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 [(proc text) Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.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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“Thank you, Mr Chairman. I would like to thank Minister Edwin Tong, his entire MCCY team, as well as all the Members who have spoken. With that, Sir, I beg leave to withdraw my amendment.”
“From traditional favourites, such as chicken rice, nasi lemak or mee goreng, to new fusion options, such as chicken chop laksa spaghetti or smoked salmon and lala congee, our hawker food culture has evolved and grown into something that is distinctly Singaporean. And we should all be very proud of it. I, therefore, invite the Minister to share MCCY's plans to further safeguard and celebrate our shared heritage and how we can continue to engage the community to sustain interest in, and deepen our appreciation for our cultural heritage. Support Local Arts and Culture”
“I, therefore, invite the Minister to share with this House an update on the progress of the plans, whether MCCY is of the view that both plans managed to succeed in what they had set out to achieve and an elaboration, if any, on the development of the next five-year plans for these sectors. Madam, I would also like to add that we must recognise that we have many talented artists and cultural practitioners in Singapore who can make important contributions to the future economy of Singapore. It is, therefore, important as we look ahead that the Government considers the development of the culture and creative economy. One way that we can do so is to enable our cultural organisations and practitioners to capture new opportunities, such as those in adjacent sectors within the creative economy and those brought about by digital technology. Seen in these perspectives, I invite the Minister to share MCCY's strategies to bring our arts and culture to new and further heights in the future. Safeguarding Singapore's Heritage Our heritage plays an important role in understanding who we are as a nation. It represents a part of our shared history. As a multiracial and multicultural society, it is pivotal that we preserve and promote our heritage, as it is a core ingredient in building our national identity and sense of belonging as a people. We must, therefore, always remain committed to safeguarding our heritage for future generations of Singaporeans. One example is the successful inscription of our Hawker Culture on UNESCO's Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) of Humanity. Hawker culture is part and parcel of the everyday life of Singaporeans. It is a place where we come together to enjoy a meal together.”
“The Cultural Matching Fund Having adequate funding is a key component for any project or programme to achieve the goals set. The arts, culture and heritage sectors are no different. Beyond Government funding, the private and people sectors are key partners of the arts and culture community. Philanthropy has, traditionally, been an important source of funding for the arts groups and practitioners. The Cultural Matching Fund (CMF) supports the endeavour to attract private cash donations as it provides dollar-for-dollar matching grants to registered charities in the arts, culture and heritage sectors. Over the years, this has boosted private sector giving significantly and is also well-received by arts groups. I note that MCCY had shared at the Comittee of Supply 2021 that a review of the CMF would be conducted, with a view towards an additional top-up of the fund. This top-up was announced by Finance Minister Lawrence Wong in his Budget 2022 Statement. I, therefore, invite the Minister to provide an update on the outcome of the review and to share with us MCCY's strategies to ensure a sustainable arts, culture and heritage ecosystem where Singaporeans can contribute and play a part in. Charting Course for Arts and Culture The National Arts Council (NAC) and the National Heritage Board (NHB) had previously launched the SG Arts and Heritage Plans which identified the priorities for Singapore's arts and heritage development for 2018 to 2022. Both Plans set out bold visions to champion and cultivate the appreciation and development of the arts and our heritage. We are now at the tail end of both plans. I understand that NAC and NHB have started engagements for the next iterations of both plans.”
“Mdm Chairman, in every country, arts and heritage play a pivotal role in connecting communities and instilling pride and optimism towards the future. It is an essential part of nation building. We are very proud of how far our artists and cultural institutions have come over the years. We must, therefore, ensure that we do our utmost in continuing to support them in the best way possible. The COVID-19 pandemic, as we know, put the hard brakes on the positive development in the arts. The cancellation of productions, the drastic drop in tourist numbers and reduced audience size severely affected the arts sector. MCCY has been cognisant of this and, in an effort to uplift the sector through the pandemic, introduced the Arts and Culture Resilience Package (ACRP) to protect livelihoods and build capabilities. The ACRP was enhanced with $20 million in March 2021, bringing it to a total of $75 million over two years. At the Committee of Supply last year, MCCY had shared that the first tranche of the ACRP created over 13,000 work and training opportunities, of which, 5,000 were for self-employed practitioners. It also supported over 1,400 digitalisation projects. I, therefore, invite the Minister to share with this House an update on the impact of the ACRP and the support provided to cultural organisations and self-employed persons. Given that we are in a much better position now to resume more and more arts and culture activities progressively in line with what the national health situation allows, I also invite the Minister to share MCCY's strategies to revitalise the arts sector as we move forward into the new normal, so as to ensure that our arts groups and practitioners are well-positioned to thrive in the years ahead.”
“I, therefore, invite the Minister to share MCCY's strategies to ensure that Singapore remains a caring and inclusive society where we care for one another, where everyone's voices are heard and where our shared beliefs unite and drive us as a nation in the years to come. [(proc text) Question proposed. (proc text)]”
“Sir, I do believe, however, that the current discourse over race and religion as well as foreigners and jobs, can be useful if discussed in a constructive and respectful manner. It can also prompt a deeper reflection about our values and what it means to be Singaporean. We must, however, exercise ample deliberation in managing the discourse. We must remember that we did not build the social compact we have where we enjoy racial and religious harmony overnight and it, certainly, did not happen by chance. It took generations of effort, understanding, compromise and reaching out to grow the common spaces we share in order to attain what we have. It is a precious commodity that we must not freely give up. Sir, as we move towards the future, we can expect these issues to continue to be discussed. In the TODAY Youth Survey published in November last year, it is clear that our youths are progressively seized with and are inclined to speak their minds on issues such as race and religion. Our demographic is also slowly moving in a different direction. Over the past 10 years, approximately one in five marriages has been between couples with different ethnicity and/or race. With this trend, it will mean that there will be a whole segment of the next generation of Singaporeans born of these marriages who will also join in the discussions of race and religion but from a wholly different perspective. We are, therefore, likely to grow into a more diverse society in the future. And while that will mean that more voices will need to be heard, it will, hopefully, make us a more robust, culturally richer and enduring society.”
