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 [(proc text) Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.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…”
The complete record
Every one of 459 lines we hold for Kwek Hian Chuan Henry, in date order, each linked to its source. Free to read, in full, without an account. Page 9 of 10.
“Madam, in our rental flat schemes, single seniors are usually asked to share flats. This can be a good thing, as our single seniors can provide company and support for one another. But sometimes, things do not work out. There are many senior rental flat residents who experienced considerable difficulties in staying with their flatmates, usually resulting in bitter disputes. I am sure many of our fellow Members have experienced that kind of appeals. However, it is often not easy for our HDB officers to help them find accommodation, either by helping these individuals to sometimes stay alone or by pairing them up with other seniors, and many of these are due to the shortage of rental flats. Will HDB consider increasing the supply of rental flats by some amount so that there can be more room to accommodate seniors facing this issue? Upgrading/BTO Design and Maintenance”
“Madam, Government demand is a very important part of total business demand. As such, Government procurement policies impact our businesses, especially the SMEs. Is there more that the Government can do to ensure that Government procurement contracts, especially those related to construction, maintenance and transportation that usually go beyond hundreds and millions, are not unnecessarily big, which could have the unintended effect of crowding out SMEs from competing effectively in terms of Government procurement? Local Firms in Government Procurement”
“Sir, even with the global economic uncertainty and even as our own economy matures, our Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) region is full of opportunities. For our youths to effectively tap on these opportunities, language and cultural understanding is key. Indeed, even basic proficiency in a language opens a window to the culture and mindset of another people. Will MOE consider offering ASEAN languages as a third language option for more students? And would MOE consider working with tertiary institutions, especially their business faculties, to strongly encourage students to learn ASEAN languages, cultures and business cultures? Regional Language Proficiency”
“These offsets can be partly funded by revenue from the carbon tax revenue in the initial years.”
“As Singapore invents the future, it is important that we bring our companies along this journey. Can MTI share some of the successful, emerging Singapore-based companies that are successfully doing so in Singapore? Moving forward, can MTI share the specific ways in which the Government can do more to help our companies capture these growth opportunities? Targets for Renewable Energy Assoc Prof Daniel Goh Pei Siong (Non-Constituency Member): Sir, the intended implementation of an upstream carbon tax in 2019 shows our country's commitment to climate change mitigation. However, a carbon tax alone will not spur energy conservation and reduce emissions. The announcement has spurred talk that this could result in up to a 4.3% rise in electricity prices for downstream consumers. Industries could prepare for this rise in the next few years, factor in the rise in costs and end up not reducing energy consumption. The only one who would profit then would be the Government. One of the most common tools used in conjunction with carbon taxation or cap-and-trade regimes around the world is the setting of hard targets for renewable energy production, coupled with carbon offset incentives. We should cement Singapore's commitment to energy conservation by setting a target for renewable energy production. Currently, only 4% of electricity in Singapore is produced from sources other than natural gas and petroleum. We should aim for 10% renewable energy production by 2025. This will put us on par with other small developed countries like South Korea which has a target of 7% by 2020 and Belgium, with 13%. To provide incentives for power stations and other large emitters to turn to renewables, the Government should link the investment and use of renewable energy to carbon tax offsets.”
“Sir, both in and outside of Parliament, I have consistently advocated that as Singapore invents the future in key areas, it will be good if we can bring our startups along with us. I also talked about ways to implement regulatory sandboxes, modifying tender systems to give emerging companies with strong ideas a better shot at success. And in terms of regulations, leaning towards consumer preferences which are more embracing of the new economy. 6.30 pm Therefore, I am delighted to hear that CFE recommends using forward-looking regulations and Government-led demand to support innovation. Can MTI provide specifics on how the Government plans to implement these recommendations? Can MTI also share which are the industries that we expect to see these implemented in? Opportunities from Urban Solutions More than half of the world live or work in urban areas and this number is increasing significantly every year, especially in Asia. This rapid growth, coupled with the rising expectations of the growing middle class, creates significant strains in cities. Singapore is consistently ranked as one of the world's most liveable cities, with strengths in water management, green constructions, smart energy management, greenery management and inclusive urban planning. We are also recognised as a global thought leader in this field, with initiatives, such as the Centre for Liveable Cities (CLC) and the Lee Kuan Yew (LKY) School's Water Institute, as well as an increasing number of global conventions and international events, such as World Cities Summit or the Singapore International Water Week. Indeed, CFE identified urban solutions as one of the growth sectors that would benefit from the rising middle class and urbanisation in Asia.”
“While CFE is focused on the long-term economic transformation, is there more that the Government can do to manage key business costs, such as rentals? We have seen rental costs decline considerably for industrial land, and Jurong Town Corporation (JTC) seemed to have made some downward adjustments. But there could be room for the Government to do more to influence the retail market rental. Should the retail slump worsen, as a short-term counter-cyclical measure, could the Government consider reducing property tax for retail real estate, on condition that the property tax savings get passed entirely to the operating businesses? Regulations”
“Mdm Chairman, I would like to speak about corporate governance of listed companies. Many public listed company executives tell me of the challenges of abiding by a growing checklist of regulations. At the same time, there are rapid changes internationally with regard to compliance. I note that MAS recently established the Corporate Governance Council to review the Code of Corporate Conduct. Can MAS share more about that? How can we ensure that this code of conduct, while meeting international standards, will be practical and supportive of businesses, as well as to improve the attractiveness of our exchanges? Expropriation of Unclaimed Funds”
“We can also even extend this to stay-at-home mothers and special-needs workers to find micro-jobs nearby. What about meeting the practical realities like CPF contributions, or verifying who is eligible for what micro-jobs? These can be easily done, by inserting lines of code, to wire micro-contributions to one's CPF account and to check out our seniors' SkillsFuture individual learning portfolio. In short, in this digital age, data is the new invisible hand. We should fully tap on data, combine it with our social policies, to orchestrate our economy and society of the future. In closing, creating a gig economy for our seniors benefits Singapore. It can erase ageism. It can put money directly in the hands of our seniors. It can cut down on unnecessary manpower including foreign manpower. And it can help reduce our social spending. Therefore, I call for the creation of a national digital initiative for our seniors involving our social services Ministries, VWOs and SkillsFuture. It will take a few years to get this done, so I hope we can start soon. With that, Mr Deputy Speaker, I stand in full support of the Budget.”
