Koh Poh Koon
Singapore
“In 2025, for walk-in patients, the median and 95th percentile doctor consultation waiting times were eight minutes and 72 minutes respectively. However, the Ministry of Health (MOH) does not track waiting times by peak versus off-peak hours, but it is likely that 95th percentile waiting times happened during peak hours.”
“The offences and penalties for importing, supplying or abusing SPS products are similar to those in the MDA, to ensure similar level of deterrence. Mr Speaker, with your permission, may I ask the Clerks to distribute a handout that summarises the changes in legislative penalties for key offences.”
“So, if you are a Singaporean student, you will expect that there will be some subsidies to the fees. The third question on how can the public, who may want to seek psychological care, know who is legitimate.”
“Sir, I thank the Member for his question on audiologists. In general, a qualified audiologist in Singapore needs a higher level of certification because a diploma level may not be quite enough to perform the task. So, we will look and see whether there is a way to actually find an in-between.”
“We are starting with registration to give formal recognition to those who are practising in higher risk sub-sectors in psychology and making sure that the quality, the standards and the support is given to them to deliver the care that the clients and the patients need.”
“It takes a bit of, not just system change in the providers, in the doctors and the care teams, but also, a gradual shift in the mindset of our population as well. So, it is something that we have to continue to do. There is no magic bullet to this and it is not something we can achieve overnight. 12.15 pm”
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“After just three weeks of classroom training, as well as subsequent on-the-job training, he has since settled into his new role in the automated yard operations control centre, managing exceptional situations for a fleet of automated cranes using a joystick and hi-definition cameras, rather than being isolated in a crane cabin which can be hot on certain days and for which he has to climb up a ladder to get access. The new job now allows him to work indoors and interact with his colleagues in an office environment. By keeping a positive mindset towards change, Mr Aw has learnt a new skill and stayed relevant. As a result, he has contributed to an improvement in PSA's overall performance, and his pay package has also increased through higher performance incentives. He is now even encouraging his friends from the other terminals to join him on this journey. From a typical blue-collar job, his job is now technically an “office job” that is less physically demanding, much safer and, certainly, much more fulfilling. With the expansion to Tuas Mega Port, I am sure many more exciting jobs will become available. It is not only the “big companies” that are capable of transformation. Let me cite the example of a homegrown halal bakery, Swee Heng. This SME, Swee Heng, invested in a new 60,000 square foot factory that is semi-automated and houses state-of-the-art equipment, such as two tunnel ovens that make baking much more efficient. The new factory has enabled Swee Heng to triple its former daily production capacity, and it is now producing 30,000 cakes and 120,000 bread dough daily while, at the same time, reducing the manpower required by an average of 50%. As a result, manpower can be redeployed to perform more intricate tasks, such as cake decorating.”
“In the words of a mature worker, as far as they are concerned, the robot is there but they are actually interfacing directly with the iPad and it is something that any smartphone user will find that, with minimal training, you can get used to it. We need to change our mindsets and not see technology as something complicated and beyond our abilities to cope. An example of a company that demonstrates this is PSA. I visited PSA last week. The port has been testing and adopting many automation technologies to enhance productivity. This includes the testing of unmanned automated guided vehicles (AGVs) as well as automated and remotely-controlled yard cranes and quay cranes, which help to provide better service levels and enable our port to remain competitive in the face of mounting global competition. PSA has not pursued automation at the expense of its drivers and crane operators. In fact, automation has allowed for the creation of higher-skilled and better-quality jobs for them. During the visit, I met Mr Aw Eng San, a 53-year-old crane operator who has been with PSA since 1994, but who, despite his years, displays a positive mindset towards change. When I spoke to him, he confessed that he was initially apprehensive when PSA decided to automate its yard cranes. However, PSA, working together with the Singapore Port Workers Union (SPWU) and the Port Officers’ Union, reassured him as well as the more than 1,000 other PSA staff going through the transformation journey with him, that jobs would still be available for all of them and that PSA would sponsor their training in the required skills. The training was well-designed and it eased the process of change.”
“And armed with these new skills, the workers can better support the company and take up the better jobs available and, in turn, making the company more competitive. Employees must also maintain a positive mindset towards new technologies, not thinking of them as complicated and beyond their abilities to cope. For this to happen, the transformation must also be “user-friendly”. The fear of technology can be overcome by ensuring that the “user-interface” is an intuitive and friendly one. For example, my five-year-old niece does not need to be taught how to use an iPad. Within a matter of a few hours, she can trigger the games app, figure out how the interface works, and can start playing the game. We have all seen this in many of our kids when they are given a device like an iPad. Many of us also would not need to read the instruction manual of a new smartphone that you have just taken from the phone store. Within a matter of a couple of days of tinkering around, you kind of get used to how the interface works and you can probably use 80% of the functions of the phone without so much as reading the user manual. Similarly, some SMEs in the manufacturing sector are able to do so and ensure that the user interface of automation is as simple as the interface of an iPad. I have visited some in the manufacturing sector and they have made the control of industrial robots via the use of iPads certainly very intuitive. The operator in this situation is, in fact, interfacing with the iPad and would not have to bother about the technology behind the robot itself unless, of course, they are the technicians charged with servicing the robot.”
“With new medical discoveries and new treatment modalities coming on stream every few months, learning new skills and knowledge and adopting new technology are something that healthcare workers have embraced as part of their work. Each time a new infusion pump is introduced in the wards, a new surgical instrument is adopted within the operating theatres, the entire team, from the doctors, nurses, operating theatre technicians, supporting staff and so on, undergo training, recertification and refresher courses. The hospital management actively plans for this and also ensures that the personnel are kept updated on the latest knowledge. So, lifelong learning is very much a part of the DNA of our healthcare workers and the hospital management. We need to inculcate this mindset of lifelong learning across all our industry sectors so that change is not something that we need to fear but something we embrace as our mission to remain competitive and deliver better products and services. We need to put in place a well-oiled system to facilitate the need for such lifelong learning across all sectors of our economy involving all stakeholders: institutions, agencies, TACs and our unions. The mindset change, however, must start with the employers because they have a very important role to play in this as they lead the change to adopt innovative business models and technologies that keep their companies competitive. Employers are also critical in developing their employees and helping them to ride the fast-moving waves of technology advances, because only after the employer has decided to transform and communicated this to his workers can the workers respond by picking up the relevant skills.”
