S Iswaran
Singapore
“The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) has incorporated the requirements of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) 2020 regulation in its Prevention of Pollution of the Sea (Air) Regulations 2022. The Regulations are applicable to Singapore-registered ships and all other ships while they are in Singapore waters.”
“The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) plans to progressively roll out the charging infrastructure for electric harbour craft operations in the Port of Singapore from 2025.”
“Since 2018, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) has imposed minimum bicycle parking provisions covering different types of developments. The requirements are determined by multiple factors, including the developments’ use, location and gross floor area (GFA).”
“I had addressed similar Parliamentary Questions by Mr Gerald Giam on 29 November 2022 and 10 January 2023, as well as in my Ministerial Statement on 8 May 2023. The Member can refer to these past answers and statement as there has been no material change in the allocation of Certificates of Entitlement.”
“To encourage the uptake of electric cars, the Government has rolled out the Electric Vehicle Early Adoption Incentive and enhanced Vehicular Emissions Scheme. When taken together, it provides up to $45,000 off the Additional Registration Fee of an electric car upon registration.”
“The Land Transport Authority studies all potential changes to the Certificate of Entitlement (COE) system carefully, including conducting sensitivity analysis where appropriate.”
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“China's in-sourcing of intermediate goods and services, similar trends in the US in terms of re-shoring, will have a major impact on distributed manufacturing networks and cross-border supply chains. Meanwhile, India, ASEAN and other emerging markets have a growing middle class that is demanding more and sophisticated products and services. New technologies are blurring traditional industry boundaries and creating hybrid sectors like Fintech. They transform existing industries. For example, if you look at 3D printing and advanced robotics, they can revolutionise manufacturing. Many Members have talked about it. The impact is in terms of rapid prototyping, optimised design and vastly improved efficiencies. Digital technologies, such as big data, Internet-of-Things (IoT), artificial intelligence, and Cloud, these enable innovation and new business models to access markets and address evolving preferences of consumers anywhere in the world at any time. For example, e-commerce is transforming retail. In fact, there is an article on this today in The Straits Times, with big data and predictive analytics allowing retailers to better target customers in whichever market. These changes, coupled with our domestic constraints, affect different sectors differently. An enterprise level response, while necessary, is not sufficient, given the nature and the scale of these challenges. So, we need broader sector-focused strategies that systematically harness innovation, talent development and partnerships, to sustain the competitiveness and growth of our economy and industries. And that is the essential thrust of the Industry Transformation Programme. So, how will we do this? I want to illustrate using the manufacturing sector.”
“Mdm Chairperson, I thank all the Members who have spoken on our industry development strategy. They have raised a wide range of questions which I will now endeavour to address. Miss Cheryl Chan has asked about our strategy to generate sustainable economic growth and create good jobs for Singaporeans. This, in fact, is the focus of CFE, which Mr Liang Eng Hwa enquired about. Madam, the CFE is the latest in our continued effort to look ahead and prepare for longer-term challenges and structural changes, even as we manage some of the short-term cyclical challenges in our economy. We have done so previously with the Economic Review Committee in 2001; and the Economic Strategies Committee in 2009. And this resolute focus on the long term has really been our hallmark, you could say even our competitive advantage, in the way we have worked on the economy. In consultation with industry leaders, the CFE is studying the trends that will underpin the next wave of growth markets and sectors. And it is a national effort to understand the threats and opportunities these trends present, and what we need, in this next phase, in terms of corporate capabilities, connectivity, infrastructure and skills so that we can sustain our economy well into the future. Madam, changes in global trade patterns, market integration that Minister Lim has talked about and also new technologies and novel business models that Mr Liang and Ms Sun Xueling referred to, these are some of the forces that are reshaping the global economic environment. They are disrupting industry structures and value chains and also changing the nature of jobs.”
“The Singapore Tourism Board (STB) takes a serious view against unlicensed tourist guides. The STB (Amendment) Act 2014, which came into effect in October 2014, strengthened the powers to investigate and compound offences by STB enforcement officers and increased the penalties for unlicensed guiding offences, to more effectively deter illegal tourist guiding activities. Over the past few years, STB has stepped up enforcement action against unlicensed tourist guides. Enforcement checks have increased by more than five times from 225 in 2013 to 1,245 in 2015. Since 2013, one licensed travel agent and its director were convicted and fined for engaging unlicensed tour guides to conduct tours, while six unlicensed tourist guides were convicted and fined $1,500 or more for each offence. STB will continue to closely monitor the situation and take firm action against companies and individuals who do not comply with the regulatory requirements. Page: 110”
“The Government’s approach to consumer protection is based on promoting fair trading among retailers and helping consumers make informed purchasing decisions. This approach has benefited consumers and businesses, as the vast majority of our retailers are legitimate businesses who want to serve their customers well. As the nature of consumer transactions can vary widely in practice, broad-based requirements, such as mandating that deposits be put into escrow accounts, would be onerous and raise the cost of doing business which will, ultimately, be passed on to consumers. In sectors where deposits are the norm, the Consumers Association of Singapore (CASE) has worked with sector associations to develop the CaseTrust accreditation scheme. Most businesses accredited under the CaseTrust scheme provide protection for consumers' deposits. This usually takes the form of business insurance which will compensate consumers if the business becomes insolvent. Currently, more than 700 businesses from various sectors offering motoring, renovation and spa and wellness services are CaseTrust accredited. CASE recently announced that it has partnered the Hair and Cosmetology Association (Singapore) to work on CaseTrust accreditation to promote fair trading, improve the sector's image and raise consumer confidence. CASE is in similar discussions with the Association of Catering Professionals. We encourage more businesses to become accredited as this helps to provide consumers with greater confidence that their interests are safeguarded.”
“From 2010 to 2015, SPRING and MDA supported a total of 562 startups through the Technology Enterprise Commercialisation Scheme (TECS), ACE Startups grant and the IDM Jumpstart and Mentor (iJAM) scheme. Over the same period, a total of nine startups that had previously received one of these grants successfully exited through an IPO, merger or acquisition. Agencies do not have equivalent data for comparison with other cities.”
“From 2005 to 2015, the Consumers Association of Singapore (CASE) filed six injunction applications in the Courts against recalcitrant errant suppliers. All six applications resulted in the Courts issuing injunction orders on the suppliers restraining them from carrying out the specified unfair practices, such as making untrue statements to consumers about the availability or origin of the goods which the supplier was selling. Injunctions are the last resort in a spectrum of actions that can be taken against errant retailers under the Consumer Protection (Fair Trading) Act. Before filing an injunction application in the Courts, CASE may facilitate mediation between suppliers and consumers to reach mutually agreed outcomes. CASE may also propose that suppliers enter into voluntary compliance agreements (VCAs) to stop the specified unfair practices and compensate consumers. In most cases, errant retailers cease the unfair practices after mediation and/or entering into a VCA. In such instances, CASE does not need to file for injunctions against them. Over the same period, from 2005 to 2015, CASE facilitated about 1,700 mediation cases and entered into 17 VCAs.”