“Today, we sometimes send two nurses to visit patients, many of whom are bedridden or have mobility challenges. Why can we not cut down to one nurse instead, and then hire a trained senior, living in a nearby block or street, to assist such as carrying the patient and assist in wound dressing. There are many seniors living in our midst who can qualify to do such micro-jobs. How do we page for these seniors? Simple. Through a gig economy app that the Government creates, perhaps by working with our start-ups. How do we prepare our seniors for these micro-jobs? Through SkillsFuture, of course. How do we ensure quality of service by these seniors? Through the apps that ask for feedback from the nurses, and may be even the patient. Imagine the vast possibilities. What if we certify some of our able grandmothers to provide infant care service for a few infants at their home, or retired teachers to provide after school care for a few students at home? What if we equip our seniors to provide caregiving or respite care to their neighbours? How many purpose built infant care, after school care centres, and respite care centres can we end up not building? When I talk to public officials or VWO leaders about this idea, they get it. But they also confide that they cannot do it alone. That is why we need the Government to spearhead a gig economy for our seniors, using social services as a start. We can even extend this to the private sector, for example in food service. There is already a company that hires retired prata-makers today, and deploy them to meet shift gaps throughout Singapore. So, we can also help our seniors to find micro-jobs in the food service industry in their own neighbourhoods.”
“I would like to talk about a separate point − creating a gig economy for our seniors. When I spoke to our seniors about the CFE, they are not sure how they fit in the future economy. Today, we already have forward-looking policies for our senior workers, such as our Senior Employment Credit, and our Retirement and Re-employment Act. Nevertheless, there is room to do more. In fact, I think there is room for our Government to catalyse a gig economy for our seniors, by creating micro-jobs. Despite legislation, it is hard for us to fully remove ageism, especially towards seniors above 67. Many companies, especially in tough times, are not willing to take the risk of hiring, or even retaining senior workers. This issue would be more serious over time as we continue our restructuring and as our workforce continues to age. The gig economy can help us combat ageism. Compared to companies, consumers using the gig economy are far less willing to discriminate. What do I mean? A good example is Uber. Through technology, Uber empowers hearing-impaired drivers to work in the car using Uber app. Other examples include delivery services such as Honest Bee, Foodpanda and Deliveroo, show that our consumers are less interested in discriminating, on who shows up on the door, as long as that person can do that one-off "micro-job" well. So, how can the Government create a gig economy for our seniors? By doing three things: one, creating micro-jobs for our seniors starting with those in the social services; two, creating a national digital platform and app; and three, equipping our seniors to do these micro-jobs through SkillsFuture. Let me use the example of delivery of home-based healthcare.”
“Our Government must, however, light 23 bright sparks with each of the 23 ITMs. And our industries must turn these bright sparks into a brighter future for all. My third point about the CFE is that we must start our transformation quickly. We should roll out our ITMs as quickly as we can, far earlier than the proposed deadline of end of this financial year. The ITMs are supposed to rally their respective industries. Many businesses, stuck in the trenches of disruption, are looking for direction amidst the storm. Not all of them found clarity for their sector, in the measures provided in this Budget. But it does not mean that help for them is lacking. In fact, I am heartened to hear that considerable resources are set aside for our industries − close to $7 billion for the whole CFE, including $4.5 billion for the Industry Transformation Programme. When we can translate this significant budgetary firepower, into concrete policies industry by industry, policies that our businesses and people can touch and feel, they will naturally gain the quiet confidence that the future is bright for all. Also, rolling out our ITMs quickly provide much needed clarity to the supporting CFE's efforts. For example, in this Chamber, we frequently talk about using our SkillsFuture funds efficiently. But it is not easy for our officials in SkillsFuture, or any other CPE supporting efforts, to make concrete plans until they know the precise direction that we want to take each industry to. So, therefore, a quick rollout of our ITMs is critical. In summary, to execute our plans, we need a strong centre to pull everybody together, we need bold plans to transform each and every of the 23 industries, and we must provide our industries with quick and clear directions.”
“" Indeed, many retired senior officials whom I spoke to shared the same view ‒ what separates Singapore from the rest is our focus on getting things done quietly, efficiently and quickly. One, a strong national coordination body. To implement our decade-long CFE strategy, we will be well served by a strong national coordinating body. This coordinating body, like the CFE Committee, should comprise not just our civil service officials, but also key union leaders, business leaders and educators. This coordinating body will serve as a strong centre to oversee our Ministries' efforts to translate broad strategies into detailed plans, regularly review the progress made, incorporate good ideas, seek out industry proposals along the way and communicate to all stakeholders annually on where we are, and where we must go. The current National Productivity Council could serve as a basis for this coordinating body. Why is this high level of coordination and communication necessary? The answer is simple. To fundamentally transform our economy, we need to go beyond the whole of Government approach. In fact, we need our Government to move as one, we need a whole of nation effort. Two, our ITMs must contain bold ideas. The premise of the ITMs is this: each industry requires bespoke solutions to achieve deep transformation. So, I hope that we must be fully prepared to remove policy sacred cows when necessary. If the new plans for the industries end up not differing from existing plans, and if many of our ITMs look too similar, then we should question whether we are fully stretching our imagination and aspirations. Some say there is no Big Bang in the CFE. But I feel that it is no longer sufficient to push for a single Big Bang industry.”
“Therefore, I am heartened to hear our Government's recent clarification which directly addresses the hon Member Mr Dennis Tan's concern that the additional usage rebates will limit the impact on low-income and middle-income households. Families in 1- and 2-room HDB flats will, on average, see no net increases, and families living in a typical 4-room HDB flat will see a $5 extra on average. I am also concerned about the impact on the hawkers in my constituency, which affects the cost of living. So, I took a look at their water bills. I saw today a bill for an entire coffee shop with six stalls. On average, each stall is using around 50 cubic meters of water a month, which costs around $100. With the new water tariff, each stall will see an increase of around $30 a month. So, while there is an increase, it is unclear that it will lead to a significant increase in the cost of living. I am also relieved to hear that three in four businesses will see an increase of less than $25 a month, which also addresses Mr Dennis Tan's concern. Nevertheless, I call for the Government to continue monitoring the situation, both for individuals and businesses, to see whether further tweaks are necessary. Mr Deputy Speaker, now that the CFE and Budget have mapped out the broad directions ahead for our economy, I would like to focus my Budget speech on how to best execute our plans for the CFE, and about creating a gig economy for our senior workers. Recently, I had breakfast with a senior retired official who worked for Mr Goh Keng Swee. I asked him what did he learn working for Mr Goh Keng Swee. He thought for a while and quoted Mr Goh, "Don't tell me the why. I know the why. Tell me the how. Tell me how you are going to get this done.”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, I rise in support of the Budget. I have been making rounds in my constituency in the last couple of weeks and have been reading the local and regional news with regard to the water tariff. The concerns of our people and businesses are understandable, given the current economic challenge. And much has been said about this issue, both in and outside of the Chamber. Nevertheless, it is sometimes useful to take a view from outside Singapore. For example, how do our competitors see us? The South China Morning Post, widely seen as Hong Kong's flagship English newspaper and not always a fan of Singapore, recently carried this headline: "Can Hong Kong follow Singapore's lead in water tariffs?" In its sub headline, the report noted: "Among Asia's metropolises, Hong Kong is stuck with frozen tariff rates that are hurting water conservation efforts". The report said experts are calling for Hong Kong and other Asian cities to follow Singapore's lead. The South China Morning Post quoted experts from the United Nations and think tanks, who called for countries to invest more in water infrastructure, reduce water wastage by reflecting the real cost of water, while insulating the vulnerable from the impact ‒ all of which the Singapore Government is doing. The South China Morning Post's views are also shared by leading water experts, such as Prof Asit Biswas and Robert Brears. Indeed, the challenges of pricing water right to ensure access amidst climate change are not unique to Singapore. We must deal with them decisively while taking care of our vulnerable. And in this debate on this issue today, it is important that we separate facts from fiction and reality from perception.”
