Poh Li San
Singapore
“Thank you, Speaker, and I thank the Senior Minister of State Janil. I have two supplementary questions. The first one, will NEA consider adjusting gate fees for industrial and commercial waste collection to shift behaviour of businesses towards higher recycling rates, especially for food waste which accounts for about 11% of total waste b…”
“Thank you, Speaker, and I thank the Senior Minister of State Janil. I believe my questions in my speech were not addressed in the Senior Minister of State's reply.”
“Thank you, Speaker, and I thank the Senior Minister of State for her reply. I have a supplementary question on such an arrangement for existing flat owners who require back-to-back sale of their existing homes to finance their BTO flats.”
“Singapore households can achieve dual savings by combining Government-provided climate vouchers with the direct import of efficient appliances from overseas suppliers, whilst business operators, particularly those in the food and beverage industry who need to purchase multiple appliances, can also avoid excessive energy costs by using ene…”
“Coastal protection is a candidate for the latter even if we want to harness the power of the former. I ask the Minister to consider a centralised approach towards the design and construction of all coastal protection measures to ensure the most robust outcomes.”
“Mr Chairman, on behalf of all hon Members who have participated in the MSE Committee of Supply, I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks to Minister Grace Fu, Senior Minister of State Zaqy, Senior Minister of State Janil, Senior Parliamentary Secretary Goh and all members of MSE, PUB, NEA, SFA.”
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“What are the innovations and infrastructure enhancements that are being implemented to help improve efficiency and reduce manpower needs?”
“Can the Ministry share its programmes to catalyse the development of our air hub and cargo hub in the next five to 10 years? Innovation in Maritime Sector Our maritime sector enjoyed excellent growth in various categories last year, including the annual vessel arrival tonnage, container throughput and total bunker sales. More international shipping groups and maritime-related companies have been set up or expanded their operations here. To maintain our lead and market share, even as we are going through the green transition and fending off cybersecurity threats to our maritime operations, we need to continue to innovate and automate. Much of these developments hinge upon attracting and retaining the right talent and workforce development. This industry faces manpower challenges due to physically strenuous roles and demanding working environment.”
“Mdm Chair, increasingly, vehicles of all types are converting to electric or hybrid sources of energy. However, compared to private vehicles, the adoption of electric and hybrid models for commercial vehicles has been slower, especially the heavier ones used for industrial purposes. Reasons include high sunk investment costs, technical and technological constraints, availability and costs of such vehicles, certification requirements and the availability and costs of trained and qualified manpower to operate and maintain newer vehicle models. Vehicle owner awareness and even inertia may play a role too. What are the steps that will be taken to incentivise businesses to opt for environmentally friendlier options for commercial vehicles, especially heavy vehicles? Has the Ministry engaged the owners of commercial vehicles about the adoption of greener vehicles and, if so, what are their feedback and main concerns? Strengthening Air Hub and Cargo Hub Mdm Chair, I declare my interest as an employee in the aviation sector. Last year, Changi Airport registered an increase of almost 15% for passenger movement. I am happy to note that our airport experienced growth from all regions, with North Asia being the fastest growing. How will MOT capitalise on this growth and develop our passenger markets, in particular, the top five: China, Indonesia, Malaysia, Australia and Thailand? What are MOT's plans to maintain Singapore as an air hub in the face of growing competition? Our cargo hub also enjoyed exciting growth last year, across exports, imports and transshipments. What are the Ministry's plans to boost our capacity for cargo handling, in terms of our infrastructure, processes, manpower and technology development?”
“Chairman, Sir, MOT will be implementing and enforcing new regulations for Personal Mobility Aids (PMAs). With our rapidly ageing population, we will observe greater adoption of these vehicles in our estates. How will MOT ensure that sellers and users are sufficiently informed of the new regulations? What measures does MOT have in place to check on and allow only imported devices that meet the regulatory requirements? Can the Minister share its public education and communication plans on the new regulations for the general public, especially for the PMA users? What are the enforcement measures on the ground to ensure that PMA users comply with the new regulations? Will MOT be increasing the recruitment of enforcement officers and tap on technology to deter and identify illegal uses of PMAs? Safety of Illegally-modified PMAs”
“Chairman, our public bus network serves an essential role in enhancing point-to-point connectivity for commuters who need to or choose to travel on public transport. Encouraging more Singaporeans and residents to use public transport whenever possible is in line with our national effort to go green and reduce our carbon footprint. What are the Ministry's plans for enhancement in bus connectivity in 2025, especially for towns with new BTO flats and regional facilities? How will MOT improve accessibility and reduce waiting times for commuters in those areas? Good bus connectivity requires more manpower, from drivers to technicians, to maintain reliability. How will we attract and retain more talent and manpower in this sector? Autonomous Bus Deployment”
“Chairman, our MRT network is the backbone of our public transport system. With a growing network and more rail assets to operate and maintain, we need to ensure that we have the appropriate measures in place and dedicate sufficient resources to keep our rail network available and reliable. Although our MRT system has been reliable in general, performing well above the target of one million train-kilometres between delays, there had been service disruptions, including a severe one on the East West Line last year. Will the Ministry share its insights on how it will enhance rail infrastructure reliability to minimise service disruptions? With an expanding rail network, with the Jurong Regional Line and Cross Island Line in the pipeline, what are the steps taken to recruit, train and retain talents for the rail transport workforce? Improving Rail Reliability”
“Mdm Chair, the Ministry has many areas of responsibility, from water adequacy to food safety, cleanliness to climate change, just to name a few. Much of its work also involves engaging and responding to the public's tip-offs, alerts and feedback, such as in the event of water leakages, floods and canal chokes, food issues, trees falling, animal abuse and so on. How does the Ministry plan to leverage social media and mobile apps, AI, information technology (IT), technology and automation in its work to improve its productivity? For areas which will benefit from real-time monitoring, such as flooding, is the Ministry investing in enough equipment and resources to ensure that we have access to timely and reliable data to act on? Public Hygiene and Cleanliness”
“Madam, last year, SFA and NEA took more than 1,200 enforcement actions against owners of premises for the lack of public toilet cleanliness, compared to over 360 in 2023. A Public Toilets Task Force was set up in 2024 to study and recommend solutions to improve the cleanliness of poorly performing public toilets. Can the Ministry give an assessment of whether the Taskforce's recommendations will be considered or implemented? Coffee shop toilets have been ranked the filthiest consistently for years. How will the Ministry get their owners and operators to sign up for the Toilet Improvement Programme, which provides up to 90% co-funding to improve their toilet designs, install sanitary fittings or adopt technology to facilitate cleaning and maintenance?”
