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 [(proc text) Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.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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“As a small country with an open economy, we import most goods and, thus, have little influence over the prices set by others. In other words, we are price-takers. While we have little influence over prices, our Government has the capability and duty to cushion the impact on our people and support Singaporeans through difficult times. Ranging from sound fiscal policies, generous but targeted subsidies, purposeful support packages, quality education and skills training aligned to market needs, quality job creation, enabling competition to keep prices reasonable, to timely intervention to curb opportunistic profiteering, these are just some of the actions that our Government can and has taken over the years to help Singaporeans cope with cost of living. I will not list the specific measures here, as fellow MPs have already highlighted them before, whether today or in past sessions, but I can share an example of how my resident, Mdm Ho, who is in her 40s, and her family have received Government support. Mdm Ho, her husband and four children live in a 3-room flat. The couple are working but do not earn much and, of the four children, one is in National Service, whilst three are still in school. Mdm Ho has eczema that affects her daily life, whilst her daughter and son have medical conditions that require regular treatments at the hospital. Hence, they struggle with cost of living, like any ordinary family in Singapore. In helping them to cope, the children receive various Government support, including MOE Financial Assistance that offered the youngest child, who is in Primary school, free textbooks, uniforms, meal vouchers and transport. The older schooling children receive meal vouchers and school bursaries, on top of the Edusave and CDA monies that they already have.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I stand in support of hon Member Liang Eng Hwa's amended Motion because, firstly, the amended Motion recognises the challenges that Singaporeans and Singapore face and, secondly, it is a fairer and more accurate reflection of our reality. Sir, cost of living is a growing concern that has affected Singaporeans and, most definitely, my residents in MacPherson. Over the past months, a recurring feedback that I received from my conversations with residents, be it during my weekly block visits or Meet-the-People Sessions, centred on the rising cost of living and the consequential pressures they face. More residents express anxiety and worry about affording daily living needs. Anecdotally, I have received feedback, especially from seniors, on higher cooked food prices at hawker centres and more residents have approached me to seek Public Transport Vouchers and grocery vouchers, which address their basic living needs and which will free up their cash for other important expenditures. As residents feel the pinch trying to cope with basic living expenditures, they start to worry about whether they can still support the broader needs of their loved ones and whether life aspirations, which have been spurring them on, are still within reach. These are valid concerns and we can all empathise very much. Singapore is not alone in grappling with this issue of persistent rising cost of living. Around the world, countries are witnessing similar trends. Inflation rates are rising and the costs of essentials, such as food, energy and education, are soaring. The factors contributing to this trend are complex and multi-faceted. The COVID-19 pandemic has only exacerbated these challenges, with supply chain disruptions and increased public spending amplifying price pressures.”
“I thank the Minister for the reply and also addressing my question on AI a few times. I would like to ask, given that AI has been progressing at a speed that was even faster than expected – now it is artificial general intelligence (AGI) and the next one, we do not know when, may be super intelligence – and the impact on ordinary citizens' lives have been far-reaching and wide-ranging – economic, social, legal and so on – can I ask how is the Ministry working with other agencies to look at the impact of AI on a more comprehensive approach? I understand that it may be quite difficult to legislate AI altogether, especially as it might inevitably hamper innovation. But I am wondering whether there would be continuous effort to look at more upstream factors so that we can better control and mitigate any impact there may be in generations to come.”
“" If the children face genuine financial difficulties, of course, the Government will have to step in to provide assistance. But we have to safeguard against irresponsible children who believe that the Government will not deny help to their parents, those who wilfully abandon their parents and expect others to shoulder their responsibilities. Of course, moral values cannot be legislated. One will not become filial just because of the Maintenance of Parents Act, but the Act will allow deserving parents to obtain maintenance and provide estranged family members with a chance to reconcile. At the same time, it re-affirms society's emphasis on family values, while ensuring that children who have been harmed are fairly treated. This amendment Bill is the result of more than 20 years of experience, and a synthesis of collective wisdom. After considering the pros and cons, I believe the amendments will lead to a fairer legislation and ensure that deserving parents are protected. I support this motion.”
“In the long run, I think we need to consider how an ageing population and the increase in smaller families will impact the meaning of family in our future society, and how Asian traditional values will be affected. During MPS, I often meet seniors in financial difficulties approaching us for help. They struggle to pay for daily expenses but are unwilling to ask their children for help. I once spoke to an elderly resident, who said her children are getting on quite well. When I asked if her children visit her or give her an allowance, she sadly replied that they have their own families. She said that bringing up children is a parental duty, if her children are filial, they will give her an allowance voluntarily and it will not be necessary for her to ask for it. Obviously, deep inside, she hopes that her children will provide for her and show concern. But maybe because of pride, or due to maternal love, she never asked for anything from her children and chose to suffer silently. This is not the only case that I have seen. As an Member of Parliament, we will definitely do our best to help them with their daily lives. But I feel that if parents had genuinely cared for their children, then their children should provide some support. Even if they are unable to pay for all the living expenses of their parents, they should shoulder some responsibilities. If not, what will become of filial piety? Here, I would like to emphasise that filial piety does not mean that one should expect children to pay for their parents' living expenses regardless of circumstances. After all, as the age-old saying goes "Filial piety is a virtue to be held above all else, but what is important is the heart and not the action, if one only looks at actions, then there will be no filial sons.”
“The third conclusion, the Act must help parents who have taken on child-rearing responsibilities but are in destitution due to neglect in their twilight years. But the Act should not become a tool for parents to attack their children. The Commissioner and Tribunal members observed that a minority of parents do not qualify to obtain maintenance. Despite being rejected, they continue to reapply repeatedly, intentionally causing frustrations to their children. Therefore, this amendment Bill will empower the Tribunal to directly reject applications under certain circumstances. To ensure that this will not deter seniors in real need from applying, the amendment Bill stipulates that this only applies for applicants who do not fulfil the original conditions, or who are self-sufficient, where the children can show proof that they cannot afford to pay maintenance, or applicants who have been rejected by the Courts before. I have just covered the key amendments of this Bill. During the review, the workgroup has actually considered a suggestion for grandparents to apply for maintenance. I believe that fellow members have encountered situations during Meet-the-People Sessions (MPS), where the parents were absent, and children were brought up by their grandparents. For such cases, the grandparents who have brought up the child may deserve maintenance more, as they are older and have a harder time bring up the child. However, after public consultation, we believe that if we allow this, then we have to include other family members who have brought up the child too, for example, uncles, aunties, etc. This requires further studies, so the workgroup decided not to adopt this suggestion.”
