Teo Ho Pin
Singapore
“Mr Chairman, Sir, when Total Defence was first introduced in 1984, it was recognised that threats will not simply affect our military but potentially Singaporeans, combatants and non-combatants alike. Thus, we must continue to build resilience in our people and community.”
“Chairman, over the past year, we have witnessed an increase in the number of cybersecurity breaches. As a response to these incidents, many countries are stepping up efforts to strengthen their cybersecurity capabilities.”
“Sir, I wish to seek an update from the Minister on the skills upgrading and development of public officers as well as aspiring public officers, especially in the three areas which I have mentioned. Can the Government also consider giving out scholarships to nurture and attract talent in these fields? Role of PMO”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, we should empower the community to come up with innovative solutions like North West 911 and build capabilities in our people to cope better during emergencies.”
“The French Government passed a law in 2016 mandating that large supermarkets have to donate excess food to food banks and charitable organisations. If we had a similar initiative in Singapore, we can not only reduce the amount of food waste, but we can also help those in need.”
“Sir, I have three clarifications for the Senior Minister of State. First, will the Ministry consider licensing PMDs so as to manage the growth of PMDs in Singapore and also to make it compulsory for the PMD riders to attend a safe riding course?”
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“Mr Chairman, Sir, to be a Smart Nation, it is important to first build a smart infrastructure. Subsequently, it is important that such we made accessible to all Singaporeans. Sir, in Singapore, we have 4.7 million smart mobile device users. However, not all users have data plans to which, enable them to fully and freely use their smart mobile devices and mobile apps services. Sir, the costs of subscription of these mobile data plans is an impediment to creating a Smart Nation. The speed at which we educate our smart mobile device users is another barrier, slowing our progress to becoming a digital society. Sir, I would like to propose that all Community Clubs and Residents' Committee Centres be equipped with free access for Digital Services such as online news, e-Government services and e-learning services. This will encourage lifelong learning and active digital lifestyles among Singaporeans. Sir, I wish to ask the Minister to update the House on the digital access scheme for low-income households and to consider providing subsidies for smart mobile devices and digital services for seniors. Future Role of Library”
“Mr Chairman, over the last 50 years, ASEAN has provided an excellent platform for its member countries to cooperate to achieve political stability and economic growth in the region. Many dialogues and exchanges have resulted in strong and friendly bilateral and multi-lateral relations among its member countries. At the same time, free trade agreements have facilitated economic cooperation and growth in various countries. These efforts have benefited and improve the quality of life for people in ASEAN member countries through the benefits yielded through economic interdependence. Sir, in 2015 the ASEAN Economic Committee (AEC) was established to further boost economic cooperation among ASEAN member countries to serve its growing population of 630 million people. By 2030, 60% of the population will be middle-class and thus ASEAN will be the fourth largest single market in the world after United States, China and the European Union. Sir, there is a need to expedite and increase business interactions among companies in the ASEAN region. As a financial and business hub, Singapore can consider hosting more ASEAN trade exhibitions and conferences. These can be CEO networking sessions, business development opportunities, sharing and skills training for future growth industries. These business interaction opportunities can be expanded to the Asia-Pacific region. Sir, I wish to ask Minister to provide updates on first, Singapore's efforts in engaging ASEAN and its member countries on economic cooperation; second, the status of the Regional Comprehensive partnership (RCEP).”
“Mr Chairman, the success of Total Defence is contingent upon active participation and contribution by all parts of society, including the Government, businesses, communities and individuals. Unfortunately, the Total Defence initiatives you see today are for the most part initiated by the Government. We should aim to have more civic participation in Total Defence. Civic participation manifested in the form of an app called North West 911, developed by volunteers from the North West Community Development Council (CDC). This app can help Singaporeans to better cope and respond to 14 crisis scenarios and administer basis first aid, among other functions. We are in the process of encouraging more people to download this app so that they can have a crisis guide and a resource directory, all from the convenience of one's pocket. Sir, I wish to call on the Minister to support the North West 911 initiative and urge all Singaporeans, especially members of the uniformed services, to download the app and be operationally ready to respond effectively to any future emergencies. Sir, I wish to ask the Minister for an update on the Government-led and community-led efforts to strengthen Total Defence and their effectiveness.”
“Mr Chairman, Sir, when Total Defence was first introduced in 1984, it was recognised that threats will not simply affect our military but potentially Singaporeans, combatants and non-combatants alike. Thus, we must continue to build resilience in our people and community. In order for Singapore to prevail over a threat, it is important that we fortify the resilience of the entire community. This concept has become more salient today, in the face of threats such as terrorism, cyber attacks, and especially so in face of the recent COVID-19 outbreak. Sir, I wish to ask the Minister for an update on MINDEF's efforts to engage the community and to equip them with the relevant psychological states, knowledge and skills to deal with a myriad of threats that Singapore may encounter. Education”
“Chairman, over the past year, we have witnessed an increase in the number of cybersecurity breaches. As a response to these incidents, many countries are stepping up efforts to strengthen their cybersecurity capabilities. At a Committee of Supply debate last year, the Minister for Defence announced that a Defence Cybersecurity Centre would be set up. Could I ask the Minister to provide an update on MINDEF's efforts in strengthening our cybersecurity capabilities to deter and act against potential threats? Data Protection”
“Sir, I wish to seek an update from the Minister on the skills upgrading and development of public officers as well as aspiring public officers, especially in the three areas which I have mentioned. Can the Government also consider giving out scholarships to nurture and attract talent in these fields? Role of PMO”
“Sir, at the last COS, I sought an update on the skills development of public officers. As the problems of today are becoming more complex, nuanced and require different solutions from the problems of the past, it is inevitable that our public officers will be required to learn new skills and sharpen existing skills. This is a real concern in light of the findings by the Auditor-General’s Office of recurring lapses in the bureaucracy which have raised concerns on public accountability, especially in the areas of procurement and contract management, project management and facilities management. There are several reasons why these lapses have occurred: first, outsourcing of work, with price as the greatest determining factor of selecting contracts. Second, lack of expertise, especially among mid to high level bureaucrats. Third, high frequency of staff rotation and poor protocols in relation to the handing over of duties. Fourth, insufficient use of technology to reduce human error. Fifth, a lack of accreditation or standards for public officers. Sir, as Singapore becomes a worldclass city with worldclass infrastructure, our public officers must have the skill sets to manage increasingly complex projects. Our public officers also need to possess the relevant expertise in order to carry out their responsibilities and plan, staff and supervise projects closely. This is so that we can ensure that our public officers can work closely with stakeholders in the various industries, to ensure quality delivery of public services, public projects and smooth completion of private sector projects. 3.45 pm It is, therefore, imperative that our Public Service pushes itself to continually improve and keep up with the times.”