“Mr Chairman, I beg to move, "That the total sum allocated for Head X of the Estimates be reduced by $100." Sir, MCCY shoulders the heavy responsibility of safeguarding the social compact that we have assiduously built in Singapore over the years – the unwavering belief and determination to work together to build towards a collective future regardless of race, language, culture or religion. This social compact among Singaporeans forms the bedrock that has enabled us to overcome many challenges faced in nation-building over the years. Our unity and strength in diversity is a unique part of our social fabric that is vital to the survival and progress of Singapore. Recently, the COVID-19 pandemic crisis brought out the very best of our Singapore community. We have seen the bravery and sacrifices of our frontline teams and heard of anecdotal stories of neighbours and friends within communities caring for and reaching out to one another in these challenging times. But, Sir, on the other hand, as a result of the pandemic, we have also observed the polarisation of some societies along the lines of socio-economic status, race and nationality. Despite our strong social compact, Singapore has not been spared. We have seen racist incidents, vocal discussions on the treatment of low-wage workers and attitudes towards foreigners. Some of the incidents gained widespread publicity, amplified through social media and other online platforms. Such issues are highly emotive in nature and can easily serve to divide us, if not carefully managed. It is a timely reminder that we cannot take social harmony in Singapore for granted.”
“Mr Chairman, I start by congratulating the PUB for being successful in closing the "water loop" through integrated water management, by collecting as much water as we can and reusing water where possible. PUB had previously announced that the Deep Tunnel Sewerage System Phase Two is to be extended by 2025 to serve the western part of Singapore. This is an important project that will go towards safeguarding Singapore’s strategic interest in water. As a result of the pandemic situation, we know that many infrastructural projects have been affected due to manpower shortage and supply chain disruptions. I, therefore, invite the Minister to share with this House, whether the PUB is on track to complete the Deep Tunnel Sewerage System Phase Two and an update on the progress of the project in the light of the present circumstances. Water Technologies and Conservation”
“Mr Chairman, disputes are often an unpleasant but inevitable by-product of our personal and work life interactions and also in the course of doing business. If unresolved, some of these disputes end up in litigation before the civil Courts or for resolution before Tribunals. To those of us who have had the unfortunate need to go through litigation or dispute resolution, we know that it is not only resource intensive but also likely to be a frustrating and trying experience. Sir, I had shared my views with this House previously on promoting the greater use of mediation as a platform to resolve civil disputes and I am very pleased to see the various steps taken by the Government to push for the use of mediation as a key platform to resolve civil disputes amicably. But on the other hand, even if one navigates successfully through the process and obtains a favourable judgment or order, it does not mean that the problem or the dispute is resolved instantly. If, for whatever reason, a party does not comply with the judgment or order, the other party will then have no choice but to take steps to enforce it. The enforcement process is equally, if not more, painful. It requires investing further time and resources and this could sometimes be to the detriment of the successful party. I was therefore quite pleased when Second Minister for Law Edwin Tong had, at a previous Committee of Supply debate, alluded to the Government’s plan to study measures to streamline and simplify the enforcement of civil judgments and orders. In the premises, I invite the Minister to share an update with this House of the Government’s study and whether there are plans to push ahead with any recommendations to reform the legal process in the area of enforcement. Enforcement of Civil Judgment”
“Mdm Chairman, we have all heard stories of errant debt collectors who use every tactic imaginable to collect from those who have loaned monies but may have fallen into arrears for various reasons. Cases which involve individuals from whom debt collectors approach in their residential homes are especially troubling. Oftentimes, in such cases, the debt collectors not only harass the debtors and their families, but also cause disamenities in the neighbourhood. Families with seniors or young children are rightly concerned that such actions taken by debt collectors may inadvertently and potentially cause harm to them and other families living in the vicinity, even if they are not the ones in debt. Further, as we know, over the past two years, the pandemic has caused job insecurities for Singaporeans in many industries affected by the pandemic and measures taken to protect public health. This could have caused some families to fall into financial hardship or exacerbate debt-related difficulties. I, therefore, invite the Minister to share with this House whether the Government has any plans to address this issue and, if so, how do they intend to do so. Prevent "Money Mules"”
“Mdm Chairperson, before COVID-19 severely affected air travel around the world, Changi Airport handled about 68 million passengers in 2019. I note with interest, the recent announcement by ICA that, from next year, all travellers will be able to use the automated immigration clearance lanes, previously reserved for Singaporeans and PRs, upon arrival in Singapore. Madam, overall, I believe this to be a positive step taken by ICA, given that the advance in technology now allows us to permit all travellers to clear immigration without the need for physically manned checkpoints. This should reduce immigration clearance time for foreigners entering Singapore while reducing the manpower strain on ICA. I do hope, however, that such a move, does not result in the unintended consequence of increasing the immigration clearance time for Singaporeans. Further, to me, returning to Singapore from overseas is one of the warmest feelings a Singaporean can experience. Be it returning from work, study or simply a holiday, landing at and stepping into Changi Airport is about coming home, a place we belong. Having a seamless entry back into one’s own country is therefore, a privilege that returning citizens enjoy. In the premise, I invite the Minister to share with this House whether the move taken by ICA will affect immigration clearance time for Singaporeans and whether a dedicated lane or two can still be reserved for the exclusive use of Singaporeans. Technology in Rehabilitation”
“My sincere hope is that successes such as those of Pin Xiu and Joseph and the many athletes that have come before them, can inspire a whole new generation of Singaporean athletes to pursue their sporting aspirations. We, as Members of this House and the Government, must certainly try our very best to support this endeavour. My heartiest congratulations once again to all our Olympic and Paralympic athletes for their best efforts in representing Singapore. We are all so very proud of you. [Applause.]”