“During our consultations with experts and the public, we found that these children grow up to live seemingly normal lives, but they may not have put the trauma behind. When these children receive notices to demand for parent maintenance, some may go to Court. Although they are able to prove that they have been harmed or their parents did not fulfil their child-rearing duties, the process will undoubtedly cause old scars to resurface. Once, I witnessed a Court proceeding where a parent was applying for maintenance from the children. Even though the daughter is now a mother, the sight of her parent was enough to induce fear, to the point that when the parent came near, she immediately ran away to hide, and was even trembling in fear. It is clear that the trauma is still there. Last year, a survey involving more than a thousand people also show that most Singaporeans agree that there is a need to protect people who have been abused, neglected or abandoned by their parents. And most agree that it is necessary to prevent their parents from obtaining maintenance. After all, filial piety should be based on parental love in the first place. Therefore, this amendment Bill will empower the Commissioner to access Government files, to check for records of child abuse by the applicant. If there are such records, the applicant must prove that he/she had fulfilled child-rearing duties and must obtain approval from the Tribunal before applying for maintenance. Without the Tribunal's approval, the affected offspring will not be notified. If there are no records of abuse, they will be notified, and the application will proceed as normal to be fair to both parties.”
“The workgroup initially considered the option for the Commissioner to apply for maintenance on the parents' behalf. After all, if the parents did take care of their children, and their children do have the means, they should pay for some living expenses. This is reasonable. However, during public consultation, some members of the public are concerned that this will deprive the parents of their autonomy or may lead to greater hostility towards the parents on the part of the children. After rounds of deliberation, the workgroup believes that amendments are necessary to protect our family values, and empower the Commissioner to contact the children, but solely for mediation purposes, not to ask for maintenance, so as to preserve the relationship. Of course, the Commissioner must first assess if the parent did take on child-rearing responsibilities, and if his/her children do have the capacity to pay for maintenance. In addition, some parents may have bad habits that cause family relations to sour. According to data from the Tribunal, around 10% of cases involve a parent with gambling problems. For such cases, the children's refusal to pay maintenance to avoid feeding the bad habit is understandable. Therefore, this amendment Bill will authorise the Tribunal to issue non-monetary Court orders, or approve the maintenance application with conditions, for example, requiring the parent to go for mandatory counselling. If he/she is non-compliant, then his/her children will not be obligated to pay maintenance. Second conclusion, adult children who have been abused, neglected or abandoned by their parents should be better protected.”
“The amendments we are debating today aims to strengthen the existing mechanisms, so that seniors neglected by their children can be taken care of, while avoiding abuse of the Act to protect the interests of the offspring. Since the Act came into force, close to 2,500 applications have been received. In 2010, amendments were introduced to incorporate mediation into the process, and results have been encouraging so far. Around 90% of the applications were resolved through mediation, avoiding further acrimony between the elderly and their offspring. It has been more than a decade since the last amendment, with our ageing population and changes in the family structure, the current review and amendments bears significant meaning. After months of review, we came to a few conclusions: Firstly, the scope of the Act must be broadened to include non-monetary means to improve relations between the elderly and their offspring and encourage them to re-connect. We found that some of these relationships soured because of certain reasons. Therefore, the Commissioner or Tribunal should be further empowered or have greater flexibility to help these families reunite. These include seniors who are living in welfare homes or applying to live in one, according to the Destitute Persons Act. They may have fallen into destitution due to various reasons, but if they are responsible parents, then their contributions should be repaid. This amendment Bill empowers the Commissioner, even without the agreement of the destitute elderly, the Commissioner can contact his/her children for mediation. If his/her children still refuse to pay maintenance, at least attempts to re-establish contact is made. Currently, there are few seniors in this situation.”
“Once, when I visited a block of rental flats, I met an elderly resident. She was very friendly, and she needed to buy a medicated patch for pain relief, so that she can walk, but was afraid that she could not afford it, and there was nobody to help her buy it. We agreed to buy the patch for her, and she was very happy, genuinely happy. During our conversation, I learned that she has a daughter who has a good job and lives in a condo. The resident was full of pride when she talked about her daughter. But when we asked if her daughter visits her or takes care of her, she was unwilling to tell us more. After we left, I kept thinking about why her daughter lives in a condo, yet she was living in a rental flat? Why is it so difficult to even buy a medicated patch? What happened between them? Later on, I met another elderly resident who wanted to apply for maintenance from his children. He was rejected in his previous application, and he was very angry, and he wanted to reapply again years later. Subsequently, I looked at the documents he brought and found out that he was jailed for some offences several years ago, and his children were brought up mainly by his wife. He was also suspected of molesting his daughter, so his children did not want to have anything to do with him. Both residents face maintenance issues, but their situations are different, and it prompts us to think deeply about the issues. Today, we debate the Maintenance of Parents (Amendment) Bill in Parliament. This Act came into force in 1996, with the objective of helping seniors who do not have means to support their basic living expenses by providing a legal avenue for them to obtain maintenance from their children.”
“Mdm Deputy Speaker, I stand in support of the Maintenance of Parents (Amendment) Bill. It has been a privilege to be part of the workgroup led by my hon colleague Mr Seah Kian Peng in reviewing the Act and engaging the public and key stakeholders during the process. I join the hon Mr Seah in thanking the Action to Strengthen Marriages and Family Relationships, self-help groups, social workers, legal experts and fellow Singaporeans who have so generously shared their feedback and opinions with us. In addition to our meetings with the Tribunal President, Deputy Presidents and the Commissioner, 13 focus group discussions and public consultation held over REACH's online portal, we also conducted a survey with 1,000 respondents to understand the prevailing broad values towards supporting parents in their elderly years, opinions towards the proposed amendments and general awareness of and familiarity with the Maintenance of Parents Act. Through the review, I have learnt much from the rich conversations we have had with the various stakeholder groups. Given the extensive speeches by my hon colleague Mr Seah Kian Peng and Mr Murali Pillai earlier, allow me to speak in Mandarin. (In Mandarin): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] Since young, my mother has taught me the importance of showing gratitude, and I have witnessed how my father took care of my grandmother after my grandfather's passing, until she passed away when she was 100 years old. So, I have always believed that the maintenance of parents is my responsibility. However, as I grew up, I realised that the world is actually very complex. For example, in Macpherson, where I have served for 12 years, I have come across lonely seniors who are neglected by their children.”
