Josephine Teo
Singapore
“The Government's risk-calibrated approach to data security in artificial intelligence (AI) systems was explained in a written reply, given on 9 January 2024, to related questions asked by Dr Tan Wu Meng and Mr Gerald Giam.”
“Access to frontier models is helpful for specific use cases, such as advanced research and cybersecurity. However, these form a small proportion of artificial intelligence (AI) demand. For most industry, Government and research uses, capable models are already available.”
“The Government tracks the development of technical standards for identifying artificial intelligence (AI)-generated content, including watermarking and digital provenance approaches, as part of broader efforts to manage AI-related risks.”
“Upon receiving a valid report of intimate image abuse, the Commissioner of Online Safety is empowered by law to direct Online Service Providers (OSPs) to disable access by Singapore users to the specified harmful online material. This direction may be extended to cover identical copies found on the platform.”
“The Government is committed to keeping children safe online. We have announced plans to extend age assurance requirements to designated social media services, including requiring platforms to keep users under 13 off their services.”
“Under the Online Safety (Relief and Accountability) Act 2025, the Commissioner of Online Safety is empowered to issue directions to platforms to remove specified harmful content, including intimate image abuse.”
The complete record
Every one of 2,900 lines we hold for Josephine Teo, in date order, each linked to its source. Free to read, in full, without an account. Page 45 of 58.
“Mdm Speaker, may I have your permission to take Question Nos 22 to 29 together?”
“I do not have the answer offhand. That is very detailed, but the Member could file a Parliamentary Question, we will provide it to him.”
“Mdm Speaker, as I had explained earlier, for existing buildings, it is a little harder to require retrospectively the owners to make such provisions available. Within the building, there could already be constraints. I think it is quite clear to the building owners that as the number of users increase, as part of their friendliness towards the tenants in the building, they would want to make such facilities available. We will continue to monitor the trends. The priority is to require new buildings to do so and where opportunities arise and it is possible for us to encourage existing building owners to do likewise, we will do so.”
“Mdm Speaker, all new Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) stations are designed with more parking space for bicycles and electric bicycles, 100 to 300 lots, compared to 40 to 100 lots currently provided for stations with available space. For existing stations, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) is expanding the number of bicycle parking spaces progressively, starting with the stations with the most acute shortage. LTA will also be seeking powers to mandate bicycle parking standards for private residential, commercial and community developments. At the moment, we have no plans to provide storage facilities for personal mobility devices. Users tend to carry the devices with them. We will, however, continue to monitor the trends.”
“In response to the supplementary question, there are really two considerations. One is that at the sites where the MRT stations are located, we need to have the available space in order to carry out a plan like dedicated bicycle terminals. The second consideration is that when we provide bicycle facilities, we must bear in mind the objective, that is, first- and last-mile connectivity. That is why the intention is to involve building owners. Even if you have provided a bicycle terminal, the individual will still have to get to the destination. That, ultimately, is going to be a building with an owner. So, we prefer to require these owners to implement Walking and Cycling Plans so that facilities can be nearer to the destinations of the bicycle users.”
“Mdm Speaker, congratulations and welcome to Mr Murali Pillai, and also, belated wishes to you, Madam, and all the mothers, "Happy Mother's Day". In answer to the Member Mr Darryl David, there are currently more than 800 bicycle parking lots at eight Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) stations located in the city area. For the Downtown Line, which is the newest line to be operational, bicycle parking lots will be provided at a majority of the stations in the city area. The Land Transport Authority (LTA) also plans to require bicycle parking standards for private residential, commercial and community developments, including those in the city area. Besides parking, developers will soon have to submit a Walking and Cycling Plan which factors in other supporting facilities for cyclists, such as showers and lockers.”
“Chairman, brevity is a virtue. So, the answer is yes, we will certainly look into those.”
“From age three, four, five, six, it is preschool, and they have a curriculum in the morning and lunch is within the school environment. After that, they have play and nap. This provision is very extensive. I would say that the French model is something that we ought to study very, very carefully, simply because it has allowed many more of their women to stay in the workforce. I think this is also an aspiration that we will find within Singapore families. I think it is not just the women, as, very often, the husbands quite appreciate the fact that there are two sources of income. It provides resources for the family that is more than one person can bring to bear. Indeed, it is a model that we are studying very carefully. We think that there are elements of that model that are worth us emulating.”
“Mr Chairman, Mr Vikram Nair has asked a very interesting question. In fact, when we interacted with our French counterparts, one of the things that was very consistent, whether it was meeting with the policymakers in their MSF, MOE or CPF equivalent which is involved in the disbursements of the benefits, every single one of them, in giving us the background to France's policies when it came to childcare, mentioned the year 1945. Why did they mention the year 1945? I do not understand French, but from the interpretation and the conversation, the year was significant for them because in 1945, the French state was brought to its knees as they lost so many citizens. There was a collective sense of urgency that has stayed with them to this day, that you need to reproduce, you need to have more of your own. It is exactly the same kind of mentality which Mr Thomas Chua described would have been needed for 西夏, that is, even though they were superior in their capabilities, they just could not defeat their enemies by sheer disadvantage of numbers. In fact, historical factors also contribute to French society's great sense of comfort with allowing other people to look after their children. I was told by French counterparts that already in the 19th century, women went to work. When they went to work, someone had to look after the children. From those very early days, the beginning of the industrial revolution, they already had ideas that related to a creche or childcare. So, they have had a very long tradition. The Member is quite right that, by now, their childcare provision is very extensive. From three years old onwards, the equivalent of the MOE in France cares for all children placed there by the parents.”
“We especially hope that more employers can recognise that it is in fact a wise move to help their employees take care of their family because this will not only increase productivity, but also help attract and retain talent. (In English): Sir, this is the first time during the COS debate that I am wearing the NPTD hat. I have chosen to focus on two main aspects of our work: how we can promote marriage and parenthood so that we can grow the Singaporean Core from within; and how we keep Singapore cohesive and open, where Singaporeans feel connected and confident, as we supplement and expand the Core. Our overall vision for Singapore is a sustainable population that enables all our citizens to enjoy a good standard of living, for this generation and long into the future. It starts with making sure that Singapore is a "Great Place for Families" so that marriage and parenthood are achievable, enjoyable and celebrated. But it does not end there. The continued story of Singapore and all of us who have chosen to make it our home is best described by former Deputy Prime Minister S Rajaratnam, when he said, "Being a Singaporean is not a matter of ancestry. It is conviction and choice." Our vision requires conviction and choice. It will take all of our collective efforts to build on our Pioneers' legacy, to keep Singapore our best home – Cohesive and Open, and a Great Place for Families. I invite you to be a partner on this journey. [Applause.]”