“Some might argue that even as an early adopter city-state, it is unlikely that Singapore can influence the global direction on this front. I think otherwise, because I believe it is reasonable and feasible for us to ask manufacturers to adapt their programming logic to our society's sensibility. Lastly, I would like to talk about preparing our transport workers for the disruption ahead. Early estimates in the US show that self-driving vehicles could cost the US between four to five million jobs. In a noted study, Carl Benedikt Frey and Michael Osborne have worked that most workers in transportation and logistics will be deeply impacted. For us in Singapore, it goes beyond taxi, Uber or Grab drivers. It could also impact our delivery workers and even our transportation workers in the ports or airports. How can we prepare our transportation workers for the road ahead? And more importantly, when should we start preparing our workers? I am glad to hear that Minister Ng believes that it will take 10 to 15 years before AVs are fully commercialised, as this will give our people time to adjust. However, disruptive technologies have a way of surprising others with the pace of adoption. As such, I think it would be wise for us to identify a few key trigger points along the adoption path when we know that we have to step in in a systematic and deliberate way to help our transportation workers adjust to this brave new world. In conclusion, Mdm Speaker, AVs will bring tremendous benefits, but also some challenges to Singapore. I am glad that MOT is taking a major step in pushing for the regulatory sandbox for AVs. It may take some time for us to find the right formula, but I am confident that we will succeed. I stand in full support of the Motion. 6.33 pm”
“To accelerate the adoption of AVs in Singapore, I hope that MOT and MOF can quickly bring on board our insurance companies, even within the confines of the regulatory sandbox. Because this is an evolving field, we might not get the approach right the first time, but it is far better for us to try something quick and then adjust along the way so that insurance is not a bottleneck for their commercialisation. Second, let me talk about managing the ethical dilemmas. One major dilemma is: how should an automated vehicle decide on whom or what to protect, when an accident is imminent? This dilemma is commonly expressed in the field of ethics as the "Trolley Problem", where a driver of a broken trolley has to decide between injuring five people right in front of him, or to make a conscious decision to divert the trolley, thereby injuring a bystander, who is innocent. But for AVs, the issue is even more complex. Which must the vehicle prioritise to protect and why? Should it be the passengers of the vehicle? Or passengers of another autonomous vehicle? Or the passengers in a conventional vehicle which can potentially react less swiftly? Or a nearby vulnerable pedestrian, such as an elderly, an expectant mother or a child? Or the largest group of pedestrians? Or an important nearby building, such as a nursery, or a hospital? There is currently no consensus on this issue. Now, as we accelerate the use of AVs in Singapore, it will be wise if we do not abdicate our responsibilities to technologists or the vehicle manufacturers or the insurance companies. I hope MOT can keep a close tab on international developments on this front and perhaps even convene an ethics panel to deliberate on this important matter.”
“Mdm Speaker, the proposed amendments on private hire car users strike an effective balance. The proposed regulatory sandbox to promote safe trials for AVs is an excellent move. As such, I stand in support of the Bill. Automated vehicles will radically alter the face of Singapore and, as Second Minister Ng Chee Meng has shared earlier, offer exciting possibilities for us. Today, I would like to talk about three issues pertaining to AVs. One, bringing insurers on board for AVs. Two, actively managing the ethical dilemmas that AVs bring forth. Three, readying our transportation workers for the road ahead. First, let me talk about insurance. Self-driving vehicles have captured the imagination of many. Naturally, as more trials and adoption have taken place, more accidents have also happened. My colleagues have talked about them earlier in the House. Following the Tesla accident, the US government ordered a detailed safety review. The finding was clear that, even with the increased number of accidents, Tesla's current implementation is considered safer than conventional vehicles. But regardless of how good the technology gets, accidents will continue to happen. Therefore, insurance is a necessity. In fact, industry experts whom I spoke to indicated that the lack of insurance is emerging as a key bottleneck for the full and widespread commercialisation of AVs. The rest of the world has started moving on this. In June last year, a UK company launched the world's first insurance for self-driving cars. In August last year, Tesla started collaborating with AXA in Hong Kong and QBE in Australia to offer insurance.”
“Yet, against rising expectations of our residents and sharply increased manpower cost for maintenance and pruning, NParks receives a relatively modest operating grant of slightly over $200 million annually. To put that in perspective, that is around 0.3% of our overall Budget. I have no doubt that NParks will effectively stretch every Government dollar it gets. In fact, NParks' strong corporate partnerships and its ability to attract top business leaders to its board are testimony of NParks' entrepreneurial spirit. But at some point, we might approach a situation where the budget might not match NParks' enlarged mission. With the economy where it is, resources across the Government are understandably tight. However, I do hope that when the opportunity arises, NParks will be allocated more funding to deliver on its mission and to strengthen outreach. Mdm Speaker, let me conclude my speech. Recently, my grassroots members and I were invited to NParks' ground-breaking ceremony at Thomson Natural Park. We had to hike into the middle of the forest. And during that short journey, our NParks guides gave us a vivid introduction to the various animals living within the vicinity – the Greater Slow Loris, the Banded Leaf Monkey and the Sundar Pangolin. We also chanced upon a baby Big Eye Green Whip snake. We even also learnt that the Sambar deers that we occasionally see there came from the descendants of a major Mandai zoo break-out in the late 1970s. It was a beautiful experience and it stayed in our memories. I hope that all Singaporeans, especially our children, can enjoy similar experiences, and develop a deep love for our land. With that, I stand in support of the Bill.”
