Shawn Huang Wei Zhong
Singapore
“I thank the Member for the question. Contractors who are PW Mark eligible are required to obtain and maintain the PW Mark throughout the contract period. They are also required to notify the contracting authorities if there are any changes to their PW Mark status.”
“Mismatches in the labour market may be driven by shifts in skill requirements. For example, firms are expanding technology functions, driving sustained demand for jobs like AI engineers and engineering professionals, while restructuring other professional, manager, executive and technician (PMET) roles that have become easier to automate.…”
“Thank you, Mr Speaker. With regard to Parliamentary Question No 16, I would just like to clarify that Career Conversion Programmes provide salary support to employers. Thank you.”
“Mr Speaker, this question for oral answer has been addressed by written reply, to Question No 97 on the Order Paper for the 7 April 2026 Sitting.”
“There are schemes out there, for example, if a platform worker would like to transition to full-time employment or to a different platform, they can always approach WSG with a suite of capabilities, SkillsFuture, as well as the Career Conversion Programmes.”
“In 2025, the gross monthly income from employment, excluding employer Central Provident Fund (CPF) contributions, of full-time employed resident professionals, managers and executives (PMEs) was about $4,500 at the 10th percentile, $5,400 at the 20th percentile and $6,000 at the 25th percentile. The median income was $8,400.”
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“Mr Chairman, we have seen how COVID-19 has accelerated digital innovation and transformed the way we live and work. We have seen many positive examples of our seniors carrying out essential tasks using digital means – SGQR codes for SafeEntry, e-payments just to name a few. Many of our hawkers have embraced digitalisation. Many offer e-solutions and now are on-boarding e-commerce solutions and leveraging online marketplaces to sell their products and services. I am heartened by the efforts of our seniors and hawkers. However, everyone adapts to change differently. And I note that there are still many Singaporeans who need more guidance and support to adapt to digitalisation. We must not be complacent as there is a risk of widening the digital divide. MCI has done well to roll out digital inclusion initiatives like Hawkers Go Digital and Seniors Go Digital. I also note IMDA and National Library Board’s efforts to support low-income families and vulnerable groups via affordable internet access, and access to digital devices and eBooks. I strongly believe in partnerships and collaborations. Hence, I would like to ask MCI to elaborate on its plans and partner stakeholders to drive ground up initiatives that will foster a digitally inclusive and ready society. Digital Divides and Rising Trends of Scams”
“The accelerator offers six-month programmes for companies that have already piloted AI application on products and services. About 15 Finnish companies provide funding and technical support to the accelerator. Then, these organisations would work with service providers, start-ups, academia in short sprints to help deploy the AI applications or the deliverables. The first batch of companies from accelerator, for example, would work together to then deploy speech recognition technologies. 1.15 pm Some companies progress by fusing physical and cyber realms. One such local company come to my mind. Leon, the founder of a local watch company, BOLDR, has a global franchise. They are amongst the first to build a mechanical watch with digital functions. With two full-time employees, Yong Hong and Jaspo, they design, build and supply watches using Sellita and ETA movements. Watch enthusiasts would know that these are very high quality movements. As the name of the company represents – BOLDR – we too can help SMEs tackle challenges and develop their capability to expand further. To secure Singapore's future we must be able to build an innovative eco-system that has the ability to grow and compete globally. As such, I would like to seek the Minister for Trade and Industry's update on how the Government is supporting enterprises to commercialise and capture value from innovative ideas generated from R&D; how we can help our enterprises grow innovation capabilities; how local enterprises can be supported to grow and build capabilities to compete globally; and finally, how to support and transform and seize opportunities to emerge stronger. Igniting More SME Collaborations”
“Mr Chairman, SMEs have the potential to significantly boost economic growth. It is known that the productivity gap between large companies and SMEs can vary in several multitudes depending on the industry. As such, helping to raise the productivity of SMEs can be a worthwhile endeavour given the potential upside and the ability to drive economic growth within the country. SMEs are better positioned to integrate proven practices and technologies. And they also have more agility and are at less risk in testing and adopting new technologies, especially technologies and processes of large companies. At the same time, SMEs can be more innovative. As SMEs are usually unencumbered by large systems and outdated strategies, they are often able to rethink established practices and cut through traditional industry boundaries. However, the lack of resources and access to talent continues to pose implementation challenges for SMEs. Limited awareness of digital solutions, limited access to digital talent, and limited capital to invest in digital technologies can hinder the uptake of these technologies by SMEs. Governments have started expanding their productivity programmes toward digital adoption and started dedicated programs to help SMEs deploy more productive digital processes. One good example we could learn from is the Mittelstand 4.0 centres of excellence in Germany. An example would be the first 26 AI competence centers, staffed with 20 AI coaches to train 1,000 SMEs each year. As shared in a McKinsey report, in Finland, the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment and several technology industries have launched an accelerator dedicated to helping firms deploy digital solutions.”
