Sitoh Yih Pin
Singapore
“Madam, apart from a healthy diet and regular preventive health checks, one of the key elements of keeping healthy in our silver years is to pursue an active lifestyle. Playing and participating in sports is a fun and engaging way to do so. Granted that as one ages, we may not be able to participate in intense sports activities.”
“Mr Chairman, as a market-oriented, open economy, there will be, over time, inflows and outflows of foreigners who live and work in our country, alongside fellow Singaporeans. These foreigners come from different backgrounds and cultures and take on work in various forms as PMETs, skilled or manual workers.”
“Madam, many Singaporeans are very excited about the Kallang Alive Masterplan announced at the Prime Minister's National Day Rally last year and are looking forward to how the plans will revitalise the Sports Hub and its surrounding areas.”
“Mdm Chair, Singapore's arts sector has matured over the years with globally recognised artists and companies supported by world class venues. Importantly, local audience support is critical in building a vibrant arts scene engaged with the Community.”
“Yes, Sir, I will keep it very short. I would like to thank the entire MCCY team and all the speakers for their speeches. With that, I ask for leave to withdraw my amendment. [(proc text) Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. (proc text)] [(proc text) The sum of $2,270,827,200 for Head X ordered to stand part of the Main Estimates.”
“Sir, I thank the political office holders for their responses. Sir, in the last few hours, several media outlets reported that Lady Gaga will be performing here at the National Stadium. I think four concerts in May this year.”
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“Yes, Sir, I will keep it very short. I would like to thank the entire MCCY team and all the speakers for their speeches. With that, I ask for leave to withdraw my amendment. [(proc text) Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. (proc text)] [(proc text) The sum of $2,270,827,200 for Head X ordered to stand part of the Main Estimates. (proc text)] [(proc text) The sum of $510,521,900 for Head X ordered to stand part of the Development Estimates. (proc text)]”
“Sir, I thank the political office holders for their responses. Sir, in the last few hours, several media outlets reported that Lady Gaga will be performing here at the National Stadium. I think four concerts in May this year. I like to ask the Minister if he can provide more information on this and in particular, whether the Government is giving any grants for these concerts.”
“Mr Chairman, as a market-oriented, open economy, there will be, over time, inflows and outflows of foreigners who live and work in our country, alongside fellow Singaporeans. These foreigners come from different backgrounds and cultures and take on work in various forms as PMETs, skilled or manual workers. It is to be expected that, as foreigners will not intuitively appreciate and understand our Singapore culture and way of life, friction and conflict may result in the community. In Singapore, we pride ourselves as a diverse and inclusive society. It is, therefore, extremely critical that we do our utmost to integrate foreigners into the Singapore society in order to maintain social cohesion and stability. In this context, I invite the Minister to share the Ministry's plans to strengthen integration of foreigners into our society. This is especially relevant as more Singaporeans return to the physical workplace. Encouraging Philanthropy”
“Madam, apart from a healthy diet and regular preventive health checks, one of the key elements of keeping healthy in our silver years is to pursue an active lifestyle. Playing and participating in sports is a fun and engaging way to do so. Granted that as one ages, we may not be able to participate in intense sports activities. I do not think, for example, I will be diving into any tackles soon on the football pitch. However, playing suitable sports and games can promote and enhance our seniors' health. Popular sports played in the community, include table tennis, badminton or pickleball. Participating in sports in a safe environment will not only encourage our seniors to have an active and healthier lifestyle but will also aid in mental wellness, continuing to keep our mind active, hone our motor skills and importantly, make more friends in the Community! In this context, I invite the Minister to share with us, the Ministry's engagement plans to reach out to more seniors in the community to participate in sports. Seniors' Participation in Sports”
“Madam, many Singaporeans are very excited about the Kallang Alive Masterplan announced at the Prime Minister's National Day Rally last year and are looking forward to how the plans will revitalise the Sports Hub and its surrounding areas. In the meantime, the Sports Hub continues its work in developing sporting and lifestyle offerings for Singaporeans and support the development of sporting excellence of our athletes. I would like to invite the Minister to give us an update on the Ministry's work and plans in these areas to give us an idea and understanding of how we are continuing to develop sporting and lifestyle offerings and supporting our elite athletes leading up to achieving the Kallang Alive Masterplan.”
“Mdm Chair, Singapore's arts sector has matured over the years with globally recognised artists and companies supported by world class venues. Importantly, local audience support is critical in building a vibrant arts scene engaged with the Community. I am therefore very encouraged to hear of the recently announced Culture Pass which will encourage more Singaporeans to join in and enjoy local arts performances, exhibitions and experiences on offer. It will also provide a significant boost to the arts sector economy. For us to understand the wider strategic plans that the Ministry has for the arts sector, can I invite the Minister to share how the Culture Pass will fit into the broader Arts Plan 2.0.”
“After 60 years of nation-building, if you ask anyone what they take away from Singapore in 2025, you will probably get many different answers. There will be those who herald our beautiful, green and clean city. Others may applaud our efficiency and governance. Many will certainly rave about our diverse array of delicious food. But on this, I must agree with Minister Chan Chun Sing in his hour-long interview with Mothership, it is the "gumption" of Singaporeans that set us apart from everyone else: the "can do, never say die" spirit; the stoic, unbending belief that we will succeed, even with our backs against the wall. This "gumption" is what got us where we are today. And it is this "gumption" that we must preserve if we are to celebrate SG100 together. For this to happen, building a strong sense of national unity and identity is crucial. We must ensure that we continue forging and harnessing the unity in purpose and belief in our vibrant and diverse society to keep the flame of our "gumption" burning bright. To this end, MCCY plays a vital role in the community building of our society. I, therefore, invite the Minister to share with us MCCY's plans and strategies on how they will expand opportunities in community building as well as the arts, heritage and sports, to build a vibrant and cohesive home that empowers all Singaporeans to excel and achieve their diverse dreams and aspirations. Importantly, how these strategies can help to forge a strong sense of national identity as we build a future together towards SG100. [(proc text) Question proposed. (proc text)]”
“Mr Chairman, I move, "That the total sum to be allocated for Head X of the Estimates be reduced by $100." To kick off the Committee of Supply (COS) debate for the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth (MCCY) this year, I want to take reference from the fact that 2025 marks the 60th year of Singapore's nation-building. This year marks SG60 and, on reflection, I believe all in this House will agree that it has been quite an exhilarating and extraordinary journey. However, while part of SG60 is to look back and commemorate on our common history and how far we have come, more importantly, it is a time for us to reflect on our shared values and poise ourselves for the road ahead towards a collective future. Our external environment is increasingly volatile and uncertain. As a small and open nation, the jostling between international powers will have major geopolitical and geoeconomic implications for Singapore and even test us on our nation's social cohesion. Domestically, we must continue to be true to our core values, building a caring and inclusive, multiracial, multicultural and multi-religious society. We want to build a society that is fair, just and able to afford equal opportunities to all Singaporeans to pursue their dreams and aspirations, whatever they may be. We must acknowledge, however, that Singapore, as a society, is rapidly evolving. Domestic demographics are shifting. We have a rapidly ageing population and a low birth rate. Technological disruptions have drastically changed our way of life and traditional notions of jobs and the workplace. We must include our youths in these challenging conversations of Singapore in the future as they are the next generation that will inherit Singapore and its policies of today.”