“Third, a telemonitoring system (TMS) for the monitoring of lift breakdowns and also a lift performance dashboard management system to monitor and improve the reliability and safety of 24,000 lifts in the 15 PAP Town Councils. In addition, Holland-Bukit Panjang Town Council has embarked on a number of Smart Town initiatives to improve township management services for residents. For example, we have digitalised over 90 blocks of our flats using Building Information Modelling (BIM) to build a digital database of as-built drawings to facilitate and augment maintenance and improvement works. We have developed a Smart BFA application to enable users of Personal Mobility Aids to navigate Barrier Free Access routes and facilities in Bukit Panjang Town. We are also exploring other smart town features, such as smart locks, for roof access, e-procurement and payment and sensors for improving lift performance. Sir, at this point, I wish to ask the Minister to update the House on the progress of Smart Nation initiatives and to call for more support for the implementation of smart technologies in our HDB towns. Smart Lamp Posts”
“Chairman, Sir, the Smart Nation initiative was first announced by Prime Minister Lee in 2014. It aims to make Singapore into an outstanding city where people live, work and play in an innovation-rich environment. Building a Smart Nation requires a concerted national effort which comprises three pillars: digital Government, digital economy and digital society. As the central coordinating agency for e-Government services, the Smart Nation and Digital Government Group has implemented a number of online services to benefit both businesses and our people. These include services pertaining to CPF services, parking, libraries and SkillsFuture. At the town level, I wish to share some initiatives undertaken by the PAP Town Councils to support Smart Nation initiatives and to seek support from the Government to expedite the implementation of Smart Town technologies and features to benefit three million HDB residents. Over the years, the PAP Town Councils have developed and implemented various IT and digital solutions to better serve our residents. These include, first, the computerisation of our financial system known as the Town Council Management System (TCMS) which integrates our system with those of various Government agencies, banks and service providers. Second, the computerisation and digitisation of our Complaint Management System called the Integrated Estate Management System (IEMS) which collects feedback from residents and stakeholders for maintenance and improvement purposes. To support this objective, we have also developed the iTown mobile application for residents to provide feedback on Town Council matters and a dashboard management system for IEMS.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, we should empower the community to come up with innovative solutions like North West 911 and build capabilities in our people to cope better during emergencies. In this regard, I would urge the Finance Minister to consider setting up an Emergency Preparedness Endowment Fund to continually train all Singaporeans to be prepared for crises which may occur in the future. In conclusion, I would like to reiterate my call to the Government, businesses and the community to develop robust contingency plans and for crisis management capabilities to be developed at all levels of Singaporean society.”
“Sir, I have spoken on building capabilities on the Government and business levels. I wish to now speak on building capabilities in the community. The community forms the first and last bulwarks against threats. It is likely that members of the public will be the first responders in crises. As such, community participation should be factored into our contingency plans. It is imperative that we equip our people with the knowledge and skills to survive and to help others during a crisis. Sir, volunteers from North West CDC have developed a mobile application called "North West 911" to provide a mobile toolkit which one can access from the convenience of their mobile devices anywhere and anytime to better respond to emergencies. This app provides an emergency preparedness and response protocol guide for 14 crisis scenarios, such as fire, flood, bomb threats or infectious disease outbreak. It also has an illustrated first-aid guide, an emergency bag inventory checklist, a resource directory covering clinics, polyclinics, hospitals, police stations, civil defence shelters, community centres and emergency telephone numbers which Singaporeans can call to seek assistance when in Singapore or in the 10 most frequently travelled overseas destinations by Singaporeans. Sir, there is great potential with this app, given that there are 4.7 million smart mobile device users in Singapore. By having this app downloaded by these users, we can build a 4.7 million-strong community of lifesavers. I would like to urge Members of this House to download the app to your smartphones. Just go to your respective app store as the app is available on both the iphone operating system (iOS) and Android, key in "North West 911" and take the lead in preparing for emergencies.”
“Based on the experience and expertise of various stakeholders, such as architects, interior designers, coffee shop operators and users, we have developed a new benchmark for clean toilets at coffee shops. By using the correct designs and materials, toilets can be built to achieve these desired outcomes as follows: first, robust and vandalism-proof; second, easy to maintain; and third, clean and safe for users. This, together with the professional training of cleaners and continuously educating our users to be kind and gracious when using toilets, can transform the toilet culture in Singapore. At the same time, it will remove potential breeding spots for bacteria and diseases. Sir, we have adopted the Clean Toilet benchmark and upgraded a coffee shop in Bukit Panjang as a "show flat" for clean toilets. Details of the Clean Toilet project can be downloaded from North West CDC’s website. We are pleased to note that all the coffee shop operators in Bukit Panjang have agreed to upgrade their toilets to meet this new benchmark. This will transform our toilets to be clean and safe. Sir, the adoption of these standards will inspire confidence in our hygiene and safety standards and will continue to boost consumption. Sir, many will say that this is a pipe dream, given the current culture surrounding toilet usage. However, the South Korean government was able to enact huge and, more importantly, lasting changes within the span of eight years. Clean toilets are the norm today. The transformation has been permanent and successful, with South Korean toilets continuing to be some of the cleanest in the world, 26 years after the start of the South Korean Restroom Reform. We should learn from their experiences and start our own Singaporean Restroom Revolution.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I would like to propose some measures that the Government can undertake to help these businesses and restore confidence. First, by boosting consumer demand. This can be done by providing matching grants to businesses when they give discount vouchers to consumers. Sir, many customers are concerned with the situation and choose to stay at home. This has caused many businesses to hemorrhage money as there are significant overhead costs. To keep our businesses afloat, it is important that measures which incentivise consumers to consume are implemented. Businesses can entice consumers by giving them monthly discount coupons on air tickets, hotel stays and shopping vouchers. The Government can help by giving matching grants to these businesses to help soften the blow of COVID-19. Second, by boosting consumer confidence. This can be done by increasing the frequency of cleaning, disinfecting our surroundings and improving on hygiene. We can ensure that temperature checks are conducted at all shopping centres, hotels and tourist attractions. These measures will further boost consumer confidence to visit Singapore and our attractions. Sir, restrooms are a visible gauge of hygiene standards. An ill-maintained, dirty restroom is likely to evoke thoughts of disease growth and feelings of repulsion. As such, the maintenance of clean toilets in Singapore can reduce these unpleasant sentiments and incentivise consumption by boosting confidence that measures to reduce the risk of disease transmission are being taken. In January 2020, the North West Community Development Council (CDC) implemented a project named "Clean Toilets @ North West" to transform all toilets at coffee shops.”
