Sim Ann
Singapore
“Sir, given the increasingly transnational nature of crime and the rapid advancement of digital finance, international cooperation is indeed key. Singapore will continue to issue MLAs where it is appropriate, but also pursue international cooperation in informal manner. This applies not just to AML/CFT and PF, but also to scams.”
“Sir, I believe that the first and the third supplementary questions from the Member are related. I would say that if the facts of the case are such that it warrants taking action under the Penal Code for offences relating to the circulation of intimate images, the Police will do so.”
“Sir, we have a national movement to prepare Singaporeans against terrorism – SGSecure. This is one way through which we disseminate important information so that Singaporeans are aware of security risks.”
“Sir, we want to see everyone get home safe everyday. If safety is compromised, then livelihoods and many other good things in life are going to be at risk. We believe that the public will see our proposed for changes in this light, particularly our vocational drivers, because safer roads also mean a safer working environment for them.”
“To Ms Cassandra Lee's question, the alcohol limits that are currently enforced have been in place since 1985, and that is more than forty years ago. Now, Singapore is one of the jurisdictions with the highest alcohol limits, while the other jurisdictions have adopted stricter regimes with lower limits.”
“MFA is working with the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) to strengthen our safeguards against foreign interference, which will be elaborated on by MHA during its Committee of Supply. Mr Chairman, foreign policy begins at home.”
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“I believe that Mr Ang Wei Neng's question is also something that should be asked of SingPost by its shareholders. After all, it is a listed company. I understand that these are also the issues that the shareholders should hold SingPost to account for. In terms of under-investing, I shall not comment on this specific issue. However, we can also take cognisance of the steps that SingPost has talked about, in terms of paying more attention to the postal workforce, in ensuring that the operations are right, in extending the delivery hours. So, those steps that they have mentioned are indicative of what SingPost's own diagnosis of the problem is. However, IMDA will not stop here. We will continue to work very closely with SingPost. We will also continue to monitor and regulate.”
“We are glad to see that SingPost has owned the issue and has announced steps in the right direction, for instance, by extending delivery hours, by relooking at remuneration for its workforce and so forth. At the same time, the use of technology must continue. This is something that IMDA has been in constant discussion with SingPost on, and, in fact, in previous years, have also required SingPost to take on technological upgrade so that its postal workforce can do its job better. The next question that Er Dr Lee has asked touches on who gets to deliver basic letters. So, I have covered that when I explained the overall framework.”
“As the public postal licensee, what they need to do is, in addition to delivering letters, they have to maintain a set of universal service obligations (USOs). These include, for instance, the maintenance of posting boxes, the issuance of stamps and there is an obligation to deliver basic letters from and to anyone within Singapore. That is what we call the USOs. Those are the obligations tied to being the public postal licensee. This does not mean they have a monopoly on the delivery of basic letter services. This segment of the market has also been opened up. As explained, there are now four in total. As for parcel delivery, this is also a very open and competitive segment. We have many companies that are doing parcel and door-to-door delivery. Er Dr Lee has asked about the quantum of the fine and whether that is considered sufficient. First, allow me to explain that under the QoS framework, IMDA does have discretion to decide how much financial penalty to levy for each count of failing the QoS. I have described earlier in the main reply there are several types of QoS that the public postal licensee has to abide by. In terms of determining the actual quantum per count, IMDA would take into account factors, such as whether there are aggravating factors, for instance, has there been repeated failures, and also, mitigating factors, for instance, whether or not the delay time is longer or shorter. We completely agree with Er Dr Lee that relying on fines is not sufficient. As I have mentioned, regulatory action is ongoing. More can be expected from IMDA in the coming months. But very importantly, other measures also need to be taken.”
“Er Dr Lee Bee Wah mentioned six supplementary questions; I counted five. But if I leave out any, she is welcomed to ask again. I will take her last question first, which is, what actions for the residents of Yishun. Indeed, amongst the complaints that SingPost received and the ones that have been sent to IMDA last year, IMDA has noted that some of these complaints pertain to the Yishun area. It has discussed with SingPost and SingPost has redeployed two experienced postmen to cover the Yishun beats as of November 2018. We hope that this would address at least some of the concerns, but IMDA will be monitoring this very closely. Er Dr Lee Bee Wah has also asked about the situation in Yishun as of the end of last year as her first question. So, I think we have addressed that. She has also asked whether SingPost had planned for the seasonal peaks and what has it been doing to cope with the operating environment. Mr Speaker, as I have mentioned earlier, we believe that the operating environment, however it changes, that is the responsibility of SingPost to plan for it. SingPost has talked about seasonal peaks and about the changing proportion of parcels to letters. We are of the view that this is something which it, as the service provider and the operator, should plan for and ensure that its workforce is properly remunerated, properly trained and equipped to do this job. As for the status of SingPost as the postal service provider, I believe the next two questions that Er Dr Lee had mentioned pertain to this. Let me explain, Mr Speaker. Under our current framework, we have one public postal licensee, that is, SingPost. But it is not the only ones who are licensed to deliver basic letters. There are four in total.”
“My Ministry and IMDA are of the view that, even as SingPost remedies its service lapses, its postal workforce should be treated fairly and be well-equipped to perform their job. Where necessary, IMDA will provide support to SingPost in the training of postmen, delivery process re-engineering, deployment of technological solutions and infrastructure upgrades to optimise its delivery process. It may take time before the gaps in SingPost's service delivery are fully addressed. The SingPost Board and management know there is hard work ahead and have told us that they are committed to work together with my Ministry and IMDA. Further regulatory action from IMDA can be expected, as it reviews SingPost’s letter delivery performance for 2018 and beyond, investigates infringements under the Postal Services Act and considers additional regulatory standards.”
“SingPost is unable to provide the specific number of complaints it receives on failed delivery notices. Nonetheless, we believe that there are likely to be more incidents which were not formally reported. IMDA will pay attention to this area as well. It is now considering regulatory standards for the delivery of parcels and registered articles. SingPost's Board and management agree with my Ministry and IMDA that a thorough review of its operations and manpower has to be made even as it takes immediate steps to remedy the service lapses. They have reaffirmed SingPost’s commitment to prioritise improvements to service delivery standards and the welfare of its workforce. SingPost has already made a start by announcing measures, such as extending parcel delivery to Saturdays, cutting back on advertisement mail delivery and improving staff remuneration. Mr Speaker, please allow me to make brief remarks on the issues of operations and manpower. SingPost has pointed out that the popularity of e-commerce has significantly increased the volume of parcels. As a result, it has to deliver 38,000 items daily which cannot fit into letter boxes and its postmen have to now conduct more deliveries for parcels. This works out to an average of 35 to 45 doorstep deliveries per postman per day in Singapore's urban landscape with many high-rise Housing and Development Board (HDB) blocks and condominiums, in addition to delivering letters to letter boxes. My Ministry and IMDA are of the view that SingPost must make itself ready for this new operating environment. Next, on manpower. The work of the postman is labour-intensive and has become more so over the years.”
