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 [(proc text) Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.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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“In empowering more girls with STEM education, I am encouraged that female representation in Information Technology courses in local Universities has increased from 28% in 2017 to 35% in 2019. Still room for improvement, but making progress. And pushing further to avail Singapore women of good career opportunities, the PAP called for greater help for women to secure jobs in growth sectors as we recognise that there are tech-lite jobs suitable for those without a STEM background within the tech sector, and demand for workers remains strong in the care and green economy. Mdm Deputy Speaker, please allow me to speak in Mandarin. (In Mandarin): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] Mdm Deputy Speaker, I am glad to participate in the debate on this meaningful Motion today. I support the amended Motion. The contributions of Singapore women to the family, community and country are evident to all. Since I entered Parliament in 2011, I have heard many suggestions from my colleagues on issues related to support for women in Singapore. I have also witnessed the implementation of Government policies to help women in Singapore achieve greater progress. In 2017, I had the honour to move a Motion with four of my fellow Members of Parliament in Parliament on how to help Singaporean women realise their aspirations. With 13 other Members of Parliament, we engaged in a two-day debate. The debate in 2017 outlined four key strategies. First, create and strengthen frameworks and services to share the burden of caregivers and free up time for them to better balance their multiple roles. Second, to promote flexible work arrangements and give them options to care for their families without sacrificing their careers.”
“For instance, the number of home care and day care places increased to 10,300 and 9,000 respectively in 2019, exceeding the 2020 targets announced in 2017 back then. Infant care centres increased from 512 in 2017 to 661 in 2020, and childcare centres increased from 1,389 in 2017 to 1,542 in 2020. To facilitate inter-generational bonding, the first inter-generational playground and infant and childcare centre within a nursing home was launched in late 2017. Since then, we have witnessed eldercare and childcare facilities being co-located in new HDB estates. MacPherson Spring in my constituency is an example. I believe such co-location of facilities offers much convenience to caregivers taking care of the young and old in their families. Of course, in addition to increasing the availability of these care places, subsidies also play a very important role to help making it a lot more accessible to working fathers and mothers. In this respect, I am glad to note that childcare, infant care subsidies have been enhanced in 2020, that is, last year. On flexible work arrangements, we know from a January 2021 written Parliamentary response to Mr Christopher de Souza that the vast majority of employees today, including caregivers, have access to flexible work arrangements (FWAs). In 2019, about 85% of employers offered some form of FWAs and this number increased during the COVID-19 period. As of end-November 2020, more than 8,000 companies adopted the Tripartite Standard on FWAs, up from under 2,000 companies a year ago. Could we still do more? Certainly! That is why many colleagues, like Dr Tan Wu Meng, for example, today continue to champion this, as evident by his Parliamentary Questions in this House just earlier today.”
“Members, including Ms Jessica Tan, Mr Vikram Nair, Mr Alex Yam and Mr Louis Ng spoke passionately about how women were under-represented at the board and executive levels and how we should also drive up women's participation and leadership within the community. But to do so, we need to recognise the stereotypes and biases constraining women in those different roles. Mr Darryl David, Mr Louis Ng, Dr Intan Azura Mokhtar and, certainly, Mr Leon Perera talked about the need to shift the care burden to have a more equal sharing of care duties between men and women, whether it is at the workplace, in the family or even within the social setting. At the same time, Ms Jessica Tan also reminded everyone to be conscious of our unconscious bias so that women will not be inevitably disadvantaged from the start of recruitment. The fourth strategy was to be future-ready – to have smart women for a smart nation – something that I felt and continue to be passionate about. We called for digital fluency, the use of smart solutions to create capacity and empowering women with science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education so that they are well-positioned for the job opportunities in growth sectors and leap towards closing that gender pay gap. This recommendation is again reiterated in the paper jointly authored by the PAP Women's Wing and Young PAP submitted this year. Taken together, the debate demonstrated from both sides of the House our support for the aspirations of Singapore women and the willingness of this Government to support likewise. Between the debate in 2017 till now, I am encouraged to observe several positive developments.”
“Colleagues who called for this included Ms Joan Pereira, Miss Cheryl Chan and Minister of State Sun Xueling. At the same time, we called for platforms and cogent programmes to refresh and build new capabilities to help back-to-work women because these expand their capacities to pursue the diverse aspirations that they may have. Ms Jessica Tan, Ms Joan Pereira, Mr Darryl David, Dr Intan Azura Mokhtar and Parliamentary Secretary Rahayu Mahzam spoke very passionately on this in 2017. The second strategy was to provide options for women so that ladies with career aspirations do not have to feel that they need to sacrifice or feel guilty about having to juggle different roles and feel inadequate at any point in time. A wide range of recommendations, including flexible work arrangements, were raised by almost all the Members of Parliament who spoke. In addition, Miss Cheryl Chan and Mr Darryl David called for progressive human resource policies and practices to complement the many recommendations put forth. Members of Parliament, such as Ms Joan Pereira, Er Dr Lee Bee Wah, Parliamentary Secretary Rahayu Mahzam, Mr Alex Yam and Dr Intan Azura Mokhtar, called for CPF top-ups for women who gave up their careers to stay at home to care for their family members. I should add that this recommendation was also something that the PAP Women's Wing pushed for in 2015 and we called it "Top Up with Love". Also, from this year, the Matched Retirement Savings Scheme was also implemented. The third strategy was to remove barriers, especially the ones that were often stereotypical and pigeonhole women in Singapore.”
“I, therefore, take it that it is a recognition that we need to go beyond this debate and have it translated into something that is actionable for the future, as set out in the upcoming White Paper. Indeed, this House has, over the past six to seven decades, seen many exchanges and recommendations on how we can empower and advance Singapore women. Minister of State Sun Xueling earlier recounted the key milestones in this long journey towards removing barriers and empowering Singapore women. More recently, in 2017, I, together with fellow PAP women Members of Parliament – Mdm Deputy Speaker Jessica Tan, Miss Cheryl Chan, Ms Joan Pereira and former Member of Parliament Er Dr Lee Bee Wah – moved a Private Members' Motion titled "Aspirations of Women". I was heartened that 18 Members of the House, including me, spoke on this important cause and that our Ministers and Ministers of State gave so much of their time to address our concerns and recommendations, and echoed their support for the aspirations of Singapore women. I certainly appreciated the interest and support from the Workers' Party in the 2017 Motion debate as well. Through the two-day debate, colleagues and I articulated and elaborated on the four strategies that we believed were critical to supporting Singapore women in their aspirational pursuits. Let me briefly sum up. The first strategy was to create capacity. We agreed that, as of the current reality, the primary caregiving role was still undertaken by women and, therefore, we called for more support to our caregivers, including enhancing availability and access to care options so as to free up women's capacity to pursue their aspirations, career- or social-wise.”