“Its BCP includes measures, such as establishing a database to keep stock of supplies during an emergency, making its command structure mobile and drawing from a global supply chain made possible with alliances, such as the one with Renault. Sir, we should consider learning from best practices overseas and press for both our Government agencies and businesses in Singapore to develop BCPs. To facilitate the effective development of BCP in business, the Government can issue BCP guidelines to the private sector, as the Cabinet Office of Japan did in 2005. Sir, we should be as ambitious as them and aim to have 100% of our large-sized and 50% of our medium-sized enterprises formulate these BCPs and have them executable in 10 years. At this juncture, I wish to share that the 15 People's Action Party Town Councils are reviewing their respective BCPs to ensure that they are kept operational even during times of crises. Last year, we started to develop our BCP framework in accordance with international standards, that is, the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 22301, to ensure that the plans are objectively consistent, credible and viable. In addition to the operational benefits this will yield, on a psychological level, this will inspire confidence in our residents that their needs will continue to be taken care of during a crisis. With COVID-19, it is patently clear that even the best-designed BCP may be found wanting, especially when global supply chains are disrupted and fear spreads within communities. There is no shortage of literature displaying the dismal effects of COVID-19 on our businesses. Firms in the aviation, tourism, retail, F&B and transport industries have been hit especially hard.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I rise in support of the Budget. Sir, COVID-19 has shown and demonstrated that robust contingency planning is necessary to ensure that we can cope with the worst effects of crises. Singaporeans have expressed confidence in the foresight of our Government and its willingness to spare no expense in ensuring that sufficient provisions are made for times of emergency. Far-sighted and robust contingency planning has allowed us to prevail over crises in times past and will help us to tide over crises in times to come. Budget 2020 is testimony to the commitment of our Government to help businesses and Singaporeans to overcome the COVID-19 outbreak. Sir, I wish to speak on the importance of contingency planning. In particular, I wish to speak on how we can build capabilities in our Government, businesses and the community to ensure that we are prepared for future emergencies or crises. I would also like to propose some measures that the Government can facilitate to alleviate the strain placed on our nation by COVID-19. Sir, I would like to call on the Government, businesses and shareholders in the community to develop and implement business continuity plans (BCPs) to make Singapore and Singaporeans more resilient against threats of varying natures. BCPs have proven to be useful. Please allow me to cite two examples. On the government level, the Tourism Authority of Thailand was able to use its BCP to help the Thai tourism industry recover after crises, such as the 2004 tsunami and the 2009 riots. On the business level, Nissan’s contingency planning, which was reviewed and refined multiple times over the years, allowed it to minimise production disruptions following the 2011 Tohoku Earthquake.”
“The French Government passed a law in 2016 mandating that large supermarkets have to donate excess food to food banks and charitable organisations. If we had a similar initiative in Singapore, we can not only reduce the amount of food waste, but we can also help those in need. Struggling households will greatly benefit from receiving this food while we make strides in cutting down on waste. I would like to propose that the Ministry study the possibility of enacting similar measures. Sir, in conclusion, while I stand wholly in support of the Bill, I believe that future legislation or initiatives should make more room for the inclusion of all those who reside in Singapore to contribute more to sustainability. I believe that the best solution to solving our issues pertaining to waste is to foster an environmentally-conscious society on all levels and across all sectors, in which the pursuit of reduced waste is a concept which is ingrained on a subconscious level in Singaporean businesses, people and the Government.”
“First, the Government should launch an education campaign aimed at educating businesses and consumers on how to properly dispose of various kinds of waste, including food and e-waste. The goal of this campaign is to ultimately ingrain sustainable practices into the subconscious of each and every Singaporean, in a similar fashion to how the proper separation of waste has become a given to most Japanese people. In addition, in relation to education pertaining to consumers and businesses, the Government should aim for the three following policy outcomes. One, for consumers and businesses to make every conscious effort to fight climate change and engage in sustainable practices, such as using energy-efficient appliances and purchasing the right amount of food. Two, for responsible consumption and proper disposal of waste to become second nature to consumers and businesses. Three, for consumers and businesses to encourage others to adhere to sustainable practices, through whistleblowing or otherwise, and to prevent the indiscriminate disposal of waste. Second, the Government can provide tax breaks or grants to retailers who choose to engage in CSR programmes, such as replacing the energy-inefficient appliances of low-income households with more energy-efficient models. Sir, air-conditioners and refrigerators which are energy-inefficient consume a great amount of energy. Low-income households are unable, rather than unwilling, to replace these. It would be beneficial if the Government can provide tax breaks for these companies as their actions will help not just the environment, but also our less fortunate. Third, the Government can work with our supermarkets to ensure that food nearing expiry is not simply disposed of but is provided to the less well-off in Singapore.”
“We can learn from the Victorian government in incentivising the creation of waste disposal infrastructure in our nation. Third, the Government should set up an online National Registry of Producers and Regulated Products. This will not only help businesses in reducing costs associated with developing their own systems to monitor and track these products, but it will also help the Government in aggregating data on a national scale. This will help it to identify ways in which schemes can be improved upon, and programmes introduced, in order to ramp up sustainability efforts. It is not sufficient to simply assign the responsibility to businesses. The contributions of businesses in efforts, such as carrying energy-efficient appliances, promoting the purchase of these, providing attractive trade-in deals to incentivise consumers to use energy-efficient products, and setting up more e-waste recycling points are bound to aid in sustainability. However, the pursuit of sustainability should be a collective effort by Singaporeans from all walks of life. There are drawbacks to imposing the bulk of responsibility on the retailers. First, this will result in rising business expenditures for the retailers. In turn, they will pass on these increased costs to consumers. This may disincentivise Singaporeans from procuring more energy-efficient appliances and keeping up with technological advancements. The former will definitely not support environmentalism, while the latter will create speed bumps in our drive to make Singapore a smart nation and a global tech hub. Sir, I wish to make three proposals as to how we can take the provisions of the Bill further and work towards Singaporeans coming together to reduce waste and engaging in measures beneficial for the environment.”