“Mr Speaker, as the designated public postal licensee, SingPost is responsible for delivering letters on time, and accurately. SingPost has to meet the Postal Quality of Service (QoS) standards set by the Info-communications Media Development Authority (IMDA) for letter delivery. SingPost also provides other services, such as advertisement mail and parcel delivery, that are not subject to IMDA's Postal QoS standards. The recent lapses by SingPost involve services covered by the Postal QoS standards, and those that are not. For letter delivery, the QoS standards are: to deliver 99% of local basic letters destined for the Central Business District (CBD), and 98% for those destined for non-CBD areas, by the next working day; and 100% for all letters by the second working day. IMDA imposed a financial penalty of $100,000 on SingPost last week for failing to meet the QoS standards in 2017. SingPost has accepted IMDA's decision and committed to improve its service delivery standards, including its QoS performance. IMDA is reviewing SingPost's performance for letter delivery in 2018. In 2018, SingPost received 91 complaints about misdelivered and lost mail. SingPost has investigated each complaint and has apologised to the complainant whenever there was a confirmed service lapse, and redelivered mail that was found. IMDA has also reviewed its QoS standards for letter delivery and has decided to maintain them. Er Dr Lee Bee Wah also asked about complaints relating to consumers receiving failed delivery notices even when there was someone at home. These pertain to the delivery of parcels and registered articles. Eight such complaints were submitted directly to IMDA in 2018, and seven in 2017.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, we will release documents that have met or have addressed the concerns that I have listed before, which deal with national security, personal privacy, as well as confidentiality obligations.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, the question was about standard operating procedures which I believe I have explained to the Member Mr Kok Heng Leun. I do not have the information that Mr Leon Perera has asked for.”
“Mr Speaker, I do not know that to be true.”
“Sir, the answer to Mr Kok Heng Leun's supplementary questions, actually, the first three are all related. In terms of the researchers' request, when they make a request to view documents, the public agencies that originated the documents will have to be consulted. The criteria I have talked about, these are to do with national security concerns, confidentiality obligations and personal privacy considerations. So, once these have been decided upon, then the documents can be declassified and then made available for public search and also made available to the researcher for reviewing and for study. For the Member's fourth question, as I have explained, the public records which are more than 25 years old become a part of the public archives. If the researchers go onto our NAS' archives online and they cannot find what they are looking for, they can make a request and the process of them contacting the agency and also seeking the agencies' views as to whether or not the various considerations used – security and privacy, and so forth – have been dealt with, will commence.”
“Mr Chairman, I will respond to Mr Kok Heng Leun's suggestion about appealing to the President to elevate the prominence of arts in charity efforts. I think this is an excellent suggestion and we will be very happy to work with the arts community to put forth the proposal for the President's Office's consideration.”
“I thank Dr Lim Wee Kiak for the suggestion. We think it is an excellent one. There is a very broad range of worthy causes, many of which MCCY has been promoting. We will work together with MOF to encourage people to think about making those donations. And some of these causes are associated with matching funds. Others are not, but we think they are all equally worth promoting.”
“This will help charities put out key information, such as use of donations and activities of a charity, in a simple manner. Second, a safer giving campaign will be launched in phases from June 2018. This follows the findings of an informed giving survey conducted last year. The campaign is in addition to ongoing initiatives to promote safer giving and provide advisories on what to look out for and questions to ask in relation to online appeals. We will also ramp up our education efforts on safer giving, with targeted outreach to the elderly and working adults. Third, we have the Code of Practice for Crowdfunding Platforms, which we have co-developed with key crowdfunding platforms to ensure a safer online giving environment. Launched in January this year by the Minister, the Code of Practice will be implemented over the course of the year. Minister Heng Swee Keat has pointed out that a good society is one with a spirit of caring, where we all feel responsibility towards one another. Looking ahead, MCCY will continue to work closely with our partners and fellow Singaporeans to make Singapore a caring and inclusive home.”
“An example is Project Caring with Authenticity and Respect for Elders (CARE) which rallies volunteers to visit and befriend isolated seniors. During the lunar new year, Project CARE teamed up with Carousell, an online marketplace platform, to mobilise the community to donate items to the elderly in need. To cultivate a caring society, we require a strong charity sector that inspires confidence and encourages people to step forward and contribute with peace of mind. Mr Darryl David asked about our plans on helping smaller charities better comply with regulations and our plans to regulate and manage online donations. We will work to ensure a safe and transparent giving environment through cooperation and partnership with the various charitable bodies in two main areas. One, we will strengthen smaller charities’ regulatory compliance through co-regulation and more targeted guidance. Starting in mid-2018, we will work with the umbrella bodies to set up shared services and develop legislative guidance to help charities comply with the regulatory requirements. With the launch of the refined Code of Governance in 2017, we will continue our efforts to organise sharing sessions on the Code for specific sectors, such as the Malay/Muslim organisations and Hindu charities. Last year, we held sessions for churches, Chinese temples and arts and heritage charities. Two, we will be enhancing safer giving measures, and heightening transparency and accountability through three means. First, by setting visibility standards for charities. To enhance the disclosure practices of charities and facilitate donors in their giving decisions, the Commissioner of Charities will develop a visibility guide to be launched in mid-2018.”