“We have a strong scientific base that is built up over years of investment in science and technology, giving us a strong research base, strong research institutes and globally-leading Institutes of Higher Learning which can support industries in their transformation. Last but not least, we have a vibrant startup ecosystem driving innovation in the economy and serving as a means to capture economic value from upstream investments in research and development. Yet, with all these prerequisites, success in economic and industry transformation is not a given. As Member Melvin Yong has said earlier regarding his thoughts on ITMs, we have much work to do together and there are hurdles to a successful transformation. In my mind, the most difficult hurdle is one of mindset change. Let me explain this. Executing the ITMs and economic transformation will not be a once-off process. It will be a long-term endeavour. Technologies and consumer preferences are constantly changing. Hence, business models will have to adapt repeatedly to meet these needs, and our workers will need to continually upgrade their skills to remain relevant. This is not a new phenomenon. Our economy has undergone transformation before. But the speed and pervasiveness in which the technological change and disruption are taking place are unprecedented. Tackling changes posed by the technological revolution, therefore, requires a fundamental DNA evolution on our part. Our DNA must evolve. We need to develop in us the DNA of continual upgrading and lifelong learning. This is the basis of the SkillsFuture initiative. A fundamental mindset change is needed, regardless of whether you are a business owner or a worker. The healthcare sector exemplifies this.”
“Digitalising work processes will also allow us to be more effective and productive at our jobs while allowing work arrangements to be more flexible, such as working from homes, leaving us with more time to pursue other goals or maybe spend more time with our families. With automation, we will also be less constrained by our physical limitations even with an ageing workforce, as work-related experience will count more than just mere physical strength. As our labour force growth slows in the next decade, productivity growth will allow us to achieve economic growth and continue to provide us with more resources as a society, both for ourselves and to support and care for those with less. As business owners, many understand that disruption from technology and automation is a global challenge. With an interconnected world that we live in, we are not in a position to prevent or slow down technological change. Companies understand that if they do not disrupt themselves, someone else will do so. Instead of wondering how we can protect ourselves from change, we should instead push to be at the forefront of change, even as we have to consciously work towards mitigating the negative impact on vulnerable groups. Despite the fear and uncertainty, I can confidently say that we are in a strong position to ride this wave of change and create an innovation-driven economy. I would say our prognosis is fairly good. And why do I say that? First, our people are well-educated and highly skilled. Our position at the heart of Asia puts us in a region of fast-growing demand where these skills can be put to good use to meet the needs of Asian consumers.”
“Some worries go beyond workers, with businesses fretting about business model disruption, students worrying about whether their knowledge and skills will remain relevant, and older people wondering how they will cope in a society that requires more and more familiarity with technology. I can empathise with such fears and anxieties. I have also seen this in patients facing an uncertain prognosis. In these situations, I find that seeing the situation in the right context is often helpful to reducing anxieties and, more importantly, to galvanise positive actions. Our companies and our workers, too, must see the challenges in the right context and understand that while technological disruptions can create uncertainty for businesses and workers who fear being left behind, they also present new and exciting opportunities. Let me share three perspectives for us to consider as a consumer, worker and business owner. As consumers, many of the technology evolutions are driven by consumer needs and demands. Every worker is, ultimately, also a consumer. As consumers, many of these changes do improve our lives with better and faster products and services, as well as more convenient ways of doing things. For example, e-commerce can disrupt the value chain and maybe threaten some jobs if you are in the retail business but, certainly, e-commerce also provides access to a much wider range of products and services available from the comfort and convenience of our homes, and people do enjoy shopping online. As workers, automating away tedious and strenuous jobs will make our work lives more productive, engaging and perhaps safer.”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, I stand in support of the Motion. We are living through an era of rapid technological progress which is likely to make automation much more pervasive. Technologies are now being applied to areas which we usually regard as being carried out only by people. Just last week, Google showcased an AI system which is able to make appointments over the phone. Those of us who watched the video saw how the AI interacted with a person without a script. Amazon has also recently launched its checkout free store in Seattle in America and is looking to learn from this and expand further. Here in Singapore, some of us would have seen the automated tray-clearing robots being trialed in our coffee shops and hawker centres, or the self-driving vehicles that are making their way around parts of one-north. As automation technologies continue to develop, they will continue to be able to perform more tasks which require more complex skills. Some examples which are already taking place include the use of automation in detecting fraud by the Development Bank of Singapore, and in generating simple news reports and Tweets, such as those covering financial and sports results. So, whether one is a blue-collar worker or a white-collar worker, these changes can make us feel vulnerable to being replaced by technology. There is a sense that these changes are beyond our full understanding and control, leading to fear and anxiety regarding an uncertain future. The fear is real. This is understandable and it is expected to be so. This might lead some to resist the technologies, feeling that society should push back against automation to protect jobs. Some may wonder why the Government is actively supporting the process of economic transformation, instead of protecting existing jobs.”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, I believe I have addressed the concerns of the Members. The proposed amendments seek to address existing administrative gaps, in order to strengthen the current competition regime. Competition law is an important tool to ensure well-functioning and healthy markets, to ensure a level playing field for all businesses to compete and innovate, such that they can become more efficient and productive, which is essential for Singapore's next phase of innovation-driven economic growth. With that, Mr Deputy Speaker, I beg to move. [(proc text) Question put, and agreed to. (proc text)] [(proc text) Bill accordingly read a Second time and committed to a Committee of the whole House. (proc text)] [(proc text) The House immediately resolved itself into a Committee on the Bill. – [Dr Koh Poh Koon]. (proc text)] [(proc text) Bill considered in Committee; reported without amendment; read a Third time and passed. (proc text)]”
“Mr Henry Kwek asked whether the speculated merger between Uber and Grab will achieve a dominance that will crowd out other taxi companies, causing consumers to ultimately lose out. CCS has the power to review any merger which may result in a substantial lessening of competition in any market in Singapore and is monitoring this matter. Mr Henry Kwek also asked for an update on CCS' focus over the past few years. CCS continues their efforts to ensure effective enforcement of the Competition Act and to raise awareness of competition law in Singapore. This includes their work in assessing merger notifications and conducting market inquiries, in order to ensure that markets work well for both businesses and consumers. Over the past five years from 2013 to 2017, CCS has investigated into nearly a hundred cases of potential infringements of the Competition Act. I also note Mr Henry Kwek's feedback on asking the Government to consider setting up a committee to look into profiteering. I would like to assure Mr Henry Kwek that the Government will monitor the situation and take the necessary measures against businesses found to be profiteering. In addition, Mr Azmoon Ahmad has suggested for the Government to take into consideration, in our future reviews of the Competition Act, the need to protect our traditional businesses, as well as our SMEs. The Government notes the feedback and I also wish to clarify that the Competition Act is a broad-based legislation targeted at promoting efficient market conduct to protect consumers and businesses from anti-competitive activities. In this regard, there may be more targeted ways to help our SMEs, such as through the support given by our various economic agencies.”