“Mr Chairman, after a year of fighting COVID-19, much resources have been committed to stopping the spread of the virus. There is much toll in the economic, social, emotional aspects and no effort was spared galvanising the nation, saving communities and helping those who were most affected. Given these immense challenges, will there be sufficient capacity for the greater challenge that remains – climate change and our existential need to achieve sustainability? We must. The warming of the earth over the next decade is unavoidable. Many other planetary limits have been breached and we are on the verge of a tipping point where the loss of biodiversity, degradation of water, air and cooling systems of the world will be irreversible. Mitigating climate change through decarbonisation is a key and necessary response. The Paris Agreement stated that that all parties will reduce their carbon footprint by more than 50% by 2030 and eliminate it by 2050. However, this was based on a growth and temperature rise estimates that have since exceeded assumptions. We have to do more. I understand that despite all challenges, Singapore pressed ahead to submit its nationally determined contribution and long-term low emissions development strategy. Could the Minister for Foreign Affairs provide an update on how will Singapore continue to contribute to the global efforts against climate change? Multilateralism”
“Chairman, the nature of warfare is continually evolving and so must the SAF if it wishes to stay relevant. State-on-state conflict may no longer manifest itself in the exchange of physical blows. Instead, we see conflict existing below the threshold of war and waged in non-physical domains such as the cyber realm. Threats to national security have become increasingly amorphous and may not easily be defined or identified. At the same time, the threat of terrorism remains prevalent. Terrorist groups in the region and around the world could try to capitalise on existing societal fragmentation exacerbated by COVID-19. The SAF must be able to defend Singapore against a whole range of threats. The SAF must also be capable of executing flexible and calibrated responses, and do so in a sustainable manner. It has been identified before that the full-time national servicemen pool will decrease by a third by 2030. This resource reality means that the SAF cannot go about its business as usual. While the national resource pool might be decreasing in numbers, its texture is also changing. The new generation of Singaporeans are becoming more educated and digitally literate. This places the SAF in a good position to harness the potential offered by digital technology. The Fourth IR technology such as Artificial intelligence, Robotics, Data Analytics and the Internet of Things offers the SAF the opportunity to conduct its training and operations in a more efficient and effective manner. The SAF must be agile and adapt in order to reap the potential that digital technology has to offer. Could the Minister for Defence provide an update on efforts towards building the Next Generation SAF?”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, I would just like to clarify on Mr Louis Chua's comments. I do not debate with him on the timeline, on the implementation, but just to say that in Singapore, we need to see the entire tax and benefit system as a holistic system, and that in itself, GST, yes, it is a regressive tax. But when you look at the entire system, it is progressive because of the way it is redistributed.”
“Like fire, the spoken language, pottery, electricity, steam and internal combustion engine, it will affect the entire economy. And unlike its predecessors, this pervasive reach into the psychological, biological and natural world can and will alter societies. Imagine a world at the advent of electricity, to have a bulb and a plug ready. Ready to plug in and light up the world. Or remain plugged out like the Hawksbill turtle. In the words of HG Wells in his book "A Short History of the World", written in 1922: "Adapt or perish, now as ever, is nature’s inexorable imperative." Mr Speaker, Sir, I support the Budget.”
“The interesting development is that the raw material in the Information Age is the "human natural resource", is no longer scarce, but readily available and free. Our behavior is being captured, stored and processed instantaneously. Services and products are being developed through us which has come to be known as personalisation. Essentially, this is a commoditisation of human behavior. This situation will continue to influence and impact human nature, the future of societies and new business models as we ourselves are fast becoming "human natural resources". This requires new ways of thought leadership, Government policies and laws. As Singapore hones itself digitally and in other areas, it can also aspire to be a leader in this space. Andy Grove once said, "technology runs 3 times faster than normal businesses and the government runs 3 times slower than normal businesses. So we potentially have a nine-times gap". There is some merit to this. What are the existing models, regulation, assumptions, norms today, existed because of the industrial age? Are they still relevant in the Age of Information? How shall we evolve? A recent example is Facebook and Google in Australia. AI, Machine Learning, Blockchain and Crypto are paragons of how transformational this revolution will and can be. In Mrs Lim Hwee Hua’s latest book "Government in Business – Leading or Lagging", provides poignant examples in a landscape of disruptive technology. At such a speed, will Singapore be displaced? Unlike other sectorial, incremental innovations and creative ideas, unlike existing platforms and eco-systems, AI is a general-purpose technology that has the cross-domain capability to raise all sectors and all industries. It can be the tide that rises all boats.”
