Lee Boon Yang
Singapore
“6 The other guidelines are that there must be a post office sited within 5 km of every private residential estate and within 1 km of any commercial or industrial estate. MAID LEVY CONCESSION (Applications by the disabled) 32.”
“Madam, can I quickly respond to the point on assistive technology? Certainly this is an area of interest. We cannot say that we have the capability at this juncture but we will certainly look into what is possible and work with our ICT sector.”
“Nevertheless, if the spouse of the homemaker is working, he will be eligible for WIS if he satisfies the criteria. Husbands of homemakers are further eligible for tax relief.”
“Sir, I do not think it is quite correct to say that we always expect our own artists to perform for free or do public service. There are, of course, occasions where we do seek Singapore artists and arts companies to contribute to the national causes. For instance, when we went international for Singapore Season in China.”
“Ms Sylvia Lim asked the Minister for National Development (a) what checks does the Ministry or the National Environment Agency have in place to prevent mistaken payments to hawkers who cease operations due to upgrading works at hawker centers; (b) how did the mistaken payment of $18,000 to Mdm Lee Ah Muey come about; and (c) what will the…”
“While it was also true that initially the reaction or the response of the licensing authority was that foreigners should not participate in such an event at the Speakers' Corner - because there is already an existing prohibition against any foreigners taking part in any activities at the Speakers' Corner - subsequent assessment resulted i…”
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“But we certainly should not shut our minds to these technologies or the potential that they offer to us just because there is a possibility of abuse. We have to strike a right balance between facilitating the adoption of new technologies and also protecting personal data and protecting personal privacy. As for unlawful or unauthorised surveillance by the use of technologies, we already have adequate safeguards in the Penal Code against such action or misconduct. However, we should also recognise that this is not purely a technology issue alone or that it is entirely a legal question that can be solved just by law alone. We have to understand that besides introducing a suitable regulatory framework and also raising the awareness on the use of technologies, we also have to continue with consumer education, so that all Singaporeans are more aware of the risks and that they are better prepared on how they themselves can help to prevent exploitation of their personal data. Sir, the Inter-Ministry Committee tasked to study this matter will take a comprehensive and holistic approach in developing the appropriate personal data protection framework for Singapore. As Prof. Chin noted, I have indicated in Parliament that the Committee will complete its study and make its recommendations by the middle of this year, and I expect it to be able to meet this target so that we can then proceed with the appropriate model that can be used to ensure that there is a proper protection of personal data in Singapore. The Arts”
“It was launched in the year 2000. It set out to harness infocomm technologies to boost our national competitiveness and improve Singaporeans' quality of life. At its heart, the Infocomm 21 roadmap aimed to develop Singapore into a vibrant and dynamic global infocomm capital with a thriving and prosperous e-economy and an infocomm-savvy e-society. I would say that we have met this target. The way international agencies and consulting companies have ranked Singapore highly in infocomm, whether on IT or e-government, indicates that we have achieved the targets that we set for ourselves in the year 2000 with Infocomm 21. To realise the Infocomm 21 vision, the Government had, at that time, set aside $300 million. As of now, I think about 95% of the budget had been disbursed or is already committed. The remaining amount, which had been set aside to help fund the multi-year National Infocomm Scholarships, is expected to be fully committed by FY2008. Prof. Chin Tet Yung asked about data protection. I agree with him that we must take a comprehensive and a holistic approach. As he noted, on 13th February this year, I informed the House that the Government is already reviewing Singapore's data protection regime and assessing the suitability of the various data protection models. I would like to reassure the House that the Government recognises the importance and impact of data protection on Singaporeans. We cannot shut out new technologies. We cannot deny our entrepreneurs and our industries the use of new technologies, including technologies such as RID, which Prof. Chin mentioned. Yes, some of these technologies can be abused. Some of them can be misused.”
“I am afraid I would not be able to regale Members with horror stories because I think such stories are probably very few and far in between. That is a good sign. He wants to know whether we have a good IT governance framework and how can Government ensure value for money out of IT investments, both for public and private sectors. Sir, the Government has developed, over time, an extensive and comprehensive framework for IT governance. For example, the Public Sector Integrated Governance Framework (IGF) has been developed to guide all our agencies in the planning, investment, deployment and control of IT within the public sector. Our public agencies have also established internal Project Approval and Project Review Frameworks, with stringent checks to ensure that IT projects are indeed value for money investments. Ongoing projects are reviewed regularly to ensure that targets are, in fact, achieved, and that there should be no horror stories to tell. Sir, in the private sector, professional groups, such as the Singapore Computer Society and the IT Management Association, contribute to raising the level of IT competencies and proliferating best practices amongst the IT professionals. At the corporate level, the Council for Corporate Disclosure and Governance (CCDG) provides guidance on corporate governance, which encompasses accountability and decision making on IT investment. So, on the whole, I can assure Dr Ong that our IT investments are well guided, well motivated and, certainly, bring about the results and achieved the targets that they set out to do. Mr Loh Meng See sought clarification on our Infocomm 21 roadmap. He wanted to know how and what we have spent on this. Infocomm 21 was a strategic plan to take infocomm to the next level.”