“SportSG will continue to strengthen its partnership with disability sports organisations, such as the Singapore Disability Sports Council (SDSC) and Special Olympics Singapore, as well as with Team Singapore athletes. To date, SportSG has connected mainstream schools, such as Bowen Secondary, to social service organisations, such as MINDSville Napiri Training Centre, through adaptive sports. SportSG is also working with Special Education (SPED) schools, such as Lighthouse School, to introduce sports as co-curricular activity options. Since 2016, we have launched two Centres of Expertise and three inclusive gyms, as well as four disability sports programmes under the Disability Sports Master Plan (DSMP). Over 2,000 Persons with Disabilities have visited our gyms and more than 300 have participated in the programmes. SportSG, through ActiveSG, will also be launching two more inclusive gyms and more disability sports programmes, such as Wheelchair Tennis, in 2018. 1.45 pm Through Our Singapore Fund, we will continue to encourage our people to come together to make Singapore a better home. The Fund aims to nurture our Singapore identity and values, and support ground-up initiatives by citizens. To address Ms Rahayu Mahzam’s question on the Fund’s status, since its launch in August 2016, over 100 projects across the arts, heritage, community and volunteerism sectors have been supported, reaching out to over 200,000 residents, whether as participants, partners or volunteers. We have also simplified our processes to make it easier for more people to apply for the fund. Beyond numbers, each project demonstrates how Singaporeans are taking the initiative to reach out, across age, income or race, to care for one another as one people.”
“One good example is Hands to Hearts, a community crafting project which also exemplifies 3P collaboration. In 2017, Hands to Hearts saw SportCares youths take the lead to sew tactile activity pillows for seniors with Alzheimer's. They were joined by 2,000 volunteers, including staff from corporate bodies, such as the United Overseas Bank (UOB) and ComfortDelGro, as well as students from Tanglin Trust International School and Madrasah Aljunied. The project showed us that that we can achieve more if we work together. We will continue to partner our stakeholders to reach out to the underserved. We will extend this sense of shared endeavour amongst our partners via the development and adoption of the new HEARTS framework. This framework was developed with our partner organisations and is intended to help youths chart a positive course in their lives. To be launched in April, the pilot framework will be shared with social service organisations and schools in the form of a handy toolkit. The idea is to provide community practitioners with easy-to-use resources to design sport-based social development programmes for youths. Complementing this will be eight SportCares Partner Schemes that will provide support and resources to community groups, IHLs, NSAs and corporates to "do good" through sport. To further promote inclusivity, the Disability Sports Master Plan aims to expand access and opportunities for sports participation to all, regardless of abilities, and build public awareness of disability sports. We have annual platforms, like the Inclusive Sports Festival, that help create greater awareness for disability sports, such as wheelchair rugby.”
“For example, this year we will see about 500 volunteers undergo various WSQ training programmes in service excellence, leadership and people management. Ms Joan Pereira asked how sports help improve the lives of seniors. Being a part of Team Nila has enabled our seniors to maintain friendships and social circles of like-minded individuals and allowed them to derive satisfaction from sports volunteerism. One example is the sprightly Mdm Hajjah Zubaidah Binte Abdul Ghani, a 64-year-old senior assistant at Tan Tock Seng Hospital who finds it meaningful to be a Team Nila volunteer. Mdm Hajjah Zubaidah first joined Team Nila in January 2015 and has been part of major sporting events, such as the 28th SEA Games, the 8th ASEAN Para Games, and GetActive! Singapore 2017. To recognise outstanding volunteers who have embodied the spirit of giving and contributed actively, SportSG has launched two new awards on 1 January, namely, the Outstanding Team Nila and Team Nila Tiered Awards. We hope to see more Singaporeans step up to volunteer, whether as part of Team Nila, or for a cause close to their hearts. Ms Joan Pereira also asked how sports can be used to improve the lives of those in need, such as at-risk youths, and how MCCY is working with the Public-People-Private sectors to broaden outreach and engagement. Since the launch of SportCares in 2012, schools, community groups, corporates and individuals have come together to support sports initiatives that benefit and transform vulnerable communities. We provide platforms that facilitate joint stewardship and active citizenry. Beneficiaries are encouraged to give back to the community, with 400 SportCares youths contributing 7,000 volunteering hours last year.”
“We recognise that not all youths have the resources or opportunity to participate in these development programmes while in school. Hence, we will explore ways to make programmes, such as YEP and the Outward Bound School, more financially accessible and open up opportunities for more youths outside school to apply. In the realm of sports, we are encouraging Singaporeans to give back through Team Nila. Team Nila volunteers are our capacity and community multipliers who mobilise a wider group of residents on the ground. As of February, there are about 17,700 Team Nila volunteers with a target to reach 18,000 by the end of this month. I am pleased to see strong representation of volunteers across races and age groups, from youths to seniors, passionate about bringing the benefit of sport to their neighbourhoods. Mr Darryl David asked about our plans to develop Team Nila. Since 2014, SportSG has been transforming Team Nila volunteers into community and events leaders. We have volunteers actively supporting the physical and mental development of children and youths in their roles as assistant coaches with ActiveSG Academies and Clubs. This number is set to grow as more academies and clubs are introduced. There are plans for Team Nila volunteers to assist allied health trained experts in helping residents take ownership of their health and wellness. In times of emergency or crises, we have 750 volunteers trained in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and the use of automated external defibrillators (AED) who could provide community support. SportSG will continue to equip Team Nila with the necessary skills through structured training plans.”
“Youth Corps Singapore (YCS) was established to develop youth volunteers and leaders and inspire more youths to give back to the community through causes, such as social service, education, environment, arts, sports and heritage. Since its launch in 2014, YCS has expanded from 90 volunteers to more than 14,000 and works with partners to provide over 3,000 local volunteering opportunities annually. YCS also offers opportunities to volunteer overseas through the Youth Expedition Project (YEP). Last year, more than 4,000 youths from ITEs, polytechnics, universities and working adults embarked on such overseas service-learning opportunities through social service organisations in our region, where they organised projects that benefited local and overseas communities. One example is Team Nias, a group of 16 youths from Nanyang Technological University (NTU) who embarked on a mission to install solar panels in Nias, Indonesia. Here, we see some of them in action, teaching English to the local kids. Unfortunately, the solar panels did not arrive in time. Undeterred, the team used their own pocket money to return the following week to install the panels. The team demonstrated strong dedication in meeting the community's needs and resilience in overcoming setbacks. We also have the Immersion Programme, which will have its first run in April. In this programme, youth leaders will be deployed to social service organisations serving communities with special needs, the young and vulnerable, and the elderly. The youths will be equipped with skills in community engagement, eldercare and volunteer management, so that they can help spread the culture of volunteerism.”