“I am aware that even as parents-to-be cheer these leave enhancements, some businesses, including SMEs, with higher concentrations of male staff may have concerns, as Mr Thomas Chua and Mr Desmond Choo have highlighted. In fact, the Association of Small and Medium Enterprises has also shared concerns with us. It is also out of concerns for businesses and the employability of parents that we assess Mr Louis Ng's suggestion for extended childcare leave, or to peg a parent's childcare leave entitlement to the number of children, to be impractical for now. We have timed this round of leave enhancements to give employers some time to adjust and plan. In addition, the Government will fully fund the enhancements to the paternity and shared parental leave. We hope employers who are in a position to do so will start to extend paternity leave even before legislation kicks in so that parents of children born earlier can also benefit. As I shared earlier, the extra benefits should be thought of as important and powerful signals to their employees about their commitment towards family-friendly practices. (In Mandarin): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] Chairman, we are enhancing our support to help Singaporeans fulfil their marriage and parenthood aspirations, by increasing paternity leave and offering more flexibility for fathers to share their wives' maternity leave. However, it is clear that in order to make Singapore a "Great Place for Families", we cannot simply rely on Government policies alone. We urgently need to mobilise the whole community, so that the entire society supports and celebrates parenthood.”
“Those of us who have had the privilege of being parents know how transformational the experience is. There are, indeed, many sacrifices parents make – sleep, personal time, freedom and stretch marks – to name a few. But nothing quite compares to the joy of holding your own child, the knowledge that you gave life and the relationship with a precious human being. And as Mr Alex Yam and Mr Darryl David have pointed out, fathers feel these emotions just as strongly as mothers do. So, we must, as a society, continue to celebrate parenthood, celebrate having babies and celebrate families. It is in this spirit that I am announcing some enhancements to our parental leave provisions. We will legislate a second week of paternity leave for all fathers of Singapore Citizens born from 1 January 2017. So, if you start now, there is good time. In addition, we will increase flexibility for couples in caring for their newborns by increasing shared parental leave from one week to four weeks for citizen children born from 1 July 2017. As with the current one week of shared parental leave, the four weeks will be shared from the mother's maternity leave. With the enhancements to paternity leave and shared parental leave, fathers will be able to take up to eight weeks of leave, about two months, in the baby's first year. To support couples who adopt, we will increase adoption leave for adoptive mothers, from the current four weeks, to 12 weeks for infants younger than one year old. This will be effective for children adopted from 1 July 2017 onwards. Adoptive fathers will also be able to share four weeks of their spouse's adoption leave.”
“Ms Sun Xueling suggested having more child-friendly community spaces and self-help community groups for parents. I recently came across an online support group called "Daddy Matters". It is all men, just young fathers, and the group told me that sometimes they "just need a listening ear and to share tips". Indeed, parents' best coaches and confidantes are often other parents. So, I hope there will be more of such organic support groups. Sir, one aspect of my investigations was puzzling. France, the UK and the Nordic countries all provide strong support for parents. But even then, their TFRs differ. Among them, as Mr Vikram Nair has pointed out, France has consistently had the highest TFR of nearly 2. The UK, where childcare is actually less well organised and state support less generous than in the other countries, has a sustained TFR of 1.83. This is higher than the average TFR in Finland and Denmark, of about 1.7, where childcare is actually very well organised and fully supported. For reasons that are not completely understood, it seems that there are other factors that influence TFR, such as historical, geographical and other socio-economic factors. Another factor could be the way society values and celebrates families and children that make people want to have kids. Respected sociologist and former Nominated Member, Prof Paulin Straughan, once observed that "no one is going to give you a prize for getting married and having kids!" She believes this explains why some people are not taking proactive steps to find a partner, settle down and start families. I, therefore, fully support calls by Ms Sun Xueling and Mr Alex Yam for a whole-of-society effort to foster positive mindsets towards marriage and parenthood and shaping supportive social norms.”
“During my focus group discussions with parents, many shared that they would like greater employer and community support for breastfeeding. One enlightened local company Yang Kee Logistics is a good example. Breastfeeding mothers enjoy the privacy of a nursing room. Employees can also use a specially designed Children's Corner if they need to take the children to work, for example, when the childcare centre is closed for the day. Ahead of legislation, fathers who are working in Yang Kee Logistics already enjoy two weeks of paternity leave and an extra two days to spend more time with their newborns. Mind you, Yang Kee is not a big company. They have just about 250 employees. When parents feel supported by their employers and co-workers, they tend to enjoy parenthood more and, therefore, be more motivated to have more children. Their single colleagues, too, take the cue and will likely be more favourable towards marriage and parenthood. The wider community, too, plays an important role. Mr Alex Yam shared his difficulties about changing diapers. Therefore, we hope that there will be more developers of shopping malls and commercial buildings who will improve facilities for parents. They can take advantage of BCA's Accessibility Fund which provides 40% of the construction costs of family-friendly features. But after they build these facilities, I agree with Mr Yam that the buildings must open them and let people use them. Mr Saktiandi talked about the ease of travel on public transport for young parents and, indeed, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) introduced priority lanes which apply to pregnant women as well as families with children in strollers. But I agree with him that we should do more in this area.”
“This has made it harder for German women to enjoy both career and parenthood, even if they did not face discrimination at work. In contrast, women in the Nordic countries and France do not face similar pressures. They can continue to pursue their career aspirations, which as Mr Saktiandi rightly pointed out, should also be the case in Singapore. I agree with Mr Saktiandi and Ms Tin that discrimination against pregnant women or parents is not acceptable. In 2013, we enhanced legal protection for pregnant women against retrenchment or dismissal without sufficient cause. Beyond legislation, TAFEP has also stepped up efforts to promote fair, responsible and progressive employment practices. I also agree with Ms Tin and Mr Desmond Choo that FWAs help employees better manage work and family commitments and, as a result, they make parenting a more enjoyable process. MOM offers businesses the Work-Life Grant, which provides up to $160,000 to support companies in piloting, implementing and sustaining FWAs. The take-up of the Work-Life Grant is improving, but I do think more can be done. We support Mr Choo's suggestion, in particular, to work with the tripartite partners to explore how FWAs can be promoted in a more targeted manner in different sectors. We should also support and show understanding towards nursing mothers, a point Mr Alex Yam has made. Senior Minister of State Dr Amy Khor had spoken earlier about the health benefits of breastfeeding. However, a 2011 survey showed that only 1% of mothers in Singapore have been able to sustain exclusive breastfeeding to the six-month mark. This is much lower than in other developed societies, including Australia, which has it at 18%, South Korea, 11% and Taiwan, a whopping 50%.”
