is also proactive, upstream education, delivered in a way that young people and their parents will actually receive and understand. If I may offer one standard to guide us, the test is not how many rules we have, but how fewer young people are trapped in the first place. Second, on enforcement and rehabilitation. Mr Speaker, Sir, I also welcome that the Bill is not only punitive. It recognises rehabilitation as part of public health and that matters. Because on the ground, we do see young offenders who are not hardened criminals. They made a poor decision. They followed the wrong crowd. They got pulled into a risky habit. And very often, they regret it deeply. They want and look for a way back. So, the inclusion of rehabilitative pathways, including community-based rehabilitation orders, is a very important and integral part of this amendment. But if we expand powers, we must also look to expand capacity. So, my second set of clarifications is about the scale and readiness.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I rise in support of this Bill. It is timely, it is forward looking and it recognises a very simple reality – that the threat simply has changed. What we are dealing with today is not just cigarettes in the traditional sense. It is also vaporisers, lookalike products and substances that can be mixed, disguised and marketed at speed, especially online. And the people most at risk are our young. So, I welcome the direction of this Bill. It strengthens prevention upstream, it tightens controls where harm begins and it also provides a framework for early intervention and importantly, rehabilitation that is centred in the community, where I think that is the safer and wiser approach. My remarks would be phased in three parts: first, on prevention and youth protection; second, the balance between enforcement and rehabilitation; and third, ground implementation so that the law is workable, fair and consistent. First, on prevention and youth protection. Mr Speaker, Sir, prevention is not a slogan. It is a design choice. If we want to protect young people, we have to act early, before harmful patterns become habits, before curiosity becomes dependency and before experimentation becomes identity. This is why I support the Bill's upstream preventive stance, especially provisions that deal with behavioural gateways and imitation products. Because globally, we have seen how this plays out. Products are designed to look harmless, even trendy. Packaging is sleek. Flavours are sweet. Names are playful. Everything points to normalising the behaviour and then addiction becomes a problem. So, I support intervening early. But I want to ask about the "other half" of prevention. Laws and penalties matter. But so, too, does understanding.”
“Another one will be the M3@Towns, where every town which has a M3 will be able to work with the MMOs, IMOs and most other informal groups. So, we want to see how we can navigate this together. We will discuss further during the networking session. I look forward to significant enhancement in collaborations between the M3 agencies and the MMOs, IMOs and informal groups.”
“Thank you, Chairman. I would like to clarify with the Acting Minister. On the ground, I have interacted with many of the MMOs and IMOs who are keen to tackle some of the issues within the Malay/Muslim community. I really welcome the idea of a M3+ network. I would like to ask how that will look like on the ground, how it will be operationalised and what are the opportunities and resources that will be available for our MMOs and IMOs who are keen to contribute to tackling some of these problems in the community? Assoc Prof Dr Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim: Sir, I thank the Member for the supplementary question. I am happy to share with him that in the last few months, many of the MMOs have come forward. They have, in fact, organised among themselves to see how they can work together and collaborate with the M3 agencies. On the other hand, the M3 agencies are also looking at the ways where they can work better. As I shared in my speech, we have some collaborations especially in some of the areas. In fact, with M3+, it signifies a greater emphasis on more intentional collaborations between the M3 agencies and the MMOs, IMOs and informal groups. So, we have the M3 Focus Areas, five Focus Areas. Among the areas, we look at how to strengthen marriages, youth development, healthcare and supporting workers. We will see how in some of these areas, where the MMOs, IMOs and as well as informal groups can play a part. I give the Member an example. We have the Malay/Muslim Organisations Rehabilitation Network, where we see many of the MMOs and IMOs coming together to support. This is an example of how we can make M3+ a reality. Depending on the areas or topics that we will be looking at, there will be opportunities to do so.”