“Chairman, in view of global warming, it is important for Singapore to strengthen our heat resilience. Our densely populated city-state is also experiencing the Urban Heat Island (UHI) effect. Could the Ministry provide an update on heat resilience plans, in view of rising temperatures in Singapore? What measures are being taken to improve the thermal comfort of our public spaces and better protect vulnerable segments of our population and outdoor workers? The Government had launched the OneMillionTrees movement to plant a million more trees across Singapore by 2030. Would the Ministry update us on how many trees have been planted to date and whether we are on track to reach our target? Would the Ministry also share the progress of environmental modelling for new towns and estates to site buildings in ways to optimise wind and air flow?”
“Chairman, climate change is causing more frequent and extreme rain events, which have led to flash floods in various parts of our island. We need to be prepared against floods inland due to rainfall and coastal floods from sea level rise. We are experiencing more sudden and heavy rainfalls which leave homeowners and businesses with less time to react, such as putting up protective barriers. Will the Minister share what measures will be implemented to better protect buildings in low-lying areas, buildings with basements and underground Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) stations against floods? Would the Ministry provide an update on the plans to upgrade our drainage infrastructure to enhance our flood resilience? How is the Ministry engaging members of the public to increase their awareness and ensure that Singaporeans are well prepared in the event of floods? Climate Adaptation”
“Chairman, in warm and sunny Singapore, air conditioning is widely used in homes, offices and shops. Air conditioning alone accounts for about 24% of an average household's electricity consumption. Together, buildings and homes are the second-largest contributor of carbon emissions in Singapore at 19%, of which a significant portion is from air conditioning. The problem is that our widespread use of air conditioning is actually pushing up external temperatures and contributing to global warming. Air conditioners exacerbate the urban heat island effect; use hydrofluorocarbons, which are potent greenhouse gases, as refrigerants; and consume high amounts of electricity generated from fossil fuels. 2.45 pm Sustainability is everyone's responsibility. What is the Ministry doing to change the attitudes and behaviours of Singaporeans towards sustainability, so as to reduce the use of air-conditioning in indoor spaces?”
“Chairman, the ubiquitous influence of social media has shaped interactions and discussions on every conceivable topic and issue, including a country's foreign policy. Singaporeans, living in one of the most digitised countries in the world, are more engaged than ever in discussions about our foreign policy. All of us are keenly aware that as a small nation, an open economy highly dependent on international trade, developments in our region and further afield globally have a significant impact on us. While we should continue to encourage and support the public to keep up to date with current affairs and learn more about foreign developments, we must constantly remind Singaporeans to keep a balanced perspective, and to be open to and be tolerant of different views and interpretations. This is crucial, considering that we are a multiracial and multi-religious community. We must be cognisant of the complex factors shaping different global developments and trust that our foreign service departments and officers have weighed in and considered the best positions and options available to us in Singapore's best interests. Hence, most importantly, we must remain united as Singaporeans and not be swayed by foreign influences. I would like to ask how MFA will strengthen domestic buy-in and support for Singapore's foreign policy to strengthen our unity and preserve the space to act in our best interests. How does MFA strike a balance between maintaining a cohesive national position and acknowledging the diversity of opinions among Singaporeans on international issues? 5.45 pm”
“Mdm Chair, with global tensions between major powers and an increasing number of countries becoming more nationalistic and protectionist, the mutual cooperation of a rules-based international order is under pressure. At the same time, competition for both material and non-material resources, like highly skilled manpower in specialised fields, has intensified. Against this backdrop, how can we safeguard Singapore's interests on the international stage and secure the necessary resources, maintain ties, mutual support and cooperation with our partners? How can Singapore ensure that we remain at the forefront in emerging areas, such as AI, cyberspace, digital economy, green economy and outer space, and promote cooperation in these areas? Competitive Edge on Frontier Issues”
“Chairman, both the US and China are important partners of Singapore. We have had a long history of friendly relationships with both countries, with strategic cooperation in almost every sector. The US has been Singapore's largest foreign direct investment partner, with investments in manufacturing, wholesale trade, finance and insurance. China is Singapore's biggest trading partner and Singapore is its largest foreign investor. The US-China political and trade relations are at their lowest points in years. They have disagreements on many issues and in addition, rivalry has led to a very tense situation. How should Singapore chart our foreign policy amidst the US-China rivalry, given our close ties with both countries? How can Singapore remain a relevant and trusted partner to both major countries? US-China Rivalry”
“Chairman, the Minister had shared in the past about the network of international partnerships that MINDEF has established to enable training overseas. Such opportunities on foreign land afford the SAF access to precious training space. We appreciate these arrangements deeply, given our own very limited land, air and sea space. Still, it is just as important that SAF continues to train locally. For one, the COVID-19 pandemic taught us that access to overseas training spaces can be cut off quite suddenly. More importantly, our soldiers need to train realistically and be familiar with our own physical terrain and context in order to be effective when the need to defend Singapore arises. At the same time, land is a precious and scarce resource for Singapore. I note that over the years, MINDEF has done its part to free up land for national development, such as the return of Seletar Camp for the development of the Seletar Aerospace Park and, in time to come, the relocation of Paya Lebar Air Base to transform Paya Lebar into a regional centre similar to those in Woodlands and Tampines. In view of these constraints on our land use in Singapore, what is MINDEF doing to maximise our local training areas in an innovative manner? Improving Training and Readiness”
“Mdm Chair, I seek leave to withdraw my amendment. [(proc text) Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. (proc text)] [(proc text) The sum of $1,108,629,600 for Head U ordered to stand part of the Main Estimates. (proc text)] [(proc text) The sum of $106,620,900 for Head U ordered to stand part of the Development Estimates. (proc text)]”
“Mr Chairman, I have a question for Senior Minister Teo. The Senior Minister mentioned that the carbon tax is an important enabler to incentivise businesses to go green and we know that the carbon tax has been projected to reach between $50 to $80 per tonne of carbon dioxide in the next five years. But five years is not a very long time for businesses to plan ahead. I would like to know when will the Government announce the schedule of carbon tax increase so that we can better help businesses make mid- to long-term plans and, more importantly, for them to make significant business decisions to invest in green solutions or even to pivot their businesses to greener options.”
