Tan Kiat How
Singapore
“(In Mandarin): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] Thank you, Mr Speaker. Earlier I spoke about the policy objective of the Speak Mandarin Campaign, and we have remained consistent and united on this objective over the years. The question is our measures – how might we show some flexibility when it comes to movie screenings?”
“Sir, I can take the Member's question first, about the institutional arrangement. IMDA works very closely with different Government agencies including the NHB. In fact, we work closely on films, the classification of films. So, there is no need for an explicit institution arrangement as they are already doing so.”
“These are the primary objectives, but we will continue to see how we can think about meaningful information for family members. I know family members when they put their loved ones in nursing homes, there is a range of factors they consider.”
“These are lessons we have learned and we will make sure that those lessons would be incorporated in our standard operating procedures in our approach next time. Lastly, I just want to thank the Member for coming by at least a few times to my constituency to speak to my merchants, the hawkers, the residents.”
“For example, there are no dialect restrictions for arts performances or content available on the Internet and online streaming services. On free-to-air television and radio, we believe that Mandarin should continue to be the mainstay.”
“If there is more demand, we will discuss it with the film distributor and see how we can provide additional flexibility. But we will take a review as it comes along and it is certainly something for which we will speak to all members, industry partners, community partners about, and take their views on board.”
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“First, there are restrictions on who can access this information. Only a select group of healthcare professionals are allowed to access this information, based on their role in caring for the patient diagnosed with the health condition. For example, a nurse who is working in a psychiatric ward will have access to the psychiatric condition of the patient he or she is caring for. So, that is the first control. Second, before an authorised healthcare professional can access these types of health information, they will be subject to a double log-in, which requires the authorised healthcare professional to re-verify their credentials before access. This ensures that such information is only accessed when needed and avoids accidental access. Accesses to such health information are more closely audited by Synapxe and cases of unauthorised access to NEHR information will be investigated and penalties imposed. Sir, we appreciate that despite all these safeguards, some patients may still have privacy concerns. To assuage the concerns of these patients, the HIB will allow patients to restrict healthcare providers from accessing their NEHR information or we call this "Access Restrictions" in the Bill. As I mentioned earlier in my opening speech, we do not encourage this, as it could lead to adverse impact on care delivery for the patient. To address the queries raised by Members, the Access Restrictions have been designed to balance the impact to patient care; considering the welfare and interest of the patient, while taking into consideration their concerns around privacy. So, patients may restrict access to their NEHR information at the healthcare institution level, but not at an individual healthcare professional level.”
“In addition, instances when a patient's NEHR information is accessed over the preceding 12 months will be made known to him through the "NEHR Access History" feature in the HealthHub application. This provides an additional layer of transparency. Patients can monitor which healthcare providers have accessed their NEHR information and flag any unauthorised access to the authorities for investigation. The logs will show access at the healthcare institution level to keep the function simple, useable and practical. In a multi-disciplinary team, healthcare professionals across different roles may access the patient's NEHR information at different times of the patient's care journey. Depending on the patient's condition, it is also not uncommon for nurses, pharmacists or allied health professionals to need access. In our healthcare system, the institution is ultimately responsible for care to its patient. I would like to take the opportunity to clarify the comment made by Mr David Hoe. HealthHub access logs will show all accesses to NEHR, regardless of whether the access is through EMR or the portal. So, just to clarify on his point earlier. Sir, I would like to assure Mr Hoe, Mr Fadli and Mr Yip that we will seek users' feedback when reviewing the interface to ensure it is simple and user-friendly. Mr Speaker, we understand that some patients are particularly concerned about access to health information that may be deemed more sensitive. Mr Louis Chua, Mr Yip, Dr Hamid, Mr Hoe and Mr Tiong have commented on the need for safeguards for such information. Such health information includes sexually transmitted infections, delusional disorders and schizophrenia. The diagnoses and test results that confirm the condition are subject to additional safeguards.”
“Healthcare professionals who access NEHR in an unauthorised manner could also be referred to the relevant Professional Boards or Councils for further action. Mr Dennis Tan spoke about offences and whether the $1 million maximum fine was sufficient. Sir, the regimes he compared with as well as PDPA that he referred to, do not have criminal prosecution. The breaches to the HIB are serious and we take this seriously. For example, a conviction involves not just fines, it is imprisonment as well. But more basically, we take an approach that is more supportive, working together with our healthcare providers, the healthcare professionals. These are people – nurses, clinicians and administrators, who want to do well, who want to serve the patients, who want to take care of the patients. And we want to take a supportive role and approach to uplift data security and cybersecurity postures, not a punitive approach. Mr Alex Yeo asked about audits on unauthorised accesses of the NEHR and Mr Tiong asked if Synapxe would proactively monitor against unauthorised access. Synapxe, the NEHR system operator, conducts regular audits and ongoing monitoring to detect suspicious behaviour or atypical patterns, including in response to patient alerts. For example, accessing the NEHR information of a patient who has not recently visited any healthcare provider is a flag. Synapxe will conduct investigations to determine whether an unauthorised access has occurred. Synapxe will regularly review its audit plans, including frequency, best practices and the use of new tools like artificial intelligence to ensure that the regime is robust.”
“And this has been a focus for us when we carried out the public consultation and prepared this Bill. There are broadly two sets of concerns that we hear from individuals. The first is how a patient's NEHR information will be adequately safeguarded and accessed only as needed by healthcare professionals and providers. Of special concern is the access to health information that may be deemed more sensitive. There were also related questions about the Access Restriction feature. So, that is the first set of concerns. The second is around whether their NEHR information would be used beyond healthcare, such as for employment and insurance purposes. Let me touch on the first set of concerns. Sir, we are not starting from scratch. We have been operating the NEHR for 15 years. Importantly, the vast majority of healthcare providers are already onboard – all public healthcare institutions, most private hospitals and the bulk of the GP clinics. So, this is a system that has been operating for many years. And we have built in various ex-ante safeguards into the design of the NEHR. This includes role-based access, such that authorised healthcare professionals can only access the types of health information required for their specific patient care roles. We also have technical controls and regular ex-post audits to flag unauthorised accesses to the NEHR. With the HIB, we are enhancing the legislative safeguards and stiffening penalties for unauthorised access. First-time offences of unauthorised access of NEHR are punishable with a maximum fine of $50,000 and/or up to two years' imprisonment upon conviction. And the penalty is doubled for repeat offenders.”
