Mariam Jaafar
Singapore
“One trusted person who knows their story, who checks in, who believes in them when they do not believe in themselves can make all the difference. As we scale, how do we protect that relational core as numbers grow?”
“I thank Members for the robust debate. I think healthcare is probably one of the most complex Ministries. On behalf of this Health Government Parliamentary Committee, I would like to say thank you to the healthcare family, from everyone at MOH to the frontliners in the hospitals and community. With that, I seek to withdraw my amendment.”
“Every young Malay/Muslim deserves to know: they are seen, they are valued, they are supported – in faith and in life. When our youths are anchored in faith and supported in well-being, our community – and our nation – are stronger. Singapore College of Islamic Studies”
“We must adapt S+3M: financing not only healthcare, but health itself, not by abandoning the principles, but by fulfilling them fully. Shared responsibility must include shared prevention. Personal ownership must empower early action. Equity must recognise cumulative burden. This is not about spending more.”
“Could MOM share the uptake and outcomes so far? And could we expand practical models so seniors can pace themselves while staying engaged? And with the Tripartite Workgroup on senior employment, when can we expect key recommendations and how will success, beyond placements, be tracked?”
“Can we strengthen incentives for FWAs and provide structured coaching at key transition points, so caregivers do not have to choose between career and care. Third, re-entry. Can we create structured return pathways so that stepping up for family does not mean stepping back professionally. Supporting caregivers is not charity.”
The complete record
Every one of 375 lines we hold for Mariam Jaafar, in date order, each linked to its source. Free to read, in full, without an account. Page 4 of 8.
“If we do not, as a society, become more aware of what people around us are going through and make it safe for people to be more open about the mental health challenges that they or their loved ones face; if we do not accept that not everyone is able to deal with it no matter how much they try; if we do not become more understanding and compassionate; and if we do not stand together to act to improve the mental health and well-being of every Singaporean. How can we further strengthen key care settings: (a) families; (b) schools, including universities; (c) community; (d) primary care, (e) acute care; and (f) online space? I would like to touch on the first four today. Firstly, families. The National Strategy recognises the need to better equip parents to support their children’s mental health and well-being. It highlights strong relationships with their children as a foundation for strengthening children’s mental and emotional resilience, as well as parenting in a digital age. I cannot agree more. I would like to see us invest more in building these early relationships, beyond the parents' toolbox. We need a range of avenues in the community, virtually and physically, for parents to be supported on the ups and downs of family life in order to address the desire for privacy and the need be able to reach out widely and at scale to foster a more open culture. We need to take a population health approach that addresses health inequalities and social determinants of health on the mental health of youths and ensures that the strategy is inclusive. Support for parents' mental health must also be prioritised, especially more vulnerable parents. We need more family therapies. Social services agencies play a critical role. All this will take time.”
“He asked for his favourite food and started eating again, he talked about plans for the future. But two days after coming back, in the evening, he went out for a walk. He did not allow his mother to accompany him, insisting he was fine. But a couple of hours later, his mother received his suicide note over WhatsApp. It said he could not bear the cravings any longer and he did not want to be a burden to his family any longer. C ended his life by hanging himself in the stairwell of the multistorey car park that evening. It was his own brother who found him after a frantic search. When I heard C’s story, I wept for C and for his mother who had lost her first-born son. She has a second son who suffers from depression, a bright boy in primary school whose life trajectory changed when he went to an elite boys' secondary school and found himself unable to keep up. She has a mother who has dementia. She worked multiple jobs to support all of them. But at no time during all the doctor and hospital visits for C, his brother or their father, her ex-husband, did anyone ask her how she, the caregiver, was coping. These stories can be hard to listen to. But they are real, and they point to the scale and complexity of the challenge, and this is why Dr Wan Rizal, Dr Tan Wu Meng, Mr Yip Hon Weng, Mr Edward Chia and I have filed this Motion and why so many Members are rising to speak. The National Strategy on Mental Health and Well-being is a very important step. I believe we can do even more, particularly in the difficult area of driving societal change. No amount of Government interventions with new structures, new care models, new resources and new legislations will work if we do not, as a society, transform.”
“Despite all these struggles, C got married and he and his wife bought a Build-To-Order (BTO) flat and had a baby. His wife was aware of his condition and supported him, making sure he took his medication, and his mother supported them financially. But his mother-in-law started belittling him, calling him a "useless idiot" and accusing him of faking illness so he did not have to work, even after his mother went to see her to try and make her understand. They accorded him little dignity and respect and even kept his baby from him. The stresses of his life, in trying to keep his job, trying to get his colleagues, bosses and in-laws to understand his bipolar disorder and the weight gain due to the medications led him to eventually succumb to taking methamphetamine to cope with his anxiety. He wanted to stop but, when he sought help, the IMH hotline told him to get help from the National Addictions Management Service (NAMS) for addiction, but NAMS told him they could not help him on his addiction because of his bipolar condition. In mid-2023, C told his mother he had been terminated from his job as a temporary staff after two months because he could not meet his key performance indicators (KPIs). Not long after, he took methamphetamine again, this time, a huge dose. His wife then filed for divorce and moved her parents into their home. His sister told his mother that his wife should just divorce him because of his bipolar condition, just like his mother had eventually divorced her own bipolar husband. His mother took him back to her house and took him to NAMS. He was sent to hospital to detox. After his discharge, he went back to NAMS and was told he was fine, to go home and just come back for counselling in 10 days. Back at home, he did seem better.”
“There would be specific organisations presenting to different audiences, for example, people from the military or parents who had lost a child to suicide. Often, the speakers would have mental health conditions themselves or be caregivers. The specificity helped to make people feel that there were people who really understood what they were going through. Now, back in Singapore and looking for a job, B feels a lot of uncertainty about her future. But her self-awareness and understanding of her condition helps. Her mother told me it had been a struggle to learn how to support her daughter and she is still learning. Finally, I share the story of C, as recounted to me by his mother, my Woodlands resident. He was a playful child who liked to play pranks on people. But at the tender age of 14, he was diagnosed with bipolar disorder after his first suicide attempt. He struggled, despite seeking treatment at the Child Guidance Clinic, despite the strong support of his mother, who was both his caregiver and the sole breadwinner for the family as C’s father also had bipolar disorder. He refused to see a school counsellor or psychologist after the first session. His condition deteriorated further when he entered National Service (NS) and turned 18, when he was transitioned from the Child Guidance Clinic to IMH. He hated going to IMH. He did not feel like he belonged with "all those crazy people" he would see in the waiting room. He attempted suicide again and was discharged from NS. He started working but found it difficult to hold down jobs. Of course, he never declared his condition. When he became unstable due to anxiety, employers considered him a risk and terminated his employment. He had no one to turn to at work who understood.”
