Kwek Hian Chuan Henry
Singapore
“Deputy Speaker, Sir, I thank the Minister of State for this comprehensive response. I would like to check whether MND is open to providing more funding to AVS. Ten years ago, I made a speech on NParks, and I noted then that NParks' annual budget is less than half of that of an acute care hospital.”
“Chairman, I have three short clarifications. Given that condominium prices and wages have risen over time, can MND share a timeframe or timeline when the income ceiling review will be concluded? Is it in a matter of months, or is it when some threshold conditions are met?”
“Chairman, I thank MND for responding to our cuts and I seek leave to withdraw my amendments. [(proc text) Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. (proc text)] [(proc text) The sum of $8,640,058,800 for Head T ordered to stand part of the Main Estimates.”
“Our Public Service Media companies are our national assets. I hope MDDI can share how it plans to secure our future. I notice I have 18 more seconds, so I want to add in a final point. I noted we are asking MDDI to do a lot of cybersecurity, national Public Service Media on IT services and AI development.”
“As the Bill empowers OSC to identify users and disclose that information to purported victims, what safeguards are there to prevent misuse of that disclosed data for reverse doxxing? In closing, Speaker, Sir, this Bill makes our online space safer, especially for our youths.”
“Mr Speaker, I support this Bill and the suite of changes it makes. Given its breadth, I will focus my remarks on three areas: one, tackling global scams and online crimes while protecting innovation; two, a calibrated approach to accountability for 14-to-17-year-olds; and three, improving proportionality by resolving the inflexibility of…”
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“Chairman, recent high-profile animal cruelty cases highlighted a concerning trend in Singapore. In fact, in one of the worst cases of animal cruelty recently, a Singaporean was found guilty of throwing community cats off HDB blocks, resulting in their deaths. This case underscores the pressing need for stronger animal welfare protection. In 2024, the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) reported 961 confirmed cases of animal cruelty and welfare concerns – the highest in 12 years. These include 283 cases of cruelty with abandonment being the most common, followed by physical abuse. And notably, there is a troubling increase in cases involving youths, rising from six in 2023 to 15 in 2024. In response to these developments, the NParks has initiated a review of the Animals and Birds Act to strengthen protections for animal welfare and health. Can NParks provide more details on the specific areas under review and the implementation timeline? City in Nature Community Involvement Singapore's transformation into a City in Nature has been widely embraced by both Singaporeans and the global community. Beyond enhancing greenery and biodiversity, this vision has strengthened our urban environment, public well-being and climate resilience. To sustain and deepen this impact, greater community involvement will be key. One way is to leverage on larger neighbourhood parks, such as the Hillock Linear Park within Kebun Bahru, to anchor Active Ageing Centers or introduce signature activities like monthly Sunday Markets for private estates, fostering social interaction and community engagement. Another approach is for NParks to collaborate with the community to fund heritage displays in relevant parks.”
“This year, MND is extending these efforts to private estates, ensuring that seniors outside of HDB estates also receive meaningful support. This includes the rollout of EASE 2.0 for private estate seniors and the introduction of the Estate Upgrading Programme (EUP)-Silver Estate, which will enhance common spaces and walkways to better support ageing residents. Beyond these efforts, can MND explore setting aside spaces in larger parks within private estates to host AACs as well as to help assisted living providers secure affordable locations near private estates, ensuring accessible home care and assisted living services for seniors who need them within the private estates? And in general, can MND share its vision for helping Singaporean seniors age-in-place within the private estates?”
“Chairman, in September 2024, the Government established the Task Force for Architectural and Engineering Consultants to tackle critical challenges in the built environment sector. This sector is fundamental to Singapore’s long-term urban development, sustainability, and economic resilience and ensuring its continued strength requires strategic transformation. The taskforce, co-led by Minister Indranee Rajah and Surbana Jurong Chairman, Chaly Mah, has been focusing on four key areas: one, enhancing the sector’s branding to attract young talent; two, modernising workforce to future-proof the industry; three, evolving business models to boost competitiveness; and four, promoting sustainability in line with Singapore’s green goals. With major national projects such as Changi Terminal 5 on the horizon, the success of this initiative is critical in building a resilient and future-ready industry. Can the Government provide an update on the task force’s progress in supporting the built environment consultancy sector? Private Estate – Ageing-in-place Over the years, MND has made tremendous strides in supporting seniors to age-in-place within the HDB estates. Today, many seniors benefit from highly subsidised home fittings under EASE 2.0, which helps frail seniors live more safely at home. Additionally, an increased number of Active Aging Centres (AACs) have been set up within HDB estates, providing seniors with space for social engagement, activities and community support. Moving forward, MND and Town Councils will work together through the Age Well SG programme to retrofit common areas, making public spaces more senior-friendly and accessible for all. MPs like myself from PAP Senior Wing certainly welcome these significant moves.”
“Therefore, the budget meal initiative strikes this balance, offering lower-cost meal options for price-sensitive consumers, on the one hand, while ensuring that hawkers and eateries are not restricted in their offerings. This approach also helps to maintain a vibrant food culture while supporting those who need it the most. Since the launch of the budget meal initiative, can MND share what has been the take-up rate so far, and what more can we do to further expand affordable food options in our neighbourhood? Update on Budget Meals”
“Chairman, to meet the growing demand for homes, driven by smaller family size and evolving housing needs, MND has significantly ramped up the supply of BTOs and private homes. These efforts are paying off, with supply and demand now stabilizing at pre-COVID-19 levels, giving home buyers more options. At the same time, strong income growth since the pandemic has shifted housing needs and many young couples are taking longer to settle down, whether due to career priorities, financial planning or lifestyle choices. However, some aspiring homeowners, particularly Singaporeans who do well in their career but lack familial support for down payments for private property, face challenges in securing affordable housing. With this in mind, would MND consider raising the income ceiling for BTOs and executive condominiums (ECs), as well as increasing the supply of ECs? That would provide more housing options for the upper middle-income segments, ensuring that Singapore remains a place where home ownership is accessible, aspirations are met and the ladder of social mobility remains strong for future generations. Budget Meals Initiative The cost of living, especially the price of cooked food, remain one of the top concerns for Singaporeans. Rising food prices driven by inflation and global supply disruptions have placed pressure on households, especially lower-income families and seniors. Affordability of cooked food is therefore paramount. 5.45 pm At the same time, it is also important to allow food businesses the flexibility to adapt, innovate and to cater to diverse consumer preference.”