“Mdm Deputy Speaker, this is a meaningful debate in support of Singapore women and I support the amended Motion. Since I entered this House in 2011, I have heard many suggestions made by fellow Members of Parliament and have also seen real policy changes being implemented to resolve pain points and provide stronger support to Singapore women. I was listening intently to the speeches of hon Member Ms He Ting Ru and several of the Workers' Party Members earlier and found their points made to be quite similar to the suggestions made by my fellow PAP Members of Parliament over the years. For instance, Ms He Ting Ru today asked for greater representation of females at the leadership level for greater diversity of views. Indeed, in 2017, several Members of this House, including Mdm Deputy Speaker yourself, hon Members Mr Vikram Nair, Mr Alex Yam, Mr Louis Ng and several others have called for the same. Ms He Ting Ru also raised the point on CPF transfers. This was also a point that was raised by several of our Members, including Ms Joan Pereira, former Member of Parliament Er Dr Lee Bee Wah, Dr Intan Azura Mokhtar, in 2017 and there were several efforts before that as well. There was also a suggestion or a call for the gender-neutral CareShield Life premium. I think this one – several Members, including myself – also called for this in 2018 and, again, in 2019. So, indeed, I am very heartened to observe this because this reinforces the recommendations that we had put forth as well, as we all desire to support Singapore women in realising their fullest potential. I am also heartened that, so far, nobody has objected to the amendments as moved by hon Member Mr Vikram Nair.”
“Thank you, Senior Minister of State. I ask this question because I have a resident who is probably one of a very few cases whereby the MDW was diagnosed with several sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and it was discovered only on her way to the airport to take a flight back home. The work permit at that point would have been terminated. Nobody knew until she detoured to see a doctor. She was sent to the hospital and was hospitalised; the bill came up to about five figures. The employer who was an elderly was expected to be responsible for the bill. I think under normal circumstances, if the illness or accidents, even if it is not work-related, is of no fault of the MDW, I think it would have been reasonable. But in this case, it seemed to be an excessive burden on the employer. To be fair, MOM and the hospital did try to come in to provide assistance. But my question is, is it equitable in such instances, albeit rare, for the employer to take up such a responsibility? Should the responsibility, therefore, be shared by the MDW?”
“I thank the Minister for the reply. I have a couple of supplementary questions. First, I wonder if the Minister has a figure on the proportion of applicants under MCPS compared to the supply of 30%; that means, how much in excess, in terms of percentage, might there be, on average, for the Build-To-Build (BTO) projects launched? Secondly, as Singapore society continues to age and as fertility rate is also hovering, a lot of young couples have expressed that they would really love to get a flat of their own while they start their families and be near their parents for mutual support, as they look into the future. With these trends, I certainly hope that MND can continue to consider this, to increase the proportion of units under MCPS. Related to this, maybe, could I ask the Minister to share what kind of impact might there be in the composition of the local housing estate in the immediate or the mid- to longer term, if we increase the proportion of units under MCPS?”
“Thank you, Deputy Speaker. Just a change to direct my question to Minister Shanmugam. I had earlier filed a Parliamentary Question for a later Sitting but I thank the Minister for answering it earlier. I just have a follow-up question which is: given that there were rules to disallow hostessing and yet there was blatant disregard for the rules and now, with the spotlight on these KTVs or pivoted outlets, I am just wondering whether there is a risk that more of these vice activities may then be driven underground to other settings. Therefore, how will the surveillance and enforcement be stepped up to control this? I know the Minister had addressed this in quite some detail but I am just wondering how will the surveillance and enforcement be stepped up further, given the current possibility and especially in areas, such as industrial spaces, where perhaps office or factory spaces could be used for parties at night, based on some anecdotal feedback that we have heard?”
“I thank the Minister of State for the reply and assurance. I have two questions. One is on the upgrading projects. There is a Neighbourhood Renewal Programme (NRP) that was slated for McPherson constituency, it was offered before the pandemic, but the tender was only called I think sometime earlier this year. As a result of the increasing construction cost, the scope of work that we can undertake within that budget has been drastically reduced. So, I would like to ask whether the budget could be reviewed or what other measures could we consider so as to avoid or minimise disappointment from the residents. Secondly, can I ask whether we are still on track to meeting the green targets of having at least 80% Super Low Energy buildings from 2030, as well as achieving 80% energy efficiency improvement by 2030?”
“Thank you, Deputy Speaker. I just have a few questions. First of all, my resident is also one of the victims. I would like to ask might MAS know what is the total value involved in that 89 cases spoken about? Two, these are hard-earned monies, so, I am wondering whether for some of the fraud cases where the amount that is being cheated, if it is below a certain amount, can the bank just write it off first, so that it reduces the stress on the poor victims. And thirdly, I am glad to know of the review; I am just wondering if there is an indication of the timeline for when this will be done? Technology is fast evolving and so is the nature of crime. So, the faster we can react to this, the lesser the number of victims that we will have.”
“I thank the Minister of State. I appreciate the strong stance that the Government has taken in stating that there is no place for any racism or any xenophobic sentiment within Singapore society. I would like to ask whether there has been an increase in reports or observations of such racist behaviour precipitated by the COVID-19 crisis. Because if this is happening now, I wonder what would happen in future if other crises hit us. One of the recent cases include an expatriate being aggressively confronted in a park very recently. That is a very public scene. But there may be other such instances that may be more subtle but no less in damage. So, for victims who are subjected to such racial attacks, what kind of recourse may they have?”
“Establishing Singapore's thought leadership and mindshare internationally is important. So, how can we build up that ability to ensure that we can be circulated internationally?”
“Thank you, Mr Deputy Speaker. Two clarifications, the first one in Mandarin, please. (In Mandarin): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] Bilingualism is an important characteristic of our education system. Being bilingual helps us to stay connected with our mother tongue cultures and it strengthens Singapore's global role as a cultural and economic bridge. I think this is important. Hence, it is crucial to ensure that the high standards of our vernacular newspapers are maintained. Just now, Minister said that they would ask vernacular newspapers to be preserved after restructuring. I would like to ask further, since the Government will provide funding for the CLG, can we expect them to maintain the high standards of their content, including the reporting of international events and providing insightful analyses on current affairs? Lianhe Zaobao has won a hard-earned international award, let us continue to support them. I hope that the Minister can give us more information on this. (In English): The second point is about establishing Singapore's thought leadership and mindshare internationally. I think this is very important. Helping our papers to be able to be circulated internationally is a very critical part, in addition to the national cohesion, national public good in Singapore. So, again, I would like to ask Minister, whether this is something that is on the agenda or one of the parameters that we may require the new CLG to look into in the move ahead. And whether there will be resources or funding set aside to build such capabilities?”
