Tin Pei Ling
Singapore
“This is not about building a talent pipeline and reserve for the land, sea and air transport sectors, but also about helping Singaporeans seize more valuable opportunities. (In English): Mr Speaker, Singapore did not inherit our connectivity. We built it deliberately, chapter by chapter, and this House now holds the pen for the next one.”
“Thank you, Chairman. Two questions. One is that I hear that there will be a review of the COE system later part of this year. I would just like to ask if there is a specific timeline that we can look forward to. Second is on land transport overall. It is on the impact of ageing population and ageing infrastructure.”
“Leveraging frontier technologies – automation, advanced sensors, predictive analytics and artificial intelligence (AI) – will keep our infrastructure globally competitive. But we must deploy technology responsibly to augment productivity while managing workforce transitions and reskilling needs.”
“Many thanks to all. I beg leave to withdraw my amendment. [(proc text) Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. (proc text)] [(proc text) The sum of $3,109,174,200 for Head W ordered to stand part of the Main Estimates. (proc text)] [(proc text) The sum of $13,306,280,300 for Head W ordered to stand part of the Development Estimates. (proc text)]”
“Can the Ministry consider targeted measures, such as rental relief schemes, tenancy support for heritage and neighbourhood retailers, incentives for landlords to prioritise local tenants or co‑investment platforms that enable local businesses to secure long‑term premises?”
“Internationally, we could forge norms that prevent regulatory arbitrage and ensure cross‑border accountability. Hence, building on existing frameworks, what more will the Government do to strengthen Singapore's role in global AI governance, standards, certification, international coordination and capacity building, to preserve human agenc…”
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“Lastly, I would like to place on record my sincere thanks to Assoc Prof Mark Koh, Head of Dermatology Service in KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital (KKH) and Dr Lynette Wee of KKH for their invaluable input, as well as everyone who has actively voiced out their support and also shared their personal stories with me online after I had filed this Adjournment Motion.”
“Third, extend MOH Medication Assistance Fund support to Dupilumab and newer treatments. Due to the high cost of newer treatments for moderate-to-severe eczema, I would like to request that the Ministry include Dupilumab under the Medication Assistance Fund (MAF). This will provide tremendous support for financially burdened patients with moderate-to-severe eczema. We must ensure that Singaporeans who are already underprivileged, do not have to face additional employment, economic and health challenges associated with eczema. Mr Speaker, my objective of raising this Adjournment Motion is to raise awareness that atopic dermatitis, or eczema, is not simply an "itch and scratch" condition. In the US, a patient with severe eczema could qualify as a person with disability if their conditions significantly limit their major life activities and the patient would then be eligible for Social Security Disability Insurance and Supplemental Security Income. However, I am not arguing for eczema to be considered as a disability. Rather, I am appealing to MOH to consider eczema as a chronic disease requiring more support. I applaud MOH's recent revision to the public healthcare subsidies which offer more financial relief to eligible patients. However, I urge MOH to continue reviewing healthcare affordability for Singaporean patients struck with moderate-to-severe eczema and also young children with this condition. Strengthening financial and accessibility support will certainly mitigate the long-term debilitating impacts of eczema.”
“I understand the Drug Advisory Committee (DAC) has recommended only Abrocitinib, a JAK inhibitor, to be on the list of subsidised drugs because of the cost-minimisation approach, given that Abrocitinib is least costly. However, the use of Abrocitinib, as approved by the Health Sciences Authority, is limited to adults and adolescents, roughly aged 12 years and above. I would like to implore MOH to consider expanding the assessment criteria beyond cost minimisation, so that paediatric patients who are below 12 years old can have access to other treatment regimens with better efficacy and less risks, such as the use of Dupilumab. Including Dupilumab to the subsidised drug list will not be unique to Singapore, if so. In Australia, the government pledged over $270 million for new medicine, which includes Dupilumab, in the new Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme. The scheme is a list of drugs that are subsidised by the government, expecting to benefit more than 3,600 people each year. Second, inclusion of moderate-to-severe eczema into the Chronic Disease Management Programme (CDMP). I propose including moderate-to-severe eczema as part of the CDMP. Currently, the CDMP covers 23 chronic diseases, and these include Psoriasis, another chronic skin condition. Including moderate-to-severe eczema into the CDMP list will enable early intervention in treating eczema and reduce complications. Eczema patients can also find financial relief for the hefty out-of-pocket payments, with up to $700 of MediSave coverage per year under the MediSave 700 scheme. In addition, I recommend to specially include mild eczema for children as part of the CDMP. This is to ensure early treatment from young before the condition progresses to moderate or severe.”
“Returning to Singapore's context, however, it is still costly. Each injection costing almost $1,000 per injection every fortnight, or $2,000 per month, at public healthcare institutions, such as the National Skin Centre. Consider the gross median monthly income data of full-time employed residents from the Ministry of Manpower, it is challenging for a Singaporean patient earning, say, a median wage of $5,000 to have adequate disposable income to access this relatively costly treatment regime, let alone sustaining it long enough to have visible improvements in condition. Besides the biologics, there is a newer class of drugs approved in Singapore for eczema, known as Jak inhibitors, which are oral medications that are typically taken once a day. Most Jak inhibitors are approved for use in adult eczema, with only a few options for children aged 12 years and above. However, these medications cost $6,000 to $10,000 a year and they suppress the body's immune system and may, therefore, cause potentially serious side effects, like heart attack, stroke, blood clots and cancer. Because of the potential risks involved, this medication may not be suitable for patients with hypertension and cholesterol diseases. Mr Speaker, I would, therefore, like the Ministry of Health (MOH) to consider the following suggestions to help patients cope with the debilitating impacts of moderate-to-severe eczema, by making newer treatments that promise better efficacy and less safety risks available to patients who need them. First, inclusion of other biologics, such as Dupilumab, into list of subsidised drugs.”
“He was only 14 years old when he first met his doctor during his admission for an infectious flare over his face. He could barely open his eyes or mouth due to yellow crusts all over his entire facial skin. He was subsequently discharged but re-admitted to the children’s intensive care unit for hypotension, which is extremely low blood pressure, on Christmas Eve in the same year. Blood tests went on to confirm adrenal insufficiency because of the chronic use of topical steroids and systemic steroids from another centre and from general practitioners for his bad eczema. Yet, after using Dupilumab, his skin cleared up by almost 90% and could finally enjoy uninterrupted sleep of seven hours. He also reportedly became more confident, more cheerful and his academic results improved. Looking elsewhere, recent analyses of the cost-effectiveness of Dupilumab in treating moderate-to-severe eczema provide compelling evidence for its economic viability. A study from Italy demonstrated that Dupilumab yields an incremental cost- effectiveness ratio of €33,918 per quality-adjusted life year, below the willingness-to-pay threshold. In the US, a lifetime Markov model revealed an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio of $124,500 per quality-adjusted life year, with Dupilumab showing greater cost-effectiveness for severe cases. Additionally, a US payer perspective analysis established that Dupilumab remains cost-effective at an annual maintenance price, ranging from $29,000 to $40,000, especially for patients classified as having severe eczema. Collectively, these findings underscore the long-term economic benefits of incorporating Dupilumab into treatment protocols for patients inadequately managed by traditional therapies for adults and adolescents.”