“Mdm Chairperson, since China's opening in the late 1990s, Singapore and China's economies have grown in tandem, deepening cooperation across multiple sectors. Singapore was an early investor in China's rapid urbanisation, with landmark projects like the Suzhou Industrial Park project and later, the Tianjin Eco-City project. Financial collaboration is also expanded, with Singapore becoming a key offshore hub for RMB internationalisation and Singapore being the host of Chinese companies as a gateway for Southeast Asian expansion. Today, as China shifts towards high-tech innovation and sustainable growth, Singapore's expertise in finance, governance and smart city solutions offers new synergies. What are the areas where Singapore and China share complementary advantages and can work together to benefit the region? Unity and Singapore-China Relations”
“Chairman, as the second Trump administration takes shape, Singapore must navigate an evolving geopolitical landscape while maintaining our strong and longstanding partnership with America. We host significant US fixed asset investments, with many US companies using Singapore to serve the region. Our deep economic interests, ties, defence cooperation and collaborations in areas like finance, trade and technology, have provided a strong foundation for bilateral relations. However, the US' shifting global priorities, differing approaches to trade and taxation, and increasing competition in critical technologies introduce new complexities. As global supply chains and digital infrastructure become even more strategically sensitive, ensuring continued trust and cooperation will be key. What are some of the areas that we hope to continue to pursue? How can Singapore maintain the trust of the US, especially in potentially sensitive areas, such as cybersecurity, advanced technologies and innovation?”
“Chairman, since 1965, our core foreign policy has served us well through three distinctive periods in the international world order. The first was the Cold War, a time when global world power was divided into fixed blocs of influence, with parts of Southeast Asia mired in active conflicts. The second came after the fall of the Berlin Wall, ushering in a unipolar world dominated by the United States, where globalisation and free trade became the defining aspects of international relations. And the third part, which emerged from the mid-2010s, has been marked by increasing economic decoupling and geopolitical tensions, with global affairs shaped largely through the lens of US-China rivalry. Now, with the incoming Trump Administration triggering off tectonic shifts in both global trade and geopolitics, we could be entering a disorderly interregnum. As we celebrate SG60, how can we ensure that Singapore's foreign policy is sufficiently future-proofed for the challenges ahead?”
“I am pleased to see new platforms emerging to discuss modern challenges posed by emerging technologies, such as the Digital Defence Symposium, co-hosted by the ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting (ADMM) Cybersecurity and Information Centre of Excellence and the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies. But apart from dialogue, how can we substantively build partnerships to address common security challenges? In particular, given Singapore's limited manpower and resources, we have to be deliberate and identify niches where our expertise can make a valuable impact. In this context, how is MINDEF/SAF working with defence partners to address transnational security challenges? State of Singapore's Defence Relations”
“Chairman, many current and future security challenges transcend national borders, requiring collective responses and new capabilities. No nation is immune to transboundary threats, like terrorism, maritime piracy, cyberattacks and climate change. Singapore, being a highly connected city-state with an open economy, is inherently vulnerable to such transboundary threats. Even as we have enjoyed relative peace and prosperity, we must build our capabilities to ensure we have operational expertise in dealing with these threats. Furthermore, traditional warfare is changing with new domains of conflict emerging alongside conventional military engagements. Hybrid warfare, blending conventional forces with cyberattacks, disinformation campaigns and economic coercion, has become a key tool for state and non-state actors. Cyber warfare threatens critical infrastructure while economic sabotage, such as cutting of submarine cables, can severely disrupt vital communications, trade and energy supplies. As these threats evolve, new technologies and capabilities, such as secured satellite communications, AI-driven defence systems, robotics, drones and cutting-edge electronic warfare, are increasingly becoming relevant. With geopolitical dynamics shifting and many of these capabilities spreading throughout different geographical regions and private sector players, collaboration is now essential. Through regular cornerstone events, such as the Shangri-La Dialogue, Singapore has established itself as a valuable convener for bilateral and multilateral security dialogues.”
“Chairman, the war in Ukraine has amply demonstrated that drones have fundamentally changed modern warfighting, with tactics surrounding drone deployment and countermeasures evolving rapidly every few months. Drones are now used for reconnaissance, precision strikes and even larger-scale swarm attacks, making them a key factor in asymmetrical warfare. Reports show that militaries worldwide are ramping up their drone operation industries, with the capacity to make and maintain drones in the thousands, if not millions. Given the rapid pace of technology advancements, ongoing conflicts have shown the urgency of staying ahead in drone defence strategies. It is a challenge to develop and operate counter-drone defence systems that are cost-effective against these low-level, low-cost targets. In last year's COS debate, it was highlighted that SAF was going to set up groups to brainstorm and develop sustainable counter-measure responses to this growing threat. Can MINDEF provide an update on the progress of these groups? How is SAF integrating lessons from recent conflicts into our own defence planning and what steps are being taken to ensure Singapore remains prepared against these emerging drone attacks and threats? Emerging and Disruptive Technology”
“Our policies must strike the right balance between preserving what works, improving what is necessary and embracing what is possible. In housing, we must ensure that affordability for young families do not come at the expense of existing homeowners' financial security. In ageing, we must move beyond infrastructure and rethink care models that empower seniors to live independently with dignity, even in private estates. And in AI, we must act decisively to develop a sovereign AI system that serves Singapore's interests while ensuring alignment with our values, security needs and our ability to shape the world. The choices we make today will define whether Singapore remains a beacon of stability, innovation and inclusiveness in the decades ahead. With that, I stand in support of the Budget.”
“This is especially since we may face increased restriction on AI-compute power from America's likely AI-deficient loop. Once finetuned, the national AI model can then be deployed within Singapore, using both locally controlled AI data centres for inference and integration with sensitive national datasets. This hybrid approach balances cost-effectiveness with security, ensuring that Singapore has full control over critical AI decision-making or minimising infrastructure investment. Building a national AI system, finetuned for Singapore's values, is not just an option. It is essential. AI-driven governance and business processes will increasingly shape regulatory frameworks, public sector efficiency, and economic development. Moreover, as we integrate AI-enabled e-businesses from global providers, our national AI can also act as a check and balance, ensuring that externally sourced AI solutions do not introduce misaligned incentives or governance risks. Beyond our national interests, developing expertise in AI alignment will also enable and allow Singapore to influence global AI governance. AI will eventually be embedded into international decision-making processes, from global trade regulations to maritime and air traffic systems. By establishing a strong foundation in AI alignment, Singapore can contribute to the development of ethical AI standards globally, shaping the rules that govern AI at the international level. Additionally, this expertise will enhance Singapore's attractiveness as a hub for AI research and development, regulatory alignment services and business continuity planning (BCP) for global AI firms, such as OpenAI and Anthropic. Let me now conclude.”