“Examples include funding from SportsSG, the One Team Singapore Fund, spexScholarship and also spexBusiness which tap on private sector support. I am also aware, for instance, that Deloitte has its own specially-curated programme, "Deloitte Ignite" which offers internship and employment opportunities for elite athletes, current and retired. These existing programmes have certainly assisted our athletes over the years but, Sir, I think we can do more. We can invite senior executives from the private sector to sit in a committee, together with MCCY, to look at how we can better support our athletes holistically. Working closely with the private sector, we will be able to access a wider range of resources and utilise these resources flexibly to benefit a wider spectrum of athletes in more sporting disciplines. We will also be able to better tailor the support given to each athlete as requirements may differ from athlete to athlete and from sport to sport. Separately, a perennial worry for elite athletes is their livelihoods after their sporting careers are over. The spexBusiness network has done well in this area for many of our athletes but such a committee can look to leveraging the existing network to do even more. Japan, for example, has a culture of "corporate athletes", where Japanese corporations have sometimes hired elite athletes as full-time employees with a flexible work-training schedule that is tailored to meet the athlete concerned. While we may not be able to adopt a similar model, the committee can look at other innovative arrangements, suited to our local context, for our Singapore athletes.”
“Mr Speaker, I rise in full support of the Motion. I believe that I speak for all Members of this House when I say that we are extremely proud of all our athletes who represented and continue to represent Singapore, be it at the Olympics, Paralympics or any other sporting event. We have seen for ourselves how sports have the capacity to rally a nation and inspire generations. Sports, therefore, play a crucial and important role in forging a strong Singapore spirit. Sportsmen and sportswomen also serve as good role models for our youths, with their passion, perseverance, drive and values in sportsmanship. Athletes like Yip Pin Xiu and Joseph Schooling are good examples. But as we celebrate and recognise the successes of our athletes, we should also cast our minds towards the equally important task of improving the support system for all our committed elite athletes who are striving hard every day in their respective sporting disciplines regardless of the eventual outcomes in competitions. If we succeed in establishing a strong, multifaceted support system for our athletes, a strong national sporting culture can evolve where our athletes can train and aspire to be the best that they can be, while having the peace of mind that they have the financial support during and institutional support after their sporting careers. In order to achieve this, the Government can consider working further with the private sector by creating an official platform and invite like-minded private sector organisations to come on board to spearhead these efforts. At the moment, we do have various existing programmes by the Government and the private sector in support of the sporting community.”
“Thank you, Mr Speaker. Sir, the Leader of the Opposition, the hon Mr Pritam Singh has mentioned CMIO quite a number of times in his speech. In the light of this, can I ask our MCCY Minister, Mr Edwin Tong, to share with us the relevance of CMIO today.”
“Mr Chairman, I thank all Members for their COS cuts. I also like to thank the MCCY team for their great effort and responses. With that, Mr Chairman, I beg leave to withdraw my amendment. [(proc text) Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. (proc text)] [(proc text) The sum of $1,913,946,600 for Head X ordered to stand part of the Main Estimates. (proc text)] [(proc text) The sum of $358,270,500 for Head X ordered to stand part of the Development Estimates. (proc text)]”
“Thank you, Mr Chairman. Just to pick up on the point by hon Member Ms Sylvia Lim. I took a walk down to 45 Armenian Street yesterday just to understand the situation better. I noticed that 45 Armenian Street is located in the heart of the city and actually surrounding it are many arts groups, such as School of the Arts, LASALLE College of the Arts, NAFA and SMU is just next door. In my mind, our friends in the arts fraternity, are a group of people who possess the unique ability to turn black and white, into a rainbow of colours. So, in that context, I would like to ask Minister Edwin Tong, what is the strategy and philosophy to support our arts group and in the context of 45 Armenian Street, after the renovations, would more arts groups be able to benefit from the use of that space?”