“She did not want to go to school. She saw the school counsellor but did not find the sessions particularly helpful or empathetic. "They were not really focused on me", she said. "Like they would give me study tips when what I needed was someone to help me with my emotions." She developed self-harming behaviours, in part, influenced by her peers, and then made her first suicide attempt. She was then referred to a psychiatrist and a psychologist at a restructured hospital, whom she still sees today. She eventually dropped out of JC to go to polytechnic. The people were nicer, the teachers kinder and more patient, but she still struggled. Then she went to university in Australia, where she experienced a very different culture, one where people were much more open about their mental health. The university had tailored Disability Support Plans for students with physical or mental issues. She estimated 30% of students were on some sort of support plan. Her support plan, after consultations with a psychiatrist and general practitioner (GP), included exemptions from public speaking and presentations, and extra time for exams and locations in a different room. This open culture extends to the workplace. She had a part-time job. Her colleagues and supervisors were open, understanding and supportive of one another’s mental health needs. After another episode which forced her to leave her job for three months, she was surprised to be warmly welcomed back to work. "It was like they were really happy to see me back", she said. In the community there were regular large-scale mental health carnivals to raise awareness and help people learn coping skills.”
“She developed a phobia of falling sick and dying. She started to refuse to go to school or would cry in school until the teachers called her parents to pick her up. She developed chest and stomach pains that resulted in frequent trips to the doctors and the Accident and Emergency department. But each time, the finding would be, "Everything is normal. We do not know what is wrong." This went on for more than a year until her mother asked for a referral to a psychologist. Finally, she was diagnosed with anxiety. She was then referred to her school counsellor. While the school had failed to identify the early signs, once diagnosed, they gave A very good support. She had an anxiety toolkit of coping mechanisms. Whenever she felt a panic attack attacking, she could leave class immediately and run to the counsellor’s office. The counsellor would often sit with her at recess and talk to her. She would not be scolded for being late for school. Her teacher sent her daily personal notes of encouragement. Today, A is more resilient. She has joined a co-curricular activity (CCA) after school and has a close group of friends. Her parents credit the school’s accommodative and flexible approach as being key to helping her get better. In contrast, the subject of my second story, B, did not get the same support from her school. Now, in her earlier 20s, B had always been anxious about her academic performance, even though she did well. But the transition from her all-girls secondary school to a top junior college (JC) was a difficult one. She was harassed by a group of boys. They made comments about her, her looks and her body on social media. The harassment spilled over into the physical world. She developed severe anxiety and it affected her grades, which made her anxious.”
“To relieve the pressure that is building up and increasing the risk of a mental health tsunami where the system simply cannot cope any longer, we need to focus on prevention and on population health. If this sounds familiar, it is because we have come to this conclusion before when we launched Healthier SG. And this brings me to a core tenet – if the disease burden of mental health is up there with more commonly understood diseases, mental health and how we deal with it must be on par with physical health. The principles of Healthier SG must equally apply and, indeed, mental health must be integrated in the Healthier SG framework. There is no Healthier SG without a mentally Healthier SG. I welcome the shift envisioned in the National Strategy, moving from a focus on treatment and institutionalisation, to focus equally on prevention and early identification and intervention in the community, on building an effective mental health ecosystem. I welcome the plans to do more upstream, addressing societal driving forces, raising awareness and building mental resilience and coping abilities in our people. Specifically for youths, I would like the focus areas and interventions identified, including a post-discharge intermediate facility for youths at risk of suicide, scaling up mental health literacy efforts for children and youths starting from preschools, improving the support to parents and promoting safe use of the online space and digital mental health platforms. Mdm Deputy Speaker, I would like to share the mental health stories of three young Singaporeans, to bring to life the challenges they go through as well as to highlight the opportunities to make a difference. The first, A, is a young Woodlands resident. She was in Primary 1 when the pandemic struck.”
“The Samaritans of Singapore (SOS) reported that suicide among youths aged 10 to 29 has gone up, from 94 in 2018 to 125 in 2002; more than 500 young lives lost in the past five years. In a 2023 NUS study, one in three youths reported internalised mental health symptoms, such as depression, anxiety and loneliness, while one in six experienced externalised symptoms like hyperactivity, rule breaking and aggression, while 12% met full diagnostic criteria for having at least one mental health disorder. This all puts pressure on the system. The volume of calls and texts for help to social services agencies and suicide hotlines has increased significantly year on year, and residents have told me that it can be very difficult to get through the hotline. Similarly, as has been mentioned, it takes months to get an appointment at IMH and other hospitals or polyclinics. Not only are we seeing rising numbers, we are also seeing more severe and complex mental health needs amongst our children and young people, including among those with learning disorders and autism. We can identify determinants of health and their impact on mental health and well-being, which include social, economic, cultural, relational and physical environments, such as housing and diet. Some children and youths are still feeling the effects of isolation and uncertainties due to the pandemic. Some parents are dealing with their own mental health and well-being issues. They are stressed, worried about their jobs, families, money problems, the rising costs of living, nevermind recognising their children’s needs and helping them to develop resilience. To help these children, we need to also help their parents. Mdm Deputy Speaker, it is abundantly clear that a shift is needed in how we approach mental health.”
“Mdm Deputy Speaker, I am grateful for the opportunity to co-sponsor this Motion. Mental health must be a key priority for this House and this Government. My speech today will focus on an area I am passionate about: the mental health and well-being of our children and youth. My speech takes into account the plans announced in the National Mental Health and Well-being Strategy and considers how we can do even more for our children and youth. We often talk about the potential of youth; about how they are our hopes and dreams, and how they will shape the future. We tell them that the world is full of rainbows to follow and opportunities to seize. But youth can also be a difficult time, with many transitions. Childhood is a time when we form the basis for our relationships and friendships, which greatly influence our future physical and mental health throughout our lives. Then you start school and, all too quickly, academic pressures build up, pressure to meet the expectations of teachers and principals, parents and, more often than not, our own. Adolescence and young adulthood are thought to be particularly tumultuous times in neuro-psychological and physical development, when mental disorders typically emerge. The second Singapore Mental Health Study, conducted in 2016, revealed a significant association between younger age and mental disorders. In particular, young adults aged 18 to 34 had the highest lifetime prevalence for any mental disorder. In 2017, it was reported that mental illness was the largest contributor to years lost to disease among young people aged 10 to 34 in Singapore. Fast forward a few years, the statistics tell us the problem has not only persisted, it is getting worse.”
“Minister Grace Fu's leadership of negotiations on Article 6 and mitigation at successive COPs come to mind. Can the Minister provide an update on our participation in the AI governance and safety space? Mr Speaker, I wish to end with a thank you to the many agencies and task forces across multiple Ministries involved in keeping our online space safe, inclusive and trusted today. I know it sometimes feels like you are playing whack a mole. It sometimes feels like a thankless task. I hope the nation will rise to this call for each of us to play our part in order to continue closing the trust gap between the online and physical space. Mr Speaker, I support the Motion.”