“For example, over the years, we have started teaching art, so as to imbue our children with a sense of aesthetics. And we have always taught our children physical education, so as to develop their motor skills and to teach the benefits of sports. And recently, we have started emphasising on values, so as to equip our children with the right moral compass in life. In the same manner, especially since our children are raised as city-dwellers in the digital rage, I believe we must build a deep and intuitive connection between our children and nature. Perhaps a good way to start is to encourage our Primary and Secondary schools to have quarterly visits to our parks. Some of these parks can be the neighbourhood parks, the national parks or the park connectors. Others can be to iconic national parks, such as Pulau Ubin, Chek Jawa or Sungei Buloh. While the regular school trips take place, perhaps NParks can dedicate more resources to have park rangers to introduce the beauty of our animals and flora to our children and to introduce them to our excellent SG BioAtlas and sParks apps. Not all our children will grow up to be passionate nature-lovers, but, at least, growing up, they will have a chance to understand its beauty. Next, I would like to talk about funding for NParks. Over the last few years, I have gradually developed a deeper understanding of what NParks does. NParks continues to build more iconic park destinations, such as Gardens by the Bay, Pulau Ubin and HortiPark. NParks continues to plant more trees as we build more housing estates and many more trees in forested towns like the upcoming Tengah town. NParks continues to build more park connectors.”
“This trend is not just limited to Singapore. Last year, my wife and I hiked at a National Park in the United States for two days. We were surprised to encounter a slick advertising blitz targeting the youth, so as to encourage the youth to visit the parks. When we dig deeper, we realised that the park visitors in the US consist largely of baby-boomers and Gen X. So, basically, the millenniums are missing. In fact, the US National Park has identified the lukewarm response from the millenniums as the single largest threat to public support for the country's National Park system. So, NParks is not just facing this trend alone. As such, I would like to propose that we systematically incorporate nature into our children's curriculum. There are three reasons why we want to take this approach. One, existing, largely optional outreach efforts to our children will naturally attract those who are already pre-disposed to nature, or to children whose school leaders see the benefit of interacting with nature. As much as NParks endeavours, a significant number of children may not have a chance to develop a meaningful bond with nature. Two, MCCY and MOE are expanding the Outward Bound School (OBS), so as to ensure that all Singaporean youths have a chance to experience OBS. In the same way, our full-time NSFs have regular interaction with nature in their routine exercises. At some point or another, our youths will have a mandated dose of nature. However, in both situations, we are setting up nature as adversity to be overcome. As such, not all of our youths will end up embracing nature in a positive way. Three, we have set up our education system to cover the fundamentals in life.”
“Today, as we debate on the amendments, I would like to talk about the broader point, which is to deepen the connection between our people and our nature. There is a beautiful Chinese saying, 钟灵毓秀. It means that Nature's beauty brings forth talent and character in people. Indeed, for those of us who have experienced the joy of nature, we know intuitively that nature centres and nourishes the soul. At the same time, most Singaporeans I meet hold NParks in high regard. In particular, my residents appreciate how NParks has tended to Bishan Park and Lower Pierce Reservoir Park, as well as the numerous neighbourhood parks nestled within Kebun Baru. My residents are also looking forward to the upcoming Upper Thomson Nature Park sited next to the Central Reserve. Given the significant efforts we have invested in ensuring that nature is at our people's doorstep, we should strive to get as many Singaporeans to walk through that door and to enjoy the full extent of Singapore's beautiful nature. NParks has done an excellent job to engage the public. Just to name a few, over the last year, NParks has done a comprehensive programme for interested schools and preschools to partake in developing apps, such as the SG BioAtlas, to help Singaporeans share and identify distinctive Singaporean plants and animals that they have spotted. But while NParks is working hard to engage Singaporeans, it is going against the prevailing trend where our children and youths are growing up as fully-fledged digital natives and emotionally disengaging from the physical world. Increasingly, mobile phones and iPads are becoming digital pacifiers for our children. We see that at every coffee shop, at every social gathering and pretty much in every home with young children.”
“Finally, we want to encourage users of mobility devices, but certain penalties include a fine and/or imprisonment which appears very serious. Can LTA elaborate on the circumstances that will usually entail a jail sentence? In conclusion, the Active Mobility Bill will benefit riders and pedestrians. To allow us to tap on the Bill's full potential, we will need to create more infrastructure, raise awareness, and ensure safe but affordable options. I stand in support of the Bill.”
“The devices are fairly new to Singapore and it is necessary for the public to understand how to use them to their own benefit and not to endanger themselves or pedestrians. To achieve that, we can do a few things. One, include the Active Mobility framework to drivers' education because I think the drivers should know how mobility devices and users work as well. Two, work with the Road Safety Council and cover this topic during excursions to our Road Safety Park for younger riders. Three, advertise in cinemas which will reach out to more younger people. And fourth, engage in merging social media platforms, such as Mothership or even SGAG. Third of all, I think we should also ensure affordable devices are available while we push for stronger safety standards. For example, LTA recently tightened the device standards to exclude PABs with throttles so as to improve public safety. But for a period of time, there was difficulty in finding affordable alternatives that fit the tightened standards. So, I strongly urge LTA to prioritise identifying and approving affordable PABs and PMDs that meet our device criteria, so that they can quickly benefit our people and our seniors. It would also be good if LTA can publish the entire approved list of devices online. While LTA moves from throttle to throttle-less, what happens is that the ones available on the market are largely China-made ones. And now, they are excluded. For a brief moment of time, they were being excluded from being purchased. The consumers were suddenly left with buying much more expensive PABs. I know LTA is working hard to identify and approve the lower cost ones from other parts of the world, but I hope that LTA can do more and move quickly to approve those.”
“Mdm Speaker, alternative modes of transport benefit Singapore. They help reduce our carbon footprint and shift Singapore towards a car-lite society. They also empower many Singaporeans to go about their chores and carry out their jobs and they also connect us better with nature. While we want to encourage the use of such devices, more structure has to be in place for their usage. As such, I would like to make three suggestions. First, it will be great if we can put in place more infrastructure for our mobility devices. LTA aims to transform all HDB estates into cycling towns by 2030. However, funding limitations prevent more shared paths beyond the key roads. If there is budget room for it, could the Ministry of Finance provide LTA with more funding, especially for HDB towns which have a higher traffic density? I am not asking this for all towns but just towns which have higher density. Second, in private estates with many seniors, public paths need to be adapted to the usage of PMDs and PABs. This helps our seniors to access key amenities. I hope LTA can allocate a small dedicated budget for such purposes. In my constituency of Kebun Baru, there is a landed precinct called the Teachers' Housing Estate. Many retired teachers and residents are giving up their cars as they grow older. Yet, they have difficulty accessing key amenities, especially given the hilly terrain that they live in. They will be deeply appreciative if LTA can adapt footpaths to overcome the hilly terrains and perhaps create one or two small rain shelters on their way to key amenities. Again, I am not asking for a large sum but just small sums to examine the link between specific estates with ageing populations and key locations. Secondly, we can do more to raise awareness in the community.”