“Mr Azmoon Ahmad has asked whether CCS is still able to make a decision pursuant to section 57, which provides for the process that an anticipated merger has infringed the section 54 prohibition, after providing confidential advice to the contrary earlier. The introduction of new section 55A formalises CCS' provision of confidential advice on anticipated mergers in the situation where information about the merger is not yet in the public domain. In the spirit of confidentiality, therefore, CCS will base its assessment of the anticipated merger on the information provided by the merging entities. CCS will not request for information from any third party, such as the applicant's main customers or competitors, or conduct any public consultation to assist in their assessment because it is meant to be confidential advice. As such, the advice that CCS issues under the new section 55A is not binding on CCS. In the situation where information about an anticipated merger is already in the public domain, merging entities may make an application for CCS' formal assessment of whether the anticipated merger, if carried into effect, will infringe the section 54 prohibition. This is provided for under section 57 of the Competition Act. Notwithstanding that CCS issues a favourable decision that the anticipated merger will not infringe the section 54 prohibition, CCS may take further action if it has reasonable grounds to suspect that information on which CCS had previously based its decision was materially incomplete, false or misleading, or if a party who had provided a commitment has failed to adhere to it. This is provided for under the existing section 59 of the Act.”
“If an individual that CCS wishes to examine expresses his will to be interviewed in the presence of his legal advisor, CCS will provide a reasonable amount of time to allow the legal advisor to arrive at the premises. In addition, where a written notice is addressed to an individual, it is not acceptable for another person to respond on that individual’s behalf. But this does not prevent the individual from obtaining legal advice in relation to that notice. As a further safeguard, the subject matter and purpose of the investigation are also stated in the notice or warrant issued pursuant to sections 64 and 65 of the Act, which CCS officers strictly adhere to. Hence, they will only ask questions related to the subject matter. Furthermore, the statement given by the individual has to be read to the individual in a language he understands, before he signs the statement. The individual also has the opportunity to correct the statement, if necessary. In addition, should CCS rely on the statement for their decision, CCS will first issue a Proposed Infringement Decision (PID). Parties will be able to inspect CCS' evidence and make representations to CCS, including if they feel that CCS has gone beyond the scope of investigations during the interview, in response to the PID. CCS will take into consideration parties' representations, before issuing their final decision in an Infringement Decision or ID. If parties disagree with CCS' decision in the ID, they may appeal to the Competition Appeal Board, which is an independent body, comprising members appointed by the Minister for Trade and Industry.”
“For CCS to be able to do more than that, it would need to first serve a separate section 63 notice on the individual they wish to examine and re-explain the necessary obligations and rights to the individual again – a redundant duplication of work, both for the agency and for the individual. This prolongs the duration of the inspection or search and results in a longer than necessary disruption to the business being investigated. It also results in two separate statements being recorded from the same person, one pursuant to the powers under section 63 and the other under section 64. The proposed amendment thus seeks to streamline CCS' investigation process, to enable CCS to serve a single notice to enter the premises to obtain documents and also ask questions pertaining to the documents found on the premises, as well as require occupants to provide information relating to the subject matter and purpose of the investigation. Mr Patrick Tay also asked whether a person being examined would be allowed access to legal representation, about the safeguards that the statements are properly recorded and that CCS officers do not go beyond the allowed scope of questioning. Mr Louis Ng also raised a concern about the individual having sufficient time to seek legal advice on CCS’ requirements. I would like to assure both Mr Louis Ng and Mr Patrick Tay that as part of CCS' existing investigation procedure, CCS will verbally inform the occupier and the occupants of the purposes of their investigation as well as their obligations and rights, which includes the right to legal representation, prior to entering the premises.”
“The notice or warrant issued pursuant to sections 64 or 65 of the Competition Act respectively, allows CCS to obtain documents relating to the investigation and require any person to provide an explanation of these documents, including where to locate the documents if they are not on the premises. Prior to entering the premises, CCS has to serve the section 64 notice or section 65 warrant on the occupier of the premises. This notice or warrant states the subject matter and the purpose of CCS’ investigation, which will be explained to the occupier as well. CCS will also make clear the occupier’s and the occupants' obligations and rights, such as it being an offence if they provide false or misleading information to the investigating officer. However, CCS may, sometimes, need to also ask general questions that are related to the subject matter and purpose of the investigation, but which do not relate to the explanation of the documents obtained at that point in time. For example, without the proposed amendments, if the scope of CCS' investigations is on bid-rigging and CCS uncovers an email correspondence chain relating to the rigging of a tender during an inspection, they would only be able to require any person to explain what the email correspondence is about, but would not be able to ask about what other related projects the parties in the email may also have been involved in. So, it could well be many, many bid-rigging episodes but the email documented one episode and, without this broader scope of questioning, they are limited in only being able to obtain that information about that one episode.”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, I thank Members who have spoken and note that all of them support the Bill. Some have raised pertinent points that I will now address. Mr Azmoon Ahmad asked if the proposed amendment to allow CCS to accept legally-binding commitments for cases involving the section 34 and section 47 prohibitions makes it easier for companies to circumvent competition law. I would like to give my assurance to Mr Azmoon Ahmad that CCS is committed in its efforts to ensure a robust competition regime to enable well-functioning markets that support a level playing field for businesses in Singapore. Commitments offered to CCS must remedy, mitigate or prevent the adverse effects of the anti-competitive conduct that is currently being investigated. And in assessing their acceptance of commitments, CCS must also be assured that the commitments are sufficient to prevent the recurrence of such anti-competitive conduct. The proposed amendment allows CCS to take more timely action against a party, which had previously provided but breached a commitment, so they do not then need to re-open fresh investigations into the anti-competitive conduct itself. This strengthens, rather than limits, CCS' enforcement efforts to eliminate and control anti-competitive practices in Singapore. Mr Patrick Tay has asked about how the need for the service of the section 63 notice on the person to be examined during CCS' inspections and searches conducted pursuant to sections 64 and 65 of the Competition Act has resulted in an inefficient investigation process or caused disruption to the business being investigated. In addition, Mr Tay has asked about the safeguards to ensure that the person examined is sufficiently informed of the subject matter and purposes of the investigation.”
“Soon – when all the details for operationalising this have been finalised and our stakeholder engagement has been completed.”
“Sir, I think different countries have got different domestic concerns and different market structures. So, it will not be so easy to transpose what is practicable in another jurisdiction to Singapore. But if the Member is concerned about the proliferation of the ivory trade, be assured that, actually, since the prohibition and international ban in 1990, there are no commercial import and export of ivory in Singapore unless there are explicit permits given by AVA. So, this current review pertains to how we want to even tackle any pre-Convention stocks that are in Singapore to be managed by domestic businesses. And I think as we engage the local businesses, we hope to be able to make the announcements soon.”
“Mr Speaker, as indicated in our previous reply to Mr Louis Ng, the Government is presently studying the implementation of a domestic ban on the sale of ivory in Singapore. There are many stakeholders to engage, as well as operational details that need to be worked out as part of this study. AVA will provide further updates and make an announcement on this matter when ready.”
