Sharael Taha
Singapore
“L, link regional ecosystems. O, we orchestrate with AI and frontier technologies. And W, we win by creating greater economic value, better jobs and better lives for Singaporeans. For the past 60 years, Singapore mastered the movement of ships. Then we mastered the movement of aircraft. Today, we are mastering the movement of data.”
“This is a test of our social compact, a compact that must now be renewed for a new era where businesses commit to not just profits but to people, where workers commit to not just jobs, but to lifelong growth, and where the Government continues to stand with both, ensuring that no one is left behind.”
“Thank you, Mr Speaker. I would like to thank Minister Tan for sharing the dual fuel nature of our power plants. My supplementary question is how quick is this switching? Can it manage the volatility, especially this unprecedented volatility? And do we need to re-optimise our power plants to manage our energy generation resilience?”
“Thank you, Chairman. Chairman, the Rail Reliability Taskforce has set out clear recommendations – accelerate renewal of ageing core systems, including train signalling and traction power, strengthen backup and resilience measures, improve asset management and spare part planning, deepen workforce capabilities and enhance commuter communic…”
“Thank you, Chairman. I thank the Minister and the political office holders for their comprehensive response. I have a few supplementary questions. I believe the Minister did not get an opportunity to address my cut on the role of NAIC. What precisely is its role?”
“Okay. Mr Chairman, I would like to take this opportunity to thank Minister Josephine Teo, Senior Minister of State Tan Kiat How, Minister of State Rahayu, Minister of State Jasmin Lau and the Permanent Secretary of MDDI, and the whole MDDI team for the responses and the great work that they do.”
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“Our workers who are involved in this industry need to shift to industries that show growth potential and we need to manage this process carefully, so that no workers will make the wrong move and get left out. This is especially important because, usually, low-wage workers in the industry are also the most vulnerable to structural changes in the industry. We need to start this process now, so that we are able to take advantage and seize the opportunities available in the new green economy. Our future generations also need to make wise decisions to seize opportunities in an economy based on future trends and not just make decisions based on choices that are easy or readily available. We need to place our community in a more strategic position so that we can seize new opportunities and transit more easily to a future workplace. (In English): In summary, Mr Speaker, Sir, I have touched on three suggestions that we need to work on to seize the opportunity as we head towards an inclusive transformation for Singapore’s future: firstly, how do we increase the momentum of real sustainable transformation in digitalisation? Secondly, the need to leverage on workplace transformation as our comparative advantage; and thirdly, to prepare our workers for a successful transition to support our future economy. That being said, Mr Speaker, Sir, notwithstanding the arguments above, I stand in support of the Budget.”
“I would also like to take this opportunity to elaborate on the two things that need to be addressed as we move forward. Firstly, transformation at work as an economic advantage. Secondly, preparing our workforce for the Singapore Green Plan. The pandemic has, undoubtedly, shown that we need not necessarily have to be at the workplace to do our job effectively. In fact, many local workers, including 60% of PMETs, can perform their duties anywhere. While we are debating extensively on the foreign manpower quota, we should not let this matter divert our focus from the basic question, which is, how we can maintain the competitiveness of our workforce in the global market, whereas the manpower quota is increasingly less effective in protecting our jobs. How can we prepare the workforce and expand their skills so that we can continue to play a role in the world economy, not only doing jobs in Singapore but also jobs in other countries? The first step in doing so is to change our mindset, because we can no longer sit still and try to protect our jobs with methods that are previously effective for that objective. On the other hand, we need to stand out and show the world how we give the best value to any organisation around the world. As we move towards a greener future together, we need to realise that some industries will enjoy growth, although some will shrink. For example, we aspire to reduce dependence on petrol and engines that use fuel, namely the internal combustion engine (ICE), while promoting the use of public transport. Traditional jobs in the fuel economy is more likely to diminish.”
“In addition, specific support for the worst affected sectors, such as the Jobs Support Scheme or JSS, for the aviation and aerospace industries, is very important as it ensures that we retain the talent and workforce available in this strategic sector, while preparing them for the future. What is notable is how COVID-19 has transformed our world. Some industries will enjoy growth, although some will shrink. Our world continues to move towards digitalisation, industry 4.0, "electrification" and clean energy and we need to move in the same direction or we will be left behind. The increase in oil prices may cause our cost of living to rise, especially for those who use transport to earn a living, but I am heartened that the 2021 Budget mitigates the impact of this price increase with road tax subsidies. The COVID-19 Driver Relief Fund also assists taxi drivers and private rental car drivers who receive $600 per month between January and March and a further $450 between April and June. This rebate, together with the Family Support Package, to some extent reduces the impact of rising oil prices as we prepare for and weather through the challenges of a rapidly changing world. However, I hope that the Government can study which rebates and relief packages are sufficient or need to be re-evaluated. There is no right time to raise taxes and we also cannot impose high taxes in the future in the hope that people will quickly switch to electric cars. Perhaps this is an opportunity for us to start using vehicles with lower fuel consumption or hybrid vehicles first to enjoy cheaper road taxes and petrol usage while also starting to do our share to lower emission rates.”
“It is inevitable that certain industries, like petrol-based industries, face decline while others, such as cleantech, green financing and horticulture see an increase in demand. Bridging between the contracting and emerging industries will be challenging and it would be erroneous to assume that everyone can make the transition smoothly. Hence, we need to balance and manage this workforce transition, especially when most of the jobs that will be lost are those of the lower wage roles. While I applaud the cross-Ministry efforts for the Green Plan, we need to chart out our workforce requirement and our workforce transition plan. One suggestion is to have our Industry Transformation Roadmap be updated to specifically include transition strategies for low-wage workers, seniors and persons with disability. Our Industry Transformation Roadmap should purposefully feature this group of workers so that the industries can proactively redesign jobs for them in the post-pandemic economy. This would ensure inclusivity even at the point of job design. Mr Speaker, Sir, in Malay, please. (In Malay): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] This year's Budget is in the deficit as it not only aims to help families overcome the pandemic, but also to send a signal about the importance of economic transformation and supporting future growth. I am confident that the $900 million allocated through the Family Support Package, where low-income families are given more support, will help many families overcome this pandemic.”
“Fair workplace practices and good work life balance will provide us a comparative advantage as we shift towards new working norms. WFH has demonstrated clearly how jobs can be done anywhere in the world. While we debate extensively on foreign workforce quotas, let it not distract us from the fundamental question: how do we keep our workforce competitive and relevant in the global market especially when workforce quotas are losing relevance in protecting jobs? How can we prepare and upskill our workforce such that we remain relevant in the global economy and not only do jobs in Singapore, but also do jobs for other countries remotely? Hence, our workforce must be able to compete locally, as well as globally. And we must continue to focus on driving best added value with the right skillset, mindset and attitudes needed to thrive in a remote working environment. Remote working requires a different set of skills for both employer and employee. Clear work targets must be set in order to manage the output of the team. And targets based purely on clocking number of hours have become obsolete. Employees are expected to be more self-directed and not take advantage of the flexibility afforded to them due to remote working. While it is important to upgrade our workforce in terms of hard digital skills, we must also adopt the soft skills and a more suitable work culture for remote working. I do not think it is premature to consider how schools can better prepare our children for a future of remote working. Our industry transformation roadmap was designed pre-COVID-19 and remains relevant even in the face of this pandemic. We aspire to be a greener nation as expressed through our Green Plan and a successful transformation necessitates getting everyone on this journey.”