“And lastly, would the Minister provide updates on the import of clean energy, the progress of solar panel installations and the studies on the viability of hygrogen and small modular nuclear reactors? [(proc text) Question proposed. (proc text)] Moving from a Linear to Circular Economy”
“Chairman, I move, "That the total sum to be allocated for Head U of the Estimates be reduced by $100". In 2022, the Government announced its plans to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050. It aimed to reduce Singapore's emissions to around 60 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent in 2030. This year, the Government announced that it will reduce emissions to between 45 and 50 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent by 2035. I would like to ask if we are on track to meet our 2030 target, which is just five years down the road. How much clean energy and carbon credits will we need to depend on in order to meet this target? The Government had indicated in its target submission to the United Nations (UN) that it will implement regulations, pricing and market policies to incentivise and enable all sectors of our economy to decarbonise. Would the Minister please elaborate on these plans? What has been the response from the business community so far? What is the expected impact on our economy and competitiveness, considering that Singapore is only one of the 13 countries which had submitted climate change targets to UN? Currently, 95% of Singapore's electricity production comes from liquefied natural gas (LNG) and the remaining is dependent on oil, coal, solar and waste supply. At the same time, 97% of our primary emissions come from our power, industrial and transport sectors. What are the expected cost increases to businesses and consumers associated with carbon emissions reduction and which industries and types of businesses are expected to bear the bulk of the cost burden? 3.00 pm To achieve our longer-term 2035 and 2050 targets, will we be making any pivots from our current decarbonisation strategy?”
“They can either be dried, canned or frozen. With new ideas and creativity, we can further strengthen Singapore’s local hawker brand names and, in turn, raise awareness for our hawker culture. Mr Speaker, Sir, when older hawkers retire, we must do our best to incentivise younger Singaporeans to continue their legacy while earning a fair livelihood. Our Singaporean food culture is about our good and affordable hawker food and this is a gem that must continue to shine. I support the amended Motion put forth by Member Mr Edward Chia.”
“The Hawkers' Development Programme, which trains and mentors potential hawkers, was launched by NEA in 2020. In 2022, the Hawkers Succession Scheme was launched, to help retiring veteran hawkers pass their culinary skills, recipes and hawker stalls to aspiring successors. Unfortunately, the take-up rate for these schemes to establish a more systematic framework to attract and develop aspiring hawkers is still low to date. We need to push harder in order to entice young hawkers into the trade with more creative incentives. (In English): Mr Speaker, Sir, I have two suggestions for NEA's consideration. The first is to organise a grand annual competition and provide credible recognition to outstanding hawkers. Such features and awards can help raise awareness that being a hawker requires a special distinguished craft, just like how a Michelin chef is recognised. The competition can include various categories, showcasing preservation of traditional techniques and heritage dishes, creativity in new recipes, healthier food selections, excellence within cost constraints or excellence within slightly higher budgets, to cater to different taste buds and different pocket sizes. The competition prize can include a free rental for a period, at a stall of the winner’s choice. This reward could be a pragmatic way to encourage talented young people to enter the hawker profession as it enables them to start off with an advantage. My second suggestion is for Enterprise Singapore and NEA to jointly help enterprising hawkers who do not have the funds to promote and expand their business and operations within Singapore and overseas. One way is to form a panel to identify and promote certain local brands and assist them to look into pre-packaged meals for the retail market.”
“The Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth (MCCY) had made a commendable effort in December 2020 for Singapore’s rich and vibrant hawker culture to be recognised in the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. This recognition has raised awareness about the importance of preserving and growing our hawker culture. The Hawkers' Development Programme, which trains and mentors potential hawkers, was launched by NEA in 2020. In 2022, the Hawkers Succession Scheme was launched to help retiring veteran hawkers pass their culinary skills, recipes and hawker stalls to aspiring successors. Unfortunately, the take-up rate for these schemes to establish a more systematic framework to attract and develop aspiring hawkers is still low till date. We need to push harder in order to entice young hawkers into the trade with more creative incentives. Mr Speaker, Sir, I would like to share a few points in Mandarin. (In Mandarin): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] It is a matter of reality that first- and second-generation hawkers will retire and sadly, some original and authentic hawker recipes together with certain Singapore’s hawker culture will gradually fade. It is definitely not easy to sustain and grow our hawker culture in this rapidly changing environment. Nevertheless, I believe the hawker culture is an important part of our cultural heritage and more must be done. MCCY had made a commendable effort in December 2020 for Singapore’s rich and vibrant hawker culture to be recognised in the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. This recognition has raised awareness about the importance of preserving and growing our hawker culture.”
“These price increases places tremendous pressure on them. The most affected groups include low-income families, retirees, and students. To address their concerns, our local MPs have worked closely with hawker centre operators to try to ensure that food remains affordable for residents. In Sembawang GRC, the Kampung Admiralty Hawker Centre and the Bukit Canberra Hawker Centre were opened recently and are run by socially-conscious enterprise operators. At the Bukit Canberra Hawker Centre, all 44 stalls offer budget meals priced at $3.50. Senior citizens holding blue CHAS cards, Pioneer Generation cards and Merdeka Generation cards will receive a 10% discount. Students under 18 years old will also get a student discount during lunchtime on weekdays. At the Kampung Admiralty Hawker Centre, local schemes such as Belanja-A-Meal provide affordable food for low-income families. With contributions from residents and generous donors, low-income residents under the Belanja-A-Meal scheme can enjoy 10 free meals per month. These local schemes help some of the residents most affected by recent price increases. Many appreciate the support provided. My fellow MP, Ms Mariam Jaafar, will elaborate further about this initiative. (In English): It is a matter of reality that first- and second-generation hawkers will retire and, sadly, some original and authentic hawker recipes, together with certain Singapore hawker culture, will gradually fade. It is definitely not easy to sustain and grow our hawker culture in this rapidly changing environment. Nevertheless, I believe the hawker culture is an important part of our cultural heritage and more must be done.”