“The SME Talent Programme (STP) helps local SMEs attract talent from Institutes of Technical Education (ITEs), Polytechnics and Universities by co-funding student internships, study sponsorships and fresh-hire training. Participating students are required to work in the sponsoring SMEs after graduation. In 2015, 155 STP job matches and over 700 STP internships were conducted, benefiting 192 enterprises. This was an increase from the 116 enterprises that benefited in 2014. SMEs also benefit from the SkillsFuture Earn and Learn Programme (ELP), a work-study programme to encourage fresh graduates from Polytechnics and ITEs to enter industries which they are trained for. The ELP provides these graduates with opportunities to deepen their skills through structured workplace learning and mentorship, as well as competitive starting salaries and clearly-defined career advancement pathways. The programme started in April 2015, and as at December 2015, 144 individuals had been placed in 55 companies across 12 sectors. SMEs have responded positively to the programme, making up about half of the companies that hired new graduates from Polytechnics and ITEs under the ELP in 2015. The ELP will be expanded to more sectors in 2016. SPRING will continue to work with trade associations and chambers, universities, polytechnics and ITEs to increase the flow of talent to the SME sector.”
“A trader who uses an instrument that does not have the weights and measures seal and accuracy label may be fined up to S$5,000 or face up to three months' imprisonment, or both. A trader who uses an instrument that has a lapsed accuracy label may be fined up to S$2,000. Most traders use instruments that comply with the requirements under the Weights and Measures Act. From 2011 to 2015, there were seven infringement cases involving traders that used unregistered instruments. SPRING will continue to ensure that traders use registered instruments with weights and measures seals and valid accuracy labels, and will take action against those that do not comply. SPRING conducts regular outreach and educational activities to raise traders and consumers’ awareness of the requirements under the Weights and Measures legislation. This includes partnering trade associations and the Consumers Association of Singapore (CASE).”
“All weighing and measuring instruments that are used for trade purposes in Singapore have to be registered with SPRING Singapore (SPRING) and verified by authorised verifiers appointed under the Weights and Measures Regulations 2005. Only instruments that meet the relevant International Organization of Legal Metrology standards and pass verification checks to ensure that they provide accurate measurements are affixed with the weights and measures seals and accuracy labels. Each accuracy label is valid for one year. Traders are required to submit their instruments for re-verification before the validity period lapses. SPRING and its appointed enforcement agency, Certis Cisco, conduct regular spot checks to ensure that traders comply with the verification requirements. In 2015, more than 8,000 instruments were covered by such checks. On average, spot checks are conducted at around 20 different locations every month, including wet markets, supermarkets, post offices and pawnshops. During festive seasons, SPRING steps up enforcement by checking the instruments used at festive bazaars. Traders who are found with instruments that have lapsed validity period will be issued a notice to submit the instrument for verification within 14 days. Traders using non-verified instruments will also be asked to replace them with registered and verified instruments or send the non-verified instruments for verification. SPRING conducts follow-up checks on traders who have been issued notices to ensure compliance. Should any trader fail to comply with the notice, the trader may be penalised under the Weights and Measures Act.”
“Changi Airport Terminal 4 is expected to open in 2017. An additional 5,700 hotel rooms will be completed by 2017 and a further 2,800 will be built from 2018 to 2020. This is sufficient to support the projected visitor arrivals growth in the medium term. The Singapore Tourism Board (STB) is constantly monitoring demand trends and will continue to work with industry partners and other relevant agencies to ensure that there is sufficient hospitality infrastructure to cater to the projected growth in visitor arrivals. Apart from hospitality infrastructure, STB will also continue to work closely with industry to identify and support innovative tourism hardware and software development, while improving our capabilities. This is in line with STB's approach to Quality Tourism to achieve sustainable tourism growth in the longer term.”
“Those are some of the products that A*STAR has also developed and RFID is one example. In general, I would say that that has been the mechanism of engagement and we are always open to other ideas on how it can be improved. But I would say that we need effort on both sides: both on the part of the research institutes to reach out and also for the end-users or those who have the need, to also make the effort to find out more and participate actively. I would say that the trade associations and chambers, particularly those that are focused along sectoral lines like the precision engineering groups and so on, I think they have very good mechanisms through which some of the more broad needs of an industry cluster can be raised by SMEs. 2.49 pm”
“Mdm Speaker, I thank the Member for his supplementary questions. I think, in essence, the question is whether we can have more intermediation between the research performers in the public sector on one hand and the potential users of research on the other. As I have said in my reply earlier, there are different ways to achieve this. Licensing is but one mechanism. In fact, with many companies, we have joint laboratories which do proto-typing and test-bedding in order to develop new products. We also have research collaboration agreements which may entail a group of research institutes collaborating with one or a group of companies on specific projects. Also, we do have other efforts in order, to facilitate greater engagement between our companies and our research institutes. For example, A*STAR does an annual SME Day, where SMEs from very diverse sectors are invited to participate, not just those which are already in collaboration but many others, so that they understand the suite of capabilities that are available for them. As the Member has alluded to, and I will just elaborate for the benefit of all Members, A*STAR does engage our SMEs in a very deliberate fashion. One mechanism is the Growing Enterprises through Technology Upgrade (GET-Up) programme which essentially allows for the secondment of researchers to these SMEs, whether it is to work on specific ideas or to map out a larger technology blueprint for them. And similarly, we have got Technology Adoption Programme (TAP) where they modularise technology like radio-frequency identification (RFID) and others so that SMEs which are not really capable or keen at this stage to engage in a very deep research, but want simple modular technology that they can plug in to, or that can be plugged into their systems.”
“Mdm Speaker, from 2004 to 2014, a total of 1,759 patents were awarded to Singapore's public sector research performers in A*STAR and our Institutions of Higher Education. A*STAR and MOE track the total number of licensing agreements executed by Exploit Technologies Pte Ltd (ETPL) and the Autonomous Universities (AUs) including those that involve Intellectual Property (IP) that is not patented. The total number of licensing agreements signed by ETPL with private sector companies between FY2004 and FY2014 was 920. Of these, about 80% were with SMEs and start-ups. The number of licensing agreements signed by the Technology Transfer Offices in our AUs from FY2008 to FY2014 was 418. MOE does not have a breakdown of the number of licensing agreements by corporate segments but plans to start collecting this data from FY2016. Companies collaborate with our public sector research institutions on R&D in different ways. However, licensing is the primary mode adopted by ETPL and the AUs for the commercialisation of IP. A formal licensing agreement between research performers and companies ensures that both parties entering into such a commercial arrangement fully understand their rights and obligations.”