“Parents opting to pay for more than the basics, in every respect. It could also be due to the tendency to practise an intensive style of parenting which we see a lot of in Korea. In Korea, the parents put a lot of resources in helping the child prepare for school and even prepare for what happens after school. These contribute to making parenting more stressful and less enjoyable. In the UK, childcare cost is actually not that low, but their TFR is good. It is something that Ms Sun Xueling observed, that targeting parents' cost concerns alone will not be sufficient. I agree with that. Another important lesson is that employers did not implement family-friendly practices purely out of altruism or charity. Instead, they saw these practices as a competitive advantage, necessary to attract and retain capable staff and helpful for productivity. 5.45 pm For example, the Hertie Foundation in Berlin pioneered a work and family audit that is endorsed by the German government and adopted in Austria, Hungary and Italy. The audit findings indicate that family-friendly employers with scores in the top quartile had significantly better business outcomes than companies in the bottom quartile. What are these better outcomes? Forty-one percent lower absenteeism rates, 32% higher motivation rates and 23% higher employee productivity. Therefore, in response to Mr Thomas Chua's comment, family-friendly practices may, in fact, complement efforts to improve productivity and we would like to see how this can be strengthened. Germany's TFR is, however, not as high as the Nordic countries and France. Researchers believe that it has to do with traditional expectations held in Germany until very recently, that is, that good mothers must stop work to care for their children.”
“As Members can see, there are many programmes and initiatives implemented by different agencies that support marriage and parenthood. They show the Government's strong commitment to make Singapore a "Great Place for Families". With the additional efforts and resources we are putting in, I hope more Singaporeans will see that marriage and parenthood are achievable. As Ms Tin says, marriage, parenthood and career are not mutually exclusive. However, all the above are necessary but probably insufficient. Mr Vikram Nair asked what we can learn from the developed countries. The example of South Korea suggests that even with abundant resources poured in by the Government, couples may still not want children or have more children. It has to do primarily with the lack of support by employers and co-workers. There are also unhelpful workplace practices and cultures, resulting in long hours away from home. In Korea, there is a very strong sense of "presentee-ism", in other words, being present, and, especially not leaving work until your boss has done so. There is also a very prevalent culture of "hoesik". And what is "hoesik"? It literally means "staff company dinner" but basically it means that after work, let us all go out and have a drink, socialise. But it takes time away from the family. So, these are workplace cultures that are not always helpful. Dr Lim Wee Kiak pointed out that child-raising costs continue to be a concern. And I recognise that. But there are several factors at play. Some have to do with the lack of family-support and, therefore, the need to pay for help; whereas previously you could always count on your wife who was not working, or mum, or mother-in-law, who would stay at home. Some have to do with consumption choices.”
“Previously, parents had to first save into CDA to receive the dollar-for-dollar matching by the Government. We have introduced the CDA First Step to provide the first $3,000 into CDAs, without parents having to save first. Parents who deposit savings into their children's CDAs will continue to enjoy dollar-for-dollar matching, up to the remaining Government contribution caps. These two initiatives complement the other marriage and parenthood benefits like the Baby Bonus Cash Gift and parenthood tax rebates and reliefs. Families are also supported in other areas. Education is of high quality and heavily subsidised, from primary to post-secondary and even tertiary levels. An increasing number of student care centres help address the caregiving needs of working parents. MOE has said that all primary schools will have student care centres by 2020, not so far away. More help is also provided to needy families, including through new measures like KidSTART and the Fresh Start housing scheme. Taken together, there is significant support for marriage and parenthood. Sir, may I have your permission to distribute a compilation of the Government's key support to families?”
“There will be 10,000 more by the end of next year, especially in the newer estates. This will help to improve accessibility and make it closer to homes. About 30% of childcare centres are also located near workplaces. Childcare subsidies are available to all parents and additional means-tested subsidies are available to help lower- and middle-income families with childcare costs. However, there are gaps that we can plug. For example, there are parents with infants who have no family support. I thank Ms Tin Pei Ling for the creative approaches that she has suggested, for example, the online directory and linking up aunties in the estates to the parents who need infant care support. NPTD will study these ideas together with MSF. Our goal is to improve childcare provision so that all parents who need it can access and afford it. This is the way for couples and even singles to see that their aspirations for parenthood are achievable. Much progress has been made and I know Minister Tan Chuan-Jin is fully committed to this goal. Similarly, Minister Ng Chee Meng and Minister of State Dr Janil Puthucheary are also doing their best to support this effort in MOE. Mr Darryl David made important points about giving parents a sense of support throughout their parenting journeys. In particular, we will give greater support to new parents in the year before and after the birth of their babies. Minister Heng Swee Keat had announced earlier that we will double the MediSave withdrawal limits for pre-delivery costs from the current $450 to $900. As a result, the majority of subsidised deliveries in public hospitals will have their bills fully covered by MediSave, including pre-delivery expenses. We have also enhanced CDA.”
“The Government understands Singaporeans' aspirations for home ownership and MND will continue to focus on helping young couples own their first home. HDB also introduced PPHS in 2013 for couples waiting for their flats to be completed. PPHS offers HDB flats at below market rental rates. About 1,800 families have benefited from PPHS. The PPHS rental homes were the first homes for 270 babies! Not bad. PPHS flats have been offered in a range of mature and non-mature estates. Currently, we have about 150 PPHS flats available for application in Tiong Bahru and Jurong. Thus far, the supply of PPHS flats has been sufficient to meet demand and we will continue to monitor the take-up rate. There are also measures to help families live closer to one another for caregiving support, a point Mr Louis Ng raised. He mentioned the 3-Gen flats. The priority for BTO housing to couples who want to live with or near to their parents has also been offered. Resale flats are another option and, with the new Proximity Housing Grant for those buying a resale flat near their parents, couples can enjoy up to $90,000 in housing grants for their first home. And we saw in the papers today that more than 2,000 families have benefited from the Proximity Housing Grant. Another key factor is quality childcare that is accessible and affordable, as noted by Ms Tin Pei Ling and Mr Leon Perera. Parents want to have peace of mind knowing that their children are well looked after while they work. They also want their children to socialise and learn. MSF, the Early Childhood Development Agency and the Ministry of Education (MOE) have been working jointly to increase childcare provision. More than 30,000 childcare places have been added since 2013, most of which are in HDB estates.”