“These films captured the details of our daily lives and our emotional pulse. It is this charm that has contributed to the many opportunities for cultural cooperation and exchanges between Singapore and other Chinese-speaking communities, and it is precisely because these films have showcased Singapore's unique multiracial, multi-religious society that audiences in other Chinese-speaking communities were attracted to Singapore. This allows us to be more proactive in cultural exchanges between Singapore and other countries in a creative and contemporary manner. The growth and spread of Mandopop and films can bring potential economic benefits to Singapore and play a crucial role in building up the country's image and widening its influence among the international Chinese community. Through this sharing, I hope to take this opportunity to urge the Government – while dealing with challenges brought about by COVID-19 on the economic livelihood and social front, spare some thought on investing more in the development of arts and culture, especially the Chinese arts and culture. The Government can introduce more effective incentives to support our young aspiring arts practitioners to create and voice their views. As the country moves forward, we can document our past from their perspectives, and embrace the future with a stronger sense of identity and existence. Let us seize the opportunities, strengthen cooperation and work together for a better future. Helping Arts and Culture Go Digital”
“Mr Chairman, in Mandarin. (In Mandarin): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] Today, I would like to speak on how we can leverage the Chinese media to build up our national image and showcase our soft power so as to promote cultural exchanges. In the 1980s, Singapore developed into an economically prosperous, politically stable and low-unemployment Asian country. It was then that our cultural life began to flourish. In the 1980s, xinyao became popular in the various university campuses in Singapore, unleashing a wave of musical creation. Memories of a generation, changes in the country and society, the living feelings and spiritual outlook of that era were recorded in the form of xinyao. Emotional interactions were elevated, captured and widely shared through xinyao. With the spread of xinyao into other Chinese-speaking societies, Singapore's image gained prominence among other Chinese communities. Well-known singers such as Stefanie Sun and JJ Lin did not become famous and popular overnight in the Chinese-speaking community. Rather, they became the face of Singapore due to the solid foundation laid down by their predecessors, enabling Singapore to connect with other Chinese-speaking societies through Mandopop. Besides xinyao, there have been many film and television productions in Singapore in recent years too. Jack Neo, a talented local director, has made great contributions to the local Chinese film and television scene since the 1990s. His film series "I Not Stupid" have become the best-selling movies since independence. In addition, in recent years, young directors born in the 1980s such as Anthony Chen and Yeo Siew Hua have also won many awards such as the Golden Horse Award, winning accolades for Singapore art films.”
“So, in order for Sports to thrive in Singapore, providing a safe and positive environment for our athletes is crucial. This is especially pertinent when it comes to our student athletes, who have invested much of their time and resources to pursue their passion in sports. There have been well-documented reports of athlete abuse across all disciplines in many countries. It must be recognised, however, that much work in this area has been done for sports in Singapore. In 2018, Sport Singapore (SportSG) launched the Safe Sport Commission. There are now well-trained Safeguarding Officers and well-thought through protocols that guide the coaches and trainers and provide adequate checks in the different sporting disciplines. However, more should and can always be done to safeguard our athletes. I, therefore, also invite the Minister to share more of what the Ministry is working towards to ensure that there is a safe and positive environment for our athletes to thrive and safeguard against harassment and abuse in the sports fraternity. [(proc text) Question proposed. (proc text)]”
“My inspiration from sports, in my youth, however, was drawn particularly from football. Now, more a spectator than a player, football was something I enjoyed playing and followed closely in my youth. Part of the reason for that was the local football scene at the time. I was just born when Singapore won the Malaysia Cup in 1964. We also won the trophy when I was a teenager in 1977. I am sure many of us recollect the many exciting Malaysia Cup matches in the early 1990s when the Kallang Roar reverberated the old stadium. V Sundramoorthy’s bicycle kick against Brunei and Fandi Ahmad leading us to Malaysia Cup success in 1994 are memories, I believe, few Singaporeans of my generation will ever forget. My heart, therefore, skipped a beat when I read of FAS’ announcement of its goal to get our national team to qualify for the 2034 World Cup. This is a laudable aspiration. It would be a dream come through for us to qualify and, if we do, it will certainly inspire another entire generation of Singaporeans. But I had mixed feelings about the announcement. We have set the same goal before. The same obstacles remain. We are currently ranked 158th in the world. So, how do we get there? This will be a goal that will require not only the efforts of the FAS or our local football fraternity. I, therefore, invite the Minister to share with us whether the Government has plans to support the FAS in achieving this goal and, in so doing, how do we intend to measure our level of success? Sir, sports, however, is not only about successes or victories. It is also about honoring the concept of level competition and being able to train and compete fairly, on equal terms and, more importantly, in a safe environment.”
“Mr Chairman, I beg to move, "That the total sum to be allocated for Head X of the Estimates be reduced by $100". Mr Chairman, I thought long and hard about what to raise in my very first kick-off speech as Chair of the MCCY GPC. We focused a large part of our post-Independence nation-building years on our infrastructure, growing our economy and securing jobs for the future, and rightly so. But if these issues represent the physical body of our nation, then issues on Culture, Community, Youth & Sports must surely represent our soul, the heartbeat of our social consciousness, and our collective dreams and aspirations as a nation. My takeaway from GE 2020 is a strong desire among Singaporeans, especially our youths, to be actively engaged in wanting to be part of the conversation to shape and mould our future together. And this forms the context of the exciting and inspiring work that lies ahead for the MCCY team as we start this term of Government. Sir, for me, I would like to speak on two such issues which shaped my growing up years in Singapore. My parents were Chinese language teachers. And while they embraced the English language as the official and working language in Singapore, my brothers and I were inculcated to always remember our cultural roots. But what fascinates me most, as I remember my growing up years, was how we evolved parts of the Chinese culture into what is uniquely Singaporean. I have spoken about this before in Parliament. “新谣” or Chinese ballads produced by young Singaporeans and the local Chinese film productions are good examples. I shall elaborate more on this in another MCCY cut later. Sir, sports is the other topic I wish to speak on. Sports can inspire and unite a nation regardless of the diversity of its people.”