“Sir, I would like to raise some questions relating to the Bill at this juncture. In relation to paragraph 15(1), it is stated that "large retailers must offer in-store collection of certain e-waste". With the proliferation of e-commerce, it is conceivable that e-retailers sell a comparable amount, if not more, in comparison to traditional brick-and-mortar retailers. How does the Ministry intend for these retailers to provide these physical collection points when they do not have any physical stores? In addition, the stipulations of paragraphs 14 and 15 are likely to cause large retailers of electrical and electronic appliances to incur additional costs. Has the Ministry studied how it can help to offset some of these costs? Sir, to help alleviate the burden on businesses, I would like to propose three measures. First, the Government should consider providing grants or tax breaks. These grants or tax breaks can be given when businesses invest in infrastructure to promote sustainable practices, such as the setting up of in-store collection points and waste recycling centres. Second, the Government can look into the possibility of renting industrial buildings to these retailers at subsidised prices if they are used for waste disposal processes, such as consolidation or sorting. We can learn from the state government of Victoria, Australia, which provides grants and funding for programmes contributing to sustainability, including infrastructure. In particular, one of the grants, known as the Resource Recovery Infrastructure Fund, aims to improve the collection, sorting and recycling of processed materials. It has allocated A$19.1 million since 2017. It has proven successful, with an estimated reduction in 900,000 tons of landfill waste per year.”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, I would like to declare my interest as the Vice-Chairman of SEC. I rise in support of the Bill. Sir, Singapore is a small nation with limited land area and no natural resources. This has necessitated us to import resources in order for us to build up our infrastructure and built environment to allow for Singaporeans to live, work and play as they do today. Likewise, 90% of our food is imported from outside of Singapore. This is in addition to the natural gas and liquefied natural gas that we import to generate 95% of our electricity. In other words, we are heavily reliant on supplies that we import to survive. There should be no illusions that we can survive in isolation. Yet, we are victims of our own success. Our economic growth has caused Singaporeans to become affluent and we have developed a tendency to overconsume. This over-consumption is not isolated to merely food but also other resources, such as electrical and electronic appliances. Statistics released by the Ministry places the amount of food waste per year at 763 million kg and the amount of e-waste per year at 60 million kg. Sir, climate change, an issue which Prime Minister Lee spoke on extensively at the recent National Day Rally, will pose threats to the supply of resources, such as reduction of harvest yields and disruptions to transportation. It is inevitable that these will affect Singaporeans, given our need to import resources. As such, all of us must play our part and make sustainability a way of life in Singapore. The Bill provides a good first step in encouraging the responsible consumption of resources and the proper disposal of e-waste and food waste among Singaporeans. It is also a good starting point in the creation of a sustainable ecosystem to manage waste in Singapore.”
“Sir, I have three clarifications for the Senior Minister of State. First, will the Ministry consider licensing PMDs so as to manage the growth of PMDs in Singapore and also to make it compulsory for the PMD riders to attend a safe riding course? Second, can the Ministry also consider reducing the speed limit on the approved PMD paths, especially those shared paths with pedestrians? And third, the Town Councils welcome the five trial sites which LTA has identified in terms of designating them as POZs. We hope that the study will help us to better understand the behaviour of PMDs in these town centres. The Town Councils have plans to ban PMDs at all common property unless it is approved by the Town Council or LTA.”
“Sir, I would like to make a clarification with Senior Minister of State Lam Pin Min regarding the proposed cycling path in Bukit Panjang Town. When is the cycling path going to be completed? Is the cycling path going to be a separate standalone cycling path away from the existing footpaths?”
“Sir, I am pleased to learn from Senior Minister of State Sim Ann that the library is planning to build eight to 10 learning pods. I am just wondering whether there is any plan to build a learning pod in Bukit Panjang library.”
“In essence, this approach will allow for the customisation of tailor-made learning programmes suited to the individual learning needs of Singaporeans. Sir, I understand that the libraries at Yishun North Point and Harbourfront have seven learning pods each. These learning pods contain video tutorials on various subjects ranging from coding to business. Sir, the learning pods, with their interactive screens, present tremendous potential to support self-learning. We should encourage the proliferation of these learning pods throughout libraries across Singapore. Sir, the opportunities for lifelong learning which our libraries can provide are many. I urge the Ministry to expedite the development of our libraries into self-learning hubs for Singaporeans.”
“Mr Chairman, Sir, our libraries are a wonderful resource to instil knowledge in our people. I understand that there have been collaborative efforts between the National Library Board (NLB) and SkillsFuture Singapore to upgrade the skills of Singaporeans. This is done mainly through SkillsFuture @ Libraries workshops held in our libraries. I would like to seek some clarifications on how our libraries can play a more proactive role in supporting SkillsFuture and lifelong learning. Also, I would like to seek an update as to how the Ministry has encouraged adult learners to use library resources. Sir, with the advent of digitisation, we can explore the use of technology to support lifelong learning. I would like to suggest that this be facilitated through two channels: first, the NLB mobile app, and second, NLB's Learning Pods. Sir, the NLB mobile app can be improved to collect user preferences and user data with the consent of users. This information can be subsequently used in the recommendation of library resources, such as books, e-books, audiobooks and videos, to users to aid in their self-development and learning. In fact, we can go one step further and create a data-sharing platform between SkillsFuture Singapore and NLB. This data-sharing platform will collate information, such as the career aspirations, sector of work or interests, of users who have registered with SkillsFuture. Subsequently, knowledge, resources and skills which are of interest or are beneficial to the respective users can be identified. The relevant resources can then be recommended to users through the NLB mobile app. This will allow users to identify the materials which will best aid in their self-improvement and learning and encourage self-learning.”
“Mr Chairman, Sir, I understand that the Critical Information Infrastructure (CII) sectors have been established with the express aim of improving cybersecurity so as to ensure the continuous delivery of essential services in Singapore. I applaud the Government's efforts at safeguarding our digital sphere. This is of paramount importance as we make the transition into a Smart Nation. Recent events, both domestically and internationally, such as the cyberattacks on SingHealth and the recent hack into the Australian parliament's computer network, underscore the threats that we face, and the necessity for swift, decisive action to mitigate or neutralise these threats. Having said this, I would like to seek some clarification in three areas: first, what are the essential public services that have been identified under the CII? Second, how will the infrastructure pertaining to these sectors be set up or otherwise modified to ensure robust cybersecurity? Third, what are the contingencies that the Government will employ in the event of a cyberattack or disruption of essential services? Cybersecurity for Businesses”
“Sir, a similar approach by ASEAN will empower ASEAN SMEs to compete in the global market by allowing them to achieve the economies of scale they require to do so. E-commerce presents opportunities not just for consumers, but also for businesses in ASEAN. We should utilise the platform of the ASEAN Smart Cities Network to allow for the global expansion of our firms through digitisation. Sir, I would also like to seek an update as to the progress of the ASEAN Smart Cities Network initiative which Singapore launched in its capacity as ASEAN Chair last year. ASEAN-EU Relations”
“Mr Chairman, Sir, over the last 50 years, ASEAN has worked hard to maintain peace and stability in the region. ASEAN has succeeded, for most of the part, in achieving this primary directive. As of today, the success of ASEAN has allowed it to not only be an enabler of peace, but also an enabler of economic interdependence. Sir, I would like to seek an update in regard to the key initiatives pursued by ASEAN to stay united and relevant to the world in this age of globalisation. Sir, with the advent of globalisation and the creation and subsequent expansion of economic blocs around the world, the role of ASEAN must yet expand again. It is imperative that ASEAN fosters greater economic, social and political collaboration among its constituent nations. Sir, I wish to speak on economic collaboration, namely, I would like to propose the creation of more business exchanges and partnerships in the region and the proliferation of e-commerce in the ASEAN community. In regard to economic collaboration, ASEAN should encourage more business exchanges and partnerships in the region. We can learn from the European Commission. The Commission introduced an initiative known as European Strategic Cluster Partnerships or ESCP-4i in 2016. These partnerships aim to support the internationalisation of European small and medium enterprises (SMEs) from 23 different countries by placing them across 150 cluster organisations. These cluster organisations subsequently penetrate foreign markets in different fields ranging from construction to aerospace vehicles. As of last year, they have launched the second generation of the ESCP-4i. The ESCP-4i is poised to “support more than 17,000 European SMEs in accessing global value chains and taking a leading position globally”.”