“The Conference is part of the inaugural True Colours Festival, which will showcase artists with disabilities from Singapore and the Asia Pacific. Our shared heritage is what binds us as a nation, and it belongs to us all. The Minister spoke about increasing accessibility to our museums and heritage institutions as part of Our SG Heritage Plan. The first step is to audit the accessibility of our museums to identify universal design solutions and assistive technologies for different groups. To actively engage audiences at our heritage spaces, our HeritageCares programmes provide beneficiaries of social service organisations with opportunities that encourage meaningful intergenerational bonding, enhance social skills, provide quality educational experiences and promote active ageing. Since March 2016, over 200 such programmes have served about 8,000 participants. Workshops and programmes, such as guided trails of historical sites, are tailored to meet the needs of families in-need, adults and children with special needs, vulnerable youths and seniors. One new initiative under Our SG Heritage Plan is for our heritage institutions to be "Silver Hubs", to promote active ageing and intergenerational interactions. This will offer opportunities for seniors to be active participants in our heritage by volunteering as guides and facilitators in galleries. A Conversation Starter Kit was also piloted last year for seniors to share their personal and community experiences amongst Singaporeans across all ages. Our youths play a critical role in growing a strong civic culture of care, consideration and contribution.”
“We announced last year that the WeCare Arts Fund, in partnership with CDCs, would be renewed with $1 million over the next two years. This is to support collaborations between social service organisations and the arts community, to benefit isolated seniors, persons with disabilities and vulnerable youths. Earlier this year, I was pleased to attend the launch of "Is Anyone Home?", an exhibition by Superhero Me, a ground-up inclusive arts movement. The exhibition featured the imaginative artworks and stories of children from diverse backgrounds, including children with special needs and those from low-income families. I was moved to see how these budding artists interpreted childhood and expressed their hopes and dreams. Projects like these use arts as a powerful means to engage children, build their confidence and realise their potential. Social service organisations can tap on the WeCare Arts Fund to work with artists to develop interactive arts workshops customised to the needs and interests of their beneficiaries. Since its initiation in 2014, the fund has supported 170 centres, close to 350 programmes and over 8,000 beneficiaries. One example is Jia Ying Senior Activity Centre, which participated in a programme where seniors paired up with youths on art-making. The seniors, who were previously isolated, are now making new friends and have developed a more positive mindset and outlook on life. We will also continue to improve arts access and opportunities for Persons with Disabilities. This month, we will host the first Arts and Disability International Conference, co-organised by NAC and Very Special Arts (VSA) Singapore. This will facilitate the sharing of best practices and innovative approaches to promote inclusivity in the arts.”
“Minister Grace Fu highlighted that a key focus area for MCCY this year is to partner Singaporeans in building a home where we care for and look out for others. As the Minister shared, our volunteerism and philanthropy rates have grown. More Singaporeans are prepared to put into action their desire to do good for others. In line with the broader SG Cares objective of creating a caring and inclusive home for all, I will share how MCCY is partnering Singaporeans to build a strong civic culture of care, consideration and contribution across the various domains under our Ministry. Ms Rahayu Mahzam asked how the arts and heritage can be used to encourage inclusiveness. Through our ArtReach initiative, we will continue to promote arts access to underserved communities for wellness and to build social connections. For example, the National Arts Council (NAC) has partnered the Agency for Integrated Care (AIC) to promote the well-being and active ageing of seniors by integrating arts into community care. Almost 400 healthcare staff from 89 community care facilities have been equipped with the capability to run arts programmes. Following our visual arts residency pilot in nine nursing homes last year, NAC and AIC will develop more arts-based resources to continue building capabilities in this sector. The Befrienders Arts Toolkit will be launched in June to provide social service organisations with arts-based activity ideas to support the process of befriending seniors. To broaden outreach to underserved and less mobile seniors, we will also tour Silver Arts commissioned programmes, featuring Singapore short films, to facilities in the community care and social service sectors.”
“Mr Chairman, with your permission, I will display some slides.”
“Mr Chairman, over the past year, I have had the opportunity to meet and listen to many SME business leaders. They see the world changing around them and know the urgency of transformation. Many have pointed out that opportunities abound. First, consumer markets in the region are growing, and there is much goodwill towards Singaporean brands and products. Second, technology has enabled new business models to flourish and sharpen businesses' competitive edges. I believe SMEs want to know what concrete steps they can take to seize these opportunities and remain relevant and competitive. The Government knows that it can be daunting to try new business strategies. This is why we, and our many partners, have committed to working with our SMEs throughout their transformation journeys. The formation of ESG is a natural progression, born of the recognition that capability-building, innovation and internationalisation are increasingly intertwined. Minister for Industry Iswaran has already spoken on how ESG will combine the expertise, resources and networks of SPRING Singapore and IE Singapore to build on their good work.”
“I thank the Member for the supplementary question. Indeed, we see the heartlands as a very good source of potentially strong brands that can do Singapore proud. I am also pleased to say that we are working very closely with the Federation of Merchants Association Singapore on how to rejuvenate retail in the heartlands and, we hope, in the process, continue to groom strong brands. I also hope that Dr Lim Wee Kiak can stay for the Ministry of Trade and Industry's Committee of Supply later today, where I will be speaking more on this particular initiative. 10.05 am”
“With NYP's School of Business Management’s expertise in e-commerce and retail, and FairPrice’s supermarket channels and capital support, participating companies can develop key skills in retail management and have exclusive access to bring their products to market. To date, more than 20 companies have expressed interest to list more than 40 items under this initiative. We look forward to more companies coming on board. The DesignSingapore Council (DSG) also supported the Textile and Fashion Federation (Singapore)'s collaboration with Boutique Fairs to organise Boutiques Edit, a shopping fair featuring local designers. The November 2017 Boutiques Edit showed a 50% increase in the number of attendees from the March 2017 edition, and quadrupled its sales, a signal that there is a growing appetite for designed-in-Singapore fashion and design. To nurture homegrown brands and profile design talent, JTC, SPRING Singapore and the Singapore Tourism Board will launch the Design Orchard initiative, with more than 60 brands on board, along Orchard Road by the end of this year. The Government will continue to work with industry partners to support our local brands and products as part of the implementation of the ITMs.”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, the development of strong design and innovation capabilities which enable the growth of distinctive local brands are key components of the Industry Transformation Maps (ITMs) in the lifestyle cluster. While there have been surveys, like the Singapore Management University's Customer Satisfaction Index of Singapore and various surveys by private sector organisations, on consumers’ perception and satisfaction with various brands, these are not specific to Singaporeans' perception and awareness of local brands and products. We will consider doing such surveys as part of the work in implementing the ITMs. The Government has been working with our key partners, such as the trade associations and chambers to raise awareness of local brands among Singaporeans. For instance, the Standards, Productivity and Innovation Board (SPRING) Singapore supported the recent collaboration between the Singapore Food Manufacturers' Association and Focus Network Agencies to help local food manufacturing companies feature their products through the Singapore Food Gifts Initiative at Changi Airport and amplify brand awareness. Participating companies were able to tap on SPRING Singapore's suite of assistance schemes, such as the Capability Development Grant, to support the packaging innovation, design and small batch production needed to commercialise these food gifts. This year, SPRING Singapore will also be collaborating with the National Trades Union Congress' FairPrice and Nanyang Polytechnic's (NYP's) School of Business Management to launch a Retail Incubator Programme.”
