Saktiandi Supaat
Singapore
“I have two supplementary questions. For my Parliamentary Questions that the Senior Minister of State answered earlier, I thank him for answering them because those are questions that my dialect-speaking seniors in Toa Payoh East and their families have raised to me.”
“As the Review Group has recognised, there is no "silver bullet", a holistic ecosystem-wide approach is required. The implementation of these recommendations appears to have been phased, with announcements across February, July and November 2025.”
“Thank you, Mr Speaker. Three questions. First, given that the Section 301 actions can sometimes be broad-based, how is Singapore engaging with our US counterparts to ensure that our firms are not inadvertently affected by measures aimed at other economies?”
“Many of them do not openly express their difficulties. This is why social and emotional support must go beyond the occasional event. It must be sustained, trusted and easily accessible.”
“Would the Government consider developing a National Master Trades Accreditation framework – a national tiered certification that recognises advanced trade mastery, similar to chartered professionals in other sectors and create a new avenue for career switchers and career transition for segments of our workforce?”
“When the scheme is implemented in 2028, how will the Ministry measure success in terms of participation rates, risk-adjusted returns and improvements in retirement adequacy outcomes for CPF members?”
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“Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, it is timely that we review the IA to empower our ICA officers as they work to strengthen our border security. We are giving ICA officers more authority to perform security screenings, conduct search and seizure duties, as well as arrests, and I think it is a good move. With the relevant training that comes with these new duties, this will not only aid in improving security and efficiency, it can boost the officers' morale as they can carry out their tasks more efficiently. However, I note that when a suspect is arrested by ICA, the ICA officer is required to inform a Police Officer of the arrest. And he has to wait for the arrival of the Police to hand over the suspect under section 51AA, clause 12. I would like to ask why this cumbersome procedure is required. And why cannot ICA be given the authority to detain the suspect for investigation for more than 24 hours and carry out whatever investigations required if it is a simple offence. With the terrorism threat becoming more prevalent, police and security forces around the world are shouldering heavier responsibilities to protect the community. Hence, I feel ICA officers could be counted on to handle more responsibilities as befit their training. This would, in turn, free up the Police for other responsibilities. So, my second question is in relation to investigation work. Can the Minister enlighten the House on the training for an ICA officer compared to a Police Officer? In regard to the enhanced powers for ICA officers, can the Minister also share plans to ensure that the officers have the prerequisite training to handle the enhanced powers and search authority that they have now with these changes.”
“If these technologies are also covered under the amendments, then how does this reconcile with the prevention of illicit claims to be a DS? Next, I also note that under the proposed amendments, MAS is to be exempted from certain sections of FNA. Can the Minister elaborate further on this self-exemption? In what aspects of the insolvency law are carved out by virtue of FNA? The security of domestic operators of DS is another matter or aspect to consider. Banking Computer Services Pte Ltd (BCS) handles the SGD Cheque Clearing System, USD Cheque Clearing System and the Interbank GIRO. And the settlement institution for the USD Cheque Clearing System is Citibank NA (Citi), a foreign bank. What are the contingencies made in the case of insolvencies of a foreign bank in this instance or, for that matter, domestic operators, such as BCS, should they be affected by other operational risks? Finally, moving towards a cashless society means we should anticipate more sophisticated payment systems, and it is important to constantly review the relevant policies. The Bill, when passed, will provide greater security and mitigate risks for the designated payment and settlement systems through systemic and prudential means, which would be a welcome move for financial institutions in Singapore. Sir, I support the Bill.”
“Currently, DS does not have any protection under the 2002 FNA should they continue to process, net or settle transactions beyond the calendar day on which a participant becomes insolvent. This creates undue financial risks to the participants. Considering that more transactions are occurring globally on a daily basis for both commercial entities and individuals, and the nature of businesses that operate across multiple time zones, this risk is greatly multiplied. The new amendments offer protection of transfer orders, netting and settlement and is extended by one business day beyond insolvency day, providing certainty and finality to DS transactions. This will certainly be a welcome move for financial institutions. For the DS which utilises collateral as part of their netting and settlement processes, the introduction of collateral security and collateral holder will help extend further insolvency protection and mitigate credit risks. Having said that, I would like to raise some concerns regarding these enhancements. Can the Minister inform the House where would these changes take place for Singapore compared to other jurisdictions? By this, I mean to ask if any study or consultation has been done on the DS of other countries. The rise of fintech has brought about many new technologies and innovations that are vastly different from traditional financial methods in the delivery of financial services. How forward-looking are the enhancements in ensuring that transactions via these new technologies are adequately protected? These days, block chain technologies, cryptocurrencies and quick response (QR)-based solutions are growing in popularity.”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, I am pleased to note that the amendments to the Bill reflect our endeavour to strengthen Singapore’s status as a regional financial centre as well as a financial technology (fintech) hub. They are also in line with the recent changes to the Securities and Futures (Amendment) Bill that I spoke on last year. These enhancements will ensure that our national systems and cross-border systems are further protected. They will enhance and promote systemic stability in the financial system as well as give MAS a more robust oversight. This will happen through improved stability of the key systems and a more secured cross-border system. For the banks and financial institutions, this means greater confidence and transparency, and greater readiness for collateral-based systems. The amendments see several significant changes which will translate into desirable outcomes. One of these changes is the penalty clause. Should key officers, including senior executives, fail to take reasonable care or play a key part in the commission of offence, they will have to face the consequences. Holding key officers accountable is really important as, according to CEO Today magazine, leadership shortcomings will often emerge as a principal underlying cause for bank failures. Next, with some more precise designation criteria, the industry and stakeholders will benefit from greater clarity. It will also prevent non-DSs from making illicit claims of being a DS, which some are doing to benefit their business, but with the consequence of misleading and disrupting systemic stability. This has become considerably more important, in light of another policy change concerning DSs.”
