Vivian Balakrishnan
Singapore
“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs does not issue advisories on wait times at overseas airports. Travellers may wish to monitor airline and airport websites, as well as news reports for real-time information on wait times and potential disruptions at specific airports.”
“When the conflict in the Middle East deteriorated and commercial flights were halted in March 2026, the Singapore Government mounted four repatriation flights from Muscat, Riyadh and Jeddah to bring stranded Singaporeans home.”
“The Government has stepped up public engagement to explain our foreign policy fundamentals and responses to key international developments to Singaporeans and to hear their views. We do this through dialogue sessions across segments of society, including students, youths, businesses and community leaders.”
“And the larger point during the Committee of Supply was that precisely, because the world is in such a difficult, prickly, volatile and dangerous state, actually, if we keep our wits about ourselves, we maintain unity and we continue to have this clear eye-realistic, but principled, approach, there are many opportunities for Singapore.”
“Well, in short, I completely agree with you. And that is why we have indeed been hosting these events and in your own capacity as a national athlete and also as an official now, you have seen how it works in practice.”
“Since 2022, about half of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) employees are women. The proportion of women in senior appointments has remained stable at about a quarter. We recognise that overseas postings are disruptive for officers with families, especially female officers who bear greater caregiving responsibilities.”
The complete record
Every one of 2,437 lines we hold for Vivian Balakrishnan, in date order, each linked to its source. Free to read, in full, without an account. Page 10 of 49.
“Singapore will continue to work with ASEAN Chair Cambodia and other ASEAN Member States to support Myanmar’s efforts to reach a sustainable and peaceful political solution.”
“Unfortunately, recent political developments in Myanmar and COVID-19 have further complicated the situation in Rakhine State and the prospect of the safe and voluntary return of refugees. We hope that all parties will give due consideration to their responsibility to protect ethnic minorities, the urgent humanitarian needs of displaced persons and the need to improve ground conditions in the refugee camps. Singapore has supported ASEAN's efforts to help improve ground conditions in Rakhine State, including the Preliminary Needs Assessment (PNA) and the ASEAN Secretariat's Ad-Hoc Support Team. The recommendations of the PNA include priority projects such as the supply of radio receivers to the local community in order to strengthen the dissemination of accurate information. We are prepared to send further consignments of aid and stand ready to support future comprehensive needs assessments once repatriation commences so that we can be more targeted in helping the displaced persons. While ASEAN has not discussed an agreement or structural framework for repatriation, we will continue to explore within ASEAN, ways to better support the safe, voluntary and dignified repatriation of refugees back to Rakhine State. Even as we work through ASEAN, Singapore's assistance to displaced persons from Rakhine State is ongoing. We have contributed over S$1 million in bilateral humanitarian aid to both Bangladesh and Myanmar. The return to Myanmar's path of democratic transition and stability will be a long and difficult journey. Ultimately, the solution to both the political and humanitarian challenges lie within Myanmar itself, and in the hands of its people.”
“There has been no significant progress in the implementation of the Five-Point Consensus formulated by the ASEAN Leaders in Jakarta on 24 April 2021. We are deeply concerned with the ongoing violence in Myanmar. The use of lethal force against unarmed civilians is unacceptable. Such attacks contravene the principles in the ASEAN Charter and the ASEAN Human Rights Declaration. The consecutive Special Envoys of the ASEAN Chair to Myanmar have not been allowed to make a single visit to Myanmar to engage with all parties concerned, as stipulated in the Five-Point Consensus. The cooperation and support of all stakeholders, especially that of the Myanmar military authorities, is essential for the implementation of the Five-Point Consensus. In order to promote national reconciliation, we have repeatedly called on the Myanmar military authorities to release all political detainees, including President Win Myint and State Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and foreign detainees. We also urge our external partners to continue to support ASEAN and to encourage the military authorities to implement ASEAN's Five-Point Consensus swiftly and effectively. The international community should also support ASEAN's efforts to provide urgent humanitarian assistance to the people of Myanmar. We urge the Myanmar military authorities to avoid actions inimical to eventual national reconciliation and the restoration of peace and stability in Myanmar. The Myanmar military authorities should halt the violence against their political opponents and civilians. The situation in Rakhine State is a complex inter-communal issue with deep historical roots. There are no quick fixes.”