“Sir, physical venues like the museums and art theatres were forced to close and events were suspended at the peak of the pandemic last year. Consequently, many local arts and culture practitioners were hit swiftly and severely. The Government's broad-based support measures and the Arts and Culture Resilience Package would have helped to provide some buoyancy but it remained challenging. Thankfully, many of them were nimble enough to pivot onto the digital platform, applying their creativity in times of adversity. 2.00 pm As consumers increasingly get used to digital content and experience, digital and blended delivery models will remain relevant post-COVID-19. It is, therefore, crucial for the sector to continue developing its digital capabilities to remain competitive. Such capabilities help local arts and culture products to transcend physical boundaries and reach further. In this regard, I applaud the launch of the #SGCultureAnywhere campaign by the National Arts Council, as it offers a platform for practitioners to make their work a lot more accessible. I would like to ask the Ministry for an update on the uptake of the Digital Presentation Grant for the Arts. Also, how does the Ministry intend to support the sector to adopt more digital solutions and experiment to create digital arts and culture products that can be scaled to reach a wider audience? Picasso said, "Art washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life." We must, therefore, continue to make art available and accessible. Going digital is essential in the new era post-COVID-19. Arts and Culture Digitalisation”
“To quote Mother Theresa, “I can do things you cannot, you can do things I cannot; together we can do great things”. And together, we will emerge stronger.”
“Sir, the COVID-19 pandemic has caused severe disruptions to our economy and how we live our lives. To make things worse, we witnessed insensitive misinformation propagated on media platforms threatening to strain our societal fault lines and heighten the tension that the pandemic already caused us. However, I am heartened that my fellow Singaporeans have risen to the occasion. Singaporeans rallied around one another to keep each other safe. We have read and seen heart-warming acts of ordinary Singaporeans giving out free masks, placing hand sanitisers in lifts, neighbours helping one another to deliver groceries, free food in appreciation of healthcare workers and more. Donation collections also increased for some charities, despite the challenging circumstances. These self-initiated acts of kindness demonstrate the good in our people and reflect the strong foundation of our social values. Contrast these with the irrational acts of violence targeting Asian communities in the West; ranging from assaulting elderly Asians on the streets, vandalising businesses operated by Asians to calling for Asians to be deported. We cannot let any form of prejudice and discrimination poison our society. Our diverse and harmonious society today is hard earned and too precious to lose. On this note, I would like to ask two questions. First, what are the Government’s strategies in strengthening Singapore’s cohesion and resilience so that all Singaporeans can forge ahead together as one? Second, how will the Ministry strengthen its effort in bridging the different segments of our diverse society? Sir, it is important that we press on with our efforts to galvanise our communities and rally them into action.”
“But if we can turn these so-called "Brownfields" green by going smart, we would create a real innovative model that others can follow. This way, we could also retain the distinct identities of our mature estates and keeping them vibrant for generations to come.”
“I note that the HDB collaborated with the Imperial College London and A*STAR in 2017 to embark on a research programme to study how smart sensing and analytics strengthen predictive analytics for efficient estate maintenance. May I ask whether there are useful findings that can be applied? More importantly, what is the Government's plan to leverage smart technology and data to enhance quality living and preserve the tangible and intangible value for estates, especially mature ones like MacPherson? In addition, based on EMA's data, electricity consumption of public housing in mature estates is about 10% higher than that of non-mature ones over the past 15 years. This difference could be due to many reasons, but a very likely cause is that aged infrastructure can lose efficiency and consume more energy. Perhaps the Ministry could shed some light on this. Hence, I am glad that there are national programmes such as the Solar Nova. Solar energy is clean and offers cost predictability. Current electricity price fluctuates with oil price. For solar, the cost is fixed and locked in upfront and then spread over a fixed term of 20 to 25 years, thereby offering cost stability and predictability. Hence, if we can step up the implementation of Solar Nova, especially for mature estates, before the 2030 target, we can achieve a cleaner and greener living sooner. I also believe that by scaling the use of solar energy, the positive environment impact is highly significant. May I ask whether there are plans to step up and accelerate the Solar Nova implementation in mature estates like MacPherson? Madam, mature estates are like "Brownfields". Unlike new estates where sustainable solutions and green designs can be applied from step 1, it is tougher to "retrofit" mature estates.”
“Madam, in mature housing estates, we see generations of families being raised. Sustainability is therefore critical. In MacPherson, about one in three of our residents are aged 60 and above. We have a high concentration of mature flats and are affectionately known as the "chap lao, 十楼". We now have a comprehensive public transport network, four hawker centres and many other amenities serving our constituency. I am thankful for what we have, but I also think about how we can sustain high quality living experience for many generations of residents in MacPherson. One pain-point faced is the regular breakdown of lifts, despite monthly maintenance scheduled because of high daily usage and lifts being aged. This is highly disruptive to our residents, especially our seniors. If the lifts are to be replaced entirely before its planned lifecycle, overall costs can increase very significantly as well. 6.45 pm As we progress, and age, we can expect to see more mature estates and aged infrastructure. But to tear down and rebuild everything is also untenable over the long run, quite wasteful as well. So, we must find solutions to preserve our infrastructure's longevity and maintain the quality of our living environment. The quantum advancement in technology, applied to the digitalisation of energy, can allow us to move from reactive to predictive maintenance. Back to the HDB lift example, leveraging smart technology, data and machine learning enables Town Councils to intervene before the lift breaks down. This reduces downtime, cuts operational costs and improves customer experience for residents. And hopefully, cost-savings can be passed on to residents eventually in the form of lower S&CC.”
“It has been wonderful hearing from all the Members. As we move as one towards the digital future, I like to take this opportunity to thank the entire MCI family – our Minister, our Senior Ministers of State, everyone here – for their support and to include also the officers from the SNDGG. With that, I beg leave to withdraw my amendment. [(proc text) Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. (proc text)] [(proc text) The sum of $1,380,214,000 for Head Q ordered to stand part of the Main Estimates. (proc text)] [(proc text) The sum of $60,884,000 for Head Q ordered to stand part of the Development Estimates. (proc text)]”
“What has been done and will be done to ensure that Government services and messages are delivered in a citizen-centric manner? So, we need to double down on our efforts to help everyone move ahead in our digitalisation journey. While we push ahead in our digital journey, it is also important that we leave no one behind and that we advance in one direction and as one people. Communications in Mother Tongue Sir, the COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the importance of speed and precision of public service messages in a time of crisis and potential confusion. There remains a group of seniors who cannot understand English and so, delivering messages in mother tongue is important. What are the steps taken by the Government to ensure that those who can only understand mother tongues are able to receive Government messages in a manner they can comprehend? And for seniors who are illiterate, how does the Government plan to electronically communicate with them? Perhaps through voice notes? It is of utmost importance that we intervene right now so that we do not allow this segment of Singaporeans become “Digital Outcast” eclipsed by the rapid pace of digitalisation.”