“It entails being transparent about when and how products leverage AI, how algorithms influence decisions and the steps being taken to mitigate bias, privacy violations and other risks. The value of responsible AI goes beyond risk mitigation; it can strengthen trust between organisations and their customers, assuring customers that the products and services they consume are safe. The public sector and companies across sectors in the digital economy deploying AI solutions, whether in developing their products and services or supply chain AI , should operationalise responsible AI as fast as they build and deploy AI solutions. Because Responsible AI demands teams of individuals with different expertise, experiences and background and cooperation across the organisation at all levels, the Prime Minister and chief executive officers themselves leading from the top to drive and sustain investment and focus is required. And lastly, increase the international cooperation on Online Safety, including AI governance and safety. Given the global nature of the cyberspace, driving dialogue, sharing knowledge and cooperating on solutions is important. Boosting inclusive AI governance and interoperability to achieve our shared goal of trustworthy AI is something that Singapore must commit to do and can seek to play a key role in. The open sourcing of AI Verify, cited by the Member Ms Sylvia Lim earlier, is actually a way of promoting international cooperation and putting a claim on some intellectual leadership and legitimacy in this space. Non trivial, when parties involve actually do have some tensions. Another global issues like climate change, Singapore has led the way on some fronts.”
“0, which I am hopeful will get a good airing in Parliament in due course articulates a vision for "AI for the Public Good, for Singapore and the World". The focus will be on directing AI towards addressing big challenges, not just locally, but globally like climate change and population health, as well on empowering individuals, business and community to use AI with confidence, discernment and trust. Among other actions, the Government seeks to pursue meaningful use cases in both public services and industry that will deliver outsized impact to our lives. I urge the Government to make a big push to deploy high value use cases, at scale, in public services. Not only will the AI itself create value, it will build capability within the Government as multi-disciplinary product teams will learn to make adjustments and deploy solutions to address weaknesses that surface and policy teams will learn how to prevent the spread of harmful activities and to shape effective regulations by doing. We start in an enviable position, where there is strong trust in the Government, hard earned over decades. If the Government is transparent on the value as well as the risks as it deploys these high-value use cases, if we are able to advance research into Online Trust and Safety and build and test tools and solutions, such as "Trust by Design" technologies like watermarking and content authentication and use these tools in these use cases in the public sector, Singapore can set an example for the private sector and governments around the world. Fourth, take the lead in adopting responsible AI across the digital economy. Responsible AI is a holistic approach to developing, assessing and deploying AI systems in a safe, trustworthy and ethical way that spans the full product life cycle.”
“AI literacy refers to as a set of competencies that enables people to critically evaluate, communicate and collaborate effectively with AI. Yesterday, Minister Chan Chin Sing shared how the Ministry of Education (MOE) is preparing students in our schools and IHLs by developing their foundational knowledge of AI, promoting safe and responsible use of AI, measures to guard against the risks of AI and teaching cyber wellness skills, such as evaluating information and identifying fake news. There is nascent interest on AI literacy in early childhood education, with some promising effects. Some studies have highlighted how early AI literacy can improve many aspects of child development, such as creative inquiry, emotional inquiry and collaborative inquiry. Some argue that with more well-designed AI toys and services such as PopBots, Zhoria, Quickdraw, young children could explore AI-related concepts and develop their digital and AI literacy, even if they may not know and understand the knowledge behind it. Others argue that since young children are already using devices and tablets, it is important that they attain some elements of data literacy even at a young age, such as understanding the concepts of personal data and data privacy. Yet, there are also question marks like whether age-appropriate curriculums can be developed for early childhood, the readiness of early childhood educators themselves and concerns over inequalities and inclusiveness. Does the Minister see AI literacy in early childhood as a worthwhile investigation? Third, Government to lead the way by deploying AI at scale through high value use cases in public services and advancing research into online trust and safety. The recently launched National AI Strategy 2.”
“In particular, I echo the concerns said by many on deepfakes. Looking around, the UK Online Safety Act has made transmitting deepfake pornography illegal and platforms will need to quickly act to remove them from their platforms. The US Executive Order seeks to establish standards and best practices for detecting AI-generated content and authenticating official content, with the Department of Commerce tasked to develop guidance for content authentication and watermarking. There seems to be momentum behind reviewing the safeguards against harmful deepfakes and parsing out accountability. There is also the risk, as highlighted by the hon Member Tan Wu Meng, on democracy itself. Indeed, there are calls to require that in any interaction with AI, be it text, image or voice, the AI has to declare that it is AI. In addition, we have to think of how to support individual victims whose images may have been exploited in deepfakes and harmed – a highly traumatic experience. Second, engage in a whole-of-nation partnership between all stakeholders in the online ecosystem to educate and empower our people, especially the young and the old, on scams, online harms and digital literacy, including AI literacy. While the tech platforms can and must do more, an inclusive and safe digital society requires the concerted effort of many more stakeholders. These stakeholders include the Government, the public sector, the private sector, the tech platforms, but also telcos, banks, AI companies and other companies offering products and services online, law enforcement agencies, parents and caregivers, schools, social services and community organisations, and at the centre of it all, the individuals themselves.”
“In contrast, the UK Online Safety Act was delayed some five to six years, falling victim to political crises making it very hard to move. Some of the measures to combat scam such as the mandatory registration of all alphanumberic SMS sender IDs with the Singapore SMS Sender ID Registry (SSIR) would be hard to pull off in many other jurisdictions. The hon Member Sylvia Lim has said that we are moving towards a crisis of confidence in digital transactions and banking, without stronger intervention by Government regulators. I believe the Government has taken important steps, but I also believe they will continue to take more. I hope the Minister will provide an update on the implementation of recently announced measures and share additional measures the Government may be exploring, including expanding potentially the scope of some of the restrictions on other platforms such as online technology platforms. However, this is a rapidly evolving space. Online harms related to AI-generated content such as deepfakes may not be sufficiently covered by current laws. Singapore has taken a pragmatic approach to AI regulation – we should not rush to regulate what we do not yet understand, when the solutions are not yet clear – is how I would articulate it. Rather, the approach has been, again, one of engagement, of testing different solutions and of building capacities while recognising that legislation will come at some point. It is a sensible approach. Notwithstanding, the Government should continue to review the adequacy of safeguards and provisions in the Online Safety Act to protect against AI-generated content. At this point, I would like to ask the Minister if she is looking to introduce any AI focused protective measures in the near future.”
“The response to the associated risks cannot be fear and paralysis, but rather to equip ourselves with the knowledge, strategies and tools to navigate these risks, including to use AI itself to keep propelling us forward. To that end, I offer give suggestions, building on some of the suggestions of my colleagues, to sustain trust by building an inclusive and safe digital society in the age of AI. First, increase safeguards and hold social media services accountable for the proliferation of harmful content, scams and malicious ads, including AI-generated content, to protect consumers, especially children. Online safety and scams are global issues. While it will never feel timely enough for those who suffer from the harm, the Government is proactively taking steps to safeguard safety and inclusion. The passing of the Online Safety Act in February 2023 and the subsequent release of the Online Safety Code by IMDA in July 2023 have strengthened the regulatory framework, holding social media services accountable to take preventive measures against online harm. The Government has also rolled out a series of measures to protect against online scams, including the much discussed Shared Responsibility Framework slated to be implemented this year. The approach taken by the Government has been one of engagement and utilising a range of levers, not just legislation but also voluntary adoption of codes of practice and tools, to ensure effectiveness – and I would add sustainability – before making them mandatory. It is an approach that engenders trust and buy in, helping to take away some of the usual impediments to move. Indeed, Singapore was one of the world's first to introduce regulations to ensure designated social media services take preventive measures to ensure online safety.”