“Ultimately, people now marry and have kids because they want to, not because they have to. This being the case, it is my belief that there are three important elements that help individuals decide in favour of marriage and parenthood and, that is, when they feel that marriage and parenthood are achievable, enjoyable and celebrated. Let me elaborate. First, ensuring that marriage and parenthood are achievable. I find the strong sense of responsibility among young Singaporeans that was admirable. They want to have stable jobs and build up some financial resources before settling down. Actually, that is achievable in Singapore. Our unemployment rate has been among the lowest in the world, consistently. Employment levels are high across all age groups. Income growth may have moderated as our economy matures, but it is still positive. With the efforts we are making to restructure industries and update skills, good jobs and income growth remain within reach, including for future generations. A second important factor for young Singaporeans is home ownership. Thankfully, we have an extensive public housing programme that has kept home ownership affordable. Many young couples are able to own their first marital homes through the BTO programme, something unheard of in most cities. The majority of those who purchase BTO flats in non-mature estates do not pay anything out of pocket for their mortgage instalments. That is a great help to family finances. Mr Melvin Yong and Mr Saktiandi Supaat have asked if we could shorten the average waiting time for BTO flats. Waiting times are currently about three to four years, depending on the design and site constraints of the project. HDB builds flats ahead of orders, but in a measured way.”
“But first, let me thank Mr Thomas Chua for sharing with us the story of Western Xia (西夏). He has very poignantly reminded us that marriage and parenthood, birth rates and population are, ultimately, about economic vitality, even our defence capacity and, in the long term, our nation's survival. First, some good news. Last year, we had 23,805 citizen marriages. This was the second highest in more than a decade, only very slightly lower than the high of 24,037 in 2014. We welcomed nearly 34,000 Golden Jubilee babies, which was the highest in more than a decade, more than even the 2012 Year of the Dragon. Our TFR in 2015 was 1.24, slightly above the average TFR of 1.22 in the first half of the decade. The question on Members' minds is, naturally, can we boost our TFR further? This is not a trivial question, as I explained in an Op-Ed for The Sunday Times recently. I shall not belabour the points. But besides researching other countries' experiences, I have taken a few months to consult people, including parents, some with a few kids and others with many, whether they are young or grown-up. I have consulted young people who have yet to date or marry and I have also asked scholars who have studied the subject for years. The short answer to this question is, yes, I believe our TFR can go up, but if and only if the whole of Singapore society gets behind this effort. I am optimistic because aspirations for marriage and parenthood remain very strong. However, there is no silver bullet, no single policy intervention, not even a set of policy interventions that will boost TFR. We need the collective efforts of the whole of society, by which I mean employers, co-workers, community organisations and businesses, all being supportive in words and deeds.”
“Last year, it was the slowest since the Global Financial Crisis of 2009. Finance Minister Heng Swee Keat and Manpower Minister Lim Swee Say have spoken about the support that the Government is giving to businesses to ease the crunch. Minister Lim also outlined the many measures that MOM is introducing to help Singaporeans adapt and grow. One such example is the Human Capital Partnership (HCP) with the "triple strong" companies to nurture local talents into regional and global talents through skills transfers. [Deputy Speaker (Mr Charles Chong) in the Chair] These efforts are aimed at strengthening the Singaporean Core in our workforce so that we can better manage the need to supplement our workforce and, as much as possible, keep them to specific job roles, such as those requiring skills that are hard to find among Singaporeans. At the same time, MOM is stepping up efforts to build a strong Singaporean Core in the workforce and to strengthen our global competitiveness. For example, through tightening work pass applications for employers who are identified to be "triple weak". In addition, through the SkillsFuture initiative led by Minister Ong Ye Kung, we will help Singaporeans stay relevant and participate meaningfully in the workforce at every stage of their lives. Our vision must be a Singapore that is cohesive and open, where Singaporeans feel a sense of connectedness wherever they are in the world, confident to move forward as one and, at the same time, have the capacity to welcome new additions to our family, whether for a period of time or for good. Such a Singapore will be a worthy place for each one of us to nurture our families in. Let me now turn to marriage and parenthood, and how we can grow the Singaporean Core from within.”
“Sometime last year, a group of undergraduates at the Nanyang Technological University's (NTU's) Wee Kim Wee School of Communications started a campaign with a simple yet inviting slogan "Come, Let's Eat". This initiative brought a great diversity of people together through the universal language of food, one language that we all understand. Singaporeans shared our local flavours at cooking classes. And the foreigners reciprocated by hosting local foodies at restaurants serving their hometown cuisines. At the signature event which they named "Global Potluck", 80 participants tasted dishes, such as Turkish meatballs, German potato salad and, of course, our very own "popiah" and "satay". Although the campaign lasted just a few months, participants made new friends and still keep in touch through social media. These ground-up initiatives are modest but sincere efforts by individuals and groups to keep Singapore an open society. The Government provides support through the Community Integration Fund. Since 2009, we have disbursed $13 million to over 660 projects to about 270 organisations. But it is really the passion for Singapore, the conviction that we have something special to share, the spirit of generosity and openness that have motivated the organisers to keep the projects going. I want to thank the organisers and urge them to keep up their very good efforts. Mdm Chair, even with the addition of new citizens and PRs, our population does not fully meet our growing workforce needs. However, instead of growing our population more quickly, we have decided to press on with the restructuring of our economy towards one that is less dependent on manpower for growth. As a result, the growth of our foreign workforce has slowed considerably.”
“It is not surprising because in many Singaporean families, it is quite common nowadays to have in-laws who are foreigners. More couples these days have wedding receptions in two or more countries because that is where the family networks extend. Nonetheless, the Government must do its part to help new citizens deepen their sense of belonging. Therefore, since 2011, all new citizens have been asked to participate in the Singapore Citizenship Journey. This is a programme that reinforces Singapore's values and norms and facilitates further involvement in the community. It also properly welcomes new citizens into the Singaporean family. But it is clearly not enough. New citizens need to get involved in all aspects of local life, such as learning to speak local languages, and, some say, Singlish also; interacting with their neighbours; adapting to local behavioural norms; and taking an interest in issues that concern their fellow citizens. Most important of all, they must understand our roots as a multiracial and multicultural society, where each community enjoys our common space and interacts respectfully with one another. In fact, they must imbibe it and make it part of their identity. That is a multiracial, multicultural identity. At the same time, Singaporeans have an important contribution to make. Besides reaching out to new citizens and strengthening cohesion, we should stay open as a society to people of diverse backgrounds, which both Mr Darryl David and Ms Rahayu Mahzam spoke about. It goes hand in hand with being a society that is open to new ideas and innovation and capable of positive change and the capacity for excellence. The open-mindedness of young Singaporeans gives us reasons to be hopeful.”