“By embracing AI early, we not only improve governance but also strengthen Singapore as a trusted global hub for AI innovation, ethics, and responsible deployment. However, deploying an AI at a national scale is far more complicated than simply subscribing our civil servants to existing AI tools. Large enterprises and our Government cannot simply embrace and adopt generic AI models off the shelf. Doing so would pose risks to security, regulatory compliance and adherence to our national values. Even cutting-edge AI systems, such as Palantir, which integrates truth-seeking AI models like Grok, may not always align with Singapore’s approach to governance. Such models may optimise for efficiency and raw intelligence, but they may not fully account for humanistic considerations, such as social harmony, security and ethical decision-making. We must ensure that our AI systems are both powerful and aligned with our national priorities. To achieve this, Singapore must develop a national AI system, one that is sovereign, human-centric and cost-effective. But this does not require us to reinvent the wheel. Instead, we could consider collaborating with AI service providers that prioritise ethical AI alignment, such as OpenAI and Anthropic. Rather than building costly AI infrastructure from scratch, we can finetune existing models to align with Singapore's governance framework and cultural values. A key component of this initiative could be the establishment of a Centre of Excellence for AI Alignment, which will develop AI frameworks that ensure that AI models adhere to our needs. To keep costs manageable, we can leverage commercial AI data centres for training and finetuning of AI models, rather than investing heavily on on-premise compute infrastructure.”
“If there is anything I can do as a Member of Parliament to push this agenda forward, I will be happy to step up to work with the Government, industry and community to make these ideas a reality. Ageing in place should not be a privilege; it should be a right, supported by the best that our society can offer. Lastly, I like to touch about how Singapore can fully harness the potential of AI by building a national AI system that is anchored on our values. AI is advancing at an unprecedented pace and we are rapidly approaching a future where AI will surpass human capabilities in certain domains. Sam Altman, chief executive officer of OpenAI, has observed that AI programmers could soon be among the best in the world within the next few months. Meanwhile, Google DeepMind's AlphaFold 2.0 has effectively solved the complex challenge of protein folding, opening up revolutionary possibilities in biological and pharmaceutical research. These breakthroughs demonstrate that AI will fundamentally reshape industries, scientific discovery, and global competitiveness. It is not an issue of whether AI will transform economies; it is a question of whether Singapore will lead or follow in this transformation. We have faced this moment before. In the 1990s, Singapore was ahead of the curve in embracing digitalisation and computerisation, even before its full potential was clear. Our early investments paid off, enabling us to build a highly efficient and technology-driven public sector that continues to serve us well today. We must apply that same foresight to AI. We have a unique opportunity to leverage AI to enhance governance, streamline public service, reduce regulatory complexity for businesses, and empower our research institutions to push the frontiers of science and technology.”
“One idea is to develop a framework where Active Ageing Centres can work with domestic helpers, with the full consent of seniors and their families, so that the small team of Active Ageing Centre staff can tap into a larger pool of caregivers to organise activities, providing companionship, and extending support beyond the physical Active Ageing Centres. This will allow frail seniors to benefit from structured engagement within their parks near their homes. Additionally, we should also look at regulating senior care and home care services, ensuring that all service providers are digitally listed, transparent in pricing, and accountable for the quality of care provided. A trusted digital platform could help caregivers, whether it is children, grandchildren or domestic helpers, to track services, billing and medical needs in real-time, reducing the stress of care coordination. Beyond structured care, technology can also empower caregivers and improve emergency response. One simple but powerful step is to extend the Singpass app and our seniors for local activities, while caregivers can authorise key decisions remotely. Furthermore, we should empower SCDF emergency services with digital access to homes of frail seniors, should a fall detection alert be triggered. With proper safeguards in place, this could significantly reduce response times in life-threatening situations. To truly build an ecosystem of care, we must bring together the private sector, residents and Government agencies to design a comprehensive framework that ensures that every senior, whether in HDB or private estates, receives the support they need. In Kebun Baru, we have one of the largest numbers of seniors living in private estates.”
“Additionally, investing in infrastructure to support Sunday markets – such as power and water access for pop-up stalls – could transform these parks, including the upcoming beautiful Hillrock Park within Kebun Baru, into vibrant weekend markets, gathering sports, sparking stronger community bonds and giving local entrepreneurs a platform. By supporting such initiatives, MND can help private estate residents feel more connected to the broader community, strengthening the social fabric of our neighbourhoods. I am particularly delighted about the introduction of the Estate Upgrading Programme for Silver Estates as well as the extension of the Enhancement for Active Seniors 2.0 programme to private estates which benefit seniors in Kebun Baru. These are very important steps to ensure that our senior Singaporeans, regardless of where they stay, can continue to age in place safely and with dignity. Many of these seniors, especially those in our private estates, face unique challenges when it comes to home accessibility and care support. The Government's efforts to extend accessibility and upgrade and retrofitting private homes with elderly-friendly features are truly commendable. However, I believe that more can be done to help frail seniors, especially those in private estates, to remain independent and well-supported in their own homes. One important way is to build Active Ageing Centres within large parks within private estates, such as the Kalidasa Estate, which is part of the Teachers Estate in Kebun Baru, which is also going to be benefitting from the upcoming Estate Upgrading Programme for Silver Estate soon. We can go beyond physical infrastructure to rethink how Active Ageing Centres can operate within these private estates.”
“By strengthening rather than disrupting the existing system, we can make housing ownership more accessible for the next generation while ensuring that the housing market remains stable and resilient. Singapore's public housing market has been one of the most successful in the world, precisely because it balances affordability with long-term value retention. Instead of drastic experiments that risk destabilising housing values and retirement adequacy, we should enhance our current framework to help young Singaporeans own homes without compromising the financial well-being of existing homeowners. This is how we can continue to preserve the ladder of social mobility, ensuring that capable and hardworking Singaporeans can progress in life without extreme financial stress or strain or undue reliance on family wealth. Beyond ensuring housing affordability and stability, the Ministry of National Development (MND) can also play a greater role as an enabler of evolving social needs, making our neighbourhoods more vibrant and inclusive. One way of doing so is by working with National Parks Board (NParks), volunteers and grassroots organisations to fully activate our community parks, particularly in private estates, where community engagements may be more limited. Many of these green spaces remain underutilised when they could be more active social hubs. Therefore, I recommend that NParks could facilitate the development of community-driven amenities, such as public tennis courts similar to what you see in Luxembourg Gardens and Paris, or designate, let us say, pickleball courts, creating accessible space for sports and recreation.”