“Having said that, I want to assure Members that the powers embedded in this Bill will be exercised judiciously with the strong set of safeguards that I have elaborated on. Madam, let me conclude by emphasising the considerable harm that organised crime activities can cause to Singapore's safety and security. We, therefore, need law enforcement levers that can aid the fight against organised crime. And this is why we have studied the laws in other jurisdictions to develop the Bill, which is scoped to target the threats posed to Singapore by OCG. I urge Members to give your full support to the Bill, so that our law enforcement agencies will have the necessary powers and tools to tackle the scourge of OCG and continue keeping Singapore safe and secure. Madam, I beg to move. [(proc text) Question put, and agreed to. (proc text)] [(proc text) Bill accordingly read a Second time and committed to a Committee of the whole House. (proc text)] [(proc text) The House immediately resolved itself into a Committee on the Bill. – [Mr S Iswaran.] (proc text)] [(proc text) Bill considered in Committee; reported without amendment; read a Third time and passed. (proc text)] Page: 61”
“And the civil confiscation regimes in New Zealand and Australia similarly put the onus on the subject of a civil confiscation proceeding to establish that his property is derived from lawful activity. Let me also reassure the Member that the civil confiscation regime will be used judiciously against organised group criminals. The PP is required to first prove to the High Court, on a balance of probabilities, that the subject has carried out organised crime activity within the statutory period of seven years. A confiscation order is, therefore, not made simply on the grounds that the defendant cannot explain the origins of his wealth. We first, have to establish the predicate offence on the balance of probabilities. It is fair to place the burden of proof, we believe, on the subject to prove the legitimacy of his property thereafter. After all, he is in the best position to explain how he derived those assets and these are also matters which are specifically within the subject's knowledge and which will be difficult for anyone else to prove. The subject will have the opportunity to show that his assets, which are disproportionate to his known sources of income, are not ill-gotten. Madam, I want to emphasise that such provisions are not unique to Singapore. The preventive orders are closely modelled after the UK's Serious Crime Prevention Order and Page: 60 Financial Reporting Order. Countries like New Zealand, Australia and the UK also have civil confiscation regimes. In fact, these countries allow the use of such powers even against persons who commit serious offences without any organised crime influence. The experiences of these countries have shown that such tools are effective and necessary to prevent and disrupt organised crime.”
“The OCPO/FRO or confiscation order will be issued only if the High Court is satisfied with the merits of the case. There is also provision for appeals to the Court of Appeal. Page: 59 Let me now also address specific queries raised by Members. Mr Hri Kumar asked about the threshold of "protecting" the public: how the threshold of "protecting" the public will be satisfied before an OCPO/FRO is issued. This would involve the assessment of risk, that the person is still likely to be involved in organised crime activities without the Order. Mdm Speaker, in deciding on the issuance of the Orders, the Court would have to balance the public benefit that the Orders would bring, in terms of greater security and safety, against the restriction and requirements that would be imposed on the person. In other words, the application for or issuing of the order must be commensurate with the risk of the subject getting involved in organised crime activity without the Orders. So, the law enforcement agencies and the PP would have to make an assessment of that risk and persuade the Court of that assessment before the Orders can be issued. Let me also respond to Mr Hri Kumar's query on whether both Orders can be renewed indefinitely. This is not the case because if the law enforcement agencies see the need for a new order upon the expiry of the previous order, they would have to approach the PP to make a fresh application to the High Court, and it would be subject to the same risk assessment and test before the Court. Mr Alvin Yeo also asked about the civil confiscation provisions which reverse the burden of proof, onto a subject to prove the legitimacy of his property. As Mr Yeo has pointed out, this approach is similar to that we have used in CDSA.”
“For example, the Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters Act (MACMA) allows for mutual legal assistance to be provided for a wide range of offences and that is the basis on which our law enforcement agencies have been cooperating with their international counterparts. Madam, Mr Hri Kumar and Mr Alvin Yeo have asked about the safeguards to ensure that the OCPO, FRO and civil confiscation orders, which can be sought through civil proceedings, requiring a lower standard of proof as compared to a criminal conviction, are used only in appropriate cases. I think these are valid points. I explained earlier some of the safeguards and I wish to reiterate them. Madam, let me first say that the overall safeguards that the Bill provides for before an OCPO, FRO or civil confiscation order can be issued in civil proceedings. First, law enforcement agencies will investigate and build the case against suspected organised criminals. Their priority is to prosecute the criminals in Court as far as possible, in other words, to secure a criminal conviction. The decision to apply for one of the orders or for a civil confiscation order, in the absence of a conviction, is made separately by the PP. So, there is a separation between the law enforcement agency that does the investigation and gathers the evidence and the PP who makes the final assessment on whether such orders are to be applied for. Second, these proceedings must be heard in the High Court, where the PP has to prove, on a balance of probabilities, that the defendant has been involved in a Part 2 offence, or a serious offence associated with an OCG. The defendant will have the opportunity to defend himself and he can avail himself of the same defences available if he had been subject to a criminal prosecution.”
“In doing so, our law enforcement agencies will rely on evidence, such as the communications between the members of the OCG, statements recorded from witnesses and OCG members, any instruments of crime seized, and the conduct of the members of the OCG in relation to the offence. So, in Mr Hri Kumar's example of a gang of foolish youths stealing a motor vehicle, if, in fact, the gang steals the vehicle and discards the vehicle thereafter and, it is an isolated case, the Penal Code would be the most appropriate lever with which to deal with this sort of criminal act. Let me also emphasise that the focus of this Bill is on OCG that commit serious offences on a sustained basis. The Bill does not target ad hoc groups that commit isolated crimes. Page: 58 Let me also take this opportunity to address Mr Alvin Yeo's question on the extraterritorial nature of offences created under the Bill. I acknowledge Mr Yeo's point that it is important for Singapore to be able to provide assistance to other countries in the area of organised crime as part of the international collaboration and cooperation that we have with overseas law enforcement agencies. However, the most important consideration, in deciding on the scope and coverage of new offences in the context of Singapore, is to criminalise the activities that are of greatest concern to Singapore. And this is the principle which has guided the manner in which we have drafted this Bill. I want to assure the Member that this Bill, and the way it is drafted, will not impinge on our ability to render assistance to foreign law enforcement agencies when warranted by the situation.”