“In the US, these out-of-pocket expenses averages to about US$3,000 per child per year. Hence, if we can manage eczema better, we can reduce the ancillary or indirect costs. Even though topical steroids have been the workhorse treatment for eczema patients in providing relief to the inflammation and itch, it may not work for everyone, particularly patients with moderate-to-severe eczema, where topical steroid becomes ineffective and unfeasible over a large area of the body over long periods of time. Hence, the development of newer treatments like biologics that offer high efficacy and safety vis-à-vis conventional immunosuppressant. Conventional immunosuppressants like Methotrexate, which is also used in treating certain types of cancer, or Ciclosporin, also used for organ transplant, pose safety issues. Dupilumab is the world’s first biologic drug approved for moderate to severe eczema and the only targeted therapy approved in Singapore. Dupilumab is a safe and effective treatment that has been approved in Singapore for children aged six months and older, and around 60% of people will see at least a 75% improvement in their condition. Dupilumab works by reducing inflammation that is thought to lead to eczema flares. It does not suppress the immune system, so it does not increase the risk of developing a serious infection like tuberculosis. Clinical trials of Dupilumab in adults and children have shown that it significantly reduces eczema severity compared with placebo, as well as a rapid reduction in itch and an improvement in sleep and quality of life. Allow me to share the case of a young boy. Let us call him AQ, who was a patient at KKH. AQ apparently only slept an average of three to four hours a day, broken up, for three years.”
“We need to consider the magnitude of stress for both the child and caregiver coping with physiological, psychological and psychosocial impairments. A 2019 study conducted in France by skincare brand La Roche-Posay highlighted its psychological consequences. It found that more than 60% of children with eczema reported having a lack of concentration in class due to constant itching. This aligns strongly with several systematic reviews and large population-based surveys from Germany, Taiwan, Japan and the United States (US) that demonstrated a positive relationship between eczema and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). In 2006, the economic burden of eczema in the US was estimated to be $1.6 billion, of which $1 billion were attributed to direct healthcare costs and $600 million were attributed to lost productivity. In Singapore, the average annual cost per child with eczema was estimated at US$7,943 based on 2017 prices. The major cost was for informal caregiving, and that will be 46% of the total cost, followed by out-of-pocket expenses, about 37% of the total cost. Healthcare utilisation contributed to 17% of the total cost, of which 43% was for medication. These findings were based on a study performed by the Nanyang Technological University Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, KK Women's and Children's Hospital (KKH) and the National Skin Centre in 2019. It is important for us to also consider the substantial cost holistically and that includes cost from informal caregiving, such as preparation of special meals due to dietary restrictions and provision of emotional care. Additionally, there are out-of-pocket expenses from purchasing moisturising creams and laundry costs that are not subsidised by the healthcare system.”
“Furthermore, sleep issues caused by eczema can add fuel to fire because it disrupts mental and cognitive functions, making it difficult to think, focus and go about their daily routines. A 2020 study in The British Journal of Dermatology found a connection between eczema severity and work productivity. According to the findings, the more severe the eczema, the more work productivity declines, which then negatively affects a person’s quality of life. Moreover, the itch tends to be worse at night, causing impaired sleep. Poor sleep creates difficulties in regulating emotions that, in turn, leave a person vulnerable to depression. There was a study presented at the 2024 American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology Annual Scientific Meeting, where it was reported that 72% of people with eczema have adverse mental health symptoms for one to 10 days a month, with 17% having symptoms for more than 11 days per month. Furthermore, recent research published in Nature, a prominent scientific publication, revealed that there is significantly higher prevalence of clinical depression, anxiety disorder and suicidal ideation among patients with skin disorders compared to the general population. Mr Speaker, I have shared the challenges and sufferings of adult patients plagued by moderate-to-severe eczema. The adverse impacts of moderate-to-severe eczema on young children and adolescents are definitely no less. The burden of the skin condition falls on both the child and caregiver. Esteemed Members in this House who are parents will understand the anxiety and additional stress of caring for a child who comes down with a treatable condition.”
“And in Singapore, it is estimated to affect 20% of children and 11% of adults. At the National Skin Centre, 14,000 new eczema cases were seen in the year ending 31 March 2023 versus 9,406 cases in 2008. Notably, there was an estimated 20% to 30% increase in eczema patients during the COVID-19 pandemic, as reported by The Straits Times. Moderate-to-severe eczema can cause symptoms intense enough to affect the patients’ quality of life. The constant uncontrollable itchiness, pain and other symptoms can cause loss of sleep, making it difficult to focus in school or at work and making it hard to participate in activities. Furthermore, conventional treatments alone are usually ineffective in relieving the inflammation on the skin in patients with moderate to severe eczema. Besides having to constantly battle against the physiological symptoms, these patients are burdened psychologically because of a vicious feedback loop of scratching an itch that would not go away. Unfortunately, the act of scratching causes further damage to the skin, developing into lesions that loop the patients back with intense itch all over again. Aggravating matters further, researchers discovered that the link between mental health struggles and eczema is bidirectional; that is, they can exacerbate each other, creating a vicious cycle of distress and flare-ups. Eczema flares can lead to repeated infections, requiring inpatient care for three to five days per episode. Moderate-to-severe eczema makes it challenging for patients to focus on their responsibilities at work and in life, as the intense itching is distracting and debilitating.”
“Mr Speaker, I call upon the Government to take a fresh look at a commonly occurring chronic skin ailment, atopic dermatitis, also known as eczema. With a high prevalence index of two in 10 children and one in 10 adults in Singapore, I believe all of us will know of someone who is suffering from this chronic skin condition. Atopic dermatitis is a chronic inflammatory skin condition that waxes and wanes due to a defective skin barrier and an altered immune system response. For individuals with mild eczema, it feels like an itchy skin rash on a localised body part, but the symptoms are manageable with the application of emollients, topical steroids and other topical anti-inflammatory medications. However, for patients with moderate-to-severe eczema, they are tormented by persistent intense flares and itchiness on a large area of the body that oozes fluid or bleeds. They have widespread inflamed skin and these patients usually require treatments with higher potency medications because they tend not to respond to topical therapies. Unlike its milder variant, moderate-to-severe eczema causes widespread symptoms that not only affect daily life routine but also their mental well-being. Itch, depression, sleep disturbance and anxiety are the most common manifestations among eczema patients. There is no cure for eczema and patients can only try to relieve and manage the symptoms through medications and creams. It is reported that eczema has the highest burden among all skin diseases, mainly owing to its high prevalence globally. The burden of eczema is ranked in the top 15 among all non-fatal diseases and significantly higher when compared with other skin diseases. This chronic inflammatory skin condition affects more than 31 million Americans.”
“Educating new entities that will now be regulated by this Act and existing entities facing new requirements must therefore also go hand-in-hand with the passing of this amendment Bill. How will the CSA and Government calibrate its implementation approach, drive greater awareness and buy-in amongst stakeholders? In conclusion, I believe this Bill introduces new or enhances existing legal and operational mechanisms to better secure Singapore's critical systems and enhance our overall cybersecurity posture. It also ensures that the CSA has better situational awareness and stays "on top of things". But just as importantly, this is a chance for all stakeholders, directly involved or otherwise, to appreciate the dynamics and risks of our operating environment, be vigilant and take proactive steps to keep Singapore cyber secure. I support the Bill.”