“If we introduce policies that artificially suppress resale values and weaken the rental market, we risk shaking that foundation, eroding confidence and hurting homeowners who have worked hard to invest in their future. While we should always strive to make housing affordable for young families and first-time buyers, we must do so without destabilising the savings and retirement planning of existing homeowners. Our push should be one of careful balance, not drastic experiments with uncertain outcomes. The recent Plus/Prime/Standard model is a powerful way for us to ensure that many Singaporeans, even those with less income, have a chance to stay at central locations. But there is more we can do. Specifically, we can look at the income ceiling and supply of or executive condominiums. Some young and capable Singaporean couples today find themselves earning just above the eligibility threshold for Build-To-Order (BTO) flats but not enough to comfortably afford a private condominium. By increasing the income ceiling, we can ensure that young professionals, some of whom do not have deep financial support from their families, still have access to public housing options. This allows them to own their own quality homes at reasonable prices, rather than being placed into the much higher price points of private condominiums. And now that the supply and demand is more in balance for the BTOs, I believe it is a timely period to consider this. At the same time, increasing the supply of executive condominiums – our hybrid housing model – will provide not just aspirational yet attainable housing ownership for Singaporeans, ensuring that we preserve the well-structured housing ladder that has been a key driver for our social mobility.”
“For example, the Progress Singapore Party's (PSP's) Affordable Housing Scheme and Millennial Apartments Scheme may seem appealing at the surface, but they risk destabilising the housing market without solving the core issues at hand. By removing land costs from the upfront price of new flats, the Affordable Homes Scheme creates a two-tier housing market where older resale flats must compete with significantly cheaper new ones. This will put downward pressure on resale values, affecting homeowners who have spent decades building their housing equity in their flats. Meanwhile, the Millennial Apartments Scheme, which expands the state-controlled rental housing, could dampen demand for both resale HDB flats and private estate rentals, reducing rental yields and making it harder for homeowners to monetise their flats in their later years. I am raising this issue because for many in Kebun Baru – my constituency – their HDB flat represents not just a home, but a key pillar of their retirement adequacy. A sudden depreciation in housing prices or rental values would mean less financial security for seniors looking to right-size or lease out their flats to support their retirement. We must not take housing price stability for granted. In China, housing values were seen as rock-solid – until they were not – and now millions of homeowners face uncertainty and financial distress. And it is not just in China. Sweden, Germany, South Korea and New Zealand have seen meaningful drops in their property market value in the last few years. Singapore's housing market is built on trust, careful planning and a fair balance between affordability and asset appreciation.”
“Mr Speaker, I stand in support of the Budget, and I begin by acknowledging the additional support it provides for my residents living in private estates, especially frail seniors and seniors who are asset-rich and cash-poor. The Budget measures help to ease their financial burdens and ensure that they can continue living with dignity and security in their homes. Today, I would like to centre my speech on three areas: one, evolving our housing and national development policies to further support social mobility and community development; two, developing a holistic model to enable seniors in private estates to age in place; and three, ensuring that Singapore fully harnesses the potential of AI by building a national AI system that is anchored in our values. These are critical issues that will shape our society and economy for the future, and I believe that we must act decisively to ensure our policies remain inclusive, forward-looking and resilient. Singapore's property market has remained strong, despite multiple rounds of cooling measures introduced in the last few years. This underscores the resilience of our housing market, but it also raises questions about affordability and accessibility for some young families and first-time buyers. At the same time, the global economic uncertainty – rising interest rates, inflationary pressures and external shocks – not to mention the looming trade war, adds to the complexity of ensuring that our housing policies remain sustainable and equitable. In this context, it is critical that we continue to strengthen access to homeownership without destabilising the long-term value of our housing market. And this is why some of the proposals put forward in this House over the last few years merit serious scrutiny.”
“Let me now address our seniors directly: you matter. This Bill opens doors, but it is up to all of us to walk through them together. Stay curious and committed to lifelong learning. Prioritise your health because an active body fuels an active mind. Believe in your ability to contribute, you are not just workers; you are mentors, leaders and role models for younger generations. Employers, too, have a role to play. Choosing inclusiveness is not just good policy, it is good business, because a diverse workplace brings experience, balance and strength. Let me now wrap up my comments on fighting ageism. This Bill is more than legislation. It is a statement about who we are as a society. It says that every individual, regardless of age, has value, purpose and potential. It is about building workplace fairness through practical, step-by-step progress. Together, we can build a future, where seniors are not just included but celebrated, where experience is not just respected, but cherished. Let me now conclude by touching briefly on the rest of the Bill. I am heartened that the practical approach to fight ageism extends to most forms of discrimination. We are staring at a period of significant upheaval – changing geopolitics, trade-flow, global taxation, technology innovation are reshaping employment everywhere. Singapore is not be immune from these upheavals. Singapore has, frankly, become a high-cost location, with many employers are struggling to adapt. Therefore, by having a very good balance, by strengthening workplace fairness in a practical manner, this Bill provides the stability and the fairness that Singaporeans need to thrive and for Singapore to stay open and successful. With that, I wholeheartedly support this Bill.”
“The PAP Government have always championed respect, regard and recognition for our seniors and this Bill continues that legacy. While this Bill is a major step forward, there are also areas we can consider further action over the coming years. First, deepening our understanding. Let us survey seniors more extensively, not just those who have exited the workforce, but also those who are trying to re-enter the workforce or those who deem themselves unemployed, to better understand the nature of discrimination. Second, we should also monitor HR practices to ensure that indirect discrimination does not rise as a response to this law and this requires monitoring, indirect discrimination by sector, industry and company size. Third, improving how we measure workers' well-being and mental health. Our tripartite partners can build a consensus on how the mental, emotional and physical health are evaluated through affordable psychometric and fitness tests. This will reduce the scope of disputes over what constitutes discrimination. Fourth, lead by example. Our Civil Service should, at all levels, implement the Bill in both form and spirit, and ensure that their outsourced HR service providers meet the same standard. Fifth, share learnings from TADM and the Employment Claims Tribunals (ECT). Given that the law calls for TADM and ECT to take the lead in fighting indirect discrimination, regular updates from both groups to Parliament and the public will help us adapt policies effectively. Sixth, and the last, plan for the future. Start a review in three years to ensure this Bill remains relevant amidst rapidly changing geopolitics, trade-flow and technological changes. It will also allow us to factor our seniors' better health, as Healthier SG bears fruits.”