“From 2006 to 2010, the average number of "Singapore Citizens by Descent" was around 1,200 annually. In the first half of this decade, the number was around 1,400 annually, on average. So, it is a 15% increase over 10 years. The Overseas Singaporean Unit (OSU) reaches out to our Overseas Singaporeans to connect them back to Singapore, through nurturing close-knit, vibrant Singaporean communities overseas. Whenever Ministers have official duties overseas, we make it a point to catch up with our Overseas Singaporeans. Here is a picture of Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean in Brazil. It surprised me that there were so many Singaporeans in Brazil. And this is a picture of Overseas Singaporeans in Copenhagen, whom I met in March. So, we must make an effort to keep in touch. Similarly, we must make an effort to help all citizens, the new and the not-so-new, to gel as one. Mr Darryl David asked about this. As Members know, immigration helps us to top up and improve the age balance in our citizen population. Our aim is to prevent our citizen population from shrinking. What that means is that we have kept a calibrated pace of immigration. Last year, 20,815 Singapore Citizenships were granted, and this included 1,600 or 8% of those "Singapore Citizens by Descent". The population of PRs remained stable – 29,955 new PRs were granted. By the time they are conferred citizenship, most new citizens have been living here for years and many have also established family ties with other Singaporeans. They are quite assimilated as it is. In fact, one reason Singapore feels like home to them is the openness and sense of welcome that many Singaporeans generously extend to newcomers.”
“It is near to the end of the debate and I started to reflect. On numerous occasions during this debate, Members spoke about the "Singaporean Core". Clearly, it is something we all care deeply about. In fact, the work of NPTD has very much to do with strengthening our Singaporean Core. In promoting marriage and parenthood, we are growing the Singaporean Core from within. Through efforts to keep in touch with Overseas Singaporeans and catalyse integration of new citizens, we aim to keep Singapore cohesive and open, to become stronger as one even as we spread our wings and as we welcome new members to our Singaporean family to supplement and expand the core. Members know by now that I would very much like to share some thoughts on how we can strengthen support for marriage and parenthood because it is of vital importance that we can grow the Singaporean Core from within. But please allow me to start by first giving an update on our efforts to keep in touch with Overseas Singaporeans, integrate new citizens and stay open as a society. There are now more than 210,000 Singaporeans living, working or studying overseas for extended periods of time. Ten years ago, it was just 160,000. This is remarkable; 30% more over 10 years. It shows how Singaporeans are increasingly mobile and welcomed by employers and educational institutions internationally. One interesting result is that we now have more "Singapore Citizens by Descent". What does this mean? This refers to children born overseas to fathers or mothers who are Singapore Citizens. The only difference with Singaporeans by birth is that they are born overseas. As more Singaporeans work and live abroad, the number of such babies has increased by about 15% in the last 10 years.”
“Mdm Chair, I thank Members for their thoughtful questions and comments. If I may, in the course of my presentation, I will also screen some slides, Madam.”
“Mdm Chair, I thank Mr Ang for his suggestion for engagement and better communications. That is always a plus and CAAS will follow up with him.”
“Mdm Chair, I thank Mr Tan for his clarification. There must be a reason why those e-bikes were not authorised in the first place. Nonetheless, we take his point. We will Page: 43 have to consider the specific instances and take these on board when we draw up the implementation details for e-bike registration.”
“Mdm Chair, may I seek a clarification from the Member Mr Dennis Tan? Just to check, Mr Tan, are you asking for an amnesty and, if that is so, are you also suggesting that after the amnesty is granted, the e-bikes which do not meet the criteria continue to be allowed on the paths and on roads?”
“Mdm Chair, it is not a straightforward question. There are many complexities involved. In the first place, the ICAO requires that the parties who are involved should satisfy themselves that, indeed, safety considerations can be fully met. There are many parties involved in our FIR, even though it is Singapore that is managing it. It will not be a simple issue to resolve, but we have to work together and the way in which we think is a positive direction for this subject to develop is towards ASEAN Seamless Sky, where we work together with one another to manage the airspace.”
“In February last year, he took the plunge and joined the pioneer batch of trainees for the 15-month tug-master training programme. Huzaifah is now gearing up for his final examinations and looks forward to graduating this year as a tug-master, sometime in May. Finally, to encourage upskilling and reskilling among Singaporeans already in the sector, we will increase co-funding support for maritime companies to send their local employees for selected maritime training courses. All in all, MPA will set aside $12 million for its enhanced manpower initiatives which are expected to benefit some 5,000 Singaporeans. MPA will announce the details of these new programmes shortly. In closing, Mdm Chair, Singapore and Singaporeans have benefited from our strengths as aviation and maritime hubs. We are committed to enhancing Singapore's connectivity to the world by investing in first-class infrastructure and technologies. At the same time, we will develop a Page: 41 future-ready workforce that will uphold the standing of our twin hubs.”
“In addition, it will develop an online portal to provide access to information and guidance on maritime careers and training opportunities. We will also equip Singaporeans with the necessary skills and experience to take advantage of job opportunities in the maritime sector. MPA will roll out the Internship Reimbursement Scheme to help students gain relevant work experience. The scheme will defray the costs incurred by employers when providing internship placements. One good example is Ms Ong Pei Wen. She shows how internships can help students kickstart their careers. She was a recipient of the MPA Global Internship Award while a student at NTU. Her internship was at Shipowners' P&I Club and her host company was impressed by her good performance and attitude and offered her a job upon graduation. For those fresh out of school, MPA will reintroduce the Graduates Attachment Programme or GAP in short. GAP seeks to place University, Polytechnic and ITE graduates in participating maritime companies so as to help them gain industry experience. We recognise that companies are under pressure to cut costs amid this downturn. So, MPA will provide monthly stipends to graduates on the programme to encourage companies to take them on board, rather than turn them away. For Singaporeans looking to make a career switch into the maritime sector, the Maritime Career Conversion Scheme will subsidise training costs and provide wage support. One of the many such individuals who have taken advantage is Mohammad Huzaifah bin Rasidi. Huzaifah was previously a technician working at a shipyard. Peering out at sea from where he worked, he was amazed to see tug boats towing far larger vessels and oil rigs.”
“For instance, with the support of the MINT Fund, local firm Hope Technik developed the Water Spider – a buoyant, waterproof drone that can be deployed to monitor oil spills or support search and rescue operations in Singapore's waters. The MINT Fund will support more of such technologies and use-inspired R&D to further promote maritime innovation. 2.00 pm Besides harnessing cutting-edge technologies to our advantage, having a highly-skilled workforce sets us apart from our competitors. We will continue to invest in developing manpower for the maritime sector, especially during periods of slow growth. This requires a multi-pronged approach. First, help more Singaporeans know more about jobs and careers in the maritime sector. I note Mr Zaqy Mohamad's point that we have to try and make it more "attractive and sexy", as he Page: 40 said. Second, make sure that those who are interested gain the skills and experience to take on the job opportunities. And, third, support for those in the sector − upskilling and reskilling. With the support of our unions and industry associations, we will do more to raise Singaporeans' awareness of good jobs and rewarding careers in the maritime sector. Indeed, this is one of MPA's priorities for this year. For example, it is organising the inaugural Maritime Youth Festival, where outreach activities will help generate curiosity and interest about the maritime sector among our youths. To complement these outreach efforts, the Singapore Maritime Foundation's Maritime Singapore Connect Office will intensify efforts to profile the maritime sector. It will provide a platform to connect employers, schools, relevant Government agencies, industry associations and other stakeholders.”