“Mandating incident reports as part of enhancing detection is critical, but the ability to act on the issues and risks presented in a timely manner is just as critical. Otherwise, introducing this new requirement to enhance CSA's situational awareness will defeat its purpose. Second, this Bill also empowers the CSA to designate a computer or system located overseas as a CII and regulate it as CII, if the owner is in Singapore. As business operations change and cross-border supply of services is now highly prevalent, I agree fully that the CSA must have the ability to have oversight or certain degree of control over critical computers or systems, even if it is located overseas. But if the "hardware" is out of our jurisdiction and systems can operate virtually without physical boundaries, how will the CSA work with international entities and networks to enforce this? Third, coping with the burden of compliance. Compliance is essential but it comes at a significant cost for all entities, government or non-government. This includes establishing frameworks and processes, investing in and implementing systems, ensuring a workforce that is rightly skilled and potentially high opportunity costs due to extended time-to-market. These costs can be exacerbated by the rapidly changing operating and regulatory environment, leading to anticipated revisions in legal and regulatory obligations. Whilst there is urgency to proactively secure our critical systems, entities must be granted sufficient time for implementation to fully understand the regulations, grasp their obligations, develop strategies and execute necessary measures.”
“These present many opportunities or larger attacks surface for bad actors to launch cyber-attacks from anywhere in the world, from different angles and with new sophistication. A moment of carelessness can open up the entire network or system to attacks. As Singapore continues to progress towards digitalisation, there is imperative in ensuring that our capacity, capability and legislation in cybersecurity keep pace with and, where possible, stay ahead of these threats. Therefore, I fully concur with the three shifts that the Senior Minister of State highlighted in his opening speech earlier and the need to strengthen the Cybersecurity Act accordingly. I also agree in principle with the consequential amendments set out in this Bill. However, I do have some clarifications that I would like to seek from the Senior Minister of State. Firstly, this Bill will introduce new requirements for CIIs to also report incidents related to any computer or system under the control of a supplier that is interconnected or communicates with CII to the CII owner. In the Senior Minister of State's speech earlier, he indicated that the CII owner will only need to report incidents involving immediate suppliers. I would like to ask will the Government consider requiring the CII owner to monitor and report incidents for suppliers further down the supply chain in future, depending on the circumstances? In view of the highly dynamic operating environment and tight manpower situation, how will the CSA ensure that it is not overly onerous on the CII owners? Conversely, with this expanded coverage, will the CSA be able to cope with the expected increase in incident reports?”
“Sir, the digital revolution has transformed the way we live and do business, enhancing quality of life and creating opportunities for better efficiency and growth. Major sectors such as finance, healthcare and infocomm underwent significant transformations over the past two decades. In the 2000s, the world saw a surge in internet usage with more than one billion people on the Internet in 2005. This figure doubled in 2010. Over the two decades, technology continues to advance in many ways. Mobile phone penetration also grew rapidly, with 740 million subscriptions worldwide at the beginning of the 2000s and hitting more than eight billion 20 years later. At the same time, with the proliferation of smart phones and wide range of apps, people essentially carry a mini-computer as they move, signifying technology has become more personal and portable. Work has also become remotely possible. We can get things done anywhere anytime. Advances in cloud computing also changed the way organisations are structured and how global business operations are carried out. Established enterprises have been harnessing cloud technologies to streamline operations, enhance scalability and reduce costs. Many new startups that are "born in the cloud" are basically cloud-enabled by design. These developments demonstrate how technology touches nearly everything we do and how digitally interconnected we are today. So, unlike in the past when transactions and important activities can be physically siloed, systems are now highly interconnected and workers can access work systems, links and files via their smart phones and consumer grade apps, possibly with lower standards of security safeguards.”
“Parents today are under tremendous stress as they juggle careers and providing quality care for their children and elderly parents, in some instances, trying to be good parents, sons and daughters. Hence, reliable, safe and affordable care services are imperative. Specific to infant and childcare, abuse and ill-management cases reported in recent times are of great concern. These include the Kinderland cases last year, which was debated in this House; and another one, most recently involving a preschool at Seletar reported in the media just last week. These would have spooked many prospective parents and parents with young children. Hence, how is MSF going to continue to strengthen governance and at the same time, maintain quality, yet ensure costs are not passed on to parents excessively? Affordability of Preschools”
“Thank you, Mr Chairman. In Singapore, we have a large population of seniors and as an ageing population, this phenomenon will only increase. It is important for us to prevent loneliness as well as isolation, because all these, if allowed to continue, can lead to a serious deterioration for our seniors physically and mentally. 12.30 pm Therefore, it is important that in our living built environment, we design this with our seniors in mind so that as much as possible, they are able to live independently and gracefully. Even amongst our seniors, there are those who are more vulnerable but there are also those who are fitter. Regardless, as we all age, there will come a time where we need to be able to care for ourselves, even with caregivers, and to be able to move around independently, and lead meaningful life. Therefore, I would like to ask the Ministry, how are they going to design new estates as well as old mature estates such that socialisation is enabled? And two, for new estates, it is easy to design from scratch, but for the more mature estates where a lot of things are already built up. So, how are we going to refine, repair and enhance them so that they are safe for use and at the same time, encourage social gatherings of our seniors – from the void decks to the covered walkways to pavements and so on? Can we also pick up pace in enhancing these areas? May I also ask for an update on Age Well Singapore?”
“With so much to do, Chairman, I beg leave to withdraw my amendment. [(proc text) Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. (proc text)] [(proc text) The sum of $2,378,410,000 for Head Q ordered to stand part of the Main Estimates. (proc text)] [(proc text) The sum of $327,254,700 for Head Q ordered to stand part of the Development Estimates. (proc text)]”
“Finally, as our society advances; as issues faced become more complex; and as our people become savvier, the Government cannot possibly solve everything on its own. As emphasised in the January's Motion debate, a whole-of-society effort is needed. How then will the Government facilitate greater citizen involvement and participation in identifying problems and co-creating successful digital solutions? In conclusion, technology advancement and the proliferation of AI are reshaping industries and the global landscape. Singapore will have to be ready for what is to come by investing ahead of time, preserving and strengthening digital trust and leverage digital capabilities to bridge gaps, build communities and better lives. Funding for SPH Media Trust”
“Continuing from my earlier speech. Fourthly, for the vision of a smart and digital future to be fully embraced by the whole-of-society, we must ensure that we use technology to bridge gaps, build communities and better lives. Much was said about scams and how we must combat it to preserve social trust in a digital age during the January Motion debate so I would not repeat it here. What I would like to highlight is the danger of misinformation. In my cut to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) yesterday, I spoke of how certain messages could be spread with an intent to create schisms between Singaporeans. But there could also be other harms associated with misinformation, such as discouraging vaccinations against what could have been severe but preventable diseases. Therefore, having trustworthy public service media channels that are accessible to all demographic groups is important in combatting misinformation and maintaining a common space that is safe for all citizens. Hence, what is the Government doing to ensure that our Public Service Media continues to safeguard our social cohesion and common space and continues to reflect our societal values, such as multiculturalism? Also, in fostering greater understanding and building communities, citizens of all ages and backgrounds must be able to communicate with each other. The ability to deliver accurate and reliable information in different languages is imperative if we are to continue engaging our seniors and various communities. Hence, what is the Government doing to preserve our vernacular capabilities and how is the Government leveraging the ever-improving technology to do so?”