“Direct social transfers, such as the GST Voucher, Workfare Income Supplement and Silver Support Schemes, provide additional support to the lower income. For needy families who require more support due to their unique circumstances, additional help is available at our Social Service Offices. The Government will continue to monitor trends in inflation and cost of living closely and provide help to Singaporeans where required. In addition, the Government will continue to ensure that our economy remains competitive and dynamic, so as to provide good job opportunities with sustained income growth for Singaporeans. This will, in turn, help to ensure a higher standard of living for Singaporeans.”
“The Consumer Price Index can be used as a proxy for changes in the cost of living in Singapore. Between 2010 and 2017, the Consumer Price Index (CPI-All Items) inflation rate was 1.8% per annum. However, most of the inflation over this period occurred in the earlier years. Last year, the inflation rate was lower, at 0.6%, following two years of negative inflation. The Member asked about the inflation experience of other major cities. As most national statistical offices do not publish inflation data at the city level, we will look at the experiences of the three Newly Industrialised Economies (NIEs) of Hong Kong, South Korea and Taiwan instead. Over the period of 2010 to 2017, the inflation rates of South Korea and Taiwan, at 1.8% and 1.0% per annum respectively, were comparable to or lower than Singapore’s. On the other hand, Hong Kong's inflation rate was higher, at 3.6% per annum. Apart from looking at the cost of living, we should also consider households' income growth which affects their ability to meet these costs. Between 2010 and 2017, resident households’ incomes increased faster than the inflation rate, leading to positive real income growth. For instance, median resident household income from work per member grew by 3.7% per year in real terms, while that for the lower income deciles rose by between 3.6% and 4.0% per annum. Nonetheless, the Government recognises that cost of living may be of concern for some groups, particularly retirees and lower income households. The Government provides significant support for Singaporeans, such as in pre-school, education, housing, healthcare and public transport, to ensure that these are affordable.”
“(proc text)] [(proc text) Bill accordingly read a Second time and committed to a Committee of the whole House. (proc text)] [(proc text) The House immediately resolved itself into a Committee on the Bill. – [Ms Sim Ann]. (proc text)] [(proc text) Bill considered in Committee; reported without amendment; read a Third time and passed. (proc text)]”
“It should not incur additional expenditure by declaring dividends and eating into its reserves. We acknowledge Mr Seah's argument that notwithstanding a co-op has made a loss in a financial year, it could, in fact, have positive or healthy accumulated reserves. The definition of what constitutes as healthy reserves, however, may be subjective. Notwithstanding, we are prepared to relook this matter as part of the next review of the legislation. Mr Desmond Choo inquired on whistleblowing policies for co-ops. In the Code of Governance, the Committee of Managements are advised to implement a whistleblowing policy for staff, and any other person, to raise concerns about possible improprieties in confidence. Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, my Ministry takes a balanced approach in our regulation of the co-op sector, which is reflected in the Bill today. While we strengthen our regulatory oversight of credit co-ops, we are mindful not to burden the sector with additional compliance costs, where possible. We put forth the competency framework for the key credit co-ops' officers and enhanced the Registrar's abilities to act and protect the members' interests in severe circumstances. This is especially pertinent in the case of credit co-ops, where panic among members could cause a run on deposits, for example. At the same time, co-ops are still relevant and they are an important form of social enterprise, which contribute to our nation's social and economic fabric. Hence, our legislation makes it easier to set up and operate co-ops. We hope to see more and better co-ops in various sectors, such as social service, silver and youth, thus making a positive difference to the lives of fellow Singaporeans. Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, I beg to move. [(proc text) Question put, and agreed to.”
“As an effort to rejuvenate the co-op movement, the industry body has been ramping up its youth outreach to raise awareness of the co-op model of enterprise. Even though younger members may lack business and management experience, I believe they can contribute in other ways at the board level, by developing strategies on the use of social media to reach out to new markets, for example, extending new services to members or to understudy experienced and competent leaders as part of succession planning. On the replacement of the term "manager" with "chief executive officer", we would like to clarify that there has been no change in policy. Mr Seah can be assured that the CEO may be assisted by his staff or agents as appropriate, such as the CFO. But the CEO will retain the overall responsibility for the proper running of the co-op. Mr Seah also proposed for the voting of election or removal of officers by a show of hands instead of secret ballot. The requirement of the secret ballot is, in fact, to protect the interest of individual members. A co-op is different from companies as the members know each other through common bond or interest. Being in the same community or organisation, some may fear possible negative repercussions should their votes be known to other members. We understand that a secret ballot may not be necessary for co-ops with mainly institutional members, for example, and hence, has been amenable to granting exemptions upon request. Mr Seah also noted that under cooperative legislation, co-ops may only pay dividends from the current year's surplus. He has asked for this Bill to allow co-ops to draw down on past reserves. Given its social mission, a co-op should be prudent, especially when it has made a loss.”
“We agree with Mr Melvin Yong that there is potential for growth for co-ops in the social services and we hope to see them playing a bigger role in the community. Through this Bill, we have introduced some key changes to further develop the sector. These include, for example, reducing the minimum number of individuals required to form a co-op as well as reducing the age limit for Committee of Management members, which will help bring in more youth leaders into the movement. We will continue to review our regulatory and administrative requirements to ensure they are facilitative for the setting up and operations of co-operatives. We will also continue to work closely with our stakeholders, SNCF and the CCF Committee, to further develop the sector. SNCF as the industry body of co-ops, is funded by the CCF and has various programmes to build awareness and promote the co-op movement. These include roadshows, educational talks in schools, cooperative-related competitions, scholarships and other outreach programmes. The CCF also provides grants to assist eligible new co-ops with their start-up costs. For existing co-ops, there are CCF grants and schemes to develop their capacities and capabilities to help them develop and grow. They include grants for the training of cooperative officers, purchase of IT systems, upgrading of office premises, audit fees, marketing and accounting services. I would now like to address some specific queries regarding the amendments to facilitate and develop the co-op sector. On the lowering of the minimum age for a Committee of Management member from 21 to 18, I would like to clarify in response to Mr Melvin Yong that this is primarily to facilitate the participation of tertiary students in university co-ops, for example.”