“Mr Chairman, I spoke on community disputes at last year's COS. As many of us in this House have experienced, managing and resolving disputes among neighbours, often living side by side, is one of the most challenging aspects of the work we do in the Community. Since then, I was heartened to see the passing of the Community Disputes Resolution (Amendment) Bill in November 2024. In particular, I was looking forward to observe how effective the new Community Relations Unit (CRU) will be, with officers given investigatory and enforcement powers to intervene in neighbourly disputes. Oftentimes, in disputes involving noise or other disagreements, it is a contest of one neighbour gathering "evidence" against the other. This can include recording each other's alleged noise or movements at odd hours or, in extreme cases, surreptitiously installing cameras directed at each other's homes. As one can expect, such behaviour is likely only to escalate and rapidly increase the temperature of the dispute, often damaging neighbourly relations beyond repair. Having an objective arbiter, like CRU, could reduce the need for extreme measures taken by the residents themselves, with decisions and outcomes acceptable to affected parties. Separately, the enhanced powers of the Community Disputes Resolution Tribunal (CDRT) will also hopefully quicken the pace of resolving community disputes effectively. In this context, Sir, I would like to ask the Minister to give an update on the implementation of the enhancements in the space of community mediation after the passing of the Community Disputes Resolution (Amendment) Bill. Community Justice – Avoid Digital Divides”
“Public Education on Evolving Scams One of the reasons why scammers are successful is because law enforcement is also left chasing the tails of scammers. I say these because the scammers are adept and extremely quick in changing tactics or deploying a different method as soon as they realise that law enforcement or the public have caught on to their ruse. There are also certain scam tactics that seemed to remain evergreen such as job scams, fake friend call scams or phishing scams. Yet even within these so-called established categories of scams, scammers evolve their own methodology very often. Apart from law enforcement working harder, smarter and quicker with various stakeholders to catch perpetrators of scams or break up scams syndicates, I think their public education also plays an important role in preventing scams. Perhaps the most straightforward way to prevent scams is for an informed citizenry not to fall victim to scams. I invite the Minister to update us on how the Ministry can better inform and educate the public on the evolving tactics of these scammers. Is Singapore Too Soft on Scammers?”
“Mr Chairman, I rise again this year to raise the pressing and worrying concern of scams in the community. Recent figures report that in 2024, the number of scams alone, increased by 10.6% to 51,501 cases from 2023. This means that more Singaporeans have fallen victim to various scams last year. Even more concerning is the report that the total amount of monies lost increased by 70.6% to at least $1.1 billion in 2024. These are deeply worrying statistics. Breaking down the statistics on the top contact methods which scammers employees shows that messaging and social media platforms form the two largest group of contact methods favoured by scammers. Scammers using platforms such as WhatsApp, Telegram, Facebook and Tik Tok account for more than half of all scams committed. We know that our Home Team is making it a key priority and working hard to combat scams and cybercrime. This House has also passed various legislation to provide the Home Team with the necessary powers to address this issue. On the other hand, however, as responsible corporate entities, we do not hear much of the efforts of the messaging and social platforms in utilising the information they have in the operations to support the fight against scams. As such media platforms, leverage on their membership and user numbers to monetise revenue, it is only right for them to put, in a commensurate amount of effort in also protecting the interests of their members and users. I would like to invite the Minister to share with this House, if this messaging and social media platforms, have been cooperative in combating scams and if the Ministry intends to further, regulate the platforms to ensure that they do even more to address such scams.”
“Sir, I would like to go back to the first half of the COS, when Minister Vivian and many of us acknowledged that we are living in a topsy-turvy, troublesome, turbulent world. Because it is not only taking away the idea of the rule of law, it is also something along the lines that might is right and big is beautiful. The Minister alluded to SG60 just now, very briefly, but really, 60 years of a wonderful nation building is not enough. We want 600 years and beyond. So, from an MFA perspective, what is the plan? That is all.”
“Mr Chairman, we are living in an increasingly uncertain world. As Singapore deals with a more fragmented geopolitical and geoeconomic international environment, there is a need for us to strategically review our multilateral and bilateral engagements. The major powers will continue to jostle for power, space and relevance. Under this backdrop, Singapore's position as an "honest broker" on the international stage will surely come under increasing pressure. It is, therefore, in Singapore's interests to deepen our engagements with like-minded middle powers. In this context, can the Minister share how Singapore is working towards building our ties with such like-minded middle powers? Further, over the years, Singapore has taken steps to strengthen our interests by forging agreements in Trade, Economic Partnerships, the Digital Economy and even the Green Economy. More recently, we concluded negotiations with the EU on the EU-Singapore Digital Trade Agreement (EUSDTA) last year. Given the importance of the Digital Economy in the future, I invite the Minister to also share how the EUSDTA will enhance our partnership and cooperation with the EU and, in the larger context, chart the foreign policy objectives of Singapore in the future. Bilateral Cooperation with Republic of Korea and Japan”
“Mr Chairman, geopolitical and geo-economic contestation among the major powers is fast becoming the norm on the international stage. As the contest heats up, it is inevitable that Singapore, as one of the most market-orientated open economies in the world, gets caught up in the crossfire of any such contestation. One of the methods which has been widely publicised in recent times is the presence of foreign actors that seek to undermine trust in Singapore. This, in part, is to seed dissention and discontent domestically to ultimately sway or influence our foreign policy decisions. While the Government has taken steps to address this legislatively, perhaps more can be done to keep Singaporeans better informed of such insidious intentions by foreign actors. In this context, I invite the Minister to share how the MFA can play its part to help Singaporeans become more aware of and resilient against such foreign actors who attempt to undermine trust in Singapore's foreign policy decisions.”