“The analysis of large volumes of data reveals trends and bolsters the innovation of new products and services and generating new revenue streams. The granularity of data enables decision makers to drill-down to reveal insights into a variety of predictable behaviors and incidents. To cite an industrial advantage would be the manufacturing industry as they stand to gain the most from the digital revolution. Technology pillars such as the Internet-of-Things, 5G connectivity and Big Data Analytics are likely to transform the industry into a cyber-physical hub, capable of assimilating and leveraging on these technologies. The return-of-investments would be most evident in the long run, when AI would further cultivate automation, ensure robust quality control and possibly actualising a near-zero downtime manufacturing plant. Is Singapore ready for such a speed? Future software development will be automated through data. Deep learning will continue to develop future capabilities such as conversational computers, self-driving cars, and consumer apps such as Tik Tok. Tik Tok uses deep learning to push video recommendations and its success has outstripped many other first movers in the market. Over the last two decades, the Internet has created over $13 trillion in value whilst AI has created $2 trillion in just 2020. The growth in the value of AI is expected to grow at close to 20% CAGR to surpass the value of the Internet by the next decade. Is Singapore AI ready? In this Information Age, the distinction between market and society as a whole and market and individual has been substantially eroded. This is because human beings are fast becoming both the raw material and the customer.”
“However, in the last 10 years, this list would have changed dramatically with Microsoft, Apple, Amazon, Google and Facebook taking on leadership roles. What had caused this dramatic shift? Artificial intelligence has enabled the exponential ability to learn, connect, collaborate and execute. It is self learning, it does deep learning, ever enthusiastic, ever curious and hungry for more data, ever analysing and tweaking for optimum outcomes and executing with flawless precision. In 2020, the total accumulated data in the world reached 44 Zettabytes. This is 10 times more than it was in 2013. You can have data without information but you cannot have information without data. The goal is to turn data into information and information into insight and with insight one will be able to have the ability to execute. Information is the oil of the 21st century and artificial intelligence is its combustion engine. Are we ready for this? Is Singapore ready for this? “Are we all going to be working for a smart machine, or will we have smart people around machine”. This question was posed some 30 years ago but this 30-plus years old question has returned with a vengeance because of Big Data. The Intelligent Age driven by Big Data has been accelerated by advances in emerging technologies and connectivity. In fact, we are living at a time where everything that you have seen, heard or experienced is fast becoming searchable. Machine Learning, a subset of the AI technology pillar, has been recognised as the engine of productivity and one that spurs economic growth. When incorporated into an organisation, it provides a 360-degree, multi-dimensional view of important metrics of the company and significantly improves the decision-making process.”
“By teaching, learning and relying on one another for resources, it has given humans the ultimate edge. But today, cities and countries around the world are facing a multitude of challenges. Here in Singapore, we are not spared. No one will spare us quarter, we have to fight for our lives and our future. This Budget will give us the strength to survive, pivot, and an edge to seize the opportunities of the future. Many have been severely affected by the pandemic. The extension of the Jobs Support Scheme is well targeted to support our workers and businesses in this time of need and prepare them for a post pandemic future. We must continue to support our workers, fight unemployment and embark on a massive scale of education, training and reskilling. We must help our low-wage workers and fight for those who are vulnerable. SGUnited Skills as well as the Jobs and Skills package ensures that our human capital will continue to be agile to changes and growing capabilities. Job growth incentive is one of the best ways in providing support to our graduates and mid-career jobseekers. However, more support is needed to quickly acquire skills that are relevant and deep in their new domains. We must keep our edge, sharpen the edge and ensure that we operate at the frontier with a trail-blazing spirit. Why is this edge important? This competition and innovative edge, driven by the same ability to connect, learn, collaborate and execute, is most poignant for survival and leadership. These attributes enabled the rise of global market leaders. The largest and most valuable companies from the 1960s to 2010s were General Motors, Wal Mart, Exxon, Ford and General Electric. The list remained largely unchanged.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, before I begin my speech, I would like to respond to Mr Louis Chua's comment on GST. Is GST a regressive tax? Yes, it is. Standalone only without intervention. GST forms part of Singapore's overall tax and benefit system which is progressive. The Government redistributes taxes, revenues through a progressive system of tax and transfers and one such example is the $6 billion Assurance Package that was announced at the Unity Budget last year. No matter when GST is implemented, the lower and middle income groups will be buffered for 10 and five years respectively. In addition, additional assurances were also made that when GST is increased on healthcare and education, these increases will be absorbed by the Government. Mr Speaker, Sir, for the endangered Hawksbill turtle, life is mostly a journey faced alone. At the beginning of its life, it had to face its own battle for survival. Odds are not in his favour. Eggs are under constant threat by predators and harvested by people. After hatching, it would have to unbury itself and cross the open beach to reach the ocean, all without being eaten. Even in the ocean, life is never easy. What then, counts as a good life for the Hawksbill turtle? Perhaps to live pain-free, to escape plastic pollution and fishing nets? To find enough food in our depleted waters? Or perhaps to beat all odds to find a mate amongst the rare few that remains. Humans are different. We have become exceptionally good at survival. We are in the Anthropocene Epoch, where human activities have a significant impact on the planet’s eco-system. Humans thrive in societies of interconnected individuals who work collectively. And this collective culture that allowed us to progress far beyond other animals.”