“To address their concerns, our local MPs have been working closely with the hawker centre operators, to try to keep meals affordable for residents. In Sembawang Group Representation Constituency (GRC), Kampung Admiralty Hawker Centre and Bukit Canberra Hawker Centre were opened in recent years and are managed by SEHC operators. In Bukit Canberra Hawker Centre, all 44 stalls offer $3.50 budget meals and the meals' quantity and ingredients are usually more budgeted as well to fit into the price cap. Seniors holding the blue CHAS, Pioneer and Merdeka Generation cards will receive a 10% discount. Students under the age of 18 will also get student discounts during weekday afternoons. In Kampung Admiralty Hawker Centre, local schemes such as Belanja-A-Meal, provides low-income families with affordable meals. Thanks to contributions from fellow residents and generous donors, low-income residents on Belanja-A-Meal scheme can each enjoy 10 free meals monthly. These local schemes do help some residents who are most affected by recent price increases. Many are appreciative of the support provided. My fellow GRC MP, Ms Mariam Jaafar, will later share more, in her speech. Mr Speaker, Sir, I would like to say a few words in Malay. (In Malay): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] After a 26-year hiatus, NEA resumed efforts in 2011 to build 20 new hawker centres. With the addition and sudden surge in the number of new hawker centres, operating costs at these hawker centres have risen further. Hawkers have no choice but to pass on these increased operating costs to consumers. As a result, many stalls in these new hawker centres face significant challenges in operating. We have received much feedback from residents about the recent increase in hawker food prices.”
“Also, to alleviate manpower shortage, stall holders can now hire from a bigger pool of LTVP holders. They can hire family members who will be more willing to work long hours and are more committed to help sustain the business. Apart from that, centralised common services scheme like dish washing, clearing of crockery and cutlery, and general cleaning can reduce the manpower required. On the payment mode, digitalisation initiatives, such as cashless payments and the CDC vouchers have also helped to reduce the stall's cash management. As a result of such labour reduction initiatives, many stalls can now be managed by two or for some, even one person. The second challenge is to offer hawker food at affordable prices without compromising the quality. Older hawkers live in older housing estates such as Old Airport Road, Tiong Bahru, Geylang Serai and so on. Most of the famous and popular hawker stalls including Michelin Bib gourmand stalls are often found in these older hawker centres. Most of these older stalls are able to sustain well. After a 26-year pause, in 2011, NEA restarted the building of 20 new hawker centres. With the additional and sudden surge of so many new hawker centres, operating costs in these new hawker centres tend to be higher. Hawkers will have no choice but to pass on the increased operating cost to the consumers. Otherwise, many stalls in these new hawker centres will find it very challenging to operate. We have received numerous feedback from residents about the price increase in hawker meals. This price increase has caused a heavy strain on them. Most affected are from the low-income families, retirees and students.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, hawker food is now a critical source for most Singaporean's daily meals, especially, for families who do not often have home-cooked meals. Hawker centres, that are located amidst our residential heartlands, are an integral part of our food landscape. More importantly, affordable hawker food offers a sustainable option for low-income families and seniors. When I was still a student, I used to help at my aunt's Marine Parade laksa stall, not the same one as Mr Leong's laksa stall, during my school holidays. I witnessed the challenges she faced, the very long hours she had to work, and only having one rest day a week. Their daily revenue is unpredictable as their earnings will naturally be affected whenever business is bad. Nevertheless, her laksa business has managed to assist my aunt's family financially. When she retired, only one of her six children was willing to continue with the business. As expected, my cousin had to sell the business as the third generation was not keen to take over. As a matter of fact, most elderly hawkers are retiring without any succession plans. Understandably, compared to the first- and second-generation hawkers, their children are now exposed to better employment options and opportunities with more rewarding salaries and progressive career prospects. Given the evolution of this business and the challenges ahead, we would need to assist these hawkers. One challenge would be the lack of people willing to work as hawkers. There are several initiatives already implemented by the Government to help existing hawkers better cope with the labour shortage. For instance, the joint tenancy scheme allows hawkers to work shorter hours and share rental cost with co-tenants.”
“As a nation, we should be giving our top athletes the maximum resources and clear the roadblocks for them, so that they can go all out without reservations, to compete against their opponents on the global sporting arenas. We should not only be spending top dollars to build world-class infrastructure and sending our athletes for multiple training stints and competitions overseas. We must be laser-sharp in our focus on how our athletes may achieve their full sporting potential and help them. If our system does not provide maximum support to our top athletes, then we should not expect anything more from sports other than healthy living. I hope the MCCY and MINDEF will consider my two suggestions. As a nation, we must be realistic and realise that our full support to all our athletes, coaches and Team Singapore officials, determines how our athletes will fare in sports. Mr Speaker, Sir, I support the Motion put forth by Minister Edwin Tong and I hope our Los Angeles 2028 Olympians will shine even brighter on the world stage and continue to fly our Singapore flag high! [Applause.]”
“Defence Minister, Dr Ng Eng Hen has also shared in Parliament in July 2022 that MINDEF is prepared to allow more national athletes to disrupt their full-time national service to train for international competitions. The problem athletes face is that the deferment of NS duties till after the Olympics may in turn result in a deferment of the loss of critical training and competition window. As a result, the deferred NS duties may actually coincide with subsequent Olympics where the stakes may be even higher. I would like to suggest a modified NS programme for athletes who have already competed at the Olympics and have the potential to excel at the next Olympics. A modified NS programme could include Basic Military Training, followed by a short specialist course, something that could be more intensive for a shorter period. Thereafter, the athlete is being seconded to SportSG to complete the remaining NS term. During this period, the athlete must focus on full-time training and competition, in preparation for next Olympics Games. For his reservist, the athlete can also serve in SportSG if he is still actively competing. If retired, he may be posted back to the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF), to be deployed to the NS reservist units as a specialist, to complete his remaining NS tenure or even serve his time as a coach. So, I hope MCCY and MINDEF will consider this modified NS programme for Olympians. The time provided to them during the secondment period will be extremely critical for them to stay in top form, improve their international rankings needed to qualify for the next Olympic Games and hone their mental resilience for the battles ahead. Competition at the highest level is relentless and the window of opportunity is extremely short.”