“(In English): In Tamil, please. (In Tamil): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] Mr Chairman, though the Indian/Muslim community is a small one, it has made sustained contributions to our nation building. The Indian/Muslim community today is diverse. There are many organisations. Every organisation has its own strengths. To seek solutions to the issues in our community, a whole-of-community effort is needed. What does whole-of-community effort mean? Whole-of-community effort means that MMOs, IMOs and other community organisations must come together and work in unity to achieve our national objectives. If we work together, our last-mile outreach will be more precise. Let us work together in endeavouring that our young people, our families and those in need progress forward together. Building and Uplifting Bersama (Together)”
“Mr Chairman, Sir, here in Singapore, we are very fortunate to have strong Malay/Muslim Organisations (MMOs), Indian/Muslim Organisations (IMOs) and other committed partners. But when efforts run in parallel, residents can face repeated touchpoints, gaps between services or a confusing hand-off from one organisation to the other. This is where the M3 network can play a practical, convening role, strengthening collaborations between MMOs and IMOs and other community partners, so strengths are combined and outreach is more coordinated on the ground. I have two questions for the Minister. First, how can the M3 network strengthen collaboration between MMOs, IMOs and other community partners, including shared referrals and joint planning, so individuals and families experience one coordinated pathway of help? Could the Minister consider adopting a "no wrong door" approach? Second, will the Minister consider a common playbook for MMOs, IMOs and partners with simple navigation standards and a small, shared set of outcomes, to make outreach more seamless. In Malay, please. (In Malay): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] Mr Chairman, I call upon our Malay/Muslim community organisations and grassroots bodies to work hand in hand, rather than operating separately. Each organisation has its own strengths – some are strong in youth matters, some are strong in family issues, some are strong in education, careers or social services. If we coordinate our efforts, we can reach out to more people, faster and more effectively. Let us complement each other, share clear frameworks and contribute according to our respective strengths, so that our community can achieve the vision of becoming the best version of ourselves, confident in our identity and continue contributing to Singapore.”
“Chairman, I would like to ask two clarifications. One, for Minister of State Rahayu. I really welcome the care protocols for osteoporosis, such as frailty, from 2028. I would like to ask, if, as part of this care protocol, whether there will be intentional strategy to include early education for those in their 30s and 40s, precisely because peak bone mass and peak muscle mass happens much earlier through lifestyle interventions, such as nutrition, resistance exercises and vitamin D, whether that is going to be part of the strategy, so that we can frame this, not just as an ageing issue, but a life course preventive strategy? Next clarification to the Minister. Really, I think a lot of the physicians will welcome that hereditary cancers will now be included as part of the coverage. I would like to ask because this is a high-risk group and risk reduction treatment in this group will definitely entail high costs, whereas MediShield Life is a principle of risk-pooling and this may be actually competing interests, whether the Ministry will look at design implications for MediShield Life as well as treating the treatment costs for these high-risk individuals in a single concept rather than as an episodic treatment? Because there may be a time lapse risk-reduction treatment for a healthy breast versus a breast that has already cancer detected and this will be supplemental cost throughout the life course of an individual.”
“Second, how can Healthier SG progressively add functional health markers, including metabolic, cognitive and frailty indicators, so that prevention becomes personalised and not just generic? Third, how will we enable responsible innovation so that we remain evidence-based, future-ready and trusted, so that our policies can keep pace as the evidence emerge, and we do not wait for two to three years after the evidence has already become mainstream? Because the goal obviously is not just longer life. The goal is delayed decline, preserved independence and dignified ageing. Cancer Treatment Costs and Coverage”
“How can the system be seamless when caring for such individuals? Third, how do we strengthen survivorship pathways for young cancer patients, including psychological and social support, not just medical follow-up? Mr Chairman, Sir, the test is not just about survival, but about how survivors can return to life. Precision Medicine and Functional Health Mr Chairman, Sir, if hereditary cancers speak about how complex medical care is, then precision medicine tells us how intelligently we can respond to the challenge. We already see the direction. At National University Health System (NUHS), the Centre for Healthy Longevity is building programmes that strengthen healthspan, not just treat illness, helping Singaporeans stay physically strong, cognitively sharp and metabolically well as we age. This matters because the public demand is already there. People are seeking tests and optimisation outside the mainstream system. If our public pathways do not keep pace with the credible evidence, we risk two things – fragmented care with uneven quality, with widening inequality and a missed opportunity for Singapore to lead responsibly as a trusted regional centre. While we focus on taking care of our seniors and our elderly, which is important, the key question as we go about with our society is how do we optimise every Singaporean, regardless of age, to reach the highest potential health for their age? So, Mr Chairman, Sir, may I ask the Minister three questions. First, what is the Ministry's pathway to evaluate and adopt emerging evidence in precision and longevity-related medicine with clear safeguards for safety and value?”