“Most if not all the additional requirements stated in section 21A are meant to build trust within the Singapore digital payment eco-system. I welcome these additional requirements. Today, many new digital companies have an outreach of millions of B2B and B2C customers. They are well positioned to provide financial services traditionally provided by incumbent banks. These digital companies either partner with banks to build their networks or directly compete with them. Banks are also quickly evolving to build partnerships and develop their own customer-centric eco-systems. Over the last three years, transaction fee growth for payments has been muted because of the competitive pressures that have continued to depress margins. Margins can be as low as 0.2%. This means that when additional requirements are implemented, additional regulatory and compliance cost will be passed on to the consumer, increasing business cost. We must be cognisant of the competitive and ever-evolving digital payment landscape. For our survival and relevance to the world, we must ensure that there is fairness, accountability and transparency and yet have the agility to safeguard the reputation and competitiveness of the Singapore financial eco-system – to be a home for future global fintech champions. Mr Deputy Speaker, I support the amendments.”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, I stand in support of this amendment. In Asia, the annual growth of payments is at 15% CAGR, fueled by the adoption and growth of alternative digital payments mechanisms with a strong push to reduce the use of cash. Asia-Pacific dominates the global payments revenue pool. Customers are also seeking payment solutions that will reduce their pain points, especially for cross-border transactions and one-stop solutions that are well-integrated throughout the entire payments value chain. Banks have historically enjoyed a defensible moat of consumer trust. However, this moat is gradually eroding. A US digital payments survey indicates that consumers are more comfortable entrusting their financial transactions to non-banking entities. And as this landscape continues to evolve and customer patterns shift, what can we do to ensure consumers continue to be protected? We must have a keen understanding of how valuable customer data is to businesses. More than 80% of the total payment revenues are captured at the end of the value chain where the customer relationship is. As important the customer is to the business, how we protect the consumer is also of paramount importance. In the world of cloud computing, payments as a service, banking as a service and the rise of APIs, customer data is often traded and analysed to offer more curated services and products for value capture. We need to ensure that deviations from the additional requirements can be audited, detected and enforced. Trust is a key attribute for a successful financial eco-system and digital payment plays a significant role. Every entity in the eco-system plays a role of shared responsibility.”
“As such, would further guidance of the concept of significant harm and significant scale be provided. If significant scale constitutes prescribed number, can I clarify on how this number is obtained? I agree with the need to strengthen the accountability of organisations and enabling of meaningful consent as reflected in the Bill. Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, I support the Bill.”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, the digital landscape of Singapore is constantly evolving. Cross-border data flows and data capitalisation is increasing the importance for business competitiveness. The current regime of consent-based data protection faces challenges from the rapid, technological developments. In addition, the recent data breaches suffered by the likes of Lazada, Razer and Eatigo evidenced the need for solid personal data protection laws. Personal data protection laws must offer adequate protection to individuals but still allow businesses to remain agile and competitive. The amendments to the PDPA to shift towards a risk-based accountability approach is practical and in line with modern economy and global data protection laws. These amendments should attend to a basic tenet of protecting the rights of individuals. I wish to clarify on two points. Under the Bill, organisations may process personal data without the consent of individuals in circumstances classified as "legitimate interests". This concept may be ambiguous in certain contexts. Without further guidance on the scope of legitimate interests, especially for vulnerable segments such as children be provided. This will ensure that individuals are protected and companies can comply to requirements efficiently and responsibly. Secondly, the Bill requires organisations to notify PDPC of data breaches that result in or likely to result in significant harm to affected individuals or it is of significant scale. Organisations will also be required to notify affected individuals if the data breach is likely to result in significant harm to them. The concept of significant harm and significant scale may again ne very ambiguous.”
“Demolition for progress and development is crucial to land-scare Singapore. But as we grapple with ways to feel connected with our heritage and in our aspiration to protect the environment, we should explore with increasing urgency the alternatives. Like recycled steel, we constantly recast ourselves for the future but deeply aware of our history that made us who we are. Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, I support the Ministerial Statement.”