“It also provides an Emergency Bag inventory that one may use when preparing for a disaster, a list of the various resources available in the constituency, and includes a directory of emergency hotlines in the 10 most frequently travelled overseas places by Singaporeans. Sir, we are ultimately responsible for our own safety and security. It is my hope that this guide will help encourage greater ownership by Singaporeans in developing deeper emergency preparedness skills. Sir, the second point which I wish to speak on pertains to digital defence. As we step into the digital age, and as our lives become more intertwined with the digital, the cybersphere has become an increasingly viable vector of attack for those who would seek to undermine us. I strongly support the establishment of digital defence as the sixth pillar of total defence. We must ensure that both the Government and members of the public do their part to ensure our cybersecurity. Sir, I would like to seek some clarifications on how the Ministry intends to build cyber defence capabilities.”
“Sir, living in a safe and secure Singapore which the Government has worked tirelessly to ensure may have desensitised many Singaporeans to the multitude of perils that one may face today. Recent events, and the threat of military escalation, have reminded many Singaporeans of the threats surrounding us. It is at times like this, that Singaporeans must understand the threats that we face, and the importance of total defence. Sir, in line with total defence, I would like to seek an update in regard to the measures undertaken by the Ministry to build emergency preparedness capabilities in our population. Sir, the world is changing. Climate change is resulting in more extreme weather conditions, while state actors and terrorists have shown that they are more than willing to exploit our vulnerabilities should we present them with such. On this note, I would like to take the opportunity to introduce a ground-up initiative developed in Bukit Panjang. An Emergency Preparedness Resource Team, comprising 15 young Singaporean volunteers from different backgrounds, was formed a year ago, to explore ways to build emergency preparedness capabilities in the community to prepare Singaporeans for emergencies, both in Singapore and overseas. The team compiled best emergency preparedness practices from both domestic and international sources. With the support of the Bukit Panjang Community Emergency and Engagement Committees (C2E), the Bukit Panjang Emergency Preparedness Guide was published. The guide covers 14 different scenarios.”
“Sir, outsourcing does not contribute to the development of human capital in the civil service and may result in public officers losing out on learning opportunities in providing quality services. I would like to propose that we adopt a design-thinking approach to transforming the delivery of public services. At the same time, we should refocus our efforts to train and deepen the skills of our Public Service officers. Sir, our global city deserves a world-class Civil Service with the heart to serve the public. Readiness of Public Officers”
“Mr Chairman, Sir, in Prime Minister Lee's "A Tale of Two Cities" speech in London in 2014, he espoused Singapore's global city aspirations. To this end, we achieved 5th place in the Global Cities Outlook List last year. To sustain this, it is imperative that our world-class city is supported by a world-class Civil Service. I would like to know the measures which the Government has undertaken to ensure and upgrade the service delivery skills of our Public Service officers. Sir, just as the Government has called upon the private sector to increase productivity and the quality of their services, it should urge the public sector to take the initiative in setting an example for the rest of Singapore to follow. In addition, I would like to suggest that the Government use the speed of delivery and the quality of Public Services as metrics by which it assesses the progress of its push to build a world-class Civil Service. However, it should be noted that the employment of a one-size-fits-all approach in serving the public will not suffice. There must be greater introspection on the part of our Civil Service. Far too often, we focus too much on the numbers and neglect the human aspect of governance. While automation has allowed for gains in productivity, navigating a pre-recorded voice menu or filling up a form adhering to a strict format online, may not satisfy the needs of the public. Sir, I believe that if the Civil Service provides more channels of access to public services which take into consideration the limitations of automated processes, it can serve Singaporeans better. In the pursuit of headcount and productivity key performance indicators (KPIs), the public sector has resorted to outsourcing, which has affected the quality of public services.”
“As part of The Tokyo Vision, the Tokyo government will develop relations with 30 foreign cities. Sir, Singapore is unique in that it is a city-state. This has resulted in the blurring of lines between federal and city governance. We have strong ties with other federal Governments, and learnt and shared much with them. We should expand our networks with city and municipal governments so that our 3P sectors can learn and share their respective experiences. Sir, I would like to reiterate my call to the House to support Singapore in transforming into a sustainable global economic hub of tomorrow.”
“I urge BCA to consider shared integrated BIM services to support the industry. Sir, my final point is in regard to the perpetuation of our status as a global city. Singapore enjoys her current levels of success due to us positioning ourselves as a global city and acting as a node by which the world may become more connected. To remain a global city, it is imperative that we pay attention to both our hardware and software. Singapore must continue to upgrade its hardware through ensuring a world-class infrastructure, high levels of security and a beautiful green environment. Concurrently, we must ensure that our software, our people, become international, so as to be the means by which we reach out to the world and vice versa. To maintain our position as a global city, we can learn from fellow global city, Tokyo. The Tokyo Government formulated a plan in 2014 with the explicit aim of making Tokyo the world's best city known as "The Tokyo Vision". One of their strategies involves the use of the Olympics as the platform by which Tokyo may become world-renowned for arts and culture, which, in turn, set Tokyo on the path to becoming a world-leading cultural city. They intend to use the entire city as a stage showcasing Japanese culture. Sir, part of being a global city involves having a developed cultural scene, ready to be exported to the world. The recent Chingay parade is testament to our cultural strength and legacy. We have a rich culture that can, and should be, showcased to the world. We should learn from Tokyo and utilise international events as platforms by which we promote our culture, and cement our position as a global city. Another area in which we can learn from Tokyo is extensive and in-depth collaboration with other cities.”