“What we have today was painstakingly built over a whole lifetime and more. But to destroy this, could be as short as within just one day. We must not take this for granted. And therefore, I hope, as we reopen the Parliament, as we continue to chart the way forward for Singapore, we will continue to do so with Singapore in mind and to build a stronger nation for generations to come. [Applause.]”
“We must work hard to deliver a different, better future for our seniors. Ageing need not be a countdown to life. Entering the silver years can be a new beginning – where there is life, people, new dreams and new adventures worth looking forward to every day. Madam, often when we debate about income gaps and the way forward for Singapore, questions on whether economic growth should be a priority will inevitably arise. I believe that we should not be obsessed with economic competition or figures, but we must also not despise growth and progress. Because of our economic achievements, even the most vulnerable member of our society can access world-class education and healthcare, supported by bursaries and the 3Ms – namely MediSave, MediShield Life and MediFund. And because we have a strong Reserve, we have the fiscal capability to surmount the pandemic and the quiet confidence to face the unknown. Hence, we must excel in whatever we do, but for those who have moved further ahead, remember to look out for and help others who are still struggling. This is the more tempered and more compassionate meritocracy that we desire. We should aim for everyone to be one mass, not stretched thin and far apart and move ahead together. I think this is more powerful as an engine for Singapore. Finally, we as Parliamentarians, have an important duty and role to play in building a united Singapore. We are the voice of Singaporeans. During debates, we must allow diversity of voices so that issues can be considered comprehensively. But we must do so with the aim of illuminating the facts, explaining the trade-offs and bringing everyone to a common ground, not to drive wedges and deepen social fissures that will fracture our nation. We only have one Singapore.”
“For example, requiring the Global Investment Programme applicants and Tech Pass holders to commit to: (a) delivering lectures to tertiary students or civil servants every year to enhance frontier industry knowledge; (b) mentoring local start-ups; and (c) adopting a community or charitable programme. By explicitly requiring them to take part in these activities, we create opportunities for meaningful interactions and, thereby, breaking down pre-conceived opinions and promote better mutual understanding. Having chosen Singapore as a destination, I am sure these distinguished business leaders will be happy to support good causes here. Fourth, on meaningful ageing so that every day is worth looking forward to. Over the years, Singapore has done tremendous work to create the conditions for our seniors to age in place. Looking ahead, we must continue to pay special attention to our seniors. As family sizes shrink, we can expect more seniors living alone for longer. Hence, we must work to keep them socialised and keep them healthy, even as we continue to emphasise family values and prioritising family support. Our policies and programmes will also have to be designed with future seniors in mind. In my opinion, learning is a great way to stimulate minds and build confidence. In embracing lifelong learning, we could introduce scholarships for seniors to pursue tertiary diplomas or degrees and celebrate these mature graduands, so that the scholarships are not just limited to youths or young people, but to our mature Singaporeans as well. Is it not exhilarating to defy age stereotypes and know that "I still got it"? In essence, seniors should not be "waiting to die". This would reflect a certain grief over losing mental and physical capacities.”
“Some questions arising from this are: while people are still struggling, in trying their best to keep up digitally, would we have inadvertently moved the goal post so much that we widened the gap between the digital know and know-nots? And between those who have access to powerful technology and those who have not. What happens if enterprises increasingly feel that it is okay to ignore ethics, to be irresponsible and just do whatever to make money? What happens if fakes get proliferated and it becomes too difficult to discern what is real and what is not? Given enough time, nothing is impossible with technology. But we, as humans, must collectively exercise the will to draw a line in the sand and be clear about what technology must never replace or do. In this case, Governments around the world have a duty to draw that line, coordinate legislation and enforce it. We must embrace technology to better lives, but we must master it and not be mastered by it. Third, on foreign investments and talents in Singapore, value-adding beyond the money. We should continue to welcome high quality and committed foreign talents and enterprises to Singapore, to supplement our Singaporean Core. The Global Investor Programme has been one way of welcoming investments to Singapore, bringing along invaluable industrial capabilities and availing job opportunities to Singaporeans. But we want them to do more than just putting money here. We should make it an explicit requirement for them to contribute socially and to integrate more.”
“And could we recognise these credentials by recording them as part of our national digital identity, creating a personal digital resume for each Singaporean? The Public Service can, perhaps, take the lead in formally recognising these short courses taken by officers. Second, a mastering technology and not be mastered by technology. A key development driving the next wave of disruption is artificial intelligence (AI). Goldman Sachs estimated that AI can replace 300 million full-time jobs. This prospect sounds scary. But what is scarier is that the stiff competition to lead in the field of AI could mean a willingness to overlook ethical considerations and other consequences. For example, ChatGPT caught the world's attention in recent times. We are all impressed by its almost-human capabilities. But has the company OpenAI really thought through the long-term social implications of ChatGPT before releasing it? Media reports would suggest that it had not. Consider ChaosGPT, which is the autonomous implementation of ChatGPT that is touted as, "empowering GPT with Internet and memory to destroy humanity". While ChaosGPT has yet to work out how to really destroy mankind, but, by its autonomous nature, it will keep going until it achieves the goal it is given. And with each iteration of technological advancement, one can be sure that ChaosGPT will also get better. Surely, OpenAI could not have invented ChatGPT to destroy ourselves. Even if there was a tinge of hesitation back then, it is now too late to pull back, because the launch of ChatGPT triggered a frenzy amongst tech giants, like Google and Baidu, rushing to release their own versions of generative AI. When technology confers power, an arm's race begins.”
“Our education should focus on inculcating a sense of curiosity in our young, so that they will always be intrinsically motivated to seek out new knowledge and skills. Over the years, changes have been made to the system, but we could do more to foster a culture of curiosity. For example, could we focus less on standard answers but more on imagination and creative solutioning? Indeed, our education system has done away from PSLE T-score and replaced streaming with banding – these are encouraging moves. But what about students who are inventors and storytellers or who have topics of interest not found in the textbooks? How can we recognise and reward them more formally? Can there be an "independent study" subject that allows the student to choose a topic of interest to deep-dive into and be given a grade that is just as important as an English or mathematics subject, so that we move towards learning that is more versatile, more blue-skies thinking and hopefully, less need for tuition, which is often cited as a costly endeavour that widens the gap? As pointed out, learning does not stop after graduating from the mainstream education system. In future, as industries continue to be disrupted by new technologies, we can expect to change tracks many times in our working lives. Mature workers starting afresh in radically new industries several times, within a lifetime, will become a norm and it would no longer be something to feel embarrassed about. To support this, adult learning should then focus less on long, structured courses with expensive certificates, but shorter and more targeted ones to build practical skills that can be readily deployed at work. Would the Government expand the SkillsFuture credits to enable this?”