“I hope this example illustrates to Members, somewhat more vividly, how an OCG can pose a greater threat to Singapore's safety and security, even if they are not similar to the traditional notions of mafia or triads that Mr Hri Kumar referred to. Mr Hri Kumar has also asked for relevant statistics regarding organised crime. As I have mentioned earlier, and Members have acknowledged, our overall organised crime situation is generally under control. Nevertheless, in the area of drugs, between 2012 and 2014, CNB seized almost $47 million worth of drugs and broke up over 60 drug syndicates. Many of these syndicates are small-scale operations in Singapore without elaborate structures, similar to the local networks of Persons A, B and C in the illustration. However, in some of these cases, there are suspected links between these syndicates and transnational organised criminal elements, in other words, the activities go beyond our borders and are part of a larger structure. We must also be prepared for the emergence of new types of organised crimes and modalities that can threaten Singapore's safety and security. Mr Hri Kumar asked about the evidence that will be used to determine whether the purpose of a group is to obtain a financial or other material benefit from the commission or facilitation of the commission by any person of any serious offence. Madam, the purpose of the group can be established through its activities, for example, whether the plans and preparations of the OCG are focused on financial gain, how the serious crime is executed and how the group deals with the proceeds of the crime.”
“Under the Bill, the local partners will also be liable for new offences, such as instructing the commission of an offence for an OCG and recruiting members for an OCG, that is, Part 2 offences. And if convicted, they will face higher penalties under the Bill. To tackle such OCG, this Bill provides additional levers beyond criminal sentences. The PP can apply for an OCPO to restrict the activities of persons A to C, for example, by placing restrictions on the premises to which they have access to, and the manner in which they may associate with other persons. This will curtail their involvement in the OCG's activities. The PP can also apply for an FRO to require them to furnish financial reports to CNB. This will allow CNB to trace and track their finances. Finally, the Bill will allow us to deal more effectively with the mastermind, the OCG Leader X. These leaders, like X, usually operate from overseas and they would create many layers and structures to distance themselves from the actual drug trafficking activities and ensure that they do not personally handle the drugs. This makes it difficult to secure a drug trafficking conviction against them. With the new offences created under this Bill, OCG Leader X will be liable for criminal offences, such as instructing the commission of an offence for an OCG and recruiting members for the same group. In addition, the benefits he derives from his criminal activities can be subject to the civil confiscation regime. This will deprive him of his gains, disrupt the activities of his OCG and Page: 57 curtail its further growth.”
“The handout describes the typical structure of a drug trafficking group, and it is based on actual cases that the Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB) has dealt with. The graphic shows the complex and layered nature of the OCG. The OCG's activities are initiated and coordinated by the mastermind, OCG Leader X, who is located overseas − the large big circle, you cannot miss him and he looks fairly sinister. He takes orders for drugs from his partners in Singapore and instructs drug supply syndicates and courier coordinators to deliver drugs to these partners. Once brought into Singapore by couriers, the drugs pass through multiple hands, channels and layers before being sold to drug abusers. The illicit proceeds from the drug trafficking activities flow back to OCG Leader X and further finance the illegal activities of the OCG. The Page: 56 arrows in green give you the flow of funds. Currently, CNB can take action under the Misuse of Drugs Act against persons in the lower rungs of the OCG, such as the runners and street-level traffickers. These are the persons in the bottom two layers of the OCG. With the Organised Crime Bill, such persons can be subject to enhanced penalties for committing these offences for an OCG. However, the OCG will be able to easily regroup by replacing these lower-level operatives by recruiting more persons to perform such roles and continue their operations. To be effective, we need to take action against persons higher up in the hierarchy. The persons in the middle tiers of the OCG – A, B and C – are OCG Leader X's partners in Singapore. In most cases, CNB is able to arrest and charge such persons under current laws.”
“Madam, as the Clerk distributes the handout, I want to thank Mr Hri Kumar and Mr Alvin Yeo for supporting the Bill and also for the queries that they have raised. The issues they have raised fall into three broad areas. First, of the need for the Organised Crime Bill; second, how the Bill will be used to tackle organised crime more effectively; and, finally, the safeguards, especially for some of the provisions pertaining to civil confiscation. I will address each in turn. Madam, both Members have agreed with the need for the Bill and I welcome their support. OCG are a menace and pose a serious threat to our safety and security. And they have the resources to commit serious crimes on a large scale and for prolonged periods. They structure themselves to evade law enforcement, especially at the higher echelons, by having layers and elaborate structures, each with discrete and separate functions. While overall crime, and organised crime in particular, in Singapore is generally under control, we must ensure that we have the necessary powers to effectively address the threat of organised crime should the need arise. This is especially important as OCGs will evolve with globalisation and advances in technology. They will find new ways to perpetrate crime and evade the law. This Bill will strengthen significantly our ability to prevent organised crime from taking root in Singapore. Mr Hri Kumar asked about the types of OCGs and organised crime activities that we are concerned about. Our law enforcement agencies' greatest concerns today lie with the involvement of OCGs in crimes, such as drug trafficking and unlicensed money lending (UML). I would like to explain this further using the illustration in the handout.”
“Thank you, Mdm Speaker. Mdm Speaker, may I have your permission to ask the Clerk to distribute a handout to Members?”
“Madam, I thank the Member for his suggestion and I appreciate why he raises this. But I do want to point out that, in a sense, almost anything that is potentially combustible can pose a danger. It just depends on the level of concentration. Therefore, if we were to go about listing them, I think it will be a very long list. So, I think we have to go on a risk-based approach to this. Clearly, the highly combustible substances are very tightly regulated. Beyond that, those substances which are of relatively low combustible property, I think we should let the authorities look at this, especially the SCDF, and make the assessment. It may pertain to how it is used or additional restrictions on thresholds, in terms of how much quantities are brought into a particular event or an activity. So, let the SCDF and SPF make their assessment and, if there is a need for further finetuning of our regulations, we will do so. But we are not, at this stage, contemplating expanding the coverage in a manner that covers all combustible materials because that would be quite impractical.”
“Madam, Police permits had previously been issued for colour-run events in 2013 and 2014 and Police permits have also been issued for annual Rang De Holi events since 2012. Rang De Holi events are to celebrate spring and involve the use of coloured powder. Whether coloured powder would be permitted in future events would depend on the Singapore Police Force (SPF) and SCDF's assessment of the safety risks posed by such activities. In terms of the lessons learnt, I think, clearly, one key point is whether adequate precautionary measures have been put in place when such events are organised. As I have explained earlier, in general, there is a range of measures between the Police and the SCDF that can be put in place to ensure public safety and security for such events through the Page: 33 permits and licences that are issued. Beyond that, arising from this recent episode that occurred in Taiwan, the Police and SCDF are looking in a more detailed manner into the incident, its causative factors and, therefore, what lessons we can draw from that and impose appropriate additional conditionality if such events are to continue in Singapore.”
“The Colour Run event in Singapore will require a Police permit and the post-run party will require a public entertainment licence. An SCDF permit is also needed for the erection of a stage at the post-run party. Both SCDF and SPF are in contact with the event organisers. The agencies will assess the hazards posed by the materials intended for use at the event, before granting the necessary approvals. Restrictions or additional safety measures may also be imposed to manage safety risks. This may include replacing combustible powder with non-combustible materials, such as water mist, limiting the powder dispersal zone, disallowing sources of ignition within a certain radius, or prohibiting the discharge of powder at mass congregation areas, such as the end point of the run.”