“Mr Speaker, I thank all the Members who have spoken, for supporting the Bill, especially our new Nominated Members, Ms Kuah and Dr Haresh, contributing to the debate on the first day they are sworn in. Sir, only by enabling data sharing and a unified health summary for each patient, can we support continuity of care when patients move between different healthcare settings and receive care from multiple healthcare providers. The Members have raised a number of thoughtful views and constructive comments which I will address in four broad themes. But before I do that, I would like to address the points made by the Member Mr Kenneth Tiong around the organisation of and his views on Synapxe, the health tech agency that implements many of the IT projects in MOH. As that topic does not pertain to the specifics of the HIB, I encourage Mr Tiong to raise a separate Parliamentary Question or raise the issue separately from today's debate. But suffice to say that Synapxe is not a commercial entity. Its fundamental role is to support MOH in delivering digital health and IT services to benefit the healthcare clusters to deliver better healthcare services to our Singaporeans. Let me now turn to the substance of the Bill. There are four broad themes of comments that came in. First, it is around the safeguards for patients. Second, the obligations and support measures for healthcare providers. Third, the support measures for healthcare professionals. And fourthly, the sharing of non-NEHR health information. Let me start with the safeguards for patients. Mr Yip Hon Weng, Mr David Hoe, Dr Wan Rizal, Dr Hamid Razak and Mr Fadili Fawzi highlighted the importance of safeguarding access to and the use of patients' NEHR information.”
“Through “One Patient, One Health Summary, One Care Journey”, Singaporeans will benefit from better coordinated care, enhanced quality of care and lower costs. I urge Members of the House to support the Bill. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I beg to move. [(proc text) Question proposed. (proc text)]”
“For breaches that are likely to have a greater impact on patients, maximum penalties are higher. For instance, a person convicted of an offence relating to unauthorised access of NEHR information under clause 38 faces a fine of up to $50,000, two years’ imprisonment or both, for a first offence. This maximum penalty is doubled for a repeat offence or if the unauthorised access was for employment or insurance purposes. The penalty for this offence is comparable to other relevant laws. For instance, the maximum fine of $50,000 is aligned with serious breaches involving unauthorised access to computer material in the Computer Misuse Act 1993. Breaches involving systemic failures are dealt with most severely. For instance, healthcare providers that fail to put in place the cybersecurity or data security measures required under the HIB may face a fine of up to $1 million, as the health information of many patients could be compromised. A failure would likely be committed by a healthcare provider or other organisation. Hence, the maximum fine must be high enough to serve as an effective deterrent to such organisations. Nevertheless, these are maximum penalties, which are aimed at addressing the most egregious of breaches. We would like to reassure healthcare providers and healthcare professionals as well as Singaporeans that should potential breaches occur, MOH will look at the facts of each case carefully. The Bill also allows for a range of enforcement actions besides prosecution, including composition of offences, directions to rectify breaches and letters of warning. Sir, the HIB will play a critical role in supporting the transformation of our healthcare delivery services and model.”
“I wish to reassure them that MOH is committed to supporting them through this transition. We will inform healthcare providers of NEHR-compatible systems that meet the Bill’s cybersecurity requirements and automate the contribution of key health information. With the use of such NEHR-compatible systems, healthcare providers will then only need to ensure their data security measures are in place, such as training staff involved in patient care to access and use NEHR appropriately. Training resources and programmes, as well as funding support, will be made available to support healthcare providers and healthcare professionals. We are aware that some healthcare professionals are concerned about increased liability from accessing and using NEHR. MOH is working towards publishing guidelines on the appropriate access and use of NEHR information that healthcare professionals, including nurses and allied health professionals, may use as a resource. I will now touch on the key offences and the penalties. Under the HIB, non-compliance with contribution requirements is not an offence in the first instance, as we recognise that there could be genuine challenges onboarding to NEHR. If non-contribution arises from technical difficulties, for instance, we will work with healthcare providers to rectify the underlying issue. However, in the event of deliberate or reckless non-compliance or breaches, directions may then be issued to the healthcare provider to comply. It is only when the healthcare provider fails to comply with a direction that the provider could be liable for an offence punishable by up to $20,000, one year’s imprisonment or both, upon conviction. And I reinforce, it is really in the event of deliberate or reckless non-compliance or breaches.”
“Additionally, the Bill will empower the Minister for Health to take emergency measures in critical events where the threat to health information or relevant health information systems could result in health information being lost or compromised. Such powers are not unique to this Bill and can be found in the Infectious Diseases Act 1976 and the Cybersecurity Act 2018. These powers are necessary. We have seen how incidents, whether cyber or physical in nature, can lead to major and prolonged disruptions of essential services around the world, including healthcare services. Physical incidents, such as fires, can take out information systems and result in data loss, just as faulty information technology (IT) updates or cyberattacks can lead to the same outcome. Hence, these powers are scoped towards enabling responses to protect health information regardless of the form of the threat. Should an outage involving health information or the systems that host or process such information occur in Singapore and threaten a major disruption of healthcare services, clauses 83 to 85 will allow the Minister to direct relevant healthcare providers to take mitigating or recovery measures. Sir, as I have earlier mentioned, we intend for the Bill to take effect from early 2027. This would give healthcare providers sufficient time to familiarise themselves with the Bill’s requirements and strengthen their cybersecurity and data security postures. MOH is working closely with healthcare providers on the implementation timelines and will announce further details soon. Sir, during our consultations, some healthcare providers shared concerns about the burden of implementing the HIB’s security requirements. MOH has been engaging the associations and providers.”
“Third, we will restrict the data types that can be shared to those relevant to each use case. The data shared will generally be limited to basic identification and contact information and if necessary, broad health risk indicators, such as the presence of frailty or chronic conditions, but not the actual medical conditions. The scope and key requirements for the sharing of non-NEHR health information are provided for under clauses 45 to 60 while the use cases and specified entities are set out in the Fourth Schedule. The list of data types allowed for each use case will be set out in subsidiary legislation. Let me now turn to the measures in the HIB to secure and protect health information. Healthcare providers that contribute to and access NEHR as well as entities allowed to share and receive non-NEHR health information will need to meet cybersecurity and data security requirements. They will also be responsible for assessing whether a notifiable cybersecurity incident or data breach has occurred. Once confirmed, MOH will need to be notified. Where a data breach has resulted in, or is likely to result in, significant harm to individuals, the affected individuals will also need to be notified. These security requirements are covered in clauses 61 to 82. To be clear, today, licensed healthcare providers and practitioners already have obligations to safeguard the personal data of their patients under existing laws. The security requirements under the HIB are based on existing standards and legal requirements. What the HIB does is to consolidate these requirements in relation to health information.”
“For example, NEHR information may be required under the Criminal Procedure Code 2010 to facilitate criminal investigations by the Police or by the Communicable Diseases Agency under the Infectious Diseases Act 1976 for outbreak investigations and contact tracing of potentially exposed individuals. But for all requests, MOH will assess whether the NEHR information is appropriate and necessary for the purpose of the request, taking into consideration factors such as whether alternative information is suitable and whether anonymised or aggregated data would suffice. The sharing of NEHR information under other laws, as well as for public health and public interest purposes, are provided for in clause 5 and clauses 20 to 28 respectively. Sir, let me now turn to the provisions for the sharing of non-NEHR health information to facilitate community-based care. As mentioned earlier, the HIB will provide an additional channel for data sharing to support the goal of "One Patient, One Health Summary, One Care Journey". We will enable the scoped sharing of non-NEHR health information without an individual's consent only if three key criteria are met. First, data sharing must be between specified entities. For a start, this will cover key public healthcare stakeholders such as PHIs, AIC and public agencies. Second, information must only be shared for specified use cases to support continuity of care and population health outreach under national programmes such as Healthier SG and Age Well SG. For example, PHIs may share contact information and the addresses of seniors with AIC for AIC to contact and engage these seniors to connect them to relevant community-based care services and activities based on their needs.”