“About three to five local fish farms have used the funds quite well to adopt and create new technologies, like the closed containment systems, for which they can rapidly deploy and protect their fish stock when a plankton bloom does occur. Having said that, they are still a very small portion of all the fish farms out there in the coastal areas. And I think no one would be able to prevent a plankton bloom because these are exogenous factors relating to weather, relating to water conditions. What it means is that more of our fish farms ought to tap on the grants to develop systems that mitigate some of these risks that are quite unpredictable. We want to encourage more of our fish farmers to use this and to do so, but they have to make the move. We can provide the grants, we can provide the conditions, the expertise as well, but they must do so. The third thing is on the fixed price tender. This is the first time we are doing the fixed price tender method. What it does is that we are no longer looking at bidding as a main determinant of who gets the plot of land. What this means is that any farm or any industry player who wants to put up a good proposal with productivity enhancement, with good technology adoption and, more importantly, also with a good track record of having been successful locally, producing in good quantity of local produce that is accepted by our market, will stand a better chance of winning this tender. So, it is based on a fixed price, the price of the fair value of land rather than a bidding war. What it means is that it will not disadvantage smaller players compared to a big player which has got deeper pockets. This is the intent of why we go on to a fixed price model for this particular tender exercise.”
“Mr Chairman, the first question on how much of APF has been disbursed, unfortunately, I do not have the numbers on hand right now. But many of the farmers whom we had spoken to, as I said in my speech earlier, were keen to tap on the fund for technology to enhance their operations. Some of them may have held back because of the ongoing land tender. They wanted to wait for the certainty of lease. That is why the 20-year lease that we put out for these new plots of land are extremely helpful for them to see how they can best amortise their investments over a longer timeframe. Hopefully, the enhancement to the APF that we announced earlier, from $700,000 to $2 million, will allow them to more seriously invest in useful technologies spread over a 20-year timeframe, and take on really productive technologies to move the sector forward. On the Member's second question on the aquaculture, fishery sector and what AVA and the Government are doing to help them mitigate the risk of plankton blooms, we know that there were a couple of serious plankton blooms that happened in the recent past. What AVA has done is that they have stepped up water quality monitoring, checking on the plankton count and also on the oxygenation level. They are also looking at water temperature. And when any of these parameters exceed a certain comfort level, AVA will send out SMSes to all the farmers on their mobile phones so that the farm operators or the owners will be alerted to a potential plankton bloom and take necessary precautions and remedial actions. AVA has also put up some R&D grants a few years back and encouraged fish farmers to use some of these grants to testbed solutions that will help them develop systems that protect their fish stocks from harm.”
“Mr Chairman, in response to the first question, rental flats are actually integrated into the overall housing precincts with other flat types, so they are not isolated. As a design, they are actually integrated with the other types of HDB flats of various sizes. As part of our Neighbourhood Renewal Programme (NRP) that is at the precinct level, the area will be enhanced. This includes rental flats in the area as well. For the second question about creating more privacy to help those in the Joint Singles Scheme, co-staying within a 1-room flat, since 2012, our new building plan already put in some facilities, like partitioning, in the rental flats. And in the newer ones, I think beyond 2013 to 2014, for example, the partitions also include separate doors and a separate window so that there is a lot more privacy for these tenants co-sharing a unit. Hopefully, it will reduce any chances of friction and to give them a lot more privacy.”
“On average, about 800 households move from rental into home ownership each year. Most of them are first-timers, helped by affordable flat prices and our generous housing grants. Rental families also get priority allocation under the Tenants’ Priority Scheme (TPS). After we expanded TPS to include second-timer families in 2016, 150 more families have benefited. One of them is the Ng family. After entering rental, Mr Ng found steady employment and grew his income. The family of five has recently moved into their own 3-room flat in Punggol. I am happy for them and wish them every success. I hope these data and examples will assure Members that we take a needs-based approach in providing assistance. We will continue studying how to support families on their home ownership journey, and I look forward to sharing more of our progress next year.”
“This is just over half of what they would pay for the same flat on a 99-year lease. We also thank Miss Cheryl Chan for her suggestions. While the Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) actively encourages Singaporeans to make an LPA and to do so early, this is ultimately a personal decision. We also note her points on means-testing for seniors living in short-lease private properties. We will study these issues further with the relevant agencies. Home ownership is a cornerstone of our nation and Mr Gan Thiam Poh asked how we are helping rental tenants with this. Members will know of the Fresh Start Housing Scheme, for second-timer rental families with young children. I am pleased to update that more than 130 of such families applied, and 61 have been emplaced. Thirty-one of them have booked a flat, of whom two will be collecting their keys this year. One of our Fresh Start families is the Chng family, who booked a flat in Yishun last year. With the Fresh Start grant of $20,000 and his CPF savings, Mr Chng bought the flat without a loan. After collecting their keys, the family of four can receive up to $15,000 in grants over the next five years, which will grow their CPF savings. For rental families who are ready to buy a flat, we want to help them do so sooner. Therefore, we will reduce the minimum stay requirement for Fresh Start, from two years currently, to one year. This means that eligible families may even be emplaced in the Fresh Start programme before the first rental tenancy renewal. Fresh Start is still a very new scheme. We will continue to consider further enhancements with the Advisory Committee. We encourage all rental families, including those who wish to purchase a larger flat, to discuss their home ownership aspirations with HDB.”
“In the last three years, we let more than 470 families with income above the income ceiling enter public rental. Today, a family of three can already rent a 2-room flat if they earn an income. More than 90% of rental households have four or fewer registered occupants. For the larger families, most live in the larger flats. I would like to assure Mr Chong Kee Hiong and Mr Pritam Singh that the waiting time from application to key collection now averages three months, down from a peak of 21 months in 2008. This is the result of HDB ramping up supply over the last decade to about 60,000 rental flats today. We will continue to monitor the need to build more rental flats. Some wait time, however, is inevitable as HDB assesses each application and considers the household's preferred location. For those in urgent need, HDB may offer them priority allocation or interim rental. For both rental and home ownership blocks, HDB and the Town Councils work together to ensure the cleanliness and maintenance of common spaces. Let me now address Members’ suggestions for seniors. Mr Dennis Tan and Mr Gan Thiam Poh suggested measures to help low-income seniors buy a flat, which we will study further. Today, seniors already have the option of short-lease 2-room flexi flats, which are highly affordable. Mr Dennis Tan's suggestions to reduce the singles premium are already in place. All price components for short-lease flats are adjusted downwards based on the lease chosen. Now, with grants, first-timer seniors can buy a short-lease 2-room flexi flat for as little as $3,000. For second-timer seniors, we cap their resale levy at $30,000 and adjust it downwards based on the shorter lease. They can buy a 2-room flexi flat, on a 40-year lease, for as little as $58,000, including resale levy.”