“Mdm Chairperson, the members of ASEAN comprise of Singapore's closest and most important neighbour states. The ASEAN Charter serves as a firm foundation for an ASEAN Community with a legal status and institutional framework for ASEAN. ASEAN is important because as neighbour states, we share many common interests and, when we advocate and present ourselves as a regional bloc, we are able to navigate the international geopolitical arena as a stronger, collective force. In this context, we have an obligation, as ASEAN member states, to support and look out for one another. It is, therefore, with much concern when we observe the current situation in Myanmar. While it is reassuring that ASEAN had quickly, in 2021, issued a Five-Point Consensus on the situation in Myanmar, it appears from the recent ASEAN Leaders' Review and Decision on the Implementation of the Five-Point Consensus last year that there has been an escalation of conflict with little improvement in the humanitarian situation in Myanmar. In this context, can I invite the Minister to share whether and how Singapore, as an ASEAN member state, can facilitate the progress on the situation in Myanmar in light of the lack of progress in the implementation of the Five-Point Consensus on the Myanmar side?”
“I would rather be a forest than a street" and I was thinking of today's Motion because, I am certain, hand on heart, for every athlete here, for every sports official here, for every family here, they can put hand on heart that they would rather be competing in the red and white colours of Team Singapore. [Applause.]”
“I am sure Minister Edwin Tong will respond later about the incentives, but I think there is no need to try to create any division amongst any one of us, amongst the strong and resilient team Singapore. Sir, please allow me to speak in Mandarin. (In Mandarin): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] The topic of sports is a significant one, a topic for the entire nation. We must approach it carefully and thoughtfully, always prioritising the interests of the athletes and the people. Within the sports family, there is no 'I' or 'you', only 'we', because we are a team. The performance of our athletes this time has brought great joy, sunshine and new hopes to the people. Therefore, I want to express my gratitude for our athletes' dedication, because you have brought new hope and insiprations. For your toil, your spirit, and your contributions, I extend my deepest gratitude to all of you. I believe that your spirit is not just for the present, nor for 10 years, nor even for 100 years; it is eternal, and will last for generations to come. (In English): Sir, in conclusion, I would like to share a song. I was just driving the other day and this song came on the radio and I thought maybe I will use it today. For those of us old enough, I think you will know this song. It is a song by Simon and Garfunkel. It was very popular in the early 1970s. It is a Spanish song titled, "El Condo Pasa". For those of us old enough, you will know this song. But the lyrics of the song are very interesting. It goes something like, "I would rather be a sparrow than a snail. I would rather be a hammer than a nail.”
“He spoke about the differences and maybe the disparity in the incentive schemes. Mr Speaker, Sir, I take it that Assoc Prof Jamus Lim's intentions are good. I respect what he said and today is a happy occasion. I do not hope to get into an intense and heated debate. But let me respond by way of a tennis match. In the early part of this year, I think in early February or late January, there was the Australian Open tennis final. Jannik Sinner, the Italian tennis player, won the Australian Open. He was the first Italian to have won an Australian Open and currently the first Italian to be ranked number one in the world. During that game, Jannik Sinner was playing Daniel McDevitt. He was lost the first two sets, 3-6, 3-6. I watched that game. In the third set, at one point, it looked like he was gone, finished. He was going to lose the third set and it was game over. But then his coach shouted from the stands, "Weather the storm! Weather the storm!" That was when Jannik Sinner's game changed. He came back. He was a different person and then he went on to win the next three sets, 6-4, 6-4, 6-3. And therefore, became the first Italian to win the Australian Open. Why do I relate this story? Because I have learned from that tennis game that in sports, you always have two opponents. One is the opponent across the court. In sports, you compete. That is inevitable. That is unavoidable. The second opponent is yourself. You have to overcome what is inside yourself. My message, Mr Speaker, Sir, to Assoc Prof Jamus Lim, is that as much as your intentions may be good, please do not create that storm. Because we are one Team Singapore.”
“But that does not mean our fates need to be determined by these limitations. With the same discipline and determination as Pin Xiu, Singapore can continue to come up tops in many ways in these uncertain times. We can continue to meet challenges that come our way with positivity and overcome them by the strength of our collective will. Sir, next, I would like to talk about how we can learn from someone who is not as experienced as Pin Xiu but just starting out in his Olympic journey – Max Maeder. At this juncture, I like to declare that I was a director of Yeo Hiap Seng Limited when the company started to sponsor Max in his sports activities. I played a role in that sponsorship. At 17 years of age, Max cannot even legally order a can of beer at the neighbourhood coffee shop in Singapore when he won his bronze medal. But everyone who has met him has described him as being level-headed and mature beyond his years. With the energy and fearlessness of youth, he is already charting new paths and peaks in his sporting career. I am very confident that he will achieve more sporting glory for himself and Singapore in the years to come. Like Max Maeder, Singapore is a young country. Being a young country, we should not fear going into uncharted waters at high speeds, as long as we keep our heads level and our sight on what is important and what is the final goal. Yes, there will be choppy waves along the way and sometimes we can even lose a bit of speed and direction, but as long as we have the wherewithal to stay the course and if necessary, to make adjustments along the way, we will get to where we need to be, where we want to be. Just like Max! Sir, at this juncture, I would like to respond to what the hon Member Assoc Prof Jamus Lim said.”