“It focuses on clear, enforceable actions: (a) protecting seniors against direct discrimination; (b) targeting companies with more than 25 employees for the next five years; and (c) prioritising mediation through TADM to resolve disputes constructively. Second, it is comprehensive. It recognises the realities seniors face: (a) age is now a protected characteristic; (b) hiring practices that exclude seniors are directly addressed; and (c) caregiving responsibilities of seniors is also a protected characteristic. Third, it supports inclusion. This law supports employers to hire seniors above 55 when candidates are equally qualified, ensuring that experience and maturity are not overlooked. The PAP Senior Group supports this law because real changes happens through practical, step-by-step progress. This law avoids overreaching, which can lead to defensive HR practices, frivolous lawsuits, or even job losses as companies move overseas. Just look at the controversies surrounding diversity, equity and inclusion, or DEI, in America. The PAP Senior Group will work closely with the Government to ensure that this law is properly implemented. We can afford to take practical steps towards progress because we have been building on decades of senior-friendly policies by successive PAP governments, which includes, just to recap, reskilling initiatives like SkillsFuture Mid-Career schemes preparing our seniors for evolving industries, incentives for employers to hire seniors and encourage the creation of age-friendly workplaces, a very tight foreign manpower policy prioritising local employment and investments in healthcare, preventive care and fitness, helping our seniors remain active and ready for work.”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, I rise to support this important Bill, which among many things, addresses a matter close to my heart, which is ensuring respect, regard and recognition for our seniors. As someone deeply engaged in senior policy, I have witnessed first-hand the challenges that some of our seniors face in the workplace. Many have the experience, wisdom and resilience to contribute meaningfully, yet some are unfairly sidelined. This Bill represents a bold step toward changing that reality. Let me start by sharing a story. A senior construction project manager came to my Meet-the-People Session for help recently. Despite decades of service and a stellar record, he struggled to find work after his company downsized, even after we spent months tapping on our extensive network to help him find a job. “Am I too old to matter?” he asked. His question was heartbreaking. It reflects the silent battle some of our seniors face daily – not against a lack of ability, but against prejudice. Our seniors want to work and they deserve the chance. From 2018 to 2022, complaints to TAFEP and MOM show that age discrimination is the second largest category, making up nearly a quarter of all complaints. Ageism is a hidden barrier that deprives our society of valuable skills and creates a culture of exclusion. Without more action, we risk wasting the potential of our seniors, losing their contributions to our economy and our shared future. This Bill takes practical, meaningful steps to address these challenges. It not only targets direct discrimination but also sets the stage for a workplace culture that values inclusion and fairness. I would like to highlight three key reasons why this Bill is a game-changer. One, it is practical.”
“Mr Speaker, I thank the Minister for his response. I appreciate the design of the SkillsFuture Jobseeker Support scheme as our people need not pay an insurance premium to benefit from it. I also note that many Singaporeans have family members who are PRs and they will benefit. I would like to ask a supplementary question. Notwithstanding the fact that we have to tightly control the criteria as we roll this landmark programme out, can the Government consider appeals for Singaporeans in private estates, with deserving circumstances, such as those living in households with a low per capita income – large households, I mean – those with limited housing equity and those who do not own the private housing that they live in?”
“The next question is whether MOH can share more details broadly about the single-point of contact and how this effort is complementary to the personal health plan which is part of Healthier SG. Caregivers' Support and Capacity-building”
“Chairman, as a member of the People's Action Party's (PAP's) Senior Group, I am delighted to hear about the added emphasis by MOH to strengthen home-care services and options for our seniors. This is timely and much needed. Most seniors, even when they get frail, prefer to age-in-place in the comfort of their homes. Some seniors are fortunate to have their loved ones who can serve as caregivers or can afford to hire full-time caregivers. But not every senior is so fortunate. As such, I am delighted to hear that MOH, AIC and MOM have recently rolled out the Stay-in Shared Caregiving Sandbox, where five companies will come on board to serve an estimated 800 senior clients. This could mean a different option for our seniors, especially if the companies bring on board well-trained caregivers who can serve multiple seniors, say, living in the same HDB precinct. Can MOH share more about the details of this sandbox, such as the expected range and pricing of the services, whether the Government will be putting aside spaces within HDB estates to efficiently house these professional caregivers? Can MOH also share about the proposed single-point of contact plan which is part of Age Well SG and whether this single-point of contact plan will lead to better flow of information which can then be incorporated into this sandbox? It will also be helpful if MOH can provide an update on when they intend to scale up the sandbox to the rest of Singapore and whether constituencies like Kebun Baru with a congregation of seniors in both public and private estates can be considered for early inclusion into this subsequent roll-out or pilot.”
“Chairperson, I would like to ask Minister of State Faishal Ibrahim a clarification about EASE. First of all, I want to thank the Minister of State for sharing the good news on EASE 2.0, especially the fact that previous applicants can reapply. So, can MND share how many seniors have benefited from EASE 1.0 in the past? This number will help us understand potentially how many people would need 2.0 and then we can track the pace in which it rolls out to see whether any further push to get as many people to benefit this scheme is needed.”
“The Government has done a lot for the construction industry during COVID-19. However, the industry is facing a fair amount of challenges, with several major main contractors going bankrupt and an ongoing credit crunch in the overall industry. What more can the Government do to support contractors to tide through the current challenging industry conditions right now? In particular, would MND work with key Government agencies, specifically the Land Transport Authority (LTA), Public Utilities Board (PUB), to consider policy adjustments, such as changing the framework to ensure prompt approval and to allow for partial disbursement of Variation Orders (VOs), especially for the big and prolonged projects that usually have high-value VOs? I believe there are a number of instances where agencies will approve large VOs at the tail end of the project period, due to the complexity of the project, which creates cash flow problems for contractors. As such, a prompt whole-of-Government review of VO process to allow for partial payment of large-ticket VOs would benefit the construction industry at this juncture. Adjust PQM Framework for Local Construction Companies”
“Chairperson, Age Well SG is an important initiative that many PAP Senior Group Members of Parliament (MPs), including myself, have been championing. I would like to ask MND to provide more details. First of all, with regard to EASE, when will HDB start rolling out the EASE 2.0 programme and what criteria will be used to select the precincts? And when does HDB expect to cover most eligible precincts for EASE 2.0? What are the likely features and expected cost to our citizens? With regard to upgrading the public spaces of matured estates, will HDB partner with Town Council to do improvement works or at least provide a budget for Town Council to implement? What are the key features that will be enhanced and what is the anticipated timeline? And if Town Council is involved, can HDB communicate the parameters to Town Councils soon so that Town Council can deconflict upcoming upgrading plans? This is because some of the Town Councils, including mine, have already started building many senior-friendly infrastructure. Therefore, if the funding can be used to build other types of senior-friendly features, such as upgrading the surrounding areas of Active Ageing Centres (AACs) and senior gathering points, which are outside the declared areas covered under Age Well SG, that will be much appreciated.”