“Mr Speaker, trust is the basis for any digital society. It is what gives us the confidence to interact and transact online. It is needed to drive innovation and adoption in order to reap the considerable benefits of digital and AI. If we want AI to uplift Singapore's economic and social potential, if we want Singapore and Singaporeans to be at the vanguard in developing, deploying, adopting and innovating technology, we need our people to be satisfied that the products and services they consume are safe. If we are going to ride in a racecar, we have got to trust the brakes. Most, if not all major platforms, have put in some form of brakes or safeguards. Safeguards can take the form of policies, practices and tools, such as robust community guidelines, content moderation policies and ensuring that data is representative and scrubbed for bias. Machine learning and AI itself will play a powerful role in creating new types of safeguards and building trust. Machine learning tools can be used to ensure privacy and trust by design and to detect and block fraudulent transactions. They can also be tuned to make the right tradeoffs in proportion to the risks involved. AI tools can also reduce bias – both human bias as well as bias that has crept into machine learning models. By enabling the identification and measurement of bias, they allow platforms to take steps to reduce discrimination and bias or to de-bias the algorithms. A well-known example is Airbnb, which has used data and machine learning to reduce discrimination, for example, against black guests and black hosts and promote inclusion on its platform. Mr Speaker, the age of AI is upon us. My position has not changed from when I made my speech in April.”
“I said then, "The progress in AI is both exciting and worrying at the same time... we need our AI strategies, policies and people to keep pace with the breathless development. So, let us buckle up." In relation to the online space, the rapid development of AI and GenAI poses many risks: misinformation and disinformation, lack of transparency, privacy concerns, ethical concerns, data leaks, bias, economic inequalities, copyright violations, security risk, concentration of power and more. The accessibility of GenAI allows anyone on the Internet to manipulate the tool itself as well as the content it can produce, with potentially devastating consequences. For example, while chatbots like ChatGPT are now specifically trained to reject harmful prompts like "how to build a dirty bomb", they can still be fooled by bad actors pretending to be doing a research paper or writing a movie script. Fake news, fake images – they are not new in online trust and safety. But as we move from fun face swapping apps and camera filters to the rapid proliferation of deepfakes being used in harmful ways, such as investment scams featuring our own Prime Minister, it is clear that AI presents a new frontier in online trust and safety. Nowadays, we are urged to be careful and skeptical of what we take in and do online, to question everything we see online. But therein lies the rub. Some have asked, are we now to be distrustful by default? This is a very serious question, one that I hope all of us in Parliament will reflect upon. Think back to the Ah Ma who did not open the Healthier SG enrolment SMS from MOH. In the business world, there are companies that have blocked GenAI tools from their systems. What happens when "distrustful by default" turns into "distrust and drop-out"?”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I first declare my interest as a managing director and senior partner of a management consulting firm that does work in digital and AI. I thank the hon Member Tin Pei Ling and other members of the Government Parliamentary Committee for Communications and Information for securing this debate on an area of pressing importance for all of us. I think almost everyone here shares my experience of hearing gut wrenching stories of residents who have seen their life savings wiped out by online scams. In my early days as an MP, an appeal by a group of girls whose faces had been superimposed on sexually explicit photos spreading on social media not only in Singapore but in neighbouring countries shook me to the core. I will forever be grateful to Minister Shanmugam and Minister of State Rahayu for their assistance in expediting justice. More recently, in my engagements with Woodland seniors to encourage them to sign up for Healthier SG, I found a not insignificant number of seniors were ignoring the messages from the Ministry of Health (MOH) as they were afraid of scams. I also saw that most of them were reliant on less secure password authentication on their Singpass app, partly because they did not know how to use and partly because they did not trust biometric authentication. I support much o f what colleagues before me have said on the need to sustain trust and build an inclusive and safe digital society. I join this debate because I believe the implications of AI and, in particular, the lightning fast development of generative AI (GenAI) on an inclusive and safe digital society deserves special consideration. Mr Speaker, in my speech on the Motion of Thanks in April, I spoke about AI and GenAI – the opportunities as well as the risks.”
“Finally, I would be also interested to hear the Senior Minister of State’s view on whether the proposed revisions to the FTZ regime will be sufficient to deal with the threats and vulnerabilities that we have identified. I am sure there are other measures being looked at that did not factor in these acts. What other preventive measures are being put in place to counter these threats? Notwithstanding the clarifications above, I support the Bill.”
“It is, therefore, important to take a risk-based approach and to leverage data, technology and IT integration. I will say with conviction that FTZs will remain core to our overall trade and economic strategy, which will, for sure, change as globalisation changes – but trade is not going away. I would like to ask the Senior Minister of State whether and how the revised FTZ regime increases our business costs and whether it will reduce the competitiveness of our FTZs, especially in the context of other countries raising their game. For example, China has recently moved to open its FTZs. My second clarification has to do with the need for proportionate penalties and sanctions for anyone contravening the provisions of the Act. Is there an intent to review the provisions to see if the financial penalties, currently capped at $10,000, are adequate? Equally, it is important that any illicit actors caught are prosecuted to the fullest to deter others from exploiting our FTZs. Thirdly, the root cause of poorly implemented controls and oversight is often the lack of awareness and understanding of FTZ-related risks and vulnerabilities at all levels, including on topics, such as trade-based money laundering. From the businesses in the FTZs to the relevant authorities and operators to financial institutions and banking regulators, this lack of understanding not only renders the zone vulnerable to illicit activity, but also impedes the ability to take a risk-based approach to management, enforcement and supervision efforts. There is a need for a strong focus on adequate training programmes to ensure better understanding and identification of risks and an understanding of the requirements and processes under the new regime. What are the steps being taken to step up such training?”
“This is key as the multiple actors involved in operating and governing the FTZ requires clarity about responsibilities and effective coordination, including information sharing. For instance, the requirement for advanced data submission by shipping agents to cargo handlers and, in turn, by cargo handlers and FTZ operators to Customs, will provide greater oversight of goods, persons and operations within the FTZs. Licensed FTZ operators and cargo handlers are also obligated to report to Customs suspicious activities and goods in their possession, custody, charge or control that are brought or intended to be brought into Singapore or are manufactured in an FTZ and brought or intended to be brought into Singapore, in contravention of the Act or any other written law, akin to how the financial sector – as we spoke about a lot yesterday – is obligated to report suspicious transactions. The amendments also establish the jurisdiction that the Government and Customs have to enforce controls and the penalty framework. Lastly, better cooperation among all actors in and around the FTZ and internationally, including the provision for data sharing, will be a great help in combatting illicit activity. So, the amendments are all sound and I support them. But I do have a few clarifications for the Senior Minister of State. First, while there is a need to increase oversight and controls, there needs to be balance in ensuring that the controls do not create an overly onerous burden that affects the efficiency of our FTZs, which remain vital to our entrepot hub strategy. Further, the best controls, if poorly implemented, will also affect the competitiveness of FTZs. This is especially true, given the diversity and volume of activities in our FTZs.”