“Sir, aligned to our Smart Nation drive, our digital transformation efforts are ultimately about enhancing lives of Singaporeans. 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. Sir, it was reported last year that more than 16,000 seniors benefited from IMDA’s Seniors Go Digital Programme. I am glad that this programme is beneficial and welcomed by seniors who felt dislocated by the accelerated pace of digitalisation. Helping seniors embark and embrace digitalisation mitigates the sense of isolation brought about by a need for safe distancing measures so that our seniors can continue to lead more engaged, informed and fulfilling lives. It is also heartening to see volunteer groups such as the Youth Corp helping seniors gain digital skills and corporates such as the ST Engineering donating to fund Mobile Access for Seniors and the NEU PC Plus for low-income students and persons with disabilities. Beyond equipping them with the devices, it is also important to help them use the digital tools effectively and wisely. In this regard, I would like to ask the Ministry for an update on the progress on efforts made over the past months on the various programmes to help Singaporeans keep pace with the country’s digitalisation efforts. In particular, what measures are put in place to bridge the digital gap in ensuring that the vulnerable do not fall through the gaps due to a lack of awareness and resources. Lastly, I would also like to ask the Government what plans might there be in engaging Singaporeans more when developing digital services to meet their needs?”
“Therefore, the idea of pooling resources and having CTO-as-a-service as announced during this year’s Budget sounds like a very good idea. And third is to demonstrate clear gains. The business imperative will be strong if digital adoption is shown to increase topline and reduce bottomline. Of course, Government schemes such as the Start Digital Pack are useful. But if I may suggest, it is for the Government to look into implementation details and how application experience can be enhanced. For example, a local tech solution provider recently shared with me that many local MSMEs expressed interest to purchase its solutions because of the SMEs Go Digital funding. But because the deadline was strictly imposed and the application processing took a while, a number of these companies gave up for fear of missing the deadline by the time the application is approved, if it is approved. This to me an example of a missed opportunity for MSMEs to give digitalisation a shot. Sir, with the accelerated pace of digitalisation, it is “do-or-die” now. I therefore ask the Ministry to share more about what is done to help MSMEs transform?”
“Sir, digital globalisation is accelerating. Digitalisation for businesses is no longer an option post-COVID-19. Moreover, going digital breaks down geographical and physical constraints and promises limitless markets and opportunities. However, MSMEs often find it daunting to digitalise as they know not the "what" and the "how". Most of our MSMEs are resource strapped. Neither do they have the technical expertise internally to scan the horizon for the wide array of digital solutions available in the market, nor do they have the resources to engage qualified consultants just to help them digitalise. On this note, I would like to suggest three points. The first is to build trust in technology. “I don’t know what I don’t know”, “What if I am scammed?”, “Will the bank or agency know my everything?”. Buy-in amongst MSMEs on the benefits of digitalisation could remain weak. Absorbed in their daily operations, many MSMEs have little capacity left to care about achieving incremental productivity gain through digitalisation, when one, every day is an existential fight and two, the digital solutions are possibly “alien” to them. Compounded by the occasional stories of how some fall prey to scams, digitalisation can become a mysterious and scary monster. Could the government share how it is addressing myths and helping MSMEs understand the benefits of digitalisation, so as to engender greater confidence? Second is to solve the know-how. Even amongst the more forward-looking MSMEs that believe in digitalisation, they may not afford the time to properly understand the digital specifications, much less to deploy and implement the solutions. Also, hiring an in-house IT expert, given their scale, could be costly.”
“I understand that this is a sensitive topic, but the current highly sensitised climate makes it difficult for local firms to collect data for the purpose of innovating their products or services. At times, companies face challenges obtaining data, despite offering assurance that it will be anonymised. But without data, it could be very difficult for firms to innovate and they risk creating products in a vacuum. Hence, there is a need to strike a balance in protecting data and enabling data for innovation. We want to be a global data centre. But how could we use data for greater good? Could the Government consider lending its support as a partner to companies in their research and studies? This could boost public confidence. What else could the Government do to strike this balance? Sir, I beg to move. [(proc text) Question proposed. (proc text)] Support MSMEs to Transform Digitally”
“On the support for innovation, apart from the announced Research, Innovation and Enterprise 2025 Plan (RIE2025) to boost R&D, I would like to ask the Government what plans will be put in place to help local start-ups or local companies in the innovation sector to secure significant projects within and outside the public sector that can boost their credibility. Apart from having a list of IMDA-accredited companies, could there be a more concerted effort to encourage government-linked companies to partner local tech firms and bring them along in overseas ventures? Without the opportunity to obtain a “big break”, our local start-ups can get stuck in a vicious cycle of small projects. This inadvertently creates a false impression that our local start-ups are capable of undertaking only small projects. Moreover, without a sizeable project in Singapore to add to their credential, some local companies may face considerable challenges when venturing overseas, if they were to do so on their own. And, because of the lack of credibility or credential, local start-ups might be pressured to reduce their fees to secure the contract. This again creates a downward spiral of giving discounts which is unsustainable in the long run. Can we pursue big brands less and favour our local companies a bit more? Could we consider “Support Singapore” measures to prioritise deserving local companies, perhaps those in the Scale-up programme, in certain public project tenders? Such opportunities could be the break our companies need to launch themselves as Singapore’s next tech unicorn. And on to my final point on data collection.”
“Would the Government consider formally introducing a mentorship programme that attracts top talents and company founders from around the world, perhaps to leverage the TechPass holders, to mentor our youths and start-ups? I spoke about this in Parliament last year and I raise this again now. Ultimately, we would want to create a vibrant community of talents, groom the next generation and increase Singapore’s mindshare to further cement Singapore’s position on the global stage. Next on women in tech. An area of keen interest to me is how we are attracting and retaining women in this niche tech space. The 2017 manpower statistics for MCI reported a distinct gender gap with male at 68% and female at 32%. In a 2019 Harvard Business Review research paper, it was reported that investing in gender diversity helps create a positive feedback loop in talent attraction and financial gains for a company. Drawing comparisons from the same Boston Consulting Group report that I mentioned earlier, the composition of women with tech-related degrees is 29% and this is less than the 53% representation in overall degrees. Hence, I would like to ask the Government what are the plans in place to further encourage the entry of women to the tech space. Third, on transparency framework. Sir, we should call for greater transparency to what firms, especially large firms, expect of their corporate leaders. In an article by Forbes that outlined one of the benefits for introducing a transparent corporate culture is that it fosters employee happiness and talent retention. I would like to ask whether the government will consider putting in place a framework to enhance corporate transparency, especially in terms of tech talent development and progression. Fourth, support for innovation.”