“We encourage those who can live with their family to do so, for mutual support with childcare. But each family has different needs and circumstances and, therefore, we will exercise flexibility where needed, to ensure that every child has the opportunity to grow up in a stable and secure environment. As Mr Saktiandi Supaat highlighted, families in financial hardship may end up without a place to stay. And they may worry about being rejected from public rental because of past property ownership. In fact, HDB takes a needs-based approach in assessing applications for public rental. HDB considers their income, whether family members can accommodate them, and the applicant’s ability to afford a flat. This takes into account also the sales proceeds from their previous property, if any. We have updated the eligibility criteria for public rental to make these considerations much clearer. Several Members asked about how we help Singaporeans who do not meet the public rental eligibility criteria and how we cater to larger families with children. Let me emphasise again that this is why HDB’s needs-based approach is important. While the public rental income ceiling is one consideration, the cost of home ownership is another. Over the years, home ownership has stayed affordable, with more grant options and also higher grant quanta. We want to encourage home ownership whenever possible. Those who can afford to buy a flat, especially first-timers with grants, are not allowed to enter into public rental, even if their income is within the ceiling. On the other hand, others above the income ceiling may be accorded flexibility. For example, larger families have higher expenses, which we account for when assessing their housing options.”
“00 pm AVA will also partner SAFEF in developing a broader marketing plan for our local produce to raise our consumers' awareness. I urge consumers, especially Singaporeans, to support our fresh and nutritious local produce. These efforts will strengthen the ecosystem and operating environment for our farms. But as the industry matures, we also need to start looking at the wider food value chain. We will continue to work towards creating an enabling environment to keep our local agricultural sector commercially viable and sustainable for the long term. Let me move on to supporting our families in need. Everyone wants a safe haven to call home, but some may have lost their homes or have been displaced. Several Members have highlighted that this can be a difficult time for these families, and asked for assistance for single parents, families in hardship and our seniors. Minister Lawrence Wong earlier announced that we will lift the divorce time bar. HDB may also offer rental housing to those in need and displaced by divorce. Some may have no family to turn to. They also cannot buy an HDB flat until the divorce is finalised and their housing eligibility and budget are clear. HDB does help them. We will deal with them on a more flexible case-by-case basis. Miss Cheryl Chan spoke about the housing needs of widowed Non-Residents. Now, following the demise of their Singaporean spouse, they may retain the flat with a Singaporean family member. Where there are young children involved, HDB can allow the flat to be retained in trust for the children or let those with no other housing options rent a flat. Mr Muhamad Faisal Abdul Manap asked for our housing policy to better cater to unmarried parents.”
“It will provide a talent pipeline to ensure our farms have skilled manpower to undertake transformation and innovation. For a start, Temasek Polytechnic will launch its new "Earn and Learn" work-study programme to attract ITE graduates into the aquaculture industry. Under this programme, participating farms can enjoy up to $15,000 worth of incentives for each graduate to defray their training costs. I am glad that six of our food fish farms have already pledged support for this programme. The graduates will start their 12-month attachment programmes from April this year. I hope that our farmers will, indeed, take this opportunity to create a positive learning experience for the graduates. This will help encourage our young talent not just to enter the industry, but also to stay and contribute more to the industry. Third, we will do more to help increase demand for local produce. As our farmers become more productive, they will naturally need more consumers to support them. In this context, we organised the first SG Farmers' Market last September at myVillage mall in Serangoon Gardens. The event generated plenty of interests. More recently, we co-organised the second Farmers' Market last month with SAFEF. More than 25 local farmers participated and I am happy to say that most of them sold out all their products to the crowds that visited the Market. This was a very good response. Five busloads of my own Yio Chu Kang residents visited the Market and snapped up the produce. I have heard good feedback from my residents. I also know that many of our grassroots organisations organised groups to support the event. For that, I want to thank everyone for your support. We will keep up the momentum and bring Farmers' Markets to our heartlands by August this year. 6.”
“Having these progressive farmers band together to walk this journey with us makes me confident that we can raise the sector's productivity and improve our food security. I look forward to more farmers joining SAFEF and working closely with us. Indeed, we want to do even more together. We have worked closely with the industry and taken on board their feedback to review existing schemes and develop new initiatives to better support our farmers. Let me highlight three key initiatives. First, we will further enhance the Agriculture Productivity Fund (APF). Many farmers have told us that they are happy to adopt more productive technology. However, new farming systems require heavy capital investments. Advanced greenhouse systems with environmental controls and automation, which can double their production, can cost around S$4 million. We appreciate that this poses challenges for many of our farms. So, to help farmers take this leap, we are increasing the APF Productivity Enhancement component's co-funding cap from $700,000 to $2 million for our strategic food farms. This is a significant enhancement. Beyond the capital cost of implementation, farmers have told us that they need assistance in testing these new systems prior to a larger-scale deployment, to ensure that the technology can be adapted to our local conditions and produce. Several rounds of trials are usually necessary before farmers can commit to a particular technology or a system at a commercial scale. Hence, we will now introduce a new test-bedding component to APF to co-fund up to $500,000 for food farms that want to testbed new solutions. Secondly, we will develop a Singaporean workforce for our farms of the future, in partnership with our IHLs.”
“I am happy to note that Eden PurelyFresh farm won a plot of land in the last tender exercise with a proposal to grow vegetables using greenhouses with innovative monitoring systems. This shows that with the right partners and mindset, farmers can, indeed, take their businesses to the next level. In fact, this ongoing series of tenders will provide existing farmers with a clean slate of sorts to bring in new technology and transform the way they operate, without the encumbrances of previously existing operations. There are also opportunities for farming in unconventional spaces. Rooftops are interesting possibilities in our highly urbanised environment. In 2014, we piloted Singapore's first rooftop farm, Comcrop, at SCAPE mall in Orchard Road. We saw its potential to scale up and facilitated conversations between Comcrop and JTC for a 35,000 square feet rooftop space on one of JTC's food factories in Woodlands. With space the size of seven basketball courts, Comcrop has now finalised plans to develop eight high-tech greenhouses with environmental controls. We will continue to push for such innovative projects to optimise our land use and to grow our urban farming movement. But farm transformation can only succeed if the industry takes the lead to embrace innovation as well. So, in this regard, I am glad that a few members of AVA's Industry Consultation Panel came together last October to form the Singapore Agro-Food Enterprises Federation (SAFEF). SAFEF aims to represent, advance and promote the agro-food sector in Singapore for economic development and for export. As a ground-up initiative, SAFEF's founding members collectively contribute more than 50% of our locally grown produce and represent some of our most productive food farms.”