“Sir, FTZs are a core part of Singapore’s trade strategy, facilitating entrepot trade and transshipment and building on and reinforcing our international air and sea hub positioning. FTZs have proliferated with speed in the past few decades and become an integral part of the global supply and value chains. Depending on your sources, there are now over 3,500 to over 5,000 FTZs in more than 135 countries around the world, boosting economic opportunities, foreign direct investments and job creation, in particular, by offering exemptions from duty and taxes and simplified administrative procedures and less regulations. But the same characteristics that make FTZs attractive to legitimate businesses also attract abuse by illicit actors and there has been, for some time now, heightened concerns of FTZs being exploited for illicit trade, including weapons proliferation, as well as trade-based money laundering operations, tax evasion and terrorist financing. Customs and the private sector have expressed the need for better Customs procedures and controls in FTZs, leading to the development of best practices, such as the Practical Guidance on Free Zones released by the World Customs Organization in 2020/2021. As such, the update to the FTZ Act is timely. The proposed amendments have sought to align with international best practices, taking into account industry practices here and provide good clarity regarding regulations covering the control of the FTZs and the division of responsibilities of the various players, including Customs, the FTZ operators who will now be licensed, the FTZ cargo handlers and shipping agents.”
“Two, how can the possession of timely income information for SEPs facilitate the design and administration of Government schemes to support SEPs, in particular to address the vulnerabilities of SEPs? For example, can SEPs be qualified automatically rather than having to apply for schemes like the WIS, but also the Majulah Package, the Cost-of-Living Support Package or others? Mr Speaker, Sir, a tax system does much more than to collect revenues for our Budgets. The tax system, when well-designed and well-understood, strengthens the relationship and the accountability between the Government and the people. This Government has strived over the years to build a comprehensive, fair and sustainable tax system. Notwithstanding the clarifications, I support the Bill.”
“Because we know full well the vulnerabilities of being self-employed – how sickness and injury mean zero income for the day or, worse, months, like for my resident who has met with an accident recently. And so, this proposed change, by increasing transparency for tax assessment, must also make it easier, more automatic, for schemes that are designed to support Singaporean SEPs to be administered and minimise onerous submission of information each time. Sir, I have two clarifications; both have to do with the potential for greater responsiveness. First, in the September Sitting, I had filed a PQ asking if IRAS will consider revising the FEDR – in this specific instance, the 60% FEDR for taxi and private hire drivers in light of higher operating costs. I thank Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong for his response that IRAS has reviewed the FEDR in 2023 and concluded that the FEDR remains sufficient for the vast majority of drivers. Yet, I continue to hear feedback on the ground from some drivers that they are taking home less and, in some cases, significantly less. Apart from inflation, there have also been recent corporate actions announced that could have an impact on drivers' earnings. So, I would like to ask a clarification of the Minister: how often does IRAS review the FEDR to keep pace with changes in the costs of services? If it is trigger-based, what are the triggers? And could the submission of income information automatically allow for more timely and accurate assessment of the sufficiency of the FEDR by assessing patterns and trends across the population for each category of SEPs?”
“I hope that these new measures, including the development of blended finance structures, climate related investments and charitable contributions, will be analysed over the course of this five-year pilot. Mr Speaker, those of us who work in finance know full well the caricatures of financiers – the wolves of Wall Street, the fat cat bankers, the dodgy crypto bros. But let us never forget that finance has been, can be and must be a force for good. Philanthropies can and must get creative to go beyond channelling aid to unlocking and catalysing investment into the biggest challenges of our time. Family offices can contribute to this new philanthropy ecosystem and be a force for good and I support PTIS. I would now like to shift to the amendments related to submission of income of SEPs. I have to admit that this news has led to some level of consternation on the ground, but it is the right thing to do, for those who earn an income beyond a reasonable threshold to accurately report their income, whatever their level of income. It is how we do right by one another, how everyone takes responsibility and how we keep being a team. We need to have faith in the system, that if we need help, we will get it. Sir, the new requirements should be seen by SEPs as a way to make it easier for them to report their income tax, and not something that is out to catch them. It is equally the Government's responsibility to accurately assess the income tax of each hardworking Singaporean worker, and to be proactive and responsive when the data tells us that something has changed in the worker's situation and to extend support when needed.”
“Against this context, I have a few clarifications for the Minister. Firstly, the application and approval process. The amendments provide for the Minister or authorised body to approve a person or persons as approved donors and recipients. How long does it take for a family office, already approved under section 13O or section 13U or new to Singapore to be approved as a donor, or for a local charity or intermediary to be approved as a qualifying local intermediary? How will the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) ensure that the approval processes do not discourage new and smaller philanthropic entities, but with perhaps key strengths and capabilities to apply? Secondly, oversight. What level of oversight will there be on the actual use of the philanthropic contributions? How will MAS approach and manage the administrative and compliance requirements of philanthropic entities operating abroad, and often be in partnership with local entities and local laws? Thirdly, capacity and capability building. How will the Government work with the ecosystem to build the capabilities and skills of the players in the philanthropy ecosystem domestically, but also internationally through partnerships with organisations, perhaps further down the learning curve to drive greater impact? Is there room to consider for some portion of the contributions to be made directly to a very select list of international organisations and yet qualify for the tax incentives? Fourthly, impact tracking. In July, I had asked a Parliamentary Question (PQ) on the economic contribution of single family offices. In their reply then, MAS said that they would conduct regular surveys or analyses to obtain a better understanding of these contributions.”
“By absorbing risks and lowering costs, philanthropic capital can play a key role alongside development and public finance to mobilise the needed private capital, for example, in the form of blended finance structures. To me, the design of PTIS is well thought through. It clearly reflects the Government's intent to build Singapore's philanthropic ecosystem linked to family offices. The changes could result in a higher proportion of higher quality family offices. At the same time, the requirement for 100% of overseas donations to be channelled through qualifying local intermediaries should spur local charities to build their capacities and capabilities to meet the requirements for overseas philanthropy. Finally, the broader updates to the spending requirements could promote activity and innovation in the still emerging climate finance and blended finance space. Tax incentives for cross-border philanthropy are not so common globally, but Singapore is not unique in the region in encouraging family offices to deploy capital towards philanthropic causes. Hong Kong has also recently introduced tax concessions for family-owned investment holding vehicles (FIHVs) and provided that approved charities in Hong Kong may hold up to 25% beneficial interest in such FIHVs, in order to encourage FIHVs to invest in charitable assets. But mobilisation of capital is only part of the story. For greater impact, collective action is needed of players across the finance and investment ecosystems to get more creative, trying new approaches for accelerating investments in order to drive meaningful innovation and actions. It requires new partnerships, new skills, new ways of thinking, including systems thinking and systems innovation, to achieve the scale of change the world needs right now.”