“Confirmed cases of inappropriate "break-glass" will be investigated as potential breaches under the HIB and may also be referred to the Singapore Medical Council for disciplinary action. To ensure there are no gaps in patients' records even during emergencies, health information will continue to be contributed to NEHR even when an Access Restriction is placed. While Access Restriction is an option, we do not encourage its use as it would adversely affect the quality of care we receive as patients. It is only when healthcare providers – our doctors and our frontline healthcare staff – have access to our key health information that they can deliver holistic and effective care in a timely manner. Next, let me turn to clauses 29 to 33, which deal with Access Restrictions. Details relating to these Access Restrictions will be set out in subsidiary legislation. As the national repository of key health information, NEHR information can be used to inform national policies and research to improve population health outcomes for Singaporeans. The HIB will provide for the sharing of identifiable NEHR information for public health purposes and anonymised NEHR information for broader public interest purposes. Let me give a few examples. For example, in the event of a major drug contamination incident, MOH may share necessary information from NEHR, such as the identity of patients prescribed with the drug, with relevant healthcare institutions and direct them to promptly contact the affected individuals and advise them to stop taking the drug and seek medical care. The HIB will not impede the sharing of NEHR information as required or permitted under other laws.”
“Sir, by default, patients' key health information will be contributed to NEHR and will be accessible by healthcare providers to support the continuity of care across healthcare settings. For those who continue to have privacy concerns, they may restrict access to their NEHR information so that only select healthcare providers may have this access. This Access Restriction feature is like the approach adopted by countries like Australia, Estonia and Hong Kong. Today, such an Access Restriction regime is already in place. Patients can submit their request to place an Access Restriction at public healthcare institutions (PHIs). From the second half of this year, patients can do so through the HealthHub app. For patient safety, when patients visit their healthcare providers, the provider will still be able to view a subset of records in the patients' NEHR even if there is an Access Restriction in place. This subset of records comprises critical allergies and vaccination information that helps reduce the risk of inappropriate prescriptions or immunisations when patients visit new healthcare providers. Further, a patient's NEHR information may be accessed during medical emergencies despite an Access Restriction. This feature, known as "break-glass", is like Australia's approach. Access in such extenuating situations will be subject to strict controls. First, only doctors will be allowed to "break glass". Second, before "breaking glass", the doctor must re-verify their credentials and declare a medical emergency has happened. Third, every instance where a doctor "breaks glass" will be subject to audits.”
“Examples include examinations of persons who are at risk of an infectious disease and the medical examinations to assess fitness for service in the SAF, SCDF and Singapore Police Force as required under the Enlistment Act. NEHR access will therefore be allowed for these statutory medical examinations. Clauses 16 to 23 set out the provisions relating to NEHR access, including the legislative safeguards. The Second Schedule sets out the categories of authorised individuals who may access NEHR for different categories of healthcare providers. The specified statutory medical examinations for which NEHR may be accessed is listed in the Third Schedule. That is the set of legislative safeguards. Let me turn to the technical controls that MOH will put in place to tightly regulate access to NEHR. First, authorised individuals will only be granted access to the data types required for their patient care duties. For example, nurses in general will not have access to radiological images as they do not require this information for their patient care duties. System-level controls to limit unauthorised access, such as limiting the number of patient records that can be accessed within a stipulated timeframe and conducting regular audits to flag unauthorised NEHR access, have already been implemented. We will be progressively rolling out additional technical measures and processes to limit and detect unauthorised access to NEHR information of patients. Patients themselves can monitor access of their NEHR information through their HealthHub account and can report suspicious activities to MOH for investigations.”
“Let me first speak about the legislative safeguards. NEHR access for patient care purposes will be limited to licensed healthcare providers and their authorised individuals. Healthcare providers must only authorise NEHR access for healthcare professionals who require it for patient care purposes. Such professionals include doctors, nurses, pharmacists and allied health professionals. Individuals who only perform an administrative or corporate role, even if they are healthcare professionals, will not be given NEHR access. Authorised individuals must access NEHR only for patients whom they are providing patient care to. Healthcare providers must also implement appropriate practices to ensure their healthcare professionals access NEHR appropriately. This will include regular training on the appropriate use of NEHR and conducting audits on NEHR access. In short, access to NEHR is restricted to healthcare professionals for the purpose of providing care to their patients. Accessing NEHR for purposes relating to employment or insurance will be strictly prohibited. This means healthcare professionals will not be allowed to access NEHR for purposes such as filling out medical reports required for insurance claims or pre-employment medical screening forms. This will address the concerns expressed during the public consultation that health information could be used in a discriminatory manner by employers or insurance companies. However, there are medical examinations set out in statutes which serve to protect the public and safeguard the health of the individual and those around him.”
“The key health information are those crucial for continuity of care such as allergies, vaccinations, diagnoses, medications, laboratory test results, radiological images and discharge summaries. As certain public agencies such as the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) and the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) also provide patient care, the Bill enables these agencies to be gazetted under the Act to contribute key health information to NEHR. Key health information of Singapore Citizens, permanent residents and patients with long-term immigration passes will need to be contributed as these groups are more likely to seek care in Singapore over time. Health information of transient visitors such as tourists need not be contributed. Clauses 10 to 15 set out the provisions relating to the contribution of key health information to NEHR. The First Schedule lists the key health information that each licensee category needs to contribute, based on the patient care functions they provide. NEHR access will be provided to the healthcare providers that are contributing key health information to NEHR. The Bill will also enable NEHR access for community health partners providing clinical or care planning services. This is in recognition of their increasingly important role in supporting patients' continuity of care. To enable the provision of timely and effective care, there will not be a need for every healthcare professional to seek consent each time they access their patients' NEHR. At the same time, we are mindful that patients expect their NEHR information to be kept confidential. The Bill provides for robust legislative safeguards to address these concerns. We also have in place technical controls to ensure that access to NEHR is tightly regulated.”
“AIC's early engagement of seniors like Mr Lim allows them to benefit from healthcare providers and community-based services before their isolation sets in, leading to more serious health consequences. And again, this is a scenario that I am sure many Members in the House see when we do our house visits, meeting our seniors in the community, especially seniors living alone, isolated. And these provisions under the HIB will help to enable better care for our seniors. To ensure that the Bill addresses Singapore's healthcare needs as well as considers stakeholders' views, MOH has been engaging the public and stakeholders since 2022. I would like to take this opportunity to thank members of the public and patient advocacy groups for their support for the Bill and their invaluable inputs, such as providing patients with greater control over their access to NEHR. I would also like to thank the professional bodies and healthcare professionals for their feedback, particularly regarding the cyber and data security requirements and the support that their members and colleagues may require as part of the transition. MOH has taken these viewpoints onboard. Sir, now allow me to go through the Bill's key provisions and safeguards for the sharing of health information under the Bill. In the example of Ms Kamala shared earlier, NEHR would only be able to support her new doctor if key health information from her previous healthcare providers were contributed to NEHR. The HIB will require all healthcare providers licensed under the Healthcare Services Act 2020 and retail pharmacies licensed under the Health Products Act 2007 to contribute key health information about patients into NEHR.”