“Mr Chairman, Sir, for some Singaporeans, healthcare is not just confined to a bill. It is a lifetime of risk. Today, in this House, I want to share the story of a young Singaporean I met – Gwendalyn. In her early 20s, she was diagnosed with hereditary breast cancer. Overnight, her life changed. She faced surgery, complications of surgery and continued chemotherapy for her condition. She underwent reconstruction, but parts of her reconstruction were not covered because it was deemed to be cosmetic. For a young cancer survivor, reconstruction is not cosmetic. It is about dignity. It is about mental healing. There are many such Gwendalyns in our society today. People I speak about are those with hereditary risk of cancer. Her story points to a wider gap. Cancer care today is not only clinically complex, it is also financially and psychologically complex, especially for hereditary disease. So, the policy question is this: how do we support people who may not be sick today, but are clearly at elevated risk? To that end, I would like to ask the Minister three broad questions. First, how can we integrate hereditary risk assessment and genetic counselling into primary care and connect it to Healthier SG so that prevention becomes upstream? Second, will the Ministry review how we finance medically indicated preventive procedures and the reconstruction, including high-risk situations involving a currently healthy organ, so that support is consistent and understandable? For example, in the case of Gwendalyn, if a mass was found on one breast and was found to be diseased, she undergoes mastectomy, what about the contralateral breast, which at current state is healthy but we know she carries the gene for breast cancer?”
“Thank you, Mr Speaker, and I thank the Senior Minister of State for his answer. My question really stems out of, when we look at a parallelism in terms of physical care, when we talk about community care in the aspect of physical health, we often look at step-down care in terms of intermediate and long-term care. So, this space of community mental health, since they are dual-purpose for both first touch as well as follow-up care, how does the Ministry ensure that our community mental care workers are adequately resourced and staffed so that the care itself is not compromised, as well as for the welfare of our community mental health workers?”
“First, I would like to ask the Minister, I welcome the move to move away from GEP to the 15 centres for advanced modules, whether the Ministry has assessed whether this will then portray these centres as the more choicier schools to parents and how the communication should be better informed so that the parents know the intent of these centres providing the advanced modules? To Senior Parliamentary Secretary Syed Harun, I do agree that there is no one-size-fits approach for Mother Tongue. I have heard some feedback from NIE trainee teachers in taking Tamil that the curriculum needs review, whether the Ministry will consider teaching training curriculum review in a bid to make the teaching of Mother Tongue more accessible?”
“Thank you, Mr Speaker, and I thank the Senior Parliamentary Secretary for the reply. Earlier this month, I think, Member Yeo Wan Ling did ask about unrelated Singaporean households living in the same registered address, and the Ministry had replied that those are easily appealed through a process. This question is actually stemming out of some of my households in Jurong Spring and Gek Poh, where family nuclei are residing together. For example, a daughter who has moved out of a place to live in with a senior mother or grandparent, and looking after them full-time with her own family, living with her young children. And because they are related, they are unable to appeal for the CDC vouchers. So, this household actually has a fair number of individuals living in a single registered address and they have to change the address because, legally, they are required to do so since they are living permanently with someone else. So, these households have maybe about eight to nine people each. And these appeals unfortunately did not get through. So, I appreciate that Senior Parliamentary Secretary has said that the Ministry will continue to review the criteria. Hopefully, if the data shows that there are growing number of households with such situations, one of the ways we can do is with what fellow Members have asked for during the course of the serious debates, to perhaps look at the number of persons in the household and maybe we can have a calibrated approach to the quantum of CDC vouchers given to larger households in Singapore.”
“Mr Chairman, Sir, bilingualism today cannot be sustained by schools alone. Languages weaken not when they are difficult to learn, but when they are no longer lived outside the classroom. If we want mother tongue proficiency to be sustained, we must continually enrich the language environment so that children here use and enjoy the language in everyday settings. This is why the next phase of bilingualism must be a whole-of-community effort. First, we can consider catalytic micro grants for community-led bilingual initiatives – small, simple and outcome-focused – to support storytelling sessions, reading circles, drama and inter-generational activities. Second, we should support regular community language spaces, for example, in libraries, community clubs or neighbourhood nodes, so that language use becomes a routine, not just an occasional festival. Third, let us strengthen parent enablement with simple toolkits and nudges that help families use mother tongue at home in practical ways, at meals, during routines and in shared activities. Because bilingualism is not only taught in schools, it is sustained in communities. Mr Chairman, Sir, a cut on bilingualism will not be complete without me speaking in my mother tongue. In Tamil, please. (In Tamil): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] Why do we refer to mother tongue as mother tongue? When we mention "mother", what we recall are love, support and nurturing. These beautiful feelings have to be refreshed in our hearts as we speak in our mother tongue. Therefore, we cannot teach mother tongue in schools alone. This is a joint community effort. Hence, let us come together and expound the motherliness of our mother tongue. Long live, mother tongues.”