“SCDF also works closely with the United Nations OCHA Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific, and the ASEAN Coordinating Centre for Humanitarian Assistance on disaster management (AHA Centre) to monitor the disaster situation in the region. Under the Singapore Cooperation Programme, we conduct courses on disaster management and disaster risk reduction through the Initiative for ASEAN Integration (IAI) and with international partners, such as the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and UNDRR. For example, Singapore has partnered the UNDRR on an annual course on disaster risk reduction since 2015. We have conducted seven runs of the course for 252 participants from 82 countries and international organisations to date. Singapore will continue to work with regional and international partners to prepare for, mitigate, respond to, and recover from disasters in the future.”
“The Singapore Government also contributed US$60,000 on 22 December 2021 as seed money to support the Singapore Red Cross' (SRC) public fundraising to aid disaster relief and recovery efforts in Malaysia and the Philippines. The funds raised by the SRC will focus on emergency healthcare, first aid assistance, as well as distribution of relief supplies, such as hygiene kits and shelter tool kits, to evacuation centres. The contribution by the Singapore Government supplemented the SRC's pledges of US$50,000 each to the Malaysian Red Crescent and the Philippine Red Cross. Southeast Asia is one of the most vulnerable regions to natural disasters. Regional and international cooperation is important to prevent or mitigate the impact of natural disasters. For example, ASEAN Member States developed the ASEAN Agreement on Disaster Management and Emergency Response (AADMER) to enhance our region’s collective response to natural disasters. In 2021, ASEAN launched the AADMER Work Programme 2021-2025, which aims to enhance and support disaster risk reduction and management capabilities, including through inter-sectoral cooperation, capacity building, resource mobilisation and stronger coordination among ASEAN Member States. UN agencies like the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) also work with governments and communities on disaster risk reduction and prevention, which are important to help countries build a more resilient future. Singapore will support such regional and international efforts where we can. The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) has put its humanitarian assistance and disaster relief team on standby for deployment, should there be requests for support from our ASEAN counterparts.”
“Two of our close neighbouring countries recently suffered from natural disasters. Heavy downpours pounded Malaysia in December 2021 and early-January 2022, leading to flooding in parts of Kuala Lumpur and nine other states. Malaysian media reported that at least 54 people had been killed and over 70,000 victims evacuated to relief centres. The floods have since receded and disaster relief is ongoing. Typhoon Rai made landfall in the southern and central regions of the Philippine archipelago on 16 December 2021. The Philippine National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council reported 409 deaths and over 1,350 injured, while the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) indicated that around 1.2 million people in the Philippines were affected by Typhoon Rai, with an estimated 488,000 people displaced. Military aircraft and naval vessels were deployed for disaster relief and humanitarian assistance operations. The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) launched an emergency appeal for 20 million Swiss francs (US$21.7 million) to fund relief and recovery efforts. The floods in Malaysia and Typhoon Rai in the Philippines resulted in the loss of many lives and widespread destruction of property, causing hardship and suffering to the affected communities. As a fellow ASEAN member state, Singapore stands by Malaysia and the Philippines during this difficult time. I wrote to my counterparts – Dato' Sri Saifuddin Abdullah and Secretary Teodoro L Locsin Jr – to express condolences and to offer any assistance they may require.”
“In December 2021 and early-January 2022, Malaysia experienced flooding in Kuala Lumpur and nine other states. The floods in Malaysia have resulted in the loss of many lives and widespread destruction of property, causing hardship and suffering to the affected communities. Singapore stands in solidarity with Malaysia during this difficult time. Minister for Foreign Affairs Dr Vivian Balakrishnan had written to his counterpart, Dato’ Sri Saifuddin Abdullah, in December 2021 to express condolences and offer Singapore’s assistance. On 22 December 2021, the Singapore Government also contributed US$60,000 as seed money to support the Singapore Red Cross’ public fundraising to aid disaster relief and recovery efforts in Malaysia as well as the Philippines, which had been affected by Typhoon Rai. The Singapore Government’s contribution supplemented the Singapore Red Cross’ pledge of US$50,000 to the Malaysian Red Crescent, which went towards emergency healthcare and the distribution of relief supplies to evacuation centres. The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) has also placed a disaster relief team on standby for deployment, should there be requests for support from our ASEAN counterparts through ASEAN frameworks. We stand ready to provide any further assistance that we can render should Malaysia require it.”