“Because no one wins all the time. What is important is the will to get up and try again and again, to compete again and again, and eventually achieve success from the ashes of defeat. It is the spirit of resilience and not giving in to defeatism, of not surrendering, but to rise from defeat, that is worthy of our celebration and honour. And it is also this spirit of resilience that Singapore has as well, that has made Singapore what it is today. Sports is a microcosm of life and sports holds many lessons for us, for every generation of Singaporeans. This is why it is important that we inculcate the qualities that are to be found in great sportsmen and sportswomen into the fabric of our society; that of fair play, resilience, guts and teamwork. Aside from learning from our defeats and rising up again, there are also lessons to be learnt from winning. In this context, we can learn from Yip Pin Xiu. Pin Xiu is a veritable Singapore sporting legend at the age of 32. She has won five Paralympic gold medals over three Games and numerous other medals at other international competitions. Despite having a hereditary neurological disorder called Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease or CMT disease, Pin Xiu has managed to win again and again over the years. I understand CMT disease leads to progressive muscle and sensory loss. I think Pin Xiu has probably lost muscle mass and strength over the editions of Paralympics that she has won gold medals in. Yet, she continues to defy the odds with the strength of her will and her discipline and dedication to training. As Singaporeans, we can all learn from Pin Xiu. As a country, Singapore has serious limitations of space and lack of natural resources. No matter what we do, these limitations remain with us.”
“On one hand, we are here to celebrate our Olympians and Paralympians’ successes and victories in Paris, but on the other hand, we are also here to give praise to them for overcoming hardships and struggles and not surrendering, and in the process develop strength in body, soul and spirit. This is especially true for our Paralympians, who despite facing challenges in life, choose to take the bull by its horns and face life with positive energy and become a Paralympian in the process. They have decided triumphantly that they will overcome all odds with verve and spirit. Which is why I suppose the motto of the Paralympics is “spirit in motion”. Jeralyn Tan embodies this. Her achievement at the Paralympics showcased the “spirit” of her journey of growing up with cerebral palsy, picking up boccia as a co-curricular activity, competing at the national, regional and eventually on the international stage, at the Paralympics. Very importantly, her family who have been supporting her throughout this journey, played a vital role in her quest to overcome all odds and succeed. Mr Speaker, there is another Chinese saying by the Confucian philosopher Mencius, who lived around 2,300 years ago. The saying loosely translated into English is as follows: "When Heaven is about to confer a great responsibility on a person, it will first make the person endure hardship in spirit, exhaust his muscles and bones and experience hunger. This is so that this person can cultivate a resilient spirit and enhance his capabilities." It is a more poetic and detailed way of expressing what the "Governator" has said. It can also be used to describe what every successful athlete knows – the road to sporting success is paved with pain, deprivation, suffering and yes, even defeat.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I rise in support of the Motion. There is an old Chinese saying that goes “文无第一 , 武无第二”. Loosely translated and interpreted, it means that there is no absolute number one in the arts and literary world, while being first is all that matters in the pugilistic or martial arts world. Today, not many engage in martial arts fights and competitions anymore. The second part of this phrase is often used to apply to the world of sports and to sportsmen and sportswomen. It is nice to win, but there is more to sports than being first or winning medals. Sports is also about forging our spirits in the crucible of competition and yes, defeat as well. Let me quote what champion bodybuilder, movie superstar and California Governor, Mr Arnold Schwarzenegger said, “Strength does not come from winning. Your struggles develop your strengths. When you go through hardships and decide not to surrender, that is strength”. Let us give pause to what the “Governator” said here, which is almost counter-intuitive, “Strength does not come from winning”. Everyone loves a winner and everyone loves to see the athletes achieve victory and the celebration that ensues. Our celebration often centres around victories and talent. But as Mr Schwarzeneggar said the athlete does not get stronger in victory. They do not even get stronger because they have talent. He said that one gets stronger when one struggles and go through hardships and not surrender. Sir, I think these struggles and the indomitable spirit of not surrendering are also worth celebrating, and it is the reason why we are here today as well.”
“Mr Chairman, I would like to thank all Members of Parliament for their speeches and the MCCY team for their effort and hard work. With that, Sir, I beg leave to withdraw my amendment. [(proc text) Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. (proc text)] [(proc text) The sum of $2,098,737,600 for Head X ordered to stand part of the Main Estimates. (proc text)] [(proc text) The sum of $349,751,400 for Head X ordered to stand part of the Development Estimates. (proc text)]”
“Mr Chairman, one of Singapore's fundamental tenets of our social compact is to strive towards being a multiracial, multi-cultural and multi-religious community, living harmoniously together. I say "strive", because this element of our social compact is something we need to constantly keep in our minds and work towards improving. Because no matter how well we think we are on this call, it is not something that can be taken for granted. We need only look at the conflicts around the world to understand that racial, cultural and religious differences can often lead to unimaginable hardship and suffering for communities. The preservation of our diverse cultural heritage is an important way for us to foster a strong sense of belonging and a shared identity in Singapore. We have neighbourhoods such as Geylang Serai, Little India and Chinatown that are culture-rich and many Singaporeans take pride in their unique identity and culture. More can be done to create opportunities to celebrate these culture-rich places. Further, we should take the opportunity to empower our youths in this endeavour. Our youths represent the next generation of Singapore. Through the Forward SG exercise, they have expressed their desire to play an active role in shaping policies and co-creating the communities they live in. They will play a big part in determining how strong our social compact will be in the future. I therefore invite Minister to update us on MCCY's plans to celebrate the shared heritage of our culture-rich places and how we can engage our youths in our efforts to preserve our cultural heritage. Our Shared Heritage”
“Some commentators point to the possible grants given in return for exclusivity. I think it is much more than that. Singapore projects as an attractive entertainment and sports events hub because we have a strategic location, quality infrastructure, safety, efficiency and diverse cultural offerings that allow us to present a complete package in pitches to host such major events. Moving forward, we should leverage on this important momentum and, while we continue to do so, also look towards renewing older infrastructures at the Sports Hub, such as the Singapore Indoor Stadium, which has hosted Singaporeans to many fond memories over the years. Maybe, just maybe, a new equally exciting indoor venue could be built to replace the Indoor Stadium. At the same time, whilst many Singaporeans and tourists can enjoy the many spectacular events in Singapore, I think we can also do more by providing cheaper or maybe free tickets to our lower-income families. As an example, whenever the Suzuki Cup matches are played in Singapore, I would get a sponsor to purchase bulk tickets and these are distributed to our lower-income families in Potong Pasir. Our residents go as a family and they enjoyed the football matches. Sir, MCCY is a very good team that always sees opportunities, never limitations, when promoting Singapore's interests. I think our greatest strength right now is our forged sense of purpose and unity to give the best life to all Singaporeans. I, therefore, invite the Minister to update us on plans for the Sports Hub and share with us the strategy that MCCY intends to employ to cement Singapore's position as an entertainment and sports hub, and also to let our lower-income families enjoy these events in Singapore. Inclusivity through Sports and Youth”