“Steel buildings can almost be entirely recycled. The rails, frames and cladding can be melted to make new steel, and this takes three times less energy than making new ones. The concrete floors for steel structures can be much thinner than regular concrete floors, and the salvage rate for such buildings is around 94%. It enables manpower savings of up to 20%, allows flexibility in design with less columns and load-bearing walls, less dust and smoke at construction sites and is environmentally sustainable. Another sustainable action is to be deliberate in building new infrastructure. This means not demolishing existing structures unless we really need to. We should look into the conservation or to design future buildings to enable modular upgrades, lifespan extension and to be retrofitted for other purposes. South Beach Tower and our National Gallery Singapore are noteworthy projects. Repurposing and integrating conservation buildings can be environmentally sustainable and modern. For example, in London, one of the world's most prestigious art galleries, the Tate Modern, is located at a former power station on the banks of the River Thames. By deploying modern technology, it uses 54% less energy and generate 44% less carbon today with natural air circulation and advanced temperature controls. The recent proposal to conserve Golden Mile is also noteworthy. Another consideration is conserving and repurposing the “zhap tze yit lau” Diamond Blocks located in Jurong. Both Golden Mile and the Diamond Blocks have the potential to become the hallmark of conservation and sustainability. I recall vividly a number of Singaporeans had expressed a sense of loss over the demolition of existing structures over the years.”
“BH is continuing with this strategy of stacking different competencies, for example, cybersecurity for ships, advanced materials for marine sustainability. The true productivity gains of our Singapore companies must be their ability to develop cross industry solutions, to be able to stack different competencies and develop high value products and services to compete regionally and globally. In Singapore, we have strong and diverse competencies within a small geographical area. We are better poised to collaborate and leverage on one another's strength. As the African proverb states: "If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together." We must move away from focusing on being faster, cheaper and better. We must develop an eco-system to enable Singapore companies to move into high value, differentiated markets. Closely related to our survival is sustainable infrastructure. We are now increasingly aware of the dire impact of climate change. This includes food shortages, large-scale human migration, threat to our coral reefs and extreme weather events. An area of growing interest is the concept of a circular economy: resources are being recycled in a loop to maximise their value. One such example is the collaboration between Sports Singapore and Dow to upcycle 300,000 pairs of used shoes into sports infrastructure, such as jogging tracks, fitness areas and playgrounds. According to the World Green Building Council, building and construction account for 39% of all carbon emissions in the world and with buildings' operational emission accounting for 28%. We must be strive to look into more sustainable methods of construction, such as the use of steel structures. They are usually stronger, lighter and easier to recycle.”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, we face immense challenges. COVID continues to cause massive disruptions to many industries. As we hope for normalcy and eventual recovery, we must expect that recovery will not be uniform. For some, the impact of COVID will have permanence. Some countries will recover faster and with less disruptions. A few will face more permanent dislocation. We can already observe shifts that will affect us with permanence: the changes in the nature of retail, the realignment of supply chains with reshoring of capabilities, how educational services are being delivered, and the rise of teleworking – just to name a few. What does it mean for us? There are a few things to think about. The world has become more global, more digitally connected, sophisticated and culturally attuned to global competition. And at the same time, the world has also become more localised where circumstances have forced corporations and governments to rethink their strategies to build local economic resilience. With such a backdrop, how do we build up our local SMEs to become regional and global champions? For us to do well, we must be able to stack the competencies of different industries to build services and products. We have much unrealised potential in Singapore that has the legs for expansion. One of these local SME is BH Global. When it first started in 1963, it was a small hardware company selling electrical products. It has evolved. The mass fever screening equipment that you see at Changi Airport is locally produced by them. Today, it is being deployed worldwide in major airports in Europe, US, UK, India, Kuwait and many more. I wanted to suggest to them that they should start printing the Singapore flag on their product.”
“We must design progressive steps for everyone to feel confident to have the capacity to build expertise and skills as a way of life. We must remember that though it is important to safeguard and enforce higher standards of public health and sanitation, we must not forget that every step must be to build a stronger, more confident and competitive Singaporean workforce that is agile and competent. Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, I support the Bill.”