“Chairman, I beg to move, "That the total sum to be allocated for Head Q of the Estimates be reduced by $100". Sir, Singapore has great ambitions to achieve a thriving digital economy and Smart Nation. 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. In my Budget debate speech in February 2020, I talked about the need for a high concentration of skilled workers with a critical mass of talents if we are to excel in tech and innovation, like we did in biotech. Singapore needs to offer an abundance of talents who not only meet existing demands but also attract future unicorns to Singapore from the region and beyond. Just as importantly, we need to have homegrown unicorns. We need more Singapore digital leaders and tech unicorns to further cement our position in the world. Today, the number of tech-related job vacancies is double that of the number in 2010, according to a recent report by the Boston Consulting Group. As we continue to attract large tech firms to Singapore and as we digitally transform our Singapore enterprises, the need for talents cannot be more pressing. First, on digital leader and mentoring programme. I am heartened that the Government has introduced many useful schemes such as TeSa, SGUnited Jobs & Skills and the PCP, that help to strengthen our talent pool with the requisite technical knowledge and industry skillsets. To ensure sustainability and progression in this area, I would like to ask what the Government is doing to actively cultivate digital leaders.”
“Chairman, Sir, in June 2020, Foreign Minister Dr Vivian Balakrishnan spoke in a virtual townhall with our Foreign Service officers and, within the excerpts of the speech published in The Straits Times, Minister Vivian highlighted that “finding relevance remains an existential imperative for us”. I agree. During a pandemic, “No one is safe until everyone is safe”. But over the past year, we witnessed how some advanced economies were absorbed in their fight against COVID-19 with multiple lockdowns, or were embroiled in factious politics, leaving little capacity to fulfil their global role as they should. Given the lack of global leadership, each of us then must try and do our best to help combat the pandemic. Despite the challenges and, small as we may be, Singapore must still do our part, to be helpful, relevant and be a responsible global citizen. A Chinese idiom comes to mind – “雪中送炭”, which literally means delivering charcoal when snowing. It is always tougher to give help to others when we are not having it easy, too. But it is during tough times that we show our mettle and demonstrate genuine friendship. Therefore, I would like to ask how is Singapore contributing to the international effort in combatting COVID-19 and how might our Singapore response evolve looking ahead? COVAX”
“Chairman, I thank everyone for the contributions and also to our very hardworking Public Service officers and our leaders in this House for keeping Singapore vibrant and safe. With that, Chairman, I beg leave to withdraw the amendment. [(proc text) Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. (proc text)] [(proc text) The sum of $972,616,700 for Head U ordered to stand part of the Main Estimates. (proc text)] [(proc text) The sum of $293,445,300 for Head U ordered to stand part of the Development Estimates. (proc text)]”
“This brings me to my second question to ask the Ministry whether the National Digital Identity (NDI) initiative is on track for widespread adoption in 2022 and what is the expected timeline for NDI to be enabled for cross-border travels and transactions? If we are to expect vaccination e-certificates, perhaps we should consider enabling NDI for cross-border travels and transactions concurrently. Smart Nation and COVID-19”
“On this note, I would like to ask whether the Government could provide an update on what other technology-based measures that might be in place to boost our fight against COVID-19 and future crises such as this. As our population gradually gets vaccinated, if, how and when can we expect electronic vaccination certificate to be issued? Could this be integrated with the SingPass mobile app, just like how we can now access our NRIC, driving licence and other useful information? Having a robust digital capability will strongly position us for future challenges and opportunities. Who knows when "Disease X" might strike us? Hence, the earlier we are digitally ready, the better. May I therefore ask how is the Smart Nation initiative progressing at this point? [(proc text) Question proposed. (proc text)] Digital Identity”
“Mr Chairman, I beg to move, "That the total sum to be allocated for Head U of the Estimates be reduced by $100". Sir, it was almost seven years ago since the launch of the Smart Nation initiative by Prime Minister Lee. The Smart Nation initiative envisages a future Singapore that is a leading economy powered by digital innovations and world-class city with the Government that gives our citizens the best home possible and responds to their different and changing needs. We are truly fortunate to have benefited from the coordinated build-up of digital infrastructure, capabilities, talent pool and smart tools through the efforts of the Smart Nation initiative. This virtue of being prepared allows our Government agencies to respond swiftly and act decisively in our response to COVID-19. I dread to imagine how colossal an effort it would have been to have to manually track persons on Leave of Absence and Stay-Home Notice or to contact trace hundreds of thousands, perhaps, millions of people, especially when speed is of essence to containing the spread of COVID-19. At the peak of the pandemic, there was so much uncertainty and Singaporeans struggled to figure out what help schemes they are eligible for and what information to believe or not to believe. Everyone would have had a unique set of circumstances. The sheer amount of queries received were simply overwhelming. But, thankfully, innovations and creations such as TraceTogether, and digital tools such as the Government WhatsApp and Telegram channels, eligibility checker and chatbots, helped to achieve what we needed to, so much more effectively and efficiently. Consequently, we were able to effectively control the spread of COVID-19 and deliver important information to Singaporeans in a very timely manner.”
“It opens new doors and offers many more opportunities. But Nurul's experience is perhaps not a common one, yet. Now and then, I still receive requests for help or hear of stories from residents who completed courses and tried hard to switch to a career in tech but were unsuccessful. We must help them. To be fair, Singapore has, in recent years, stepped up our effort to promote women in tech with initiatives, such as SG Women in Tech by the IMDA and the Women Luminaries Programme by PayPal and our four local Autonomous Universities. But, we can do more to: one, introduce more scholarships and education awards to encourage girls to study technology and related subjects in school; two, continue to emphasise public commitment to cultivating girls and women in tech in Singapore; three, drive board agendas and have companies set goals to recruit and cultivate more women in tech roles, and create environments that are enabling for talents, both men and women alike, with family commitments; and four, create and facilitate more peer-networking and mentoring platforms for women or aspiring women in tech. In conclusion, I fully agree with the theme of this Budget – to emerge stronger, and a strong social compact is critical. The Government's effort in addressing gaps, ensuring fair distribution of resources and opportunities and engendering an inclusive society cannot be understated. But I believe we can still do more to help Singaporeans emerge stronger and feel that they are stronger, not weaker. When Singaporeans feel that they are progressing in tandem with the nation, there will be a stronger sense of togetherness, a stronger sense of pride and fulfilment. With a strong national psychological resilience, I am confident we will weather any crisis, come what may.”