“Mr Chairman, let me begin by thanking Mr Darryl David and Mr Leon Perera for their comments on our local agricultural sector. Both Members spoke about its importance and how we should continue to nurture the growth of our agricultural sector. I agree with them. That is why AVA launched the Farm Transformation Map (FTM) in collaboration with the Industry Consultation Panel last year. FTM provides a platform that brings together Government agencies, industry players and IHLs to transform our farming sector to become more resilient and productive. FTM remains a "live document" that is constantly updated based on evolving needs. I am glad to report that we have made progress. For instance, AVA launched the new farmland tenders on 20-year leases last year. This is the first time that AVA is tendering out land using the Fixed Price tender method. This allows tenderers to compete on concept as opposed to price. Proposals will be evaluated based on production capability, track record, relevant experience, innovation and sustainability. Any farmer who is committed to being productive and has a good track record will stand a good chance of winning the tender. Eden PurelyFresh farm is one such example. It started out growing vegetables using traditional farming methods. But in 2012, the owner Mr Chan Yow Tiong, decided that the farm needed a new approach in order to stay competitive. So, he brought in Mr Desmond Khoo, a technologically savvy 25-year-old entrepreneur with strong marketing skills. Mr Khoo also owned a few vegetable stalls in wet markets, as well as a fresh food import business. Through this complementary partnership, the farm began exploring innovative ways and technologies to increase their productivity.”
“The CPFTA protects consumers against errant retailers who engage in unfair trading practices, regardless of whether these transactions take place online or offline. The Act provides for civil actions to be taken by consumers and by specified bodies against retailers that persist in unfair trading practices. The Government adopts a balanced approach of supporting a pro-enterprise environment, while at the same time protecting consumers. In line with the principle of the freedom of contract, businesses are free to enter into consumer contracts, as long as it is mutually agreed to by the contracting parties. Businesses and consumers should be alert to the clauses and conditions of any contract they enter into, including the fine print. Consumers should also take steps to protect themselves before making their purchases. This could include checking reviews on the reputation of retailers as well as their refund policies and mechanisms. Practices, such as using small print to conceal or mislead consumers on a material fact in relation to the transaction, can be considered as unfair practices under CPFTA. We note Mr Lim Biow Chuan's suggestions on arbitration clauses and pre-ticked boxes. The Government will study them and take them into account when we next review the relevant consumer protection legislations. We will continue to monitor the situation and take appropriate actions, if necessary. As I have elaborated in my speech, the Government has in place extensive support structures and initiatives to support our SMEs and startups on their transformation journey. What remains is for companies to step up and make the right investments today to seize new growth opportunities not just for themselves, but also for a better future for all of us.”
“At JTC LaunchPad@JID, JTC will work with partners to provide a one-stop prototyping centre where deep tech startups can leverage shared equipment for small batch production. SPRING Singapore will also be launching the Startup SG (SSG) Network later this year. The SSG Network will be a one-stop database of information, as well as an e-community of startups and ecosystem players. This will support networking and facilitate business matching for startups. With the establishment of ESG in April this year, startups will be able to leverage ESG’s international network of offices and in-market partners to scale up and expand into new overseas markets. ESG will advise startups on capability development and internationalisation, while providing them with integrated support through the schemes that were previously under SPRING Singapore and IE Singapore. As the Minister for Industry, Mr S Iswaran, had earlier highlighted that the Government is adapting to better serve the needs of industry in Singapore’s new economic environment. As part of this, the Government will restructure the Competition Commission of Singapore (CCS) in April 2018 to take over SPRING Singapore's current role as the administering agency for the Consumer Protection (Fair Trading) Act (CPFTA). Besides the CPFTA, CCS will continue its current mandate of administering the Competition Act. To reflect its new role, CCS will be renamed the Competition and Consumer Commission of Singapore (CCCS). I would now like to address Mr Lim Biow Chuan's question about consumer protection for online transactions, specifically his suggestions to restrict the use of mandatory arbitration clauses in standard terms and conditions and pre-ticked boxes for additional goods and services.”
“Building on this, SPRING Singapore appointed nine co-investment partners last month with the goal of further catalysing over $200 million into more deep tech startups in the growth sectors of Advanced Manufacturing and Engineering, Health and Biomedical Sciences, and Urban Solutions and Sustainability. Beyond funding, the deep tech startups will stand to benefit from the resources and know-how provided by those various co-investment partners, which had been chosen for their expertise in the respective sectors. This includes help with technology translation, prototyping and manufacturing facilities, and strategic networks for development and commercialisation, thus working to shorten the startups’ learning curves and improving their chances of success. To scale up, startups should seek out-growth opportunities, both locally and abroad. Startups can tap on partner networks which we have put into place. Last year, the Government worked closely with partners like the Action Community for Entrepreneurship (ACE) to strengthen startups’ access to smart financing and global networks. This included supporting the launch of ACE International Centre, which provides a landing pad for global startups and helps local startups to scale up and internationalise. 8.00 pm JTC has also developed LaunchPads at one-north and Jurong Innovation District (JID), which offer a range of spaces for startups to operate in and testbed their ideas. More importantly, LaunchPads serve as hubs to connect entrepreneurs with accelerators, incubators, venture capitalists and fellow entrepreneurs in related fields. This creates opportunities for knowledge sharing, collaboration and growth.”
“SPRING Singapore leveraged the Startup SG brand to organise the inaugural Startup SG competition, SLINGSHOT@SWITCH, in September 2017. The competition attracted more than 900 teams from over 30 countries. Media coverage of the competition and the Startup SG brand was extensive and helped to increase global mindshare of Singapore as a startup hub. Second, to improve Singapore's attractiveness to global entrepreneurial talent, we enhanced the EntrePass scheme’s entry and renewal criteria in August 2017. Since then, the number of applications has more than doubled. This is an encouraging development. Given Singapore’s small size, we need to remain open to promising global entrepreneurial talent who can contribute to the vibrancy of our startup scene. This will help to seed future growth and good local jobs. In 2016, foreign startups generated a total of 9,800 local jobs. As a percentage share of the total employment generated by foreign startups, local jobs took up 54%, which constitutes an increase from 50% in 2012. In one example, after Dr Bert Grobben's application for the EntrePass was supported in 2015, he incorporated a startup here called Budding Innovations. His company specialises in commercialisation of technology by working with companies to develop go-to-market strategies. Budding Innovations has since created five local jobs, of which three are PMETs. Third, to strengthen funding support, we raised the cap and proportion of the Government’s co-investment funding share under Startup SG Equity last year. This aims to catalyse private sector investment into promising Singapore-based technology startups with IP and global market potential.”
“Thank you, Sir. Mr Charles Chong asked about the Government’s efforts to build up our startup landscape. Startups play an important role in our economy. They help to boost Singapore’s economic competitiveness through innovative ideas and disruption of existing industries, thus contributing to sector development and transformation. In recent years, we have seen good growth in the number, contribution and quality of our startups. The total number of startups in Singapore grew from 22,000 in 2003 to 43,000 in 2016. They contributed $7.7 billion, or 1.9% of GDP in 2016. In particular, the number of tech startups increased from 2,800 to 4,300 in the same period, employing about 24,000 workers in 2016. Startups in Singapore are also attracting a good level of investor interest and funding. In January 2018, local logistics startup Ninja Van raised over US$87 million in its Series C funding round, while late last year, homegrown gaming company Razer raised US$528 million in its initial public offering in Hong Kong. These success stories are certainly not one-off. In Singapore, the venture funding activity and deal flows have multiplied significantly from 80 deals worth US$136.4 million in 2012, to 174 deals worth US$1.37 billion in 2017. These developments reflect the growing quality and potential of startups here. This shows that our moves to distinguish Singapore’s startup scene through establishing a strong brand identity, strengthening our talent attraction efforts, and enhancing funding support are bearing fruit. "Startup SG" was launched in March 2017 as a single brand identity to showcase Singapore’s startup ecosystem to the world. It also unified the Government's startup support schemes, making it easier for entrepreneurs to apply for support.”