“Okay, then, I will pause here. [(proc text) Question proposed. (proc text)]”
“Affected workers were caught by surprise. Some managed to get absorbed into other firms given the tight labour market. Some took longer and had to reskill. While it is the businesses' prerogative to do so, what is clear is that our workforce must be future-ready as tech disruptions will only pick up in pace and the nature of jobs will change. In talent development, education is important as it provides us with the foundation from which we build new knowledge and skills to keep up with new developments. But education alone is not enough. We need opportunities for our young and our talents to meet other bright minds from outside of Singapore to exchange ideas and spark off new ones. We need to have the space and platform for these bright minds to come together to learn; to research and experiment; to fail and iterate; to deliver and go to market. Therefore, what is the Government doing to support our workforce to be AI- and future-ready and to leverage AI to remain competitive? Mdm Chairman, do I take the rest of my cuts together?”
“So, even with grants and solutions made available to them, they run the risk of either not employing digital solutions that are beneficial to them or undertaking digital solutions that might not be relevant to them; thereby incurring unnecessary costs and transition risks. The Government introduced Chief Technology Officer or CTO-as-a-Service in 2021 to help SMEs transform. Into the third year now, how has this service fared so far? What else will the Government do to better help SMEs adopt digital solutions that are relevant to their business needs? As Singapore marches on in our digitalisation journey and as we shift our AI strategy from opportunity to necessity, I am heartened that that the Digital Connectivity Blueprint was launched in June 2023 with the aim of enhancing Singapore's digital infrastructure for enterprises and people to capture emerging opportunities in the digital space. Now that half a year has passed, could the Ministry give an update on the implementation of the plans within the Blueprint and share what preliminary results that we may have observed so far? Thirdly, we need to ensure our people are ready for what is to come. We are well aware of the opportunities and challenges that come with the new technologies and in this case, AI. I spoke about it in my past speeches in this House and my hon colleagues have also expounded the merits and issues surrounding AI several times before and I believe later as well. One of the promises of making digital advancements was to avail better job opportunities for Singaporeans. But in recent times, we witnessed large-scale tech layoffs by the likes of Lazada, Google and Grab, arguably because they want to better align their organisational structure and resources with their new AI strategies.”
“Even if the incidents were no direct fault of the enterprises or institutions, these incidents would have affected significant portion of our population and, in turn, affect public's trust in digital. Regulations are effective in setting boundaries and making clear the Dos and Do nots. As technologies and especially as AI evolve, regulations will have to play catch up. But regulations alone will not be sufficient to address these issues. The solution needs to go further upstream so that companies and institutions can integrate security and resilience into their products and operations by design. Hence, may I ask what is the Government doing to update our regulations and what is being done to help companies and institutions implement higher digital security and resilience standards? In relation to this, the Government launched the Chief Information Security Officer or CISO-as-a-Service last year. May I ask the Minister to also give an update on the implementation of the Cybersecurity Health Plan? Secondly, to unlock economic opportunities, the industries and businesses must be able to transform adequately and quickly. The Government has introduced initiatives, such as small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) Go Digital programme in 2017, various enterprise grants over the past decade or so and implemented Industry Transformation Roadmaps that are regularly updated. These initiatives are thoughtful and beneficial. Larger enterprises are perhaps savvier and better placed to leverage such initiatives. Some perhaps do not even need to tap into them. But for micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), they often lack resources and expertise to select digital solutions that could enable them to improve their productivity.”
“Singapore believes that AI can be a potent force for good – to uplift human potential and to unlock economic opportunities, as set out in the National AI Strategy 2.0. Notably, there is a shift in the AI strategy, seeing AI as a "necessity" and no longer just an "opportunity". Given this shift in belief, Singapore needs to invest even more in digital infrastructures, talents and capabilities critical to Singapore's next bound of economic development and do more to preserve and enhance digital trust as well as leveraging digital capabilities to build communities and better lives. All these in the age of AI. First, on digital infrastructure and resilience. As I had articulated in my speech during the January Motion on "Building an Inclusive and Safe Digital Society", building infrastructure ahead of demand is important to maintaining competitive edge and Singapore has always done so. Likewise, as we march on towards a smart future in the age of AI, Singapore needs to double down on our investments into higher speed networks and higher performance computing power. May I seek an update from the Ministry on what is being done to enhance investment into such digital infrastructure? Given how critical infrastructures are to deliver essential services and drive innovation, the importance of digital security and resilience cannot be undermined as they not only ensure business continuity, but also shape public confidence. As I had highlighted again in my January's Motion debate speech, with the likes of DBS' repeated digital service disruptions in 2023, Central Provident Fund savings lost to Android malware scams and personal data breaches in public healthcare.”
“Mdm Chairman, I beg to move, "That the total sum to be allocated for Head Q of the Estimates be reduced by $100". Throughout history, the mastery of technology has been essential for a nation's progress and its ability to compete strategically. This importance has only heightened in the modern era. Hence, by investing in critical infrastructure, innovation and talent development, countries can position themselves as leaders in emerging technologies and shape the future of the global economy and geopolitical landscape. Singapore, as a small and open economy, does not aspire to be a superpower but we too must invest so as to overcome productivity challenges, unlock new economic potential and do good for our people. New game changing technologies emerge over time. Disruptions brought about by such technologies are happening more frequently and quickly. Amidst key digital developments, artificial intelligence (AI) is now taking centrestage. In the book, "The Coming Wave" by DeepMind founder Mustafa Suleyman, he argued that the coming decade will be defined by a wave of powerful, fast-proliferating new technologies and AI is central to this wave. Some of the breakthroughs in AI took place in an unexpected manner and accelerated progress significantly. So, we must be prepared for a future in which AI is pervasive in almost all aspects of our lives. Yet, AI, if left to develop irresponsibly, could bring about significant harms too. Hence, the task of maintaining human control over powerful technologies is an essential challenge of our time. While that sounds ominously frightening, technology is but a tool – good or bad depends on who wields it.”
“Chairman, the ongoing competition and tensions between the United States and China have intensified in recent years, particularly in economic, technological and geopolitical spheres. Singapore, as a small, open economy strategically located in Southeast Asia, is deeply affected by the dynamics between the US and China. As the US-China rivalry continues to evolve, Singapore will need to navigate carefully to mitigate risks while seizing opportunities that emerge from this contestation. Our ability to maintain neutrality, adapt to changing economic and geopolitical landscapes and leverage our strengths will be crucial in safeguarding its interests amidst the US-China competition. Yet, Singapore will continue to face pressures from both sides to take side. How will Singapore manage such pressures and ensure that Singapore's national interest continues to be safeguarded? In addition, as a sovereign country, Singapore must decide our own path and destiny. We take pride in Singapore being multiracial and multicultural. Throughout history, we have seen how certain divisive narratives and perspectives can create major rifts in societies. Singapore must guard against these divisive narratives, lest they create schisms between Singaporeans. Some of these messages can come from foreign sources and perhaps, with an intent to influence which side our country should take. In this digital age, messages can spread more quickly and it is getting difficult to discern the accuracy and intent of information. Deepfakes can also become more prevalent, making the challenge worse and our democracy can also be greatly undermined. Hence, how will our Government manage and reduce such risk of foreign influence in our domestic politics? Outlook on China”
“With stronger partnerships between the Government, industry players and our people, Singapore can be the beacon and lead the world in fostering trust in the digital future, through a safe and inclusive digital society. [Applause.]”