“In Singapore, while there is no significant change in the employment rate of women before and after pandemic at its peak – thanks to our very sound and supportive and progressive Government system and the workforce in Singapore – there remains a need for us to still step up in digitally empowering our girls and women. Based on a study conducted by the Boston Consulting Group (BCG), Singapore’s woman representation in technology is about 41%. Though this percentage is higher than that of neighbouring Southeast Asian countries like Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines and Vietnam, it is lower than the overall women representation in Singapore’s workforce. Notably, however, Singapore female university graduates who studied technology lags behind other Southeast Asian countries at only 29%. We have hidden gems within our women population, waiting to be discovered or for the opportunity to shine. A dear friend of mine, Nurul Sharafudin, is to me a great example who had an amazing journey as a young Singapore woman in tech. Nurul started out as an MOE Arts teacher – she was happy and well loved by her students. But driven by her passion for learning and trying new things, she took a courageous move to switch career path. She applied for an entry position in Oracle. She stayed curious, acquired new digital skills, sought out her own mentor. And today, in just a few years, she is responsible for Oracle’s Business Operations Organisational Strategy and Programmes in Japan APAC. Today, Nurul is a confident woman, a regional leader in an American tech MNC, and a mother of two no less, making her mark in the tech sector and giving back by mentoring many others. Nurul’s journey shows us how digital empowerment can make a positive big difference.”
“Moreover, future jobs for older workers will be increasingly intellectual and less backbreaking. Hence, it will be much more effective to prepare for an ageing workforce early. Third, for older workers who have to leave or wish to try other jobs, the Government could consider setting up a centre to help them match with new jobs or opportunities. For example, with their years of experience, they can serve as a consultant to provide guidance or become a volunteer. This will redirect valuable human resource of older workers to areas of need. Finally, we should continue to encourage the elderly to stay positive and embrace lifelong learning. (In English): Singapore is firmly set on our path towards a digital economy and Smart Nation. We must spare no effort to prevent inadvertently creating new gaps or exacerbating existing gaps as we transform. Digital empowerment is important. We need smart women for a Smart Nation. A 2016 Accenture report found that digital fluency can accelerate the closing of gender gaps, as countries can achieve gender equality some 25 to 40 years faster. Digitally empowering more women will also help to address the pressing digital talent shortage worldwide and generate greater economic growth. Looking ahead, we can anticipate that the strive towards a future economy would mean that there are more job opportunities, better career prospects and wage growth in the tech and innovation sectors. If we do not help women to capture these opportunities, they risk falling behind further.”
“The Government also announced in August 2019 an increase in CPF contribution rates for workers aged 55 and above. It is heartening to hear many examples of re-employment and the elderly staying in the workforce on media platforms from time to time. Just now I shared the story of an 70-year-old auntie whom I met during a recent visit to Geylang East Market and Food Centre in my constituency. Auntie’s predicament is not unique. In serving our residents, we often encounter elderly people who faced difficulties in finding or staying in work. They are often the "first to leave, the last to be hired" group. Unfortunately, ageism is rather rooted in Singapore. Despite an ageing workforce and active government promotion, ageist mindsets can be found in many workplaces. It can significantly hinder the deployment of precious human resource. The employees feel that loss of opportunities can affect morale and career prospects, and eventually impact self-esteem and their sense of togetherness with the rest of Singapore. We must proactively combat ageism in the workplace and promote the idea of "active ageing". We should think hard on how we can leverage older workers’ strengths, rather than try to get rid of them. I have a few suggestions: First, push companies to review their HR policies, encourage them to make it a SOP to hold conversations with older workers on re-employment or job redeployment. If they are fit and keen to work, companies should discuss options that allow older workers to preserve their work and compensation, not automatically filter them out. Second, companies can adjust their work environment, design and process to meet the needs of older workers. Companies can make good use of technology to help them.”
“Similarly, firms can adapt its working environment, job design and processes to be enabling for senior workers. Technology enablers are available, productivity does not have to suffer. Moreover, the jobs for senior workers of tomorrow will be increasingly intellectual and less backbreaking. So, the earlier we get ready for an ageing workforce, the better. Third, for senior workers who have to leave or wish to give a shot in a different endeavour, have in place a centre that focuses on matching these seniors to new jobs or opportunities that allow them to contribute socially, for example, volunteerism. This can help redirect precious senior human resource to areas where there are unfulfilled needs. And lastly, continue to encourage our seniors to stay positive and embrace learning. In Mandarin, please. (In Mandarin): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] A crisis tests the mantle of any society and generation. COVID-19 is our test. Around the world, we observe how societies can fracture deeper along political, racial, gender and age lines when under pressure. Although Singapore has yet to experience similar or severe social fragmentation, we cannot afford to take it lightly. Hence, I agree with the importance of strengthening social compact highlighted in this Budget. Discord will lead to fragmentation whereas staying united will allow us to emerge stronger. Here, I would like to talk about empowering the elderly in the workforce, improving their overall wellbeing and strengthening our sense of solidarity. Over the last few years, Singapore has introduced measures such as the Special Employment Credit and Retirement and Re-employment Act to support the employment of older Singaporeans.”
“Despite an ageing workforce, ageist mindsets can be found in many workplace settings. Negative stereotypes about older people – that they are slower, weaker, more rigid or less productive – can significantly hinder the deployment of precious human resource and discourage development even as we promote lifelong learning. Recruitment agency Randstad reported in a 2020 survey on ageism in the workplace that 57% of Singaporeans feel training opportunities get fewer as they grow older and 64% of those aged 55 and above feel this way. Such perceived loss of opportunities affect morale and career prospects, and eventually impact self-esteem and the sense of togetherness with the rest of Singapore. We must proactively combat ageism in the workplace and recognise the value that senior workers can offer. Moreover, our ageing workforce means that employers have to accept the reality of an increasingly mature manpower supply. Hence, our default thinking should be to find ways to leverage senior workers’ strengths and not find ways to undermine or get rid of them. To this end, I would suggest the following. Push companies to review HR policies and encourage them to make it an SOP to hold conversations with senior workers on meaningful re-employment or re-deployment. To be fair, there is a need for renewal so that younger workers have a chance to rise up and accumulate their own experiences. But where senior workers are still fit and keen to work, companies should discuss options that allow senior workers to preserve their work and compensation. Let us not automatically filter them out. Two, the world is always changing and firms constantly have to change with corresponding strategies.”