“We need a more concerted approach to business transformation to help companies gain traction and better navigate the diverse cross-Ministerial support provided. For investment in training, we plan to spend $5.4 billion in addition to the $3 billion already spent on SGUnited Jobs and Skills package for our workers. Of the many upgrading courses available, many are on digital skills. These courses need to translate into real changes. How can we increase the efficacy of these trainings into driving real digital transformation? One suggestion is to move away from measuring success through course take-up rates to measuring transformation driven metrics. A tiered approach can be used, where applicable, to provide basic subsidy for attending the course and enhanced subsidy for achieving the improvement. An example is the lean sigma course where a participant receives his certification only after showing $1 million operational improvement to his organisation. The pandemic has taught us that for 60% of PMETs in Singapore, our jobs are able to be done anywhere and at any part of the globe. Workers are no longer confined to office cubicles and close physical proximity is no longer a prerequisite for collaborative work. Employers are trying to implement HR policies that strike a fair balance between work from home (WFH) and work from office (WFO). WFH and WFO represents both a boon and bane. We find the lines between work and home get increasingly blurred. Considering new working norms, MOM must ensure that the rights of both employers and employees are protected. Singapore must remain an attractive place to work and we must retain talent within Singapore.”
“The next step is to move from pockets of digitalisation, or "pilots", to fully adopting real and sustainable digital transformation. This will enable us to go beyond the superficial grafting of technology onto current processes and instead, leverage fully on digitalisation and create fundamental shifts to our business models. Only then can we be fully poised to take full advantage of the opportunities emerging from the post-pandemic world economy. It is noteworthy that a recent McKinsey report indicated that 85% of ASEAN companies are still stuck in this digitalisation pilot trap. How can MCI, MTI and MOM work closer together to support companies in driving real sustained digital transformation by stringing together cohesive programmes across Ministries to enable companies to build a coherent, successful growth strategy possibly through a clear Operations and Technology Roadmap from MTI supported by skilled manpower through MCI's Digital Leaders Programme and SGUnited Jobs and Skills training guided by experienced practitioners using MCI's CTO-as-a-service while training organisational’s capability to use data better through MCI's Better Data Driven Business Programme? Coming from the industry, trying to navigate transformation is difficult as this is not merely improving productivity but this is fundamentally transforming business models. Many companies, especially SMEs, may need help to navigate the multitude of different schemes available. To assist companies to fully leverage on the suite of support packages available, can the Ministries consider some form of over-arching business transformation support through a mentorship programme or hand-holding to help companies navigate the cross-Ministerial support for transformation?”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, thank you. These are truly challenging times as our economy shrank by 5.8%, the worst recession since Independence. This Budget, aptly named "Emerging Stronger Together", balances the following considerations: immediate needs to overcome the pandemic; investing in business and developing people to emerge from this pandemic stronger; strengthening our social compact; building a sustainable future; and maintaining financial prudence. Understandably, this year's Budget is in the deficit as we continue to assist our residents to overcome the pandemic while sending a strong signal on the need for transformation and supporting future growth. For immediate needs, schemes like the COVID-19 Recovery Grant, the $900 million household support package and JSS sector-specific support will be a much-needed respite for those most affected by the pandemic. Beyond addressing the immediate needs, I will touch on three suggestions as we work towards an inclusive, rapid transformation to secure Singapore's future. Firstly, how do we increase the momentum of real sustainable transformation in digitalisation? Secondly, the need to leverage on workplace transformation as our comparative advantage; and thirdly, to prepare our workforce for a successful transition to support our future economy, in particular, the Green Plan. COVID-19 is a catalyst for many workplace changes. In the past, there was no urgency to digitalise to bridge physical distances in a country like ours. However, the pandemic made it necessary for organisations to explore digital solutions, such as the use of Zoom, e-payment and e-commerce. We now better understand how digitalisation can help make our operations more convenient and efficient.”
“This is an injustice to the victims and those who are innocent who have placed their trust and confidence in our Police Force and our legal system. (In English): Mdm Deputy Speaker, while I understand the concerns of personal privacy, the challenge that we are facing is that we have to balance between privacy, public health and safety, security and justice – a point also mentioned by fellow Members Mr de Souza, Mr Murali, Ms Tan and Minister Vivian. I would like to highlight that this amendment sits in the COVID-19 (Temporary Measures) Bill which is temporary and tabled to be in force till 8 April 2022 or when this pandemic is over. We must also not lose sight of the designed principles of TT and the fact that TraceTogether data is stored only up to 25 days. These facts surely point to the original intent of TraceTogether, which is a technological/digitalisation measure that was put in place primarily for contact tracing in order to help our community contain the spread of the current pandemic. The law enforcement benefits that may arise from this is only a useful byproduct and the CPC ensures that it will be used judiciously to serve societal needs for safety, security and pursuit of justice. In this case, the Bill limits the use of such data to these seven categories of serious criminal offences. However, this should not set the precedence and impact our safety and security by tying the hands of our Police as we move into the digital future. Information that may assist in investigation, even if it is remotely helpful, should be made available to the Police. And let this be the only time where we limit access to information for our Police Force in the pursuit of justice. Notwithstanding the arguments above, Mdm Deputy Speaker, I support this Bill.”
“This essentially means that, after excluding these seven crimes, TT data cannot be easily used as evidence to prosecute or to defend those suspected of crimes that are not included in these seven categories. For example, when a person is wrongfully accused of molestation, would the individual not be able to use location data to provide an alibi as evidence that he is innocent? Or in the search for a criminal witness, would the victim not be able to ask for help from strangers in the vicinity? For child molestation cases, from the perspective of parents, like many of us here, TT data may be able to assist investigations in such cases. Is it not our social responsibility towards the victim's families to enable police to use data and any possible resources that can help the victims and families find justice? In conclusion, after the Ministry has explained the CPC's jurisdiction, the basic question that we need to ask ourselves is whether certain sources of information should be excluded from the jurisdiction. As a society, we still uphold societal values such as security, prosperity and justice which should never be compromised. In the pursuit of justice, we are confident in that the law enforcement agencies will conduct thorough investigations and our Police Force will remain as a pillar of safety and peace that we have enjoyed all this time. We have just embarked on a digitalisation journey and there are many more new things that we need to know to ensure that the law enforcement agencies can continue to move ahead. At the moment, once we have become aware of how TT data can assist police investigations, we cannot deliberately disregard, obstruct or halt the use of TT data in criminal investigations.”
“And yet we fundamentally agree that their work to preserve our safety and security, and facilitate the enactment of justice are important features of our society which we must uphold. The recent case of the 16-year-old radical detained under ISA reiterates the fact that we can never take our safety and security for granted and, hence, should we not allow our Police Force every information to help them achieve their mission? Moreover, when we start to preclude sets of information from being used by our Police Force, we set a dangerous precedent for future preclusions of access to data. As we undergo further digitalisation of our nation, we will create even more technologies and sets of data or information that we are only beginning to discover its benefits and applications. Are we really ready to say that we will not allow some of these future technological benefits and applications to be used by our law enforcement agencies in our pursuit for a safe, secure and more just Singapore? It must be reiterated that CPC only allows for such information to be used for criminal investigations. It is not in the public’s interest to deny our law enforcement agencies access to such data if it can be used to serve the public good. Beyond the arguments of protection of personal privacy, should not safety, security and pursuit of justice for our society take precedence and be prioritised? Mdm Deputy Speaker, in Malay, please. (In Malay): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] When we allow TT data to be used only for these seven categories of criminal offences, we should do so with an awareness of its implications.”