“Madam, a cloud of powdered substance, such as corn flour, could ignite, even though it is not considered a hazardous material when packed or stored properly and used in the way it was intended, such as for baking or cooking. Under the Fire Safety (Petroleum and Flammable Materials) Regulations, the import, transport and storage of substances which are highly flammable and beyond certain threshold quantities require SCDF licences. The holders of such SCDF licences are required to impose stringent safety measures with regard to the handling of such substances. However, this does not cover less combustible substances in powder form, such as corn flour. Police will assess all relevant factors, including public safety, before issuing Police permits or public entertainment licences for events. If necessary, the Police may impose conditions to prohibit hazardous activities. The event may also be disallowed entirely if it is deemed to pose a threat to public safety. Events involving temporary structures, such as Page: 32 stages, will also require an SCDF permit. This will be issued only if sufficient fire safety measures are in place. For events which are not regulated by the SPF or SCDF, the SCDF may still issue a Fire Hazard Abatement Notice under the Fire Safety Act, if they are aware of the existence of any potential fire hazard. A person served with such a notice will have to take steps to abate the fire hazard, such as ceasing the use of flammable materials. Should information be received by Police that a particular event may pose a threat to public safety, the Police will use all measures provided for in the law, including the seizure of items or stopping of the event, to prevent the commission of an offence.”
“Madam, I thank the Member for her question and I appreciate the intent behind her question. But as I have stated, the address on the NRIC, as reflected in the records, serves very important purposes, whether it is in terms of enforcement or contact tracing and for a variety of other reasons. So, we need addresses that are current and that allow our enforcement and other agencies to take appropriate steps, especially when there are specific exigencies. So, a PO Box address or an NOK address does not really serve that purpose. Therefore, I think it would be something quite difficult for us to consider, based on our current provisions and laws.”
“ICA works with HDB to inform property owners during property sale transactions of the need for timely update of addresses. This legal requirement is also made known on ICA's and HDB's websites and disseminated through ICA's numerous outreach exhibitions. Individuals who believe that their address has been wrongfully used should lodge a report with ICA or the Police so that the authorities can investigate the matter.”
“Thank you. Madam, the National Registration Act requires NRIC holders to report any change in their place of residence to the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) or Police within 28 days of the change. Any change will also be reflected on their NRICs. This applies to both property owners and rental tenants. Failure to do so is an offence and punishable by a fine or imprisonment, or both. Over the past three years, 61 persons were convicted for failure to report a change of their place of residence, an offence typically committed in furtherance of other criminal offences. Updated address records are necessary for Government agencies to get in touch with individuals for various purposes, including the registration of voters by the Elections Department and contact tracing in a disease outbreak situation. This applies to owners as well as rental tenants. Similarly, owners or rental tenants should use their current address for commercial transactions, including obtaining a credit facility. A person who uses an outdated rental address when he is no longer staying at the location will not be traceable and will cause inconvenience to current residents of that address. If a tenant dishonestly uses an outdated Page: 16 address to secure a licensed loan, he can be punishable under the Penal Code. Police will also act firmly against borrowers who obtain unlicensed loans with their outdated addresses. Under section 28C of the Moneylenders Act, such borrowers may face imprisonment for up to a year. To ensure that the change of address facility is not abused, including for criminal purposes, ICA requires the NRIC holder to show documentary proof that he is residing in the property before effecting the change.”
“In areas of tourism interest, such as the Chinatown Conservation Area and the Merlion Park, the Government has implemented temporary roadside and surface coach parks where it is feasible and there is available state land. However, it is not always possible to have such coach parking facilities in the immediate vicinity of the attraction. To further assist travel agencies, tourist guides and their coach drivers, the Singapore Tourism Board has issued advisories to inform them of all the coach parking locations and drop-off/pick-up points for popular tourist spots and retailers in Page: 128 central Singapore. The Singapore Tourism Board, Land Transport Authority (LTA) and Urban Redevelopment Authority actively monitor the situation on the ground to ensure that safety is not compromised. Agencies have also instituted mitigating measures wherever possible. For instance, LTA has been working with private developers prior to the construction of new tourist attractions to estimate the travel patterns, so that adequate provision for both parking as well as drop-off/pick-up spaces can be made within the new attraction itself.”
“Madam, I thank the Member for his questions. Let me take the second question first. There are many ways for individuals to secure PR in Singapore, including young people in the age groups that the Member has indicated. This scheme is just one of a range of possible routes. In fact, the large majority are associated with families because their parents are Singapore citizens or PRs themselves, or because their parents have applied for PR as a family together; and they have come together. So, I want to make it quite clear that the large majority of the PRs of this age group of foreigners are really through some of these other routes. Secondly, what is the desired intention? Well, as we have stated before, it is part of a larger talent policy in Singapore, so we keep different routes and options available to us. The Member suggested this is a group that is too young to be considered. There is, in fact, an equally persuasive alternative view, because these young people, by virtue of being embedded in our education system for a significant period of time, living and studying cheek by jowl with Singaporean students, are better integrated and, therefore, better able to immerse themselves in our environment. So, the scheme is targeted, it is very measured in the way it is taken up. As I have given the statistics, the proportion who take up PR and from there to citizenship is clear, the number who actually give up or renounce their PR is very, very low. I would say that, overall, just to give the Member a sense, as a percentage of all the other PRs that we give, for students or young people, it is less than 5%.”
“Madam, on the first question, if there is suspicion or serious suspicion that there is a matter of security threat, then the police and the relevant agencies are not constrained from making the appropriate checks on the various items that may be carried by diplomats. It is an international protocol that we observe. So, any risk that the Member imputes to be associated with such practice is a risk that is internationally acknowledged as well. It is not peculiar to the Singapore regime. Secondly, on the amount of gold and whether, therefore, it would have been allowed to pass, I want to reiterate first the point that we do not have any controls on the quantity of these precious metals and so on that are being exported out of Singapore and usually there are certain basic conditions that they observe when they do so. The Member should also be aware that it is not uncommon, especially for travellers to certain parts of the world, to carry what you and I might consider not insignificant amounts of gold in their personal baggage. If they are able to give a clear explanation that these are their personal effects or for personal consumption purposes, generally they would be allowed to carry on with their travel with those items.”
“Mdm Speaker, I thank the Member for his questions. First, gold is not a security threat item and that is why it was not subjected to a security threat screen. Our officers would conduct a normal security threat screen and, if items, such as weapons, suspicious objects or things like large amounts of cash, are detected, then they tend to follow through on further checks, as required by the protocol. So, the Member should be clear that this is the context. There was no lapse in terms of security threat assessment and the checks that go with it, as part of the pre-boarding screening. Secondly, the Member talks about diplomatic bags and I think he is getting a few things mixed up here. The "dip bags" are separate from the personal bags of diplomats. Diplomatic bags have a certain kind of treatment, but diplomats who are travelling and carrying personal bags are subject to pre-board screening, like all other travellers, as I have said. That is the protocol that is observed, not just in Singapore but internationally, because that is what is necessary to ensure safety in aviation and in travel.”