“In this difficult economic environment, SMEs are doing their best to sustain their businesses and protect workers' livelihoods. However, SMEs also recognise the importance of these measures. We should help our SMEs meet this new requirement. A phased approach is needed to help SMEs implement these regulatory requirements to meet the required standards. In the near term, we must ensure that there are sufficient resources to train and certify ECO and ECCs to avoid work stoppage. There must also be sufficient sanitation service providers to ensure that prices are reasonable and help SMEs manage costs. (In English): Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, in English, please. Can I ask the Minister what measures will be taken to reduce bottlenecks during implementation and avoid unnecessary downtime for businesses? And what are the estimated annual costs and expected downtime for hawker centres, kopitiams, neighbourhood markets and small neighbourhood merchants? With the limited manpower in Singapore, we must also be cognisant of how we help Singaporeans develop their full potential as they take on new roles. These skills must be multi-disciplinary, transferrable and relevant to a broad set of job opportunities. This is opportune to the industry to chart expertise development, career progression roadmaps and transferrable skills laterally and vertically within the sanitation and public health eco-system. The training and upskilling of new coordinators and officers should be steeped in the understanding of business, law, science and technology. It should be a journey of building expertise and in the spirit of strengthening Singapore's resilience and relevance. We need to make sure that no one gets left behind.”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, I stand in support of this amendment. Singapore must quickly fulfil the critical requirements to enable us to safely reopen our hub to the region and the world. It requires proper planning and implementation regimes to safeguard us from the spread of COVID and future pandemics. We must also inculcate basic public health sanitation habits as part of our culture and DNA. It has to become our way of life. It is not solely the responsibility of the business owner or the manager of the premises. This is our shared responsibility to safeguard one another. For this amendment, I would like to highlight that we will should also consider the impact and opportunities for SMEs and the environmental sanitation industry. SMEs of specific premises will need to incorporate these new ECC/ECO requirements as additional compliance costs. SMEs may find it challenging due to their limited resources and limited manpower. Many are already managing different roles. In this climate, SMEs are doing their best to sustain their core businesses and protect the livelihood of workers. However, SMEs also understand the importance of these measures. A phased approach is needed to help SMEs implement these regulatory requirements to gradually achieve the required standards. In the near term, we must ensure that there are sufficient resources for ECCs and ECOs to get trained, certified and avoid down time. There must also be sufficient sanitation service providers to ensure that it is priced competitively to help manage the operating cost of SMEs. Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, in Mandarin, please. (In Mandarin): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] SMEs have limited financial and human resources, which is a challenge for them. Many companies are already managing multiple roles.”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, I am in support of the amendment Bill. The changes to the Bill will help to provide clarity to Singapore's legal intervention. In particular, I note that under the new amendments, the assessor will be given enhanced powers to specify the amount of the rent to be waived. This will reduce the ambiguity and potential conflict between landlord and tenant, which will allow them to focus on their businesses. Over the last few weeks, several tenants and landlords have approached me with regard to rental disputes. Many have longstanding relationships with one another but could not find an amicable way to resolve. This has been further amplified by the economic challenges faced across various industries. The amendment will help to better mediate and close issues with certainty and reason. A number of residents have shared that the legal intervention thus far under the Act has helped their small businesses. They appreciate that it is not a broad brush attempt but seeks to differentiate between the needs of SMEs and provide targeted solutions. I commend the efforts of the MinLaw team, along with other Ministries and agencies, who continue to review the Act to ensure that it remains relevant to this ever-changing COVID-19 situation. Mr Deputy Speaker, I beg to move.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, We will not be relevant unless we make ourselves relevant. We will be ordinary unless we make ourselves extraordinary. We will, prevail. Mr Speaker, Sir, I support the Motion. [Applause.]”
“No empire, nation state or city state existed in the same form forever and the important factor is distilling the essence of being Singaporean, such that the very core of who we are, does not wane and flow with the tides of time. Deep trust and mutual respect will need to form the basis of the relationship between fellow Singaporeans, earned through the help and sacrifices that we give one another. We need to maintain a profound respect for plurality in Singapore and find shared layers above this diversity. As I listen to matters highlighted in this debate, I want to acknowledge the tough decisions and hardiness of those who came before us, which under wise stewardship, brought Singapore peace and prosperity. As a nation, we were never endowed with the best cards, but we never used it as an excuse from what needs to be done. Singapore's progress is not build on mere rhetoric. Singaporeans are resilient people that have weathered numerous storms. Today, there is a new fight. Mr Speaker, Sir, as you reminded us last week, "All hands on deck, as we embark on this next lap of journey together", and indeed I hold the same wishes of "god speed, fair winds and following seas, as we seek safe habour from this almighty storm that we find ourselves in". Prime Minister Lee's statement struck a very deep chord in me, "Jewel will shine again, Changi will thrive again and SIA will be a great way to fly once more. The economy will prosper anew and Singapore's children and grandchildren will continue marching forward to build a fairer, ever more just and equal society". I am hopeful. We will be relevant. We are constantly looking into the future but are well aware of our history. We are small, but courageous in our ambition. We are diverse but united in our cause.”