“I am also especially appreciative that the Government has been open to our 13 calls to action and committed to taking actions on our calls made. Ultimately, both sides of this House do not disagree that digitalisation has and will continue to bring benefits to our nation and our people. But there are risks that we must manage and we will, because it is debilitating if we stop moving forward and living our lives, just because we are worried about all the possible consequences outside. I should add that we need to also recognise that there is always a balance to be struck. While we want rigour in how we manage risks and prevent harms to our people, we also want to ensure that we do not add disproportionate amount of friction to digital transactions or meaningful innovations. So, let us also be mindful that there will be trade-offs. Still, it remains that we all need to do more. If everyone is willing to take on a larger share of the responsibility, we can protect more people and reduce the possible harms to the ordinary citizen. (In Mandarin): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] Earlier on, I mentioned the opportunities and challenges brought forth by digital transformation. Online harm is also evolving rapidly, as the Chinese saying goes "the higher the level, the greater the devil". I hope that through the combined efforts of the Government, businesses and the people, we can defeat the devils even as they get more sophisticated. Thus, we will be able to build an inclusive and safe digital society with deep trust. (In English): As I conclude, I would like to echo what my fellow Parliamentary colleagues have expounded in this debate.”
“Through the debate, it is clear that Singapore is not alone in facing the challenges that come along with digitalisation. Challenges, such as scams and online harms, have been a global issue. Advanced economies, like the US, UK and Europe are also still in the process of better understanding the issues and formulating responses and safeguards to better protect their own citizens, given the evolving nature of these risks and challenges. That being the case, having heard from Minister Josephine Teo and Senior Minister of State Tan Kiat How earlier, I believe we can feel more assured now, with the many initiatives and safeguards that the Government has already put in place to protect and enable our citizens in the digital economy and digital society. These include pooling of resources and expertise, tools, codes and legislation to tackle scams, harmful online content, misinformation and data protection, as well as financial assistance and support schemes to enable digital access and empower the vulnerable. Given the many initiatives implemented at different points of time, some publicised and some not, it is sometimes easy to misunderstand the Government as being too slow, too slacked, uncaring and only favouring business or money. But arising from this debate, I am glad to note the suite of Government initiatives in place to detect, deter and protect Singaporeans. The "big picture" is a lot clearer now. So, instead of claiming that there is a "crisis of confidence" in Singapore towards digital, it is more appropriate to note that Singapore has been proactive in tackling the challenges, when some advanced countries actually found it unthinkable to do.”
“Sir, it has been my great privilege to debate in this House on taking a whole-of-nation approach to sustain trust through a safe and inclusive digital society. Our PAP MPs, Ms Jessica Tan, Mr Sharael Taha, Ms Hany Soh, Ms Nadia Samdin, Dr Wan Rizal, Mr Yip Hon Weng, Ms Mariam Jaafar, Mr Vikram Nair and Mr Darryl David have put forth a total of 13 calls to action, many more, if we double click into these calls of action, calling on our Government, industry players and individuals, like you and me, to play a more proactive role in ensuring a safe and inclusive online environment as Singapore continues to forge ahead into the digital future. I thank my Parliamentary colleagues for working on and making these calls. Past Parliament Sittings have seen colleagues from both sides of the aisle raising questions and putting forth suggestions on different issues pertaining to both opportunities and risks that come with digitalisation. Hence, I am heartened that we have had a robust debate on this Motion in this House today and most of all, I am heartened by the echos of support for the Motion, from both sides of the aisle, that the GPC for Communications and Information has put forth. And I sincerely appreciate the interest and support from the Workers' Party, namely, Ms Sylvia Lim, Assoc Prof Jamus Lim and Mr Gerald Giam as well as the Progress Singapore Party, Ms Hazel Poa and, of course, our Nominated Members of Parliament (NMPs), Assoc Prof Razwana Begum Abdul Rahim, Mr Ong Hua Han, Ms Usha Chandradas, Mr Mark Lee and Ms Jean See, in this Moton debate as well. I will not recap everyone's points and suggestions, but I have gained useful insights from all of you in this House.”
“In this context, I and the Members of Parliament from the PAP, have decided to propose this Motion, presenting 13 calls to action to reaffirm Parliament's commitment to build an inclusive and safe digital society through the combined efforts of the Government, businesses and the people to sustain trust. (In English): As technology continues to develop, new methods of scams and cyber threats will also emerge. We may not be able to totally stamp out such risks or threats as they are like cockroaches. But if we can do more, if everyone is willing to take on a larger share of the responsibility, we can protect more people and reduce the harms or damage to the ordinary citizen. In conclusion, to sustain trust and build an inclusive, safe digital society in Singapore, cannot be the responsibility of a single Government, entity or individual. As Singapore continues to advance towards a digital society, public and private stakeholders must collaborate as a whole-of-nation to manage the risks, address the challenges and help each other thrive in the digital future. Sir, I beg to move. [Applause.] [(proc text) Question proposed. (proc text)]”
“As the saying goes, the higher the level, the greater the devil. These cyber threats are like cockroaches that will never say die. Furthermore, the escalating global competition in the field of artificial intelligence (AI) has raised concerns about potential ethical compromises. Powerful technology companies may prioritise winning the competition at all costs and this potentially leads neglecting social disparities. Additionally, the credibility of critical infrastructure and essential services can also affect the public's confidence in their personal data security. If left unchecked, these issues will erode trust. People will not be able to trust every piece of information they receive, every transaction they conduct, every voice heard and every image seen. This is a worrying scenario. How do we live on? How do we proceed? Of course, there are no absolutes in the world and in the real world, nothing is perfect. In real life, we do not refrain from leaving our homes for fear of encountering accidents. However, trust is a key factor in building the foundation of society as difficulties are inevitable in life. During these times, we may need to temporarily sacrifice personal interest in exchange for the collective interests of society. Trust is also important in conducting transactions that create value and sharing ideas. Therefore, if we do not clearly set our position and actively address these issues, we may lose trust in the public in the area of digital technology, resulting in the loss of convenience for the people, as well as productivity and innovation benefits for our economy.”
“Driving corporates and community organisations to promote awareness of essential digital skills and partner public sector to help close digital skill gaps. My hon colleagues Jessica Tan, Hany Soh, Sharael Taha and Mariam Jaafar will be speaking on this. Driving stronger partnerships between public, private and individuals to deepen focus on educating our young and old on digital literacy, scams and online harms. My hon colleagues Darryl David, Wan Rizal, Sharael Taha and Yip Hon Weng will be speaking on this. And finally, strengthening efforts in establishing future-ready workplaces for a more digitally-savvy workforce. My hon colleague Sharael Taha will also be speaking on this. Mr Speaker, Sir, allow me to say a few words in Mandarin. (In Mandarin): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] Since Independence, Singapore has always been fearless in breaking through the status quo, and daring to transform and reform over the relatively few decades. Our country has evolved from a traditional economy primarily focused on domestic sectors to an export-oriented industrialisation driven by multinational corporations (MNCs) and then to the development of modern service industries and investment emerging sector to maintain our competitiveness. Singapore has also made forward-looking investments in infrastructure development, enabling it to seize opportunities as they arise. Coupled with unity, high trust and cooperation of its people, Singapore has been able to reach where it is today. However, the increasing opportunities brought about by a digital transformation, we have also faced increasingly severe challenges. Cyber threats, such as scams, ransomware, deep fakes and misinformation are rapidly on the rise, significantly increasing the risks in the digital environment.”