“So our companies are not sitting around just making old products and selling what they have been doing so for the past 10 years. They are exploring, researching and developing new products, new ideas, and this will put them at the cutting edge. IDA will work closely with A*STAR and its research institutes to identify promising areas for infocomm research and to support critical and innovative R&D projects. Dr Tan Boon Wan and Dr Tan Sze Wee have asked what are the measures to deepen Internet access, and what are our new targets for broadband penetration. Sir, as I said earlier on, today, about three out of every four households have computers - 74% of households have computers - with 52% of them already connected via broadband. With lower computer prices, even more families should be able to afford computers. For the low-income families, IDA has a special programme. It is called Neu-PC programme. This programme offers subsidised PCs, not just the PC alone but it comes with a one-year Internet access package to help them bridge the digital divide. Since November 1999, 19,000 needy families have benefited from this Neu-PC scheme. We will continue to help such needy families so that they and, in particular, their children will not miss the new digital opportunities. Increasing competition in the broadband market has also brought prices down by as much as 70% for unlimited access plans since 2001. This has led to an increased take-up rate. The Next Generation National Infocomm Infrastructure with the National Broadband Network will boost broadband penetration. I think a penetration rate of 85% is certainly possible by the year 2015. Dr Ong Seh Hong would like to know whether we have invested wisely in IT. I think he was concerned whether there are any horror stories.”
“Sir, I will now address the specific questions of hon. Members. Mr Zainudin asked if the new Broadband Network would cause inconveniences to the public and whether IDA would pioneer R&D in infocomm or in the IT area. While there may be some inconvenience, the benefits are well worth the trouble. Nevertheless, we will try our very best to minimise disruptions by coordinating roll out, where possible, with the deployment of the new estate upgrading programmes and new developments. Where there are new developments, we will try to coordinate our network roll out with the new developments. Where there are estate upgrade programmes, we will also coordinate with them. So we try to minimise the inconvenience. In the existing housing areas, we will try out innovative construction techniques such as micro-trenching and surface ducting, so that this can minimise disruption and also, at the same time, help to reduce cost. As for pioneering research and development (R&D) in infocomm, I agree that it is very important for us to create more proprietary intellectual properties among our infocomm companies. It is through such creation of intellectual property that we can give a competitive edge and also enhance the scope for our infocomm companies. For example, I just want to mention a local company, Trek 2000 International. This is a Singapore company which pioneered the very popular thumb drive which most people carry around with them these days. Today it is reaping the benefit of their R&D investment. I am glad to say that I met the Managing Director of Trek 2000 recently at the IT leaders' award ceremony, and he said that there are many more ideas that they are working on. They have many more intellectual properties that they are able to exploit.”
“Sir, the development of a ubiquitous ultra-high speed wired National Broadband Network and a pervasive wireless network will transform Singapore into a "Totally connected, wired and wireless" Island. This will put Singapore firmly in the lead among competing countries such as South Korea, Japan and China that have also embarked on providing advanced broadband infrastructures. In addition to next generation infrastructure, the availability of skilled infocomm manpower is also critical for Singapore to maintain our competitive advantage. Another focus under iN2015 is training of infocomm professionals with strong technical expertise in emerging and critical infocomm areas, as well as business domain knowledge such as in finance, healthcare, education and e-government. IDA has already allocated $120 million for its Manpower Development Roadmap which was launched in November last year to train more infocomm professionals in key target areas. I am pleased to inform this House that IDA will expand the National Infocomm Scholarship Scheme to attract and groom more talent. An additional $30 million will be allocated to fund 100 more scholarships in the next five years. The enhanced National Infocomm Scholarship Scheme will offer opportunities for study in overseas universities, as well as programmes jointly conducted by overseas and local universities. Sir, the scope of iN2015 plan is not limited to infrastructure and human resource development. It will include many other exciting initiatives in interactive and digital media, education, financial services, healthcare, manufacturing and logistics, and tourism. It will guide IDA's strategies and programmes to develop our infocomm enterprises. The iN2015 Infocomm Masterplan will be finalised and announced in June 2006.”
“The inputs from the Request for Concept will form the basis for a definitive Request for Proposal from private sector participants. IDA expects this Request for Proposal to be ready by the middle of this year. I encourage all interested parties, including existing telecom licensees, to respond to our initial Request for Concept. Sir, the second component of our Next-Generation National Infocomm Infrastructure is a pervasive nation-wide wireless network to complement the National Broadband Network for broadband access on the go, for people who are moving about. Singaporeans are already familiar with the many Wi-Fi hotspots scattered throughout Singapore. For example, in the McDonald's outlets, I understand they have Wi-Fi there. IDA will help the industry to accelerate the deployment and take-up of similar wireless broadband networks so that consumers, working professionals, businessmen and tourists can enjoy broadband connectivity away from office or home. 12.30 pm IDA's Wireless Broadband Market Development Programme will support wireless Internet service providers to deploy mesh Wi-Fi and Wi-Max networks nationally for pervasive indoor and outdoor coverage in key catchment areas, such as in the Central Business District, Orchard Road area and in the new developments like One-North. The goal is to facilitate commercial wireless access at highly affordable rates in the initial years. IDA will help operators to deploy a more integrated wireless broadband network across different platforms and provide innovative content on their networks to attract more users. Details will be contained in a Call for Collaboration to be issued by the end of March with commercial services by third quarter this year.”