“One thing precious about Singapore is that despite our different jobs and roles in the economy, we still see ourselves as Singaporeans of similar standing and similar in other areas too, for example, in our taste for hawker foods. "Towkays" and workers can all turn up at the same coffee shop to queue for "bak chor mee" or "roti prata" and share a table to eat thereafter. There is no expectation that one should be deferential or give way to another. The expectation is that they will be treated all the same. Meritocracy can lead to differences in economic outcomes, but these should not lead to differences in social treatment. Our system must give all our people equal rights and opportunities. All of us must affirm our egalitarianism in both spirit and practice. Allow me to share some specific thoughts. First, on education and skills-based workforce. Yesterday, Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong spoke of creating Singapore to become a full-fledged learning society, from cradle to grave. Indeed, we must. Disruptions brought about by technological revolutions have been a constant feature throughout history and the pace is gathering. The Great Reshuffle also means that jobs and skills needed are changing and will continue to change. For instance, according to LinkedIn's "Future of Skills", skills needed in the technology, information and media industry in Singapore have changed by 36.8% between 2015 and 2022 – just a span of seven years. And specific to this industry, seven out of the 10 top skills are considered new. These new skills, include new programming languages; but also softer skills, such as stakeholder management and strategic partnerships. Clearly, we cannot expect to learn the universe in school, but we can acquire the basics from which we continue to build.”
“Mdm Deputy Speaker, I stand in support of the Motion of thanks. The COVID-19 pandemic was a crisis of our generation but also a test from which Singapore emerged more united and our trust in each other strengthened. But we must not take this for granted. As we reopen the Parliament, it is indeed timely to refresh our focus and renew our commitment to our people and Singapore. Looking ahead, our operating environment is increasingly complex. Pressures in and outside of Singapore continue to mount and these can threaten to tear us apart. Game-changing technologies, rising cost of living, shift in social values and heightened international contestation are some of the key forces pulling us in different directions. And none of these is abating. Therefore, even as we strive for progress and push for excellence, we must ensure that Singapore remains united. Our policies must remove barriers and minimise gaps, our Parliament must focus on building up trust, not tearing down and our society must be more inclusive and compassionate. President Halimah spoke of broadening meritocracy and making sure that it continues to work well for all Singaporeans. I agree. There is no better alternative to meritocracy, but we need to temper it so that it is more compassionate and more relevant to today's context. My take is that for those among us who can and want to excel, we ought not to limit them and should wish them well. For those who want to but cannot because of financial circumstances, then we must intervene more strongly to support and move them along. It is not just about giving equal opportunities but to direct more resources to help the abled but underprivileged. We also need to maintain our egalitarianism.”
“(In Mandarin) [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] I thank the Ministers for the replies earlier. I would like to ask, first, arts and culture can carry our history and values, and serve as a bridge across different generations and languages. I would like to ask what communities the Government has engagement and collaboration with to promote the development of local arts and culture, and ensure that Singaporeans, young and old, can access and appreciate arts. Second, to some arts practitioners, new technologies such as metaverse are rather new concepts. How can the Government help them master these new skills and grasp new opportunities? How can the Government revitalise and develop our diverse local arts and culture, and empower our arts practitioners and the entire ecosystem?”
“(In Mandarin) [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] Mr Chairman, to promote local arts and culture, arts and cultural practitioners are indispensable. During the pandemic, they have faced severe challenges. Most of them are self-employed, without the support of an organisation. They would inevitably be hit hard by the economic downturn. In addition, technologies have been advancing fast. If we can better use technologies, we will be able to expand our reach and grasp new opportunities. Hence, I would like to ask how the Government has helped arts and cultural practitioners continue to make a living or even make breakthroughs in the past year. How would the Government revitalise and develop the local arts and culture ecosystem, and empower our arts and cultural practitioners? Art Spaces and Sector Capability Building”
“Sir, as our society progresses, our youths are also increasingly sophisticated and desirous of participating in Singapore's development. As an integral part of our population, youths should certainly have a say in how Singapore charts our future. To do so, it is critical that our youths understand the key issues affecting Singapore, how different groups of fellow Singaporeans could have very different but no less important needs, how policies and legislations are formulated and the difficult trade-offs involved in such formulations. Such understanding will enable them to think more critically, be less susceptible to potentially biased opinions perpetuated by how social media algorithms are designed and make informed decisions for themselves. At present, we have a range of youth dialogues organised by various Government and private entities. These are useful. But I believe that it is important to offer our youths a structured and more hands-on programme that facilitates deeper understanding of how policy makers think, how legislations are formulated, how other countries deal with similar issues, how is Singapore unique or maybe not so unique and what do we need to give up if we choose one priority over the other. In this vein, would the Government consider reinstating the National Youth Forum or create the likes of it?”
“(In Mandarin) [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] Mr Chairman, globally, the ongoing China-US rivalry and the Ukraine war, as well as global economic slowdown and uncertainty will affect Singapore negatively. Even if the Government works out a strategy, we may not be able to turn the tide. Hence, global uncertainty will inevitably have a negative impact on Singapore. What people are most concerned about is: if lives are affected, what will happened to our social harmony and cohesion built over the years under this immense pressure? Hence, promoting local arts and culture is important in strengthening our sense of belonging and identity, as arts and culture carry our history and shared values, and serve as a bridge across different generations and languages. During last year's debate, the Government announced that it would actively engage the community to promote arts and culture in Singapore. Today, a year later, what are the new developments in the Government's plans? How does the Government ensure that Singaporeans, young and old, can access and appreciate arts? Developing Singapore Heritage and Arts”
“Thank you. I have two questions. One is that as we push for more flexible work arrangements, including work-from-home, I am wondering whether MND is looking at how we can enhance or redesign the living environment to better enable this, because one of the feedback is that, sometimes, there is not enough space or it is too noisy for that. Secondly, as the country continues to develop and we also talk about trying to preserve more green spaces for those who love nature, what is the Government's take on the more brownfield kind of sites? How are we going to develop or redevelop those while taking into consideration that some of these sites actually do have emotional attachments that people will have towards them like homes, like flats? I would like to get the Minister's position on this.”