“How can I remember? So, I brought everything there." And I am pretty sure, if I looked into his plastic bag, there would be medicine that has been issued by another doctor many months or even some time ago, and probably had expired. So, this situation is not ideal. Second, the HIB will enable the sharing of non-NEHR health information to facilitate community-based care. Today, the Agency for Integrated Care (AIC) under MOH shares data with community health partners to enable them to engage and provide befriending services or care to seniors. The HIB will provide an additional channel for the sharing of non-NEHR health information to better support national health programmes and initiatives. Let me illustrate this using another hypothetical example also covered in the infographic: 72-year-old Mr Lim has Type 2 diabetes and has rarely left home since his wife passed away. Mr Lim has been skipping his polyclinic appointments and struggles to manage his diabetes. Without the opportunity to see Mr Lim, the polyclinic cannot seek his consent to share his contact and relevant health information with community health partners for follow-up. However, if our community healthcare providers and their partners are aware of Mr Lim's conditions, they can better support him. With the HIB, when Mr Lim's polyclinic assesses that he would benefit from community support, the polyclinic can potentially share his contact information and an indicator of his level of health risk, such as whether he has a chronic condition, with AIC. AIC can then prioritise engaging Mr Lim, encourage him to check on his well-being and link him up with necessary support if needed.”
“Thank you, Sir. Members may also access the handout through the MP@SGPARL App. [A handout was distributed to hon Members.] Sir, the HIB will help us realise the vision of "One Patient, One Health Summary, One Care Journey" in two important ways. First, the HIB will close the remaining gap by requiring all licensed healthcare providers to contribute to the NEHR and providing for their NEHR access. This will allow patients' key health information to be accessible by their healthcare providers when they move across healthcare settings. Patients will benefit from better coordinated care, enhanced quality of care and lower costs. Let me illustrate with a hypothetical example of 50-year-old Ms Kamala, as covered in the infographic. Ms Kamala regularly visits her nearby GP to manage her chronic health conditions. She recently moved to a new estate. When she visits a different GP near her new home, the doctor there can make informed care decisions based on Ms Kamala's health information in NEHR. Her new doctor can see which tests have been done and the medications that have been prescribed. He need not repeat the tests, saving Ms Kamala time and money. Appropriate tests and medications can also be ordered to better manage Ms Kamala's health requirements. Patients moving between private and public healthcare providers, or acute and community settings will similarly benefit. Actually, I think many Members in the House can relate to these examples. We often see our residents, especially our seniors, sitting in front of a GP clinic, carrying a big plastic bag of medicine. I once joked with an Ah Gong, saying, "Most people go and see doctor to collect medicine. How come you see doctor, bring medicine to see doctor?" So, he laughed and said, "Doctor asked me what medicine do I take.”
“Sir, I thank the Member for the clarification. We are reviewing the Animals and Birds Act. As part of that, we are also looking at the licensing framework and the enforcement powers and the various regulatory levers. We will get inputs from the relevant stakeholders and we will share more details when ready.”
“Sir, if I can get Mr Chua to just clarify his question because I could not quite understand his question.”
“Sir, on the two questions that Mr Chua has raised, let me take them in turn. On the first one around how we ensure compliance with the Code of Animal Welfare (for the Pet Industry), these are guidelines that we put forward. And if there are members of the public, industry players or operators who want to report any non-compliance, please let us know. NParks, as part of its broader licensing framework and regulatory ambit, will do spot checks and take a look at some of these places. On the second point on the disqualification order (DO), just to confirm with Mr Chua that he was asking about DO? No? I could not hear the question.”
“Sir, as part of the National Parks Board's (NParks’) efforts to safeguard animal health and welfare, as well as public health and safety, NParks has embarked on a comprehensive review of the Animals and Birds Act 1965. As highlighted in the reply to Mr Louis Ng on a similar Parliamentary Question last November and the recent update at the Committee of Supply debate in response to a cut by Mr Henry Kwek last month, the review covers several areas, including the regulatory framework for the prevention and control of animal diseases and veterinary health products, the penalty framework for animal welfare offences and enforcement powers for animal welfare and management. NParks has been conducting small group discussions with relevant stakeholders and incorporating their inputs. NParks intends to conduct consultations with more stakeholders this year. The Code of Animal Welfare (for the Pet Industry) specifies minimum standards and best practices for animal housing, management and care to safeguard the health and welfare of animals. Failure to comply to the minimum standards in the Code may be used as supporting evidence for prosecution. To date, non-compliance with the minimum standards in the Code has not been used as evidence to support prosecution, as the evidence gathered in cases that proceeded to prosecution was sufficient.”
“Sir, in the first tranche of the Digital Enterprise Blueprint Partnerships, we have seven partners pledging to support our enterprises and workers across the various initiatives under the Digital Enterprise Blueprint. The partners include, for example, the Singapore Business Federation, Microsoft, Salesforce, Amazon Web Services, DBS Bank, as well as the Singapore Computer Society and SG Tech. To date, they have conducted six events to uplift the capabilities of pre-approved vendors in cloud technologies, cybersecurity and Gen AI. They also delivered AI and data analytics workshops for nearly 1,000 SMEs, helping them thrive in today's technology driven business environment. And we will continue expanding our network of partnership. Last November we announced a partnership with DBS, for example, with Enterprise Singapore and IMDA to amplify our reach to 50,000 SMEs and supercharge their productivity through accelerating Gen AI adoption. So, Mr Sharael Taha will be pleased to know that we will be sharing upcoming collaborations with new partners, for example, with Alibaba Cloud to raise capabilities of solution providers in AI and cloud technologies, and another one with ST Engineering to improve cyber resilience amongst SMEs. So, we welcome more partners to join us to create a robust ecosystem where enterprises and workers can thrive.”
“Under the pre-approved solutions, SMEs can now subscribe to an integrated package covering anti-malware, firewall and backup. We also required pre-approved solutions under SMEs Go Digital to meet minimum data protection and security controls standards. Going forward, CSA will expand Cyber Essentials and Cyber Trust in the first half of 2025 to cover the security of digital technologies, like cloud and AI, keeping them relevant for the evolving digital landscape. Besides uplifting standards, CSA will introduce a post-incident reporting and response function on CISO-as-a-Service. Cybersecurity incidents cannot be fully prevented. It is more important for enterprises to be resilient and recover from incidents. Under this new function, enterprises can approach their CISO-as-a-Service consultants to help contain and recover from cybersecurity incidents. Members can refer to the handout for a summary of our enterprise digitalisation and cybersecurity efforts. Sir, I will give the updates till here and I will answer questions later on.”