“Co-ops will be provided recommendations on how to address the findings and strengthen their operations. The co-op's Committee of Management will thereafter propose their management action plan and proposed timeline in the audit report, which the Registry will monitor. Mr Choo also asked about the bad debts of credit co-ops. For loans granted by credit co-ops, the bad loans written off for Financial Year 2016 was about $2.3 million, which is about 1% of the total outstanding loans. In writing off the loans, credit co-ops follow the Financial Reporting Standards and their own internal policies. Mr Melvin Yong and Mr Alex Yam asked about introducing ranking or rating systems on the credit co-ops. As membership-based entities, there is no public ranking or rating of the credit co-ops. Members should be aware of their co-ops' information through the co-ops' websites, annual reports and audited financial statements, which are tabled at the AGMs. Members can raise questions regarding co-ops' matters during these meetings. If there are adverse findings on any co-ops, appropriate information will be shared with members by the Registrar. Mr Louis Ng suggested including punitive measures should a credit co-op not comply with the requirement to provide information under section 32C. We would like to clarify that this would be captured under section 100 of the Co-operative Societies Act, whereby it is an offence if a co-op neglects or refuses to do any act as required. Lastly, I greatly appreciate my colleagues' recognition of our efforts to facilitate the operations of co-ops and support us on our amendments to further develop the co-op movement.”
“In the Code of Governance, it is stated that a credit co-op should have policies to manage conflict of interest, for example, a Committee of Management member with conflict of interest should be excluded from the relevant discussions. The Code also states that the roles of the Committee of Management and key staff officers should be clearly defined. In addition, the Chairman and the CEO should be separate persons to ensure an appropriate balance of power, increased accountability and greater capacity of the Committee of Management for independent decision making. On Mr Yam's suggestion for no duplication of Committee of Management in co-ops, we are conscious that such a requirement would have trade-offs and implications for the sector. Notwithstanding, we will consider the matter and discuss with our stakeholders in our next review of the Code. Mr Gan suggested that deposits in credit co-ops should be covered by deposit insurance. The Deposit Insurance Scheme (DIS) is unable to cover credit co-ops as they are not part of the banking system. We would like to assure Mr Gan that while there is no DIS for the credit co-ops, we have put in place various prudential and governance requirements to instil financial prudence and manage the risks of credit co-ops. Mr Yam asked if the records of co-ops will be audited. All credit co-ops' financial statements will be externally audited. In addition, they will undergo special audits conducted by the Registry. Mr Desmond Choo has asked how much time credit co-ops will be given to ensure that processes are in place. The special audits are primarily governance and internal controls audits, aimed at helping credit co-ops identify gaps and lapses in their operations and existing processes.”
“While we raise the bar, we also ensure that support is provided to the sector to assist them in meeting these new standards. For example, subsidy schemes under CCF have been revised to provide more financial support to the credit co-ops to undergo training programmes. A transition period of three years is also granted to existing officers to meet the new requirements. Mr Alex Yam asked whether there are other action plans besides instituting qualifications and training requirements for the key officers. We have, in fact, updated the Code of Governance in 2016 and provided a self-evaluation checklist which credit co-ops will be required to submit to the Registry. In 2017, the Registry and SNCF further developed specific guidelines on internal controls, loans management and investment management, which will be rolled out to the credit co-ops this year to strengthen their capabilities and processes. Hence, we will work hand-in-hand with SNCF and all the credit co-ops' key officers to support them on this journey of upskilling. Mr Yam suggested that persons related to the Committee of Management be barred from holding management positions in their co-ops. We would like to share that while some Committee of Management members may be involved in the operations of their co-op, the Act requires the majority of a credit co-op's Committee of Management to be independent. A credit co-op's audit committee shall also comprise at least three members who shall be independent of the co-op. Additionally, all Committee of Management members must disclose any conflict of interest.”
“Hence, it is necessary to ensure that their deposits are prudently managed. Sir, I am reassured by the Member's support for a framework to uplift the governance and competency level of the credit co-ops' Committee of Managements and key employees. As leaders of credit co-ops, the Committee of Management members and key employees have a responsibility to act prudently and be accountable to the members. In order to properly discharge their duties, Committee of Management members and key employees have to be competent and undergo relevant training. In expressing support for raising the governance of credit co-ops to better protect members' deposits, Mr Darryl David, Mr Melvin Yong and Mr Desmond Choo have asked for more information on the training and qualification requirements that will be introduced for the Committee of Management members and key employees of credit co-ops and how these will be enforced. Additionally, Mr Choo asked about the assistance provided to the co-ops in view of the possible additional administrative costs. The Registry has worked with SNCF to develop a customised training programme for all Committee of Management members of credit co-ops. The training programme covers topics such as governance, internal controls, regulatory requirements and best practices. This training is heavily subsidised by the CCF. The minimum competency standards we will introduce through subsidiary legislation, which comprise the number of years of relevant work experience as well as minimum qualifications, will be applicable to selected key officers, such as a member of the Audit Committee, the CEO and the CFO. As credit co-ops vary in size, we have applied a tiered approach in implementing the requirements.”
“Hence we have decided to strengthen the Registrar's ability to protect the members' interests in such circumstances. One of which is to ensure that the Registrar can properly investigate into matters which led to or caused these situations. The Registrar would exercise the power of search and seize if there is reason to suspect that an offence under the Act has been committed. In addition, the Registrar must have reasonable cause to believe the document or item is necessary for the purpose of obtaining evidence of the offence. This power is especially critical to enable the Registrar to uncover the truth and act swiftly, particularly for credit co-ops where a crisis situation could cause a run in the co-op, and adversely affect the sector. I will now move on to the next set of comments and queries on credit co-ops. Mr Melvin Yong asked about the relevance of credit co-ops in this day and age. My Ministry believes that there is still a place for credit co-ops in Singapore. Notwithstanding that the membership base of credit co-ops is fairly small and has remained relatively stable in the last few years, credit co-ops still play an important social role in serving their members, especially so in promoting savings and giving loans at affordable interest rates to members in need. As co-ops are less profit driven compared to financial institutions, they are more willing to go the extra mile for their members by extending loans to the lower-income earners and rescheduling members' loans to help them tide over difficult periods. Given the self-help element and social objectives, co-ops are regulated by the Registry of Co-operative Societies under MCCY. Many credit co-ops' members are Singaporeans who can ill-afford to lose their savings in the credit co-ops.”