“Most athletes in their teenage years are not ready for the pressure and limelight thrown upon professional sportsmen and sportswomen. The coach is the mentor to guide and protect them from unnecessary pressures and distractions. One example would be athletics head coach, Luis Cunha. He helped our “sprint queen”, Shanti Pereira, make her breakthrough after a seven-year plateau. Though already at age 27, Shanti won the 200 metres gold and 100 metres silver medals at the Hangzhou Asian Games in 2023. She has broken the national record for 100 metres and 200 metres multiple times. Coach Cunha himself was a national sprinter and had represented Portugal at three Olympics Games. Shanti credited her spectacular breakthrough to her coach, Cunha. Former Olympian swimmer, Mark Chay, coached Paralympian swimmer, Yip Pin Xiu, since 2019 and she continues to fly the Singapore flag high. Former Olympians and national table tennis head coaches Gao Ning and Jing Junhong trained Izaac Quek and Zhou Jingyi since their formative years in the Singapore Sports School. I hope that SportSG and respective NSAs will continue to identify and attract the best coaches, especially those with Olympic experiences. NS is mandatory for all fit and eligible male Singaporeans and Permanent Residents, and there should be no exceptions. My second suggestion is to implement a modified NS programme for a handful of athletes who have already competed in the Olympics. This suggestion requires a paradigm shift as to the way we view NS. So far, the Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) has granted deferment only to three Olympians, Joseph Schooling, Quah Zheng Wen and most recently, Max Maeder.”
“Secondly, it is extremely tough and tiring for students to balance competitive sports with our demanding education system. While the Sports School has a very student-centric programme that works around their competition schedules, there is not such an academic programme in the higher institutes of learning. Our national athletes would have to follow the same academic and attendance standards as their peers in our local polytechnics and universities. This stringent academic requirement becomes very challenging whenever they must travel overseas. Thirdly, National Service (NS). Their progress and sporting performance will invariably suffer a decline over the two years as they are unable to train and compete regularly. This enlistment period will inevitably coincide with the most crucial sporting peak years. Mr Speaker, Sir, all of us hope to see more Singaporean athletes excel and fly our Singapore flag high in Los Angeles Olympics and beyond. I would like to offer two suggestions. First, we obviously must invest in world-class coaches with a track record of developing Olympians, be it an international or a Singaporean coach. The coach works closely with the athlete on technical aspects, physical fitness and competition strategy. The coach is the most crucial partner for an elite athlete and this is especially so during the formative years. The athlete’s mental strength is critical for any personal breakthrough and is the defining factor between winning or losing. An experienced coach, and preferably once an Olympian, can better understand the intense psychological pressures and better prepare and strengthen the athletes’ mental resilience.”
“Our very own bronze medallist, Max Maeder, is also 17. Our table tennis players, Izaac Quek and Zhou Jingyi, are respectively 18 and 19. They are also amongst the youngest Team Singapore athletes to have competed in the Paris Olympics. The Singapore Sports School can be our critical gamechanger. This year marks its 20th anniversary. Over the years, the school has produced 19 Olympians and 17 world champions. Some of our athletes have done well to compete at the highest level while balancing their education. However, none of our six Olympic medallists till date, Tan Howe Liang, Feng Tianwei, Li Jiawei, Wang Yuegu, Joseph Schooling and Max Maeder, is an alumnus of Singapore Sports School. From a young age, Joseph Schooling, our only Olympic gold medallist, took the non-mainstream pathway to study and train in the United States (US). Max Maeder is home-schooled and has to travel abroad very frequently to train and compete. The question here is, even though the Sports School has managed to have churned out 19 Olympians, how soon can the school produce an Olympic medal winner? We are all aware that nothing is predictable but after 20 years of not being able to produce an Olympic medallist, we would need to take a critical look at the changes required. We must understand the unique challenges and constraints in our current system and adjust our current strategy. Here are three unique constraints. Firstly, even though Singapore has built a world-class sporting infrastructure, we do not have a world-class competitive ecosystem. As a result, there is a shortfall of high-level competitions and our athletes would have to travel frequently or be based overseas to train and learn from the best athletes around the globe.”
“The Olympics and Paralympics are the epitome of all sporting competitions. Mr Speaker, Sir, I join Minister Edwin Tong and on behalf of all Parliamentarians, to offer our heartiest appreciation and congratulations to our Team Singapore athletes, our Chefs de mission, coaches, physiotherapists, team managers, SNOC and SportSG officials, staff and parents for their commendable participation and performance at the 2024 Olympics and Paralympics in Paris. Amongst the 23 Olympics and 10 Paralympics athletes who competed, world champion kitefoiler, Max Maeder, six-time Paralympic gold medallist, Yip Pin Xiu, and boccia world number two, Jeralyn Tan, flew our Singapore flag high as they emerged on the podium to receive their hard-fought Olympic and Paralympic medals. Badminton world champion, Loh Kean Yew, managed to reach the Men’s Singles quarter finals. Swimmer, Gan Ching Hwee, set her personal bests and broke the National records for 800-metre and 1,500-metre freestyle. Once again, congratulations to all. [Applause.] Los Angeles 2028 Olympics will come around faster than we realise. To help our athletes unleash their fullest potential and excel at the Los Angeles 2028 and Brisbane 2032 Olympics, SportSG and respective NSAs must now begin to work closely with our athletes, coaches and parents. A world-class athlete starts training from an extremely early age. Michael Phelps, the American swimmer and the most decorated Olympian of all times, with 28 Olympic medals, was only 19 when he won his first gold medals at Athens Olympics in 2004. More recently, diving sensation, Quan Hong Chan, was only 14 years old when she won a gold medal at Tokyo Olympics in 2021. At the Paris Olympics 2024, French Paddler, Felix Lebrun, 17 years old, won two bronze medals.”