“Upon the implementation of these recommendations, a Sustainable Building Certificate of varying levels of achievement is issued and successful participants become eligible for the aforementioned benefits and can obtain up to a 20% reduction in property taxes. The results are impressive: seven years since its inception, 40 buildings certified under this scheme contributed to reduced electricity consumption of 20.1 million kilowatt-hours (kWh), and reduced carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions of 66,120 tonnes. Sir, I wish to declare my interest as a board member and Vice-Chairman of the Singapore Environment Council (SEC), which is a non-government, non-profit organisation. I urge the Government to adopt the SEC's Green Labelling Scheme and engage independent third-party auditors to assess the BCA's Green Mark Building certification. The SEC’s green labelling scheme is internationally recognised under the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 17065 and ISO 14024 for certifying products which meet stringent environmental standards and is accepted in 43 countries. Sir, to promote a sustainable built environment, all stakeholders must adopt a common set of standards pertaining to sustainable development. This can be further reinforced by introducing pro-sustainability legislation. Sir, I support the use of Building Information Modelling (BIM) and Integrated Digital Delivery for construction projects. I understand that BIM is not seamlessly integrated among developers, consultants, contractors, suppliers and the authorities. This has resulted in the benefits of BIM not being fully reaped, resulting in stakeholders of construction projects suffering from redundancy. Furthermore, SMEs face difficulties in adopting BIM due to cost and manpower barriers.”
“In fact, they are so respected that a German political scientist has coined this phenomenon as "blue-collar aristocracy". This has allowed the German economy to thrive in terms of quality and has allowed them to compete in the global market on their own terms, not one of lowest cost, but of highest quality. Sir, by learning from them, we can effect a change wherein Singaporeans are happy to work in once-shunned industries, no longer being subject to ridicule or low salaries, allowing us to develop Singapore talent in these fields, increase employment, and the number of good jobs, while our goods and services become more attractive by merit of their qualities. Sir, in pursuit of economic success, we must not forget the need for sustainability. We have an obligation to meet our needs of today without compromising the ability of Singaporeans of tomorrow to meet theirs. One avenue that we can achieve sustainability in, is the built environment. There are frameworks that assess the eco-friendliness of buildings, such as the Building and Construction Authority (BCA) Green Mark Scheme. I believe eco-friendliness can be promoted by introducing tax rebates for compliance with eco-friendly building standards, use of eco-friendly building materials, and efficient consumption of utilities. Other cities around the world have introduced policies to incentivise the creation of sustainable built environments. Sir, Mexico City has introduced tax reductions, discounts to utility bills, greater access to financing and expedited permitting procedures when green building standards are met. Interested participants are subjected to third-party independent audits. They then execute the recommendations outlined in the audit report.”
“Second, their abilities to attract and retain talent. Sir, I believe that the first concern may be addressed through the nurturing of a culture which places more emphasis on the quality of goods and services, as opposed to seeing price as the sole determining factor. SMEs have the distinct advantage of being more flexible and adaptable to the needs of customers. By encouraging them to find gaps in the market and providing the right goods and services to fill these gaps, our SMEs can find respite in competing against their larger counterparts, while developing capabilities in these niche sectors. A case in point is a cider company known as Orchard Pig. Orchard Pig penetrated the UK cider market in 2007 at a time when the market was highly saturated and dominated by large corporations. Orchard Pig provided a product which was more expensive but was more artisan, mischievous and just generally fun. Orchard Pig’s success led to a £6 million turnover in 2018. Sir, I believe that with the right motivation, our entrepreneurs can find similar success. Sir, regarding the second concern, the Government's support is evident in the multitude of schemes aimed at helping SMEs employ local talent, such as PCP and CSP. In addition, initiatives, such as SkillsFuture, encourage Singaporeans to equip themselves with skills to cope with a changing economy. Sir, I believe that the next step forward should involve effecting a change in mentality. There are industries which are rife with opportunities. Yet, these industries have negative stigmas attached to them which have prevented employment of Singaporeans. Sir, I believe that these perceptions can be changed. We can learn from Germany which spares no effort in training its people for blue-collar jobs.”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, I rise in support of the Budget. Sir, globalisation has caused fundamental transformations in our economy and has necessitated certain paradigm shifts. Just as Singapore has welcomed firms from all over the world to partake in our economy, many of our firms have taken a leap of faith and ventured overseas. Through this, Singapore has become strongly embedded in the global economic order. Sir, globalisation is not simply marked by the movement of goods and services. Ideas and paradigms are transported beyond borders. Economic growth driven by globalisation has enriched our lives. We enjoy ever-improving technologies that we would have never deigned to imagine. You can now have a face-to-face video conversation with someone residing overseas. This was unthinkable 20 years ago. Yet, against the backdrop of these benefits, the need for sustainability is clear. The world's appetite for consumption far exceeds the rate at which resources can be replenished. Sir, it is on this note that I wish to speak about how Singapore may position itself to become a sustainable global economic hub of tomorrow. I shall speak on three areas. First, the continuation of our economic prosperity through the uplifting of our SMEs. Second, the development of a sustainable built-environment. Third, the perpetuation of Singapore's position as a global city. Sir, the Government has been supportive of our SMEs. In the Budget speech delivered by the Finance Minister, it is clear that many of our policies are aimed to help SMEs in expanding and thriving. However, I have received feedback on two issues faced by SMEs. First, their ability to compete effectively against large-scale enterprises, due to being unable to match their economies of scale.”
“It is on this note that I call on the Government to consider reviewing the funding cap for Community Improvement Projects Committee (CIPC) projects for the elderly so that more elderly-friendly amenities can be provided to benefit our seniors in the community and give them the opportunity to lead dignified and happy lives.”
“In addition, we have also built covered linkways connecting blocks to one another and built drop-off porches. These covered linkways have improved the walkability of our town and encouraged residents to walk without letting weather conditions hamper their travel. Second, we have implemented measures to aid in both horizontal and vertical mobility. Horizontally, we have built barrier-free access (BFA) amenities, such as ramps and walkways, in the entire town. Vertically, almost all our blocks are installed with elevators, granting access to every level. Based on feedback, these BFA amenities have encouraged seniors, including those wheelchair-bound seniors, to lead active lifestyles, moving around town for breakfast sessions with their friends, chitchatting with their neighbours and making new friends through engaging in activities organised by grassroots and community organisations. Sir, I believe that the above should demonstrate the value of an elderly-friendly built environment. Therefore, it is crucial, especially with the backdrop of a rapidly ageing population, that we expedite the building of elderly-friendly infrastructure. Sir, I cannot stress the importance of providing mobility solutions enough. In a study by Japanese researchers titled Social Interaction and Dementia Prevention: Six-Year Follow-Up Study, it was shown that "greater social interaction was positively related to reduced dementia". A built environment conducive to active ageing will be of great value in encouraging social relationships and help to delay the onset of dementia in our elderly.”