“Workers, entrepreneurs, teachers, students, researchers, housewives, retirees and many others will be able to enjoy ultra high speed connectivity and access. Singaporeans will be able to use the latest in infocomm and media technologies seamlessly, whether they are in the office, in school or at home. For example, some healthcare and education services and information can be delivered remotely. Working parents will also find teleworking becoming more practical. People with loved ones studying or working overseas can enjoy immersive video-calls to bring families and friends closer together. Home entertainment will take on totally new forms such as high definition Internet protocol TV, IPTV or video-on-demand. The new network will change the way we work, live and learn. It will sharpen our business efficiency and spark off many new opportunities for entrepreneurs. Sir, the new network will be open-access and carrier-neutral, in other words, it will be open to all service providers so that they can reach out to connected consumers. This will lower the entry barrier for service providers and cost to consumers. As the National Broadband Network will be a key infocomm infrastructure, the Government will work with the private sector to build a network that is future-proof, cost-effective and which minimises technological risk. We will use a public-private partnership model to develop this National Broadband Network. The Government is prepared to consider some funding to kick-start the project and to ensure that this ultra high-speed network will be viable, affordable and sustainable over the longer term. The Infocomm Development Authority (IDA) will issue a Request for Concept within a month to seek ideas and suggestions from the industry for the National Broadband Network.”
“This is a 10-year master plan to transform Singapore into an intelligent nation and global city, powered by Infocomm. We envisage pervasive deployment of intelligent digital technologies to enhance our economic competitiveness, exploit new opportunities and transform life in every possible way. Let me elaborate on two key aspects of the iN2015 Masterplan, namely, infocomm infrastructure and manpower development. Sir, after careful study, we have concluded that a Next Generation National Infocomm Infrastructure (NII) is a strategic enabler for Singapore's economic restructuring and competitiveness. A Next Generation NII is critical to transform Singapore into an innovative and creative economy. This infrastructure has two components: an ultra high-speed National Broadband Network; and a pervasive wireless broadband network. First, on the ultra high-speed National Broadband Network. Today, a high-speed broadband network is an essential infrastructure for economic development, investment and talent attraction, education and a whole host of other activities. Singapore One, the existing broadband infrastructure, has served us well over the last decade. But it is unlikely to be able to meet the expected surge in data and connectivity demand in the next five to eight years' time. In order to exploit new possibilities, capture new business opportunities and maintain our regional infocomm hub status, the Government will catalyse the development of a Next Generation National Broadband Network. The network will offer ultra-high speed access, starting from 100 Mbps to more than 1 Gbps - 1 gigabit is 1,000 megabits. This network will connect all homes, schools and businesses, including those in the HDB heartland and in private developments.”
“Hence, higher-value areas such as infocomm research and development, digital media, infocomm consultancy and project management and enterprise systems and integration were the biggest value and job creators. Infocomm is, today, one of our strategic advantages. Our standing in international competitiveness rankings reflected this. The World Economic Forum 2005 Global IT report placed Singapore at the top of 104 countries in infocomm deployment. Today, we have one of the highest Internet penetration rates in the world. Dr Tan Boon Wan asked what is our household PC penetration rate. About three-quarters of our households already have computers and 66% of our households enjoy Internet access, with 52% of them accessing the Internet via broadband. All Government schools enjoy broadband access. Three out of four companies use the Internet for their business activities, in one way or another, and most of them do so via broadband. Sir, our early adoption of infocomm had given us a headstart and brought us tremendous benefits over the past 25 years. However, many countries, such as Korea, China, Japan, Thailand and Malaysia, also recognise the importance of infocomm as a competitive advantage. They are also making aggressive investments to enhance their infocomm infrastructures and capabilities. So we cannot afford to take it easy just because our infocomm sector has done well. Just because we have a Singapore One that has served us well over the last decade or so, it does not mean that we can relax and take it easy. If we do so, we are going to be overtaken. Sir, our strategic response to these new challenges is the Intelligent Nation 2015 or iN2015 Infocomm Masterplan.”
“Mr Chairman, I would like to, first of all, thank hon. Members for the comments, support and also their queries on MICA's plans for the infocomm sector. In response to Mr Seng Han Thong who raised the question about our plans for developing the infocomm sector and also asked for a review of what we have achieved so far, I would like to, first of all, outline MICA's strategies to transform Singapore into an intelligent nation and to sharpen Singapore's competitive edge. I will then respond to the specific queries from the other hon. Members later on. Sir, in 1981, Singapore launched the first National Computerisation Plan. This year, we celebrate 25 years of infocomm development. In the past 25 years, we have successfully exploited infocomm for economic growth and job creation. Last year, the infocomm sector's estimated growth was between 6%-8%, generating about $37 billion in revenue. Employment in the sector - employment is something which Mr Seng was interested in - had increased from 108,000 in 2004 to 110,400 last year. Demand for infocomm manpower has strengthened with 3,000 more jobs expected to be created this year. Indeed, there were about 5,700 job vacancies in the infocomm sector last year, which is more than double the 2,100 vacancies the year before, in 2004. Sir, this is a healthy sign of demand for infocomm workers. It shows that employment in this sector is continuing to grow, offering highly rewarding and fulfilling jobs for infocomm professionals and specialists. Sir, the infocomm sector has, indeed, done very well in recent years. It has also moved up the value-chain as our companies in Singapore become more innovative.”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, I beg to report that the Committee of Supply has made further progress on the Estimates of Expenditure for the financial year 2006/2007, and ask leave to sit again tomorrow.”