“Recently, our volunteers started additional services, by roping in hairstylists to provide free haircuts for residents who turn up for the food distribution. Residents will not only eat healthily but also look better and feel more comfortable. (In English): Thanks to the "Colourful Foods, Vibrant Life" programme, my Branch volunteers have forged a stronger camaraderie. Though it is hard work, we are always happy to be there for fellow Singaporeans who are less privileged in life. Everyone looks forward to the third Saturday of the month and we are passionate about helping our residents. Hence, with the Good Samaritan Food Donation Bill, I hope more food donors and Samaritans will come forward to contribute. With the additional support, programmes like Sembawang West's food distribution programme can be replicated in other localities and to many more towns in Singapore. Finally, I would conclude with my sincere thanks to the leadership of fellow Member, Mr Louis Ng and his legal assistant, Ms Charmaine Yap, and many more Samaritans in the committee who have contributed in the drafting of the Good Samaritan Food Donation Bill, over the past four years. The Good Samaritan Food Donation Bill will assist in the reduction of food waste, help low-income families, inspire stronger volunteerism amongst more Singaporeans and make us a more caring society. Let us all turn a vicious circle of food waste into a virtuous circle of good deeds! Mr Speaker, Sir, I support the Bill.”
“] We started the "food distribution" initiative with the intention of reducing food waste, encouraging low-income families to eat more nutritious meals, and also helping them reduce expenses on food. Over time, we had the opportunity to get to know the residents better and we developed friendships by chatting with them while they wait in queue. Even though they may not be affluent or well-educated, many of these residents are very hardworking, warm and down-to-earth. They are very appreciative of our efforts and greet us warmly whenever we meet. We receive many blessings and truly appreciate the thank-you notes that were given to us from these distribution sessions. Throughout this process, our volunteers, especially the youths, have the opportunity to learn about how we can help the under-privileged living in our midst. It is a great eye-opener that brings a lot of meaning and real-life experiences to these volunteers, including helping senior residents carry their bags of fruits and vegetables to their humble homes, which helps the volunteers learn to appreciate how fortunate they themselves are. There is a lot of good done whenever our branch volunteers work with other community or corporate social responsibility groups who have come forward to contribute as well. Besides Sengkang Food Rescue and Sembawang Town Council, companies like TreeDots and Saint Gobain, Smile!SG and MAD, have joined forces with Sembawang West Branch, to donate household items like toys, books, frozen food, pillows, fruits and vegetables. During festive periods especially, this additional donation brings lots of joy and relief to residents who are not able to afford such basic pleasures.”
“They are very appreciative of our efforts and we often get warm hugs whenever they see us. There are many unexpected beautiful blessings and thank you notes from these distribution sessions are very much appreciated by our volunteers. During the process, our volunteers, especially the youths, have the opportunity to learn about how we can help under-privileged living in our midst. It is a great eye-opener that brings valuable life education and experiences to these volunteers. In helping senior residents carry their bags of fruits and vegetables to their humble homes, the youths learn to appreciate how fortunate and well-endowed they themselves are. There is a lot of good done whenever our branch volunteers collaborates with other community or corporate social responsibility groups who have come forward to contribute as well. Besides Sengkang Food Rescue, Sembawang Town Council, companies like TreeDots and Saint Gobain and volunteer groups like Smile!SG and MAD, have joined forces with Sembawang West Branch, to donate household necessities like toys, books, frozen foods, pillows and more, to augment the fruits and vegetables. Especially during festive periods, the additional donation items indeed bring lots of joy and relief to residents who are not able to afford such basic pleasures. Recently, our volunteers even started additional services, by roping in hairstylists to provide free haircuts for residents who turn up for the food distribution. Residents will not only eat healthily but also look better and feel more comfortable. Mr Speaker, Sir, I will like to share our takeaways in Malay. (In Malay): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.”
“Our residents and volunteers in Sembawang West will also get to benefit more. Mr Speaker, Sir, please allow me to share our Food Rescue experience in Sembawang West. Five years ago, my PAP Sembawang West Branch volunteers and I started our "Colourful Food, Vibrant Life" fruits and vegetables distribution programme. We distributed free fruits and vegetables once a month to our residents staying at our rental block, as well as the 2-room and 3-room blocks. Apart from a few months during the COVID-19 pandemic, when we had to pause the programme, unfortunately, this programme has brought much joy to both volunteers and beneficiaries. Our key partner, Sengkang Food Rescue will collect multiple truckloads of unwanted fruits and vegetables from the Pasir Panjang Wholesale markets and from other food donors and store them at their Fernvale facility. There are approximately 20 to 40 pallets collected each Saturday. Thereafter, my branch volunteers will collect one truckload of fruits and vegetables from Fernvale and transport them to Sembawang West rental block. My volunteers will unload, sort, clean and display the food items at the void deck of the rental block. Typically, between 80 and 100 families will come by to collect the produce. Some of them will collect on behalf of their neighbours who may be out or unwell. We started with the intention of reducing food waste, encouraging low-income families to eat more nutritious greens and also helping them reduce their food expenditures. Over time, we got to know the residents better and we forged friendships with them through our chit-chats while they wait in the queue. Even though they may not be well-endowed or well-educated, many of these residents are very hardworking, warm and down-to-earth.”
“It would be good for the local Social Service Offices and Family Services Centres work with and to support food donation groups in order to achieve more targeted outreach to low-income families that would benefit from regular food distribution. Mr Speaker, Sir, I will now share my suggestions in Mandarin. (In Mandarin): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] The purpose of the Good Samaritan Food Donation Bill is to encourage food donations by providing liability protection for donors, so as to help more families and people in need and reduce waste and burden on the environment. We need to take the following steps to expand donation efforts and deliver donated food to more beneficiaries. We need to raise awareness of the Bill and promote enhanced liability protection for food donors. We must encourage large partners to participate, such as the Singapore Food and Beverage Industry Association, the Singapore Hotel Association and large supermarket chains, such as NTUC FairPrice and Cold Storage, to set an example for other food suppliers and operators. We need to increase volunteers in various districts, including volunteer drivers of large vehicles, to assist in the collection, delivery and distribution of donated food. The Singapore Armed Forces could consider mobilising some National Servicemen to participate in this process. Collaboration between the community and the Family Service Centres and food rescue organisations is important to reach more low-income families in a targeted way who would benefit from regular food distribution. (In English): I am very eager for the passing of the Good Samaritan Food Donation Bill as this will help scale up our food rescue and distribution efforts in Singapore.”