“Coldplay performed six shows in Singapore at the beginning of this year and Taylor Swift is due to do the same, six this week, starting I think from last Saturday. I do not know of any other city in the world that has managed to host such most popular world-class events within two months of each other. For this, we must recognise and compliment MCCY and its many partners for having the ability, capacity and mobility to seize opportunities that come our way. Sir, to me, this is the X-factor that differentiates Team Singapore. Apart from concerts, the Sports Hub also hosted several major international and regional sporting events, and more than 140 National School games and School Sport events. Singaporeans can also now use many facilities at the Sports Hub which are open to the public. This has made the Sports Hub more accessible to Singaporeans. Importantly, hosting these major events make significant contributions to the Singapore economy. They give a big boost to our tourism sector, especially in areas, such as hospitality, retail, travel and dining. Mr Chairman, I recall a Parliamentary Question in late 2022 and the then-Senior Minister of State Chee Hong Tat informed this House that tourists and foreigners in Singapore accounted for about half of the net goods and services tax (GST) paid by households and individuals in 2018 and 2019. Therefore, as a natural consequence, with so many more world-class major events in Singapore, I think it would also mean that more 9% GST will be collected from our tourists and this would ultimately translate to more goodies and more infrastructure and more good news for all Singaporeans. And why has Singapore been able to host such major events successfully?”
“Mr Chairman, I would like to start by sharing with this House a recent experience I had. In late January this year, I was at our National Stadium to watch the Coldplay concert. Sometime during the show, the lead singer, Chris Martin, said something along the following lines; maybe not exactly in those words, but something along the following lines. He said, "Tonight is a special night in Singapore. We have so many fans from different countries with different religions, all coming together to watch a concert in Singapore happily, peacefully and safely." After he said this, the Australian guy next to me instantaneously shouted, "Lee Kuan Yew". And yes, Mr Chairman, this is the multiracial, multicultural and multi-religious Singapore that Mr Lee Kuan Yew and his team has created for us. And I am very confident this is also the Singapore that our People's Action Party (PAP) Government will continue to build for many more generations of Singaporeans. Sir, over the course of the past year, after the Government took back control of the Sports Hub, the Kallang Alive Sport Management (KASM), a wholly owned entity under MCCY, has been working hard to make the Sports Hub more vibrant for all Singaporeans. Besides Taylor Swift, who is currently in Singapore, there have been many popular concerts last year and this year by international and regional renowned performers, such as Black Pink, Coldplay and Ed Sheeran. Sir, I am not much of a music fan, but I am told that Coldplay is currently the most popular band group in the world. And I am also reliably informed that Taylor Swift is currently the most popular solo artist in the world.”
“An ageing population and a low birth rate may make us consider how we fundamentally function as a foundational unit that is entrusted with bringing up the next generation and caring for our seniors. This will decidedly have an impact on how we chart our way forward. It is therefore apparent to me that how we manage the arts, heritage, culture, sports and community sectors within our society will have a deep impact on how our social compact will evolve moving forward. Importantly, we must include our youths in these conversations, as they are the next generation of Singaporeans who will inherit a Singapore shaped by the policies we set in the present day. We will recollect that these are key areas under the Unite Pillar, led by MCCY Minister Edwin Tong during the Forward SG Conversations. I, therefore, invite the Minister to share with us, MCCY's plans and strategies on how they will expand opportunities in community building, as well as the arts, heritage and sports, to build a vibrant and cohesive home that empowers all Singaporeans to excel and achieve their diverse dreams and aspirations and yet, at the same time, be able to take action to build a fairer and better society together. [(proc text) Question proposed. (proc text)] 4.45 pm”
“Mr Chairman, I beg to move, "That the total sum to be allocated for Head X of the Estimates be reduced by $100". To kick off the Committee of Supply (COS) debate for the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth (MCCY) this year, I want to take some reference from the recently concluded Forward Singapore (Forward SG) exercise. As we know, at the heart of the Forward SG exercise, is an effort to engage as many Singaporeans as we can, from all walks of life, on how we should refresh our social compact on the road ahead for Singapore. It suggests, although unsurprisingly, that the aspirations of Singaporeans as to our social compact and to our way of life, has become increasingly diverse. I say unsurprising because diversity has actually always been the bedrock of how our social compact came to be. Our core values of building a caring and inclusive, multiracial, multicultural and multi-religious society remain sacrosanct among Singaporeans. Closely related is our desire to celebrate our diverse cultural heritage in shared community spaces, expanding opportunities for all to excel or participate in arts and sports and to allow everyone the equal opportunity to pursue their dreams and aspirations. While it is undeniable that, as each successive new generation of Singaporeans come to the fore, we will continue to evolve as a society and refresh our social compact. These are some core values which should remain key tenets in the pillars of our social compact. We must acknowledge, however, that Singapore, as a society, is rapidly evolving. Two examples of demographic changes. Increasing inter-ethnic and transnational marriages, may in the future, require us to rethink our racial and cultural classifications.”
“One of the outcomes when disputes are not resolved, sometimes over years, is that one household may choose to sell their home and move away and during the sale, new buyers may unwittingly move in, completely unaware of the unresolved dispute. In these cases, the new buyers may face the same issues as the previous owners and may even feel that they have been "conned" into purchasing their new home. Surely, this is not an ideal outcome. At last year's Committee of Supply, I remember hearing of plans by MinLaw to enhance the Community Dispute Resolution Framework. There were plans for stronger laws, including mandating mediation and also to improve the CDRT process to give faster and more effective relief and piloting a team of dedicated personnel to facilitate dispute resolution. I invite the Minister to share an update with this House on the enhancements that will be made to better facilitate the resolution of community disputes.”