“Mr Chairman, Sir, may I seek your consent and the general assent of hon. Members to move that progress be reported now and leave be asked to sit again tomorrow.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, the Member's personal experience does not nullify my point, which is that there is a whole range of service packages available. It is up to you to choose. If you want a daily package, some companies will offer you a daily package. If you want a monthly package, they will do so. If you want a monthly package for one year, two or three years, they will offer it to you. So it is up to you to decide which one you want.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, with regard to the next generation infocomm infrastructure, which the Prime Minister announced in his Budget Statement, I seek the Member's patience. As the Prime Minister has said, the details will be announced during the Committee of Supply. On his other point about consumers being tied down to the various packages, I do not think that is an accurate reflection. Today, there are many different packages being offered by Internet service providers. The consumers have a wide range of choices. It is really up to them to choose a package that they feel is appropriate or suitable for their needs. Today, we have dial-up packages that go for as low as only $5.20 per month. And for broadband, we have packages that are as low as $19.90 per month, with limits to the data that can be accessed or downloaded. There are also daily plans going for as low as below $3 a day. In fact, the consumers do have a range of choices. Each comes with its own terms and conditions. So the Member cannot say that consumers are tied down. Having decided to adopt a particular plan, you go along with the conditions that you have agreed to. But it is not as if all service providers (or ISPs) are providing only fixed plans, minimum three or five years. There is a whole range of options available to Internet users and it is really up to them to choose the plan that is most appropriate to their requirements and needs.”
“Process-wise, we cannot assume that every Singaporean will diligently access the Government issued email accounts to maintain direct communications with the Government agencies, such as the IRAS or CPF. This means that the Government will still need to continue with its current efforts to communicate with Singaporeans through a variety of media and also private communication channels. Hence, while email communication may be instantaneous and technically efficient, in practice, taking such an approach may not significantly affect public communications between the Government and the people. Nevertheless, Government will continue to evaluate the various ways through which we can communicate more effectively with Singaporeans, taking into consideration practicality, cost effectiveness and customers' usage patterns and preferences.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, Singapore already has one of the highest Internet access and infocomm savvy population in the world. The Infocomm Development Authority's latest Annual Survey of Infocomm Usage in Households and by Individuals shows that 66% of households enjoy Internet access. Over three-quarters of companies made use of the Internet. Singaporeans are Internet-savvy and sophisticated in our Internet usage with 61% of Singapore's resident population aged 15 years and above using the Internet regularly. Email is the top Internet application used. About 94% surveyed said that they used email. This means that a high percentage of our people already have an existing email account. Of these accounts, some may be personal paid accounts offered by access service providers such as SingNet or Pacific Internet, personal free accounts obtained from providers such as Google and Yahoo, or accounts issued by MINDEF, schools and their employers. In fact, many Singaporeans have more than one email account. Does the Government need to compete against existing service providers in issuing and maintaining email accounts for every Singaporean? To do so, the Government will need to expend additional resources in hardware, software and manpower. The case supporting the potential benefit from such free email accounts is not strong. From focus group discussions conducted by IDA, individuals have generally expressed their preference to use their existing personal email accounts rather than a new Government-issued email account. This could be because many people already have a problem managing multiple accounts for both personal use and their work.”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, may I seek your consent and the general assent of hon. Members present to move that the debate be now adjourned?”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, if somebody has a TV receiver at home, it is extremely difficult for him to declare that he does not turn to the free-to-air channels, whether it is Channel 5, 8, Vasantham Central or Arts Central, and to waive the licence fee. As long as he possesses a TV receiver that is capable of receiving free-to-air television broadcast or television signal broadcast through the cable system, it is reasonable to expect that he should contribute to this cost of supporting the programmes that are commercially not viable to broadcast in the greater interest of society's needs. NATIONAL KIDNEY FOUNDATION SAGA (Clarification of KPMG's comments) 4. Mr Steve Chia Kiah Hong asked the Minister for Health (a) if he can clarify his public comments that the Government accepts KPMG's sharp comments on the regulators in respect of the NKF saga; and (b) whether some Government officials will be dismissed, charged or reprimanded for their failings.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, as I have said, about 8% of the Public Service Broadcast fund goes towards supporting foreign movies and dramas, particularly those on minority channels where these movies are not commercially viable, in other words, they cannot attract sufficient advertisers to pay for the cost of screening these movies. So about 8% of PSB fund goes towards supporting these programmes. With regard to those who are subscribers of Cable Vision, they are also able to receive through Cable Vision free-to-air channels. Therefore, they should also pay their TV licence fees like other viewers who are also watching free-to-air television channels through broadcast reception.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, we will certainly convey the hon. Member's sentiments to the Official Assignee, and I am sure the Official Assignee will take into consideration the concerns about protection of personal information. With regard to the regulatory framework, we will certainly look at various options. It is quite consistent with our approach in terms of regulating such matters to adopt a technology-neutral approach. IMF AND WORLD BANK GROUP MEETINGS IN SINGAPORE (Use of green vehicles) 4. Dr Geh Min asked the Prime Minister and Minister for Finance, in view of reports that an estimated 1,200 cars are needed for the International Monetary Fund and World Bank Group meetings in Singapore, (a) why are the organisers only considering luxury cars with high energy consumption rather than more energy efficient green vehicles; and (b) with dealers having to import cars which will subsequently be resold, whether this will be a good opportunity to promote the use of more green vehicles in Singapore.”