“Just as the President’s Award for Teachers recognises outstanding teachers who inspire their students and peers through innovative teaching methods and a commitment to lifelong learning, would the Ministry consider a President’s Award for Adult Educators as well? This would put adult educators, as the custodians of lifelong learning, on par with the teaching profession in terms of recognition. In this era of rapidly changing job and skills requirements, adult educators play a key role in motivating and inspiring adult learners to keep learning and acquiring new skills. Adult educators need to innovate in their teaching and facilitation methods, based on the latest research in adult learning, and using AI and new digital tools where appropriate. They have to be exemplars of adult learning themselves. I believe that as we rebalance our focus between pre-employment training and CET, it is timely to strengthen our recognition of adult educators.”
“Recognition of Adult Educators Assoc Prof Terence Ho: I declare my interest as the senior executive of an educational institute that trains and certifies adult educators for SkillsFuture courses. The lifelong learning ecosystem in Singapore has transformed over the past 11 years since the launch of the SkillsFuture movement. The efforts of SkillsFuture Singapore and its partners have made training and reskilling affordable, accessible and of high quality, catering to the diverse needs of learners. Adult educators are critical to the quality of CET, just as our school teachers ensure the quality of education in our schools. At the Budget debate last year, I recall the hon Member Mr Xie Yao Quan spoke about the importance of the professional development and recognition of adult educators. From April this year, adult educators who teach SkillsFuture-funded courses must be on the National Adult Educator Registry and renew their registration every two years by clocking minimum practice hours as well as taking up continuing professional development. This public registry will support the professional development of adult educators and boost confidence in our CET system. Beyond setting minimum standards, we must also encourage and recognise excellence within the adult educator profession. The Institute for Adult Learning, where I am from, will be inducting more Adult Education Fellows, recognising them as leading educators in their respective fields who can inspire other adult educators and share their expertise with the professional community. I believe we can do more.”
“Mr Chairman, Sir, Singapore has made strong progress in reshaping how we view skills, applied learning and multiple pathways to success. The ITE today is a launchpad for many young Singaporeans to build meaningful careers. The next phase, however, is not only access but progression across a lifetime. If lifelong learning is to work, progression must be legible. I think of one Singaporean I know, Mr Abu Bakar Siddiq, who started out in the Normal (Academic) stream, went on to ITE, polytechnic to pursue engineering, and then went to work, got sponsored for his degree and has now completed his masters. His story shows that your starting point does not determine the finishing line and that progress must be open. Mr Chairman, Sir, the Work-Study Diploma is a strong model for the future of our learning. As we strengthen this pathway, I have three questions for the Minister. First, can the Minister share how MOE will make ITE progression routes to the Work-Study Diploma and beyond more visible to students and parents, including pathway maps by sector and stackable credentials with clear milestones and entry criteria? Second, can the Minister update how MOE will give greater formal weight to workplace proven competencies with assessments that are rigorous and recognised across employers? Third, will the Minister consider piloting a structured conditional university pathway for top performing ITE and work study learners anchored on sustained workplace achievement and continued upgrading without implying that university is the only outcome? Mr Chairman, Sir, a future ready education system is not one that sorts students early, but one that keeps doors open throughout life. If every pathway can lead forward, more Singaporeans will keep going further.”
“Thank you, Mr Speaker, and I thank the Senior Minister of State for the reply. One of the affected schools, Westwood Primary, is also in my constituency. I want to thank the staff and the volunteers for stepping up in this uncertain period. I ask these questions in the spirit of improving the systemic resilience of the sector, the first one being: will the Ministry include a review of its current operators and consider a strategic partnership to have a whitelist of operators that could step in if one ceases to operate, so that we do not have to activate our teachers, who already have increased workload? That is the first one. The second one alludes to the same early warning trigger system that hon Member Shawn Loh mentioned earlier: whether we can have a broader view of some of these triggers which could include both operational and financial aspects? For example, if a centre rapidly expands across the island, or if we see that staff are being laid off, on top of just the routine reporting that these centres currently do. And thirdly, are there ways to also ensure that parents' fees are also safeguarded? Most of the parents who came to see me in my Meet-the-People Session were truly worried about recovery of their deposits. Could we weave in, perhaps one of the factors could be ring-fencing parents' fees or deposits in a client's account or by way of some form of an insurance that the providers could purchase to protect parents' deposits? These are my supplementary questions.”