“Mr Speaker, I would like to thank the Senior Minister of State for answering the question. I have one follow-up question with regard to my last question about mitigating policies in the scenario where, if COE prices actually do rise over the next few years or following the policy introduction, will the Ministry of Transport (MOT) look into considering potentially introducing COE subsidies or rebates, for example, for families or citizens with disability in the future, for example, alleviating some of cost increases as a result of the COE increase?”
“The real task of the Government is to prove to the companies that going digital is the way to go for them, not just to stay relevant, but to be profitable in time to come.”
“The solutions are not deep-tech, they are really simple solutions. And the most important thing is for us to prove to the SMEs that it will benefit them. I have visited a cleaning company, a security company, a construction company and all of them are basically happy with the solution. So, what IMDA wants to do is to develop proven off-the-shelf digital solutions that can then be deployed and scaled to other companies. I agree with the Member that this is a good effort, and we will continue to push this. The Member mentioned about business intelligence. I had mentioned in my reply that within the solutions that we offer, we have also embedded within it the use of data analytics, cybersecurity and data protection, and we hope they can tap on that. In the SMEs Go Digital programme, there are many levels. Some companies are just starting off and, therefore, they need some basic solutions. Some are more advanced. The more advanced companies which have already deployed digital solutions, if they want to go into analytics, AI, or business intelligence, we will work with them. Sir, one of the key programmes under the SME Go Digital programme is the Tech Hub that we have started. Within the Tech Hub, there will be experts who can offer advice to the companies on how they can use what they have deployed, to basically further raise their business profitability by leveraging technology. Cost will always remain a concern and that is why the current programme is highly subsidised. We work together with the SMEs. But we believe that, over the long run, if they are able to prove that it is profitable for their business, we hope they will be self-funded.”
“I would like to thank the Minister for the answer. I have two or three supplementary questions, but these are short questions. First, with regard to the role of the big data sandbox in my question earlier, can the Minister elaborate more about the progress of the initiative? I think the Minister mentioned briefly, but maybe he could share a bit more on the progress. Second, I have heard of the Go Digital programme and I laud that programme. A lot of the SMEs are looking forward to that and more should take up that programme. But one area that may need to be looked upon, and maybe the Minister could share on this part, is about the exchangeable business intelligence in the future. For example, the 10% or 20% that is taken up, the extent of exchangeable business intelligence that they can use to enhance their profitability, in terms of consumer behaviour and consumer actions that they can take. Finally, in terms of costs, in the future, with the big data sandbox, can the Minister share a bit more whether there are cost issues with regard to SMEs and regulations? Will there be an increase in costs as well from that? Assoc Prof Dr Yaacob Ibrahim: Sir, as to the first question on the data sandbox, as I have mentioned earlier, we are sorting out the details and when we are ready with the details, we will announce them. But certainly, we want to go forward in creating that platform to allow companies to come together and share data. So, as I have mentioned in my reply, once it is ready, IMDA will announce the details. I think for the next three questions, they are all inter-related. First, the SMEs Go Digital programme, by and large, has been quite successful. I have personally visited many companies, small SME companies.”
“It is with regard to recruitment practices and TAFEP's ability to take action in future if there are any changes to regulations.”
“I would like to ask a supplementary question with regard to the Second Minister's answer just now about TAFEP. In following up on this question, are there any specific plans to provide more teeth, such as regulations with regard to TAFEP, over the next five years? As the Second Minister mentioned, there might not be a need to have regulatory changes. I was wondering what are the plans for MOM in terms of teeth for TAFEP, enhancements of TAFEP, to have actually actions being taken by TAFEP, of course.”
“The local Syariah Court should be empowered to make orders on ancillary issues pertaining to overseas divorces. I feel that it is important to do so. Lastly, I support mandatory marriage counselling for all Muslim couples. In fact, I think marriage counselling is very important for all couples, regardless of their religion. Divorce rates are on the rise and marriage and family expectations are vastly different from those of earlier generations. Some advice from parents may be rendered obsolete due to the circumstances of the current generation. Moreover, Muslim marriages are a little different in the sense that laws pertaining to them are governed by the Syariah Court and the awareness may be lacking among some young Muslims. The concern would be that mandatory marriage counselling may be deemed as coercive and it could be challenging to obtain their buy-in. Nevertheless, I believe it is still ideal to have it. Unfortunately, it is human nature to believe one does not require advice until they encounter a situation where they need help. Perhaps, offering incentives could help to increase interest. 4.30 pm”
“I think a couple who has mutually and amicably decided to end their marriage due to personality conflicts, and a couple who is divorcing because one party has exhibited dangerous domestic violence tendencies, would require very different types of support for the involved parties and their children. My point is that different needs arise from varying circumstances and also the external amount of support they have access to, such as their family members. It would be more efficient to streamline the process by categorising, for instance, the types of conflicts and reasons for divorce and their possible needs before embarking on the counselling and support process. Overseas divorces presided by a foreign Shariah court present another challenge as they could result in complex ancillary issues. In February this year, the Straits Times reported a case in which a man had divorced his wife in 2012 in the Johor Syariah Subordinate Court, allegedly without telling her. When the woman applied to the Singapore Syariah Court to divide their assets, the Court did not have jurisdiction to do so as it was not the Court that dissolved the marriage. Under Muslim law, it was only able to award her, against her former husband, an amount of maintenance and gift that was far less than the value of the assets that was up for division. The application for asset division was then brought up to the High Court, which also turned down the application. This is a classic case whereby, if both the Singapore Syariah Court and High Court do not have jurisdiction, the husband can avoid having the matrimonial property rightfully divided. This puts women in Muslim marriages in a vulnerable position.”