“TIDF will also support initiatives to create a wider spectrum of financial value-added service offerings. These efforts will help support our wholesale trade companies to scale up and become more productive and innovative. Sir, even as our industries and companies transform and seize the opportunities, we want our people to benefit from the good jobs that will be created. Senior Parliamentary Secretary Low Yen Ling will speak in greater detail about how our people can thrive in this new environment. Much of my speech has focused on transforming and rejuvenating existing industries to future-proof Singapore’s economy. I would now like to address another part of the equation and, that is, how the Government is working to nurture startups as catalysts of growth.”
“It is one of our economy’s largest and most diverse sectors, comprising more than 35,000 firms engaging in Business-to-Business (B2B) transactions for a wide range of goods, ranging from household goods and consumer electronics to food items and commodities. The sector is also external-facing, with over 80% of sales derived from international trade. This international aspect puts the wholesale trade sector in a prime position for growth over the next decade. Across Asia, rapid population growth and rising consumerism are expected to fuel regional demand for goods like food, fuel and smart devices. To help local enterprises unlock these opportunities, the Government has worked to deepen our trade connections with ASEAN. In September 2017, the Singapore Logistics Association (SLA) and Global eTrade Services (GeTS) launched "hive", a regional B2B trade facilitation platform. "Hive" supports companies in meeting cross-border trade compliance requirements for over 50 customs authorities in ASEAN and around the world. This allows companies to enjoy greater process efficiencies and seamless clearance, since "hive" will be linked to Singapore Customs. Preliminary response has been encouraging. In a mere five months, over 2,300 companies have joined the platform, with close to 4,000 transactions completed. Yet, we must be prepared for how technological advancements, such as blockchain technology and data analytics, could revolutionise the way global trade is conducted in the coming years. To help strengthen our trade ecosystem, we will establish the Trade Infrastructure Development Fund (TIDF) this year. This new fund, TIDF, will be offered as a grant to support companies which are looking to develop B2B e-marketplaces and innovative trade solutions.”
“Instead of having to manually collect the data, he has easy access to it on his digital devices. He can focus more on data analysis and problem resolution. (In English): Over time, as our companies continue to improve their innovation capacity, adopt technologies and prepare their workforce, we will build up a strong local manufacturing base to support our vision of being an advanced manufacturing hub. While I have spoken about the many schemes available to support companies, I understand that some companies are unsure how and where to begin their transformation journey. And this is a point Mr Sitoh Yih Pin raised earlier. As a first step, companies can use EDB's Singapore Smart Industry Readiness Index (SSIRI). This tool will help companies to self-diagnose the future-readiness of their organisational processes, technology usage and workforce skills. It is designed to be used by companies of all sizes in all sectors to determine how they may implement "smart" manufacturing operations. I encourage companies to sign up for the SSIRI workshops conducted by EDB to find out more. I will also speak more about the SSIRI later this month at the IoT Asia Conference 2018. I would now like to speak about the Government’s efforts to maintain Singapore’s competitiveness as a global trade hub. Today, wholesale trade is a key contributor to Singapore’s economy, accounting for about 16% of GDP. However, the wholesale trade sector is lesser known to many Singaporeans. Most have the misperception that it involves working in warehouses. Actually, it is far from that.”
“Companies which are looking for ready technology solutions can access the Tech Depot, jointly created by A*STAR, IMDA and SPRING Singapore. This is an online repository of plug-and-play productivity solutions which can be found on SPRING Singapore's SME Portal. The solutions cover areas, such as inventory and asset tracking and supply chain management. Since its launch in April last year, 45 solutions have been made available and more than 1,000 companies have adopted solutions from Tech Depot. Third, prepare the workers. Even as companies review their strategies and plans, they should transform with their workers in mind. We strongly encourage companies to proactively prepare their workers for the changes ahead. Univac, a precision engineering large local enterprise (LLE) that manufactures medical devices and life science consumables, is one such company. Univac not only embarked on transforming its business, but is also equipping its employees for the changes. Mr Yim Kong Ming, 59, is a Senior Quality Engineer with the company. His job used to be very manual, requiring significant time and effort for data collection. Today, as Univac incorporates software applications in its processes, data collection is increasingly automated and seamless. These ongoing changes allow its workers to be redeployed to higher value-added tasks, such as data analysis. To prepare its employees for the changes, Univac assembled a team to provide training in the new software and technologies. The team also provides on-the-job support during the implementation phase to ensure that the engineers and technicians are competent and confident in operating the software. Kong Ming appreciates how the digital transformation has made his job less laborious.”
“This arrangement allows more companies to leverage shared resources, such as industry experts and technology developers. The first consortium-style OTR will bring together 16 food manufacturing companies, including Kee Song Group and Phoon Huat Pte Ltd, to identify common technology areas to improve productivity. These include shopfloor control systems and shelf-life monitoring solutions to reduce food waste. 7.45 pm Second, adoption of technologies. Besides improving innovation capacity, SMEs can adopt manufacturing technologies to optimise their processes and resources. This ensures that companies remain competitive and can benefit from upturns in external demand, as demonstrated by the strong productivity growth in the electronics and precision engineering clusters in 2017. In those clusters, real value-added per worker grew by 35% and 15% respectively. To facilitate the adoption of technologies, we have put in place various support schemes. For companies considering the deployment of large-scale automation to improve productivity, SPRING Singapore offers the Automation Support Package (ASP) comprising grant, tax and loan incentives to offset costs. One local company which has tapped on the ASP is Lingjack, a manufacturer of firefighting equipment. Lingjack previously depended on manual labour for almost 90% of its manufacturing processes. Through ASP, the company introduced new equipment to automate functions, such as polishing, welding and leak testing. As a result, Lingjack improved its manufacturing efficiency by almost 40% and is looking to expand its production capacity. It is also looking to manufacture higher value-added goods and is targeting an increase in revenue by up to 20% this year.”