“Chairman, buildings account for over 20% of Singapore's carbon emissions. This is significant. With technology and advancement, new buildings today can use green material and smarter designs to reduce emissions. But in a highly built‐up environment like Singapore, we have many mature estates with high concentrations of buildings that are decades old. Many of these buildings are home to our people. I had spoken on this topic in last year's COS debate as well. How is the Government accelerating our transition to a low‐carbon built environment? What are the quick wins and achievements so far? The use of sensors and artificial intelligence can offer predictive analytics and enable predictive maintenance, which can also identify inefficiencies and help to reduce waste of resources and energy. First, leveraging such smart technology at scale could support our journey to go green. Could the MND share more about how it is leveraging technology to do so? Also, what else is the MND doing to enhance existing buildings to be more energy efficient and reduce emissions, without having to tear down or affect homes where precious memories are forged?”
“I would like to thank the Minister and the two Senior Ministers of State for the very comprehensive replies to all our questions and of course, a big thank you to the entire MCI team as well. I think, despite all the questions that have been asked, respect goes to all of you for being on the ground, in the trenches, facing off the challenges that you have to face and making that inclusive digital future a reality. With that, I would like to withdraw my amendment. [(proc text) Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. (proc text)] [(proc text) The sum of $1,844,175,000 for Head Q ordered to stand part of the Main Estimates. (proc text)] [(proc text) The sum of $44,628,100 for Head Q ordered to stand part of the Development Estimates. (proc text)]”
“I thank the Minister and the two Senior Minister of State for the replies. I have two supplementary questions. The first one is related to human capital development. The scheme, such as Digital Home Access at Home, as well as the Three P events such as the DFL will go a long way in raising awareness and helping to propel population better for the digital future. But I would like to ask: what are some of the more proactive measures or programmes that may be put in place to help upskill our school-going children so that they can keep up with the rapid technological advancement and be ready for that digital future that we speak of? The second question, since we are talking about vernaculars, so allow me to speak in Mandarin. (In Mandarin): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] I would like to ask the Minister this question: How does the Government ensure that spending on advertising and engaging influencers is meaningful, which will benefit the public, and is not for the purpose of self-commendation? Are there any KPIs to ensure that the fund has achieved their intended purpose?”
“These require industry engagements, jointly imagining the future and charting out what infrastructure or building blocks are needed to enable that future. How will the Government partner the industries to co-imagine the future and build the digital infrastructure needed that is secure, versatile and green?”
“Sir, Singapore ranks among the top countries for technology infrastructure and adoption. We have the highest average internet connection speed in Asia and the number of 4G subscriptions in Singapore is almost one and a half times that of our population. Last year, Senior Minister of State Janil reported at the COS that we are on track for nationwide 5G coverage in Singapore by 2025. Could we get an update on the implementation of 5G coverage and if it could be expedited so that Singapore can capture the value created with 5G sooner? As coverage expands, how stable has 5G been and how will the Government help citizens and businesses to utilise and maximise the benefits that 5G can offer? How will the Government partner the industries to create more use cases that will further propel our economy forward? Data is fundamental to innovations. As articulated in my cut to PMO last week, adequate data protection is most certainly necessary. But there is apprehension and perhaps confusion around the use of data and companies would understandably also be wary of sharing data stemming from competition concerns. Thus, how can we avail and share data in a secure environment that allows experiments and product testing without compromising data privacy and security? Could the Government play a greater role in working with industry players to facilitate this? Given the rapid advancement of technology such as blockchain and cryptography, might there be scope for more curated Government data to be accessed in a safe, controlled and anonymous manner? As we look at 5G and the likes of Web 3.0 now, we must continue to look ahead and think of 6G, Web 4.0 and beyond.”
“Information Literacy As we continue on our journey towards digitalisation, information literacy is increasingly important. Legislations such as the Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Act (Pofma) has accorded the Government the ability to respond to egregious falsehoods that are against the public interest. However, fake news, malicious falsehoods and scams continue to sprout, 就好像打不死的蟑螂. A whole-of-society effort is needed to combat misinformation. Educating the public on how to discern fake news and falsehoods such that it becomes a natural intuition is the best way to inoculate our population against the poison of falsehoods. Currently, there are lessons in school to raise awareness on online falsehoods and scams, but there is room to dive deeper and encourage greater critical thinking through quizzes and project work as students mature and advance. That being said, adults are just as vulnerable – it is not easy to discern which information source is credible. The Government has several good initiatives such as the "Fight Fake News" website and the Source, Understand, Research and Evaluate (S.U.R.E) steps in four languages. What else is the Government doing to raise awareness of the importance of information literacy and educating the public to be discerning readers? Inclusive Digitalisation”
“Sir, the digital future is certain. But we must not inadvertently create a new inequality or widen the existing gap, between those who can access and exploit the new digital technologies, and those who cannot. Our digitalisation efforts today are for the youths today and seniors tomorrow. But we still have a generation of senior Singaporeans who struggle to keep up with the pace of digitalisation, despite everyone's best efforts. Some are fearful of being left out or left behind totally. Hence, as we digitalise, we must continue to help the more vulnerable or less privileged amongst us to: one, maintain access to critical services and information online/offliine; two be empowered with data connection and devices if they wished to go digital; three, be equipped with the right skills; and four, build up confidence in the digital world. The Government must continue to make available support and schemes that address these four areas. Therefore, I would like to ask: How has the Government progressed in ensuring Singaporeans have access and have the know-how to harness the benefits of going digital? What are the "wins" and opportunities for improvement? Therefore, the Government should also design and proliferate solutions that connect seniors to the wider community, and design it in a way that is easy for them to use and not daunting. In the MacPherson constituency, we tried doing this with the MacPherson Care app. It has not easy, but we will continue to persevere. But we should also encourage such efforts across the nation too. Therefore, I would like to ask: how will the Government encourage similar ground-up community initiatives to solve real life problems?”