“I understand that HDB can only provide a range of estimates of additional budget, but those estimates will be helpful. Millennial Apartments Scheme”
“Mr Chairperson, I would first like to talk about housing affordability for young couples. I would like to ask MND how it can ensure that Singaporeans, especially young couples who have just entered the workforce, can afford their first BTO flats? In particular, I would like to talk about one specific group. These are the young couples from low-income households who are looking to settle down soon. I think that across the board, the schemes' affordability for most young couples is good. It is this particular group that I am more concerned about, which is, the young couples from low-income households looking to settle down soon. Sir, some of these people in this category of households, upon graduation, need to contribute immediately to the finances of their immediate families. Even if they are both working, it could take time or years for this group to save up for the downpayment for the BTO, especially if they applied for the BTO during their student days. Is there more that MND and HDB can do to ease the cash flow burden of this particular group of young Singaporeans so that they can be financially secure to start their family? Affordability of Plus and Prime Housing Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong has shared that HDB will roll out its first Plus project later this year. Can MND share more details and examples of the likely level of subsidies, as well as the broad pricing trends of Plus and Prime housing in the coming two to three years so as to ensure that both of these categories of flats will remain within the reach of Singaporeans from different income groups? And how much additional subsidies will HDB have to allocate for the Plus and Prime housing in the coming years?”
“The US remain the undisputed leader in the global economy. She continues to attract the world's top technology, finance, biotechnology and creative talent. The US continues to defy its critics and re-invent itself economically constantly, as demonstrated by its commanding lead in the recent artificial intelligence (AI) revolution. The US dollar remains the sole world reserve currency due to the depth, transparency and productivity of the America's capital markets. And over the last decade, by developing her shale oil and natural gas industries, the US has become a net energy exporter, which lessens its dependence on energy from the Middle East. As such, more economists are revising their views of the US' place in the world and expect the US to remain the largest world economy for years, despite her much smaller population compared to India and China. At the same time, the past and current US governments is committed to redrawing its supply chain, and more importantly, re-thinking its relations with its world. These major shifts are driven by the heightened US-China rivalry, which many of my colleagues spoke about, as well as the rise of nationalism, isolationism and sharp divisions within parts of the American electorate. These shifting views have real consequences for us as the US. has and continues to be our largest source of cumulative foreign direct investments and advanced technology. As such, can MFA provide an update on our economic ties with the US? Can MFA also share how Singapore can remain a trusted partner to the US and ensure that we continue to be open to US investment and business? Relations with China and India”
“Chairperson, Sir, the world remains deeply divided as we start 2024. Geopolitically speaking, the world has yet to emerge from long COVID-19. Both the Russian Ukraine war and the Israeli-Hamas conflict shows no signs of abating and could escalate beyond. US-China rivalry remains heightened, with both major powers mired in complex internal complications. Trade tensions between the major trading blocs continue to rise over semiconductors and electric vehicles; and global warming continues unabated, because the world lacks a strong collective will to fight it. Therefore, the stable geopolitical backdrop and international trading system – that served Singapore well for decades – continue to dissipate. Given these increasing geopolitical divisions, how can Singapore continue to maintain our relevance and our ability to make independent foreign policy decisions? And because foreign policy starts at home, can the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) share on what more can be done to unite our people behind our foreign policy decisions so that we can advance our collective interests as one people? Future-proofing Our Foreign Policy”
“Chairman, Sir. I would like to speak about optimising National Service (NS) deployment. It is a well-known fact that Singapore is one of the fastest ageing societies in the world. Despite our best efforts, Singapore's total fertility rate continues to decline. This means a smaller full-time National Servicemen (NSF) cohort over time. In fact, Minister for Defence Dr Ng Eng Hen, has told this House that we are to expect a one-third reduction in manpower by 2030. Needless to say, this will have profound implications to the way we organise the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF). At the same time, the nature of warfare has evolved tremendously. As the Russia-Ukraine conflict has clearly demonstrated, the competence and digital savviness of a civilian population that dons the military uniform in times of war, can be a decisive advantage. This is also one of Singapore's core strengths, as one of remaining countries that has a conscription service. Indeed, there is much more the SAF can do to tap on our people's civilian know-how to strengthen our capabilities. As such, can the Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) share more about how we are optimising the deployment of our NSmen? [(proc text) Question proposed. (proc text)] Functional Assessment”
“Chairman, as my Parliamentary colleagues have said, it has been over two years since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. As Ukraine faces mounting shortages in traditional weapons systems and ammunition, their military has had to deploy low-cost drones on an improvised basis – which they have done with considerable success. Earlier this month, the Ukrainian President announced the creation of a separate branch of the Ukrainian Armed Forces devoted to drones. This is not the first conflict where unmanned aerial vehicles are being deployed in significant numbers, but the scale at which the drones have been deployed has resulted in major changes to the warfighting on the battlefield. In fact, the unprecedented numbers have led some to call this the world's first drone war. Apart from electronic-warfare drone swarms, we are also seeing the use of cyber warfare not just to target civilian infrastructure but also to achieve battlefield intelligence dominance in the Israel-Hamas conflict. In the Red Sea crisis, the Houthis are weaponising civilian technology to disrupt international trade flow and leveraging asymmetrical warfare by using anti-tank and anti-aircraft missiles. In the coming years, we can expect that warfare will be further shaped by the use of artificial intelligence and direct-energy weapons. With all this going on, can MINDEF share on the progress of the SAF's Next Generation transformation plans? With technological advances changing the face of warfare so rapidly, how can MINDEF ensure that that the SAF is able to deal with evolving security threats in a timely, but financially prudent manner? 7.00 pm SAF's Acquisitions”
“I hope we can all be more measured when we call for more rules, additional studies and Parliamentary Questions, if it is only because we want to be seen conveying moral outrage after a tragedy or to signal virtue to a more particularly vocal part of our electorate. I am fully aware that we speak up in Parliament to voice the views of our people. But let us remember that there is a real cost to society, through higher cost of living that the silent majority must bear when we pile on excessive regulations and enforcement. In fact, I hope that when we speak about laws in Parliament in the future, we can speak clearly of the regulatory and enforcement cost imposed on society, businesses and our people. With that, I stand in strong support of the Budget.”