“Many of us would even say that these qualities should never be compromised. The Singapore Police Force plays a fundamental role in ensuring that we continue to enjoy a safe, secure and just Singapore. We must continue to support our Police Force in its efforts to prevent, deter and detect crime. And our men in blue must be suitably equipped to do their duties effectively. We all believe and trust the Police Force to leave no stones unturned when it comes to the safety and security of Singapore. And that they would bring about swift justice to those who have broken our laws. The Criminal Procedure Code or CPC has allowed our Police Force powers to obtain information as part of their investigations. This is how police investigations have operated over the years and contribute to making our Police Force effective. Now that the Ministry has clarified the reach of CPC, do we treat TT data as another source of information that can be used by our Police Force in the course of their investigations? Or are we trying to say that certain sets of data and sources of information should be excluded from CPC, and hence cannot be used by the Police Force to help them in the course of their investigations? Should we be setting a precedent of precluding certain sets of information to be used by law enforcement agencies in their pursuit of justice? What this potentially means is that information that may assist in investigations cannot be used by the Police. And conversely, it may mean that an innocent man is not able to use information from TT as an alibi to prove his innocence. From a data use point of view, the preclusion of certain sources of data seems to only make the jobs of our men in blue much more difficult.”
“Thank you, Mdm Deputy Speaker. Singapore has dealt with this pandemic decisively. My visit to our recently set up swab centres in Pasir Ris gives me every confidence that we have and will continue to take appropriate measures to respond quickly and effectively to curtail the spread of this virus. The pandemic has also expedited our use of digital tools such as the contact tracing app. This has enabled us to perform contact tracing more efficiently and reducing the need for laborious manual process. Personally, I have had two meetings that were cancelled because members were placed on SHN based on TT information that they were in contact with a suspected case. And I am glad that this information was made available and has protected me and my family from potential exposure to the virus, especially when I have elderly parents. It is fantastic to see how, as a community, we have managed to leverage on technology to combat this pandemic. It is not far-fetched to state that every single one of us is responsible for the effectiveness of TraceTogether, and we must continue to do so. With it, we can quickly trace anyone who has been exposed to the virus, and take the necessary steps to quarantine and prevent them from infecting others. Time is of the essence for contact tracing to be effective. Only through the concerted and responsible use of TT will we be able to do contact tracing quickly, and slow down the spread of virus. In true digital "gotong-royong" fashion, all of us helping each other out, serving the greater good of society. Safety, security and justice are societal values that we all agree are important. Collectively, we work hard to ensure that we are able to uphold these qualities within our society.”
“Thank you, Mr Speaker. I thank the Senior Minister of State Dr Janil Puthucheary for the clarification. Continuing off Mr Yip Hon Weng's question, my supplementary question refers to students who are hoping to return back to studying overseas or intend to study overseas, given many of our "A" Level students are awaiting their results and have an aspiration overseas. Since there is a restricted supply of vaccines and we will not be able to prioritise all of them for early vaccination, can the Ministry also consider some communication or advisory to these students on the help that they can receive overseas so that we can continue to care for our students heading overseas? Thank you.”
“Not withstanding the considerations I have proposed, I stand in support of the Bill.”
“It augments and sometimes replaces traditional manufacturing processes such as "lathe" and "milling machines". Therefore, it is important for our people to explore, understand and possess the competence in this technology that is increasingly becoming the norm in the new economy. Last month, the M3@Pasir-Ris Punggol organized a 3D printing course. The course was held for people of all ages; young and old. The course participants were able to learn about 3D printing, and they were excited about the potential of this technology. Although 3D printing brings a lot of benefits, we also need to be aware of the threats posed by this technology. As 3D printing technology and weapon blueprints are readily available online, coupled with the negative online elements that promote terrorism, there are individuals who have started to produce weapons using 3D printing in their own homes. Therefore, we need to be vigilant towards those who may be using them with dangerous intentions. As concerned members of the community and family members, we need to know the tell-tale signs of such individuals and contact the authorities so that Singapore continues to be safe and secure. (In English): In conclusion, Mr Speaker, Sir, our zero tolerance for gun and weapon possession has been instrumental in keeping Singapore safe and keeping gun and weapon crimes to as low as possible. However, our safety and security is now threatened by the unscrupulous use of the latest 3D printing technology. We need to move quick and catch up with the technological threat that 3D printing poses without over-criminalising it and stifling 3D printing activities while continuing to maintain zero tolerance for gun or weapon possession in our country.”
“Given the changing circumstances on making GEWs using 3D printers, I would like to propose a holistic approach of not only enforcement but also education to instill responsible 3D printing practices to the users and institutions that acquire these devices. Another consideration is on the declaration and serialisation of some highly sophisticated 3D printers. Some five-axis computer numerical control (CNC) machine centres are classified under export control, are serialised and also have yearly declarations as they are capable of manufacturing components for the centrifuge in building nuclear devices or ballistic missiles. I would like to propose that we extend the same need for serialisation and yearly declarations to certain types of 3D printers. This would help to monitor its use and ensure it is not in the hands of individuals with ill intent and forces the 3D printing contract manufacturers to be aware of the downstream usage of their manufactured products. Lastly, while we protect ourselves internally from the possession and manufacture of 3D printed guns, how do we protect our borders from the importation of 3D printed guns or weapons, especially those made from thermoplastics that can escape metal detection at our borders? The dangers of not detecting such guns and weapons cannot be underestimated. Mr Speaker, Sir, in Malay, please. (In Malay): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] The advancements in 3D printing technology present us with exciting and promising new opportunities. 3D printing technology is transforming the manufacturing world and forcing us to rethink supply chain strategies. 3D printing is capable of creating any product that can be made anywhere in the world. The usage of 3D printing is now growing.”
“Since it is impractical to prevent people from having the blueprint of non gun-based weapons, at least, this will force those that are responsible for 3D printing to think twice on the use of 3D printed items, especially if it is used to cause harm in our society. On enforcement, I would like to understand how MHA intends to enforce the unauthorised possession of the digital blueprints of guns. Can we explore the banning of websites that advocate gun blueprint sharing? How can MHA make non-intrusive checks on residents to ensure that they do not have gun designs stored on their hard drives? Do we have the right resource, skillset and organisational capability in MHA to tackle this threat? I believe the community also has a wider role to play too. How do we co-opt the community to understand the urgency of this issue and the threat that it poses to public security and safety? Can we educate the public to be vigilant and be on the lookout? Is there a role family members should play, especially in our objective to identify early radicalised individuals who may turn out to be lone-wolf operatives? Do we provide safe, anonymous whistle-blowing channels for the public or family members? How do we also ensure that the ease of access to 3D printers in schools and other agencies are not abused? It is great that many of our kids are exposed to 3D printers in schools nowadays. However, anyone with computer aided design skills – which is now taught in schools – is able to design a simple, sharp-ended knuckleduster and have it printed in hours. They do not even need to wait for weeks for shipment from overseas.”