“Schemes such as Tech Pass, TechSkills Accelerator (TeSA), Professional Conversion Programme (PCP) help to boost tech talent supply. Government expounding on the need for more tech talents and highlighting the specific profiles in demand serve to inform and influence students' decisions in what to major or specialise in. Such "intervention" is useful as it helps to connect the industry and education and align the demand and supply. Sir, the digital future is upon us. The challenges and opportunities presented will require a wise and competent Government that can harness the power of technology to build Singapore while putting in place guardrails to protect our people. How then will the Government ensure a good balance between protection and facilitation? [(proc text) Question proposed. (proc text)] Cyber Addiction”
“What are MCI's next steps in ensuring the safety of Singapore users beyond social media services? For example, during the debate last year, I raised my concerns about having adequate protection in the Metaverse and the need for legislation and protection mechanisms to catch up with technological development. We must protect our people online just as we do in the real world. But in doing so, we also need to calibrate carefully so that we do not inadvertently suffocate innovation or over-burden well-meaning businesses wanting to scale and thrive. This is also aligned to the spirit of Government's efforts in encouraging businesses to go digital in Singapore. Hence, it is important for regulations and compliance to be clear in its objectives, streamline processes and paperwork so that whatever is needed to be done addresses the objectives on point, not more than what is needed. Otherwise, we risk hampering smaller enterprises' digitalisation journey and lose out further, because large enterprises are typically better resourced to meet these requirements. For example, how do we balance data protection and data for innovation? I will talk more about this in my other cut. And in encouraging enterprises or individuals to digitalise and upskill through monetary incentives, we need to ask might the application or accountability process be so tedious such that they end up remaining in their comfort zones and stick to just being "good enough" and avoid digital transformation altogether? Could the MCI share more about its efforts in removing barriers and encouraging Singaporeans and enterprises to go digital? Government interventions can also shape market development.”
“Chairman, I beg leave to move "that the total sum to be allocated for Head Q of the Estimates be reduced by $100". Singapore has great ambitions to achieve a thriving digital economy and smart nation. In past Parliamentary debates, I argued that talent and data are, in my opinion, the most basic yet most important success factors. We need data to innovate and we need people to get things done. This remains true. But along with new capabilities come new opportunities and challenges. For example, vast amounts of data could be used to train Artificial Intelligence (AI) to improve productivity and reduce human errors but it could perpetuate biases if we are not careful with the quality of data used. Scale and speed of how information can get transmitted online help to share knowledge and impart new skills regardless of where the parties are and when, and perhaps even rally people to raise resources to help strangers or foreign countries in crisis. But if misused, it can also propagate, extend and magnify harm to the innocent. Therefore, legislation becomes a powerful tool to protect the vulnerable from harm online. It can provide clarity to what is considered harmful, what recourse does a victim have and who should be responsible for what actions needed. And on responsibility, it is increasingly clear that protecting users is no longer just the responsibility of the Government or the individuals, but platforms too have gained the expertise and perspective over time to join the fight against online harms. With this understanding, the Online Safety Bill was passed in this House last year. Could the Ministry of Communications and Information (MCI) provide an update on the implementation progress thus far?”
“US-China relations are vital for regional peace and prosperity. Singapore has always welcome both countries' efforts to keep communication channels open and engaged in dialogues. While the US and China are not actively looking for conflict, the nationalistic rhetoric on both sides means that there is a real danger that any miscalculation or accident could potentially lead to an escalatory spiral and destabilise our region. The recent balloon incidents seem to suggest that the space or window of opportunity is closing again. This is worrying. While we are a small nation, we can still play our part. How has Singapore engaged both the US and China on their strategic rivalry? What is the prognosis and are there opportunities for Singapore? Singapore and US-China Relations”
“And it also enabled us to verify identities, making it safer for seniors who may be served by the on‐demand volunteers whom they could be unfamiliar with. So, this solves a key problem for us when we were designing the app. Can the Government share more about the efforts in investing in the next bound of digital infrastructure and utilities, so as to support our Smart Nation drive? Data is fundamental to innovations. The Government holds a diverse and vast amount of data, but such data is not easily accessible, and understandably so, by non‐government entities – such as community organisations hoping to do better for the community and businesses pursuing quality innovations – and this is perhaps also so between Government agencies as well. Adequate data protection is most certainly necessary. But how can we avail some or more of such data in a secured environment that allows experiments and product testing, without compromising data privacy and security? Could the Government share more about the data sandbox? And given the emergence of technology such as blockchain and cryptography, might there be scope for more curated Government data to be accessed in a safe, controlled and anonymous manner? Bringing Seniors on the Digital Journey”
“Sir, our citizens and businesses transact with the Government every day. Government services are therefore very much part of our everyday life. Building on a strong foundation of efficiency, our Government has been on the e‐Government journey since the early 1980s. Today, our Government has achieved much and won international acclaim. From e‐government then to digital government today, we should continue our efforts to make Government services more convenient, user‐friendly and at a lower cost for our citizens. In this vein, I would like to ask, what is the current progress of the “Smart Nation and Digital Government” efforts and how have citizens and businesses benefited from these efforts? Sir, our digitalisation efforts today are for the youths today and seniors tomorrow. While our population is increasingly digitally savvy, we still have a generation of senior Singaporeans who struggle to keep up with the pace of digitalisation, despite everyone’s best efforts. Some are fearful of being left out and left behind totally. We need to give them enough assurance so that they do not reject digitalisation altogether. Hence, I would like to ask if the Government will continue offering non‐digital options for seniors to fall back on? Next Bound Digital Infrastructure The implementation of National Digital Identity (NDI) has been successful and very useful. With a mobile phone and data connection, much can be done from wherever and whenever. With utilities such as the NDI, not only is convenience of services and transactions enhanced, security is improved too. It also enables more ground‐up innovations. MacPherson Care App, for example, used MyInfo to make registration of seniors and volunteers much easier and more seamless.”
“To navigate around these challenges and steer Singapore forward, we will need strong financial muscles, solid willpower and a willingness to give and take. Hence, notwithstanding my earlier points made, I see this Budget as one that builds on past efforts and one that will continue to take Singapore forward. I support the Budget.”
“First, to encourage the various generations in the family to take care of each other, can the Government raise the Married Child Priority Scheme (MCPS) quota so that more young first-timers can secure new homes close to their parents? Second, increasing the number of preschool places will ensure that children will have a better start and that parents can work worry-free. However, there are still not enough preschool centres for children with special needs. Children with special needs already have learning difficulties. It is only right to give them more support. I hope that the Government will increase the number of teachers in this area and provide more subsidised places. Third, growing old is inevitable but this does not mean that we should be counting down to our last days. Instead, this should be the beginning of a new chapter. I hope that the Government will continue to build a vibrant future for the elderly, promote Healthier SG and design activities, programmes or infrastructures with different age groups in mind. (In English): Sir, Singapore's social compact have evolved over time. From focusing on survival as a nation in the 1960s to 1980s, to the "Many Helping Hands" approach that encouraged a greater sense of collective responsibility from the 1990s to the mid-2000s, to recognising that Government and the community need to play a bigger role to complement individual and family efforts. Singapore has done well so far. As we look ahead, there are many complex challenges that we have to grapple with. We face macroeconomic uncertainties, geopolitical instability, rapid social change and game-changing technological innovations. These can change the world as we know it.”