“At the same time, we will launch the new GenAI Playbook for Enterprises and Navigator, to recommend Generative AI tools and training suited to their needs. Interested businesses can visit the CTO-as-a-Service platform for details. The growing adoption of AI has significantly impacted our work and lives. Local businesses and workers must keep pace to remain competitive and avoid falling behind. Therefore, I urge everyone to catch up and make full use of the Government's support and resources to level up digital capabilities. Only then can we seize the opportunities brought forth by technological development and distinguish ourselves from the competition. (In English): Chairman, as enterprises digitalise, they will be more exposed to cyber threats. Mr Sharael Taha asked how we are helping our enterprises stay safe. CSA's SG Cyber Safe programme provides differentiated support for enterprises. As a baseline, CSA provides resources for various enterprise stakeholders, such as SME owners, employees and cybersecurity personnel. Enterprises looking to implement cybersecurity measures can refer to the Cyber Essentials and Cyber Trust certification marks, which were developed as national cybersecurity standards in 2022. To assist enterprises that need help with cybersecurity certification, CSA launched the Chief Information Security Officer (CISO)-as-a-Service scheme in 2023. CISO-as-a-Service complements IMDA's CTO-as-a-service scheme. It onboards cybersecurity consultants to help enterprises develop cybersecurity health plans to implement the preventive measures in Cyber Essentials. This has benefited over 270 enterprises and we will continue to do more to improve enterprise cyber hygiene standards. We aligned SMEs Go Digital with the Cyber Essentials mark last year.”
“For those deciding between buying off-the-shelf solutions and building proprietary ones, it provides an evaluation framework and information on associated risks to help them make informed choices. And for digitally-matured enterprises seeking more customised solutions, the Playbook provides insights on tech capabilities and partners needed to ensure successful implementation, alongside potential risks and governance considerations. So, the Playbook has something for all enterprises. And complementing the Playbook, IMDA will launch an online tool, the Gen AI Navigator, that recommends the right Gen AI solution for specific business needs. The Navigator will also point to solutions with grant support and SkillsFuture Singapore (SSG)-funded training that can help SMEs understand how to leverage Gen AI for growth. These tools will be available on the CTO-as-a-Service platform from today. Chairman, please allow me to speak in Mandarin. (In Mandarin): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] With the Government's support and promotion, over 80% of SMEs are now successfully riding the digital wave. These businesses, spanning various sectors, have adopted at least one digital solution in their operations and achieved positive results. Many businesses have also discovered that AI can help them reduce costs and enhance efficiency, thereby alleviating their cost pressures. Between 2018 and 2023, digital solutions under the Productivity Solutions Grant brought nearly 50% cost savings to SMEs on average. To benefit more businesses, the Government will refresh the Industry Digital Plans for different sectors, providing more AI solutions.”
“These enterprises may require customised solutions that off-the-shelf products do not fully address. To date, over 120 enterprises have used resources provided by tech giants and their partners. A quarter of them are working to build and deploy these solutions. Take, for example, iHub Solutions, a third-party logistics service provider. iHub's employees grappled with high volumes of ad hoc requests for reports. The time taken to manually create these reports hindered efficiency and reports were often error-prone. During the programme, iHub leveraged the expertise of tech partners to develop a report generation tool using AI. With this tool, iHub's employees can create reports automatically using simple prompts, reducing the time spent on these reports by half. iHub's customers can also use it to derive real-time supply chain insights to inform their decisions. To seize opportunities to deploy Gen AI solutions at scale, IMDA will expand the Gen AI x DL partnerships to leverage tech partners' new development tools and pre-packaged software modules to deploy solutions for common use cases more quickly. This is being piloted and we will share more details when ready. Ms Tin Pei Ling also asked how the Government can encourage more enterprises to adopt Gen AI. We recognise that enterprises face different challenges in doing so. Building on the experience and best practices of early adopters, IMDA will launch a Gen AI Playbook for Enterprises catering to different stages of their digital maturity. For enterprises just starting to explore Gen AI, the Playbook illustrates the benefits of Gen AI through examples and offers resources on Gen AI solutions for specific needs.”
“Of the approximately 300 pre-approved solutions supported by PSG, about 30% or a third of them are AI-enabled. And last year, we launched the Gen AI Sandbox, allowing SMEs to experiment with 13 Gen AI solutions to improve their marketing and sales, and streamline customer engagement efforts. One of the over 150 participants is AHA Inspiration, a health and wellness service platform provider. By integrating a Gen AI chatbot into its website and mobile application, AHA's employees can now handle customer inquiries almost twice as fast as before while providing more personalised customer service. AHA Inspiration is just one of 120 SMEs that continued using the Gen AI solutions after the three-month Sandbox period. Our experience with the Sandbox reinforced the importance of providing opportunities for SMEs to discover the value of Gen AI through experimentation. Building on this success, IMDA launched Gen AI Sandbox 2.0 with 14 solutions in December last year to support a wider range of Gen AI solutions in areas, such as Generative Web Design, enabling SMEs to create websites using prompts. SMEs can also try Gen AI tools for HR operations to create job descriptions and schedule interviews more efficiently. If these Gen AI solutions prove useful, we intend to add them to the list of pre-approved solutions so that all SMEs can benefit. We also received feedback that it could be useful for the Sandbox to offer sector-specific solutions. IMDA is happy to work with interested sector leads and industry associations on curating these solutions. Besides broad-based support for all SMEs, we are tapping on the capabilities of technology giants through the Gen AI x Digital Leaders (Gen AI x DL) programme to accelerate Gen AI adoption among the more digitally-mature enterprises.”
“With KOEL, researchers can identify animal species from audio recordings, which can save thousands of man-hours, increase efficiency and accuracy. Another example is iFerret. It is an AI-enabled detection system deployed at Changi Airport to help keep our runways safe. In the past, daily manual inspections were needed. Now, staff can also rely on the round-the-clock automated scanning of foreign objects on our runways, which enable them to remove these objects quickly. Ms Tin Pei Ling, Ms Jessica Tan, Mr Sharael Taha and Ms Mariam Jaafar asked how we are assisting our enterprises, especially our SMEs, to benefit from AI. Through initiatives, such as the SMEs Go Digital Programme, we have helped about 100,000 SMEs since 2017, with 40,000 SMEs benefiting over the last four years. 2.00 pm The share of SMEs adopting at least one digital solution for general business functions increased from 53% in 2020 to 84% in 2024. Very encouraging. On average, SMEs that adopted digital solutions under the Productivity Solutions Grant (PSG) between 2018 and 2023, reported cost savings of 48% per solution. Mr Derrick Goh and Mr Christopher de Souza sent the gist of their cuts to us separately. They will be pleased to know that we are committed to accelerating AI adoption among SMEs. We are updating the Industry Digital Plans (IDPs) to include sector-specific AI tools and training. We have done so for the retail, security, built environment, legal and tourism sectors. We will update more IDPs this year, such as for the food services and hotel sectors. In 2024, over 330,000 users accessed resources on the Chief Technology Officer (CTO)-as-a-Service platform, which helped almost 3,000 SMEs adopt AI-enabled solutions.”