“I understand that the media have generally been very cooperative and they have not published the full NRIC numbers. They have only published a part of it, maybe the first three or four digits, just to facilitate identification. So, it shows that our media in Singapore are generally very responsive. If there is in fact a real problem, they will certainly initiate the measures to address this concern. Even though there is no specific law at the moment that will compel them to do so, they have shown to be helpful in many ways.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, as I said, we do not have a formal mechanism or formal legislative framework specifically for the protection of privacy of personal information. Whether we comply with the European Union standards or not should be viewed in the context of our laws. I think one study showed that about 100 different Acts already have some provisions dealing with the protection of personal information or data. I would say that, as of now, we have not experienced any difficulty with regard to outsourcing or call centre business purely as a result of our lack of a specific law to deal with protection of personal information. On whether this inter-ministerial sub-committee on data protection's terms of reference would include recommending legislation, I would say, yes, that is one of the specific areas that they are looking into. In fact, just last month, members of the inter-ministerial sub-committee on data protection visited two countries. They went to Australia and Canada to study their legislative model, how they implement legal protection for personal information and how it impacts on the economy and the various organisations in the public, private and people sectors. So, it shows you how seriously we are studying this issue and that we will address all the concerns, including the need to have a specific piece of legislation for protection of personal information. Last but not least, is the hon. Member's point on the public's concern with the publication of NRIC numbers. Arising from various expressions of concern on the publication of full NRIC numbers, we have conveyed this concern to the media and reiterated to them that they should, as responsible organisations, play their part to ensure that personal information would not be abused.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I am not going into great details at this juncture. But as I said, we are aware of the potential for abuse and also the beneficial use that technology such as RFID can be applied to. Our committee looking at data protection will certainly study the various aspects and possibilities. In coming out with its recommendations, it would address all these concerns.”
“Ong Soh Khim: Sir, with respect to safeguarding the privacy of personal information like, for example, RFID technology, as the Minister has said, there is a rising trend of manufacturers and businesses using the RFID technique and incorporating such tags into our daily consumer products, and this could be potentially exploited to track and identify an individual. So I would like to ask the Minister if the Government has any plans to introduce legislation in the very near future to protect the information and privacy of consumers in this regard.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, Prof. Png asked whether my Ministry will introduce legislation to safeguard privacy of personal information. The Government recognises the increasing importance and impact of personal information or personal data protection in Singapore. We also recognise the need to protect personal data and prevent the possibility of misuse of personal information or even identity theft. This is especially critical when infocomm technologies can be misused to obtain and distribute personal data, with potentially adverse impact on the individuals concerned. Currently, we have in place strict provisions in our sectoral laws, such as our Banking Act and codes for medical professionals, to protect sensitive financial and health information. However, MICA appreciates the need to take a wider perspective on data protection. We recognise that an effective data protection regime will be an important pillar to develop Singapore's position as a trusted IT-hub. It will also be a critical factor in building trust between consumers and businesses for the adoption of new technologies and services (such as electronic transactions, biometrics and Radio Frequency Identification). MICA, together with IDA, started examining this issue in November 2004. On 26th October 2005, MICA convened an inter-ministry sub-committee under the National Infocomm Security Committee to review Singapore's data protection regime and assess the suitability of various data protection regulatory models. A total of 16 Government agencies, including MTI, MOF, MOH, MHA, MAS and AGC, are represented on this committee. The committee aims to submit its recommendations by the middle of this year. Assoc. Prof.”