“Third, let us not forget social media, especially since some of our younger seniors are also tech-savvy. Besides informing seniors, companies need to understand that they not only gain from monetary incentives, but also from the experience our seniors have. However, it is not easy for businesses, especially SMEs, to stay current on regulations. Therefore, our Government can do more to keep our businesses informed. For example, one, the upcoming business grant portal can be clear in stating senior employment incentives and re-employment age, perhaps through a pop-up banner at the launch page. This will ensure that our business leaders and towkays are kept in the loop. Two, the relevant MOM, CPF and Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) websites can display such information, too, so that the HR managers are aware of it as well. Mr Deputy Speaker, in conclusion, the Bill amendments today are an important step to assure our seniors of their employability. But for the law to see its intended effect, seniors and businesses need a genuine shift in mindset. And for that to happen, they must first be empowered with the right information. I look forward to the responses from MOM and I stand in support of the Bill.”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, the amendments to the current Retirement and Re-employment Act are sound. It strikes a good balance between protecting our seniors and encouraging our employers to hire seniors. Therefore, I stand in support of the Bill. I am also very heartened to hear Minister Lim's remarks about considering extending the SEC. I think that is a very good measure that many will welcome. The next challenge we face is to get the information across to both our seniors and our companies. More so for the former, as our seniors are much more vulnerable. One important point to communicate is the concept of re-employment age. On the ground, residents occasionally tell me that companies ask them to leave because they have reached "retirement age". Some companies even say that the "law prevents them from hiring seniors beyond a certain age". I am disappointed when I hear such misconceptions. As my Parliamentary colleague Darryl David recently put it, as long as the employee is medically fit and willing, the re-employment age of 67 is just the floor and not the ceiling. The law does not stop companies from hiring seniors beyond 67, even though they are not covered under the rules spelt out in the Bill. This misconception shows us that empowering seniors with information is key. I have a few suggestions. First, the Pioneer Generation Office can conduct household visits to seniors above 50 to share information on the current employment laws, as well as the incentives, such as the SEC, that can help them and that companies employ them. Secondly, well-crafted advertisements in different languages, including dialects, are also options. The ones for MediShield Life are very well-received and very effective.”
“Three, can we provide ample opportunities to attend courses on financial literacy under SkillsFuture? Mdm Speaker, in conclusion, while we debate on our Securities and Futures Bill today, it is important to go beyond the specific provisions being amended to broaden our discussions to: (a) what is the right regulatory balance that protects our jobs? (b) how could we best promote truth in lending and investing; and (c) how can we best inform our people to make sound financial decisions? I look forward to the response from MAS and I stand in full support of the Bill.”
“Finally, I believe now is the time to promote financial literacy to Singaporeans at large. As I talk to many Singaporeans across differing age and income groups about financial security, a common theme emerges. (a) For the past few decades, many Singaporeans are assured of a steady career and income progression, as well as rising housing values. These provide both financial security and retirement adequacy. (b) With the increasingly uncertain world, the financial cushion that Singaporeans are used to may not be there for all. (c) At the same time, while some Singaporeans are well-informed, wise and prudent in their financial decisions, some are not. (d) And good income or academic qualifications do not always equate to financial prudence or literacy. The upcoming changes to our CPF system are excellent and form an important pillar to helping Singaporeans save for retirement. However, I feel that now is the time for us to systematically promote financial literacy. This will empower our people to be financially savvy and prudent in uncertain times. Specifically, I have three suggestions. One, could we explore the mandatory teaching of financial literacy in our tertiary educational institutes? If our schools are focused on preparing Singaporeans for the future, then teaching them how to guard and manage their finances is surely an important guarantee for their future. Two, during National Service, there are the occasional down time in between training. As such, when there is time between training, can the Ministry of Defence consider working with voluntary groups like MoneySENSE to teach basic financial literacy to our young men who are sacrificing so much to serve our country?”
“Because of all these, consumers have difficulty understanding the true cost of their spending decisions. For decisions like buying a house or a vehicle, a miscalculation could be a big financial impact. To protect consumers, I call on MAS to mandate a simple and unified way of explaining interest rates and lending cost. Perhaps, MAS can study international best practices, including from the US' "Truth in Lending" Act. This Act requires the lenders to provide important pieces of information, such as the annual percentage rate (APR), the term of the loan, and the total cost for the borrowers. Can MAS share what it considers as the best formula to calculate interest rates, be it annual percentage rate (APR), effective interest rate (EIR) or nominal rates, and lending cost, which also includes fees and penalties, to our consumers? Would MAS also consider gradually aligning our companies towards communicating interest rates and lending cost, in a simple and unified way? Related to truth in lending is transparency and straightforward information on other financial products, such as investments and insurance that the majority of Singaporeans use. By "majority", I refer to non-AIs, who may not have detailed financial information. Compared to lending products, it is even harder to provide clarity on such products. But I hope that MAS can push forward, even if complexity limits us to taking small steps. Specifically, perhaps MAS can consider gradually getting our financial industry to adopt a common language, as well as a straightforward and concise approach, to explaining financial products. We could, perhaps, pay more attention on how the industry explains: (a) returns; (b) price of product; (c) processing fees and penalties; (d) risks; and (e) duration of product coverage.”
“In short, as the trajectory of global regulations is increasingly unclear, we must be wise in the direction and pace of evolution of our own regulations. We must not front-run the regulations of the world's leading financial centres, or we will be holding our industry back from serving the needs of Asia and beyond. As such, it would be helpful if MAS can provide a perspective on: Firstly, what is MAS' perspective on the evolution of US regulations, especially with regard to the Dobb-Frank Act? How do we see the UK's role as a financial centre and the UK's financial regulations evolve? Does the UK's changing role represent opportunities or challenges for Singapore? Secondly, what is MAS' view on aligning our regulations to those of the US and UK? How do we factor in the conditions of emerging Asia, as well as the key markets that we serve, to ensure our industry stays competitive, so that we can protect our people's jobs? Can MAS provide specific examples of this? Lastly, for the new framework on AIs, can MAS assure our industry that there will be adequate implementation safeguards to ensure that our industry, like what Ms Foo Mee Far has said, has room to adjust? Next, I would like to talk about promoting truth in lending and investing. The financial industry is both complex and competitive. This creates some undesirable outcomes. For example, lending cost is advertised differently for different products. It is calculated differently for: (a) housing loans compared to car loans, (b) car loans compared to credit card loans; and (c) credit card loans compared to hire-purchase financing. Processing fees and penalty costs for these different products vary considerably, too.”