“But building infrastructure and developing programmes need lead time, and we must hasten our efforts as we project into the future. Just to give an example. Recently, I received email requests from residents of the “young-old” profile who asked for Gym Tonic, which is less intensive than normal gyms but more sophisticated than the usual neighbourhood fitness equipment and programmes. This, to me, is an early signal of a generational shift in "taste" and preference for what constitutes active ageing. In the past, I often heard seniors lament about “waiting to die”, which seemed to reflect a certain grief over losing mental and physical capacities. This is sad and scary. We must work to deliver a different, better future for our seniors. Aging need not be a countdown to life. Entering the silver years can be a new beginning where there is life, people, new dreams and new adventures worth looking forward to every day. Hence, I urge the Government to double up its efforts in pushing for a Healthier SG and ensure that building plans and programme offerings are by design friendly to seniors today and tomorrow. Allow me to speak in Mandarin, Sir. (In Mandarin): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] Mr Speaker, looking at the present and the future, the challenges we face cannot be underestimated. How to avoid obstacles and press on requires wise leadership and a united people. Therefore, with the rise of a new generation of Singaporeans, our social compact needs to be adjusted to keep up with times. This year's Budget dealt directly with our future needs and immediate concerns. While it is heartening, I still have some suggestions to the Government.”
“We appealed for the son to stay but the centre’s decision remained. Understandably, XY was desperate and sought help again. Thankfully, in this case, the Early Childhood Development Agency (ECDA) and my grassroots leader managed to find an alternative for XY’s child. But the process was disruptive for the child's learning and caused much heartache for the family. Hence, could there be better training and more resources given to support all anchor operator and partner operator centres so that they can accept more children with special needs? Next, on preparing for the silver years. Sir, we know for a long time now that our population is ageing. Hence, preparing our nation to be senior-friendly is ever so important and urgent. We will all grow old one day. So, what we do to care for our seniors today is also caring for our generation tomorrow when we have grown old. Hence, I support the efforts to ensure seniors live as much of their lives in good health as possible and to have ample options to age in the community. I support the approach and measures set out in the Budget. In addition, I would urge that we pay special attention to socialising our seniors in the community to ensure that they are plugged into social networks and have a diverse range of activities to choose from. We must strive to help our seniors avoid a sense of loneliness and avoid social isolation as these can lead to rapid mental and physical deterioration. Even the fittest elderly can also be vulnerable to loneliness and social isolation. Apart from preventive healthcare and Immediate and Long-Term Care (ILTC), community hardware and programmes need to be carefully designed with today and tomorrow's elderly in mind. I believe we have been doing well in providing for seniors of today.”
“The child has been attending mainstream preschools until the schools found it too difficult to cope with caring for the child. By mainstream, I meant those with subsidies. KT managed to enrol her daughter in early intervention classes at AWWA, for which they are grateful to receive fairly generous subsidies which are helpful to the couple who do not have a fixed income. However, the intervention classes are on part-time basis only and the child would not be able to receive the full learning experience that her peers are receiving. After much heartache, KT managed to find a private preschool that her daughter could finally fit in and responded well to. This preschool is not a high-end one but KT could not receive subsidies if her child is enrolled in it. My understanding was that this centre did not qualify a particular criterion and hence, the KiFAS subsidies could not be given. Consequently, the family soon found it too challenging to continue. As a mother, I feel for KT. She really just wants to try her best to place her child at a centre where her daughter finally feels comfortable in, where the principal and teachers understand her daughter and where her daughter can finally learn and seem to thrive. She felt torn between the ability to afford and settling for a centre that may not be suitable for her daughter. Hence, I wonder if subsidies could be "ported" over for specific individuals in special circumstances like this? In another case, another resident XY approached me. Her son was originally enrolled in a local anchor operator childcare centre. One day, her son was found to have special needs and the centre found it too difficult for them to manage. I was told that the principal allegedly insisted that her son be taken out of the centre.”
“It is in the mature housing estates where we see more elderly parents, who are less likely to move out as they will have to unplug themselves from a familiar environment and existing social networks; and their adult children understandably want to live nearby for the reasons I articulated earlier. Furthermore, first time buyers and these would include the young couples or families, who favour speed and affordability, would have already chosen non-mature estates. And so, those who continuously choose mature estates must therefore have good reasons to do so. Next, on opportunities for children, I am heartened to note that the Government is spending more to narrow learning gaps for children and is reinforcing the important role of early childhood education in any child's development. Scaling up the KidSTART nationwide is certainly noteworthy. The move to increase 22,000 full-day childcare places and expanding the number of MOE Kindergartens are to be rejoiced as well. As it is, the anchor operator partner childcare centres in MacPherson are already full and parents are anxiously on the waiting list. Hopefully, the announced increase will come to MacPherson's – and soon. Still, I hope the Government will also do more to increase places and train more teachers for children with special needs. Children with special needs are already at a disadvantaged starting point and hence, ensuring their access to the right early childhood education is even more important. Allow me to share two residents' plights. In the first, there is a resident by the name KT, who first approached me to appeal for subsidies to enrol her daughter in a private kindergarten. KT's daughter has severe autism.”
“I am glad that the Government reaffirmed its commitment to keeping public housing affordable and accessible, for this generation and the next. Home ownership is one of the five most fundamental pillars of our social safety net. The ability to secure a home gives our people, especially young couples, the confidence to build their families and in turn, reinforce their shared sense of destiny with Singapore. Therefore, in this Budget, I am glad that the Government will refine the BTO scheme to give first-timer families with kids and young married couples aged 40 and below an additional ballot. I have met several young couples who feel highly stressed that they could not secure a flat in the ballots while their biological clocks are ticking away. Hence, it is heartening to note that the Government is responsive to citizens' needs. However, amongst these young couples I met, almost all of them have a strong desire to live near their parents, for mutual familial support. Parents can help care for the couples' kids and the couples can in turn care for their parents as they age further. But when they fail at the ballots or cannot afford a nearby resale flat, one can imagine the anxiety they feel. While I understand the Government needs to make many considerations, such as ensuring a certain level of refreshing of the population in any precinct, could the Government consider increasing the proportion of flats set aside under the Married Child Priority Scheme (MCPS) in BTO projects at mature estates? Or give another additional ballot to first-timers repeatedly applying under the MCPS?”