“When the first generation of computers became commercially available, it revolutionised the workforce and created new fields of jobs that never existed. We must be ready to ride on the next wave of opportunities. Singapore leaders have had immense foresight. Twenty years ago, in the desire to remain relevant, we started our biomedical industry. Today, the world faces shortage in technology and equipment in the fight against COVID. My work involves addressing this gap, and I witnessed how Singapore is able to bring to bear capabilities in diagnostics, therapeutics and vaccines. For diagnostics, we developed the Resolute test with Tan Tock Seng Hospital, Diagnostic Development (DxD) Hub and A-Star. C-Pass with Prof Linfa with Duke-NUS. In Therapeutics, we have Tychan, Hummingbird and DSO. Years ago, had we not had the ambition, the foresight, the guts to make these investments, and put in the hard work, all these would just be a pipe dream, and Singapore would have been dependent on others for survival. This courage must be coupled with sound strategies reflected in MTI's Addendum to the President's Address. I am heartened by the emphasis. I agree with many of our colleagues including the hon Ms Jessica Tan, Mr Melvin Yong, Mr Don Wee and Mr Edward Chia, that these decisions will need to support local SMEs, the bedrock of our economy. I agree as well with the hon Mr Patrick Tay, that economic incentives will need to result in proactive and sustained knowledge and skills transfer to Singaporeans. Mr Speaker, Sir, to remain relevant, we must also have a deep understanding of our national identity.”
“Then, we replaced mechanical flight control surfaces using plasma dynamics. Aliena and Dr Mark is a prime example of how through the pursuit of mastery, young Singapore companies and individuals can leverage on expertise within their domains to do well on a global stage and to break new ground in emerging frontiers such as space, And how an ecosystem fosters the translation of technology to the market in a domain that seem inaccessible. Mr Speaker, Sir, to remain relevant, we must invest in the future of technology. Through history, technology has never failed to contribute toward the evolution of industries and our way of life. With rapid scientific discoveries and high tech engineering, cities and societies, if complacent, can become irrelevant and disconnected from the rest of the world. We must be courageous to be the leader in emerging technologies. Technologies such as Quantum computing, AI and advanced materials will eventually shape the future. Mainstream quantum computing may arrive sooner than anticipated and we must be ready. Its value extends beyond solving problems faster than conventional computers and holds untapped potential to address global challenges, including climate change, cyber-crime, discovery of drugs and vaccines. Just last year, Google's quantum computer achieved a significant milestone when it solved a 10,000-year problem in just mere seconds. From a medical standpoint, this would enable researchers to crunch data on more than 40,000 genes from 17,000 genetic samples, approximately 2.5 billion genetic combinations. This effort may better allow us to better understand the COVID-19 virus strain and to synthesize a viable vaccine. In fact, this was what happened at Oak Ridge National Lab in Tennessee just recently.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, to remain relevant, we must strive to do exceptionally well in whatever we choose to do. The years volunteering in the grassroots and organisations such as Tasek Jurong, enforced my belief that we must continue to be open, and open the world for our young to a range of possibilities. We should encourage our children to learn how to learn, to have omni-directional capabilities. I am heartened by the emphasis in the Addendum to the President by MOE on broad based common core curricula. At the same time, we must encourage expectation that, it is crucial to achieve mastery in the subject matter of choice. Mastery cannot be purchased or outsourced. It requires a culture of embracing its arduousness. This discussion brings to mind Dr Mark Lim, a teacher with a passion for physics. He is a co-founder of Aliena, a homegrown space tech company, which literally believes that the sky is not the limit. The deep space plasma engines that Aliena is developing aims to bring Singapore's first satellite to the Moon and beyond. In addition, Aliena has commissioned the region's largest privately owned jet propulsion test facility and nanosatellite integration centre, promoting an eco-system for the co-development of critical satellite platforms. A good example would be the collaboration between local IoT company NuSpace and Aliena. Together, they developed the world's smallest nanosatellite platform that is equipped with a fully functional Hall-Effect thruster or better known as an Ion thruster, with record breaking operational power. This satellite will be deployed out of a SpaceX Falcon 9 in second quarter of 2021. I say this with great enthusiasm because I too was a plasma dynamics researcher 16 years ago.”
“We can no longer operate linearly, as a single company, a single domain or group. We must collaborate, and build one another's strength to be a formidable entity that is multi-faceted. As an example, legal services have been expensive and time-consuming. The emergence of Machine Learning and AI have changed the legal landscape. We are now in a digital age of cross-disciplinary collaboration where lawyers and technologists will work hand in hand and new positions such as legal engineers are becoming part of the profession. This next example struck a personal chord with me as I first published a peer reviewed journal research on Bi-jective Neural Networks just 15 years ago, building blocks of learning algorithms. SmartLaw, a home-grown company, has developed an AI tool that leverages powerful natural language self-learning algorithms, which can sift the most relevant references and judgments, from an immense number of documents, within split seconds. SmartLaw is working closely with local law firms to create competitive solutions. According to market estimates, the APAC legal industry is a $100 plus billion market that is growing at 5% CAGR and Singapore legal industry is about $2 plus billion. There is a huge potential for this industry which will create more jobs for Singaporeans. The most successful companies today are established because of their ability to develop an ecosystem of capabilities. Think Google and Alibaba. They are able to build layers of different capabilities and products, enabling their users to remain within their ecosystem, adding to their relevance and resilience. This must be of the future. A dynamic and resilient ecosystem that is differentiated in all levels, layers, and domains.”