“Mdm Speaker, I would like to declare that I am a part-owner in a firm that trades in equities and forex. Mdm Speaker, the amendments to the Securities and Futures Act are a timely refresh to our regulations. Therefore, I rise in support of the Bill. I would like to talk about three broad issues today: (a) protecting the jobs in our sector; (b) promoting truth in lending and investing; and (c) promoting financial literacy. First, let me talk about protecting our jobs in the financial industry. The amendments put forward today strengthens our role as a trusted financial centre. However, echoing what my colleague Ms Foo Mee Har said, our industry is facing many challenges: (a) our wholesale banking is undergoing restructuring; (b) our private banking sector is grappling with complex regulations, especially arising from anti-money laundering requirements; and (c) our mainstream financial industry, as a whole, is being disrupted by financial technology. These challenges have a direct and immediate impact on our people's job security. As such, it is important that we keep both our regulations and the implementation of our regulations, flexible. For a while after the Global Financial Crisis, there is a broad consensus on the regulatory direction. However, uncertainty in the direction has increased recently. After Brexit, it is unclear what the United Kingdom's (UK's) financial centre's role will be for the world and for the European Union. Logically, UK regulations could change as her role evolves. So, there is some uncertainty there. After the US presidential election, it is unclear whether the Dobb-Frank Act still speaks for the future of US regulations.”
“And then there is a 52-year-old widow in Kebun Baru whom the press affectionately called the Bao Lady. She is a hawker supporting three children of her own. She also takes in unwed mothers, as well as homeless children of all races. She is a wonderful foster parent well-loved by the children. These two families which I have highlighted here – one bonded by blood, the other bonded by conviction, choice and love – can get more help. So, I hope that the Government can examine the possibilities that I have proposed and add them to this excellent CDCA Bill in due course, because this small group of families deserves our full support, because every child in Singapore is precious. Mdm Speaker, I fully support this Bill. 3.10 pm”
“The net effect is that the cost of adopting overseas, usually through an agent, has gone up considerably. I was told that the cost ranges from $25,000 to $50,000 to adopt from overseas. I can think of two ways to encourage and strengthen adoption in Singapore. Firstly, perhaps our Government can consider providing a small grant to subsidise foreign adoption cost for Singaporean couples who have failed repeatedly to conceive. Why? Even after the recent generous increase in subsidies for IVF in public hospitals, many Singaporean couples who tried Page: 58 unsuccessfully to conceive have to still incur costly and repeated IVF treatment, especially if they do so in a private hospital. These couples would also have drawn down on their MediSave funds. As such, a small grant to offset this cost, perhaps helping all but couples in high-income brackets, would be welcomed. Secondly, with regard to the Parenthood Tax Rebate, I also hope that MSF and MOF will extend it to beyond married adoptive parents, to single adoptive parents who are previously recognised as married under Singapore law, or older single close relatives to the adopted child. In conclusion, in the course of my work, my grassroots volunteers and I have met several foster and adoptive parents. For example, there is a pair of grandparents from Kebun Baru, whose daughter, a single mother herself, has passed on. So, this pair of grandparents are striving and doing their best to be adoptive parents to their grandson. They are both in their 60s and 70s. They are both struggling to have full-time jobs, so that they can support their grandson who is also their adopted son. From what I can see, they have no less love for their grandson than any parents out there.”
“Also, foster parents could also tap on our society for resources to help our children, for example, MSF's monthly allowance I spoke about, as well as all the various social safety nets that we have strengthened over the years. But, of course, we can also have a safeguard where MSF's assessment and approval are needed to overcome this criterion. Lastly, I hope that the Government can vest MSF with the power to recommend to the Family Justice Court, when necessary, legal guardianship for a selected group of foster parents. We all know that family dynamics can be complicated in cases where fostering is needed. Sometimes, it would be wise if the foster parents, especially relatives of the foster children, could get legal guardianship. Currently, it costs six to nine months and $5,000 to $7,000 of legal fees to achieve that, which could be a burden to some foster parents. So, if MSF is empowered to recommend legal guardianship as needed, we can cut out unnecessary costs. Next, I would like to talk about easing the financial burden on adoptive parents. Let me share on the state of adoption today. There is less adoption than it used to be. In 2014, 352 children were adopted, which is a sharp drop from 732 a decade ago. The number of adoption agencies has also gone down by half. For Singaporeans who embark on the adoption process, it is a costly process. Why? Well, there are not many children available for adoption locally, as many unwanted pregnancies have resulted in abortions. So, many potential adoptive parents have to look at adopting from overseas, especially if they want someone who can fit well into their family circumstances. However, internationally, many countries are strengthening their adoption guidelines, and understandably so.”
“Today, more than 5,000 children have benefited from MSF's Foster Parents Scheme. But against MSF's current target of 500, we only have around 300 foster children and 250 foster parents. So, there is still some way to go in Page: 57 achieving MSF's goal. The existing MSF criteria are: one, resident of Singapore, at least 25 years; two, medically fit to care for children; three, household income of at least $2,000 a month; four, preferably married couples; and five, preferably experienced in caring and living with children. I understand that there is also a monthly allowance per foster child, with more support for a child with special needs. To strengthen foster parenting in Singapore, I hope that the Government can provide foster parents with similar rights as adoptive parents with regard to leave. Specifically, I hope that foster parents can benefit from childcare and extended childcare leave, adoption leave, shared parenthood leave and unpaid infant-care leave. Why? Because foster parents have parenting duties, just like other parents, and many of them struggle to do so. Therefore, such leave will go some way to help them out. In addition, to enlarge the pool of foster parents, I hope MSF can relax its income criterion of at least $2,000 per month, especially for relatives, such as grandparents, uncles and aunties. The logic behind the income criterion is understandable. However, there are retirees who have assets but no income who could provide excellent fostering care. Some of these could be relatives who have a deep love for their foster children.”
“Mdm Speaker, I stand in support of the Bill. There is a beautiful saying about motherhood: "Being a mother is like having a piece of your heart running outside of you". Most of us have experienced such love. And I would go further to say that such love extends to both parents and, frequently, to our extended family as well. Our society recognises the value of these bonds through our policies. The CDCA Bill is a solid step to further support parenthood in Singapore. Our parents welcome the additional maternity leave, for it affords them more precious moments with their new-born child. Both our unwed mothers and adoptive parents also welcome the increase in maternity leave. Taken together, it signifies a further step in making our society inclusive and it also signifies that every Singaporean child is precious. So, there is much to celebrate with the passage of this Bill. Today, I would like to speak about two other groups which can benefit more from support. One, foster parents, especially those who are related to the children. Two, adoptive parents who have tried unsuccessfully to have children. Taken together, families from these two groups may not be large. But they, too, are part of this society, and the children from these families, too, are precious. They deserve our full support. Historically, foster and adoptive parenthood has been well-accepted in our society, especially in post-war Singapore. While this number has diminished in our society, many of us know elderly relatives who have been fostered or adopted. Foster and adoptive parenthood is, therefore, an accepted part of our societal fabric. I, therefore, believe we can do more to strengthen support in these areas. Let me start by talking about fostering in Singapore.”