“Also, once we implement the special economic zone with Johor, can we improve the connectivity of our more manpower-intensive operations and industries with our immigration facilities, so we can tap on more manpower from Johor to come over to work and go back to Johor daily? Can we further re-energise our pro-enterprise panel to identify areas of red tape that cost the private sector time and money, so that we can reduce the cost of transacting with the Government? Lastly, I hope the Government and my fellow Members in the Chambers can think through the cost-of-living implications when we pass new laws, regulations or ask for more enforcements. For many of us in business, we instinctively know that a higher quality or service level usually means higher cost. It is true for many governments, too. Enforcement fairness costs money, too. Let me give an example using the upcoming rental fairness framework. Yes, the law is more precise but it is also more complicated. Moving forward, most landlords will need lawyers to do contracting rather than let agents and landlords handle the drafting of lease as it is now. Moving forward, every time there is a change in the areas being surveyed, the landlords will need to hire a surveyor. These will cost landlords at least a few thousand dollars. What does it mean? Yes, it is harder for errant landlords to disadvantage the tenants, but all consumers will have to pay for the higher cost-of-living associated with higher rents. Finally, I hope we can have a real conversation within our Chamber on how the issues we debate on and the solutions we propose have contributed to the higher cost of living, higher taxation or lower Government efficiency.”
“Second, even as we level up our Active Ageing Centres (AACs), I hope the Government can consider funding senior-related services in trusted nodes where our seniors gather, such as places of worship: mosques, churches and temples. Third, to ensure that our nation's ecosystem of senior-related services always has a focus on serving our private estate residents as well. Our private estate seniors have caregiving and emotional support needs, even though they are better off financially. But through them, we can also get a preview of the needs of future Singaporean seniors. Before I end my speech, I would like to speak briefly about cost of living. First of all, I hope to see the Government provide more cost-of-living offsets in the next Budget, not just in this, especially to help our seniors and families, including those who are asset-rich and cash-poor, especially retirees living in the private estates. I also hope that the Government can actively identify supply-side solutions and fixes, which can bring down the cost of doing business and, therefore, the cost of living. Let me give Members a few examples. One, to reduce the manpower shortage, can we allow our companies to hire more foreigners, at a reasonable levy, in exchange for them creating even more flexible work arrangement opportunities, which will benefit our seniors, stay-at-home mums and caregivers? Can we increase the number of purpose-built dormitories and, in the meantime, allow for more onsite dormitories to ensure that our foreign manpower housing cost is manageable?”
“To ensure support, I also hope we can actively consult the silent majority before rolling this out and move carefully, start with a modest programme and review that over time, because if we are to fund this programme through a further tax increase, there might be some fatigue amongst our taxpayers. Let me switch now to Skillsfuture. There is broad support amongst people for the enhancement of Skillsfuture. Singaporeans are deeply appreciative of the monthly support for adult Singaporeans to go back to school full-time. This is something that Members of this House, including myself, have advocated over the years. It fills a critical gap in our efforts to upskill and reskill our people. Of course, our Government must also do our level best to ensure that the skills training in most industries is relevant and useful. Now, let me move to my second topic, caring for our seniors. On behalf of PAP Seniors Group, I would like to thank the Government for delivering an A-plus Budget for seniors and for taking onboard many of the suggestions from PAP SG MPs. I am also heartened that the Government is moving decisively on issues that I have spoken about over the years: seniors' CPF contribution rates, making our estates more senior-friendly and encouraging home-care services. Now, we must quickly implement these services as we are facing a silver tsunami. In addition, I hope the Government can consider the following. First, quickly scaling up Age Well SG's caregiving home-care sandbox. The idea is straightforward. I hope the Government can support not just foreign manpower quota but also set aside spaces in HDB estates, so that the professional caregivers can be sited there comfortably, respond to our seniors quickly, without incurring too much transportation cost.”
“It will be easier to persuade people to join in in this insurance if the premium is affordable. Two, we must preserve a strong sense of personal responsibility. As the cost of living differs widely, we should give our people a choice in how to manage their lifestyle in the event of a major cash flow disruption. To do so, we can offer them these options: fully or partially freezing housing loans and majority of healthcare, insurance premiums, taxes and fees, for a limited time to help with their cash flow, providing Government transfers, such as GST rebates ahead of schedule, that means, they can take their subsidies and transfers ahead of other Singaporeans and allowing them to borrow against their own CPF monies for those Singaporeans with healthy CPF balances already. The Government can also work with financial advisory associations to provide affected people with free financial advisory. The third point is to provide sufficient Government support which is largely funded by tax. I hope the Government can offset some of the cost of the insurance and get things started. If there are specific industries or large companies that are going through a major downsizing, I hope the Government can step up to top up the monthly assistance, perhaps through a larger or longer payout, because when there is a large number of people exiting one industry, not everybody can quickly move into another industry. In short, in implementing unemployment support, Singapore, we, must find our own way forward. We must do so by ensuring personal responsibility, risk pooling among our people, and Government support complement and not undermine one another.”
“If the Government pays for it, how much tax do we all have to pay? Will they get abused? What will happen to personal responsibility? To address this concern, we should be clear on what we want and what we do not want. Of course, we want our people to be confident in the face of change. We must focus on the central issue, which is an unanticipated cash flow challenge that most people face when they lose their jobs. We want this kind of support to be different from those who fall below the poverty thresholds. Right now, we support Singaporeans only when they have exhausted their wealth and their familial support. But moving forward, when Singaporeans lose their jobs, we want them to focus on reskilling and upskilling by providing them with some financial peace of mind. Unemployment support should not only come when their savings have been wiped out. Now, what we do not want? We do not want abuses or the shirking of personal responsibility. We do not want our people to make uninformed career reskilling decisions. Factoring in the views of my residents, I propose a multi-tier approach towards unemployment support that balances three critical pillars of social support: one, a strong sense of personal responsibility; two, efficient risk-pooling through insurance; three, sufficient Government support, which is largely, let us not forget, largely funded by our taxes. Let me first speak on efficient risk-pooling through insurance. I hope we can see a basic and not gold-plated unemployment payout for several months with an upper limit on one's lifetime, funded by unemployment insurance and, hopefully, we can pay for this insurance through the CPF. Some of my residents also want the freedom to opt out. Of course, we have to think through this carefully.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I rise in support of the Budget. Today, I would like to speak about two things: how to help our people thrive in their jobs; and how to support our seniors to age with purpose and dignity. I will also speak briefly about the cost of living. We spoke about unemployment support in this House for years. Based on my conversations with my residents in Kebun Baru, it is not yet a top-of-mind concern for them. To give some context, four in 10 of my residents live in private estate homes. Why? Because the residents trust that the Government will support them if things get tough, as during COVID-19. I also want to point out that major insurance companies do sell unemployment insurance, but the take-up is not high. But conceptually, I believe Singaporeans, including myself, are open it to if it is properly designed, as the world and the job market are changing at breathtaking speed. Two weeks ago, OpenAI stunned the world with their text-to-video capability, Sora. Sora was able to generate life-like one-minute videos from text prompting, where everything in the video obeyed the law of physics! Imagine that! Being able to ensure that every interaction in the animation abides by physics. This has some veteran Hollywood producers suggesting that in three to five years, generative AI can do the bulk of small screen television series production. Great possibilities. But what happens to creative professionals globally, including in Singapore? The same story can be replicated across many industries, many countries. We need to be prepared. We want our people to lead in this new wave of change. Most people do agree with the central idea, but yet, there are also many questions. Who will pay for it? Do we buy an insurance. Can we opt out?”