“As my hon colleagues engage in deeper discussions on online harms later in their speeches, I wish to highlight the need to ensure a safe space for freedom of ideas and expression online. The Internet has the power to amplify the voices of a vocal few. If this ability becomes misguided, it risks drowning out or cancelling others who hold a different opinion or who are, simply, different. Hence, this call of action calls on every one of us to continue upholding the values of kindness and respect online and offline, to look beyond ourselves and reach out to others who may be in need of help. Following my opening speech, the remaining speeches by our PAP MPs will focus on the remaining eight calls of actions. Allow me to briefly list them. Holding social media services accountable for the proliferation of harmful content and malicious ads. My hon colleagues Nadia Samdin, Wan Rizal and Mariam Jaafar will be covering this. Next, reviewing the approach to victims of scams by unauthorised transactions, with larger players doing more to prevent losses and share consequences. My hon colleagues Hany Soh and Yip Hon Weng will also be covering this. Requiring social media services and app distribution services to step up age assurance measures to better protect young users from harmful content. My hon colleague, Nadia Samdin will be speaking on this. Requiring social media services and app distribution services to improve timeliness in responding to user reports on harmful content on their platforms. My hon colleague Nadia Samdin will also be covering this. Requiring essential service providers to ensure accessibility for all. My colleagues Jessica Tan, Nadia Samdin and Yip Hon Weng will be speaking on this.”
“Even someone who is in the tech industry will find it difficult to know. Therefore, device manufacturers and digital service providers should be proactive in informing consumers of vulnerabilities detected and in strengthening their safeguards against malware to ensure that their offerings are safe by design and default. From another perspective, greater transparency and evident efforts in enhancing safe use will bolster customer confidence and drive sales. So, it is a win-win. Fourth, banks and e-commerce platforms to adopt stronger authentication solutions like the Fast Identity Online (FIDO) passkeys to keep our accounts secure. Many digital service providers continue to use authentication methods, such as traditional passwords that are vulnerable to phishing. As bad actors evolve their methods, banks and e-commerce platforms with their powerful tech capabilities have a responsibility in keeping their customers' accounts secure and should thus be adopting phishing-resistant authentication, such as FIDO passkeys. Fifth, everyone can play their part in making Singapore's digital society safe, gracious and inclusive. As we spend more time online, the digital and physical worlds are converging and our actions in either realm can have a profound impact on the other. Ultimately, we should ask ourselves what kind of environment do we desire to see in the digital world? If we desire safety, inclusiveness, kindness and respect in the real world, we should also aspire to create the same online. Why should the digital world be any different from the real one? My hon colleague Vikram Nair will also speak on this later.”
“Taking a leaf from the "Stop Scams UK" that allows industry players to share intelligence and collaborate on scam-related initiatives, our Government can and should take the lead in setting up a similar information-sharing mechanism with the industry. My hon colleague Vikram Nair will also touch on this in his speech later. Second, Government to further integrate expertise and prioritise resources to regulate and enforce online safety. The Singapore Government has done much to combat scams and online harms, from legislation updates, introduction of codes to introducing new tools for companies' and public's use. It is also encouraging to note the establishment of Anti-Scam Command in 2022 and co-location of major banks' staff with the Police to facilitate scam detection and reporting. But the broader efforts in combatting scams and online harms still necessitate extensive coordination across various Government agencies and departments, and private institutions, such as banks and telcos, which may have varying mandates and resource priorities. Hence, there is scope for further integration of expertise and resource prioritisation in regulating and enforcing online safety. My hon colleague Yip Hon Weng will further touch on this and specifically on stakeholder coordination later in his speech. Third, device manufacturers and digital service providers to strengthen safeguards against malware and ensure their offerings are safe by design and default. We have seen an increase in prevalence of scams enabled by malware on users' mobile devices. These malware threats are difficult for everyday citizens to detect. Even with public education, it will be difficult for individuals to know if their phones and devices have been compromised.”
“We must ensure that digital platforms and environments are safe, kind and respectful as I have had earlier articulated, so that citizens are not denied their voice or meaningful online participation for fear of being "cancelled" just because one holds a different view from a vocal few. And number five, embracing diversity. We must ensure digital interfaces are inclusive by design so that citizens of all ages, languages and physical conditions can comfortably and confidently engage in the digital space. To achieve a safe and inclusive digital society, everyone needs to play a part. Hence, our GPC for Communications and Information, together with several People's Action Party (PAP) Members of Parliament (MPs), have set out 13 calls to action, urging a whole-of-nation approach to make the online space a safer and more inclusive one for all Singaporeans. I will first cover five calls to action, while my fellow GPC members and PAP MPs will speak in greater depth on the rest. First, Government to take the lead to set up information-sharing mechanism with the industry, modelled after "Stop Scams UK". Companies, given the competitive nature, are fundamentally unwilling to cooperate and share information and best practices, which could help with timely interventions or enforcement against scams or digital threats. Ironically, collaboration on this front would have catalysed learning and improvements to their operations and business. However, companies tend to be more willing to share data and experiences with the Government, which could then anonymise and aggregate such information. Hence, we need a stronger framework for public and private players to share information on scams, to enable faster detection and intervention.”
“Hence, we must create a safe online space that allows broad-based participation if we are to achieve a truly inclusive digital society. In short, a safe online environment is a cornerstone of building trust in a digital society. This trust, in turn, contributes to the growth and success of the digital ecosystem, positively impacting both online and offline aspects of individuals' lives. Moving on to "inclusive", inclusivity builds trust in a digital society as it ensures that the benefits of digitalisation are accessible to all, fostering a sense of fairness, equity and shared progress. Key to this include: number one, access to essential services. As essential services such as Government, healthcare, finance and telco services increasingly transition to digital platforms, these must remain accessible to everyone. Number two, digital skills empowerment and closing social gaps. We must empower our citizens with digital access and the right skills for active participation in the digital society. We must be mindful of not creating new gaps between the digitally savvy and those who are not. By doing so, individuals, including the vulnerable, can gain the confidence to navigate digital platforms, reducing the digital divide and fostering trust in their ability to engage with digital technologies. Number three, workplace evolution for all ages. We must evolve jobs and workplaces to keep up with the fast-changing digital landscape, whilst ensuring the workforce continues to have the right skill sets, so that everyone can contribute meaningfully, regardless of age or background. Number four, enhancing citizen participation.”