“In addition, I suggest that it should also consider gun modifications and attachments that can be used with malicious intent such as silencers, scopes and so on. I also note that digital blueprints for offensive weapons such as knuckledusters and daggers are not covered. As someone who is excited about the benefits of 3D printing, I do understand that we do not want to stifle creativity and innovation and we also do not want to over-criminalise 3D printing. However, how do we keep to the spirit of the law and prevent such offensive weapons from being used in our country? One of our Pasir Ris residents came to see me to appeal against the fine he received – including the confiscation of the item – from Singapore Customs for buying a knuckleduster online from an overseas source. Of the hundreds of thousands of parcels crossing our borders, I am glad and I am thankful that our Singapore Customs have the capability to detect, intercept and prevent such offensive weapons from crossing our borders. How do we continue with this intent in this new world where we are unable to rely solely on the control at our physical borders to prevent these offensive weapons from appearing on our shores? How do we get people to practice responsible 3D printing without over-criminalising it? As a deterrent and to ensure responsible 3D printing, I would like to propose that if 3D printed items are found to be used as weapons in Singapore, we should consider options to charge the person or company for supplying the weapons together with the individual that uses it.”
“To further complicate these worrying trends, 3D printed guns are unserialised and therefore untraceable. They can also be made using plastics, making them undetectable by metal detectors at security points such as in our airports and other sensitive installations. All these lead to the simple fact that there are low barriers of entry for anyone who has the interest to 3D print a gun or weapon. Low printer cost, free downloadable software and blueprints open the gates to the proliferation of these 3D printed guns and other offensive weapons. Just some examples of the designs of guns that are available online: flying swallow revolver, zig-zag gun, AR15, FGC-9. Some are revolvers and some are semi-auto weapons. Any person with very modest means and a broadband connection can effectively print his own gun in the comfort and privacy of his own homes. In fact, there are many YouTube videos that show just this. The situation becomes increasingly dangerous when we take into consideration the instances of self-radicalised individuals on our shores. Easy access to such technology seems like the perfect opportunity for a lone-wolf operative aiming to commit acts of terrorism. It is therefore imperative that we pass this Bill. We need to keep up with the advancements in 3D printing technology and deal with the low barriers to access blueprints, especially in the current global and societal context. Like it or not, 3D printing of guns and other weapons is here with us and when it is misused, presents a clear and present danger to the safety and security of the general public. Given its importance, I would like to suggest the following considerations. In clause 13, I support the unauthorised possession of digital blueprints for guns and major parts of a gun.”
“AM is forcing us to rethink supply chain and manufacturing strategies because now, anyone in any part of the world can manufacture a 3D component if he has the design and a 3D printer capable of doing it. In addition, there is also a lot of online resources available for free. GrabCAD, an open source forum for 3D models has more than 4.5 million computer aided design models – more commonly known as CAD models – and a number of these designs are for guns or weapons as defined by the Bill, which includes knuckledusters, daggers, swords and nunchakus. 3D printing brings exciting opportunities in manufacturing. However, there is an increasingly worrying global trend on the irresponsible use of 3D printing guns and offensive weapons. These designs are also increasingly downloaded. One of my residents even showed me the design of a "Gutbuster" – a knuckleduster integrated with a dagger and a revolver. This is indeed a worrying trend given our objective of becoming a digitally connected nation. There is also a strong online community of advocates pushing for the digital design of guns to be made available to all for free as an extension of the United States' second amendment on the freedom to bear arms. As an example, Cody Wilson, described as a crypto-anarchist, had designed and successfully tested his first 3D-printed gun, which he named "The Liberator". He proceeded to upload it online for others to access for free. When the US authorities got wind of it, they managed to shut the site down but not before the gun design had been downloaded a total of 100,000 times. A quick Google search also shows many examples of organisations distributing blueprints for guns and weapons with the intent of arming civilians to protect themselves and rise up against authorities.”
“Thank you, Mr Speaker, Sir. I applaud the effort to keep legislation concerning guns, explosives and weapons – referred to as GEW by Minister of State Desmond Tan – updated especially given the fact that advancements in technology and open borders have made it significantly easier to procure and manufacture GEWs. We in Singapore are fortunate that our law enforcement agencies and supportive citizenry has kept our nation safe and free from the proliferation of GEWs. However, we must not rest upon our laurels in the face of recent developments. 3D printing is certainly an exciting and revolutionary technology as the designs you can manufacture now are effectively limited only by your imagination. As someone who is exposed to 3D printing at the workplace, I can assure that whatever that you can think of, it is highly likely that the 3D printer can print it out for you. 3D printing is also relatively cheap compared to traditional manufacturing with lathes and milling machines. Printers are readily available under $1,000. For the more serious hobbyist, a sophisticated 3D printer can be purchased under $5,000 for all your DIY needs from online portals such as Lazada and Amazon – and you can even have it delivered to your doorstep within a week. These 3D printers can print many different kinds of materials – from plastics to carbon fibre reinforced thermoplastics, to even different metals for the more complex and sophisticated machines. In the industry, the use of 3D printing – or what is known as additive manufacturing or AM – is becoming more prevalent. AM has revolutionised how we design and manufacture components where there is little or even zero waste, unlike traditional subtractive manufacturing.”
“(In English): In summary, Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, given that Singapore is at the forefront on data privacy laws especially in our immediate region, we need a level playing field between Singapore companies and foreign companies. We cannot be overly restrictive but we must still do our utmost to protect our consumers from intrusive, manipulative and exploitative practices. We need to give consumers the choice and control over their personal data and how it is used. With that, Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, clarifications notwithstanding, I stand in support of the Bill. 5.17 pm”
“However, I would like to suggest the following. First, we must enhance awareness and educate those who are less digitally capable within our community so that they can be aware of what they are consenting to. This will help ensure that they are protected against those who try to take advantage of them. Second, guidelines must also be drawn up to help ensure ethical use of data by businesses and organisations. Third, we also need to educate our youths with literacy programmes that include awareness of personal data protection as well as ethical considerations in a digital economy. Our youths are entering a world where the digital landscape is constantly evolving. They must be strengthened with positive values. We have to depend on them to define how data is used ethically in the future. Finally, we must also have an accreditation system to give assurance to consumers that their data is safe when they transact with companies that meet the standards, as well as forewarn them to exercise caution when dealing with companies that do not meet the stipulated standards. Given that Singapore is at the forefront of data privacy laws, especially in this region, we need to have a level playing field between Singapore companies and foreign companies. We should not stifle innovation too much but we must do our best to protect consumers from manipulative and exploitative practices. We must give consumers the choice and control over their personal data and how it is used. As consumers and business owners, we must bear the responsibility and further strengthen our understanding of data usage and data privacy, and we must continue to use data to drive innovation in order to transform our economy.”
“One, more must be done to educate the vulnerable so they are aware of what they are consenting to. This would help ensure that all are protected and not unfairly taken advantage of. Two, guidelines are also to be drawn up to help ensure the ethical use of data. These guidelines should be based on ethical considerations and not on commercial or profit interests of businesses and organisations. Three, digital literacy programmes for youths should include the awareness of personal data protection, as well as ethical considerations. Our youths are entering a world where the digital landscape is ever evolving. We will have to depend on them to define how data is being used ethically. Four, potentially, an accreditation system can be used, to give consumers some assurance that their data is secure when dealing with companies that meet, or even surpass, standards, and also to forewarn them to exercise caution when dealing with companies that do not meet these stipulated standards. And finally, fifth in the absence of the possibility for enforcement, we need to explore ways to protect consumer data from being used or proliferated by foreign companies and businesses. Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, may I continue my speech in Malay, please. (In Malay): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] With this amendment, we are protecting consumer data security in addition to ensuring that businesses and organisations act more responsibly when using data. This amendment will hopefully increase consumer trust and level of participation in the ever-evolving digital economy. There are measures to increase protection for the consumers as well as more punitive consequences for businesses and organisations who have not taken adequate safety precautions when using the data that is made available to them.”