“For example, if you are taking a ride from Uber or finding someone to do electrical work or plumbing on ServisHero, the consumer does not ask about the age or unrelated disabilities of the person providing the service. What matters is whether they get good reviews. Already, from what I know, Uber has some hearing-challenged drivers and they are using technology to overcome the communication barriers between them and their passengers. At the same time, the sharing economy provides choices if our people do not want to or cannot work full time. They can make use of opportunities that the sharing economy affords. While such job opportunities in the sharing economy are largely service-related, over time, the opportunities created could be more diverse. We should note that the sharing economy is usually conducted via online platforms. Many mature workers or workers with disabilities may not be familiar with such technology. SkillsFuture could roll out training courses to teach them how to make use of these online platforms so that they can manage their reviews online and offer better services. Page: 60 Of course, there are mature and disabled workers who still need full-time jobs. However, the sharing economy can play an important complementary role. Together with the SkillsFuture courses, they can provide a stepping stone towards ideal jobs for the workers. I believe that dreams cannot be just castles in the air. We must have the knowledge, skills and determination to make them come true. So, I support this Bill.”
“We also need to incorporate such future-oriented skillsets into our curriculum. I hope that SkillsFuture can provide insights into how our children can come into contact with various new areas. Secondly, we should also take reference from industry transformation maps. The Government has mapped out industry transformation maps for certain industries. SkillsFuture needs to align itself with the maps and support Singaporeans to develop mastery that the market needs. But this step will probably take some time. So, I hope that our public can give the SkillsFuture agency more time to work hand in hand with our economic and manpower agencies so that we can get our plans right as much as possible. I would also like to raise one particular issue. I discovered that the sharing economy can bring many opportunities for mature and disabled workers. I hope that SkillsFuture and WSG can look into this. We all know that many mature and disabled workers feel very apprehensive about the future. Our Government has done a lot in this area by co-paying the salaries of mature workers and disabled workers, and by raising the age of re-employment from 65 to 67 to encourage employers to re-employ these workers. Despite that, some employers still do not want to risk hiring mature workers, especially when these workers do not have the relevant work experience. Many mature and disabled workers I talk to do not even get the chance to get interviewed. I believe the sharing economy can be the light at the end of the tunnel for them because, for consumers, the risk they undertake when they parcel out a one-off job is far smaller.”
“Mdm Speaker, please allow to make the speech in Mandarin. (In Mandarin): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] Mdm Speaker, as Acting Minister Ong Ye Kung once said in this House, "Our children are growing up in a new world, striking paths into a Singapore that is more inclusive, all-embracing, and a place where we can celebrate diverse talents and gifts. Education must be at the heart of this journey, guiding them in purpose, equipping them with skills and helping them seize the opportunities of their age." I could not agree more with the vision Acting Minister Ong has set out. We need to support Singaporeans to find and pursue all kinds of dreams. This is vastly different from a traditional education system. So, SkillsFuture Singapore will have to change mindsets at the national level. This is a very important mandate that cannot be achieved overnight. I have two suggestions here. Firstly, we should allow children to try out different areas from a young age. As Acting Minister Ong once said, the Government has the duty to understand global trends and to signal to the people what are the areas to pursue. Page: 59 I am confident that the SkillsFuture agency will be able to effectively spot the trends and include them in the course mix. While we do so, I hope our educational system in the upstream can also take in future-oriented skillsets and let our children learn them early. For example, we all know that programming, learning to deal with machine learning and artificial Intelligence are all important. The rest of the world are not standing still. Malaysia will start incorporating computational thinking skills and computer science into their primary and secondary school syllabuses next year.”
“Mr Chairman, I would like to touch on the Singapore Roadmap for Corporate Giving. Many of us would agree that Singaporeans are a generous people. I would also like to add that many business owners and corporations I have come across have a heart to give. There is, of course, more we can do to make Singapore an even more caring and inclusive society. So, I am heartened to hear that MCCY and the National Volunteer and Philanthropy Centre (NVPC) started developing a Singapore Roadmap for Corporate Giving. Such a roadmap will provide much needed clarity to employers, employees and voluntary welfare organisations. Can I ask MCCY on the status of this development? How will it help companies, including small and medium enterprises (SMEs), to do more to encourage employer-organised volunteerism? I look forward to inputs from MCCY. Recognising SMEs' Volunteering Efforts”
“Mr Chairman, first of all, I would like to echo Er Dr Lee's sentiments. I would like to file a cut on sports for life. I think we can all agree that sports are important. Sports keep us fit and bring our people together. Sports are also fun and helps us to relax after a long day. But we also live in a fast-paced society. And when we start work, start a family and embark on other transition points in life, it is not easy for us to continue our passion for sports because of life's many demands. Moving forward, it will be good if MCCY and SportSG can finetune our programmes to ensure a continuum of quality opportunities for Singaporeans to participate more actively in sports. I look forward to hearing from MCCY about the latest developments in these areas. National Youth Sports Institute – Developing Future Sportsmen”
“I thank the Minister and his colleagues for sharing with us MOT's vision for the future. Transportation is very challenging and we appreciate MOT's hard work. I would like to talk about the issue of motorcycle COEs today. Motorcycle COE prices have increased significantly since 2014, even though our COEs for cars have largely stayed the same in terms of pricing. Many motorcyclists in my constituency shared with me that in times of peak congestion, for example, at traffic light junctions, motorcyclists in Singapore ride in between cars. If so, this means that motorcycles could lead to a smaller impact on peak congestions than many of us previously assumed. Since we are re-evaluating our overall traffic pricing model with the upcoming satellite ERP system, can we consider increasing COEs for motorcycles by perhaps 5% to 15%? This could decrease the motorcycle COE prices considerably, without increasing the impact on congestions significantly. I look forward to hearing MOT's view on this matter. COEs for Commercial Vehicles”
“Chairman, I would like to make a cut on potential adjustments to rental prices. I am happy to hear that the Government stands ready to act if the economy continues to slow down. Moving forward, should our domestic economy worsen considerably to warrant an off-Budget measure, and should our market rentals not adjust accordingly, would the Government consider taking the lead in reducing business costs by lowering JTC and HDB industrial and commercial property rental rates? Such a move could accelerate the rental adjustments to a more sustainable long-run equilibrium. Consumer Issues”
“Mdm Chair, thank you for letting me take the two cuts together. My first cut is on the Industry Transformation Programme. The Ministry of Finance (MOF) has announced the Industry Transformation Programme. As I have mentioned in my Budget speech, this is a bold and necessary move, one that will take Singapore into the next phase of economic development. For the public's benefits, can MTI share how this new approach is different from the current approach and how our sectors and companies will benefit? Strengthening our Startup Ecosystem During the recent debate on the President's Address, I shared my concerns that we must strengthen our startup ecosystem. Our outward-facing mainstream economy is facing intense global competition and we must quickly transit into the future economy as startups play an increasingly prominent role. What is the progress of the Government's efforts to develop a startup ecosystem and does the Government plan to do more to support the growth of startups in Singapore? I look forward to hearing MTI's views on this matter. Startups”