“This can take the form of creating new products, finding business opportunities, and developing efficient means to optimise resources. Some manufacturing subsectors, such as precision engineering (PE), are already seeing the need for innovation. In 2016, PE companies invested 50% more in R&D, compared to the previous year. This is commendable. One of the ways that SMEs can improve their innovation capacity is by tapping on A*STAR's Growing Enterprises through Technology Upgrade (GET-Up) initiative, which offers Operation and Technology Roadmapping (OTR). Through OTR, SMEs can get A*STAR's guidance to customise a long-term growth strategy to realise new product or service offerings. The OTR provides SMEs with business strategies to assess consumer demand, challenges and potential markets. As of November 2017, A*STAR has engaged over 300 companies through OTR. Plasmotech is one of these companies. It originally focused on manufacturing connectors and capacitors for the electronics industry. Through OTR, it has discovered opportunities in the automotive market. It invested around $1.7 million in equipment and infrastructure, hired a team of engineers to develop automotive components and entered new markets in 2016. Its sales have increased 20% year-on-year. We hope that more companies will see the value of innovation and enjoy similar benefits. To extend the reach of OTR, A*STAR will work through lead Government agencies and TACs to launch consortium-style OTRs. This will bring together companies within the same sub-sector to chart out technology roadmaps for shared problem statements. Participating companies can then build on these shared roadmaps as base templates to further customise solutions for their needs.”
“Thank you, Sir. Let me address the questions from Mr Sitoh Yih Pin and Miss Cheryl Chan on what the Government is doing to build a globally-competitive manufacturing sector. Manufacturing remains an important pillar of Singapore’s economy. The sector accounts for around 20% of our GDP and around 14% of our total employment. Today, we have a diversified portfolio of high value-added manufacturing industries. Our products are exported to many markets globally. In 2017, Singapore’s manufacturing sector saw strong growth, and the sector continued to expand at a robust pace in January 2018. However, the global manufacturing landscape is evolving. We are witnessing rapid technological developments in areas, such as robotics and the industrial Internet-of-Things (IoT). This presents two opportunities. One, it is to establish Singapore as a globally-competitive advanced manufacturing hub. This will help attract strategic investments and anchor our position in global value chains. Two, it is for our companies to gain a competitive advantage by prioritising three areas: (a) undertaking innovation; (b) adopting technologies, and (c) preparing their workers to thrive in tomorrow’s workforce. I would like to explain the rest of these three points in greater detail in Mandarin. Sir, may I now speak in Mandarin, please. (In Mandarin): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] In my English speech, I said that we must prioritise three things to achieve a competitive advantage. One, undertaking innovation; two, adopting technologies; and three, preparing workers to thrive in tomorrow's workplace. First, innovation. Innovation is key to differentiating oneself from the competition.”
“Technological advancements have had a profound impact on our industries and businesses. Although change can be disruptive, it presents many opportunities. Some companies have already moved to transform their businesses and are today enjoying the fruits of transformation. We want to help more companies seize these opportunities. The Government is ready to support them with initiatives customised to each sector. Some sectors I would like to highlight are the manufacturing and wholesale trade sectors. Mr Chairman, may I have your permission to display some slides on the LED screens later on in my speech, please.”
“Sir, as I said earlier in my answer, we employ a multi-pronged approach and not just depend on one modality. It starts with good intelligence and then employing technology and techniques that have been proven to work in many other cases. So, we will continue to look at options, including sniffer dogs, if there can be objective data to show that they are more effective than our currently deployed methods.”
“More studies are needed to determine if sniffer dogs can be more effective than our current methods.”
“Sir, the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA) works closely with Singapore Customs, the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority and local and international partners to combat wildlife trafficking. First, we subject all passengers and cargoes as well as shipments to risk assessment. Our risk assessment framework helps agencies flag out which passengers and shipments require more detailed checks. Agencies ensure that these risk profiles and indicators are up to date by continually reviewing wildlife trafficking trends and exchanging information with international partners like the International Criminal Police Organization and the World Customs Organisation. Second, agencies carry out multiple layers of checks at Singapore's border checkpoints. For example, radiographic scanners and x-rays are used to screen passengers and cargo. The officers performing these tasks are trained to pick out suspicious items and behaviours. Third, agencies adopt a coordinated enforcement approach. This enables them to take quick action after receiving credible and actionable intelligence or tip-offs from the public and from our international partners. Taken together, these measures have led to several successful seizures of illegal wildlife in Singapore. Traffickers face heavy penalties like fines of up to $500,000, or imprisonment of up to two years, or both. AVA is continually studying the efficacy of different tools and techniques to detect illegal wildlife at our border checkpoints. To the Member's specific question about sniffer dogs, we understand that they are used in some countries to detect wildlife products. In Singapore, we use other effective scanning technologies for this purpose.”
“Sir, I think we have provided for a good quantity of startup spaces that enable entrepreneurs to start their business, so one of the ideas is to start Launchpads. We are beginning to create more space for new entrepreneurs to start their businesses and Launchpads for innovation. I think that has been well received by entrepreneurs. The take-up rate in one-north area is almost 90%. JTC will continue to look at the demand and if there is more demand, we will see how best we can create some spaces for innovation and Launchpads for entrepreneurs to take off.”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, I understand the concerns that Mr Gan is facing with some of these very sensitive issues especially. I think there are certain trees in which birds may be attracted to, especially those that could be fruiting. If there are specific tree types that do attract a certain particular species of birds, we can take this back to the National Parks Board and see if there are options to look at the species of trees in our housing estates. Beyond that, what AVA is trying to do is also to adopt certain trials to see whether there ways in which, regardless of how many trees we change, sometimes the birds just have some way of going to a particular tree. So, they are trying things like fogging methods, deterrent gels and some of these trials may take some time to mature before we know whether the method is efficacious. More importantly, it has to be cost-effective because at the end of the day, this involves extra spending by Town Councils which means conservancy charges will have to be taken in account, on how the money is being spent as well. At the end of the day we will explore science-based methods to see whether there are newer ways to deter the birds but immediately if you can recognise a certain species of trees, please let us know, we can get NParks to take a look as well.”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, in tackling the birds issue, we also must understand that this is a multi-factorial problem. If some cases, there is high-rise littering. I know there are some blocks in which we have residents throwing food particles, food substances out from the kitchen window. These are behaviour that constitutes the source of attraction for the birds to come. And once the birds are used to coming to a certain location because of the availability of food, they will then find natural places to roost. So, I think in tackling this issue, it is not about deploying more and more technology. AVA adopts a science-based approach to see which of these methods can be an effective way to deter the birds. But no scientific method will deter birds from coming back to sources of food. This is where we need to continue to strengthen our public education, to also take enforcement actions where necessary against people who throw food particles out of their windows. They continue to constitute a source of attraction for the birds. So, I would say it is not just more methods. Some of these methods can be expensive and with very limited efficacy over a period of time. In the longer run, it is always more cost-effective and more durable if you work at the source of it which is to deter uncivil behaviour. And also to make sure that our food establishment in our estates continue to practise good habits, good practices of removing food wastes.”
“The public, I must emphasise, also has an important role to play in curbing the bird population by maintaining the overall cleanliness of the environment and not feeding the wild birds. AVA, NEA and Town Councils will continue to educate residents not to litter or feed the birds. Enforcement actions will be taken against those who do not comply.”