“What safeguards do we have to ensure that the data is not proliferated and subsequently manipulated for commercial gains from overseas? Increasingly, there is the necessity in providing disclosure of personal and even organisational data by a business to its partners or contractors in order to assess and review contractual performance. This may result in multiple layers of outsourcing. Businesses and organisations can then use this disclosed data for their own purposes. However, when businesses and organisations require such data, there should be pre-arranged stipulations such that there is either a time-bound or scope-bound condition in order for the disclosed data to not be traded or sold to other organisations. This would go towards making data disclosure more secure and again, increase participation in the digital economy. It also avoids the situation where disclosed data is knowingly or unknowingly used by other organisations for their own purposes other than that which was agreed upon by the initial contractual obligation. In addition, if a Singapore-based company then discloses data to its overseas vendors, how do we then ensure that the overseas vendor do not use the data beyond the scope of the original intent, especially when we are then unable to hold them accountable? In conclusion, with the amendments, we are arguably in a much better off position than we were previously. There is a measure of increased protection for the consumers, as well as more punitive consequences for businesses and organisations who have not taken adequate safety precautions when using data that is made available to them. To enhance the amendments to the Bill further, I propose considering the following.”
“At which point does using portable data for highly personalised service becomes exploitation for profit-making purposes, especially if it is used to exploit an individual's pre-existing condition such as compulsive buying disorder? What if a customer just wants part of his data to be ported? These are important questions we need to answer to assure the public that their privacy is protected. To illustrate these concerns, take for example a vulnerable consumer giving consent or is perceived to have provided deemed consent to an e-commerce site to port his data. The e-commerce vendor proceeds to use it and may even proliferate the data indiscriminately, and he falls prey to questionable marketing techniques. How do we protect the vulnerable who are less digitally savvy? I think we can all agree that spam marketing messages in the form of voice calls, text and fax messages are a nuisance and not to mention highly intrusive. Thus, I am supportive of such Do Not Call provisions or DNC under the PDPA. The DNC already prohibits businesses and organisations from sending Instant Messages or IMs, SMS and so on, to Singapore-based telephone numbers which have been registered with the DNC registry. However, considering that the digital economy is global in nature and is not bounded by the jurisdiction of nation-state borders, how do we enforce these DNC provisions to overseas companies? Are there even ways to minimise the ability of overseas businesses from spamming our consumers? Conversely, how do we ensure that Singapore registered businesses and organisations handle their data ethically when they port them over to overseas vendors and partners?”
“This should convince us that we cannot leave consumer data security to chance, hoping that businesses and organisations will act in an ethical manner whenever information breaches happen. With the amendments, when there is a breach of significant scale or may cause harm to the individual, there is a framework for these businesses and organisations to assess if both the Commission and the individuals concerned must be informed. This strengthens the confidence of consumers in the organisation’s ability to protect their privacy. Consequently, affected parties can take simple measures like changing their passwords to afford immediate protection to their data. However, we all agree that any data breach is unacceptable and as such, stiff financial penalties is needed to deter poor handling of data security. Data portability would benefit both consumers and businesses. Ease and security of data portability provides consumer autonomy over their personal data, and plausibly, increase the consumer participation rate in the digital economy. At the same time, it can provide access to data for businesses to better serve their customers’ needs or to provide innovative solutions for their clients. However, how do we prevent companies from exploiting this ease of portability to manipulate customers and shape their behaviour? How can we protect consumers from exploitative and manipulative marketing techniques once businesses get a hold of consumer data? Do less tech-savvy customers, such as our senior citizens and other vulnerable groups understand the implications when they consent to port their data over?”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, the rapid advancements made in technology over the past decade has drastically changed our digital landscape as well as our economy. The pandemic has also highlighted the critical need for digitalisation at the personal, as well as organisational level. We have done well to keep abreast with this development. However, if Singapore wants to keep its leading position in the international digital economy, we must recognise the key role that data privacy plays in the digital economy. Currently, knowingly or unknowingly, personal data is already being shared and traded. When consumers share personal data, there must be robust safeguards to protect their privacy so that we can increase trust and level of participation by one and all in the digital economy. We must at the same time be mindful that as an innovation hub, businesses and organisations must be able to harness data confidently in their search for creative solutions and ways to improve consumers’ experiences, products and services. In order to enhance the protection of consumer data, we must support increased accountability by organisations and businesses. There was no legal requirement or compulsion to inform the consumer of information breaches. To use the recent Lazada data breach of 1.1 million users and the Eatigo data breach of 2.8 million users as an example, we have a sense of how massive and widespread such breaches can be. Lazada has been forthcoming in this instance and had actively monitored their data security systems, while Eatigo was able to detect the breach after it’s users’ data was put on sale online.”
“Thank you, Mr Speaker. I thank Minister Teo for her reply. I appreciate the efforts of the Government in supporting re-employment and in redesigning jobs. While we have been encouraging companies to redesign job for seniors through various grants and schemes throughout the years, the pace at which companies are proactively redesigning jobs, I think that can be improved. At present, with 16.8% of population above the age of 65, what more can we do to nudge companies to proactively redesign jobs to ensure gainful employment for our ageing population. And also, can both MOM and MTI consider including job redesign for seniors, including work-from-home, job-sharing, micro jobs as one of the key elements in the Industry Transformation Map. So, jobs for seniors become actively designed for the transforming industries.”
“I would like to thank the Minister of State for the clarification. I would also like to enquire, has MOM considered the downstream impact of WFH? With companies intending to downsize their office spaces to benefit from WFH, can we also take a look at how it impacts the downstream workers – those who are supporting office operations, such as the cleaners in the office, the food providers around the office space. Has MOM also considered those impacts?”
“To ensure that we remain competitive in the global market, we need to have the right skills, the right way of thinking and the ability to seize the opportunities available We need to equip our workforce with soft skills, such as change management, to implement changes at work. To quote Charles Darwin: "The one who survives is not the strongest or the most intelligent, but it is the one who can best manage change". (In English): Mr Speaker, Sir, in summary, as we rebuild and grow our physical connectivity, it is our collective social responsibility to ensure that we protect our lives and our livelihood. As we aspire towards an inclusive and resilient society with a dynamic and growing economy, we need to incorporate the lessons learnt from this pandemic towards creating inclusive growth. This pandemic is often called the crisis-of-a-generation. However, many have also called this, an opportunity-of-a-generation. With the right skillset, right mindset and leveraging on opportunities that are available, we can transform, our future, and together, we will emerge from this stronger. On that note, Mr Speaker, Sir, I support the Motion by Deputy Prime Minister Heng. 4.40 pm”
“Among others, businesses such as restaurants, cafes and shops, as well as workplaces must ensure safe management measures are adhered to. In our efforts to rebuild physical connectivity, we need to protect both our lives and our livelihoods. We need to use the lessons learnt from this pandemic and apply it to the Industry Transformation Maps. For example, working from home has changed the employment structure We have to learn from this experience and re-design jobs to provide inclusive growth opportunities for older and less able workers. We need to provide equal job opportunities for the elderly, the disabled as well as caregivers who are seeking employment. This is to ensure that there is a place for these Singaporeans in our Industry planning and they can also reap the benefits of this inclusive job opportunity. Structural changes will cause workers to lose their jobs and exert greater pressure on workers who are more vulnerable to these changes We should support the Tripartite Working Group. We need to accelerate the implementation of the Progressive Wage Model for certain industries and provide opportunities for more vulnerable groups of workers to upgrade their skills. While working from home has created many opportunities, it is also accompanied by several additional challenges. Competition for PMET jobs is no longer limited to Singapore alone. This means that the question of foreign worker quotas becomes less relevant when compared to the need to ensure that Singaporeans remain competitive in the global job market.”