“Three, this Budget continues the Government's efforts to encourage companies to hire older Singaporeans as they re-skill. Four, this Budget helps provide a lifeline for many Singaporeans involved in private sector construction. Having smaller Government construction projects means giving Singaporean main contractors, many of whom are of mid-size and doing private sector work, a fighting chance to win much-needed Government contracts. The effect will be felt all the way down to numerous Singaporean sub-contractors and Singaporean workers. It is a cost-effective way to pump-prime our economy and to help Singaporeans at the same time. I have raised this idea several times during consultation sessions, and I am very heartened to know that the Government is acting immediately on this issue. The sum total of our 2016 Budget policies related to the Singaporean worker is that even as we restructure, even as sectors and companies rise and fall, the Government will make sure that Singaporeans are looked after. This is a principle worth supporting. Last of all, I concur with the Government's effort to build shared experiences among Singaporeans: by getting every Singaporean youth to go through Outward Bound School; by getting more people to visit the National Gallery; by encouraging Singaporeans to come together and adopt ground-up initiatives under the Our SG fund; and by encouraging companies to get their employees to do more for our society. All these will deepen our people's sense of identity and strengthen our unity. In conclusion, the Finance Minister spoke about the Singapore Story. This Budget will help us write the next chapter together. With that, I support the Motion. 4.56 pm”
“Yesterday and today, in this Chamber, we heard several ideas on how we must measure how we spend on our economy carefully. I believe we have to strike a good balance. The risk of over-measurement in the name of accountability is that we will move too slowly and too cautiously. Especially for the future economy, we must move decisively but be prepared to make quick adjustments when circumstances change or when better methods emerge. I agree with the Finance Minister's view that there is no "rulebook" for us at this stage of development. I would also like to add: "time is short; let us get to work". Another reason why I support this Budget is because it helps Singaporeans through restructuring, and the slowing economy. It does so in at least four ways. One, this Budget continues to help us evolve to a skills-based economy. Many enterprising business leaders I have met understand the importance of skills. Our SkillsFuture movement, coupled with industry collaborations such as TechSkills Accelerators, is closely watched by many, and they have high hopes for it. The Government must deliver. At the same time, I hope that more of our companies will hire based on skills, especially workers being re-skilled. Taking re-skilled workers on board makes good business sense because companies get to hire employees who are committed to success, committed to staying relevant and committed to change. Two, this Budget strikes a fine balance between companies and the Singaporean worker. In this slowdown, the rise in most types of workers' levies is tough for businesses to bear, but it helps level the playing field for Singaporeans. It reinforces the message that Singaporeans must form the core of our workforce and our economy.”
“I hope that HDB, the National Environmental Agency (NEA) and even Town Councils, as major regulators of our heartlands, can partner with SPRING Singapore and the Federation of Merchants' Associations of Singapore, to drive this important effort. As someone familiar with both business and economic development, it is clear to me that the Industry Transformation Programme is groundbreaking. It is ground-breaking because we are realigning and networking ourselves in an unprecedented way to support our economy. In this new way forward, our economic agencies will have to work much closer with our non-economic Government agencies. Our research sector will have to work much closer with our companies. Our Government will have to work much closer with our industry. This may not sound significant, but increasing the intensity of the partnership and working as one Team Singapore, will strengthen our odds for success in an exponential manner. It is also groundbreaking because the Government will provide much needed industry leadership to sectors which usually lack clear and holistic Government direction, such as the F&B and retail sectors. In addition, the civil service will also develop a deeper knowledge in these sectors. Over time, the knowledge gained can help us best evolve Government regulations and programmes in safety and health, manpower and labour, education and SkillsFuture. This could go far to address concerns from the businesses about excessive regulations. But all these efforts will not be easy. In fact, the Industry Transformation Programme is the difficult way forward. But it is also the right way forward. We must be prepared to give the programme ample time to take effect, and for us to get the formula right. We must be prepared for both success and failure.”
“Three, our robotics initiative helps our SMEs get ahead of the curve, to be active disruptors, rather than passive bystanders in the coming era of robots and machines. And some people I talked to are excited to see that we are using robotics not just to build our economy but also to improve Singaporeans' lives. An example would be our hospitals. What more can we do to improve the transformation programme? I want to touch on four ideas, and I hope they can be considered. First, I hope SG Innovation can work hand-in-glove with the JID, so that the ideas born in the former have a fair chance to be realised in the latter. As Singapore invents the future in areas of urban planning, digital health, smart nations, and advanced manufacturing, we can and we must bring our startups along on this journey. Second, LEAD-Plus is a good start. But once we achieve a few quick wins, I hope we can extend to more sectors, even to those without strong trade associations and chambers. Given how critical and urgent our restructuring efforts are, the Government must come in and provide strong leadership. We cannot leave it to chance. Third, the National Trade Platform is a step in the right direction for the Government to drive productivity. As we come up with the Industry Transformation Maps (ITMs) for different sectors, we should pinpoint the inefficiencies and come up with solutions. What matters is not whether the inefficiency comes from the industry or from the Government. What matters is that the Government and industry come together to solve these inefficiencies. Fourth, the Government can consider developing an ITM for the HDB retail sector as well. They face different challenges compared to the rest of the retail sector.”
“One, they are too small to implement major productivity efforts within their own companies. Two, our SMEs generally find it difficult to understand and tap onto the many Government incentives. Three, our Government can do more to improve on internal Government processes, to benefit our companies. Therefore, the Industry Transformation Programme is a strong start to address these concerns. First, the programme strengthens our trade associations and chambers as the voice of their industries, so that they can best represent diverse views, and be strong partners to the Government. Second, the business grant portal improves SMEs' access to Government assistance, so that SMEs can focus on getting the help they need, rather than on figuring out who to get help from. Third, the National Trade Platform helps our trade sector cut through unnecessary red tape. This is an excellent example of how the Government can actively spark productivity growth. Mdm Speaker, this Budget also builds on the future economy. It addresses many of the concerns of high-technology start-ups, some of which I raised during the debate on the President's Address. One, the $4 billon R&D funding for industry research collaboration is a big step to push the best ideas out of the labs and into the marketplace. Because when it comes to innovation, what matters is not just the ideas but the circulation and popularisation of the ideas as well. Two, Jurong Innovation District (JID) is a strong move to strengthen our start-up eco-system. It creates an innovative sandbox to test-bed and integrate technologies in areas where Singapore can boldly invent the future.”