“The study will provide insights in the future manpower landscape, skills gap, benchmarking against competing industries as well as recommendations to enable the hotel industry to attract its fair share of talent. STB's capability development incentive schemes have also helped to upskill our workers, especially in the higher end or upper management in the hospitality sector. One beneficiary is Ms Jennifer Chin from Mandarin Orchard Singapore. She started as an entry-level sales executive with a higher diploma in hotel management. She has risen through the ranks to become senior director in business development. Supported by STB's Training Industry Professionals in Tourism leadership development grant, basically a training grant for professionals, she is currently in the Advanced Management Programme in Hospitality offered by NTU and in collaboration with Cornell University. This will really position her well for taking on greater responsibilities. Another example is Mr Yew Eng Tong, who is chef de cuisine at Ocean Restaurant by Cat Cora at Resorts World Sentosa. With the help of STB's Association Development Fund and commercial sponsors, the Singapore Chefs' Association has been able to send local chefs like him to prestigious overseas culinary competitions to gain experience and exposure on the international stage. Mr Chairman, I have tried to give an overview of the various initiatives under R&D, energy and tourism, the developments we can expect to see this year and how these can be Page: 154 contributing to strengthening our economy and competitiveness of our companies. This will continue to help us on our path of promoting sustainable growth through innovation, productivity and the creation of good jobs for Singaporeans. Low Productivity Growth and Real Wages”
“Dr Lim Wee Kiak has asked how we will ensure that Singapore remains a competitive retail destination for tourists and this effort is a key part. And some things have already been done. Last year, STB worked with the retail industry to test-bed new initiatives to give Orchard Road new vibrance, and one of them is KEEPERS: Singapore Designer Collective, which is a five-month pop-up showcasing local designers. This effort helped to foster long-term business opportunities for local designers. For example, one local brand Aijek by fashion designer Danelle Woo, was picked up by TANGS after being spotted at KEEPERS. STB intends to continue having this KEEPERS facility. For those of you who have not been there, Page: 153 especially the ladies, I would urge you to go because I was told there were some very surprising finds. To take these efforts a step forward, STB is conducting an Envisioning Orchard Road exercise that is expected to be completed by end-2015. It will study consumer insights from key source markets, engage Orchard Road stakeholders to obtain insights and understand key challenges and develop a common vision and new ideas to reinvent Orchard Road. With our companies, we want to improve productivity and create new and good jobs in the tourism sector. So, to help increase productivity, the Hotel Productivity Centre will be launched this month. This is a dedicated, one-stop centre for innovation and productivity solutions, which will look at areas such as applied research to prototype new technologies, services and solutions that can then be shared and applied industry wide. 7.00 pm STB is working with the Singapore Hotel Association and the Singapore International Chamber of Commerce on a manpower study for the hotel industry.”
“It is a recreation of the artist's bedroom, showcasing how his identity as a Malay Singaporean has been influenced by Singapore's cultural and historical landscape as well as alternative pop culture. Through the Kickstart Fund which STB has been implementing for some time now, STB will also extend its support for the test-bedding of innovative lifestyle events and concepts with strong tourism appeal and scalability. To date, the $5 million Kickstart Fund has supported 13 such projects. One example is Spot Art. It is a competition and exhibition for talented Southeast Asian artists under the age of 30. Last year in November, which was the second edition, it featured more than 100 works by 48 artists from 12 countries – a very good start to an interesting and novel idea. To encourage more of such projects, STB will double the maximum level of support, from the current $75,000 to $150,000, and extend the maximum duration of support to one year. The business travel and MICE sector is another key part of the tourism industry in Singapore and we will continue to build on our strengths in these areas. Last year, Singapore was named Asia's top convention city for the 12th consecutive year as well as the top international meeting city for the seventh consecutive year. STB will continue to seek to secure major exhibitions and conferences and encourage more meetings and incentive travel. In 2015, there will be five flagship events for large incentive groups that will attract over 30,000 business attendees. We will continue to work with the industry stakeholders on an important aspect of enlivening our lifestyle and cultural precincts. A key focus area will be the rejuvenation of Orchard Road and the Orchard Road precinct.”
“This will have recreation and education facilities and green public spaces for Singaporeans and visitors to enjoy and appreciate nature. This is a project that is going to take several years to plan and execute but we believe that ultimately we will have a very strong product that will add significantly to Singapore's tourism landscape. In the near term, we can look forward to the opening this year of the National Gallery Singapore and Singapore Pinacotheque de Paris, which is a fine art museum known for its critically acclaimed exhibitions already in Paris and now at their first venture outside. We will complement these sorts of tourism hardware developments with certain content and programming innovations, and it is to help create a vibrant calendar of events for both locals and tourists to enjoy. We want to build on our line-up of sports and leisure events, to complement the F1 and the Women's Tennis Association Finals. As part of the SG50 celebrations, an international showcase called "Singapore: Inside Out" will celebrate Singapore's contemporary creative talents in the fields of architecture, design, fashion, film, F&B, music and the arts. It will be shown in Beijing, London and New York before returning to Singapore in November. Page: 152 "Singapore: Inside Out" will spark interest, we believe, in Singapore's creative talent and enhance our image as a vibrant global city. It will be an opportunity for Singaporeans and foreigners to appreciate the works of artists like Farizwan Fajari, better known as Speak Cryptic. This is a mock-up of the art installation he will be presenting at "Singapore: Inside Out", and it is called "Kamar Kamillion"; not "Karma Chameleon" but "Kamar Kamillion".”
“Arrivals from China fell 24% following various airline incidents and due to the introduction of stricter laws that clamped down on "zero-dollar" tours. On the other hand, there were some bright spots with visitor arrivals from markets such as Hong Kong, South Korea and Vietnam, recording double-digit growth. Page: 151 Also, the tourists who came to Singapore stayed longer and spent more on average. So, as a result, the tourism spending held steady despite the visitor arrival decline at $23.5 billion in 2014, similar to the year before. We expect the challenges to remain in the near term and the competition from regional destinations has also been intensifying. Further, the impact of the tight labour market has been keenly felt by our hospitality sector. On a countervailing and a positive note, outbound travel to Asia Pacific is expected to continue to grow. So, we have plusses and minuses. For 2015, the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) has forecast visitor arrivals to be in the range of 15.1 million to 15.5 million, in other words, a change of between 0% and 3% compared to last year. Tourism receipts are expected to be in the range of $23.5 to $24.0 billion, again in low growth, change range of 0% to 2%. Mr Gan Thiam Poh has asked how we intend to remain a vibrant tourist destination and retain our competitiveness. This is a key challenge and STB aims to do so by pursuing quality growth in tourism and working closely with industry to innovate and enhance our tourism hardware and software whilst improving our capabilities. To provide more leisure options for both tourists and Singaporeans and as part of our efforts to refresh our tourism assets, STB is working with Temasek Holdings to create a world-class nature-themed attraction in Mandai.”