“We must structure and integrate training with business solutioning to support business performance and industry transformation. One example is a course I attended on Lean Six Sigma Blackbelt. It is an operational excellence course and in order to receive the course subsidy and certification, the attendee will have to prove that he has brought improvements to drive a $1 million cost saving for the organisation. This same concept can be applied for digital courses. An example would be for a company to receive full subsidy if the attendee to the course can show proof that they have led the change and contributed in some form to the digital transformation for the company These are just some examples of how we can integrate training with business solutioning so that our investment in resource, both time and money, is able to generate change. I would like to thank our fellow Parliamentarian Mr Yip Hon Weng for the question he asked earlier, how can Singapore workforce remain competitive with remote working. With the right skillset, the right mindset and working together to leverage on the opportunity the Singapore eco-system brings, we need to drive this change, this game changing transformation to develop the competitive edge for economy and our workforce. Mr Speaker, Sir, in Malay, please. (In Malay): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] As we rebuild and re-establish our physical connectivity, we need to be cognisant of the importance of doing so in a safe and controlled manner. Businesses and the general public must continue to maintain our psychological resilience and not be complacent about the safe management measures that should be implemented.”
“This is no longer a question of lowest cost but one of creating best value to maintain the competitive edge and remain relevant in the global workforce market. The pandemic has shown that digital capabilities represent the game changer to open markets and opportunities for businesses which then creates jobs and ensures that jobs are preserved. Companies that leverage on these digital capabilities and evolve their business model have been able to survive and unlock growth during this downturn. Take for example, the company cited by Deputy Prime Minister Heng, Decks Pte Ltd which increased its sales tenfold after it revamped its e-commerce platform. As much as it is about increasing the workers digital skillset, it is also important for us to look at the mindset, and the ability to leverage on these opportunities that are available. We need to equip our workforce with the softer skills of change management in driving changes to the workplace. To quote Charles Darwin, “It is not the strongest or most intelligent who will survive, but those who can best manage change.” This is especially true in at this juncture, as we, in Singapore, will have to transform to not only just get through COVID-19, but more crucially, gain strategic advantages that prepare us for the next stage of economic growth. With the right skillset and mindset, we need to leverage on these opportunities to drive the change. We have invested heavily in SkillsFuture courses. As we look at assessing the training providers and courses, the effectiveness of SkillsFuture courses should not only be based on attendance or the number of courses taught but rather it should also be assessed on its ability to drive real changes.”
“This is where the Progressive Wage Model complemented by the Workfare Skills Support Scheme and other needs-based social safety nets such as ComCare and KiFAS will be able to help lower wage workers with needs-based support. More importantly, these initiatives help to provide the stepping stones to train and increase the skillset of these lower wage workers to prepare for the changes to their respective industries that lay just beyond the horizon. When the majority of us are working from home, we took a while, but we managed to reach the a new norm. Many found that the savings from commuting time can be productively used as exercising time or time for the family. A study by EngageRocket, in partnership with Singapore Human Resource Institute and Human Resource Professionals showed that nine of 10 employees shared that they would like to continue with some form of remote working as a new way of working. This new norm on the way of working could improve our worklife balance and quality of life as we are able to use the time more productively. Remote working has brought many opportunities. However, it brings additional challenges. In the past six months, while we have enjoyed working from our our homes in Pasir Ris, Punggol or Jurong, it also means that our jobs can be done anywhere else in the world. Whether it is in Pasir Ris or a cafe in India, for example, PMET job competition is no longer confined within Singapore. The challenges our PMETs face is no longer a question of quota to protect our jobs but rather how do we ensure the Singaporean workforce is competitive in the global market. Global companies will be looking at how the Singaporean workforce create additional value.”
“We must incorporate these lessons learnt, to provide more equal employment opportunities for the seniors, less-abled as well as care-givers seeking employment such that Singaporeans will benefit from the inclusiveness of employment opportunities and there is a place for these each and every Singaporeans in our industry transformation. This is an opportunity to relook at how we work closer with help-groups such as SGEnable and Agency of Integrated Care or AIC to ensure that there is a place for all Singaporeans in our inclusive growth. COVID-19, new technology and digitalisation will also bring about structural changes that will give rise to unemployment and place greater pressure on the vulnerable lower wage workers. Hence, it is important that the Tripartite Working Group, comprising of MOM, NTUC and SNEF, work together to expedite the implementation of the Progressive Wage Model across other sectors. Through the Industry Transformation Map, the Tripartite Working Group can chart out opportunities and create stepping stones for the vulnerable groups to upskill and go up the ladder so that they have a lower risk of being redundant in the future. One example could be for the pump attendants who tend to comprise our senior workers. I had a very interesting conversation with my 12-year-old daughter earlier this week. My daughter asked, “Dad, what will happen to the Uncle at the pump station when all cars are electric?” That got me thinking. As we move from hybrid to electric cars with our goal of phasing out vehicles with internal combustion engines, what will happen to these pump attendants, petrol station clerks and similar lower wage workers in industries that are undergoing transformation even as I speak?”
“As we work towards rebuilding our physical connectivity, we need to remain vigilant and protect both our lives and livelihood. As we aspire towards an inclusive and resilient society with a dynamic and growing economy, we need to incorporate the lessons learnt from this pandemic and integrate these lessons into the Industry Transformation Map. We must take actions now that will allow us to not just get through COVID-19, but more crucially, transform and prepare us for our next lap of inclusive economic growth. With six of 10 of us Singaporeans working as PMETs, the past six months have been the biggest exercise in redesigning jobs and reassessing the way we define work. Many of us have not been back to office, yet we remain productive. To cite an example, one of the Pasir Ris residents, Mr Ismail, is in his late 30s, smart and gets around in a wheelchair as he lost his foot to diabetes. Working from home, behind a computer, he is equally, if not more capable of performing an office-based job just like everyone else. The past six months have taught us that for some jobs, it also did not matter that you start working remotely at 8 am at home or work every single minute including extended hours. We found a way to remain equally productive in this new flexible environment. Can this provide an opportunity for care-givers, who need to have more flexible work schedule to take care of their young and the seniors? Could this also be the solution for mothers or fathers, who gave up their career and now want to rejoin the workforce while still taking care of their loved ones?”