“Thus, the organisations across all sectors must intentionally and systematically incorporate measures and practices that prioritise and enhance trust throughout the entire digital transaction process. Second, we need to combat scams and fraudulent activities swiftly and effectively. Scams erode trust by exploiting unsuspecting users, leading to financial losses and undermining confidence in digital transactions. Number two, addressing cyber threats. Cybersecurity threats, such as data breaches and identity theft via malwares, contribute to fear and suspicion among users. Privacy breaches and unauthorised access to personal information can also make individuals hesitant to engage in digital activities. Hence, we must ensure that related policies and capabilities continually evolve to keep up with the rampant and fast-changing threats online. Number three, countering online harms. Online harms, including cyberbullying and harassment, have real-life consequences on individuals' mental health and well-being, hampering their potential. Further, vulnerable groups, such as children and the elderly, are particularly susceptible to online harms. Hence, we must promote respectful and responsible behaviours and implement measures that protect vulnerable groups from exploitation, thereby fostering trust among users of all demographics. Number four, meaningful human connections. The interconnectedness of online and physical worlds often influence real-life relationships. We should focus on creating more positive online experiences so that human connections remain meaningful even as we go digital. And number five, digital inclusion. Ultimately, people will be keener to participate if they feel safe.”
“Trust is fundamental in a society as there will inevitably be difficult times when individuals need to be willing to temporarily sacrifice individual interests in favour of collective societal benefits. Trust is important for value-creating transactions to happen, for creative ideas to be shared and not be suppressed. Hence, if we do not make a clear stand and actively manage these issues, we risk losing the public's trust in the digital world, thereby losing out on the benefits of convenience to citizens and benefits of productivity and innovation for our national economy. Against this backdrop, we decided to move this Motion to reaffirm this House's commitment to adopt a whole-of-nation approach to sustain trust by building an inclusive and safe digital society. At the onset of this speech, I have explained the context for why we have moved this Motion. I have also emphasised why trust is important and strengthening trust in a digital society must be the end goal of this Motion. Allow me to elaborate on the "safe" and "inclusive" tenets of this Motion. On "safe", a safe online environment is crucial for building trust in a digital society because it directly influences people's confidence and willingness to engage in digital transactions and interactions. Underlying a safe online environment are: number one, trust in digital transactions First, we need reliable digital infrastructure so as to provide the foundation for secure, reliable and accessible digital services. Unreliable systems, frequent outages or vulnerabilities in the infrastructure make users skeptical about the security of their transactions, hindering the growth of digital trust.”
“Moreover, the escalating global artificial intelligence (AI) arms race raises concerns about potential compromises on ethical considerations as powerful technology companies prioritise winning at all costs. This heightened competition may lead to a disregard for addressing social disparities, including the widening gap between the digitally know-how and the digitally know-nots, exacerbating divisions within the population. Additionally, if institutions solely concentrate on leveraging AI or any emerging technology for enhanced productivity without concurrently investing in workforce training and re-training initiatives, ordinary citizens could grow fearful of what we will lose more than being hopeful of what we can gain from technological advancements as a society. This fear, in turn, can impede Singapore's progress. The trustworthiness of critical infrastructures and essential services also plays a role in shaping public confidence towards the security of their personal data. With 99% of resident households in Singapore connected to the Internet, we have one of the highest internet penetration rates in the world. This is testament to Singapore's progress, but it also means that we are all the more susceptible to online threats. DBS' repeated digital service disruptions in 2023, Central Provident Fund (CPF) savings lost to Android malware scams and personal data breaches in public healthcare – these incidents affected a significant portion of our population and in turn, affect the public's trust in the digital. These issues, if left to fester, will undermine trust. Not being able to trust every information received, every transaction made, every voice heard and every image seen is paralysing.”
“Quoting her, "Even without evidence that the consumers have received the OTP sent by the banks, that is, through a history of incoming message from the telco, banks requested customers to make payment for the fraudulent transactions without investigating whether the OTPs could have been diverted. Frustrated by their disadvantageous position in dispute against banks, consumers oftentimes bear the burden of making up to five-figure payments for these transactions." As an ordinary citizen and consumer, it is typically difficult to retrieve information or history of SMSes from the telecommunications company (telco) and the victim usually finds themselves to and fro between the bank, telco, the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) and the Police. In another example, I met my elderly resident, Mr Yee, who fell prey online to an investment scheme supposedly endorsed by then Senior Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam. He did not understand how credit card transactions work online and consequently was charged several thousand dollars in fraudulent credit card bills, which he could ill-afford as he only had a few hundred dollars left in his savings account. He was under tremendous stress as he was frail and worried that he will lose everything. We managed to get the bank to waive it, given his dire circumstances, but how many such goodwill write-offs are possible? These are just some of the notable cases that I have come across in MacPherson and I am certain my Parliamentary colleagues have many similar examples as well. Such cases are compelling motivation for us to move this Motion.”
“As we continue to transform and embrace the opportunities presented by digital transformation and immerse ourselves in the digital realm for our daily activities, we are confronted with a growing set of challenges. The digital landscape is becoming increasingly perilous, marked by the surge in online harms such as scams, ransomware, deep fakes, misinformation and other malicious cyber activities. Compounded by rapidly evolving tactics, the situation poses a constant challenge. Much like cockroaches, scams often operate in the dark corners of the digital realm, exploiting vulnerabilities and thriving in unsuspecting spaces. They are agile, quick to evolve and adept at camouflaging themselves, making it challenging to eradicate them entirely. Similarly, just as we believe that we figured out the latest scamming trick, new and more sophisticated threats emerge. The rising prevalence of scams demonstrates this. Reported cases reached 31,728 in 2022, marking a 32.6% increase compared to 2021. Between January and August 2023, losses due to malware scams exceeded $20.6 million. Notably, a global study reveals that Singapore, unfortunately, bears a significant brunt, with scam victims in the country experiencing an average loss of US$4,031 per individual. This could be a substantial loss of hard-earned savings for some Singaporeans. In MacPherson, I have encountered several residents who were victims of scams. In late 2021, one young resident, Ms Tan, shared about how she and others lost money to fraudulent transactions on her credit card when she did not receive or provide to anyone her one-time password (OTP).”
“Sir, I beg to move*, "That this House reaffirms our commitment to adopt a whole-of-nation approach to sustain trust by building an inclusive and safe digital society." [(proc text) *The Motion also stood in the names of Mr Sharael Taha, Ms Hany Soh, Ms Jessica Tan and Mr Alex Yam. (proc text)] Speaker, Sir, the Government Parliamentary Committee (GPC) for Communications and Information, comprising People's Action Party Members of Parliament Ms Jessica Tan, Mr Christopher de Souza, Mr Alex Yam, Mr Sharael Taha, Ms Hany Soh and me as the GPC Chair, is moving this Motion as Singapore comes to a point in our national trajectory towards digitalisation where we must confront challenges that could erode trust in institutions and individuals pivotal to our nation's success and cohesion. Singapore has always been unafraid of transformations. Over a relatively short period post-Independence, we transformed from a traditional, domestically focused economy to export-led industrialisation facilitated by multinational corporations. Subsequently, Singapore strategically pivoted towards developing modern services and made substantial investments in emerging sectors like biomedical industries. Singapore also invests heavily in building up our infrastructure ahead of time so that when the wave arrives, we are ready to ride it. This forward-thinking approach, combined with the courage to explore uncharted territories, has proven successful, bolstered by a united and high-trust population. Our gross domestic product (GDP) per capita grew from US$500 in 1965 to US$13,000 in 1990 and to US$83,000 in 2022. Going digital is a reality around the world and it is imperative for Singapore. As it is, our digital economy contributed 17.3% to our GDP in 2022, up from 13% in 2017.”