“Mdm Speaker, let me speak in Malay. (In Malay): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] As with all developed societies, divorce is on the rise and the same goes for Singapore. Muslim marriages are not immune to this phenomenon as well. Ultimately, children are the ones hardest hit in divorces. It is, therefore, the right move to implement mandatory counselling or family support programmes for couples with children at any stage of their divorce. Engaging experts to assess and examine a child's well-being is a clear indication that the policy seeks to be child-centric. But, while counselling and mediating sessions are good in theory, not all parties may be cooperative. I am pleased to note that an absence of one party at these counselling sessions will not result in a delay of the divorce proceedings. This is especially important when either party or children are at risk in cases of domestic violence. My concern, however, is that without both party's attendance and cooperation in a divorce case, it may be difficult to implement some support programmes. For example, a parent who has de facto care of the children may deny access to the other party, even if mutual support for the best interest of the children is recommended. Counselling only works if the relevant parties are willing to put their best efforts into it. For example, a marriage counselling session with just one attendee is unlikely to help the couple. Hence, I would like to ask whether there are consequences for non-compliance of an order to attend counselling. In addition, I note that there is no distinction of categories of persons required to undergo counselling and mediation.”
“Aside from highlighting MUIS' authority in the management of wakaf matters, it would also be prudent to look into improving and standardising the management of wakafs across the country. MUIS could help to develop rules and policies relevant to the enhanced management and governance of wakafs. The various proposals to enhance the management of wakafs are to be welcomed, as accountability helps ensure that the wakaf is maintained and developed well. With clearer and better management policies, the frequency of conflicts would be reduced. I would also propose that the relevant parties in a dispute should be granted a more public channel to voice their grievances under the existing wakaf dispute resolutions framework. This will help to allay public concerns about transparency and accountability. In this case, can the Minister share if there has been any specific impetus that has created the need to specify further grounds for removal of a trustee or mutawalli? In addition, should disputing parties not agree with the Wakaf Dispute Resolution Committee and the eventual decision by the MUIS Council, would they have any other avenues for recourse? On a related note – I think the Minister mentioned it – I echo sentiments from the community to dedicate more resources from MBMF towards supporting madrasahs. The Minister mentioned just now about section 77 specifying adequate resources in a more timely manner, for terrorist groups are abusing misinterpretations and misunderstanding towards religious texts to incite hatred and violence. Religion remains a fundamental aspect of the lives of many young Muslims and madrasahs play an important role in training asatizah, who are potential powerful influencers with regard to religion and education matters. So, section 77 is very timely.”
“Mdm Speaker, the amendments to AMLA are certainly timely and beneficial to the Muslim community. As society progresses, it is important to keep abreast with the times. That means that the conventional methods of managing things must be reviewed and updated for even religious organisations. So, I rise in support of the Bill. But I would like to raise questions on some areas which I feel we can enhance further. MUIS has, over the years, contributed significantly to the welfare of the Muslim community with their policies and programmes. They have been presiding over the wakaf dispute resolutions and it is certainly a wise move to clarify and strengthen their responsibilities and powers with regard to this. No doubt, this will help to streamline the resolution process. For example, the new section 58(7), which is intended to be seen as a clarification to section 63 of AMLA which specifies that the Court is only brought in if the Majlis or MUIS finds "the meaning or effect of any instrument or declaration creating or affecting any wakaf or nazar is obscure or uncertain". However, despite these changes, what happens if MUIS, one day, for example, becomes a potential litigant itself? Should there be a conflict of interest pertaining to MUIS, the prosecuted parties will certainly take issue with natural justice. Moreover, giving MUIS absolute responsibility could be seen as a move that denies the public transparency and access to wakaf issues. In fair and responsible governance, it is wise not to grant any statutory board or organisation absolute authority, no matter how capable or reputable they have proven to be. It is also why the High Court, independent of the Government and other Statutory Boards in Singapore, is required to preside over legal matters.”
“So, what will be the best recourse for the individual policyholders under the circumstances beyond the value covered under the amended deposit insurance and policy owners' protection schemes act? This Bill deals with the FIs. May I ask what if an institution that is not in the FI framework buckles financially, perhaps, a big hedge fund? How will this whole framework apply to them in this instance? To conclude, I hope our MAS and other bodies are already collaborating with our universities to provide training for future accountants and bankers to prime them to these topics and prepare them for their roles in the future. After the passage of this Bill, I also hope MAS would do a public education exercise so that everyone, especially the man-in-the-street, can understand in simplified language how our Government is taking steps to protect FI depositors and insurance policyholders as we strengthen our financial framework. This can also prevent anyone from trying to exploit or make political capital out of the ignorance of the public should this unfortunate scenario come to pass. 4.58 pm”
“May I ask if the Minister would consider imposing a heftier penalty as a deterrence signal? Besides, an FI may not feel the pinch, especially for foreign banks. Given the global nature and openness of our financial markets, financial crises in the future could be globally linked and we are also subject to the vagaries of external financial developments that would need multiple foreign resolutions happening at the same time. Where a foreign resolution is applicable to an FI in Singapore, can the Minister explain how will we manage a request for recognition of such a foreign resolution? The borderless manner in which news travels would undoubtedly create a lot of anxiety and confusion with capital outflows a possibility. And what can be the consequences if the request is refused by us in Singapore? In the case of the Deposit Insurance and Policy Owners' Protection Schemes Act amendments in clause 39, the Deposit Insurance Fund or DI Fund may be used to support a resolution measure under the MAS Act that is taken on a DI Scheme member. Amendments to the Insurance Act under clause 43 in the event of the winding up of a licensed insurer, states that the resolution regime under the MAS Act will apply to licensed insurers through an enlargement of the term "pertinent financial institution" and other modifications to the MAS Act. I hope that under clause 43, actions taken by the trustee of a resolution fund would take special consideration with regard to the insurance policyholders, especially individuals, many of whom would have depended on these policies with the company to see them through their twilight years.”