“Mr Chairman, many of us in this House will agree that one of the most challenging disputes to resolve in our work on the ground are those that involve neighbours within the community. In a land scarce Singapore, whether in the public or private estates, we mostly live in homes within a close community setting. This has fostered strong relationships between neighbours and in the wider community. It has also strengthened our social compact, as neighbours of different races, cultures and religions live side by side in harmony. I remember growing up in the corridors of our Joo Seng Estate in Potong Pasir. I had many fond and fun memories of my childhood in Joo Seng. But I am not sure if my neighbours at that time felt the same way about me. However, once in a while, because of the close proximity that we live with one another, disputes between neighbours arise. In my experience, most of these disputes relate to noise. It could be noise between homes, or noise in the community during quiet hours. These are disputes that are notoriously difficult to resolve. Currently, we often ask our grassroots volunteers to step in and try and mediate between parties. Sometimes, if the community can resolve its own disputes, the outcomes are often the most favourable. If all else fails, then referral to a trained mediator at the CMC or, for more serious cases, to CDRT. Over the years, one of the feedback that we have received from residents is that mediation or the CDRT is laborious and time-consuming. Outcomes often lack finality and does not effectively resolve the dispute.”
“We must therefore surely expect the same from reputable social media platforms, given the fact that they are profiting from these fraudulent advertisements placed on their platforms. A simple extrapolation – the more successful scam ads are on social media platforms, scammers will place more of such ads – leading to increased advertising revenue for the platforms. This surely cannot be right. In such cases, we should look into ways to hold such social media platforms accountable for such scam ads when Singaporeans fall prey to them. Overall Madam, I am sure that all of us hear many anecdotal stories from residents who seek our assistance when they are scammed. Scams have evolved rapidly. When a line of attack is foiled, one or two others seemed to emerge. This is alarming. The threat of scams and the harm it brings to those scammed is insidious and significant. I hope that the Government will take steps to augment the powers of the Police, by legislation or otherwise, work with the private-sector partners, such as our financial institutions, social media platforms and other stakeholders, in the process to combat scams and protect the community. In the premise, I invite the Minister to share with this House, the steps that the Government is taking to address the threat of scams in the community: whether the Ministry has plans to strengthen legislation to combat scams; and importantly, the efforts that are made to educate and keep the public informed of the latest developments so that Singaporeans can take the necessary precautions against scams? Combat Scams Effectively in the Digital Age”
“Mdm Chairperson, I had raised the issue on scams at last year's Committee of Supply. At that time, the statistics released by the Police on scams in 2022 produced worrying numbers. The headline numbers for 2022 were 33,669 scams and cybercrime cases and $660.7 million lost. In the recently released statistics by the Police for 2023, the total amount of loss deceased slightly by 1.3% to $651.8 million but the number of scam cases increased significantly by 49.6% to 50,376. Madam, we understand that one of the reasons for the decrease in the amount lost is due in part to the good work that our agencies have put in – working with private sector stakeholders to stop or mitigate losses during ongoing scams. This is a positive development. However, the increase in the number of scams overall is surely a deeply worrying statistic. Based on the numbers – while each scam victim may have lost less than in previous years, there has been a significant increase in the number of Singaporeans falling for scams. This means that more and more Singaporeans are falling for scams in one way or another. One of the items in the Police Report that caught my attention was the Police's concern about the sharp increase in the number of scams that are perpetuated through social media and messaging platforms. I understand that part of this trend includes fraudulent advertisements that are placed on social media platforms. I am concerned with this trend. As consumers, we place a certain level of trust on paid advertisements that are circulated by reputable organisations. The written media is one example. We certainly do not expect to encounter advertisements in the Straits Times, Zaobao, Berita Harian or the Tamil Murasu to be fraudulent or phishing advertisements.”
“Sir, I have got that video in my phone, but never mind that. It is not like that. I read a speech recently. In 1977, then-Foreign Minister, Mr S Rajaratnam, said about pawning our assets. When I had that debate with Assoc Prof Lim, I hesitated using the word "pawning". I think I used the word "mortgage". But since Mr Rajaratnam used it in 1977, I think I can use it. What he said was interest rates are low, go and pawn your assets and go and reinvest. I said then, he was in a stage of euphoria. He is assuming that tomorrow will always be better than today. If we had used that approach, Singaporeans may be waking up thinking that today will be bleaker than yesterday and tomorrow darker than today. That is the point I am making.”
“Sir, I also do not want to prolong this, but as I said, if there can be a surplus of $40 billion over X number of years, sure, everybody is happy to top it up. But on another point, I heard the hon Member Assoc Prof Jamus Lim as he spoke just now. Not too long ago, he was talking in this House about pawning your assets and borrowing when interest rates were very low. Had we followed that advice, we would be in trouble today, because subsequently, interest rates rose. So, let us be very careful and let us be very conservative in our fiscal policies.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, three weeks ago when I stood here, I stated that the days of large fiscal surpluses are over. And Deputy Prime Minister also just mentioned that point. I think, surely, if we can get a $40 billion surplus over the next X number of years, sure, it is a happy problem, but teach me how you are going to do that.”
“Thank you, Sir. I thank the Leader of Opposition for his patience, but I think this is too important a matter to just let it go. I did a quick check. The last time we topped up our reserves after we drew them was in 2009, $4 billion after the Global Financial Crisis, and the economy recovered very fast, and as a result, the Government was able to top it up. In COVID-19, it was more than $40 billion. I know the Leader of the Opposition said he is not in Government, and I also said some months ago, we cannot assume it is a PAP Government forever. I hope it is forever, but we cannot assume. So, I think, just for the next five minutes, can the WP teach me, assuming that you are in Government now, how do you top up $40 billion?”
“Thank you, Sir. So, is the Leader of the Opposition suggesting that the Government has to top-up the Reserve it drew during COVID-19 because that will be a massive amount and how are we going to fund it then?”