“But needless to say, a lot more needs to be done in order to reduce significant amounts of food waste and to redistribute edible foods to the under-privileged communities in Singapore. The logistics is viable because Singapore is small with good transport accessibility to reach anywhere in a short time. We need to create awareness of the Good Samaritan Food Bill and hopefully promote an enhanced liability protection extended to food donors. We have to encourage lighthouse partners such as the Restaurant Association of Singapore, Singapore Hotel Association and major supermarket chains such as FairPrice and Cold Storage to come onboard as examples for other food suppliers and operators. We will need to increase the number of volunteers in various localities across Singapore to assist with the collection and distribution roles. Key food collection points, donation drop-off nodes and distribution points must be established in various zones across Singapore. Volunteer drivers of large vehicles could then ply between the collection nodes and the distribution points while volunteer distributors could help with sorting, cleaning, repacking and distributing the donated foods to beneficiaries. It is also important for the distribution points to be located at convenient and accessible locations for the beneficiaries. The Singapore Armed Forces can also consider activating some National Servicemen to be involved in this process. We have to identify and reach out to more potential beneficiaries who are open to receive donated food and as much as possible, provide fresh and healthy foods. We also need to help these beneficiaries develop healthy eating habits, especially for growing children.”
“However, as a small and resource-scarce nation, we must stop the following from increasing – food waste, food costs, food insecurity, manpower needs and carbon footprint. The Good Samaritan Food Donation Bill will be a good solution. This legislative amendment can be a significant game-changer in the management of under-utilised food resources and waste reduction while helping low-income families cope with rising food expenses and assisting them in monitoring their nutrition intake. Presently, there are already several volunteer groups addressing the collection of unconsumed food and redistributing them to various communities. Just to name a few, the Food Bank rescues more than 800,000 kilogrammes of food annually. Food from the Heart will collect unsold bread, while Food Rescue Sengkang picks up vegetables and fruits from wholesale markets and food donors. These rescued food items are mostly limited to those that are easier to transport, store, distribute and safe to mark as consumables. There are still plenty of untapped opportunities to rescue unconsumed high-quality foods from restaurants, hotel buffets, supermarkets and so on. If sufficient protection from liability or even benefits are provided for the donation of unconsumed food, more food donors and distribution groups will come onboard. Such collaboration efforts can potentially create solutions for more ground-up initiatives and attract various communities to work together to reduce food waste and to do good. We can turn a vicious circle of waste into a virtuous circle of good deeds. The Good Samaritan Food Donation Bill is a good solution.”
“Singapore is a food paradise filled with eateries and restaurants at every corner of our country. However, many of us are unaware of what happens to food that is unsold and how much food is wasted. An elephant can weigh up to six tonnes. The food waste produced in 2023 was a staggering 755,000 tonnes. That is a gradual increase from 744,000 tonnes in 2019. Here are some facts: one, while food prices are increasing consistently, the options for affordable food supplies for low-income families are still very limited; two, even though SFA has been working hard to meet the "30 by 30" national nutritional goal, a huge quantity of edible food is being thrown away daily; three, 11% of total waste collected in Singapore is food waste and this percentage can be reduced; four, we have a shortage of waste collection workers. We need to ask ourselves why are we throwing away so much food when they can be channelled to feed our under-privileged groups? This food paradox arises because food is perishable, expensive to store and transport and food that does not look fresh is hard to sell or may even cause health issues. It is not disputed that it is cheaper, more convenient and less risky for food suppliers and restaurants to simply throw away unsold and unconsumed food rather than to donate them. This practice is especially so for well-known food establishments. It is just not worth the risk of damaging an established food company's reputation should the quality and safety of the unconsumed food be compromised in the course of collection and distribution. As Singaporeans become more affluent, many people tend to take a nonchalant and risk-averse attitude when it comes to wasting food.”
“Speaker, I thank Minister Chee for his comprehensive reply. Minister Chee assured us that only as a last resort in extreme scenarios will the step-in powers be exercised. Given the scale and complexity of our transportation system, how likely is MOT or the agencies able to find replacement leadership with the right capabilities at short notice to lead the designated entities out of trouble, especially since this industry only has a few big players? For example, SMRT, we know, took quite a few years with all hands on deck to get back to where they were. So, I would like the Minister to further clarify this part.”
“Our laws and policies must be shaped to protect our transportation systems that have been painstakingly built up over the years. Our transport laws and policies must be passed based solely on the interest of serving Singaporeans. Notwithstanding my queries to the Minister, I support the Transport Sector (Critical Firms) Bill.”
“I hope the Minister will clarify, under what circumstances will decisions on changes in business ownership controls be blocked by MOT and with reference to the non-transport related business arms of designated entities, what level of flexibility and independence would investors have? Perhaps the most important concern is that the Transport Sector Bill accords the Minister the step-in powers, in the extreme scenario if a designated operating entity is unable to provide transport services safely and reliably. The intent of the Transport Bill must not intervene with the operations of these commercial companies. Understandably, the experts know best. However, should there be a situation of mismanagement, then the Minister would be vested with the legal powers to replace the leadership in the affected designated entities. I mentioned the boiling frog analogy earlier. Unfortunately, it may often be too late to rectify the weaknesses after a catastrophic failure occurs. Recovery may take a long time or may not ever materialise. My concern is the effectiveness and practicality of leadership takeover to prevent further disruptions. I hope the Minister can elaborate on the following: one, what are the trigger events for the Minister to exercise his step-in powers; two, when step-in powers are exercised, how would MOT and its regulatory agencies take over or support the team to stabilise the situation; and three, does MOT also have the powers to mandate the competitors of the affected designated operating entity to take over its responsibilities to minimise service disruptions? Mr Speaker, Sir, I believe there is no necessity to reiterate just how critical the reliability and efficiency of the transport services are to Singapore.”