“Of course, we also understand that with technology evolving so rapidly, maybe one day it may not be possible for the Government to even regulate access to satellite television content. When that day comes about, we will then review our policy again and see how we deal with the situation. As of now, it is still within our ability to regulate the installation of satellite dishes for direct access to TV broadcast and we will continue to do so for the time being. Column No : 1812 SINGAPORE AS MAIN PORT OF CALL (Competition) 17. Mr Andy Gan Lai Chiang asked the Minister for Transport whether Singapore is still the main port of call despite competition from ports in neighbouring countries.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, my explanation is that we should try to make a distinction. The Internet has grown to become a very pervasive medium, reaching globally to all communities. There are lots of good aspects and there are also a lot of bad aspects of the Internet. But we leave it to people in the privacy of their homes and working on their computers to decide how they want to access this medium and what they want to have delivered to themselves through the Internet. In the case of parents who are concerned with their children's access to the Internet, we have always advised them that when they sign up for Internet access from their households, they shouldsign up for what is called family-friendly access network where the Internet service provider will ensure that their children do not have access to undesirable contents. So there is this element which will enable parents protect their children from the undesirable side of the Internet. Having said that, we concede that there is no way that we could effectively regulate what goes on on the Internet, because that was how the Internet was designed to be beyond most regulation. In terms of content, we have only salutarily blocked access to 100 websites. In fact, a recent study by a group called the Open Network Initiative in the US showed that in Singapore, there is hardly anyobstruction created by the regulator for access to the Internet and that we are truly an open network society. But that does not mean that we should allow the broadcast media to adopt the same approach to broadcast anything directly into the homes of our people. I think that is a totally different matter.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, we do understand that to specify a second pay TV operator should also install a fibre network is not a commercially attractive proposition because the cost is quite high. So we are prepared to examine various alternatives. That is why I mentioned earlier on that we will study the different technological platforms that can enable a second pay TV operator to roll out his service.”
“And the purpose is, of course,exactlywhat the Member is suggesting - introduce competition in the pay TV market so that consumers in Singapore can have more choices and, hopefully, through competition, there will be even a greater variety of content made available to our consumers. Let me assure this House that my Ministry is continuing to examine the possibility of introducing a second TV operator and we will considerall the various technological platforms that are available for a second TV operator to be commercially viable and successful. On the regulation of GPS receivers, I think it is not quite related to TV RO. I believe that GPS receivers are already available in Singapore. Cars are equipped with such GPS devices to help drivers navigate. There are many other applications where GPS receivers are installed. I do not think that they are in the same kettle of fish as satellite TV ROs.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I think we should make a distinction between broadcast and what is available on the Internet. The fact thatSingaporeans have full access to theInternet and through broadband technology they have rapid access to almost any content that is available on the Internet does not mean that we should try to replicate everything that goes onin the Internet in our broadcast environment, which is very much a part of our public arena.The Internet, while it is freely accessible, is still a matter ofindividual choice of which website he wants to access and what services he wants to look for. I think we should not try to replicate everything that is on the Internet in any of our public arena just because people have access to the Internet. On competition, I agree with the Nominated Member of Parliament that we should try as far as possible to have more competition in our pay TV sector. Members will recall that in 2003 when the monopoly for the Singapore Cable Vision's pay TV service came to an end, my Ministry, in fact, issued an invitation for bidders to a second pay TV licence. On hindsight, Mr Speaker, Sir, the timing was not perfect. We had just come through the regional economic downturn compounded by the appearance of SARS in early 2003.The economic scenario was rather bleak at that point in time. So it was not surprising therefore that there were no interested parties bidding for the second pay TV licence. We said at that time when the outcome of the exercise became known that there was no bidder,that we would continue to explore the possibility of introducing a second pay TV operator.”
“The Media Development Authoritywill continue to work towards a regulatory environment that ensures a wider choice of TV content and range of broadcast platforms available in Singapore. But this must be guided by the need to remain vigilant and steadfast in our duty to safeguard the racial and religious harmony of our society. Until we can fully and viably address the potentially adverse social effects of allowing households to install satellite dishes, we will have to continue to disallow satellite dishes to be installed in our homes.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, the satellite TV policy has been debated several times in this House on previous occasions. The installation of satellite dishes for households has been disallowed to keep out undesirable content that is at odds with Singapore's multi-racial and multi-religious society. This was why we have built up the cable network nationwide, so that Singaporeans would nonetheless be able to subscribe and enjoy a wider range of television programmes. In terms of content and programming, the digital cable TV in operation today has the capacity to offer nearly as much choice as satellite television, not quite but nearly. Nevertheless, the Government has constantly reviewed the satellite TV policy over the years, and where it was necessary to relax satellite TV regulations, the Government had done so. For instance, banks, financial institutions and commercial organisations with the need for time-sensitive information are already permitted to install satellite dishes to access satellite TV. More recently, we have also allowed hotels, tertiary and technical institutes, international schools and hospitals to have access to satellite TV for restricted use. Sir, however, the reasons why we should prevent undesirable content from easy entry to the homes of Singaporeans through satellite dishes remain valid and important. In the face of increasing security challenges worldwide today, we must continue to be vigilant against external influences that may seek to split or divide our society. Going forward, the Government will continue to constantly review the satellite TV policy to ensure that our regulations keep pace with technological developments and trends in the entertainment industry.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, certainly my Ministry, IDA and MDA will all be interested in working closely with the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Police. Conceivably, one could mount sting operations to ensure that those who use such fora to do so, whether it is chatline or chatrooms, may well face the full force of the law.