“How we respond to this crisis of our generation is important. Will Singapore emerge stronger and feel stronger as a people? Or will we look stronger but feel more apart instead? Therefore, I echo the importance of strengthening social compact, as highlighted in this Budget. In this speech, I will talk about empowering our seniors and women in the workforce, so as to enhance overall well-being and strengthen our sense of togetherness. On empowering seniors. Over the past years, much has been done to better support senior employment in Singapore, with Government initiatives such as the Special Employment Credit and Retirement and Re-Employment Act introduced. CPF contribution rate increment for workers above the age of 55 was also announced in August 2019. Yet, we still encounter seniors who want to work but struggle to secure suitable and adequate employment. Most recently, while visiting the Geylang East Market and Food Centre in my constituency, I met an "auntie" who was in her late 60s. We greeted each other warmly before her tone took a turn and asked me, "MP, is there any Government rule or law that prohibits a person from working beyond a specific age?" I told her of course not. Curious, I asked her what prompted her question. She replied, "I want to work. But my employer said that I am old and wanted me to be redeployed to a job with less scope and less pay. And after I reach the end of the re-employment age, I will have no job. But I am still very fit, I can still do my original job. I need the income too." "Auntie’s" predicament is not unique. In serving our residents, we would have met other seniors who face similar challenges. They are often the first to go and last to be hired. Ageism is unfortunately rather rooted in Singapore.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, a crisis tests the mantle of any society and generation. It can tear us apart or rally us together. COVID-19 is our test. Around the world, we observe social and political fractures, caused or exacerbated by the pandemic. In the UK, more than half of Britons surveyed by thinktank Demos resented lockdown rule breakers and people who do not wear masks, much more compared to only 33% of non-Brexiteers resenting the Brexiteers. In the US, wearing a mask was so politicised at one point that it becomes a symbol of which political party one supports. In big western cities, attacks were launched on Asians. A Singaporean student was attacked in London last year at the beginning of the pandemic. Some elderly Asians also reportedly suffered violent attacks in California, a problem that was simmering since the pandemic began. Both were reported to be racially motivated. Women in many countries were hit disproportionately compared to men. In Latin America, women were 50% more likely than men to lose a job in the pandemic’s first month. McKinsey also reported that female job losses is 1.8 times higher than male job losses in the US and India. Seniors in some countries suffer greater income reduction or job losses. A consequence of this is poorer or loss of healthcare benefits. Seniors in countries with government-funded medical benefits or insurance may still have access to basic services, but those in countries without would naturally suffer. We see how societies can fracture further and deeper along political, racial, gender and age lines when under pressure. Singapore is not spared from this same pressure brought upon by the pandemic. Thankfully, we have not observed the same fractures or of the same extent here. Yet, we must do our best to prevent them.”
“Bit by bit, through their convictions, they built this dream home called Singapore. Today, I am convinced that making contributions should not be the prerogative of any segment of society. In the past year, we have seen that not only have Singaporeans not been defeated by the virus, they have also shown courage and kindness. Every frontline healthcare worker who faces the unknown with courage is also someone else's child or parent. There are also food and beverage operators who are willing to give hearting-warming meals to healthcare workers despite their own financial difficulties, and volunteers who visit foreign worker dormitories despite the risk of infection to themselves. They have shown us what the Singapore spirit is. They give us confidence that no matter how severe the storm is, we can overcome it. Therefore, we must not give up our fight against COVID-19 at this juncture. We must continue to work together. Everyone is necessary in this fight. Every man is like a drop of water. Only when he is integrated into the sea can he see the vast expanse of the ocean. He is like a sand integrated into the desert to form a vast desert. Given that the Bill has restricted the use of TraceTogether information, sacrificing a bit of privacy in exchange for public safety and health can be seen as a good deed. I hope that everyone will support this Bill. When this pandemic is finally over, what will remain? Physically tired we may be, but we will leave behind a strong sense of home and nation. In the face of unpredictable challenges in the future, we, as Singaporeans should consciously integrate our individual good into the greater good and uphold the spirit of "Singapore for me, me for Singapore". Together, we will overcome this crisis. I support this Bill.”
“All these characters in the stories shared the same spirit and that is the spirit of the greater good. Sun Yat Sen, a great man of modern history also said that the difference between the individual and society is like the difference between the individual good and greater good. Master Xing Yun once wrote in a Buddhist textbook that we need to elevate our love for the individual to a great compassion for all people. If we interpret this from another angle, it means that mankind can and should strive to achieve the greater good and greater compassion for the world. Looking back at our own history, Singapore faced great difficulties in the early days of nation building. The prosperity and progress we have today depend to a large extent on the sacrifices and contributions of our early founders and pioneers. Some of them were political leaders, some representatives of Chinese businessmen, some philanthropists, some artists, some education promoters. Their names are still familiar to us today and praised by future generations. These include Sir Stamford Raffles, founder of Singapore; Mr Lee Kuan Yew, the founding Prime Minister who fought hard for Singapore throughout his life; Mr Yusof Ishak, the first President who contributed greatly to Singapore's racial harmony; Mr Tan Kah Kee, a philanthropist; Dr Tan Tock Seng who gave medical aid to the needy; Mr Lee Kong Chian, a great educator; and also many pioneers whose names cannot be listed here. Since the founding of Singapore, they have given their all and devoted their entire lives and wealth to promoting the political, social and economic and educational progress of Singapore. These great men have one thing in common, which is a spirit of placing the greater good over their individual good – be selfless.”
“In countries like Europe and the US where there are strong calls for human rights, the situation seems to be more severe. In contrast, Asian cultures that emphasise the need to abide by social rules for the sake of collective interests have made the fight against COVID-19 more effective. As the pandemic continues to worsen in most countries, entering Phase 3 means that we will enter a long-drawn war against the diseases. The Government's introduction of legislation at this stage to improve contact tracing efficiency is after much consideration. We cannot afford to let our guard down. We have to tread on thin ice and not let the efforts of the Government and society as a whole to be wasted just because of one careless moment. In the fight against COVID-19, a wrong move may mean a lost war. Singapore is still plagued by the epidemic. Think of the number of hospital wards where healthcare workers have worked overtime and the loneliness and anxiety of isolated patients and their families, the pain of being separated from those you miss. How many students have to take part in graduation ceremonies online? Also, how many have to bear uncertainties in their career as a result of economic changes? With the situation so fluid, some people may feel uneasy. Perhaps, even after this Bill is passed, some people would still hesitate to use TraceTogether. Yet, every life is precious and we have to use technology to fight this disease. In Chinese mythology, Goddess Nuwa transformed her body into all that physically make up the world after she mended the sky. Shennong died after trying out hundreds of herbs himself. Da Yu passed by his home three times, but did not enter while managing the flood.”