“The proposed amendments to the Income Tax Act put into effect some key measures to drive incentives to bolster our economy and to support Singaporeans, as announced in Budget 2023. I will speak today on two changes that are relevant to parties at the opposite ends of the economic spectrum: firstly, for the very rich, the amendments related to the Philanthropy Tax Incentive Scheme (PTIS) for family offices; and, secondly, the amendments related to mandating the submission of income information by intermediaries for SEPs, a segment of our population with a significant share of lower-income workers. First, the amendments related to PTIS, which allows family offices with approved section 13O or section 13U incentive awards to claim 100% tax deductions for overseas donations made through qualifying local intermediaries. The aim is to build on our success in attracting family offices from around the world and to develop Singapore's reputation as a regional philanthropy hub. These tax incentives complement other changes announced at Budget 2023, including allowing family offices to meet the minimum local spending requirement via charitable donations and grants to blended finance structures as well as the inclusion of climate-related investments and blended finance structures for the purposes of the Capital Deployment Requirement. Taken together, it is a really exciting bet on the role of philanthropic capital linked to family offices in catalysing much needed investment. The increasingly global nature of many of the challenges facing the world – from food and health security to education gaps and climate change – requires increasingly global responses and resources.”
“With the impending rise of water prices and electricity prices, there is some fear that may trigger another round of price increases at our hawker centres and coffee shops. My supplementary question is: while there is not a lot of water in a bowl of noodles or it does not take that much water to clean a store, how can the CAP take a proactive approach to ensure that these increases and prices do not translate into opportunities for profiteering?”
“I thank the Senior Minister of State for the response. I have one supplementary question. Basically, we are still seeing an increase in prices at our hawker centres. The budget meals are much appreciated, but we are starting to see quite a big divergence between the budget meals and the regular price meals; and also starting to see a creep in the lower price options, say from a $3.80-budget meal has become a $4.20-budget meal in one of my coffee shops. So, I understand that currently they have a rental rebate of 5% to sustain these budget meals and that is for a year. Does the NEA or the Housing and Development Board have any plans to extend that rebate or do we see any risk of the prices of budget meals not being able to be sustained at the $4 price range that they are at today?”
“I thank the Acting Minister for his responses and I also fully agree with the Minister about the need for public transportation to be financially sustainable. I fully empathise with the delicate balance that has to be struck. My supplementary question relates to whether the Minister would consider additional tiers within the hybrid cards and calibrating across these tiers to better reflect the diversity in usage patterns. Even on the concession cards, I believe that the discounts given to seniors also reflects the very different usage patterns, using the buses and off-peak hours, which do not drive as much of the cost of the transportation network. And so, as our seniors become a larger and larger share, and will eventually become 25% of our population, would the Minister agree that there may be room to consider a slightly more differentiated approach to our hybrid cards for seniors, to allow more people to benefit? The figures that the Minister cited $16, $24, are quite far from the hybrid card costs of $58 today. So, could we allow a bigger diversity of seniors to benefit from the subsidies? Not an overall increase, but a better calibration across different tiers, where you have your young seniors who may still be working, you have your Pioneer Generation – these groups have very different usage patterns.”
“Mr Speaker, making a Singapore Made for Families is one of the most pressing challenges of our time. Our approach must be to give all families, parents and children, more help, whatever their choices and ambitions and around increasingly varied needs. We have made progressive enhancements to providing this support and choice, while maintaining our pro-business stance. But we need to go further and faster. I am confident we can continue to find innovative solutions to this. Notwithstanding my suggestions for further enhancements and clarifications, I support the amendments in this Bill.”
“There seems to be enough parents across a range of family and work circumstances for whom an additional two days per child would make a material difference and enough evidence that improved benefits drive employee engagement and business results. The total number of days can be capped, say, at 10 days, but recognising the increased childcare burden with more children, can be really important to drive consistency with the policy of encouraging two or more children. Second, taking an industry specific lens to enhancing childcare and childcare leave and driving customised solutions for each industry in partnership with employers and unions. Working parents faces different constraints and preferences for key aspects of childcare, such as type of care, location and hours. There is no one-size-fits-all solution. This calls for a more de-averaged approach that pays attention to the difference in caregiver experiences, looks for gaps in care-specific to each industry and develops customised solutions that better meet those employees' needs. For example, transportation workers and warehousing workers often require care starting as early as 4.00 am, while IT and retail workers may need more flexibility for later pick-ups. In high demand sectors like healthcare and education, the need to attract and retain employees and the high proportion of employees in the public sector afford the opportunity to drag along the rest of the industry in granting more childcare leave. Just as we have industry transformation maps that drive skills, that drive productivity solutions and workforce development at the sector level, the transformation to more family-friendly environments can be driven at the sector level.”
“And on the flipside, some parents with sick children who have to take more days, speak of feeling resigned to what they see as retribution in their performance appraisals and bonuses, particularly if they have ambitious single bosses or older bosses who have forgotten what it like to have a young family. Mr Speaker, clearly, it is not a just a matter of legislation or guidelines on flexible work arrangements. Fundamentally, we must all have more empathy for others, more respect for all. This cannot simply be a campaign slogan for one, but a movement for all and we must work, Government and citizens, to make it happen. But there are things we can do in the nearer team. The Government has committed significant funding to making a Singapore Made for Families, from higher Baby Bonuses, contributions to Child Development Account (CDA) and the proposed increase in paternity and unpaid infant leave. At the same time, a slew of initiatives are underway to support women's development, especially towards women at the workforce and in the community. There is also growing focus on our ageing population, on single moms, on special needs children. In 2024, new TAFEP guidelines for flexible work arrangement will be released. Meanwhile, even with the sceptre of a recession, some sectors are still struggling to get enough manpower, including high demand sectors like healthcare and education, which also hire more women. The stars therefore seem to be aligned for stakeholders to act on the importance of sufficient childcare leave. Given these, I urge the Government to consider two further enhancements today. First, legislating more childcare leave for parents with two or more children.”
“For many parents, there is no alternative or safe place to take their child when he or she needs to be taken out of childcare for the day. Grandparents may be too old or live a distance far away or deceased, while leaving the care of a sick child to a helper may not be a solution they feel comfortable with. And indeed, some young parents find the mere suggestion of these solutions to be quite triggering. Fortunately, there are an increasing number of progressive companies that have implemented family-friendly practices – childcare leave, flexible work arrangements and more broadly, a supportive workplace culture. In the Public Service, there are Ministries that grant six days of childcare leave per child below 12 years old, capped to a maximum of 10 days. I believe NTUC grants five days of childcare leave per child, capped at 15 days. Yet, the Government has been slow to move to legislate further enhancements to childcare leave, citing a need to strike a balance in addressing the caregiving needs of parents and the manpower and operational needs of employers. This is especially so for small and medium enterprises (SMEs), some of which may still be grappling with the effects of the pandemic. There is concern that mandating more childcare leave might affect employability. These concerns are not unwarranted. It is not uncommon to hear managers and co-workers, especially singles or adults with no children, expressing annoyance or frustration with having to cover for colleagues who go on childcare leave at short notice. Singles or adults with no children often complain that they often end up caring for their elderly parent while their siblings with children excuse themselves, with even less support for parental care leave and financial support.”