“Meanwhile, the next-generation Vessel Traffic Management System to be deployed at Tuas will need skilled data analysts and data scientists to predict congestion hotspots and to avoid potential collisions. To spur the development of a vibrant maritime technology cluster in Singapore, MPA has been actively encouraging R&D and innovation through the Maritime Innovation and Technology or MINT Fund. A total of $150 million has been set aside to support numerous research organisations and projects. One such organisation is the Energy Research Institute at NTU where a new Maritime Energy Test Bed facility was launched last November in collaboration with the Singapore Maritime Institute. This facility will help build up R&D capabilities in areas concerning ship emissions and abatement, alternative marine fuels and energy storage. The MINT Fund is also helping to put Singapore at the forefront of the global push towards cleaner marine fuels. Supported by the MINT Fund, Singapore company Billion Miles Pte Ltd is pioneering a methanol fuel blend system for marine engines to run on methanol. The attractiveness of this system is that it requires only minor modifications to conventional bunkering infrastructure on top of vessels. If the concept works, it will mean lower cost for ship owners to meet the higher standards for clean energy use that they must comply with in the future. I am pleased to announce that MPA will top up the MINT Fund by a further $50 million and extend its term to 2021. Part of the MINT Fund's enhancements will be directed towards encouraging product and solution development for the maritime industry.”
“In its proposal to acquire NOL, CMA-CGM has made it clear its intention to establish its regional head office in Singapore and commit more volumes through Singapore. This is a testament to Singapore's importance as a maritime hub and will reinforce Singapore's leadership position in container shipping. As Mr Zaqy Mohamad pointed out, it is crucial that Singapore continues to enhance our value proposition as a maritime hub. Indeed, we are taking proactive steps to develop the key capabilities. And I will touch on them now. First, we will continue to invest in building port capacity that meets the industry's long-term needs. Works on the Pasir Panjang Terminal are on schedule and reclamation works for the new Page: 39 Tuas Terminal are progressing well. Infrastructure aside, technology is an enabler to improve capabilities, as well as the quality of maritime jobs. We are investing in technology as a multiplier of capacity, to boost productivity and transform current jobs into higher quality, higher value-added jobs. A good example can be found in PSA. In many ports, conventional rail-mounted gantry cranes are individually manned and operated from booths that sit atop each crane. However, PSA has introduced new systems at Pasir Panjang Terminal where a single crane specialist can remotely monitor and control the operations of several cranes, from the comfort of an air-conditioned control room. Better comfort means better concentration and higher productivity. The new Tuas Terminal will be a greenfield site that offers exciting opportunities for the use of smart technologies. For example, instead of prime mover drivers, driverless vehicles will ferry container boxes around our port. This will provide new job opportunities in engineering and software development.”
“It is not a lot of money but I am told that they are nonetheless well appreciated by the industry. In spite of the current headwinds, Singapore's International Maritime Centre continues to stay ahead of the competition. For two years in a row, Singapore has topped the Baltic/Xinhua international shipping centre development index, which ranks the relative performance of maritime centres around the world. In addition, our port has just been voted "Best Seaport in Asia" for the 27th time. These accolades were not easy to come by and we do not take them for granted, even though we got it for the 27th time. They are a result of careful nurturing of a robust maritime ecosystem that has taken many years. Today, Maritime Singapore is home to over 130 international shipping groups and more than 5,000 maritime establishments. As in all business sectors, corporate restructurings are not uncommon. The strength of our maritime cluster does not depend on whether the companies are Singapore-owned but whether they see value in being anchored here. For maritime businesses which can have very long investment horizons, the key is that our policies must be sound and consistent over time. Mr Zaqy Mohamad asked about the sale of NOL. We all feel a bit "sayang" because it is like marrying off a daughter that has long been a flag-bearer of our maritime sector. But at the same time, let us also recognise who the suitor is and the way the marriage could work out. The merged entity draws on the complementary strengths of both groups and provides a firmer footing for them to compete with the giants. NOL brings something to the table, CMA-CGM brings something to the table that the other party does not quite have.”
“If we cannot do so, we will fail to capture the opportunities that aviation connectivity provides to all our economies. It was, therefore, far-sighted that ASEAN Leaders called for the implementation of a Seamless ASEAN Sky when they met last year. Singapore is committed to this worthy goal. Mdm Chair, let me now move on to the maritime sector. The shipping industry, which anchors our maritime sector, has been in difficult waters for several years now. For the first time since the 2009 Global Financial Crisis, PSA saw container volumes decline last year. Charter rates for offshore and dry bulk carriers have come under intense pressure due to weakened demand. Page: 38 Nevertheless, the medium- to longer-term outlook is positive. Over the years, we have made significant gains in building up various aspects of our International Maritime Centre. It is today more multifaceted and vibrant than before, with activities ranging from maritime insurance to LNG bunkering. Moreover, the maritime community here is resilient and adaptable. Employment levels in the maritime sector have also remained stable at around 170,000. With Government support, we believe that recovery in shipping will return and broad-based growth momentum will pick up again. To lend a helping hand to shippers, the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) enhanced the port dues concession to offshore support vessels in November last year. Last week, MPA extended the concession to dry bulk carriers. MPA has also granted an additional 10% port dues concession to container vessels calling at Singapore. Taken together with existing concessions, the full slate of concessions is expected to yield $18 million in annual savings for shipping companies.”
“We intend to pair up with more airports so we can manage the growing air traffic in our region more efficiently. As all fair-minded users of our air navigation services can attest, CAAS air traffic controllers conduct their operations professionally and objectively, in accordance with international standards and best practices. With the help of technology and research insights, our controllers will raise their game and uphold the trust and confidence of the international aviation community using the Singapore FIR. On this note, let me reiterate that FIR boundaries are designated by ICAO based on technical and safety considerations to ensure air traffic safety and efficiency. Inevitably, FIRs cross national airspace boundaries and air traffic controllers are expected to consistently and professionally handle aircraft movements in their designated FIRs, irrespective of who owns the airlines, where the flights originate from or are headed. If FIR boundaries were based on state boundaries alone, we would see fragmentation of regional airspaces. This means breaking them up into smaller pieces with more parties managing the airspaces, more complexity, multiple points of coordination and, certainly, more safety risks. In fact, fragmentation of regional airspaces runs counter to calls by the international aviation community, particularly the airlines which have to operate the flights, for more seamlessly-integrated airspaces. Europe is taking the lead on this move, with the Single European Sky vision being one such example. Indeed, with air traffic in ASEAN projected to grow strongly, it is all the more important that airspaces in our region be more integrated, not less. We need to enable more aircraft to fly safely and efficiently within the same volume of airspace.”