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, we will consider looking at the chatlines as a possible venue or means by which sex predators can commit their crimes or contact the young people. In terms of our cyber wellness and Parents Advisory Group on the Internet, we will also look at some of these other peripherals - although not directly Internet but related - type of services where abusers may lurk and where they may commit their crimes or acts of procurement.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, may I suggest that the hon. Member direct this question towards the appropriate Ministry?”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, as the SMS for Home Affairs has said and as I have said earlier on, the present penalties are already very severe and strict, and our enforcement of the law is very rigorous. By the same token, we do review our penalties regularly. If we deem there is a need to enhance the deterrent effect of our existing penalties, let me assure hon. Members that the Government will not shy away from taking such a step.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I am not aware of any specific prosecution in the case of procurement online or through various other avenues or forums. If such cases are brought to the Police's attention, I believe the Police would also act against anyone who attempts to procure sex with minors through an online avenue. In terms of industry vigilance to seek out such chatrooms and other forums which may be abused by the sex predators, this is an ongoing and continuous exercise. They will be on the look out for such chatrooms and forums which may lend itself to abuse by sex predators and they will advise parents, particularly through their family access network subscribers, to ensure that these are the sites that will be blocked off or access denied for families with young children. Assoc. Prof. Chin Tet Yung (Sembawang): Would the Minister consider having deterrent penalties for those who are using the Internet as a means of procuring sexual services, especially with minors, because it seems that it is so easy to get involved in chatrooms, and so easy to proposition youngsters, and so on? Would the Minister consider enhancing penalties for this type of solicitation?”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I thank Mdm Cynthia Phua for her suggestion about studying the profile of chatroom abusers. This is certainly an area that the Cyber Wellness Task Force, which has been set up under the National Internet Advisory Council, will look into. We will certainly work closely with the Ministry of Education, as I said a moment ago, in introducing programmes, such as Group Endeavours in Service Learning Project, a mentorship programme, to ensure that our students and our young are well-equipped to handle the dangers that lurk in cyberspace. We will work closely with all parties, the Education Ministry, the community and any other organisation that has an interest in this area.”
“To this end, the Cyber Wellness Task Force, set up by the National Internet Advisory Council, has embarked on public education programmes with strategic partners, such as the Ministry of Education, National Institute of Education, National Youth Council and National Library Board. In July this year, the National Institute of Education will launch the Group Endeavours in Service Learning Project whereby trainee teachers can mentor teenagers online. MDA has also supported complementary public education efforts on Internet safety. It has provided funds to support the educational programmes of Parents Advisory Group for the Internet (PAGi) and Touch Community Services. Together, the two groups have reached out to over 140,000 parents and youths. Mr Speaker, however, the nature of the Internet, with a large number of websites and chatrooms, often hosting anonymous and transient exchanges, makes it impossible to completely insulate our young from encountering sex predators and other undesirable influences. Short of shutting down our connection to the Internet, we cannot completely insulate our young and youth from its dangers. But we can and have taken practical measures to try and equip our Internet users, particularly the young, with the know-how and the judgement to handle what they encounter in cyberspace. The Government, industry and community will continue to work together to provide a safer online environment for our young.”
“If convicted, the offender is liable for imprisonment of up to two years or a maximum fine of $5,000, or to both and, in the case of a second or subsequent conviction, imprisonment of up to four years or a maximum fine of $10,000, or to both. Next, on industry regulation. The Government recognises that legal enforcement alone is not enough. Therefore, through the Media Development Authority (MDA) and the National Internet Advisory Council (NIAC), the Government has been working actively with industry groups, such as the Singapore Infocomm Technology Federation (SiTF) and the local Internet Service Providers (ISPs) to develop programmes to promote greater industry regulation. One result is that the Internet Service Providers now offer to subscribers Family Access Networks (FANs). These are networks that filter out undesirable websites on behalf of the subscribers. I strongly advise parents with young children to subscribe to such services so as to be able to ensure that their children do not gain access to undesirable websites. In February this year, a group of players in the IT and Internet industry launched the Internet Industry Association of Singapore (IIAS). Part of its mandate is to help and counsel children exposed to inappropriate material online and work with other community groups to explore ways to protect young users from online predators. Next, on public education. Parents, schools and the community also have an important role to play. They must instil the correct values in our young and promote safe practices online.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I share the Members' concerns about sex predators abusing the Internet to victimise the young. To protect our young, we have in place a three-pronged approach based on enforcement of our laws against such crimes, public education and concerted industry self-regulation to help make our online environment safe for users. First, on legal enforcement. Sir, there were eight reported cases of Internet-related sex offences involving victims under the age of 16 in 2004. The Police takes a serious view of every such offence. Where offences have been committed, they will investigate them thoroughly, apprehend the offenders and prosecute them. Sir, as the Senior Minister of State for Home Affairs has just said a moment ago, we have tough laws against sex predators who prey on the young. For example, an offence of statutory rape under the Penal Code, involving a woman under 14 years of age, carries a mandatory minimum imprisonment term of eight years and a maximum of 20 years, with not less than 12 strokes of the cane. It is also an offence for any man to engage in sexual intercourse with a woman below 16 years of age, whether or not there was consent, except by way of marriage. The offender is liable for imprisonment of up to five years and a maximum fine of $10,000. Sir, additionally, the Children and Young Persons Act makes it an offence for any person to commit or abet the commission of or procure or attempt to procure the commission by any person of any obscene or indecent act with any child or young person under 16 years of age.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, may I have your permission to take Question Nos. 10, 11 and 12 together because they cover essentially the same area?”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, I beg to report that the Committee of Supply has made further progress on the Estimates of Expenditure for the financial year 2005/2006, and ask leave to sit again tomorrow.”