“Chairman, we want Singaporeans to benefit from good jobs, good wages and better work environments. To achieve these goals, our enterprises must be competitive amidst rapid digitalisation. We are building on a good foundation. The digital economy has grown at a compound annual growth rate of 11.2% from 2018 to 2023. We are doing more to help our workers and enterprises ride the next wave of digitalisation, particularly in AI, through the NAIS 2.0 and the Digital Enterprise Blueprint (DEB) launched last year. Ms Tin Pei Ling and Mr Sharael Taha asked about the progress of NAIS 2.0. We are seeing encouraging progress. Last year, more than 26 AI Centres of Excellence were set up to push the frontiers of AI innovation and use. For example, Lilly's Digital Health Innovation Hub will accelerate research and development of AI-powered digital health technologies, helping doctors better understand patient needs and provide personalised care. Another example, in the financial services, Prudential's global AI Lab incubates tools to enhance customer experience and improve staff efficiency. The Lab will also partner Institutes of Higher Learning to provide students with opportunities for hands-on-learning. The Enterprise Compute Initiative announced by the Prime Minister in his Budget Speech will help anchor more Centres of Excellence in Singapore and support more innovative AI applications. We are also seeing more organisations use AI for the public good. For example, the National Parks Board is exploring an AI application named KOEL built by participants of the Build For Good Hackathon to help with biodiversity surveys using bioacoustics.”
“Most of the feedback is really around pigeons and crows. This is something that NParks has been working very closely with Town Councils on to manage some of these disamenities and to manage the population issues on the ground. Let me touch on two particular areas that NParks has been working closely with the Town Councils on.”
“Most of the feedback is really around pigeons and crows. This is something that HDB has been working very closely with Town Councils on to manage some of these disamenities and to manage the population issues on the ground. Let me touch on two particular areas that HDB has been working closely with the Town Councils on. [Please refer to "Committee of Supply – Head T (Ministry of National Development)", Official Report, 5 March 2025, Vol 95, Issue 158, Budget section.] [(proc text) Written statement by Mr Tan Kiat How circulated with leave of the Speaker in accordance with Standing Order No 29(5): (proc text)] I wish to make the following factual correction to my reply given during the Sitting of 5 March 2025. My statement should read as follows:”
“For example, as part of the TC-managed tree regime, how can we work together with NParks to expedite the removal of crow nest and to stem the growth of the crow populations and NParks will deploy trained contractors and operators for such operations. There are a number of things we can do as well in terms of habitant modification. The Town Councils can work together with NParks to step up pruning of the trees in hotspot to discourage roosting and we can also improve trapping efficacy; for example, through the use of new designs and trapping methods such as mist nets. And thirdly, again, similar to the pigeon issue is about food reduction so I look forward to Town Councils working together of NParks to minimise the availability of food sources and to work together with agencies, like NEA and SFA, to improve food and refuse disposal.”
“Okay. Firstly, it is on pigeons. The Member asked about the pilot that we are working on with three Town Councils (TCs). I mentioned earlier Bishan-Toa Payoh, Ang Mo Kio and Tanjong Pagar. The results are encouraging but one of the most important set of takeaways from the pilot it really requires – it is not just the Town Council or HDB – but requires everyone to play our part. It is not just about reducing the population sizes of the pigeons in the estate, but it is really to minimise the food sources which is one important driver for the pigeon population. So, the Member asked what they can do or how can they work more closely with different agencies. The first will be making sure that food sources can be minimised. For example, SFA is working with hawker centre operators to retrofit tray return tracks, having protective netting at food establishments where the bird nuisances were reported to minimise the food source availability for such birds. For example, also, working together with NEA to monitor waste disposal activities near bulk bins and for the Town Councils to also take enforcement action against improper refuse disposal. So, there are things that we can do; practical, sensible steps that we can do. We are evaluating the results of the pilot and we will see how we can extend it to more Town Councils. On the second species of pest bird issues is really around crows, and that is where NParks has leaned in, leaned forward to work closely with Town Councils to minimise the crow issues on the ground. So, there are things that we can do, sensible things we can do.”
“Sir, I thank the Member for raising this issue. Indeed, for many town councils across the board, managing pest birds is something that they are working on and we see the number of feedback and complaints coming up, rising over the years. The Member mentioned pest birds but maybe allow me to just speak about two specific species because there are slightly different techniques and approach that we use for pigeons as well as crows. Basically, there are roughly, broadly, about four pest bird species in Singapore. We have feral pigeons, common and white-minted mynahs and house crows. So, most of the feedback is really around pigeons and crows. This is something that the HDB has been working very closely with Town Councils to manage some of these disamenities and to manage the population issues on the ground. Let me touch on two particular areas that the HDB has been working closely with Town Councils on. [Please refer to "Clarification by Senior Minister of State for National Development", Official Report, 5 March 2025, Vol 95, Issue 158, Correction By Written Statement section.]”
“So, we are looking at our targets. We will consider the next bound of our targets beyond 2030 and we will chart our approach beyond that. I just want to make a final point to say that, ultimately, these are targets, but it is really the spirit of it. It is our commitment to shaping a City in Nature and we must take ambitious steps to weave nature more closely as part of our urban environment, especially as a small and densely populated city-state, with very tight land use constraints. This is a major endeavour that the Government cannot undertake alone. We will need the support of the community and as mentioned earlier in my COS speech, I encourage many more Singaporeans, like-minded Singaporeans, enterprises, corporates, community partners, to work together with us on this important effort.”
“Sir, I just wanted to reply to Mr Chong Kee Hiong's second query about the targets. We announced our vision to transform Singapore from a City in a Garden to a City in Nature at COS 2020. That seems quite a long time ago. We were still in the midst of COVID-19 half a decade ago. We shared our aspiration for Singaporeans to co-exist with flora and fauna, and talked about the importance of enhancing greenery across our island in the face of climate change, more extreme weather conditions and also increased urbanisation. This was one of the pillars under the Singapore Green Plan 2030. We have put in place a set of longer-term targets, mostly pegged to 2030, to ensure that we keep on track to make our aspirations a reality. And we are very heartened to see that we are making steady and strong progress in meeting many of these targets, even at the halfway point. And many of these targets span the four key areas of our City in Nature vision, namely: first, conserving and extending our natural capital; second, intensifying nature in our parks and gardens; third, to restore nature in our urban landscape; and fourth, strengthening connectivity between our green spaces. So, we have made good progress over the last few years, notwithstanding many of challenges of COVID-19. We are now, as Mr Chong pointed out, at the midway mark. Looking at the City in Nature targets, it is a timely opportunity for us to review them and we will do so. We will take stock of our progress and more importantly, identify the areas where we can strengthen our efforts, where needed, to make greater strides to meeting our targets. We are doing so not just under our City in Nature targets, but also in context of the broader Green Plan 2030 that involves many agencies and other Ministries.”