“But, the trajectory from this must be managed in a manner with limited fall-out on the financial markets. What is important is to carry out regular tests on these plans and I would like to ask the Minister whether MAS would conduct exercises to assess their effectiveness. We can create scenarios from lessons drawn from other countries and tweak them to local conditions. Next, do we know if our FIs are sufficiently staffed with people equipped with the right skillsets to act in a timely manner in a crisis? Similarly, MAS would also need to be prepared for such contingencies and put a system in place to respond to such an event. Can the Minister share with the House what would be a trigger scenario to require an FI to activate the RRP? In any crisis situation, time is of the essence. The Bill allows MAS to issue a notice to a pertinent FI to prepare, in the form and manner and containing the information specified in the notice, a plan to restore the financial strength and viability of the FI in the event it suffers financial pressure. Is there a timeframe for the FI to present its plan to MAS following the issue of a notice? In the case of a trigger scenario, given the linkages in the financial markets, including derivatives-related exposures which are cascading and liquidity related, we need to consider the effects on the banking system's systemic stability. We also need to take into consideration how the measures taken would affect Singapore's overall financial sector reputation. An FI that contravenes an order under subsection (1) is subject, upon conviction, to a fine not exceeding $250,000 and, in the case of a continuing offence, to a further fine not exceeding $25,000 for every day or part of a day during which the offence continues after conviction.”
“Mdm Speaker, I rise to voice my support for the MAS (Amendment) Bill. The inter-linkages between banks and the whiplash from one default can have wide ramifications on the whole financial market. So, in today's market, it is imperative for our FIs to have a robust Recovery and Resolution Plan (RRP). It is good that we are able to draw lessons from other countries. The release of previously classified documents revealed how The Bank of England responded to the Global Credit crisis and showed how ill-prepared it was then for the financial collapse. It began when the Northern Rock Bank was facing a run on the bank, with depositors withdrawing deposits in large numbers in 2007. I saw this firsthand as I was in the UK for a period of time in 2007 to 2009. In the end, the bank turned to the government for emergency borrowing facility, which was crucial to allay fears. A year later in 2008, the Bank of England this time had to pump billions of pounds of taxpayers' money into three UK banks − RBS, Lloyds and HBOS − in one of the UK's biggest nationalisations. This prevented the collapse of their financial system. We are fortunate to be able to draw lessons from these cases. MAS is now drawing up the framework so that everyone has an action plan in place and, hopefully, should the whistle blows everyone knows what to do. The move corresponds with Singapore's efforts to be in line with international RRP practices, including that of Hong Kong. The Bill before the House requires FIs to prepare and maintain recovery plans and submit them to MAS for resolution planning. One of the scenarios I believe – correct me if I am wrong – would be that MAS is prepared to allow an FI to fail, if that is the only viable solution.”
“Mdm Speaker, thank you. I would like to thank the Senior Minister of State for the answer. But one of the reasons why I am asking this question is in relation to a report by Visa several weeks ago highlighting that online transactions in Singapore have actually more than doubled in the past five years. And it accounts for about 25% of total spending on Visa cards in Singapore. In relation to what the Senior Minister of State mentioned just now about public entities' data in relation to online spending, I would just like to enquire, first, whether that data is actually public and if there is a longer time series for analysts to access and to assess Singapore's private consumption, to assess also Singapore's Gross Domestic Product growth going forward. One of the reasons why I ask is, at the moment, I think it is not readily available in public whereas, if you see in the US and China, it is readily available. It could be because of various reasons, but I would like to hear the Senior Minister of State's response to that. On top of that, how can e-commerce data be made more available to the public, going forward?”
“Thank you, Mdm Speaker. I would like to thank Senior Minister of State for the answer. Just one quick supplementary question. With regard to what she has mentioned earlier about energy efficiency and energy adequacy and diversification, does that take into consideration the latest CFE strategies where the latest push towards Smart Nation and digitalisation and, of course, the increase in technology would actually increase demand for energy? Does that incorporate into our baseline in terms of energy needs over the next decade or more going forward, given the intensity of digitalisation on any usage of energy?”
“Also, it should look into getting learning attachments abroad to give students better exposure. What is happening right now is they often turn to their parents for help to get good attachments with companies abroad. The success rate, I believe, is only a small percentage. Sir, I believe the coming onstream of SUSS would give parents more choices to prepare their children's future and equip them to climb the ladders of opportunity.”
“These childhood educators are very important for they are planting and caring for the seeds that will eventually germinate to become the youths and the adults in our society. We must not look at our childhood educators as the kindergarten teachers in the old days, in the 1950s and 1960s. Will SUSS put emphasis on research in the local context? There should be more research done on childhood education so that we can have a good repository of knowledge. Understanding the mindset of the child, understanding how their young minds receive and process information, and what are best ways to help them absorb information are areas where we should look into. This should not be constrained just to childhood education, in my view, in SUSS, but also other social science subject in SUSS, including frontier studies or research on domestic and economic issues and policy implications and possible partnerships with the economic agencies in Singapore. Next, I hope some consideration can also be given for mature students, that is, those who have been teaching in childcare centres but may not have the requisite educational qualifications to meet the entry requirements. I hope as we strive for a high standard in our universities, we will not impose too high criteria for entry to the various programmes. Yes, we want quality students but we should balance this with aptitude. It is a waste of public funds if the people who graduate do not make use of their qualifications to practise but instead take jobs unrelated to their training. Lastly, I believe that, in time, SUSS would be working on exchange programmes with other universities abroad so that students can also benefit from cross-fertilisation of ideas with their counterparts from other cultures.”