“But, could the Deputy Prime Minister give commitment that the money taken out of our Past Reserves will be put back at the earliest opportunity to do so, and if not at one go, at least in phases? I raised this during last year's Budget debate and I would like to raise it again today. In case I get misunderstood, let me state that I believe it is necessary for us to draw on our reserves to help Singapore and Singaporeans get through difficult times and we need to spend enough to help Singaporeans with the immediate cost challenges. But we must keep in mind that we cannot deplete our reserves and that we must guard it judiciously. Our pioneers took more than 50 years to save up this pot of gold because they want to protect their children and future generations. Similarly, we too have a duty to use this pot of gold wisely and make sure that we put back what we took once we can, so that our children and their children can continue to have this asset to fall back on when they face the crisis of their generation. Singapore turns 58 years old this year. As a fairly young nation, we still have much to build. As each new generation emerges and succeeds the preceding one, we can expect adjustments to be made, to match the broader trends around the world, and the changing values and expectations. On the whole, we aspire towards a fairer and more inclusive society, in which we respect diversity, maintain harmony and hopefully, will be kinder to each other. Hence, in strengthening our social compact, these aspirations and values need to be translated into tangible policies for Singaporeans and Singapore. On housing, this House saw a rigorous debate on public housing earlier this month.”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, this year's Budget is a generous one with measures that recognise and target the immediate challenges Singaporeans face, as well as the needs for Singapore's future. Most immediately, Singaporeans are worried about the high cost of living. Headline inflation, the CPI of all items, is 6.1% in 2022, with increase in transport, housing and utilities and food prices being main contributors. This impact is especially salient for middle- and lower income households, financially and psychologically. Hence, the enhancements to the GSTV scheme and Assurance Package are much welcomed. Against a challenging macro environment and competing needs domestically, I am glad to note that the Government will continue to uphold the practice of fiscal prudence and principles underpinning the protection of our reserves. In his Budget speech, Deputy Prime Minister Wong explained that the Singapore economy just recovered from the COVID-9 pandemic and with a tight fiscal position, the Government will not be putting back what we have drawn from the Past Reserves. However, I hope that we do not lose that discipline as years pass. And with external factors, such as continued geopolitical instabilities and higher than normal inflation amidst lower global growth, we may find it even more difficult to do so in future. Should a major crisis hit again and sooner than expected, will we have the same financial muscle and confidence as we did during the COVID-19 pandemic? I understand that it is always a tricky trade-off between spending for today, investing for the future and saving for the unexpected.”
“I thank the Deputy Prime Minister for the comprehensive reply. I just have two questions. One, may I ask if FTX is the only cryptocurrency-related investment that the three investment entities are exposed to? Two, despite the failings of cryptocurrencies, the blockchain-based digital infrastructure may still prove to be useful in other aspects. So, may I ask, for these investment entities, whether they have been or will continue to invest in such companies and, if they have been, how has the investment performance been so far?”
“As she wore her Virtual Reality (VR) equipment during that episode, her controller vibrated when the male avatar strangers touched her, resulting in a physical sensation consequential of what she was experiencing online. The incident left her feeling "disoriented". It was a clear instance of how the virtual and physical world boundaries have blurred and how online happenings can cause real harm. Apparently, that was not an isolated incident, as there were other reports of similar sexual assaults, homophobic and racial slurs, as well as gun violence on Horizon World. Though these reports were specific to Meta's metaverse platform, it is not difficult to imagine similar incidents happening on other metaverse platforms, especially if the different metaverse universes start to connect with one another. Therefore, how will the Bill, in its current form, be able to protect users from such online harms? In addition, as we look to a possible future of Web 3.0, where data and control become decentralised, going just after a couple of OCS providers operating in the Web 2.0 world may not be effective enough. Hence, we will need to ensure that our legislation and enforcement capabilities are updated in a timely manner, so that while we do not want to be over-prescriptive, we are also not too big a step behind these technological developments. Therefore, I hope the Ministry can also share more about what is being done to continually engage industry players and community stakeholders so that our legislation and Codes of Practice not only have teeth but will bite where it matters. With that, I support the Bill.”
“However, there could be instances where objectionable content gets shared through private messaging channels. Moreover, in the context of Australia where its online safety act was passed just last year and came into effect earlier this year, private messaging is included. Could the Ministry explain the considerations made when deciding what to cover and what not to cover? Perhaps, the Ministry could also share the lessons learnt or the observations made of other jurisdictions where similar legislation was passed before us. Thirdly, while the Ministry has a broad list of what constitutes egregious content, such as content that advocates or instructs on suicide, self-harm, violence, child sexual exploitation, public health risk, racial and religious disharmony and terrorism, who and how will this assessment and decision be made on what actually crosses the threshold to qualify as egregious? While I applaud the Online Safety (Miscellaneous Amendments) Bill for being a timely one, I would also like to know: how frequent does the Ministry intend to review the Bill? As we know, technological advancement and disruptions happen at accelerating speeds. Along with it comes new issues and operational challenges that the Bill today may not be adequate in addressing. For example, with the rise of the metaverse and the increasing number of young people immersing in it, our legislation and protection mechanisms must catch up quickly. In May this year, it was reported on various news sites, such as the BBC and The Business Insider, that a researcher's avatar was sexually assaulted on a metaverse platform called the Horizon World. The researcher from a non-profit advocacy group SumOfUs entered the particular metaverse and, within an hour, her avatar was raped in the virtual space.”
“The Online Safety (Miscellaneous Amendment) Bill builds on some of our existing laws to further recognise that happenings online can have a real impact in the physical world and actions must be taken to address issues concerning the safety and well-being of our people. The Bill also represents a shift in some ways. Firstly, protecting users is no longer just the responsibility of the Government or the individual users themselves, but also the OCS providers, who will now be explicitly required to implement tangible measures or face legal consequences for failing to do so. Secondly, giving teeth to our agencies to compel these OCS providers to act on harmful and egregious content, even if these service providers are not situated on our shores. On the Internet, all types of information, the good and the bad, are readily accessible and can be proliferated widely almost instantaneously, thereby extending the harm it can bring onto innocent people. In instances of bullying, the Internet magnifies the effects. And, in other instances, the widespread egregious content could mislead and cause harm to the innocent. Thus, I believe that most, if not all, will agree on the importance of protecting those who are vulnerable online. Nonetheless, I have the following questions to ask about the Bill. Firstly, I think it is quite clear that the Ministry is taking a whitelist approach to applying the Codes of Practice. Therefore, I would like to ask: how does the Ministry determine which OCS providers make it into the whitelist? What criteria or parameters do the Ministry consider? Second, I note that private messages will not be covered in this Bill. I suppose the Ministry is trying to strike a balance between offering sufficient protection whilst not being overly intrusive.”