“Three, MND must pay special attention to the CORENET X roll-out to ensure it goes well. Several years ago, the industry experienced difficulties during the initial roll-out of CORENET 2. This includes server downtime and issues with Singpass login. For CORENET X, given how important it is to the industry, MND should work hard to avoid the same issues. Four, there is great potential for MND to use CORENET X to accelerate approval efficiency, by resolving bottlenecks. Using data garnered from CORENET X applications and approvals, agencies can jointly identify solutions to common but complex building designing issues. MND will also know if agencies have insufficient staff strength to process approvals, because they now see the data from all agencies, and MND can work with them to close the manpower gap. Doing so will benefit the built sector tremendously. To conclude, there is a proverb: "If you want to go fast, run alone; if you want to go far, run together." This rings true for CORENET X, and I believe MND is committed to co-creating CORENET X with the industry. Today's debate on the bill is an important step to getting CORENET X ready, and to increasing the built sector's knowledge of it. Therefore, I hope MND can answer some of the questions that I have raised on behalf of the SMEs within the built sector. Notwithstanding my questions, I support the amendments to the Bill.”
“The question is: in the future, do all agencies need to sign off at a particular gateway before one can commence work? What happens when there is an unexpected site condition, which is common in brownfield developments, is discovered and requires a minor amendment? Will they need to get all the agencies to approve the revised design? If so, would getting all agencies to sign off lead to longer delays? Two, can MND clarify whether the built sector can continue to make 2D submissions, or will the entire industry be asked to move to Building Information Modelling (BIM)? If so, what is the rough timeline? And if not, does the regulatory process differ for 2D and BIM submissions. Most professionals agree that BIM is the future, but not everyone can use it yet. Smaller firms continue with 2D submissions. For our SMEs, the issue is cost, not technology. Our SMEs can upgrade their software to do BIM and many professionals have the basic skills, but SMEs need to invest in training and to redesign their processes. I am happy to hear the new productivity solutions that have been announced. SMEs can also outsource BIM creation to overseas companies in the Philippines or Indonesia. This cost is justified if they can really benefit from productivity improvements. Or the cost will simply be passed to the end-user. But I believe our agencies also need time to fully re-engineer the process and also to get CORENET functionalities and infrastructure ready especially for industry wide adoption. Therefore, I believe a staggered timeline is needed to get the industry to adopt BIM and CORENET X. It will be ideal if MND can publicly set a desired timeline, but also adjust the milestones depending on how fast our agencies get fully ready, and for our industry to acquire the capabilities.”
“Mdm Deputy Speaker, I stand in support of the Bill. This Bill gives agencies the authority and means to streamline regulatory processes through CORENET X. The built environment sector professionals I spoke to look forward to a CORENET X that can bring about improved efficiency and faster approvals. They also hope CORENET X can become the digital foundation for the entire sector in the future. This is a huge undertaking, a critical part of our built environment sector's transformation. Some large architecture firms have been working with our agencies on CORENET X through industry consultations and feedback sessions. It is likely that MND has factored in their views. Therefore, I am here to share the feedback of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) architecture companies that use CORENET often, as well as some main contractors who use certain features of CORENET. The four key feedbacks I have heard are as follows. One, built sector professionals would like to know more about how agencies will come together to approve the key gateways, specifically the Design Gateways, Construction Gateways, as well as the OP/Stat Completion stage. Today, architects seek approval from agencies, which may take time depending on complexity. For example, agencies may take a while to approve a change in the Building Plan when an undocumented gas or water pipe is found in a brownfield development. Currently, the industry may continue working on the project, even as they are waiting for that one or two agencies' approval at the building plan level. For example, from the National Parks Board (NParks) on relocating of trees, the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) on fire safety for the design of a stairwell.”
“Let us share with them our future plans and persuade them that we have the resources and creativity to achieve these despite the troubled times and convince them that if we preserve the spirit of personal responsibility, if we maintain good governance and internal unity, if we support one another in good times and bad, there is a world of possibilities for them and for Singapore. With that, I stand in support of the Motion.”
“This is even as our society has now a lot more resources to care and nurture them, compared to my generation. Many of them do actually worry about bread-and-butter issues and how to keep their aspirations and passion in the face of reality. But if we look the world through their lenses, it is possible to understand why. When I was their age, Singapore and the world were brimming with optimism. We were celebrating the end of history, and we were at the cusp of the Asia Pacific century amidst balanced and positive US-China relations. Then, technology and the Internet brought a seemingly endless promise. Social media has yet to accentuate the perception of reality or hobbled democracies. Climate change was not even a thing and everybody read the newspapers, especially the Straits Times. Now if you open the social media feed of our youths today, you will see a vastly different world. They may not be able to fully articulate the uncertainty of the unprecedented times but they certainly feel it. Building a fair and inclusive Singapore is, to me, a crowning achievement for this generation of elected leaders in this House. The consensus, I strongly believe, cuts across party lines, and I believe more Members, all Members in this House, believe that, on this issue, we are on the right side of history. Therefore, through Forward Singapore, let us make an extra effort to make sure that the youths are firmly rooted on this fair and inclusive Singapore.”
“However, if the Government intends to adjust this sometime later, after the housing shortage is resolved, I hope that the Government can signal its intention after the completion of Forward Singapore to reduce anxiety and moderate housing demand for this group of youths. Additionally, I hope the Government can also consider more measures to moderate condominium prices, particularly in non-city core areas by non-Singaporeans. I understand that beyond the current approach, such as much higher Additional Buyer's Stamp Duty (ABSD), there are no easy answers. Let me now round up my speech by suggesting how we can also get our youths to understand and support the inclusive Singapore that we have built. Over the past few decades, past two decades in particular, we have built an inclusive Singapore. We have taken major steps in the last decade to raise wages, particularly for low-wage workers and seniors. We have boosted our social safety net and made strides in environmental protection and, now, more than 50% of our Budget is for social spending. Fortunately, Singaporeans are willing to make the trade-offs in terms of higher cost of living and taxation. However, let us not assume that our youths will automatically sign off to pay for this fair and just society. It may be a surprising thing to say, as there is a strong national consensus on this today. But we only need to look at many developed countries, developed democracies, to know that this is not a given. Many of their citizens today are now questioning the generous social compact and debt that they have inherited. When I speak to our youths, I realised that many of them are more pessimistic about the world, at least compared to my generation at their age.”