“With so much being said about quality of life, finding a balance between productivity and rewards and, in times when the various sectors are facing headwinds resulting in staff downsizing, good and competent HR practitioners are important to handle such issues sensitively and advise management on how to bridge gaps between employers and the unions. Can I ask if SUSS or the new university will seek to collaborate with the Ong Teng Cheong Labour Leadership Institute so that the students can get a better grasp of studies in Singapore's trade unionism, for example? The Institute has a treasure trove of information and historical archives that would do well to help students in understanding the tripartite relations in Singapore's society. Another important programme that SUSS may or will offer are courses in law which focus on family and criminal law. Perhaps the Minister can share if there are plans for the university to expand more courses relating to criminology and forensic psychology studies so that our law enforcement officers can better equip themselves for the challenges ahead. We can strive to be the regional centre for such studies on terrorism and related subjects and complement the courses run by the Rajaratnam School of International Studies. One area of focus which I hope the curriculum would look into is how to get families to break the silence. Often, the victims suffer in silence for many years before they open up. So, there must be some training in counselling to get the victims to open up. Next is childhood education. We have been expanding fast in setting up childcare centres throughout the island. While the physical infrastructure is important, so, too, is the quality of the people who run these centres.”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, I rise in support of the Bill and I am particularly happy of UniSIM's restructuring to become the sixth AU offering studies in social sciences. The restructured university is a step forward. It is good that we give focus on producing graduates in social work and early childhood education, which are areas where there is a need to shore up our pool of trained manpower in this area. I am also pleased that the university will also be running courses to produce graduates in HR management. Social science, as we know, and most of the speakers have mentioned, is known as a very broad subject on the scientific study of human society and social relationships. Sometimes, the word "social science" conjures up an image of people working in a social work or teaching environment only. However, the roles available within this discipline is, in fact, very wide as well as focusing on a wide range of issues. All said, the social services sector is expecting some 3,000 job openings over the next two years. Hopefully, with the training of more social scientists, we can overcome societal issues in Singapore and build stronger ties. I would like to ask the Minister if the university will accept those who possess a Diploma in Social Sciences to go for an upgrade to a degree. This would be particularly helpful if such programmes can be run on a part-time basis, as I believe many of them would be working adults. Speaking of relationships, it is equally important that we also produce graduates who are specialised in the area of HR.”
“Mdm Speaker, I would like to thank the Minister for the answers. I am glad that the Minister mentioned that he needs one week's notice from the taxi operators. I just have one supplementary question. It is good that there are positive benefits from the surge and dynamic pricing. But let us, say, an example of a scenario where the prices surge in one day because of a certain event or activity. What would be the implications for a needy family, for example, which needs to send a family member to a hospital for urgent treatment especially at that particular moment when there is an extreme sharp jump in prices? Does the Ministry take that sort of situation into consideration, especially for needy families?”
“I just have two clarifications following the Minister's announcement about Madrasah Al-Arabiah, which I think is good news. My first question is about the estimated completion time of Madrasah Al-Arabiah in Toa Payoh. The second question is whether, with the new location, there will be an increase in student capacity in the new school. Assoc Prof Dr Yaacob Ibrahim: I must apologise I do not have the details of the timing. But I suspect it will take about three years because we have to demolish the building. As I mentioned in my reply, we will consult with the mosque community on the design in the third quarter and, certainly, we will draw upon the Member's experience in Toa Payoh to help us also to see what is the best design possible. In terms of capacity, as you know, we have an intake of 400 every year. So, we have to design for the steady state. But at the secondary level, we do allow students coming from other systems to come in, too. The numbers are stabilising. But I have instructed MUIS to make sure that we plan it in such a way that if we want to expand to one or two more classes, we should have the capacity to do so. Since we are building the building from fresh, from start, it is a green field, we might as well plan ahead for some additional capacity, just in case.”
“Madam, in Malay, please. (In Malay): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] Last year, the Minister announced plans for Madrasah Al-Arabiah to have a new home in Toa Payoh. This is good news as the existing building is old and a makeover is long overdue. However, what is important to me is the madrasah's environment and not merely its physical aspect. These days, mainstream schools that are part of the national education system are equipped with facilities and technology to keep up with the times and provide the children with the necessary exposure to the relevant technology. I would like to know how the building design and the infrastructure of the new madrasah will encourage the learning of new skills and knowledge among its students and are also relevant for our modern society in this digital era? Furthermore, how can the students and the school interact with and contribute to the heartland community around the area? Rejuvenating Mosques”
“(In Malay): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] In order to be adaptable and future-ready, lifelong learning is a must for every individual. This will allow us to easily transit to a new industry or improve what we are already doing. The Muslim community understands this aspect and, as such, efforts by philanthropic organisations, mosques and self-help groups, like the Family Excellence Circles and MENDAKI Social Enterprise Network Singapore Pte Ltd (SENSE), have been dedicated towards education and upskilling. Additionally, the creation of a MENDAKI division to promote SkillsFuture for Malay/Muslims was met with great interest from the community who welcomed it. I would like to ask the Minister if there are new and comprehensive plans to help the community make lifelong learning a way of life. SkillsFuture for the Community”
“I would like to hear the Government's plan for building an affordable, global city that is in sync with the digital revolution. Building a Future-ready City”
“Madam, I am pleased that the Finance Minister has given special mention to the people with special needs in his Budget speech. To nurture a distinctively Singaporean and inclusive home for the people who may need a little help with mobility, the elderly, the disabled, key facilities and amenities must be distributed nearer to homes. Our vision is to move towards a smart city, which should make it easier to facilitate barrier-free accessibility and greater travel convenience. But we should not only be reliant on the physical aspects to create an inclusive, well-connected city. New innovative growth centres just outside the downtown area as well as innovative work arrangements are just some examples of how we can better connect everyone in other aspects of living. Next, I want to talk quickly about the price of public housing. The Government has introduced cooling measures to bring down housing prices from an absurdly high level. They have worked somewhat, but it is undeniable that HDB flats are expensive and out of reach for some, especially young couples who have only just started working and do not have much savings. Back when HDB was trying to encourage home ownership, Singaporeans were less affluent, but many could contribute to the nation's vision of a home for everyone. Most of these home owners have already paid off their loans and are debt-free. The situation is in the reverse now. Singaporeans are more affluent these days, but housing prices have rocketed and the younger generation feels enslaved by debts. Maybe we need to reintegrate the principles of public housing which some have perceived have diminished slightly, even the perceived view that HDB prices are being commercialised.”