“Mr Chairman, Sir, Singapore has long excelled in government-to-government diplomacy. Our bilateral partnerships and multilateral engagement remain strong foundations of our foreign policy. But today's geopolitical environment requires us to go one level deeper. Resilience is no longer built only through state relationships. It is built through networks of people, institutions and shared capabilities. Middle powers, such as South Korea, Australia, the Nordic states, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and our ASEAN neighbours, we face similar challenges – navigating major power competition, sustaining open economies, managing ageing populations, strengthening social cohesion and fighting low total fertility rates. These shared realities create natural grounds for deeper partnership. After all, there is something special about bonds forged through shared challenges. Yet structured platforms for sustained collaboration between Singaporeans and our counterparts in these countries remain limited. I would therefore seek the Minister's view on three areas. First, whether Singapore can develop structured mid-career exchange or fellowship programmes between fellow middle powers. Second, how we might facilitate longer term institutional partnerships connecting SMEs, research institutions, healthcare systems and civic organisations. And third, whether MFA could expand Track 1.5 dialogues at people-to-people platforms to include younger professionals and community leaders from diverse sectors. Mr Chairman, Sir, in an increasingly multipolar world, influence is not defined by size but by the strength of our networks. Exploring Opportunities - Emerging Regions”
“Beyond subsidies, we may also consider how healthcare financing and insurance frameworks can better support assisted reproduction. Today, the absence of meaningful risk-sharing mechanisms adds financial uncertainty to couples who are already in an already emotionally vulnerable state. Mr Chairman, may I urge PMO and the Ministry of Health to work together and look at fertility from a public health lens, explore a more progressive approach to subsidies and can PMO also work with the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) to consider inclusive insurance schemes that could provide risk-sharing mechanisms. If we view fertility through a public health lens, supporting parenthood becomes not just a social policy objective, but a long-term investment in Singapore's resilience, inter-generational balance and national future because when Singaporeans choose to have children, they are not just building families, they are building our future. Fertility and Childcare Leave Support”
“Mr Chairman, fertility is often discussed as a demographic or economic challenge. But I would like to offer another perspective. It is also a public health priority as fertility challenges today are increasingly medical, psychological and financial, not merely social. For many couples, fertility difficulties bring emotional strain, repeated uncertainty and significant financial stress. Our reproductive health pathways must therefore provide not only treatment, but sustained support through the journey. Today, couples undergoing assisted reproductive techniques receive subsidies. However, the current structure reduces subsidies with successive IVF cycles – a model developed when clinical evidence was more limited. Current medical evidence shows that the cumulative chance of achieving a live birth increases across successive IVF cycles. For many couples, multiple cycles are clinically appropriate rather than elective, although gains diminish over time and must always be guided by medical assessment. Recently, I spoke with a community leader whose family conceived only after three IVF cycles and one Intrauterine insemination (IUI) cycle. They are now blessed with three children, but only after exhausting much of their savings. They were fortunate to persevere. Many couples may not be able to continue beyond one or two attempts, even when medically suitable. This raises an important policy question: can our support framework evolve to provide more flexible and sustained assistance for clinically appropriate treatment journeys? Not unlimited support, but calibrated assistance – guided by medical evidence, clinical judgement and long-term fiscal sustainability.”
“(In English): Mr Speaker, Sir, we should judge ourselves not just by how advanced our systems are, but by how cared for our people are within those systems. As Singapore moves towards becoming a “we first” society, our task is not merely to build more programmes, but to ensure that every resident experiences care as one coherent journey – simple, humane and dignified. Because integration is not achieved when policies align on paper but when a senior no longer feels lost, when help arrives without confusion and when dignity is preserved at every step of life. If we succeed, ageing will not be feared as decline but embraced as a stage of contribution, purpose and active longevity. So, let us not just build a system that treats illness, health, social, or otherwise, but build a society that journeys with all our people together as one with clarity, compassion and care. I support the Budget, Mr Speaker.”