“Foreign transport operators may find compliance requirements too stringent and operations and safety requirements too onerous and costly. The Transport Sector Bill does not encourage healthy competition. The lack of competitors in any industry will result in a lack of efficient operations in the long run and it is natural that the service standards will decline. Any entity that has the advantage of monopolisation will naturally hesitate to invest. It is about money. It is about business. Such an outcome would be detrimental to all Singaporeans whose lives and livelihoods are heavily dependent on reliable and efficient air, land and sea transport systems. The Singapore aviation, maritime and land transport sectors are currently dominated by a few major players, such as Changi Airport Group, Singapore Airlines, Singapore Airport Terminal Services, Port of Singapore Authority, SMRT and SBS Transit. Sadly, even without foreign competition here, many of these companies will still need to venture overseas to diversify their business portfolios to seek additional revenue. Over the years, the revenue from their global businesses for some of these companies has surpassed the revenue from their Singapore businesses. Regardless of that, competition is still necessary to ensure that services are all up to necessary standards. Designated entities having to seek too many approvals from the relevant authority for significant investment and divestment decisions will cause undue encumbrances which, in turn, will reduce their interest to assist us.”
“This cannot be truer for big corporate organisations, which had collapsed because of poor top leadership. Companies like Enron, Lehman Brothers and closer to home, Hyflux, come to mind. Hence, it is vital for the Board Chairman and CEO of designated entities to be visionary leaders who can embrace their purpose and mission. The transportation industry is a demanding, complex and highly regulated business. Suitable candidates may not be readily available. Hence, for succession, the appointment of an appropriate CEO and Chairman is naturally challenging. Why are we limiting our choices for good talent when we should be reconsidering our regulations to bring in the best? I would like to seek clarification from the Minister, if MOT will share the broad criteria for the Chairman and CEO for the designated entities, such as nationality, professional background, experience and track record in the relevant transport industry, and so on? The Transport Sector Bill requires designated entities to obtain approval from the relevant authority changes in ownership controls, to safeguard against adverse influence. Over the last few years, governments around the world have introduced screening of foreign direct investment on the grounds of national security and public order concerns. In Europe, UK, America and many other countries, Acts, such as National Security and Investment Acts, Foreign Investment Risk Review Modernization Act have all been reviewed. Singapore has a domestic market that is of a much smaller scale compared to these countries. Hence, incentives for new players are less than attractive and it is obviously harder to attract major foreign transport operators to operate here. Moreover, with the transport industry so highly regulated, entry barriers are high.”
“Everyone was asking then, how could our national MRT system deteriorate to such a poor state? Breakdowns are not usual for large-scale and complex transportation systems. It is not easy to detect deep-seated weaknesses at early stages. It is like the boiling frog phenomenon. Things will appear to be going well at first. Then, a series of small disruptions start to happen before a catastrophic failure occurs unexpectedly. By then, it is usually too late. A massive amount of damage control and recovery will be needed to restore normalcy. I am happy to know that in a short span of eight years, we have managed to turn around an unreliable MRT transport system to one of the most reliable systems in the world today. Nothing short of being remarkable. It took a herculean effort across the whole of land transport ecosystem and required extremely determined and collaborative teams with total dedication and discipline to achieve this. Not only our public transport is now amongst the best in the world, our airport and seaport have also consistently achieved world-class accolades. It is now necessary to safeguard our achievements. This is what we have learnt: major disruptions are preventable if long-term planning and investments are addressed well to ensure growth capacity and high-quality services. We, therefore, must always be ready to improve to ensure that our transport sector is reliable and has a good system in place. Systems are determined by people. The people in charge must have a vision to serve Singaporeans. A bad system will only cause disruptions. One of the most important areas that we must address is the appointment of its Board Chairman and CEO. There is a saying that fish rots from the head.”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, I am an employee in the aviation sector. I refer to the Transport Sector (Critical Firms) Bill and I would like to highlight certain concerns. One of them applies across all industries, which is, how are we going to be able to attract good talents in leadership roles? Another is, how do we navigate our strategic business expansion and diversification plans? For any economy to grow, the transport infrastructure must facilitate the flow of goods and services, and people mobility must be well-connected to businesses around the world. Transport is the key to economic growth and competitiveness for trade. In the words of Mr Gan Kim Yong, our Trade Minister, "Trading is Singapore's lifeline. But more than just that, it is in Singapore's DNA". Our airport and seaport are the catalysts of our economic development. Let us talk about them. [Mr Speaker in the Chair] Despite disruptions to the global supply chain during the COVID-19 pandemic, our ports remained opened and never stopped operating. Food supplies and vaccines may never reach our people if operations were disrupted. Our land transport is the lubricant of our society. Our MRTs and public buses transport must work seamlessly on a day-to-day basis to cater to more than seven million trips daily with minimal disruptions. It is no easy feat when it comes to running a transport organisation. The operators never get to rest. In fact, they are busiest when everyone else is taking a break, especially during weekends and holiday seasons. Respective operators must continuously ensure tip-top maintenance and operations standards, these are all the work needed just to prevent disruptions. Many Singaporeans would remember the 2015 to 2016 period, when SMRT trains suffered frequent disruptions.”
“Thank you, Speaker. I thank the Senior Minister of State for his reply. I have one supplementary question. May I know what is the success rate of such large-scale vegetable farms in Singapore so far? And on the other hand, there are many community farms, or even urban farms, within our residential estates growing very similar vegetables quite successfully. Would a more decentralised, localised and community-based vegetables-growing model be more viable?”
“Thank you, Speaker, and I thank the Senior Minister of State. I have a supplementary question and I would like to ask the Senior Minister of State what the proportion of fatal accidents is occurring at road junctions; and out of these fatalities, what is the proportion of pedestrians versus cyclists versus passengers and motorists? I thank LTA for installing more of the RAG arrows; they are very good. Following a very tragic fatal accident in Sembawang West last year, we have two of our junctions installed with the RAG arrows. I would like to ask LTA, other than these features, are there other further improvements that can be made to improve the road safety of cross traffic junctions?”
“Chairman, I have a question for Minister Chee. Singapore is the first country in the world to impose a Sustainable Aviation Fuel levy on passengers. With the cost burden of Sustainable Aviation Fuels fully loaded on passengers from 2026, how can airlines then be incentivised to be fuel-efficient in their operations? For example, the airlines, why would they choose to uplift Sustainable Aviation Fuels from Singapore instead of cheaper non-Sustainable Aviation Fuels in other airports?”