“Mr Chairman, Sir, may I seek your consent to move that progress be reported now and leave be asked to sit again tomorrow. The Chairman: I give my consent. Resolved, That, notwithstanding the resolution of the House on 2nd March 2005, progress be reported now and leave be asked to sit again tomorrow. - [Dr. Lee Boon Yang]. Thereupon Mr Deputy Speaker left the Chair of the Committee and took the Chair of the House.”
“So, this is a good indicator that if you have a good product, a creative product that is of interest to a big enough audience, you will be able to make a profit out of the venture and, in fact, do well for yourself. And that is a challenge, and I would say the inspiration, for all the artists out there to try to reach this level of success and recognition.”
“We have heard so many complaints about the difficulties small businessmen face, such as having to relocate, high rentals, etc. This is a problem not unique to just artists and the arts community. I think they will have to find a way to support themselves, to compete for resources and survive within the context of our society and economy. I understand that the theatre groups, epitomised by Wild Rice and Ivan Heng, face continuing challenges and difficulties in making a commercial proposition out of their efforts. This is what I have said earlier on. We have made progress in the arts, but we have not quite arrived yet, where artists can achieve commercial success because the audience values their creative capabilities, output and their works, so as to afford them a return that is commensurate with their time and creative energy. But, over time, as we develop the arts, as more and more Singaporeans become aware and conscious of the value of the arts, then I think we will see a change. And I am beginning to see improvements in this area. There are already performances which are able to make a surplus, ie, after they have paid up all the expenses, they still make a surplus. So, it shows that there is a business model that is a successful commercial proposition in some of the activities undertaken by the arts. Let me give Members an example of an arts event which was largely a local Singaporean initiative, Forbidden City. This was first commissioned for the opening of the Esplanade in 2002. It was in late 2003 or early 2004 that they reprised the production of Forbidden City, and it was very successful. They generated a surplus from the reprise of Forbidden City. The box-office takings were more than expenses and they could make a profit out of it.”
“Sir, I think what the hon. Nominated Member mentioned is not too far from what we are doing. In fact, MICA and NAC do give a tremendous level of support to local arts and arts groups. But, of course, as I have said earlier in my response to Ms Irene Ng about the acquisition of artworks, the budget is never enough for this purpose. Even though, overall, we face a budget crunch and Ministries are asked to cut down budget, what MICA has obtained for the National Arts Council, the principal agency that is nurturing, supporting and developing arts and the arts groups, has actually increased over the years. If you look at last year's NAC allocation, in terms of operating cost, it had $34.6 million. This year, it will get $36.9 million. So, despite the budget constraints and the tightening of the purse strings by the Minister for Finance, the NAC was able to obtain 7% more funds for deployment to support the arts and arts groups. And most of these funds will go towards nurturing the local arts community and supporting them in one way or another. It may not be direct grants, but includes supporting events and performances, and so on and so forth. So, it is not true to say that we have neglected the local arts groups and over-weighted our investments in the arts to international big-ticket blockbuster events. We are conscious of the need to nurture the local artistic community and we will continue to do so within our means. In the case of Ms Han Sai Por, she faces a special problem, because the premises that she was renting at Seletar Airbase, I understand, may not be available to her in the near future. So, she has to move to another location. That is a problem that many other Singaporeans, besides artists, eg, small businessmen, also face.”
“Sir, in fact, that is what we are doing. It is not black or white. It is always some shades of grey. So, you will notice that we do provide captioning and, in fact, crawlers are used extensively, particularly on Channel NewsAsia. Crawlers are the running line of words at the bottom of the screen, and crawlers would give you an update on the news headline and key events that are shaping up in Singapore and around the world. So, it is not as if the hearing-impaired have got no access or contact with real-time news broadcasting. But to go extensively into subtitling is a totally different ball game. We will continue to look at the possibilities. It is not just a question of technology. It is a question of timeliness of news, as my Senior Parliamentary Secretary has explained. There are many other factors involved. It is something that we will continue to look into. The answer is not cast in stone, that it is forever no. There could be new developments. New technology could be made available. Intelligent translation machines could be created. Artificial Intelligence could overcome translation problems. So, anything is possible. We will continue to watch technology development and the broadcasting industry's development.”
“Sir, I would just want to add a little supplement to what the Senior Parliamentary Secretary has said. It is not as if MICA and Media Development Authority are not doing anything at all to encourage or cajole our broadcaster along the way to show their support for the local music industry. I am sure Ms Olsen will know that in early January, in fact, MediaCorp Radio launched a new station, called "Lush 99.5". Lush is a station that took over the frequency of Passion Radio in the past, which was the Arts Channel. In fact, MediaCorp was allocated this channel to run a new station, and MediaCorp has indicated that they will also do what they can to promote both the local arts scene, including local music on the new station Lush 99.5. So, I would suggest that Ms Olsen tune in more frequently to Lush 99.5 and see whether it is doing its job promoting local arts and local music. 4.45 pm”