“Madam, the Fresh Start Housing Scheme has started accepting applications since December last year and I note that the response from the ground has been generally positive. Many families, children especially, are looking forward to a stable life in their new homes. But while the scheme caters to second-timer families with young children, "married, divorced or widowed" applicants, what about the single parents? Understandably, our policies are largely pro-family. However, children born under any sort of circumstances are innocent and should not be denied an equal footing in society simply because of their birth. They already have a more challenging start because they only have one parent. Moreover, bringing up a child single-handedly requires a lot of strength and courage, and single parents should be respected for that. So, in relation to single parents, I hope more can be done to help them. Examples could include offering more flexibility to access housing, waiving the levies and providing child benefits as long as the parents are looking or holding on to their jobs. Their children, at the very least, deserve the same benefits as all other children in Singapore are entitled to. Improve Housing for Single Parents”
“— to smaller SMEs with a turnover of less than $10 million. Helping SMEs for Government Procurement”
“Madam, the Budget has introduced many measures for the business community this year. I am glad to note the strong focus on preparing SMEs for the future economy. However, while clearly a lot of thought has been put into medium- to long-term measures to help SMEs in the long run, I am concerned about the smaller players who may already be struggling. I hope the Government can give SMEs more procurement opportunities to help them cope in the short term. Last year, it was reported that SMEs were winning more than 60% of total Government contract value and about 85% of all Government tenders over the last three years. This is good news and I urge that this momentum be maintained or even improved upon. With bigger players and more foreign companies entering Singapore and the economy being lacklustre, I am concerned that the SMEs will falter against the stronger competition. I would like to ask what procurement efforts are in place to support the CFE recommendations and ensure that local companies are getting a significant share of the pie. How will they be rolled out and how will they benefit SMEs? As SMEs have clearly proven capable of handling Government tenders and projects, I urge the Government to set aside at least 60% of total Government contract values for them. In addition, award one-third of all Government tenders —”
“Mdm Chairman, with more people turning to technology for their daily needs, from shopping to checking their bank statements, it is important to improve service delivery through digitalisation. What is the Government doing to make digital services for citizens easier to access and more convenient to use? Common grouses I hear from the residents include difficulties to use the two-factor authentication and one-time passwords to access Government services for e-transactions, especially among the older generation. Some older residents find themselves having to waste a lot of time getting hold of a customer service officer via phone to get a walk-through. I believe it is a waste of productivity as well for the customer service officers who could be doing something else. I understand the need for additional security measures. Is there anything that can be done to make this more hassle-free for everyone involved? For example, maybe we can have embracing digital for senior volunteers, whether they are humans or maybe bots speaking in Hokkien or Teochew in community clubs (CCs), for example, as we step up our widespread digitalisation for e-services. With regard to businesses, what is the Government doing to make it more efficient for them to transact with the Government? There are so many grants and rebates out there, so it can get overwhelming. What can be done to simplify application processes as well as time and effort taken to process the applications?”
“With more companies taking their businesses onto different platforms, there is a greater exchange of customer information, particularly online and through social media. In the past, email addresses and phone numbers were among the main concerns of consumers who were receiving spam emails and messages. Now, with social media having a greater role in transactions and information exchange, data protection has become more complicated. Furthermore, recent high-profile hacking incidents have led to the accidental compromise of customer and personal information, showing the vulnerability of online data systems. Can MCI share how it plans to further help businesses, especially SMEs, better comply with their data protection obligations under PDPA without any adverse effects? Data Protection and Smart Nation”
“How are the Ministry of Communication and Information (MCI) and IMDA planning to help SMEs with the digital transformation? That is the question I have for the first cut. In particular, how is the use of consumers' data, such as their purchase habits and feedback, to be utilised more optimally by SMEs and companies so that they may evolve their products and services to better cater to current needs? Will the Ministry also be looking at ensuring that the Personal Data Protection Act (PDPA) remains relevant? We are now in a climate where we are encouraging companies to use data innovatively and optimise business opportunities, yet the personal data in their possession needs to remain secure and protected, which makes it a bit more difficult for their businesses. Building a Digital-ready Workforce I am pleased to note from the Budget that the Government is helping businesses to go digital and encouraging the use of digital technologies. Indeed, this is a step in the right direction towards a more productive and technology-savvy workforce. I am keen to hear about MCI's detailed plans and strategies to build a digital-ready workforce. Last year, the TechSkills Accelerator (TeSA) was announced as an initiative to fill tech positions with Singaporean talents, through targeted training and job matching. Can MCI elaborate on how TeSA will be used to improve employability of IT staff, on top of the Industry Transformation Maps (ITMs) that have been announced in the Budget? Furthermore, how does IMDA plan to develop a future-ready media workforce? Data Protection It has been over two years since PDPA was implemented.”