“Mr Chairman, the COVID-19 pandemic has led us to re-think the way we disseminate information, especially in Government communications. There is a need to ensure that all Singaporeans receive timely and accurate information that is relatable and capable of being understood by everyone with diverse needs. As we tap on digital means to communicate, how does the Government ensure that it does take into account different needs such as age groups, language barriers or level of digital literacy? Conversely, it is important that the same digital channels are also accessible to receive valuable ground feedback on Government policies. The two-way channel between the Government and Singaporeans has always been the cornerstone of our policy making and needs to be preserved even as we transform our Government communications. I, therefore, invite the Minister to share with this House the Ministry’s plans on the transformation of Government communications to reach all groups with diverse needs. Engaging Groups with Diverse Needs”
“Mr Chairman, I remember in my younger days exchanging letters with pen pals – yes, pen pals – pasting a stamp on the envelope and physically posting them. Today, e-mails, e-invoices and many other electronic modes of communication have proliferated in the digital age, with letter mail in a steep decline. On the other hand, the advent of e-commerce has led to growing numbers of parcel and small packet deliveries. This has added a different logistical demand on our postal sector. I expect both trends to intensify in the coming years. I understand that e-commerce volume is expected to grow between 12% to 20% annually for the next five years. We have seen this trend accelerate in 2020 given the COVID-19 restrictions in place. I therefore invite the Minister to share with this House the Ministry’s plans to transform Singapore’s postal sector to meet changing consumer needs. Digital and Postal Transformation”
“Mr Chairman, SMEs provide employment to about 70% of our workforce and contribute almost 50% of Singapore's GDP. The digitisation of SME's business processes and the growing trend in e-commerce are two potential areas where SMEs can tap on in order to increase efficiency as well as to grow their businesses. We have also seen, in the past year, under the backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic, that digital transformation has become an imperative step that some SMEs have to urgently take. I therefore invite the Minister to share with this House the Ministry's plans to support and speed up the efforts of SMEs in the digital transformation of their businesses. SME Digitisation”
“There are also many reputable international organisations and institutions such as the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA), World Intellectual Property Organization Arbitration and Mediation Center (WIPO AMC) and the International Centre for Dispute Resolution-American Arbitration Association (ICDR-AAA), which have set up offices in Singapore. These organisations and institutions will go a long way to complement our position as a dispute resolution hub. Through this journey, sir, we have also developed world-class infrastructure to facilitate conducting dispute resolution in Singapore. Maxwell Chambers, launched in 2010, expanded to the adjacent Maxwell Chambers Suites in 2019, has tripled in size and now houses international dispute resolution institutions and practices with state-of-the-art hearing facilities. It therefore appears that Singapore is well placed to capitalise on these developments and resources. However, as this House is aware, the current COVID-19 pandemic has forced many countries around the world to impose strict travel restrictions. This could potentially derail Singapore's efforts in positioning itself as a leading international dispute resolution hub. In the premises, I invite the Minister to share with this House the Ministry's larger strategic plans, especially in light of international COVID-19 travel restrictions, so as to continue to promote Singapore as a leading global dispute resolution hub to resolve international cross-border commercial disputes. Hague Service Convention”
“Mr Chairman, I have shared my view with this House on promoting Singapore on an international disputes resolution hub, particularly, in the areas of mediation and arbitration. 7.45 pm I also filed a Parliamentary Question recently and am pleased to note that the Singapore Convention on Mediation, also known as the United Nations Convention on International Settlement Agreements Resulting from Mediation, which entered into force on 12 September 2020, now has 53 signatories, including the world's two largest economies, the United States and China, and other large Asian economies such as India and South Korea. This is a significant milestone. Sir, the Singapore Mediation Centre, SMC, has also performed extremely well over the years. Based on information from its website, the SMC is said to have mediated more than 4,800 matters worth over $10 billion since its launch in 1997. About 70% of SMC mediated cases are settled, with 90% of those cases settled within one day. This shows that mediation is an effective dispute resolution mechanism and, it is with little wonder, that it has grown more popular over time, especially in commercial disputes. It is less contentious and, with an effective and experienced mediator, could even help previously warring parties find a way to collaborate commercially again, post-settlement. This, from a business perspective, is a very attractive proposition. Sir, on the arbitration front, it is extremely heartening to see that the Singapore International Arbitration Centre, SIAC, has expanded its footprint overseas by setting up representative offices in key markets. In 2020, the SIAC opened its first representative office outside of Asia, in New York.”
“I therefore invite the Minister to share with this House further details of the Ministry's plans on: (a) countering growing narratives supporting liberal drug approaches; (b) how to ensure that the NPS threat is kept under control; and (c) how to more effectively engage youths on the dangers of drug abuse.”
“Mr Chairman, the issue of drug abuse among our youths is an issue close to my heart. I have seen the severe damage and detrimental effects that young drug abusers can cause, not only to themselves but, more significantly, to their families and friends. As a community, I believe that we have collectively supported the Government's tough stance against drug abuse over the years. The recent statistics for 2020 released by the Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB), however, remains deeply worrying. Despite the CNB's herculean efforts in preventive drug education and many outreach activities and community engagement events, the proportion of new abusers below the age of 30 years remain at 62% in 2020. This statistic has been remained stubbornly consistent in the past five years: 2019 – 62%; 2018 – 64%; 2017 – 64% and 2016 – 66%. The statistics suggests a need to make even greater efforts to address the issue. The worrying trend in the shift of mindsets towards growing narratives supporting liberal drug approaches further accentuates the problem. For example, will developments such as the recent reclassification of cannabis and cannabis resin under the 1961 Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs potentially change the attitudes of our Singaporean youths, towards the use of cannabis? Careful consideration and firm steps must be taken to ensure that such mindsets do not take root in Singapore. 5.15 pm I have also read the emergence of new psychoactive substances (NPS) which develops new chemicals that replace those that are banned, apparently in efforts to mimic the effects of established drugs. This development will surely add another complex layer to the rapidly evolving landscape of drug abuse, which the Home Team will need address.”
“Okay, and that is why when we issue debt, the international financial world is willing to take it. Thank you, Mr Speaker, Sir, thank you for your indulgence.”