“Thank you, sir. Deputy Prime Minister Wong mentioned just now that our NIRC, as a contribution to our GDP, is going to probably remain constant over the years. I agree with him. Three weeks ago, when I spoke in Parliament, I had said that I wish that within 10 years, our corporate income tax collections will outstrip our NIRC. But within a month, I am pleasantly surprised that it has already happened because our corporate income tax collection for this year is budgeted at $28 billion; NIRC is $23 billion – 20% more. I would like to ask Deputy Prime Minister whether we expect this trend to continue. Sir, I have a clarification for the Leader of the Opposition too. He mentioned that the current People's Action Party Government does not return Reserves to its people, whereas the past PAP Government does so. I do not understand him because, are not returns from NIRC a way of returning money to the people – unless he is talking about a drawdown on Reserves?”
“I do not know if everyone has heard of an old saying, "Every difficulty can be overcome." In our journey, in a country's journey, there are certainly many difficult stages, but as long as fellow Singaporeans unite, work hard and have a common goal, we will definitely overcome every difficulty. 6.07 pm”
“(In Mandarin): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] Mr Leong and Ms Poa suggested in their Motion that the amount of our Reserves should be made public. I do not understand why they want to do this. If we were to make it public, what would be the objective? Does anyone want to know the amount of our Reserves? Of course! Many people do, including hedge funds, because many funds are interested in our stock market and the Singapore dollar and may want to attack us. Even if I were to tell you, what purpose would it serve? If I were to tell you, it might satisfy your curiosity. But satisfying your curiosity is momentary, just like watching fireworks – once the fireworks are over, it is over. But the consequences could be very serious, unimaginable. Because we are a small country, we do not want anyone to know where our bottom line is, because if others know your bottom line, they will know how to attack you. Therefore, we want to lead our fellow Singaporeans on the path of sunlight and not allow those hedge funds to develop any ill intentions towards our industries. Because that is entering into darkness; and this darkness is not the darkness before dawn, because the darkness before dawn is also momentary, a fleeting moment, as the sun is about to rise. This kind of darkness is long, painful, because it is like the darkness after dusk, very long and in the deep night, you can hardly see anything. So, I will say it again, we want to walk on the path of sunlight, and the Government will lead us. Another point. Just now, some Opposition Members mentioned the rise in the cost of living. I understand inflation is a big issue. Because of this, the Government has introduced a series of programs.”
“You have to save for your living and you have to have the right government to give you the guidance. That is the spirit of our people. United we stand, divided we fall. The objective of all of us in this House, every man, every woman, every child standing with us, is that we must provide as good a life for our fellow Singaporeans for as long as it is possible. I think both Mr Leong and Ms Poa also mentioned about the Affordability Housing Scheme. Basically, they are saying that we should give more subsidies and make the flats cheaper. They had spoken about it previously. Let me share with Members what is happening on the ground in Potong Pasir. I took a walk in Potong Pasir last weekend, particularly in Bidadari which comes under the Potong Pasir estate, and there were some who came up to me and said, "Mr Sitoh, we are very irritated and annoyed." And I asked them, "Why, what happened?" And they said, "We are the first batch of Bidadari flats and our minimum occupation period (MOP) is coming out in a matter of months this year, and we have property agents, unsolicited, knocking on our doors, telling us to sell our flats because they can give us a price that is way above what we bought them for." I would not mention the price because I do not want to influence market forces. So, I asked them, "What do you want to do?" They said, "No, we are not selling. Of course, we are not selling. This is a good environment to live in." But my point is – why are all these property agents knocking on the doors of these residents? Because they know the intrinsic value of these flats is significantly higher than what HDB had sold them for. And you are saying that it should even be cheaper? I am not sure. Sir, please allow me to move on to my Mandarin speech.”
“To me, NIRC is like passive income. We have it because our 1G, 2G and 3G leaders left it for us. As much as we have capable, intelligent people earning the money, to me, it is very akin to passive income and if your passive income is 20% of your total revenue, it is not small, you know. So, if I have an aim for Singapore, I do not know if it is too much to ask, I think it is too much to ask for the budget to be announced next week; but maybe, by the end of this decade, our corporate income tax revenue can exceed NIR. I think it must. Well, that is my ask. Which is also why I was very happy when I read last week in the newspapers that our corporate income tax revenue for the first nine months is about $23.9 billion, comparable to what we have budgeted for the entire year for corporate income tax revenue. Which means to say that for this year we can be certain that corporate income tax revenue will outstrip NIRC and that is a good thing. And I do not know if it is in time – but I hope the Government can give part of this back to the people when they announce the Budget next week. I am particularly excited about the Majulah Package which the Prime Minister has announced during National Day Rally – and I am sure all of us in the House look forward to that, people age 50 years and above, people like me. Sir, I like to respond to some of the points that have been raised. Mr Leong Mun Wai, at the beginning of his speech, mentioned that our Reserves are not from natural resources. They are from the blood and sweat of Singaporeans. My response is, but, of course, as a young man, I have come to realise that being a Singaporean means the easy things in life would never come to look for you. You have to work for your living.”
“But more importantly, both philosophically and mathematically, it means that the present generation takes half the returns from the reserves that the previous generations of Singaporeans have left to the present generation and, in turn, the present generation leaves half of what the past has given them to future generations. In other words, we are saying that the government of the day values the current generation as much as it values future generations of Singaporeans. It is also, I believe, a very Asian way of doing things. We believe that we should leave something for our future generations in the hope that they will have a better life than us and they have something to rely on, especially on a rainy day. This is opposed to many countries where older citizens enjoy the welfare benefits funded by younger citizens' taxes. This is commonly known as the inter-generational transfer of liabilities and has led to friction among communities elsewhere. Instead, in Singapore, under the PAP Government, we have the opposite. We have inter-generational transfer of assets and I would suggest let us keep it that way. Sir, I would like to touch on another point but, before I do that, I have to state that my position is that I agree that we should have 50-50 as far as the NIRC is concerned. But I may be opening a pandora's box as I make my next comment. Sir, if we are to review the Budget of 2023, operating revenue was about $96 billion, NIRC was about $24 billion, same as corporate income tax, giving a total revenue of about $120 billion. So, what it means that if I take NIRC as a percentage of total Government revenue, it is 20%. From a risk management point of view, having 20% coming from what I ‒ my personal view ‒ feel is a passive sort of income, is not low.”