“Mdm Chairman, I would like to ask the Minister if he may share further plans to strengthen the Tripartite Alliance for Fair Employment (TAFEP) and equip it with more teeth. I am aware it is not mentioned in the current Budget. This is crucial to the current tight labour market against the backdrop of global uncertainty. If we are to encourage more groups of people to remain contributing members of the labour force − mothers, women returning to the workforce after a hiatus, the elderly and those with handicaps – their rights must be protected. We must also ensure that in our multiracial and cosmopolitan city, all workers, regardless of gender, race, religion, disabilities and also recently those in the "gig economy", have access to an accommodating and empathetic job market that respects their right to contribute and grow as any regular employee. The latest introduction of the employment claims tribunal introduced last year has been a good step but it only relates to salary disputes for PMETs, for example. I urge the Ministry to take the next step and grant TAFEP more enforcement powers to protect the practice of fair employment and non-discriminatory recruitment policies in Singapore, especially in the current frequent changing markets and labour market environment. Sharing of Productivity Gains”
“Sir, the ITMs will certainly see many major changes. Existing jobs will be impacted and new job opportunities will emerge. How will the Government help to prepare the employees? Continuous education is one of the keys and, certainly, SkillsFuture will be helpful. But there is only so much time and money one has to spend on furthering their education. It will be helpful if employees in the affected industries can have a heads-up on what particular areas they should focus on and which skills and courses they can contribute to their new roles. Will there be, for example, 23 manpower ITMs, too? Knowledge for Regional Markets”
“Sir, this year's Budget has a focus on helping to enhance a broad base of SMEs and, consequently, improve their businesses. However, there are concerns that our micro and heartland enterprise, such as those in our Housing and Development Board (HDB) estates, are being left behind. Although there is this enhanced Revitalisation of Shops (ROS) scheme aimed at rejuvenating the heartland shops, the shops are mostly benefiting from improved physical appeal. This is akin to "putting old wine in a new bottle". The bottle looks attractive but, over time, it will lose its appeal, because the inside has not changed at all. Many of the heartland businesses are run by the older generation bosses. Their shops have been there since the flats were built, and they abide by the traditional, conventional way of running business. This can eventually lead to their business getting phased out as the age group of their customers get younger and the customers are flocking online and elsewhere. Some of these businesses do wish to move with the times but, unlike SMEs and other enterprises, they are not entitled to things like grants, rebates, consultation and staff training. What is the Government doing to help them? Heartland businesses contribute to a rustic charm within the neighbourhoods. It is something unique to Singapore's public housing that we will rarely find elsewhere. Moreover, the convenient locations of these shops increase connectivity within the neighbourhood and are popular with the elderly and less-mobile. I hope the Government can do more to help these heartland shops stay abreast of the times and remain relevant to the residents in the neighbourhood. Support for Micro Enterprises”
“Sir, the CFE report mentioned that Asia, especially Southeast Asia, is a region of high growth. We have very good diplomatic relations and trade with many of the Asian countries and our neighbouring ASEAN countries, which is a good start. How can local businesses tap on these opportunities and how will the Government support them? I am hoping for more proactive measures of creating jobs and directing overseas projects, particularly those in construction and infrastructure planning, to the local companies. I had also mentioned in the Budget speech about building up our next generation in regional languages and cultures, so that they can connect easily with the regional counterparts. Besides the SkillsFuture Leadership programme, how much more can we do for the future generation of business leaders?”
“Chairman, Sir, UK's Brexit, with the complex and prolonged negotiations involved, continues to occupy the minds of many Singaporeans. Aside from dampening economic growth, Brexit is a sign of inclination towards isolationism in the West. As a small nation that depends heavily on foreign trade and diplomacy, increasing isolationism is a cause for concern. Thanks to Government efforts, our ties with the EU have been cordial. The EU actively engages with ASEAN in trade. Among ASEAN nations, we are the EU's largest trading partner and also the 17th largest trading partner in the world. Our nation has also been a major destination for European investments. With the UK being one of the strongest economies and markets in Europe, Brexit would undoubtedly challenge our trade dynamics with the EU. I would like to ask the Minister for the outlook on Singapore's relations with the EU and the UK. What will this mean for the European Union-Singapore Free Trade Agreement (EUSFTA), which has concluded negotiations, but has yet to be officially implemented? Going forward, what is being done to continue to strengthen relations with Europe? Moreover, on the economic and diplomatic front, how will we strengthen ties with an independent UK? New Department of Foreign (Humanitarian) Aid”
“However, companies must apply and, in the first place, if they have misconceptions about FWA, they would not be proactive about it. Currently, under the Development Grant, employers receive $10,000 for piloting at least two new FWAs or substantially enhancing existing FWAs. Under the FWA incentive, employers get $10,000 for the first five Singaporean employees utilising FWAs. I propose making exceptions for the SMEs. Let them start slow, with one FWA and perhaps two Singaporean employees utilising FWA to allow them to benefit from the grants. Taking the first step is always the hardest. If the step is too high, many people will not even have the ability to clear it. Community Support for Couples and Parents”
“Mdm Speaker, in a small nation like Singapore whereby our population is our main resource, we must do what we can to encourage parenthood, while at the same time, ensuring that our labour force is not facing a manpower crunch. This is why flexible work arrangements (FWAs) must be the way to go. My wife and I have three young children. I just want to share that in deciding to move from the second to the third child, to be honest, the flexible work arrangement my wife experienced was a significant factor for us to move from two to three. However, FWA is often misunderstood. Some employers think it simply means shorter working hours and more days off for the employee in question, and they lament the shortage of staff that this results in. In worst cases, they discriminate and refuse to hire people whom they think are prone to requiring FWAs. So, it is imperative that we transform employers' mindsets so that they are willing to embrace this style of working and incorporate it in their workplaces. I note that according to MOM's Conditions of Employment survey, the situation is improving. The results indicate that the proportion of firms which provided unplanned time-off or ad hoc teleworking for their employees rose from 70% in 2015 to 77% last year. The proportion of employees working in firms offering at least one formal FWA rose from 65% in 2016 to 67% last year. This is a positive indication, but we can do more to nudge the other about 30% to get on board, especially the local SMEs. Under the Work-Life Grant, employers receive grants and reimbursements, and they may even engage consultants to help create and implement good work-life strategies for the company.”
“We are all aware that if we want to broaden and deepen our perspectives on a particular topic, there is value in reading books by different authors on the same subject, and the same thing also applies in terms of policy. (In English): Madam, we are expecting difficult, unpredictable times ahead. If we do not make changes now, many workers may find a bee in their bonnet, worrying about having a job tomorrow. By diversifying our economy, policies, supporting homegrown businesses and keeping the people's morale up, I believe that we will become more adaptable and resilient than ever. We have a bright future and this Budget puts us in good stead.”