“Thirty seconds. I had a conversation with our retired Member of Parliament Mr Chandra Das not too long ago. I do not think he will mind me mentioning his name. Mr Das worked with Dr Goh Keng Swee in the 1960s and 1970s. So, I asked Mr Das, "During your time, did you go out to borrow?" And he said "Once"; only once but for a different reason. And that was because Dr Goh saw a project, he was not entirely convinced that it was feasible and he gave instructions to the staff, "Go out to an external third party financial institution and get a second opinion and see whether they lend us". So, that is how careful we have been. In the past and even today —”
“Thank you, Mr Speaker. Mr Speaker, I would just like to add on to a point that the hon Member Assoc Prof Jamus Lim had raised. Because I know he is very gung-ho on borrowing; he is entitled to his views. But I just want to add, in life, when you want to borrow, it does not automatically mean people want to lend to you. In the case of Singapore, we will be able to issue debt papers if we want, but that is because of the huge reserves that we have accumulated over the last 55 years. I would like to raise a question to Deputy Prime Minister Heng. Deputy Prime Minister Heng did not say so but I am trying to read into his mind, and I apologise if I got it wrong. I think one of the reasons we are quite comfortable to borrow now, with fairly large reserves behind us, is because we are quietly confident that in the long term, our rate of return from our reserves is going to exceed the cost of borrowing. Because when the Government of the Republic of Singapore goes out to borrow, there is a premium. The cost of debt is significantly lower than others. So, am I right about my assumption? Mr Speaker, Sir, I know you are going to ask me to sit down but please allow me to share a story. Thirty seconds. I want to share a story with the House.”
“Thank you, Mr Speaker, Sir. Mr Speaker, I would like to wind the clock back to about a quarter century ago, when Minister was a backbencher and a practising lawyer. I think sometime around 1994. I did some research. The Minister raised the subject of the setting up of an office of an ombudsman. In the light of this case, I would like to ask Minister whether he thinks this is still appropriate because I noticed that in this particular case, whilst there is no need to doubt the agencies, many are working in silos. And the agencies are respectively doing investigations on their own personnel.”
“Sir, if I may say, that is living in a stage of euphoria. You are always assuming that tomorrow will be better than today. I do not want to go into an argument about economics here. You said because of the low interest rate, I mortgage and then I reinvest to get a better return. You are assuming there is a better return which may never come.”
“Thank you, Mr Speaker, Sir. As an accountant, I am rather perturbed by something Assoc Prof Jamus Lim said just now. If I heard you correctly, you said that given low interest rate, it is now time to re-mortgage your properties. As an accountant with over three decades of experience, I can tell you that is how people start getting into trouble. I hope you are not teaching that in your classes. But to my knowledge, Singapore is one of the very few countries in the world, maybe the only one that has not got to borrow in such pandemic times. Having a balance sheet is good, having savings is not a sin, having savings like the way we have it, is very good. So, may you clarify on what you have just said? I hope I heard you wrongly. Assoc Prof Jamus Jerome Lim: No, in fact, you did not hear me wrongly. That is exactly why I mentioned the distinction between a government budget identity and that of a regular household. Governments have an infinite horizon and so it is entirely possible for governments to over-save. I used the mortgage situation just to illustrate the point that there are instances where if you borrow against low interest rates and you invest in something that would give you higher returns, that is not just financially prudent, it is in fact going to be better for your balance sheet in the long run.”
“I gave these two examples of Xinyao and The 1995 South African World Cup Rugby team because they embody the very elements that our society in which MCCY focuses on – the youth, culture and sports. More than ever now, we need to believe in ourselves. To paraphrase the last two lines of the poem, "Invictus" – "We are the masters of our fate, We are the captains of our soul." Mr Speaker, I will end by saying that it is very tempting to relegate culture and sports to insignificance in times of a public health and economic crisis. But that would clearly be wrong, it would be a mistake. It is time now to invest more, even double down, and harness the good and positive energy that our youth, as well as our cultural and sporting activities can provide – to help us nurture a stronger national identity, forge an unconquerable soul and be a source of hope and unity for Singaporeans even as our nation charts a new course in a COVID-stricken world and prepares itself for a post-COVID-19 one. Mr Speaker Sir, I support the Motion. [Applause.]”
“Famous Xinyao songs now etched into the consciousness of the Chinese-speaking community include "Voices from the Heart", 小人物的心声, which has been staged in two National Day Parades, and "The Small Stream that Flows Forever", 细水长流, which our Prime Minister sang in the 2014 National Day Rally. The energy, optimism and purity of spirit of the Xinyao movement and its student performers is exactly what we need now. This is derived from cultural activities such as music and literature. The Xinyao music gave these young people strength to face another day and helped them to forget, for a while, the harsh realities that buffeted them daily. The relationships and camaraderie that were forged during those times by not just the performers but by all who listened to Xinyao in the early 1980s, also undoubtedly helped many Chinese-educated persons to weather the existential questions that they came face to face with. Sir, I would now like to move on to sports. Sports is like culture in many ways. There is more to sports than just getting fit and deriving the physical health benefits from sports. Sports add to the collective and national consciousness of a country. It can even heal scars and unite a country. The South Africa rugby team helped Nelson Mandela to unite South Africa during the 1995 Rugby World Cup. South Africa was a country that was just emerging from apartheid then. This story was made into the movie "Invictus" in 2009. Invictus means "unconquered" in Latin which sort of sums up the spirit that is needed in adversity and crises. "Invictus" was a poem written by 18th century poet, William Ernest Henley, that Nelson Mandela often recited to inspire himself while he was imprisoned on Robben Island for 18 years.”