“If the Committee of Management lacks certain capabilities, the co-op should find competent persons to serve on the Committee of Managment. In fact, we allow the co-op to appoint up to two members to serve on the Committee of Management. If they are unable to find such persons on their own, the Registrar may appoint up to two individuals to serve in the Committee of Management to ensure compliance with the requirements or proper management of the co-op. Mr Darryl David asked what guidelines or criteria would be applied before the Registrar acts to remove a Committee of Management, and appoint one or more individuals to take over the management and administration of a co-op. Such a protective measure would likely only be undertaken after an inquiry has been conducted or there is evidence demonstrating that the actions of the Committee of Management has put the co-op in a vulnerable or risky state or that there has been mismanagement. We hope that should such a need arise, there are respected individuals from within the sector who would step up to take on such a role. We are first and foremost looking for individuals with integrity and the necessary competencies and knowledge of the sector. We would also seek inputs from our stakeholders including the industry body, the Singapore National Co-operative Federation (SNCF) and the Central Co-operative Fund (CCF) Committee. The involvement of the Registrar in this regard aims to stabilise the co-op and maintain members' confidence. We believe it would provide assurance to members, especially in times of distress or crisis. Mr Louis Ng raised a concern on whether extended powers are necessary. I have earlier mentioned that we are concerned about situations of mismanagement, misconduct, distress and crisis.”
“Hence, there is the need to make the modification. Any decision to wind up a co-op on account of failure to meet a registration condition would only be in an extreme case where significant risks to its members or society have been identified, and also after due process. Mr Louis Ng asked whether, in the spirit of increasing transparency, the Registry could disclose the modified terms and conditions to the members and even the public. We agree with Mr Ng that for greater transparency, a co-op should disclose pertinent information to its members. Hence, we will require the co-op to disclose information on any new or modified terms and conditions to their members. However, given that co-ops are membership-based organisations, there is no necessity to disclose such information to the general public. Two Members have also highlighted the amendment in which the Registrar may appoint up to two individuals to serve in the Committee of Management of a co-op. As Committee of Managements of credit co-ops should possess requisite competencies to oversee the co-ops effectively, Mr Gan suggested that a co-op or the Registrar should be allowed to appoint more than two new members. As co-ops are essentially membership-based organisations, we recognise that the leadership must have the support of the members through open and fair elections of officers during the general meetings. However, we recognise there is a need for additional injection of competencies and diversity. Hence, we provide the flexibility for a co-op and the Registrar to appoint up to two new members, with no veto power and on a temporary basis, to serve until the next AGM. Mr Seah is correct in his assumption that this would only be done in exceptional cases.”
“Credit co-ops are already subjected to governance and prudential requirements. The majority of them are complying with or are making good progress in meeting these requirements. However, there are still gaps when it comes to dealing with situations of mismanagement, misconduct, distress and crisis. Hence, instead of imposing more stringent control requirements on all credit co-ops, we have decided to strengthen the Registrar's ability to protect the members' interests in such extreme situations. The Registrar's powers in section 94 and 94A, for example, are meant to protect members' interests and the co-op movement by maintaining stability, rectifying weaknesses and strengthening organisational competencies in severe circumstances or after an inquiry. Thirdly, the Registrar will intervene and act to protect only as a last resort, in other words, in situations of distress or mismanagement, as described earlier. In addition, under the new regulations, the Registrar will not wind up a co-op unless the co-op is insolvent, wilfully fails to meet the minimum prescribed requirements or if its operations run contrary to national security or the members' interests. Lastly, to ensure a check and balance, due process and an appeal channel are provided for in the Bill. Now, let me go into the specific concerns raised by the Members on the enhancement of the Registrar's powers. Mr Seah raised a specific concern that the Registrar may modify the terms and conditions of a co-op's registration and subsequently wind up the co-op should it fail to meet them. We proposed this amendment to cater for possible situations, such as a co-op changing its social mission or business activities, which may render the terms and conditions of its registration no longer relevant.”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, I thank the hon Members, Mr Desmond Choo, Mr Darryl David, Mr Louis Ng, Mr Seah Kian Peng, Mr Gan Thiam Poh, Mr Alex Yam and Mr Melvin Yong for their support and comments. Allow me to address the points they have raised in three broad categories. First, regulatory powers of the Registrar; second, issues relating to credit co-ops; and third, facilitation and development of the co-op sector. Mr Desmond Choo, Mr Darryl David, Mr Louis Ng, Mr Gan Thiam Poh, Mr Alex Yam and Mr Melvin Yong all supported strengthening the Registrar's powers to protect the interests of the co-ops' members. Mr Gan and Mr Yam even suggested further enhancement to the powers due to the concerns raised in their respective speeches. Mr Seah Kian Peng highlighted some provisions in relation to the Registrar's enhanced powers and raised concerns over possible over-regulation. Before addressing these specific concerns, I would like to share our guiding principles. As a fundamental principle, my Ministry upholds the fact that co-ops are owned by members who have common bonds. We recognise that members may have strong attachment to their own co-ops. They choose their own leaders to manage the affairs of the co-ops. Hence, the Registrar's duty is not to take over the responsibilities of the co-ops' members and Committees of Management. The Registrar's duty is to regulate so as to protect the members' interests and the co-op movement. Secondly, we take a calibrated approach in managing risks of the co-op sector. In this Bill, the amendments largely focus on strengthening our regulatory oversight of credit co-ops as they take in deposits and grant loans to members. We need to ensure members' deposits and interests are protected.”
“Quite a number of countries or economies do have these investor residency programmes. In comparison to a number of these programmes, Singapore's GIP would have one of the more stringent qualifying criteria. For example, the minimum investment required under GIP is $2.5 million. This is higher than the minimum required in other locations, such as Australia, the United States (US) and the United Kingdom (UK). I believe that in Hong Kong, they have an investor entrepreneur scheme that does not state upfront a minimum investment amount. However, to put this into context, the GIP is only one of a very broad range of schemes that the Government employs to promote investment and also to grow our economy.”