“Making the coding open source and, therefore, verifiable by third parties, helped build trust in TraceTogether among the public. However, when Singaporeans later discovered that the Police could access the data for serious crime investigations, which was different from the original picture painted, it triggered a debate. I, therefore, appreciate the Minister's clarifications. Such being the case, this amendment is perhaps the most decisive move. The Bill defines the seven serious crimes where TraceTogether data can be used outside of contact tracing purposes. This is very clear. I am confident that this will fortify the public's trust in the system. Nevertheless, I have three clarifications to seek from the Ministers. First, after this Bill is passed, if there were other type of cases outside of the seven categories, such as a missing person case, the Police will be under immense pressure to solve it, will the Police be able to use the data from TraceTogether? Second, if this data were collected for a major crime investigation, what is the process involved and what are the controls involved during this process? Third, as we move towards a digital future, more technologies and our lives will be intertwined, we cannot deny that there will be a possibility that there will be another major crisis that will affect all. How will this Bill affect the large-scale deployment of such future technology solutions that will enhance our collective well-being? Will it also be just limited to the investigation of these seven major crimes? Around the world, the success or failure of the COVID-19 fight depends not so much on medical resources and technology, but on public awareness.”
“What is worrying is that, even in China where the control is watertight, they have also seen a rebound of cases. This is a reminder of how fluid the situation really is. In Singapore, vaccination is now in full swing. But with the start of the Phase 3, more people can gather in public places and hold large-scale gatherings. We cannot rule out the possibility of another wave and must be vigilant. Recently, there were community cases now and then. But, fortunately, they have been controlled. At the same time, there are news that not only has the virus not been exterminated, it has also mutated into more infectious strains. Fortunately, we are living in an age of technology. Viruses cannot be touched or seen, but we can use the Internet and big data to track them down and isolate those who are infected. This would be unimaginable in the last century. Because of the advent of technology, our generation is able to better and more effectively deal with major infectious diseases globally. Technology has given us a ray of hope so that the disasters that befell human civilisations, such as smallpox, the Plague and cholera, will not recur. As we laud the advancements of technology, there is anxiety, too, both worldwide and in Singapore. Among some communities, there are worries that big data will threaten privacy. Today's amendment Bill on TraceTogether is one clear example. TraceTogether is critical in contact tracing within the shortest time possible to limit the spread once an infected person is identified. The success of TraceTogether depends on all our cooperation. It was not easy to get everyone on board initially. Apart from helping the less tech-savvy to use it, we have to consider privacy issues.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, in Mandarin, please. (In Mandarin): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] Mr Speaker, Sir, today's debate on the COVID-19 (Temporary Measures) (Amendment) Bill is very meaningful. This amendment, essentially, restricts the use of information collected by TraceTogether and SafeEntry to seven serious crimes. In fact, this Bill also aims to enhance public trust and encourage Singaporeans to continue fighting against COVID-19 with peace of mind for the greater good. Since the outbreak of COVID-19, more than 2.2 million people worldwide have died and over 100 million confirmed cases have been diagnosed. In Singapore, the number of confirmed cases exceeded 59,000 and the death toll is 29. In the face of this global pandemic, the Singapore Government has given top priority to the safety of our people. All this while, our Ministries have worked together, mobilised national resources and capabilities, investing nearly $100 billion last year to support Singapore companies and workers, and established a relatively comprehensive system of testing and treatment. At present, efforts to control the pandemic have also achieved firm results. As such, Singapore is widely praised for its COVID-19 fight. Despite that COVID-19 has dealt a severe blow to the global economy and livelihoods around the world, local employment in Singapore has finally returned to pre-COVID-19 levels, even attracting $17.2 billion in fixed investments last year, which is 13% higher than in 2019. Singaporeans' lives as well as their jobs are now protected. How many people have had to give their all to achieve this? Outside of Singapore, we can see how COVID-19 is developing around the world.”
“Perhaps this issue will be addressed in subsidiary legislation or is implicit in the number of existing policies to support digitalisation. But I believe it is worth reiterating the importance of embedding the trade elements outlined in this Bill into programmes such as Enterprise SG's Enterprise Development Grant or Productivity Solutions Grant. And will these funds be applicable not just to new transactions, but also to enable the digitalisation of the existing stock of paper records for these firms? Beyond rolling SME support into existing policy, is there a way to ensure that cost savings that accrue from this digitalisation effort are then passed on through to the firms themselves. One practical way forward, is to endow a Government secretariat, possibly within IMDA's own Digital Tech Hub or Go Digital platform that would assist small business owners in filling up standardised trade documents as a pre-approved solution. Another practical suggestion would be for IMDA to maintain a database of accredited shipping or trade legal firms that are familiar with the new digital records standards. Finally, I would go as far as to suggest that it might be helpful if the Government were to take a proactive step in identifying a selection of externally oriented SMEs and working with them to digitalise their international trading operations. This would not only allow the all important demonstration effect, but also enable IMDA to learn the best practices and standard operating procedures necessary for scaling up their assistance and to enable a more systematic evaluation of the costs and benefits of digitalised trading operations for small firms. Notwithstanding these three issues, I support the Bill. 2.13 pm”
“It therefore behooves me to ask what the status of MTI's plans are on the roll-out of these blockchain based platforms for transferable electronic transactions in this space, such as, cargo access, smart bill of lading or the International Port Community System Association or IPCSA's e-bill of lading initiative, which I believe Minister Iswaran also alluded to. And it would be helpful to know if MTI has already decided on favouring one of these platforms versus another, and if relevant industry players have been informed. My second point is one of caution. I note that the amendments only propose to delete item 2 of the First Schedule and these are items excluded by the Electronic Transactions Act. Although it may seem sensible to proceed linearly and delete the other items when related legislation is ready, it is worth recognising that these other items may be less unrelated than they may seem prima facie. For instance, item 4, excludes from the Act the sale, and item 5, the conveyance of immovable property. But real world trade is executed alongside a very rich set of trade financing instruments, which include not just standard, fair letters of credit, but also other subtler forms of financing such as leasing or inventory financing. To the extent that such instruments are still represented on the First Schedule, digitally-enabled trade transactions may potentially remain partially inhibited until these items are ultimately removed. Mr Speaker, my final point is more general, but perhaps the most pertinent one in the context of our local businesses. The amendments as they stand do not include provisions that will support our SMEs in adopting trade-related electronic transactions records, thereby transitioning to this 21st century economy.”