“Third, expanding senior citizen programmes at mosques to include health talks, health screenings and counselling support. With these measures, Malay/Muslim seniors are not only cared for physically but are also strengthened spiritually and socially. (In English): Mr Speaker, in Tamil, please. (In Tamil): Mr Speaker, at a time when we are debating on Budget plans with regard to ageing, we must also reflect on how we understand ageing. Often, ageing is described only as a challenge. Our senior citizens are not a burden. They are repositories of wisdom, examples of patience, community leaders with skills and experience. Also, they are strong pillars of families and society. Therefore, it is now time for us to change the direction of our national conversation. We are not a society that is ageing, we are a society that is active and that which has a long life. We are not a society that is growing old, we are a society that is living well and maturing. We are not only a society that supports the elderly, we are a society that empowers the elderly. To implement this, we can advance in several key directions. First, we must create more opportunities that encourages lifelong learning. Second, we must expand on meaningful employment opportunities for seniors. Third, we must create a platform where seniors serve as mentors to the youth. Fourth, we must increase opportunities to utilise their experiences in community management, arts and traditional sectors. Finally, we must create programmes that not only meet the needs of seniors but also celebrate their strengths and contributions, because a country's strength lies not only in its youth, but also on the experiences and wisdom of its elders.”
“In fact, this might achieve three of our national priorities of creating more jobs, providing seamless care, and even piloting AI solutions when we handle very complex health and social issues. Stealing the words of my colleague, Dr Tan Wu Meng from last year's COS debates, this should not be seen as a cost, but as a forward investment, an investment in our people, for our people. So, let us invest more in integration and integration is not just about building new systems, but about making existing systems feel like one. Mr Speaker, in Malay, please. (In Malay): Mr Speaker, before I continue, allow me to give some focus to our Malay/Muslim community. Many Malay/Muslim seniors face challenges that not only relate to physical health, but also social, emotional and spiritual in nature. In our culture, peace of mind, moral support and spiritual guidance are very important to age gracefully. Many of them come not just for financial or medical assistance, but because they seek support and guidance. For our community, that place is usually the mosques and local asatizah networks. The mosque is not just a place to perform their prayers, but also a centre for community support. We already have a strong foundation in place through the M3 network, which combines the efforts of Government agencies and Malay/Muslim community institutions. Based on this strong foundation, may I propose these three measures. First, enhancing training and resources for mosque officers and volunteers so that they can work more closely with the health and social services sectors. Second, placing social health coordination officers at mosques that are more frequently attended by senior citizens so that assistance can be better accessed.”
“Patients with complex needs were assigned a single case worker, supported by a multidisciplinary team, which included doctors, nurses, social workers and other allied health professionals. One person understood the patient's story. One person coordinated services, one trusted point of contact. Patients did not have to repeat their stories across agencies. They experienced continuity, clarity, and most importantly, dignity. Singapore does not need to replicate another system, but we can adapt useful principles within our already strong healthcare and social care systems. Mr Speaker, Sir, I propose that we explore placing more integrated case workers within our community and primary healthcare systems, the first touch points for many of our seniors. Why this settings? First, the seniors already trust their doctors. Second, as I have mentioned before, medical and social needs surface simultaneously most of the time. Third, early intervention becomes possible, and fourth, support becomes proactive rather than reactive. Imagine a simple workflow. A senior visiting a primary care physician for follow-up for poorly controlled diabetes. The doctor identifies several social vulnerabilities, a co-located or a nearby social worker or caseworker immediately responds and assist, with application for financial aid, mobility devices, befriending services and even social prescription. True integration begins when help starts the moment the need for that help is recognised. This can be piloted progressively within our regional health systems, leveraging our Healthier SG networks, existing care coordinators, shared digital records, community partners, including our community health posts.”
“As we move towards a "we first" society, we must design systems not just for efficiency, but also for human experience. Reflection number two – the current progress we have made on integration as a nation. Mr Speaker, Sir, I want to acknowledge that Singapore has already made significant progress in integrating healthcare and social support, and this is important because health and social issues do not exist in isolation. The formation of the Agency for Integrated Care (AIC), the development of regional health systems, expansion of community care and ageing in place initiatives, like the Age Well SG, demonstrate our strong foresight and the sustained effort by the Ministry of Health (MOH) and the whole of Government. Integration is already underway through care coordinators, transitional care programmes and stronger partnerships across primary, acute and community care sectors. These are important and commendable foundations, but we must be cognisant that integration succeeds, not merely when agencies connect, but when our people feel the connection. Health challenges today are rarely, purely medical. A clinic visit may begin with diagnosis of diabetes or injury, but underlying issues may include loneliness, caregiver strain, financial stress or mental health concerns. To truly integrate care, we must see the whole person and not just the diagnosis. Reflection three – learning from international practice and adapting it for Singapore. During my public health training at the Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, I studied models of integrated care that left a lasting impression on me, including work from the Manchester Local Care Organisation in the United Kingdom, where integrated neighbourhood care has been implemented at scale.”