“And Mdm S, a single mother with two children aged eight and 17, who works in the healthcare sector. Each weekday morning, Mdm S sees her daughters off to school and then goes to work, secure with the knowledge that her mother will be there to watch her daughter when she is back from school at around 2.00 pm. But her mother recently suffered a stroke and is now in a nursing home. So, now, when her younger daughter gets out of school, she relies on a combination of friends, neighbours and her siblings' care to watch over her until her shift ends at 9.00 pm. And given that a 17-year-old often has other plans, that often means leaving the eight-year-old child alone for several hours a day. As a single mother, there are only two days of childcare leave available for her when her daughter falls ill. Mr Speaker, Mr E, Mr K and Mdm S, they are not outliers. Their stories demonstrate the increasing varied situations and complex challenges working parents face and the trade-offs that they make on a daily basis to care for their children, including when they get sick. Each of them must weave together a different patchwork of solutions often based on family-specific factors, such as income, the number and ages of their children, along with the availability of grandparents, relatives, neighbours and domestic helpers and on the nature of their work and workplace dynamics. The Government has stated that one of its key priorities is to ensure that parents have access to quality and affordable childcare and for their parents, and is increasing the number of childcare spaces. But the cost of childcare is still cited as a reason for couples to delay or forgo children. And what happens when the child falls sick?”
“Like Mr E, who has 4 children aged one, three, five and eight, who works 12-hour shifts at a manufacturing plant. His wife works 9.00 am to 5.00 pm. So, they are lucky to have their children in infant care and childcare at PCF Sparkletots so she can drop them off and pick them up after work. But every once in a while, one of the children will come back from school sick and when one child gets sick, it is an inevitability that it gets passed to one or more of the other children. And suddenly, they are faced with having to keep the kids at home for three, four, five days, a week. This happens three to four times a year. And we know that one bout of HFMD means seven days of MC for the child. Since six days of their childcare leave are already used on the six days that the centre closes, they end up using a fair chunk of their annual leave when their children are sick. Mr K is a private hire driver with four children aged nine, 12, 13 and 15. His nine-year-old is a special needs child. His wife is a homemaker, caring for the children and for her mother who is a stroke patient. Each morning, he drives his children to four different schools, before starting to accept jobs, even though this means he misses out on some of more lucrative driving slots. Sometimes, he gets calls from the school to pick up his daughter when she is sick or from his wife to bring her mother to her medical appointment or his daughter to her developmental assessments, which further reduces his driving hours. He sometimes thinks about going back to the IT sector which will likely give him better career development prospects. But he feels he needs the flexibility that being a private hire driver gives him given his family circumstances.”
“What are the markers that would signal that we are ready to move from voluntary to a mandatory increase in paternity leave? Moving to the increase in unpaid infant care leave from six days to 12 days, on paper, sounds good. But what is the current take-up rate of unpaid infant care leave today? In a recent response to a Parliamentary Question from Mr Louis Ng, the Minister of Manpower said that the Ministry does not track the utilisation of unpaid infant care leave. So, we are left with anecdotes. And the anecdotes suggest that above and beyond the subtle pressures that discourage fathers from using paternity leave, many fathers experience sometimes not so subtle pressures when it comes to taking unpaid infant care leave, even if they are willing to forgo the pay. I have heard anecdotes from my Woodlands residents that taking any form of unpaid leave leads to an automatic zero bonus, that unpaid leave can only be taken when paid leave is exhausted, that shift workers are not allowed to take unpaid leave and so on. So, for this laudable move to not turn cynical, it is important that the use of paternity and unpaid infant care is enshrined in the proposed anti-discrimination legislations. I would also like to ask a clarification to the Minister if the use of unpaid infant care leave will be tracked going forward. I would like to devote the remainder of my speech to something that has been asked many times in this House but has been left out of the current Bill – increasing childcare leave from the current six days per year, for families with two or more young children. For many, six days is simply not enough. These are the real-life stories of my Woodlands residents.”
“We are some way away from this in Singapore, where women still take on much more childcare responsibilities, even when working full-time. But if we want greater equality of opportunity for women, we need to provide greater equality for men at home. I repeat. If we want greater equality of opportunity for women, we need to provide greater equality for men at home. And so, Mr Speaker, while the increase in paternity leave from two to four weeks, including for self-employed workers, is a step in the right direction, one wonders: is it bold enough? Is it a missed opportunity to signal the will to take firm steps, by making this shift voluntary rather than mandatory? Is it a missed opportunity to signal an intent to work towards narrowing or closing the gap between maternity and paternity leave, even if a practical approach is taken in implementation? Many multinational companies already provide significantly longer paternity leave than the current two-week requirement, some equal to maternity leave and with no tenure requirement. These companies see a generational shift in their workforce. Paternity leave is part of their strategy to attract, engage and retain talent. In doing so, they have also had to be more intentional in rolling out supporting measures like flexible work arrangements, in line with the direction of travel that we have already set out on. More companies should be made to see this as a first step, by making it mandatory or at least committing to a timeline in the not-too-distant future, rather than the current wait-and-see stance and by kickstarting a conversation about the importance of parental leave equality in promoting shared care. At this point, I would like to ask a clarification of the Minister.”
“Mr Speaker, it has been 10 years since paternity leave was introduced in Singapore, during which time paternity leave has gone from one to two weeks, shared parental leave from one to four weeks, and take-up by fathers has gone up to 55%. More recently, amendments were introduced to avail benefits to birth, adoptive and stillborn parents in different employment situations. Ten years is a good time to take stock and see how the policy can be improved upon. The experience of other developed countries suggests that prioritising paternity leave has a positive impact on parents, caregivers, their employers and, most importantly, the children. One of the most notable examples of this is Iceland, where parents now get 12 months of leave, six months for each parent, with six weeks of that being transferable. That shift that started in the year 2000, when paternity leave was increased from two weeks to three months was rapid and, today, more than 90% of fathers take paternity leave. It is normal and socially expected to see men out pushing their babies in a pram, and the research shows that men are experiencing the role as a father much more strongly and in a more positive way, for instance, being around for their babies’ first steps or first words. Importantly, these early bonds are sustained. World Health Organization (WHO) research shows that Icelandic daddies enjoy the stronger position as fathers in the world, with children finding it easy to go to daddy whenever they have a problem. The statistics also show that it has reduced the gender pay gap, as mothers are able to return to work and normal working hours sooner, because childcare is more equally divided between both parents.”
“I thank the Minister of State for giving the data on the prevalence of such incidents in the childcare space, at I think 10 per 100,000, and staying at that level is encouraging. However, could I get a sense from the Minister of State what have been the ramifications in these 10-odd cases a year in terms of the range of the highest penalty of a fine of $5,000 to actions taken on the school teachers, because I think it is important to communicate to the public that not only are the incidences low, but that concrete action is taken on each and every single one of them?”
“I thank the Senior Minister of State. Can I just clarify if the unlisted investments here would be comparable to private equity investments, which I think have had long-term returns north of 12% to 15%? So, if you are saying 10% for Temasek, is this the right comparison? My second supplementary question is, could you also share the returns by geography, in particular, Singapore, China and then something that is more comparable to the MSCI?”