“Mr Ahmad Khalili, father of two, who works for a major airframer and ensures aircrafts for airlines from across the world, not just SIA, are dispatched safely and reliably. The Tan family – Mr Tan drives a taxi and Mrs Tan is a tour agent whose family has to deal with more than 50% drop in their income. Mr Foo, who sells prepaid telephone card supporting his 80-year-old mother and his income has since significantly dropped because there is no demand for prepaid cards by local Singaporeans. And many similar Singaporeans families whose livelihoods are dependent on Singapore's status as an airhub. While Minister Ong, shared the plans for us to safely, and in a controlled way, open up our borders to protect our livelihoods, it is also important that as a community, we come to the realisation that it is our collective social responsibility to ensure that the safe management measures are adhered to, in order to protect each other. As we look beyond our shores, we see countries such as Australia, South Korea and Japan hit by the second wave of infections. As we open up, we must work together in order to minimise the risk of that happening in Singapore. We must not let our guard down and slip into complacency. We must be psychologically prepared to overcome the challenges that still loom ahead. Businesses such as restaurants, cafés, shops and workplaces must ensure that safe management measures such as sufficiently-distanced tables and chairs, are adhered to. We must continuously remind each other, to keep a social distance, wear a mask, practice SafeEntry and Tracetogether, because together, we can minimise the risk of infection and we can swiftly contain the episode in the event a transmission occurs.”
“Thank you, Mr Speaker, Sir. I rise in support of the Ministerial Statement made by Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat. I would like to declare my interest as an employee in the aerospace industry, one of the 22,000 workers in the industry, many of whom whose employment or income have been affected by the pandemic. I would like to touch on three key areas. Firstly, as we rebuild and grow our physical connectivity, we – people, Government and businesses are responsible to do so while protecting our lives and livelihood. Secondly, we need to incorporate the lessons learnt from this pandemic and build on the Industry Transformation Map to create an inclusive and resilient society with a dynamic and growing economy. Thirdly, though the pandemic has brought challenges for us to overcome, we must also leverage on the opportunities it brings while preparing for the upcoming challenges facing our workforce to remain competitive in the global market. As Deputy Prime Minister Heng has shared in his Ministerial Statement, compared with last year, passenger traffic has fallen by more than 98% in August. This has had a huge impact on the livelihoods of many Singaporeans. I am in support to rebuild and grow our physical and digital connectivity. Our position as an airhub is not only important to those working in airlines such as SIA. Our position as an airhub is a strategic economic asset as it serves as a conduit for other industries and it is the source of livelihoods for many of our fellow Singaporeans in dependent industries. Take for example, the following residents in Pasir Ris. Mr Faizal Sains, father of seven, a licensed aircraft engineer who works in the maintenance, repair and overhaul industry.”
“Thank you, Speaker, Sir. I thank the Minister for making the Ministerial Statement. Sir, I would like to stand in support of the controlled opening of air travel. And I just want to state that whatever that goes through air travel, that revenue goes through not only just SIA but goes through the ground-handling crew, goes through the guys at Changi Airport, goes through the taxi drivers, the Grab drivers and all the way till the monkeys at the Zoo, when we are looking at that revenue spend. So, I agree that there is still air travel demand. In fact, in the industry – and I would like to declare that I work in the aerospace industry – as we are commissioning new equipment and new machinery, we are still asking from engineers from overseas to commission the machine and we need them to travel here to Singapore. As for the environmental tax that was mooted earlier, I just want to declare that SIA has invested very heavily on new aircraft, such as the A350s and the 787 Dreamliner that by itself, contribute about 25% less CO2 emissions and the fuel consumption is only three to four litres per hundred kilometre travel of passengers. So, with that, Minister, I just wanted to ask a supplementary question on this. Between SIA and CAG, is there any leverage that the two can have to reduce the cost for SIA's planes parking on the tarmac?”
“The Government and our people should continue to work hard and work with employers and businesses to create opportunities for displaced Singaporean workers. For our youths, although these are challenging times, they must remain positive and stay focused on building the future, respond to this rapidly changing economic challenge and move forward to contribute to society and the nation. I would like to work with our youths to develop skills in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) and prepare ourselves for the new digital economy. By working together to transform our economy and taking care of each other to ensure inclusive transformation, we can build a more resilient society and create better jobs for our children in the future. (In English): In summary, Mr Speaker, Sir, the Government, businesses and citizens must work effectively together to transform the economy. And as we sail through these stormy seas, we must not leave anyone behind. On that note, Mr Speaker, Sir, I support the Motion. [Applause.]”
“We need to be prepared for a reality that, even with support such as the Jobs Support Scheme (JSS), there are jobs that may be lost and there are workers who will lose their livelihood. Faced with such challenges, we must remain positive and see this challenge as an opportunity to change the way we approach jobs and life. We must open our minds and willingly adapt to new norms, whether as individuals or as businesses. We should use this opportunity to leverage on digitalisation and be open to accept new challenges. Some examples of this taking place are in the retail industry. During the circuit breaker, when access to customers is limited, enterprises with digital platforms are not only able to continue operations but also expand operations to new customers. We need to learn from this experience to adapt to new norms and change our expectations and ways of thinking. Through digital platforms, small businesses can also rethink the way they do business. My favourite nasi rawon stall in Bedok now provides food delivery services to the whole of Singapore through third-party food delivery applications. Last month, my family and I were able to order the nasi rawon from my in-laws' house in Choa Chu Kang. The stall owner may not have been able to receive and fulfil orders from a location so far from his stall without a digital platform. Regarding workers whose livelihood are affected, they can make use of the opportunity to undergo training, such as SkillsFuture courses, to enhance their skills and increase their capabilities, especially in the digital field. However, I agree that this is not just the responsibility of workers. While workers retain and upgrade their skills, employers must also play their part.”
“For many of our PMEs, they have not stepped in office for the past five months. Yet, they remain equally productive. Digitalisation and working from home have shown that for most of our PME jobs – my job, too, for that matter – can be done anywhere in the world. How do we deal with that then when quotas are no longer relevant to protect our local PMEs in the global market? Yesterday, Mr Leong Mun Wai and Assoc Prof Jamus Lim questioned numbers and figures of Employment Pass issuance, possibly implying that the control of quotas may protect our PMEs, to which Deputy Speaker Ms Jessica Tan asked, "What is the alternative number?" Coming from the industry and witnessing how the nature of PME jobs is rapidly evolving, I agree with the Deputy Speaker. I urge this Chamber to consider that this is not an issue of just numbers and quotas, but the right questions this House should be debating for the future of Singapore are: how do we prepare our PMEs to be competitive in a globalised PME local market? How do we prepare our PMEs for jobs not only in Singapore but a globalised firm beyond our shores? How do we remain relevant to this world? For we are a small red dot and can easily be forgotten. This House cannot be distracted and let that happen; for if we do, we have failed the people and we have failed Singapore. Which then brings us back to my first point. We must work effectively together as one Singapore to transform the economy and define our value proposition for Singapore to secure good, irreplaceable jobs for Singaporeans. Together, a stronger Singapore. Mr Speaker, Sir, allow me to deliver the rest of my speech in Malay. (In Malay): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] The COVID-19 pandemic has affected the whole world.”