“We now have 17 therapeutic gardens in parks across the island, more than halfway towards our target of 30 gardens by 2030. These gardens are thoughtfully designed to cater to a diverse range of users, including seniors, children with special needs and wheelchair users, to facilitate interactions with nature, improve well-being and encourage active living. Singaporeans can look forward to more green spaces that incorporate therapeutic landscapes and pro-health features, such as the upcoming gardens in Teachers' Estate Park and park at Spottiswoode. (In English): Sir, please let me conclude. As Singapore continues to develop, we will ensure that all Singaporeans feel fulfilled, included and empowered in their communities and homes. We are heartened to see community stewardship for our estates, animals and nature, and we will keep working closely with our residents as we push forward with our efforts. Together, we can nurture a Singapore that is vibrant and inclusive for many generations to come.”
“We have stepped up efforts to manage our pest bird populations. In an effort to stem the growth of the crow population and reduce the risk to public safety, NParks has since last year progressively taken on the function of removing crow nests in trees within areas managed by Town Councils. To address the bird feeding situation, we partnered Town Councils and agencies last year to deploy more CCTV cameras and enforcement personnel at identified feeding hotspots. Last year, we took action against 258 incidents for feeding pigeons illegally. For feeders with mental health needs, NParks works with agencies to understand their motivations, address misconceptions and discourage them from feeding. We will continue to collaborate with Active Ageing Centres to raise awareness among the elderly on the negative impacts of bird feeding. To complement these efforts, we have also ramped up education and outreach on bird feeding and food waste management at food and bin centres, in collaboration with NEA and SFA. Everyone plays a part in keeping our estates clean. We also launched a pigeon management pilot last year, which included a customised plan for participating Town Councils and guidelines for direct population control. The preliminary results are encouraging. The number of pigeon-related feedback across the three Town Councils under the pilot – Bishan-Toa Payoh, Ang Mo Kio and Tanjong Pagar – has decreased between July to December 2024. We are evaluating the pilot's outcomes further and plan to expand the initiative to other Town Councils. Chairman, please allow me say a few words in Mandarin. (In Mandarin): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] We have been working hard to make our green spaces more inclusive.”
“We are reviewing the regulatory framework for the prevention and control of animal diseases and veterinary health products. This includes measures to stem animal smuggling and ensure the quality of veterinary health products (VHPs). We are also reviewing enforcement powers and regulatory levers for animal welfare and management. For example, we are reviewing the licensing regime for regulated pet sector activities and penalties for animal cruelty offences, including the disqualification order. NParks has been conducting small-group discussions with the relevant stakeholders and incorporating their inputs. We intend to share more details later this year and will conduct consultations with a broader set of stakeholders to get feedback. Last year, we launched the Cat Management Framework to enhance the welfare and traceability of cats, which includes the licensing of pet cats. Mr Louis Ng asked about the sterilisation for pet cats. Last month, I gave a more comprehensive update on the progress of the Framework. We are encouraged to see that 97% of pet cats licensed to HDB flats to date have already been sterilised. We have just started implementing the cat management framework, which requires extensive effort on the ground. For now, we will monitor the situation and work closely with our partners to raise awareness on the benefits of sterilisation. Ms Nadia Samdin, Mr Chong Kee Hiong, Mr Xie Yao Quan and Mr Lim Biow Chuan asked about our wildlife management approach, including our pest bird management efforts. To ensure public health and safety, we will continue to work closely with relevant agencies and stakeholders on our science and community-based approach to manage wildlife populations and strengthen awareness on managing human-wildlife encounters.”
“Launched last December, it aims to scale up our coral restoration efforts over the next 10 years and beyond, with focus on the recovery of rarer species, like the Staghorn coral. We have begun working with experts to develop a coral reef restoration plan, which will guide future restoration efforts and plan to involve the wider community in our efforts. We will share more details when ready. We are also very encouraged to see residents initiating green efforts to enliven shared spaces, as Ms Carrie Tan has mentioned. Through the Lively Places Fund (LPF), we have supported ground-up efforts, including allotment or community gardens. To make it easier for communities to set up gardens in their estates, we have simplified the LPF application process. Going forward, communities will be able to submit proposals for gardening initiatives, including on top of underutilised HDB multi-storey carparks via a centralised application portal. Applications will open every six months and more details will be shared by HDB. Besides gardening, LPF supports community-driven projects that transform public spaces into active, vibrant spaces that bring communities together and we welcome such applications via the same portal. 1.00 pm The community also plays a key role in safeguarding animal health and welfare. In light of the cases of animal cruelty and neglect we have encountered in the past year, we have been hearing greater calls to review our penalties. Mr Henry Kwek asked for an update on our ongoing review of the Animals and Birds Act (ABA). The ABA provides us with the powers to detect, prevent and control the spread of animal diseases and to safeguard animal welfare in Singapore.”
“This grant is intended to assist households that require direct lift access due to mobility challenges in securing homes that are more accessible and convenient for them. I encourage households with pressing accessibility needs to approach HDB for assistance. Members can also direct these households that require such assistance to our HDB colleagues. HDB will seek to understand the circumstances of the household and provide the necessary support. In response to Mr Faisal Manap's query on LUP for the three blocks, the current lift configurations were decided in consultation with residents and their representatives. They meet the objective of achieving direct lift access for every resident and were also successfully polled by the residents of the block. Ms Nadia Samdin, Ms Ng Ling Ling and Mr Henry Kwek asked about how we can empower more people to be involved in our City in Nature journey. We work closely with the community, industry partners and stakeholders to realise our City in Nature vision and we are very grateful for their support. For example, since the Nature Kakis Network was launched in 2023, we have established 23 Chapters islandwide with over 250 Nature Kaki stewards. NParks also works with community members on the OneMillionTrees Movement, which has planted more than 760,000 trees, including forest and mangrove trees, since 2020. We encourage interested residents to step forward and work alongside us in stewarding our City in Nature. When we embark on new park projects, we also involve residents in designing features that will cater to their needs and will continue to do so. Interested residents can also be involved in safeguarding biodiversity, such as through the 100k Corals Initiative, which Ms Nadia has also asked about.”
“Last year, we reopened Sisters' Islands Marine Park, which offers barrier-free amenities, including a floating boardwalk, which doubles as a coral habitat and research site. Residents can also look forward to a wheelchair-accessible jetty at Pulau Ubin, which will commence work this year. Mr Ang Wei Neng, Mr Muhamad Faisal Abdul Manap and Mr Dennis Tan asked about the lift provision in our HDB estates and improving accessibility for residents facing mobility challenges. I fully appreciate the points raised by Members and can empathise with the difficulties that mobility challenged residents face. Today, around 99% of all HDB blocks were either built with direct lift access or has benefitted from the Lift Upgrading Programme, or LUP. Since January 2023, we have offered LUP to 28 HDB blocks that do not have direct lift access. HDB is constantly studying how to make our blocks more accessible and inclusive. It keeps abreast of technological development and trials potential solutions to determine their feasibility and cost-effectiveness. Over the years, HDB has explored mechanical solutions, such as chairlifts and stair climbers. However, these were not implemented due to safety concerns. HDB will continue to explore new ways to bring direct lift access to the remaining blocks, such as working with research institutes to better leverage technology. As HDB does so, it has put in place measures to support households that face mobility challenges. For example, these households can tap on the Lift access Housing Grant (LHG), which can support successful applicants with up to $30,000 to buy new and resale HDB flats that have direct lift access.”