“I will take both supplementary questions together. The primary objective of the GIP is for Singapore-based companies to benefit from the injection of capital from GIP funds and tap on the GIP investors' entrepreneurial track record to inject dynamism into our economy. I can share that, as of 2017, the total GIP funds amount to $1.5 billion, but in terms of the performance, this would vary from fund to fund because each fund would have their respective mandate to invest in different sectors of focus. Furthermore, the GIP funds are invested in less liquid private equity companies, and their investment horizons span over a five- to seven-year time period, so we can effectively talk about the real returns only after it liquidates all its investments.”
“Lastly, the Government will continue to work with all industry stakeholders to drive capability development within the travel agent and tourist guide industries, so that employers, workers and freelancers can all keep up with a rapidly changing tourism industry and reap benefits, as Mr Desmond Choo has also mentioned. Thank you, Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move. [(proc text) Question put, and agreed to. (proc text)] [(proc text) Bill accordingly read a Second time and committed to a Committee of the whole House. (proc text)] [(proc text) The House immediately resolved itself into a Committee on the Bill. – [Ms Sim Ann.] (proc text)] [(proc text) Bill considered in Committee; reported without amendment; read a Third time and passed. (proc text)]”
“The MRC keeps tourist guides abreast of new tourism industry developments, while ensuring that they continue to be equipped with appropriate guiding skills to deliver quality visitor experiences. Our tourist guides also continue to benefit from a wide range of professional development courses. Earlier this year, STB published a prospectus covering 64 courses by 12 training providers, with the courses touching on a wide range of topics, including storytelling skills, intercultural training, guiding skills and Singapore's art, culture, heritage and even nightlife scene. There is also a range of subsidies that cover up to 95% of the course fees. I encourage our tourist guides to utilise these resources fully. We agree with Mr Desmond Choo that it would be useful if training can be conducted online and are exploring if this can be implemented. Mr Speaker, I would like to conclude by thanking the Members once again for their valuable feedback and also for their support for the Bill. The majority of our travel agents conduct their businesses responsibly and are important players in our tourism ecosystem that connects Singapore and Singaporeans with the rest of the world. The amendments to the Travel Agents Act and Regulations help to improve the travel experience by enhancing consumer protection and creating room for new business models to grow and thrive, while ensuring that regulatory cost remains manageable. We will also continue with our consumer education efforts to raise awareness of the measures consumers can take to protect themselves and to communicate the intent and implications of the legislative amendments we are making now.”
“If the entity in question has no physical presence in Singapore for the supply of travel products, meaning that it is a foreign entity, we do not have regulatory mechanisms to take action against its malpractice as we do not have extraterritorial jurisdiction. In such cases, STB has been running consumer education campaigns to increase consumer awareness of measures they can undertake to protect their interests. We will also continue to encourage consumers to purchase travel insurance to safeguard against unforeseen travel inconveniences. Mr Desmond Choo and Mr Ang Hin Kee highlighted that as the travel industry transforms, we also need to ensure that our travel agents and tourist guides upskill and keep up with the times. Indeed, STB worked with the National Association of Travel Agents Singapore (NATAS) to launch the Travel Agent Roadmap last year, with the aim of enabling our travel agents to become designers of travel experiences. We have been encouraging manpower upskilling, technology adoption and greater innovation and productivity in the industry. Since the launch of the Roadmap, STB has supported more than 30 projects under the Business Improvement Fund, ranging from the development of technology solutions for better customer engagement, data analytics and the redesigning of business models. Employees can also tap on STB's Training Industry Professionals in Tourism fund to send their staff for further training and professional development. Mr Desmond Choo asked how STB is ensuring that the skills of tourist guides are tested. All tourist guides are required to undergo a Mandatory Refresher Course (MRC) before they can renew their licences.”
“We wanted to allow more room for "off-the-beaten-track" tours to grow and bring vibrancy to our tourism landscape, as Mr Desmond Choo highlighted. This is why we have exempted walking tours or cycling tours from needing a travel agent licence, as these tours typically do not collect significant prepayments from customers and, in some cases, none at all. However, I should also point out that if these tours are targeted at tourists and involve remuneration for the guiding services provided, these tours will still need to be led by licensed tourist guides. The tourist guide licensing framework gives STB some regulatory oversight and enforcement powers against irresponsible behaviour. Even as these entities are exempted, consumers can continue to reach out to CASE and STB if they require assistance. Mr Louis Ng asked if the Travel Agents Act and this Bill would include emerging models like Airbnb Experiences, Tripadvisor and Wego. Mr Lim Biow Chuan also asked who regulates online travel entities in general, whether the Singapore Government can consider regulating them and how consumers may recover their prepayments if these online entities cease operations. Whether an online entity falls within the jurisdiction of Singapore's legislation largely depends on whether it has physical presence in Singapore for the supply of travel products. For instance, if an online entity with physical presence in Singapore contracts with consumers for the supply of a travel product or sells or arranges tours in Singapore, the entity will require a travel agent licence.”
“Mr Lim Biow Chuan also asked if consumers who had already bought travel packages from a travel agent facing licence suspension or revocation can be allowed to terminate their contract without compensation. I would first like to reassure Members that travel agents facing suspension and revocation remain obliged to fulfil their existing contractual obligations, failing which they should pass on these obligations to other travel agents to fulfil. Whether consumers can terminate their contracts with a travel agent will depend on the cancellation terms and conditions of each contract, which will apply even when the travel agent is facing suspension or revocation. Via the Travel Agents Regulations, we intend to require travel agents to make clear the cancellation terms and conditions before entering into a contract with consumers. Consumers will, thus, be fully aware of their rights under the contract before they sign it. Mr Speaker, all the Members who have spoken have noted the emergence of new business models in the travel agent industry, particularly the increasing prevalence of online travel agents or booking platforms. I agree with Mr Desmond Choo that it is important for the public and industry players to know which types of travel entities will now be exempted. STB will be raising awareness among the travel industry and the general public on this matter. Mr Desmond Choo asked if we could make it compulsory for exempted entities to register themselves with STB, so that we retain some degree of oversight over their activities. I would like to share that STB has been very careful when determining which entities should be exempted and which entities should continue to be regulated.”