“Hong Kong has relied on land sales significantly to balance the Budget. But that is also why once the property market turns anaemic, the government is strapped for cash. In Singapore, the Government of the day can only use the tax revenue, such as stamp duties and taxes from land sales, to fund its operations. The price paid for the land goes into the Reserves. I think this is good discipline. Sir, at this juncture, I would like to respond to what Ms Hazel Poa commented on just now. She is saying that, for discussion purposes, if the land is sold for 100 years and for $100 million, then, every year, you take out $1 million and let the Government spend it. I think that is what she meant. It cannot work. Let me tell you why it cannot work. Because if you take out $1 million from Year One and let it be spent for the people, that $99 million is locked in there. What am are we supposed to do? You want us to invest it? Because investments can turn sour, as I have said just now, return of capital and return on capital. So, in other words, she is saying that every year, we put $1 million back to the people. It cannot work. But if I put this $100 million back into the Government Reserves, I think our smart people at GIC, Temasek or MAS, maybe, can generate a return of 2% or 3% and it is more money for our people. That is the point I want to respond to. Sir, the third avenue that we can generate reserves is the returns from our investments mainly through GIC, MAS and Temasek. We have decided on a 50-50 formula which, for now, it is good. Only up to 50% of the NIRC can be used by the Government. This means that the current generation enjoys half of the returns while the other half goes back into the Reserves for future generations. This is no rocket science.”
“But it would be foolish for us to reveal the exact size of our Reserves, just as no country reveals the exact amount of military assets it has. It can be spent down rather quickly. And then, someone might think of attacking the Singapore dollar. Do not ever think that we are forever immune. If George Soros can bring the once mighty Sterling Pound to its knees – I think it was in 1992 – the Singapore dollar can be brought down, too, if we are not careful. Sir, another point is that I fear that the years of large budgetary surpluses may be over for Singapore, simply because the demographics do not allow it. In Singapore, the old age support ratio is defined as the number of people aged 20 to 64 to the number of people aged 65 and older. In 1990, this ratio in Singapore was 10.5. In other words, there were 10.5 persons supporting one elderly. In 2023, the ratio has dropped to 3.7. As a general rule, working-age adults generally consume more and contribute more to Government revenue, while the elderly pay little or no taxes but consume more Government revenue, which is also why we have to raise the GST to widen the tax base and so that we can balance the books. Places, like Malaysia and Hong Kong, which do not have a GST, are finding it increasingly difficult to balance their books. And if you cannot balance your books, you do not talk about savings for future generations. So, the bottom line, going forward, is that huge budget surpluses will be a thing of the past, given the realities of our demographics. The next point I would like to talk about is land sales. I think we are very fortunate that our PAP founding fathers were wise to ensure that land sales do not fund the Government's day-to-day operations. It is very tempting to do so.”
“The lesson here is that things can turn sharply and for the worse in a world full of uncertainty and it is still better to plan and budget conservatively. Sir, I have observed, in the course of today's debate, I think the Members of the Opposition have made one very wrong assumption. They have assumed, when they talked about NIRC, that there will always be a return on capital, that whatever you invest will always give you a return. In uncertain times, such as this, this is not necessarily true because, from time to time, you can make the wrong call and your investments can be zero. But, of course, we are fortunate that we have our capable people at Temasek, GIC and MAS. From time to time, they can get it wrong, but we cannot always assume that your capital is intact. So, think about it. Do not just talk about return on capital. Talk about return of capital because you cannot assume that will always happen. Sir, the next issue I want to talk about is how we accumulate surpluses. In truth, there are only three ways to accumulate significant surpluses in Singapore. One, through budgetary surpluses because we spend much less than we collect, in terms of taxes and fees every year. Two, land sales, which Mr Leong Mun Wai and Ms Hazel Poa have spoken about. Three, by not spending all the returns from our investments which we have made with our reserves. There is a fourth way, which is through the sale of resources. But since we do not have stuffs, like oil or metal ores, in our 734 square kilometres of ground, this route is out. Sir, the size of our Reserves is not small. There is no hiding that. It is adequate as a deterrent so that no one today will ever think of attacking the Singapore dollar.”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, I would like to start by quoting Mr Lee Kuan Yew. Actually, I kept this quote in my phone for a very long time and I thought, some day, I will need to use it, and I think it may be appropriate for me to use it today. Sir, in September 2011, Mr Lee Kuan Yew said, and I quote, "I hope the Prime Minister and his Cabinet ensure that Singapore veers on the side of prudence and balance the Budget and not raid on its Reserves, which have been protected by a separately elected President. Otherwise, you have the Opposition saying, 'If you vote for me, I will give you all these things.' Where will the money come from? Not from taxes but our Reserves." Sir, I think Mr Lee is prescient. He said this 13 years ago and I think this is exactly what is happening today as we debate this Motion. Sir, there are two issues that the hon Members Mr Leong Mun Wai and Ms Hazel Poa have raised in their Motion. One is how we accumulate Reserves; and two, how we plan Budgets. They also acknowledge that we must save for future generations. That is a start. Let us start by talking about Budgets. Budgets are really a hit-and-miss affair, and one cannot be very accurate. Let us take Hong Kong, for example. They have the same financial year as Singapore. It runs from April to March. For the period April 2023 to March 2024, they announced in February 2023 a predicted Budget deficit of HK$54.4 billion. However, it was announced recently that in the first eight months of their financial year, the government had accumulated a deficit of HK$164 billion, three times the predicted deficit and there are another four more months to go.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, if I misheard the hon Member Mr Leong Mun Wai, then I apologise to him. The Member did not specifically talk about a drawdown, but I think he did allude that our reserves are quite strong. And when I hear you say that, I began to shiver and shudder.”
“Thank you for the clarification, Ms Sylvia Lim. The Member said something about tiered pricing. Yes, I heard her. But I think when the Government issues the U-Save rebates, they would have achieved the same objective. As to the Member's second point about pricing relating to time of use, honestly, even though I did not say it just now, I think it is a good idea to consider.”