“And starting the learning process from a young age is one of the keys to proficiency. I hope the Government will encourage the availability of more language options in schools. Sharing a common language or lingo will go a long way in managing bilateral economic and people-to-people relations. I would also like to suggest that the current work pass schemes for foreigners be reviewed, with a goal of facilitating the entry of more startups to relocate or to anchor their businesses in Singapore. With a growing number of technology startups, and with the US currently making it more difficult for foreigners to enter their country for work purposes, it is an opportune time to attract talent and investments, particularly in the technology sector. It would have a positive impact on our employment rates and upgrading efforts. I am also encouraged to see the launch of the Global Innovation Alliance to help Singaporeans gain overseas experience, build networks and collaborate with others abroad. The Innovators Academy would allow our tertiary students to build networks and capabilities overseas. I hope that within the next five years, we can also include students from our polytechnics and even our Institutes of Technical Education in this scheme. Society is at the stage where we increasingly recognise and encourage many different pathways to success and many students who select these institutions have high aspirations and career paths that they would like to pursue. Some are even more confident and clear about their future compared to their GCE "A" level counterparts from the same cohort, for instance. Those who have studied abroad would appreciate that through our interactions overseas, we would benefit from cultural diversity and this would help to open our minds as a community.”
“Alternatively, allow the period for tax payments to be spread out over a longer period of time and allow for income tax payments to be deferred for unique circumstances. My final area of focus is on overcoming global protectionist tides and having diversity in policies. With the more advanced western countries coping with problems of their own and turning inwards, I am, hence, pleased to note that the economic focus is shifting back to our immediate neighbourhood − countries like Indonesia and Malaysia. Now that the cards have been shuffled, we need to examine our approach and explore enhancing our various language policy options to make us the true global trader that we are in Singapore. If we look at the protectionist rhetoric coming out of Washington, then the Indonesian economy is likely to be the least affected in the region, as they are not heavily dependent on the US. As such, I would urge the Government to bring back some element of the Malay connection in the primary and secondary school education system. The Malay connection as in the context of reinforcing the relationship with our neighbours, through language and cultural ties, by learning the Malay language. Compared to the older generation, the younger generation are also becoming less adept at the Malay language and understanding the culture as an extra option. As for India, if we tap on the Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement, we could do well to also expose our students to learning Tamil and Hindi as a third language. Madam, in Malay please. (In Malay): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] For Singapore to remain adaptable and competitive, diversity in education and proficiency in three languages may be necessary.”
“Also, the review should broadly not just include more taxes but also Reserves accumulation and formulation of the net investment income. For example, how much flow or revenue is going into Reserves each year and whether it is falling sharply? For example, the possibility of considering a proportion of land sales and recurrent revenue from extension of leases of leasehold land into operating revenue rather than into Reserves, a situation we are seeing now. I also hope there will be a similar Manpower Transformation Map II for our Singaporean workers to get guidance and help. I note that CFE has identified six favourable sectors that promote high growth − the digital cluster, advanced manufacturing, hub services, logistics, urban solutions and infrastructure and healthcare. Will more jobs be generated in these sectors, especially for the younger generation? How about the older employees who are not technology- or computer-savvy, but wish to do a mid-career switch? How will they be helped? The second area is professionals, managers, executives and technicians (PMET) stress. Moving on to the next topic, there have been a number of high-profile cases these couple of years whereby large companies have had to retrench some of their staff. Undoubtedly, there must have been more in smaller companies that flew under the radar. These are certainly tough times for businesses, but even more so for the retrenched employees. Our tax filing season is just around the corner, and this brings to mind that those who have just lost a reasonably well-paying job due to retrenchment may find it tough paying for the income tax and other forms of taxes. I would like to suggest tax relief of, say, 20% to 30%, for those who are in such a situation.”
“For example, a lack of SME cash-flow visibility forces some of the banks and financial institutions to place greater emphasis on collateral requirements when assessing SME credit risk, but very often, SMEs are not able to provide such collateral, leading to their loan applications being rejected. I applaud the new International Partnership Fund to help SMEs scale up and internationalise, which is good. But the concern is that it would tend to invest in more established or initial public offering-ready firms. It may not benefit smaller, less-established SMEs which are capable of going into the region as well. I hope the relevant authorities can work closely with SMEs to help them realise their full potential. One direct area of help would be to defer the construction levy hike, and in the scheme of the working capital, to raise the SME loan minimum to $500,000 for Government co-funding, as I feel that the $300,000 amount is quite small for working capital these days. The next point is about the tax system. It has been a while since we last reviewed our tax system. In fact, one of the CFE's recommendations is to review and reshape our tax system to keep in step with the changing times. Tax incentives should perhaps be given to the sectors that are favourable for our growth. One question I have in relation to the tax review is the concern whether we are taxing the current generation disproportionately, relative to the savings set aside for future generations. The tax review mentioned in this Budget is timely as our funding for social spending is expected to continue to rise. In that sense, I hope the tax review will incorporate all options on the table.”
“Eventually, this rising number of contract staff should enjoy mandatory employment benefits, such as annual and medical leave and other medical benefits, if possible. We also need to introduce wider laws to make discriminatory hiring and workplace practices illegal and punishable by law. Also, as we raise the retirement age for the older workers, we must also look into how in this age of digital transformation, they can be retrained to stay relevant to the workforce. We are a country that thrives on meritocracy, and this must be reflected in our labour market and labour laws, which is one of our most crucial propellers for growth for Singapore. The next point I want to talk about is on helping employees − still within inclusive growth. Minister Iswaran has elaborated at length yesterday that SMEs are our central focus in transforming our economy. Minister Iswaran's speech yesterday has reassured SMEs, in my view. Indeed, some of the short-term relief and targeted help for some sectors were made in this Budget. However, broad social transfers to businesses are taking a backseat this year, as we all know, but I hope more can be introduced. Over a decade ago, one of the measures included helping businesses to cope with various structural shifts and changes to key policies. This includes the SME Rebate Scheme, a two-year assistance to help registered SMEs to adjust to rising business costs due to − at that point in time − an increase in employer CPF contribution rate. I hope that, in the future, some of these one-off measures can be rolled out to help SMEs. In the past year, social transfer to SMEs has also been generous. Some SMEs are still struggling to make sense of the schemes though, and some do not have the prerequisites to qualify for the schemes.”