“To this end, EMA has established a $20 million Energy Training Fund to support the development of new power-related training programmes and co-fund course fees for local workers in the power sector. Mr Chairman, those who choose to join the power sector will have the opportunity to pursue a rewarding career in a sector that is really a critical part of Singapore's economy. I want to give some examples of those who have either already chosen to go into the power sector or are contemplating doing so to give an example of what is possible. Mr Tan Yi Mian, who joined YTL PowerSeraya seven years ago, has been involved in challenging assignments – from the initial operation and optimisation of the company's 10,000 cubic metre desalination plant to commissioning work on their co-generation combined cycle plant on Jurong Island. Today, he is the gas plant manager and ensures that his plant supplies power seamlessly to Singapore's electricity network grid. It is also good to see young students who are excited about a career in the energy sector. Last year, I met Ms Noor Nashriyah Binte Jalil, a second-year student in Singapore Polytechnic pursuing a Diploma in Electrical and Electronic Engineering. She is keen to dispel the misconception that engineering is a "man's field" – indeed, that is a misconception – and prove that women can do just as good a job, if not better. She will have ample opportunity to do that in about a year's time when she joins the power sector. Our hope is that her enthusiasm will be infectious and more Singaporeans will choose careers in the power sector. Mr Chairman, let me now turn to the tourism sector. Last year, we had 15.1 million visitor arrivals, which is a dip of 3% from 2013. The performance was mixed across our key source markets.”
“So, the benefits are cascading into a much wider range of institutions and corporations. EMA will further lower the contestability threshold to 2,000 kWh on 1 July 2015, which will benefit another 10,000 commercial and industrial consumers. This will include coffee shops, kindergartens, music schools and religious and community establishments. EMA is also studying the approach and implementation timeline for full retail contestability in consultation with industry stakeholders. We will also enhance our energy infrastructure to meet our future energy needs. Mr Ong Teng Koon asked about the progress of Singapore's LNG infrastructure and our plans. The commencement of our terminal's operations in May 2013 has allowed us to import LNG from literally all over the world. When additional regasification facilities are completed in 2017, the terminal's throughput capacity will be increased substantially from six million tonnes per annum or Mtpa to 11 Mtpa and that is a significant increase which will go a long way towards addressing Singapore's long-term energy needs. The completion of a fourth Page: 150 LNG storage tank by 2018 will further increase the terminal's storage capacity from 540,000 cubic metres to 800,000 cubic metres. We plan to develop a second LNG terminal. It will enhance our energy security by giving us geographical diversity to our LNG import infrastructure and it will support new industrial sites and power plantings. EMA and the other agencies are studying potential sites in eastern Singapore. We must also ensure that we have a strong pipeline of talent to meet our energy sector's growing needs. This was a point raised by Mr Ong Teng Koon. In particular, we want to boost efforts to build a strong Singaporean core of energy professionals.”
“Indeed, it would be wrong to base Page: 149 our long-term strategies on that basis. Hence, we must not relent in our efforts to ensure that Singapore continues to have access to secure and competitively priced energy supplies. And to achieve this, MTI will continue to promote competitive markets, enhance our energy infrastructure and nurture a strong core of energy professionals. Let me elaborate. First, on competition in our domestic energy market. Last year, the Energy Market Authority or EMA put in place a competitive process to secure new LNG supplies for Singapore and launched a two-stage Request-for-Proposal or RFP to supply Singapore's next tranche of LNG. There has been a strong response to Stage One of the RFP. We have received nine competitive bids proposing a variety of LNG supply solutions and price indices. And they collectively proposed more than 10 new source countries from which Singapore's next tranche of LNG may be secured. So, it has gone significantly towards meeting our objective of diversifying our sources and giving us greater resilience in our energy supplies. Our agencies are evaluating the bids and will announce the outcome in due course. We have also taken steps to increase competition in the electricity retail market. Last year the retail contestability threshold was lowered from 10,000 kWh to 4,000 kWh, allowing about 15,000 more commercial and industrial consumers to choose the electricity retailer and package that best suit their needs. About 1,600 new customers have since applied to become contestable. These include SMEs like Pet Lovers Centre, Evergreen Group, which is a stationery operation, and even not-for-profit organisations like the Alzheimer's Disease Association.”
“It will house state-of-the-art industrial grade AM equipment to extend the application-centred work with industrial partners, such as Rolls-Royce, and it should attract about $100 million of industry investments. 6.45 pm Also, to enhance Singapore's long-term competencies in robotics, A*STAR, EDB and the National Research Foundation will be launching the National Robotics Programme later this year. It will coordinate end-to-end development of robotics technologies and test-bedding initiatives across various industry sectors and the programme will pull together capabilities across our public research institutions, to develop robotics technologies which will have an economic impact through collaborations with companies and industrial end users. A*STAR's efforts have also spawned the growth of a new Food and Nutrition innovation hub. Leading nutrition companies such as Nestlé, Danone and Abbott have established facilities in Biopolis to conduct research into healthier and safer products. The number of scientists and researchers employed by these companies has increased from less than 300 in 2010 to around 700 today. Let me now turn to energy which is critical to Singapore's economic competitiveness. Almost all our energy is imported and so we are highly exposed to global price movements. Global oil prices have dropped dramatically in recent months, from a peak of US$115 per barrel in June last year to about US$60 more recently. However, movements in the global oil market are unpredictable, given the impact of geopolitical and technological developments. For now, lower oil prices have resulted in an easing of electricity tariffs and fuel costs for businesses and consumers in Singapore. But we cannot expect lower energy prices to persist indefinitely.”
“You may be fuddled and so am I, but in simple terms, FELA is a breakthrough for the precision engineering industry, with wide-ranging applications such as in micro- and nano-metrology systems, machining systems and biomedical instruments. FELA won an international R&D Award and has been licensed to a local manufacturer of precision components for further product development. Some of our researchers have become entrepreneurs. Dr Rosemary Tan was a scientist at our Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology. In 2003, she founded Veredus Laboratories Pte Ltd, a medical device company specialising in portable diagnostic tool kits using A*STAR's licence in malaria primers. She subsequently licensed A*STAR's bird flu primers and launched the company's first products in 2005. These were DNA- and RNA-based diagnostic kits for Page: 148 dengue, avian influenza and malaria. Veredus also worked with ST Microelectronics to develop rapid diagnostic kits for influenza viruses which could produce test results within an hour using Lab-on-a-chip technology. Today, it is a company that has grown from a start-up to one that has 30 employees and $10 million in revenue. So, there is quite a range of options available to our R&D people. R&D also has catalysed new growth areas in our economy. In that regard, the $500 million Future of Manufacturing programme aims to encourage our manufacturing firms to embrace disruptive additive manufacturing technologies, such as 3D printing and robotics. To support this effort, A*STAR will launch the Additive Manufacturing Centre in 2015 to accelerate the adoption of AM technologies in Singapore.”