“From a humble beginning of four clubs and 400 members in 2007, the club's membership has grown to 62 clubs and 3,500 members today. We are proud that 800 North West Dance Fit Club members will be forming a contingent to perform at this year's Chingay Parade. Sir, over the years, many active ageing pilot projects have been implemented in the community. However, not many of these projects have been scaled up and implemented nationwide on a sustained basis to benefit all seniors in Singapore. Although the profile and interests of seniors may differ depending on the locale, it is important that we develop a national framework and support programmes and projects which have shown success, such as the two mentioned above, to motivate seniors to continue pursuing their passions and strengthening communal bonds. In light of the above, I propose that Singapore should set up a Healthy Living Endowment Fund to support sustainable healthy living programmes. The Government can aid in its set-up and match grants from private donors in order to raise enough funds. Sir, we need to do more to sustain healthy living programmes and build a healthy living culture among Singaporeans. Four, call to augment the elderly-friendly built environment. My next and final point will pertain to the built environment. Sir, allow me to share with the House some projects undertaken by the Holland-Bukit Panjang Town Council to make our town a "Connected and Seamless" town. First, we have completed three phases of construction of covered linkways and car drop-off points. These link our MRT stations, Light Rail Transit stations, town centres and bus stops to public estate blocks in Bukit Panjang Town.”
“Over the last 18 years, North West CDC has been promoting healthy living among our residents. Presently, 315 North West healthy living clubs, representing 80,000 residents, of which 40% are aged 50 and above, have been set up, and activities include brisk walking, dance fit, qigong, taichi, swimming and aerobics. Not only have the activities that these clubs run benefited residents. They have also supported volunteerism for 700 seniors who have become healthy living champions, instructors, coordinators and volunteers. More importantly, many of these seniors have made lasting friendships while maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Sir, I would like to urge the Government and businesses to continue to support volunteerism and provide more opportunities for seniors to volunteer in the community. At the same time, I wish to invite more seniors to volunteer to make a difference to building a better community. Three, call to implement successful active ageing pilot projects in the community on a nationwide scale. Sir, I would like to name two volunteers who have run successful community programmes benefiting the elderly. First, Mr Louis Tay, aged 60, Chairman of Bukit Panjang Community Sports Club. Over the last 18 years, Mr Tay and his team of volunteers have been organising weekly and monthly briskwalking sessions for Bukit Panjang residents. Their passion and contributions have helped many seniors to stay fit and healthy. Second, Miss Kho, 69 years old, is one of the fittest dancers in North West Dance Fit Club, befitting her status as a master dance fit instructor. She has been instrumental in helping North West Dance Fit Club to grow to its current level of success.”
“To date, 23 seniors have been recruited, trained and employed on a part-time basis. Sir, it should be noted that these gardeners are aged 60 and above, and they experience great joy in working in our gardens. This is a case in point of how employment opportunities for our seniors may be mutually inclusive with achieving higher quality of service. Sir, it is clear from these examples that there are qualities that seniors possess that place them in a position to contribute to our economy and society, while allowing us to help them achieve their aspirations in a mutually beneficial relationship. Seniors possess many years of work and life experiences and can make meaningful contributions at work if provided with the proper support and pace of working. While it is important to focus on productivity to enhance the competitiveness of our firms, it is not enough to simply focus on quantity; quality is equally important. Sir, seniors are usually equipped with skills which make them more adept at providing better customer service. They are also usually more careful and diligent. This will enhance service quality in Singapore, and result in less abortive work due to carelessness. A shift in the mentality of employers in both the public and private sectors is due. Work should be redesigned in order to allow younger and older employees to complement each other's strengths so that we may produce goods and services of high quality and bolster the competitive edge of our firms. I would like to call upon both the public and private sectors to be more proactive in providing employment opportunities to seniors. Two, call to promote volunteerism. Sir, I would also like to bring the House's attention to North West Community Development Council's (CDC's) healthy living clubs.”
“Sir, having established the aspirations of the elderly in Singapore, I would like to suggest a framework, which was developed by Dr Christopher Cheok and Angelina Esther David from Khoo Teck Puat Hospital, which could act as guidelines to suggest how these aspirations may be fulfilled, namely, seven conditions by which emotional well-being and happiness may be achieved. The seven conditions are, first, experiencing positive moments and developing a sense of gratitude; second, pursuing a meaningful career and finding meaning in our work; third, developing good relationships with family and friends; fourth, contributing to the community and volunteering for meaningful causes; fifth, having adequate financial security; sixth, engaging in hobbies which promote mental health; and seventh, maintaining good physical and mental health. Sir, we could include the framework of the seven conditions to facilitate the fulfilment of aspirations of our seniors. I would like to share in the following four points. First, call to redesign jobs suitable for seniors. Sir, now that we have established the aspirations of our seniors and the conditions we should strive towards, allow me to share an example of how the lives of seniors have been improved through an initiative undertaken by Holland-Bukit Panjang Town Council. Three years ago, Holland-Bukit Panjang Town Council redesigned its horticultural work processes to provide job opportunities for seniors. Collaborating with our landscape contractor, we sought to improve the quality of services through introducing a performance-based contract approach. Through this initiative, we were able to create new job opportunities for seniors to work as town gardeners in our estates.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I rise in support of the Motions. Sir, Singapore has one of the fastest ageing populations in Asia. This will pose immense challenges to Singapore and Singaporeans in the future. However, with the correct approach, the ageing population may prove to be a boon to our nation, while we continue to care for their needs and to support their aspirations. In order to allow for this to happen, I urge the Government to act fast and boldly. It is imperative that we transform our economy, built environment and lifestyles to allow Singaporeans to live purposeful and happy lives, especially in their golden years. Sir, I support ageing with purpose and grace. Sir, in order to support ageing with purpose and grace, we need to encourage the 3P, that is, the public, private and people sectors, to collaborate closely. They must take ownership and, together, champion sustainable policies, projects and programmes in the community. For the public sector, the Government should implement more pro-elderly policies. Also, work should be expedited to provide an elderly-friendly built environment to encourage seniors to stay active and healthy. For the private sector, businesses can adopt more pro-elderly business practices to provide meaningful and respectable jobs. For the third P, the people sector, seniors should seek motivation to lead active, healthy and happy lives. As mentioned above, we must support the aspirations of the elderly. From my experience, the aspirations of the elderly may be broadly classified under three categories. First, to continue working in either full-time or part-time jobs; second, to retire and pursue hobbies and passions; and third, to volunteer their resources, expertise and time for causes they find meaningful.”