“Sir, these Chinese educated students were taught in Chinese up to Secondary school before they went to junior college where they were uniformly instructed in English together with the English-educated students. Subjects such as math, physics and geography, which they had learnt in Chinese previously, had to be relearnt in English. On top of that, news of the merger of University of Singapore and Nanyang University to form National University of Singapore in 1980 was already circulating strongly in the Junior College community then. To these Chinese-educated schoolmates in our midst, it was a further blow to some of them as it meant there was effectively no more place for them to pursue their dreams of a Chinese-stream university education. It was also widely reported in the mass media that good job opportunities were far and few between for Chinese-educated students. It was truly a sink or swim, do or die for them in the English-stream Junior Colleges. Many of them did not despair, but some did. I could see it in their eyes then. Many of them were active in Chinese literary clubs and Xinyao groups that blossomed in many Junior Colleges, even as they struggled on a daily basis in a titanic struggle to master English and wondered what an English-based economy had in store for them. They seemed to feel like strangers in their own land, somewhat marginalised and dislocated even. I felt sorry for them. As these youths took refuge in their music and writings, many good things happened. Great songs were written, and thousands of students and young adults derived great pride and joy from this uniquely Singapore genre of Chinese music. These Xinyao artistes later mentored younger singers and musicians such as JJ Lin, Kit Chan and Stephanie Sun.”
“That is why it is so important to keep people engaged through work. That is why there is a saying in occupational medicine – the most dangerous employment is unemployment. But, Sir, beyond jobs and the economy, which are of paramount importance now, there are also other areas that deserve our attention and resources. It is part of our nation-building process that goes on every day, with or without COVID-19. One may even argue, nation-building is more urgent and important when the nation is faced with great adversity. But these nation-building areas must also include our culture and our sports. Sir, I am reminded of this when I watched a local documentary movie, "The Songs We Sang", 我们唱着的歌, recently on Netflix. I had watched this movie made by local director Ms Eva Tang when it was first screened more than five years ago in our cinemas and I watched it again when it was made available on Netflix. It chronicles the birth and development of a Singapore genre of Mandarin music called Xinyao that began in the late 1970s and flourished in the 1980s. It was written and performed by Chinese educated students of a transitional generation that faced many difficult challenges. I belong to that generation, although I am not Chinese-educated and I cannot write music or sing. I went to Hwa Chong Junior College between 1980 and 1981 when the Xinyao movement was just starting and gushing with creative energy. In 1981, when Liang Wern Fook, the now famous singer-songwriter and also Xinyao pioneer, was elected President of the Students' Council in Hwa Chong, Xinyao gained even greater prominence.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, many of us are familiar with Maslow's hierarchy of needs, which is often depicted as a triangle. At the base of this triangle are physiological needs. The need for safety is at the next level. Together, these two lowest levels make up what we call basic needs. The next level is relationship and intimacy needs which we derive a lot from interaction with friends and family. This is then followed by esteem needs which we derive often from our work and education. This is a psychological need. At the apex of this triangle, is our self-actualisation need – that feeling of achieving our potential through accomplishing something creative or extraordinary. Maslow's hierarchy of needs is not really just a tool to explain our needs, but really to explain what motivates us. Sir, culture and sports often straddle the two highest levels of needs: esteem and self-actualisation. As the world is battered by the COVID-19 pandemic, one may be tempted to say we should put culture and sports on the backburner and we focus all our energies on our lower level needs, such as physical safety, economic survival and so on. I think many of us have also realised that our relationships with family and friends are very precious during these last few months, especially during the circuit breaker period. Indeed, many of us are more attuned to our basic and psychological needs than ever before and realise that in the hustle and bustle of the pre-COVID world, we may have taken them somewhat for granted. But I would like to say that even when the future looks bleak and the world looks more dangerous than ever, we should not neglect higher needs for self-actualisation and esteem. Jobs do not just put food on the table, jobs also give us esteem and a chance to self-actualise.”
“Clerk, I support the proposal. [(proc text) There being only one proposal, the Clerk then declared Mr Tan Chuan-Jin to have been duly elected as Speaker of this Parliament. [Applause.] (proc text)] [(proc text) Mr Speaker, standing at the Table, took an Oath of Allegiance. (proc text)] [(proc text) Mr Speaker went to the Chair and sat down. (proc text)] [(proc text) Then the Mace, which before laid below the Table, was placed on the Table. (proc text)] [Mr Speaker in the Chair]”
“Thank you, Sir. Sir, I need to declare my interest as the immediate past President of the Singapore Wushu, Dragon and Lion Dance Federation. But my question is not on that. My question specifically is on football. [Laughter.] I hear the Senior Parliamentary Secretary mentioned about FAS' Goal 2034 and he mentioned that Government does not interfere in NSAs and you appeared to say that the ball is in FAS' court. I think Goal 2034 – as a football fan myself and like many Singaporeans here – I find it awesome and most inspiring and I think many Singaporeans do look forward to the even to the old days where we can go back to the Kallang Stadium for the Kallang Roar. So, may I ask what is MCCY's position on Goal 2034? Whether you are supporting it and if so, how are you supporting it?”
“Mr Chairman, I thank all Members for their speeches and contributions. In particular, I would like to thank the MOT team for their hard work and support. Sir with that, I beg leave to withdraw my amendment. [(proc text) Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. (proc text)] [(proc text) The sum of $1,992,837,500 for Head W ordered to stand part of the Main Estimates. (proc text)] [(proc text) The sum of $9,484,729,700 for Head W ordered to stand part of the Development Estimates. (proc text)]”
“Sir, Senior Parliamentary Secretary Baey Yam Keng mentioned about the $200 million that was spent on safety, but he has not touched on safety of AVs. I know there are trials on AVs in NUS and NTU. But can he elaborate more because the public wants to be absolutely sure that AVs are safe on the road.”