“More recently, in the finance sector, DBS and the Institute for Infocomm Research launched a Joint Laboratory to develop new products and solutions which focus on areas such as data analytics and voice and video technologies. EDB and A*STAR will continue to engage more of these large local enterprises to explore other areas of collaboration. In some instances, companies are unable to test certain technology applications in Singapore due to constraints such as our climate or limited land and air space. To help such companies, EDB will introduce a new Overseas Living Lab programme to help Singapore-based companies with innovation centres to test and commercialise their technologies in overseas markets. This will help to maximise the value of R&D that takes place here and incentivise firms to deepen their R&D activities in Singapore. EDB will pilot this programme with water and energy solution providers over the next two years. So, there is both breadth and depth in the way our R&D efforts have been engaging companies and trying to deliver value-add. Mr Ong Teng Koon has asked for the proportion of Singaporeans in R&D jobs and their career options. In 2013, there were about 32,000 research scientist and engineer or RSE jobs. Seventy percent of these RSE jobs went to locals. Our scientific and research talent can pursue diverse opportunities and career pathways that suit their interests and strengths, whether it is in research, academia, industry or entrepreneurship. Dr Daniel Teo graduated from Ngee Ann Polytechnic and then pursued an undergraduate degree and PhD in engineering. After joining A*STAR, Daniel led the invention of Flexure-Based Electromagnetic Linear Actuator (FELA), which provides high precision motion and force for driving high performance machines.”
“This is another example, but it is more in a clustered setting where a large local company like SIA Engineering with a group of smaller SMEs working with them to raise capabilities and develop new revenue lines. But innovation is not just about new or breakthrough products. Companies can also benefit tremendously from innovative process improvements to their operations. That is why A*STAR has also been reaching out to companies through the Technology Adoption Programme. This is a $51 million programme launched in 2013 to help SMEs in their efforts to transform their business model by making technology more accessible. And we have a team of experienced individuals who act as the interface between these SMEs and various sources of technology solutions, whether it is the public or private sector. In just over one year, more than 4,000 companies have been engaged under this programme, with 1,200 technology adoptions by companies achieving at least a 20% productivity improvement. One beneficiary, and in somewhat an unlikely sector is the Singapore Toy Club, which rents out bouncy castles, toy cars and other party products for home parties and other functions. SIMTech worked with the company to deploy an RFID-based inventory management system to track and account for its equipment, reducing the man-hours Page: 147 required for this purpose by about 75%. Large local enterprises are also partnering A*STAR and its research institutes to develop innovative technologies. Some of these are Sembawang, Keppel and Jurong Shipyards in the marine and offshore industry, Biosensors International in the MedTech sector and Singtel in the infocommunications sector.”
“Mr Chairman, I want to complement Minister Lim's overarching picture of Singapore's economic landscape by elaborating on the opportunities and initiatives specific to R&D, energy and tourism. R&D is an important enabler that can help and enhance the competitiveness and productivity of our economy. It is in recognition of this that the Government has committed Page: 146 $16.1 billion in the Research, Innovation and Enterprise 2015 masterplan. Dr Lim Wee Kiak, Mr Ong Teng Koon and Mr Vikram Nair have asked how this has helped to promote innovation and boost productivity. Let me give Members some perspectives on this. Firstly, our companies have worked with public research institutions to create new products and services and generate new revenue streams. An example is Fong's Engineering. It is a precision engineering firm which has collaborated with the Singapore Institute of Manufacturing Technology or SIMTech. And they have successfully developed an endoscope. SIMTech played an important role during the clinical trial and evaluation phase and helped the company commercialise its product. This collaboration has helped Fong's Engineering to expand into the MedTech sector and doubled the company's average value-add per worker. This is an example of an SME that has benefited by going into a new sector with a new product and enhanced its top line. Another example is SIMTech's work in the aerospace cluster with SIA Engineering Company and several local SMEs. As a result, these SMEs have diversified beyond their traditional focus in the precision engineering capabilities, to design and manufacture aerospace components and they too have consequently raised their revenues by up to about 25%.”
“Madam, I thank the Member for his question and also his persistence and perseverance with respect to this matter over the years, as he has pointed out. Specifically, the Member's question was whether we would be able to enlist the help of the ISPs in order to enhance the alertness and awareness. That is something that we will certainly consider working with. At the end of the day, the nature of this crime and trend is such that we do need all hands on deck in order to achieve the best possible outcome in terms of preventing its recurrence and growth. We will enlist all the help that we can get. Page: 39 Having said that, there would be certain practical limitations and we have to see how this can pan out in practice. The other question the Member pose was whether the retirement age could be extended. It is something we have considered and the answer is yes.”
“Madam, I thank the Member for her questions. The first set of question pertained to how the body-worn cameras will be used and in what sort of circumstances Page: 38 would it be turned on. First, it is a process of roll-out at the moment, but there will be certain SOPs established. I would say that in general, the approach is: it should be switched on at all times unless there are specific circumstances under which you are authorised on the SOP not to have it switched on. For example, if they are investigating something very sensitive, maybe a sexual assault case or something like that, then, there may be some exceptions. Those are certain areas which they may be specifically excluded. Because if you have too much arbitrariness, then I think the value of it as a source of evidence will also be diminished. In terms of whom, primarily, it would be the patrol officers. The intention is to have all patrol officers put on the body-worn cameras, because these are our people on the front line. For all the good reasons that have cited elsewhere as well, it is important that our officers have this capability with them. In terms of what the Member's final point was on the video recording of statements: this is something that is being studied and we will be able to give an update in due course.”
“Taken together, these programmes and crowdsourcing initiatives will enable us to take community partnerships to a new level. It lends itself to a more dynamic, two-way partnership that strengthens interaction, collaboration and the flow of information between the Police and the community, thereby empowering the community to play a more active role in keeping our neighbourhoods safe and secure. Mdm Chair, Singaporeans have placed their trust in the ability of the Home Team to keep Singapore safe and secure. This is a trust that has been painstakingly built over many years through the work of our Home Team departments and officers, much of this taking place quietly behind the scenes. As our operating environment becomes more complex and the nature of crime continues to evolve, we must never take our safety and security for granted. In the Home Team, we will continue to invest in new capabilities, harness technology and work with the community to build a strong and future-ready Home Team that will help keep Singapore safe and secure.”