“Internal conflicts that led to a foreign invasion dealt the final blow. Eventually, Temasek was ceded to Melaka in exchange for an annual payment of gold and was swapped away like a common chattel, with no control over its own destiny. For the next hundred years. Temasek, became nothing more than a feeder port. Mr Speaker, Sir, it is now a brave new world. The age old threats have not disappeared but are supplanted by pandemics propagated by pathogens – created or evolved. Discord has moved online, anonymous and lethal, disrupting our hard-earned relationships. An interconnected world makes us vulnerable to the dictates of others. And to add to this conundrum, climate change poses a threat to our future generations. Mr Speaker, Sir, we must be a nation that embrace the realities of this changing world. Only with this understanding, can we seek relevance. We are a city-state, competing with the most driven. Relevance is not a simplistic yes or no, one or zero. We must remember that competition is relative. Being relevant today does not equate relevance tomorrow. This is the perennial Darwinian test. Singapore's Future must be relevant to the world. We must have strong and deep relationships. I agree with Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat that Singapore needs to find new ways to be a vital node, with rich and deep interconnections with the rest of the world. Our international and regional outreach must continue. This responsibility is not just of the state's but on every Singaporean. We must believe that all of us can be ambassadors of Singapore. We will develop friendships, advocate for opportunities, and explore areas of cooperation that makes Singapore relevant. We must operate as an ecosystem of differentiated capabilities.”
“It did well by being part of sub-regional systems of economic exchange between the peoples in the hills and coastal settlers, and by connecting these local and regional networks internationally – its true, unique competitive advantage to exist. Wang Dayuan, a Yuan Dynasty traveller, documented his travels to South Asia and Temasek. In his book, he recollected that Temasek offered products that distinguished it from other ports. It was "top-quality hornbill casques, lakawood and cotton". I emphasise here – "top quality". Hornbill casques, a highly sought after substitute for ivory, were found only in the Malay Peninsula, Temasek, Borneo and the Riau Archipelago. Lakawood was used as an incense, a red dye and as a disinfectant. Interestingly, it was available in 19 other regional ports, but only five offered good-quality Lakawood, and Temasek was one of them. Temasek's open and connected nature, coupled with its competitive edge, allowed it to thrive and prosper within a short span of 50 years. But Temasek's prosperity eventually waned. It reflected several factors. For one, its success drew much interest from regional powers, including Ayuttaya to the north and the Majapahits based in Java. According to some records, without the ability to defend herself, Temasek was brought under the influence of Ayutthaya and its revenue was forwarded to the court. Temasek was also overly dependent on trade with the declining Yuan Dynasty in China. To exacerbate the decline of Temasek, a new port settlement at the Melaka River, seized opportunities offered by the new Ming Court, fundamentally changing trading networks. This led the merchants who were previously based in Temasek to hollow out and move to the new port-settlement.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I support the Motion of Thanks to the President. I would like to declare my interest as a Director of an investment company. Being the final speaker on the list, you have given me the privilege to listen to my colleagues' full-hearted views on what Singapore needs to do going forward. We debated on Singapore's immediate concerns surrounding COVID-19, the Singaporean Core, support for SMEs and strengthening of social compact. We shared our hope for the future in emerging trends, sustainability and sci-fi. In this speech, I wish to focus on relevance. This requires an exploration of our history, a deep reflection of who we are, a stoic acceptance of reality, and a call to stand united in our relevance in the year 3000 and beyond. There is a Chinese saying: "夫以铜为镜，可以正衣冠；以史为镜，可以知兴替；以人为镜，可以知得失." To better reflect on our future, it is not enough to dip our fingers into the changing of winds. To build our starship, we must weigh anchor, raise the sails and adventure to the past of Bugis pinisi, Chinese junk, Arab dhow and Chola kappal. Singapore had a history steeped in uncertainty. We were tossed in the storms of relentless competition, and weathered storms of successes and failures. Please bear with me for a moment as I recount what is often forgotten. Earliest known settlements arose in maritime Southeast Asia more than a thousand years ago. Temasek then was one of many ports. In the west, there was Lambri in present day Aceh between the 13th and 14th centuries. And in the east and north of Singapore, Langkasuka in today's Kedah and Tambralinga in south Thailand. Competition was fierce and there was a fight for relevance and survival. Temasek grew in relevance at the end of the 13th century.”