“Last year, Bukit Panjang transformed its Bangkit neighbourhood centre into an art street selling a wide range of products and services. The transformation has attracted many more shoppers to the neighbourhood centre and provided much vibrancy to the town. Residents can now enjoy shopping in a barrier-free and weather-proof shopping environment. Sir, the built environment of our country is the physical foundation of a world-class city. We need to align the built environment transformation to support the industry transformation so as to provide better jobs for Singaporeans, a better living environment for Singaporeans and a better quality of life for Singaporeans. But Sir, we cannot rely on foreign talent alone to transform our built environment, we need to nurture Singaporeans to be world-class built environment professionals. We need to train more Singaporeans to be world-class project managers, facilities managers, architects, engineers and quantity surveyors to build and maintain our world-class city. Sir, I urge the 4G leaders to pay more attention to the built environment and give due recognition to the professionals who build our physical environment for Singaporeans to pursue their dreams and aspirations. Sir, the transformation of our built environment is an excellent way to prepare Singapore for the challenges of the future. However, the method in which we plan for such a transformation has to be purposeful. A vision of a built environment which is bold and creative while remaining grounded in reality will be of great value to current and future generations of Singaporeans. Together, we can make Singapore a world-class city. 4.52 pm”
“Transforming our built environment for retail and recreation. Sir, online shopping has affected the brick-and-mortar retail shops badly. Many retailers are struggling to survive and continue to face rising business costs due to labour shortage and high rental cost. The high turnover of retail shops has resulted in much wastage of resources and disruption of services to consumers. We need to take bold measures to revamp the retail industry in Singapore. I wish to propose three ideas to support the retail industry transformation in Singapore. First, regroup retail outlets and shopping centres to form mega shopping hubs so as to provide better experiences for shoppers. Sir, we need to review our planning guidelines to facilitate the grouping of shopping centres and retail outlets to form either large shopping districts, such as Shinjuku, or specialised shopping areas, such as Akihabara, in Japan. In this regard, I would urge the Government to review the development plans for Tampines, Jurong East and Woodlands regional centres to transform them into mega shopping hubs. Second, build underground shopping malls with factory outlets to connect various MRT stations outside the city centre. These underground shopping malls can be located at residential areas and parks so that people can walk, shop, eat and relax in the parks. For example, we can build an underground shopping mall connecting Ang Mo Kio to Bishan Park and Thomson area. These underground shopping malls can also become evacuation or bomb shelters in times of emergency. Third, transform our HDB neighbourhood centres into shopping malls and markets selling fresh produce and products.”
“The Town Council can also provide better connectivity within the town by building more footpaths, cycling paths and covered linkways. This will encourage more residents to walk and cycle, thus, enhancing their health and well-being. Sir, to make Singapore more elderly-friendly, we must ensure that our built environment is 100% seamless and barrier free. At present, many buildings and places do not have barrier-free access. Our public transport system is also not fully integrated to provide seamless travel for all seniors and wheelchair-bound commuters. Sir, the Government must invest more in building the infrastructure to support an ageing population. We need a whole-of-Government approach at the Ministerial level to enhance the barrier-free connectivity of our built environment as many Government agencies are facing many barriers presently. Third, providing sporting facilities for Singaporeans. Sir, swimming is ranked as the top three most popular sports among Singaporeans. Swimming is a low impact and wholesome exercise suitable for all age groups, especially the seniors. With an ageing population, many seniors are experiencing knee and joint problems and, thus, have reduced or stopped physical exercises. This trend is unhealthy. Furthermore, many seniors are not keen to take up swimming due to the hot and wet weather conditions in Singapore. To overcome these challenges, I would propose that Singapore Sports Council build shelter with skylight for all public pools. Sheltered swimming pools will provide a more conducive environment for seniors to enjoy swimming and water sports in our public pools. It will also increase the usage of our public pools at all times during the opening hours, including adverse weather conditions and days.”
“We need to take stock of the existing town amenities and shops and take bold steps to change the amenities and tenant mix of shops to better serve our seniors. For instance, some town centres have many similar types of shops, such as hair salons or renovation shops in one location and, thus, do not serve the needs of the residents, especially seniors. As such, seniors in these towns have to travel to other places to buy elderly products and services. [Deputy Speaker (Mr Lim Biow Chuan) in the Chair] Sir, to better support seniors to age in place, URA and HDB must take bold steps to change the tenant mix of shops in town centres. We must identify the range of elderly products and services and provide these amenities in the community so as to improve the quality of life of our seniors. These elderly-friendly amenities will also encourage seniors to develop self-reliant capabilities, thus, improving their quality of life. Sir, to make every home elder-safe, MND should provide standard elderly-friendly solutions such as ramps, grab bars, anti-slip flooring system, alert system and lightings. These standard solutions will encourage more families to make their homes elder-safe thus, encouraging family members and friends to visit each other. To further expedite the making of more homes elderly-friendly, I would propose that HDB review the eligibility criteria for its Enhancement for Active Seniors (EASE) programme. Sir, as for the community, the Town Council can play a more active role to make common areas barrier-free and provide more amenities to encourage active and healthy lifestyle among our residents, especially seniors. Popular amenities for seniors include fitness gym, multi-purpose court, walking track and community garden.”
“Third, building industrial premises for SMEs in industry clusters. Sir, to better support SMEs and enable them to provide better services to industry clusters, JTC should build more industrial premises for SMEs in these clusters. These premises can be rented out to promising SMEs for longer leases of 20 to 30 years at an affordable rental so as to reduce the operating costs of SMEs. Where possible, the industry clusters should also be located at places well-supported by our transport and logistics infrastructure, such as MRT stations, seaports and airports. Next, transforming our built environment for quality living. There are three ways we can transform our built environment to improve the quality of life of Singaporeans. First, encouraging families to stay near each other. Second, building an elder-safe environment. Third, providing sporting facilities for Singaporeans. First, encouraging families to stay near each other. Sir, we need to transform our built environment to make it more elderly- and family-friendly. This is particularly so in HDB towns where young and old families stay together. Our housing policies must continue to encourage families to stay near one another. HDB should build more BTO flats of various room types in both older and newer estates so that more Singaporeans have more choices to stay near their parents and families. Second, building an elder-safe environment. Sir, with a fast-ageing population, we need to expedite the transformation of our built environment to be more elderly-friendly. Although various developments are in place to support ageing, there is an urgent need to make every home to be elder-safe, every community to be elder-safe and make Singapore to be an elder-safe country for both Singaporeans and tourists.”