“Second, the idea that it does not matter how much Reserves are used. As the saying goes, there is no perpetual good fortune and no hundred-day blooming flowers. If we recklessly use our Reserves now, who can tell for sure that we will have enough Reserves to cope with difficulties if the world encounters another economic crisis, serious pandemic or natural disaster? Do not forget that during the COVID-19 pandemic, we used our Reserves several times and we still have not paid the money back. The savings left by our predecessors helped us through the most difficult times. Similarly, we must also consider the future of our descendants. In short, the Government must strike a balance between the present and the future when formulating policies, and must not kill the goose that lays the golden eggs. Our people do face many pressures and the Government must uphold the concept of people first and implement policies that are beneficial to the people and Singapore's long-term interests. I believe that the PAP Government will continue to care for the people and govern with the long-term welfare of the country and the people in mind. I support the amended Motion.”
“Shortly after, the Ministry of Health (MOH) introduced many policies to help Singaporeans, especially the elderly, to cope with medical and care expenses. The Government also launched the Pioneer Generation Package, the Merdeka Generation Package and now, a package for the young seniors. Every package focuses on healthcare. In recent years, although I occasionally meet residents who are worried about medical expenses, I no longer hear the words "you can afford to die but cannot get sick". Of course, we cannot underestimate the pressures faced by Singaporeans. After all, the world is not peaceful and the global economic outlook is uncertain. We cannot predict how Singapore will be affected and what impacts it will have on Singaporeans. Therefore, the Government must continue to monitor the situation and introduce policies that benefit the people. I would like to highlight another point. As an open economy with little natural resources, Singapore needs to import almost everything from abroad. In this situation, we are not price-setters and cannot control prices. Some people may think that the Government should forcefully lower prices to benefit everyone, or that the present is more important and the Government can afford it, so it does not matter if we give more now, even if we borrow from future generations or we can use more Reserves. These ideas are dangerous. First, the idea of forcefully lowering prices is a one-size-fits-all approach. Those who are economically able will consume more, which may lead to further price increases. Then it is tantamount to drinking poison to quench thirst. On the contrary, the Government's approach is to provide subsidies and assistance based on individuals’ needs and situations. This approach is more fair.”
“In this regard, I believe that the Government will continue to pay attention to people's livelihoods, allocate funds and introduce targeted policies that are beneficial to the people to help them cope with various expenses. In addition to the Government's policies and various assistance programmes, the community, private enterprises and individuals can also show kindness and help those in need. For example, there is a 73-year-old Mdm Lim in our consistency. She is a cancer patient and is also the caregiver of her 90-year-old mother. Under normal circumstances, the pressure in terms of living expenses is not small. Fortunately, they live in a rental flat with a monthly rental of $66 , and also receive monthly subsidies from welfare organisations. Therefore, the burden of the living expenses is lighter and the medical expenses are borne by the Government. In addition, we also provide them with assistance programmes and subsidise their other daily needs, and invite them to participate in welfare activities organised by our community partners. I do not know how many people have noticed, but I have an observation. In 2011, when I first became a Member of Parliament, I often heard elderly residents saying, in Singapore you can die, but you cannot get sick. I remember during a home visit, I met an old lady who said her husband was sick and bedridden, but because she was afraid of not being able to afford the medical expenses, she would rather let him suffer like that. I was shocked at that time. So, we launched the Macpherson Care Fund to help elderly residents cope with medical expenses and encourage them to receive treatment.”
“So, this Government must continue to pursue policies that will alleviate cost of living pressures on Singaporeans and families. Looking ahead, against a challenging macro environment fraught with geopolitical instabilities and economic uncertainties, our Government must also continue pursuing policies that will build a future-ready Singapore and cultivate a resilient, versatile and capable Singaporean workforce, whilst ensuring future generations are free of burden so that they can soar high and live fully. In Mandarin. (In Mandarin): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] Mr Speaker, I support the Motion as amended by Member of Parliament Liang Eng Hwa. The amended Motion clearly reflects the challenges faced by Singapore and its citizens today, and more objectively reflects the reality of the global environment and the Government’s actual actions and intentions in the past, present and future. As the saying goes, clothing, food, housing and transportation are the basis of people’s survival and the people are the basis of survival of the country. Clothing, food, housing and transportation are the most basic needs of the people. Against the backdrop of fast-rising prices in recent years, it is understandable that our people are worried about the cost of living. Macpherson is a mature estate with a majority of elderly and middle- to low-income residents. Naturally, issues such as food, clothing and shelter have a greater impact on our residents. In the past year or so, in my conversations with residents, I have inevitably felt their pressure in terms of living expenses. We empathise with them. Although this is a common challenge faced by the world, for ordinary people, it is a matter of life and death that urgently needs to be resolved.”
“In fact, for one of the hawker centres highlighted to me, there was rental reduction for some of the stalls. In MacPherson, most of the hawkers have been operating there for decades and share a strong bond with our residents, especially our seniors. Hence, they make great efforts to absorb cost increments and avoid raising prices if they can help it. Yet, I have been told that some of them could not help but raise prices by up to 10% this year. If I may warrant a guess, costs must have increased at every layer of their supply chain and the pile up was too much for our hawkers to bear. Still, for a constituency with a mature population and of largely middle- and lower-income profile like MacPherson, a double-digit percentage increase in cooked food prices is highly significant. Hence, there is scope for the Government to evaluate the impact further upstream and see how best to intervene, so that micro businesses like our hawkers can better manage their costs without being compelled to pass it on to the ordinary consumers. The Singapore Government's ability to finance increasing social spending to support Singaporeans and families is a testament to its sound fiscal policies, disciplined governance and robust Reserves. Over the years, Singapore has maintained a prudent approach to fiscal planning, with a strong emphasis on balancing the Budget and ensuring sustainable economic growth. Our Reserves also proved to be our most precious asset which saw us through the COVID-19 pandemic – the crisis of our generation. Whilst there are obvious challenges that we still face, we have benefited from this Government’s policies in various ways. That being said, we must not undermine the stresses and hardships that ordinary Singaporeans face on a day-to-day basis.”
“The family also hold blue CHAS cards and receive full Medifund coverage, so, Mdm Ho and her two children are receiving regular medical treatments at no cost at Government restructured hospitals. In addition, up until Mdm Ho found a job earlier this year, the family also received public financial assistance from the Social Services Office. These public assistances are notwithstanding other Government support, such as the GST vouchers and Assurance packages. Though Mdm Ho and her family have been receiving various types of Government support covering different needs, there are still moments when they needed a bit more help to make ends meet. So, we mobilised our own local help schemes in MacPherson to help them tide over. These include MacPherson’s utilities support scheme, S&CC support scheme, ComCare vouchers and local bursaries. These are fund-raised by our grassroots to give extra support to our residents and their families. I wanted to share this example because, in my opinion, the Government has been providing support to Singaporeans and families and actively responding to the evolving environment with targeted policies and programmes and that communities and individuals, too, can step in to cover last miles and close gaps. That being said, the recent intensity of escalating cost of living does necessitate our attention and actions. Coming back to my earlier feedback about the increase in cooked food prices, I hope more support can be given to address it, given how fundamental and intrinsically intertwined hawker centres are with our daily lives. I should clarify that the price increase was despite the National Environment Agency (NEA) not increasing rent in most cases.”