“This, in turn, allows us to provide better ATM services to more aircraft to fly safely within a block of airspace. From 2018, we expect to also use satellite technology to track aircraft. With a firm eye on the future, CAAS is commissioning significant research and development efforts in ATM. It has embarked on an initiative to develop Singapore as a Centre of Excellence for ATM by setting aside $200 million to fund research and development projects. Within Southeast Asia, this is the only cluster of research and development focusing on ATM. In less than three years, the initiative has built up a pool of more than 50 researchers and funded more than 20 Page: 37 projects. The investment has started to bear fruit. For example, CAAS is working with its counterparts in Thailand and Hong Kong to develop a concept to better manage air routes with heavy traffic. Typically, air traffic controllers worry about getting departing flights out on time, but not whether there could be bunching when these flights arrive at their destinations. So, as an air traffic controller, if you have a job to get a flight out, your job is to make sure it gets out on time. But you never really worried about what happens when it arrives at the destination airport and if there could be bunching. This collaboration will allow air traffic controllers at both the departure and arrival airports to share information and adjust the departure times of flights to avoid bunching at both ends. This is especially helpful for busy routes which will get more congested as regional air traffic grows; it will minimise delays and optimise capacity usage at each airport – and we know airport capacity is very expensive. The concept is now undergoing operational trials.”
“That is why in the Singapore air hub, we instil and reinforce a safety culture through stringent independent audits and regular exercises. Another area where safety matters a great deal is in air traffic management (ATM). As Members know, CAAS manages the airspace known as the Singapore Flight Information Region (FIR). The Singapore FIR, which was assigned by ICAO in 1946, has seen air traffic grow by leaps and bounds. Last year, it handled some 650,000 flights, which are 50% more than 10 years ago. Six hundred and fifty thousand flights that our Singapore FIR manages, flying through our skies. But of this number, around 40% were over-flights, meaning that they neither landed at nor departed from Changi; they are just over-flights. They are part of the air connectivity of other countries. By 2025, it is projected that more than a million flights will fly through the Singapore FIR annually. 1.45 pm Given the importance of the Singapore FIR to the international aviation community – it is not just for us, it is for the international aviation community – Singapore takes its responsibility as the FIR manager very seriously. To ensure the highest levels of safety and efficiency and to prepare for the growth in regional air traffic, CAAS invests heavily to enhance our ATM capabilities. For example, our pool of air traffic controllers has expanded and will grow further from 380 today to 600 within the next five years. Our state-of-the-art ATM system – the third-generation Long Range Radar and Display System (LORADS III) – is one of the most advanced in the world. We continually incorporate advanced technologies, such as Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B), which allows CAAS to extend tracking of aircraft beyond radar coverage.”
“The bottom line is this: for our air hub, we must always be ready to take advantage of improved technologies as they become available. One aspect of aviation which requires constant and careful attention is safety. Most of us do not have to think too much about it and that is only because many other people in aviation spend a great deal of time and resources to make sure that we get to fly safely. Therefore, I am glad that Mr Ang Hin Kee has asked about rest, welfare, training and other needs of low-cost carrier crew, Page: 36 because it is, ultimately, about safety. All Singapore carriers, both full-service and low-cost carriers, are required to meet the same safety standards for fatigue management and crew training and competency promulgated by the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS). These standards are based on scientific research and studies and consistent with the requirements of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). You have to set the standards and what are the standards based on? You have got to do studies. And you have to leverage on other studies that are present, or do your own studies. Most of our airlines have done their own studies. In particular, there are mandatory rest periods between duty periods to ensure that the crew have sufficient rest. All airlines are also required to have structured training and competency frameworks and ensure that their crew maintain currency in their operational duties. Tests are conducted annually to ensure that crew members have the necessary competencies. Rules aside, it is penny-wise and pound-foolish for anyone involved in aviation to take chances with safety. It has very much to do with culture.”
“We expect the three-runway system to be operational in the early 2020s. The centrepiece in positioning Changi Airport for the future is Terminal 5. Since finalising its concept plan in 2014, we have been engaging the aviation community to develop a robust and flexible design that will stand the test of time. This is a mammoth task, as Members will know by now, that when T5 is fully developed, it will, in fact, be bigger than Terminals 1, 2 and 3 combined. So, you take Terminals 1, 2 and 3 today, put them together and imagine what Terminal 5 is going to be like. With Terminals 1, 2 and 3 today, if you just add them up, it is 66 million passengers. After Jewel Changi Airport, actually Terminal 1 should be able to handle a little bit more. So, that is the scale that we are talking about. Terminal 5 will open in the late 2020s and be operational till about 2050 before a major upgrade is due. It will have to last us much longer than that, but around 2050, that is when you can have a major upgrade. The architects for the design have a heavy responsibility; they will be appointed within the next one to two years. As was the case when we moved our airport from Paya Lebar to Changi, the expansion of our air hub will create many good jobs for Singaporeans and business opportunities for our companies, in areas ranging from airport management to aircraft maintenance. But we are also mindful that with our manpower constraints, quantum improvements in productivity are needed. Efficiency-enhancing innovations must be incorporated into the new facilities at Changi as well as existing ones. These efforts will be complemented by programmes to attract Singaporeans to take up aviation careers and continuously upgrade their skills.”
“Mdm Chair, I thank Mr Zaqy Mohamad for his interest in strengthening Singapore's position as a global aviation and maritime hub. Together, the direct economic contribution of these two sectors amounts to 13% of our GDP. Their indirect contribution is much larger. For example, our financial services, tourism, manufacturing and logistics sectors are Page: 35 considerably enhanced because of our position as aviation and maritime hubs. Let me start by providing an update on aviation. Our air hub now provides good jobs to some 55,000 people. The dedication and pride of these staff have made Changi Airport the most-awarded airport worldwide for passenger experience. As a result, passenger traffic has continued to grow. Thanks in part to a rebound in tourist arrivals from key markets, such as China, Thailand and Australia, a record 55.4 million passengers flowed through Changi in 2015. Airfreight volumes, which have been lacklustre everywhere, still managed a 0.5% growth. We continue to be optimistic about Changi's prospects. Air travel in the Asia Pacific is projected to double over the next two decades. We have also put in place policies to ensure that Changi remains a leading air hub and continues to provide good global connectivity for our people and businesses. If Asia grows as projected, passenger traffic through Changi can also be expected to grow at between 3% and 4% annually over the next two decades. A key plank of our strategy to ride this growth momentum is to expand Changi Airport. Terminal 4 is on track to open in the second half of 2017 and Jewel Changi Airport in 2019. Works to operationalise a three-runway system are also going well, with Changi Airport Group (CAG) having awarded the first construction contract in October 2015.”