“To answer Ms Nadia's query, we are working with the nature community, experts and other agencies on detailed site studies, to inform the designation of the second marine park. We will share more details when ready. Ms Nadia and Miss Cheryl Chan asked about accessibility and inclusivity of our green and common spaces, and how we can cater spaces for active living. We have made a concerted effort to make our green spaces more accessible and inclusive. Our network of green spaces with therapeutic gardens, landscapes and pro-health features enriches our interactions with nature. Mdm Auo Siew Kheng and Mdm Tan Sew Leng are residents who visit the therapeutic garden at HortPark. They are both wheelchair dependent in their golden years and Mdm Auo is also living with dementia. At the therapeutic garden, they enjoy hands-on gardening activities amidst nature and explore sensory plants, like pandan, which evokes memories of local culinary delights. We now have 17 therapeutic gardens within our parks island-wide, which is more than halfway to our target of having 30 by 2030. So, as we expand our network of parks in the coming years, we will incorporate more therapeutic landscapes and pro-health features where feasible, such as the upcoming Teachers' Estate Park and the park at Spottiswoode. We are also ensuring our parks and gardens are accessible for a diverse range of users, including seniors, children with special needs and wheelchair users, so as to facilitate interactions with nature and encourage active living. For example, in East Coast Park, the KPMG Wellness Garden incorporates barrier-free paths and features a wheelchair-friendly trampoline and accessible lookout platforms. For our Nature Parks, Rifle Range Nature Park also features a wheelchair-friendly boardwalk.”
“Sir, since Independence, the Government has been working hard to ensure Singaporeans enjoy a pleasant and green living environment. We have come far since our Garden City days and are now transforming Singapore into a City in Nature. Ms Nadia Ahmad Samdin has asked for progress updates. We are continuing to expand our green spaces and bring them closer to every resident. First, we have achieved our 2021 target of developing 130 hectares of new parks by 2026. Second, to make green spaces even more accessible for Singaporeans, as of end 2024, we have established 391 kilometres of park connectors. This is equivalent to crossing Singapore's length from East to West almost eight times. We are making good progress towards achieving our target of 500 kilometres of park connectors by 2030. National Parks Board (NParks) will continue expanding its network of parks and park connectors. With eight parks and 13 kilometres of park connectors added to our pipeline of green spaces, we target to develop more than 25 new parks and over 50 kilometres of park connectors, which Singaporeans can look forward to over the next five years. We are also progressively carrying out concept studies on over 100 hectares of potential park development area in the coming years, with a view to bring more green spaces closer to all Singaporeans. These complement our plans to enhance 13 Southwestern parks, including transforming three of the parks into Destination Parks and the rejuvenation and greening of Orchard Road. We are also expanding our blue spaces. Last year, we announced plans to designate a second marine park at Lazarus South and Kusu Reef.”
“So, these are steps that SingPost has taken and IMDA as a regulator will continue to monitor this situation closely.”
“Sir, on the Member's question about the review of the postal sector, that review is ongoing. As I mentioned in my reply earlier, the structural factors that the postal service sector is facing have not changed. There is a decline in terms of the letter postal mail. More of us are not sending a physical mail and more are using digital means. So, the structural factors have not changed and we are still looking at how we can ensure that postal services remain sustainable, accessible and also cost-effective for all Singaporeans to meet our needs. So, that review is ongoing and we will continue to work with the SingPost team on those factors and reviews. On the point about assurance that the domestic postal services remain unaffected, as I had mentioned earlier in the response to Dr Tan's question, we are closely monitoring the situation. And the Member mentioned about some of the exchanges made publicly between the dismissed executives and the SingPost management and board. I will not talk more about it because there might be litigation action between the parties. For IMDA as a regulator, our primary concern is to make sure that the domestic services continue and are not affected. And with this regard, we have also sent an advisory note to the SingPost board. We are glad to note that SingPost is taking this seriously. For example, they have taken steps to help ensure this. The chairman has indicated he will step up to provide closer guidance to management. The Singapore business unit's CEO, who directly oversees domestic postal services, remains in the role and the group CFO has been replaced by an experienced executive. SingPost has also newly created a group COO role and a person has been appointed to oversee the domestic operations.”
“Sir, I gave a relatively more comprehensive reply to the Member's question last year on postal services, including the post office in Clementi, so I will not repeat some of those points but will focus my answer on the issue at hand and the Parliamentary Question that was raised. As I had mentioned earlier, our primary concern as a regulator is that domestic postal services to the public is not affected. IMDA has ascertained that this was the case. The whistle-blowing incident involved overseas e-commerce parcel delivery and did not affect domestic letter delivery. That said, we are concerned with both the findings of the whistle-blowing incident and the subsequent dismissals, and are monitoring the situation closely to ensure that domestic postal services remain unaffected, especially during this period, where the new group chief executive officer (CEO) has yet to be appointed. And as I mentioned earlier, we are working very closely with the CEO of the SingPost domestic business unit to ensure that business continuity remains, staff morale remains and that they deliver their obligations under the licensing regulations. We are also monitoring very closely the QOS standards, and the various regulatory standards are still in place. So, we assure Members that we are paying close attention to the incident.”
“JTM is Job Transformation Map for the information and communication workforce, which was published in October 2022. That JTM report identified AI as one of the key emerging trends that will transform technology roles. The Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) partnered with five JTM partners to scale reskilling and upskilling efforts in AI and analytics, with an emphasis on generative AI (Gen AI) and two other in-demand areas: software engineering and cloud and mobility. We launched the JTM Partners Programme and we are making good progress with our JTM partners since it launched in 2023, last year. So, the 190 figure was in the context of that very specific JTM training programme. But as I mentioned earlier in my reply, we have a suite of different programmes under TeSA and under CCP which have shown good results in the past. JTM is part of this umbrella of effort that the Government is doing and there are many industry partners – I mentioned some in my earlier reply – and they are also stepping up to support mid-career transitions, supporting people who are currently in IT roles or technology roles to pick up new certifications, new skills to do new AI roles that are emerging. I would also like to share with the Member that besides the good progress we are making with the JTM partners, we have a healthy pipeline of workers who have expressed interest to undergo the necessary CCP training. In summary, the figures that the Estimates Committee referred to, the 190, is set in context to the specific JTM programme, which is part of the broader career conversion and TeSA skills that we are doing and part of the broader AI talent manpower strategy that we have embarked on.”