“To cite an example, one of my resident lives in a rental flat. He is a 45-year-old man, digitally literate, a father of two boys aged 12 and eight, and unemployed. He lost his foot to diabetes and hence, he is immobile. He goes for dialysis every other evening from 7.00 pm to 11.00 pm. He is alert and mentally capable. Working from home, in front of the computer, he can be as productive as anyone of us. And yet, he still finds it difficult to land a job. We must learn from this recent experience during the pandemic. We must provide more equal employment opportunities for the seniors and less abled as well as caregivers seeking employment such that people like my resident would benefit from the inclusiveness of employment opportunities. We must not let the sacrifices we made during this crisis go to waste because within this crisis lies opportunities. I am in support of the schemes from MOM to improve the employment and employability of mid-career professionals, seniors and persons with disability. However, efforts by Government agencies can only go so far without support from organisations who are willing to make the change. I believe that we should not come to a point where we must legislate minimum employment quotas for seniors and the less-able to move towards a more inclusive society. Government, businesses and citizens must work together to create equal opportunities for all. But I would like to say a word of caution to this House. While the past five months have taught us how to relook at our jobs and work remotely, this also implies that our professionals, managers and executives (PMEs) will become more exposed to global competition as PMEs need not be in Singapore to compete with the jobs required here.”
“We must think hard to redesign jobs and provide fair opportunities to our local workforce while maintaining our competitiveness. As our demographics transit to a higher proportion of workforce above the age of 50, we must redesign jobs to best make use of their experience and abilities. We have all heard the same narratives from our senior residents seeking re-employment. Even with incentives for hiring, retrenched senior workers still struggle to seek re-employment and the majority are left presented with either employment in security or cleaning. Government, businesses and citizens must work together and expand opportunities for our senior workforce. As we eagerly anticipate things returning to normal, let us pause and reflect on what we have achieved in the past five months. The past five months has been the biggest exercise in redesigning jobs and reassessing the way we do things. When many of us were working from home, we took a while but managed to reach the new norm on work-life balance. Additionally, some were able to provision more time to exercise. In fact, a study by EngageRocket, in partnership with the Singapore Human Resource Institute and the Institute for Human Resource Professionals, revealed that nine of 10 employees shared that they would like to continue with some form of work from home as a new way of working. What is also interesting about this new way of working was the fact that it did not matter whether the person working from home was a senior, someone in mid-life or a person with mobility challenges. Nor did it matter that they came in at 8.00 am and working every single minute, including extended hours. We found a way to remain equally productive in this new environment and maintain work-life balance.”
“Equipping the workforce with the right skills and mindset is crucial in driving this transformation. SkillsFuture, especially the additional support for older workers to reskill, upskill and the focus on skills over paper qualifications at the workplace, is a step in the right direction for our society. I am in support of the Government’s push for SkillsFuture and increasing internship opportunities. However, I must caution that the success of SkillsFuture should not be measured solely by attendance and course completion. Instead, success should also be measured by the ability to transform these learnings into actual improvements or output. As we work together to transform our economy, transformation cannot happen at the expense of others. We must care for one another and not leave anyone behind. Businesses must do their part to provide fair opportunities for the workforce. For displaced workers, I support the efforts in upskilling and providing job support through e2i, Workforce Singapore (WSG) and SkillsFuture Singapore (SSG). I am also in support of the Ministry of Manpower’s (MOM) incentives to encourage hiring local workforce. However, these efforts to support displaced workers must be matched with employers willing to change their approach and employees willing to try and make changes in a challenging job market. We must also, collectively as a society, work together to ensure that companies abide by fair hiring practices. We all agree that we want to keep a strong Singaporean Core, provide equal opportunity to mid-career workers and seniors, provide jobs for persons with disabilities and have better work-life balance. During this transformation, we must embody and act on these beliefs that we are all in agreement of.”
“These support measures have cushioned the impact of COVID-19, but some jobs will still be lost, and some roles will cease to exist. However, there will be opportunities for growth in other sectors. New areas in digitalisation, Industry 4.0 and new business models will create new jobs and new ways of thinking. We need to stay positive and see these risks and challenges as opportunities to transform the way we do things. In addition, Singapore must stand out in a changing world order to survive and thrive. To quote Mdm President, “We must do things that others cannot do, and do things that others can do, better.” One example is in the aerospace industry. Singapore has grown to be the Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) hub for the aerospace. However, this position of dominance has increasingly been challenged by competitors in neighbouring countries. For Singapore to stay ahead, we cannot be solely competing for lowest cost as that means we may have suppressed wages too. Singapore must compete to be of best value. For example, an MRO facility in Singapore cannot merely be doing repair and maintenance like any other facility in the world. We must embrace industry 4.0 and leverage on digital and data analytics in order to provide better value for our customers. We must transform from merely repairing the product, to understanding the product, providing insights that can deliver improvements in performance and move the value upstream. It will take the effort of everyone working together to emerge from this storm stronger. Both within an organisation and beyond the organisation, between Government, businesses, individuals, unions, supporting associations and across industries, we must act collaboratively, for the sake of one another.”
“The spirit of togetherness that will get us through this difficult time. This Parliament sits during our worst recession since Independence and in a world that is increasingly divided. Conditions that made us thrive – globalisation and stable, collaborative international order – has made way to a fragmented world with countries and economies closing, and tension between the major powers. To quote Mdm President, “We must stand united. We must speak with one heart. We must move in one direction.” Mr Speaker, Sir, I would like to thank Mdm President for setting the tone for us to navigate through this unprecedented storm. Only by staying united and working together can we emerge from this stronger. I will touch on two key areas. Firstly, our ability to work effectively together to transform the economy will determine how we come out from this storm. Secondly, as we sail through these stormy seas, we must not leave anyone behind. Our transformation must be inclusive. Digitalisation, Industry 4.0 and COVID-19 have changed the world we live in. The way we work, interact and do business is now different and there is no turning back. Some sectors such as aviation, aerospace, marine and offshore are gravely threatened. Having worked in these sectors, I am in support of the Ministry of Trade and Industry’s (MTI) efforts to continue to preserve the core capabilities which we have built over these years. For these sectors and others similarly affected by COVID-19 such as hospitality, meetings, incentives, conference and exhibitions (MICE) and retail, the Joint Wage Support Scheme has been integral in keeping businesses afloat and its workforce employed.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I am privileged in my maiden speech to rise in support of the Motion of Thanks to Mdm President for her Address to this Parliament. Before I begin, I would like to mention that I am not part of the National Trade and Unions Congress (NTUC), but in support of the Labour Movement, I would like to thank our Labour Movement for all the efforts that it has done for the Self-employed Person Income Relief Scheme (SIRS). While there were some questions raised on SIRS yesterday, including conducting interviews for families to approve applications, I would like to remind everyone that in the past few months, the Labour Movement, in supporting Singaporeans through this crisis, assisted in processing 180,000 applications. Successful self-employed persons (SEPs) received up to $9,000 to tide their families through this challenging time. I had the pleasure to work with some of the NTUC staff as they did their outreach, delivering over 30 to 40 Zoom sessions with different groups in different languages, and I saw their dedication in trying to process as many applications as they could, even till the wee hours of the morning, sacrificing their own family time. They tried their best to help the applicants get the support that they needed, from taxi drivers, wedding photographers, property agents, tuition teachers to asatizahs and many others. These, together with many other fantastic activities that fellow Singaporeans have done – such as SG BukaPuasa who delivered 20,000 meals daily to needy families during the Ramadan month at the height of the circuit breaker and Engineering Good who provided refurbished laptops to kids from disadvantaged families – are just some examples of the Singaporean spirit.”