“Once again, I would like to thank Parliamentary Secretary Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim and his Panel for their very good work in putting forward a set of recommendations to MOT. Parliamentary Secretary Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim has also graciously agreed to MOT's requests to continue to chair the Panel, which will advise on the implementation process and champion this worthy development. Mdm Chair, I have spoken at length about the importance of making the first-and-last-mile of our daily trips comfortable, safe, convenient and inclusive. Where would we like to see ourselves in 15 years? Tokyo, a familiar city for many Singaporeans, offers a good preview. Thirty-seven Page: 26 percent of all trips in Tokyo are made on foot or on bicycles, compared to just 17% in Singapore today. There are only about 10 kilometres of dedicated cycling paths in Tokyo, yet pedestrians, cyclists and motorists coexist harmoniously. Mr Lee Yi Shyan also reminded us about their extensive underground pedestrian network. For all of these, the most important ingredient in Tokyo's success is the people's civic-mindedness and consideration for others. Such changes in habits and culture will take time. But we are making a good start and with perseverance, we have a good chance of becoming an attractive walking and cycling city, where the first and last mile are among the best that any city can offer.”
“I thank Mr Ang Wei Neng for his suggestions on how registration can be implemented. We accept that there should be a grace period for e-bike owners to register and will need more time to work out the details. We hope to be able to share more information by the end of this year. Mr Ang Hin Kee called for stricter enforcement against retailers of non-compliant e-bikes. Since last year, LTA has stepped up enforcement against errant retailers and will continue to do so. We will also amend legislation to tighten up on the sale of non-compliant e-bikes. Mr Dennis Tan also provided several suggestions, for example, allowing throttles. LTA will study this as we go about, together with implementation of e-bike registration. Mdm Chair, the transition to the new policies, rules and code of conduct is challenging and will take time. We target to implement most of the changes by the end of this year. In the meantime, we will need to study the details carefully, make the necessary legislative changes and ramp up our resources. Even after these changes are implemented on paper, it will not all be smooth sailing. It will take time for everyone to get used to the new policies and rules and to cultivate the habits and culture of safe sharing of paths. Some conflicts will inevitably occur, but I believe that, with time and strong education and enforcement efforts, we will be able to develop a culture of safe and gracious sharing. This is the right direction to go and we are taking an important first step, but the journey will be a long one spanning many years. We will have to make adjustments along the way, by continuing to take in feedback and constantly engaging the community.”
“Moving on to enforcement and how we step up deterrence, cyclists and PMD users should always care for and give way to pedestrians, who are gracious in sharing the space with them. Just like how cyclists do not wish to be endangered by motorists on the road, they should spare a thought for pedestrians and avoid being a menace on footpaths. The Government will step up enforcement against reckless cyclists and users of PMDs. LTA will set up a dedicated enforcement team and will join the Traffic Police on joint enforcement exercises at hotspots. NParks will also play their part by conducting targeted enforcement in parks and park connectors. We will also increase penalties for stronger deterrence against reckless behaviour. Page: 25 Miss Cheng asked how we will be enforcing the speed limits on footpaths and cycling paths. It is not practical to station enforcement officers at every corner – I think we all know that – nor should we be overly rigid by penalising users for going slightly above the speed limit by one kilometre per hour or two kilometres per hour. For a start, we will focus on hotspots, such as crowded bus stops, and use speed guns to help us identify those who are speeding excessively and posing a danger to pedestrians. In the same vein, AMAP was particularly concerned about the proliferation of illegally modified power-assisted bicycles, or e-bikes. The Panel recommended registering these devices for more effective enforcement. The Government accepts this recommendation. Some irresponsible users have illegally modified their e-bikes to travel at high speeds of 40 kilometres per hour, even 70 kilometres per hour on the roads, effectively making them similar to motorcycles. They pose a safety hazard to pedestrians and motorists and, if I may add, to themselves.”
“We will also encourage cyclists and users of PMDs to pledge their commitment to riding safely on footpaths, shared paths and cycling paths through various activities. This will be supplemented by more in-depth education on safe cycling through a new Cyclist Education Programme. Participants will be taught how to be safe and considerate around others, how to use cycling infrastructure properly and practise what they have learnt. The programme will be launched in May and will be progressively rolled out in schools, community centres and foreign worker dormitories. Third, a shift in culture is a shared responsibility. To change habits and evolve new ones, to contribute to a culture where all users of shared paths conduct themselves with consideration for others, we need the involvement and ownership of the community. This is the only way. I agree with Mr Ang that it is important to cast the net wide when engaging these partners. LTA will partner community interest groups, grassroots organisations, retailers of bicycles and PMDs and others to help spread key education messages in their respective communities. In particular, we will work with the grassroots to set up volunteer Active Mobility Patrols. This is modelled after the cycling warden programme that has been successfully implemented in Tampines. Some of you from Tampines GRC may already know Mr Steven Yeo. He is a long-time volunteer cycling warden and he believes strongly in the role of education to change behaviour. It has taken 10 years to develop this sharing culture in Tampines, but he feels that the end result is fulfilling. Cyclists in Tampines have become more considerate and the most encouraging indicator is that they maintain safe cycling habits even when the wardens are not around.”
“Overall, the recommendations are fair and balanced, with sensible rules and guidelines to ensure the safety of pedestrians, cyclists and users of PMDs alike. These new rules will mean that bicycles and PMDs like kick-scooters, e-scooters, electric unicycles and hoverboards, can be used on footpaths, shared paths and cycling paths. We will, however, not allow power-assisted bicycles or e-bikes, on footpaths, because their nature and use tend to pose a higher safety risk to other path users. Page: 24 These new rules significantly improve the mobility options for everyone. Our seniors and persons with disabilities will find it easier to get around their neighbourhoods using motorised wheelchairs or mobility scooters. Students will find it safer to cycle to school; parents have more peace of mind. Families cycling to town centres for their daily activities or to catch a train will also be safer. On the other hand, we fully recognise the safety concerns of pedestrians in sharing the footpaths with faster moving users, as pointed out by Mr Gan, Miss Cheng and Mr Dennis Tan. That is why the Panel had also proposed a set of rules and code of conduct and policies on speed limits and maximum weight and size of permissible devices. Education and enforcement will also be important, as many Members have pointed out. Let me outline our broad plans. First, on education – how do we foster a culture of safety and consideration for others? The first thing we will do is to launch a nationwide Active Mobility campaign this April to raise awareness about the proposed policies, rules and code of conduct. Through a mix of outdoor, online and printed media, we will explain the new policies and rules and their rationale.”