“In 2017, this number had increased to about 400,000 MBKF and finally, to current levels of above 1 million MBKF. The renewal of our rail network has led to higher reliability and shorter waiting times. The expansion of the rail network will lead to better accessibility, more convenience and comfort for commuters in the future. These are all positives and MOT should be lauded for achieving and indeed, surpassing, the herculean targets and tasks set. Sir, as an accountant, however, I also worry about the bottom line. Investments made in the renewal and expansion of our rail network need to be funded. The operating costs of maintaining rail reliability at current levels need to be sustainable. The large losses recorded by both SMRT Trains and SBS Transit reported in 2019 provides us with an insight of the costs involved. Sir, I think that at the end of the day, for our public rail network, it is a fine balance between financial sustainability of the rail network, affordability for consumers and the reliability and efficiency of the trains. I therefore invite the Minister to share with us the Ministry’s long term strategic plans on sustaining and securing Singapore’s future public rail transportation needs as the Government continues to invest in expanding and renewing our rail network, while concurrently maintaining current reliability and service levels. [(proc text) Question proposed. (proc text)] Support for Airline Workers”
“We must therefore confront the possibility that the worldwide spread of the COVID-19 virus could continue for some time to come and further affect our transportation industry. In the premises, I would like to invite the Minister to share with us further plans or measures that MOT could implement to support the transportation industry, in the event that the situation is drawn out over a prolonged period of time. Sir, I move on now to our rail network. On this front, we have much better news to share. As we are all aware, the Government has made and are still making significant investments to our rail network. Minister Khaw Boon Wan had recently announced that the multi-year programme to renew the North-South and East-West lines, which are Singapore’s oldest and most heavily used lines, will cost more than S$2.5 billion dollars. The rapid expansion of our rail network continues over the next two decades. Announced projects include the Thomson-East Coast Line, Jurong Region Line, Circle Line extension and the Cross Island Line. Once the Cross Island Line is completed – currently scheduled for 2031 –Singapore will have doubled its rail network to 360 km. Our extensive efforts to renew, expand and improve our rail network has clearly paid off! I remember Minister Khaw, in 2017, setting a target of 1 million Mean Km Between Failure (MBKF) by 2020. This means that our trains, on average will travel about 1 million km before a delay of more than five minutes is recorded. We achieved this ambitious target by August 2019! Ahead of time. It was no mean feat. We will recollect that as recently as 2015, our rail reliability was at 133,000 MBKF, at about one-tenth of current reliability levels.”
“We also know that the virus outbreak has adversely affected the entire transportation industry. Travel numbers are down, whether in the air, on water or land. Transport operators and workers are concerned not only about bottom lines but also their own health as they go about their daily work. I am therefore extremely glad to see the various measures that the Government has put in place to support the transportation industry. To better protect our taxi and private hire car drivers from COVID-19, 300,000 surgical masks have been provided for them to offer to passengers who are unwell. Both taxi and private hire car operators have also set up temperature screening protocols for their drivers. The Point-to-Point Support Package totaling S$77 million dollars was announced to support our drivers whose livelihoods have been adversely affected by the virus outbreak. There are three components: the Special Relief Fund (SRF), the Government and NTUC Driver Care Fund for drivers and the Waiver of the Operator Licence Fee for Point-to-Point Transport Operators. Various other measures to support our aviation and marine transportation sectors were also announced at the Budget Statement earlier by Deputy Prime Minister Heng. These measures will go some way in alleviating the hardships and difficulties that the transportation industry is facing as a result of the virus outbreak. However, while we all hope that the virus outbreak can be contained quickly, in the past few weeks, we see worrying signs of further outbreaks in Japan, South Korea, Iran and Italy. If this continues, or worse if more countries get affected, it will inevitably have a further adverse effect on Singapore’s globally inter-connected economy.”
“Mr Chairman, I beg to move, "That the total sum allocated for Head W of the Estimates be reduced by S$100". Mr Chairman, in my kick-off speech for the Committee of Supply Debate for MOT, I would like to address two key developments in our transportation industry in Singapore. The first, a recent unanticipated development – the first, a recent unanticipated development, the COVID-19 outbreak and its effect on the industry; and the second, MOT's strategic long-term plan for our rail network. I start with the recent virus outbreak. As we know, Singapore has been under the cloud of the COVID-19 outbreak since the end of last year. We have been working extremely hard collectively to battle against the spread of the virus in Singapore. Our healthcare team rightfully deserves our admiration and gratitude for their efforts on the frontline, looking after patients who have fallen ill because of the virus. However, Sir, there is also another team that has been on the frontline, bravely continuing to provide essential services to Singaporeans amid the ongoing virus outbreak. I am referring to our public transport team. I joined Senior Minister of State Janil Puthucheary and NTWU Executive Secretary Brother Melvin Yong last month to visit the Bedok Integrated Transport Hub and Tanah Merah MRT Station and we observed our public transport team doing their part to step up cleaning routines which are over and above their usual duties. They work very hard every day, putting themselves on the line in the fight against the virus outbreak so as to ensure that precautionary measures are taken to protect Singaporeans on our public transport network. I wish to take this opportunity to salute them for their efforts!”
“This is part of their continuing efforts and constitutes a key strategy in bringing down the numbers of such calls. I therefore invite the Minister to share with this House, the long term plans and strategies on how the Home Team intends to ensure that the genuine emergency cases are attended to promptly and efficiently, especially in light of the resource constraints that the SCDF faces. 11.15 am Traffic Summons”