“They have ways to pass on higher prices and also the ability to convert some of these PHCs into private cars, although, of course, there is a market for that. So, how can we close down some of these loopholes? Do they actually exist today? How many cars are converted from PHCs to private cars by these platform companies as an option? And can that be closed down as a low-hanging fruit?”
“I thank the Minister. I have two clarifications. One is on motorcycle COEs. I think the Minister will know I have spoken on this a number of times, including on 1 March where I asked for more measures to deter speculative bidding. And I think what the Minister mentioned about the main measures suggests that he now recognises that, beyond supply and demand, speculative behaviour by dealers who have the incentives to bid up prices actually is a factor, and especially so, it is amplified in a market where we are talking about a few hundred COEs every month. And I think what sits with us is that we all feel that it is particularly egregious when the people who bear the brunt of these actions by dealers, are people who are the lowest income workers, students who are holding part-time jobs because they need to earn. I guess my clarification is, can we do more to close down these loopholes a bit faster? How can we be more responsive? One suggestion could be – I mean $200, $800, $1,500, it is a bit arbitrary. Could we tie the dealer deposits to the size of their bids, to be a bit quicker to rein in speculative bidding? Two, could we allow for individuals to bid, like we have for cars, for motorcycles also? And three, is there a way to provide more transparency on individual dealer bidding practices? My second clarification is on car COEs this time. The Minister mentioned that they are currently still studying the impact of PHCs on COE prices. So, I want to just clarify, is there no evidence? Does the Minister feel that there is no evidence today that the PHCs are driving up COE prices? I mean the market works, but it is also not a level playing field as we know.”
“And hopefully, this time, we can all agree that it is for the common good and avoid its politicisation. Mr Speaker, the progress in AI is exciting and worrying at the same time. I agree with Dr Tan Wu Meng, that in a world of AI disruption, togetherness and trust is more important than ever before. But that alone is not enough. We need our AI strategies, policies and people to keep pace with the breathless development; so, let us buckle up! [Applause.]”
“One, invest in AI governance and ethics research; two, ensure that ethical guiderails and legal protections keep up with the rapid advancements in GenAI; three, support businesses in setting up responsible AI programmes; and four, serve as a global reference point to contribute to the development of global standards. Global standards are needed but difficult in a world where the global governance order is collapsing and on an issue that is so ideologically charged. But therein lies the opportunity for Singapore. As a colleague commented: "Singapore's middle ground between the East and West is uniquely interesting. The US or Western logic of absolute freedom of expression is hitting the limit of fake news at scale with GenAI. The Chinese over control is hitting the limit of tech progress". He continued "I find policy making in Singapore much more nuanced when approaching those questions. Less dogmatic. So, for me, it brings legitimacy." His comments raise an interesting question as to the role Singapore could play in leading a global effort. Whether we strengthen ethical guidelines or put more teeth with regulations and legal protections is something to be evaluated against the trade-offs between innovation and protection. But there can be more regrets in increasing understanding. How can we increase understanding and align others to work together to manage our common concerns? Forums with technology providers, civil society and governments help. Could the approach taken in dealing with online falsehoods and Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Regulations be something to consider – rigorous public hearings and a national debate to study the risks and issues and recommend strategies to deal with them?”
“But the many ethical and legal concerns that people have about AI point to the fact that research in AI governance and ethics has lagged other aspects like compute power. There are big questions yet unsolved on issues like liability in the event of harm or bias, like data protection, privacy protection. How to prevent ChatGPT from becoming a tool for spreading misinformation and bias? As we move towards to AGI, how to ensure that AI systems behave in ways that are aligned to human values will be critical to advancing the progress of AI. So, regulation of AI is gathering momentum globally. More than 60 plus countries and territories are considering some 800 measures. Prominent among these is the European Union (EU) AI Act, the first broad regulatory framework on AI, unveiled in 2021. The Act sets out different rules and bans certain practices and imposes stiff penalties, up to 6% of a company's global revenues, for those in breach and the scope is global. But the rapid advances in GenAI show how difficult it is for regulations to keep up, with EU lawmakers struggling to reach consensus as to how to deal with them in the Act. In Singapore, the Model Governance Framework lays out principles, but not penalties. It seeks to build public trust and understanding and to balance innovation and protection. There is no AI-specific regulation, but deployment of AI requires consideration of other existing regulations. I think this approach is pragmatic, but some have wondered if it is too top down and does not do enough to ensure that responsibility cascades down the organisation. And others have asked if more regulatory power is needed given our status as a global financial and technological hub. So, how could Singapore be of value to the world in this regard?”
“Attract the global talent with the new skillsets for the new jobs that AI will create. I think we do not have to explain that. And finally, engage. Engage Singaporeans to not fear this AI revolution, but to embrace it and this is a massive change management effort. I once received an email from a resident. He observed the challenges and stress that people have adapting to technology, and asked, why does Singapore have to move so fast to adopt the latest technology? Why are we so obsessed with becoming a Smart Nation? Why can we not make the choice to stick to low technology or non-technology approaches on some things to make life easier for our people? We need to make people understand it is not a matter of choice. The AI revolution will not wait for us. But we need to assure people that humans are not going anywhere – humans are needed to deploy AI effectively and ethically. We need to inspire people – it is not all about avoiding displacement – there are all these very exciting opportunities that a general purpose technology like GenAI allows the young and not so young, to find application in all facets of the economy, of life, that can create value for a lot of people and help a lot of people and that should be empowering. And we need to monitor the pulse of our people and make interventions along the way. Second, leading the way in promoting better and safer AI development and deployment. As Minister Ong said, responsible stewardship is a hallmark of our policymaking. AI governance and ethics is already a key pillar of the National AI strategy. Earlier in the day, Senior Minister of State Janil had talked about AI Verify and some of the tools that we have already developed by Infocomm Media Development Authority and Personal Data Protection Commission.”
“But what is going to be different is the scale and speed at which this will happen. So, reskilling and re-employment, at scale, at speed, alongside managing the impact on people's professional identity and self-esteem, is going to be a serious challenge. And we will need to face up to the possibility, the probability that some will be left behind and this will require a new tilt towards redistribution. During this year's Budget debate, I raised that the time may have come to consider retrenchment support and Deputy Prime Minister Wong suggested in his speech that targeted re-employment support is being considered. It is timely today, but think about what might be needed 10 years from now. We need to anticipate this and time the shifts appropriately. In making these shifts, I hope we will remember that AI itself could be part of the solution, removing some traditional trade-offs. For example, AI can help in personalised reskilling at scale. We could also look at using AI in social services to provide tailored social and re-employment support at scale – rather than compromising someone that tolerated it for the sake of ease of implementation. All this will require public trust in AI and Public Officer's proper adoption of AI. Second, develop. Develop talent for the range of AI roles required – data scientists, but also designers, engineers, ethicists and so on. Remember it is possible that AI will create as many jobs as it displaces. AI talent will be needed in business, academia and public service. And sorry, but we are not talking 400 people here. So, we will need training programmes at scale, at speed, to build a workforce that will be AI-competitive 10 years from now. Third, attract.”