“We will continue to work with ASEAN and the international community, including through our work in WHO workstreams, such as the Working Group on Pandemic Preparedness and Response, to ensure that the global health architecture is fit for purpose and future-ready. COVID-19 will not be the last pandemic that the world will face and we must be ready to face future crises and pandemics when they arise. Singapore will continue to do our part to help make sure that this remains so.”
“Such moves have helped the countries in the region and beyond not only procure essential supplies during the pandemic but also ensured that we can all make a smoother recovery from it. The above is just a snapshot of the assistance and support Singapore has rendered to our friends and partners during this critical and challenging period. Singapore remains fully committed to support the global fight against COVID-19. The WHO Director-General has called for 2022 to be the year when we end the acute stage of the pandemic. Singapore will work towards this goal by controlling the pandemic at home and, with our partners and international organisations, to strengthen the global health architecture and build pandemic preparedness and resilience. We are working with WHO and relevant partners, including through our Executive Board membership, to strengthen urban health emergency preparedness. This includes taking into account pandemic control in urban development, ensuring social support, continuity of education and synergising finance and health needs. It might be tempting in these times, especially with the spread of the Omicron variant, to turn inwards, but we must never forget that Singapore’s continued prosperity is dependent on our ability to maintain our openness and relevance to the international community. I am proud that we have not shied away from contributing, within our means, to the global fight against the pandemic. Many Singapore-based private sector entities and other civil society organisations have also played their part and I would like to thank them for flying our flag high.”
“A Singapore nominee, former SCDF Assistant Commissioner Lee Yam Ming, has been elected and is serving as Executive Director of the AHA Centre since August 2021. Under his leadership, the AHA Centre has already facilitated the provision of humanitarian aid to the people of Myanmar. In addition to assisting fellow ASEAN countries, we airlifted a consignment of 256 urgently needed oxygen cylinders to India and contributed medical supplies to fellow small island states, such as Fiji and Palau. We continue to share best practices and information on the virus, including sharing the source code of TraceTogether publicly, which have helped several countries develop their own contact tracing applications. During the pandemic, we remained committed to maintaining our openness as a major logistics, transportation and energy hub. Our air and sea ports remained open to minimise global supply disruptions and ensure the uninterrupted flow of critical supplies, such as vaccines, medicines and food, which not only benefited Singapore but other countries as well. We also did not prohibit the export or transhipment of any goods through Singapore, including medical supplies in high demand, like N-95 respirators. Changi Airport’s continued operation has helped to facilitate the repatriation of many Singaporeans and students and enabled thousands of passengers to return home using Singapore as a transit point. Our efforts to keep our air and sea ports open despite COVID-19 will prevent the loss of strategic capabilities and our hard-earned position as a reliable transport hub. As a global maritime hub, we have also helped to vaccinate port workers and ship crew.”
“The Prime Minister further announced in October 2021 that Singapore had contributed our allocation of vaccines under the COVID-19 ASEAN Response Fund to other ASEAN Member States. We have shared vaccines, procured under the COVAX initiative, with our neighbours, including 122,400 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine with the Riau Islands province, and we have plans to further donate vaccine doses to neighbouring countries. In addition to donating vaccines under the COVAX initiative, we have provided 100,000 doses of the Moderna vaccine to Brunei; 20,000 doses of the Sinovac vaccine and 100,000 doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine to Johor. We also entered into mutually beneficial dose sharing arrangements with Australia, Thailand and Brunei, where we sent 500,000 doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine to Australia, 122,400 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine to Thailand and 100,000 doses of the Moderna vaccine to Brunei in September 2021. So far, we have received the same number of doses back from Australia to support our booster programme. We have contributed in other ways beyond the supply of vaccines. For example, the Singapore Government sent more than 500 tonnes of liquid oxygen to Indonesia through our “Oxygen Shuttle” Programme and donated 200,000 diagnostic tests and 500,000 nasopharyngeal swabs to Thailand, as well as 200,000 Antigen Rapid Test kits to Vietnam. We worked with the Singapore Red Cross to distribute 200 oxygen concentrators to affected communities in Myanmar and contributed US$100,000 through the ASEAN Coordinating Centre for Humanitarian Assistance on disaster management (AHA Centre) to the people of Myanmar when they faced a surge in COVID-19 cases.”
“Although we are a small country, Singapore recognises the need to contribute to the global fight against COVID-19. The pandemic requires all countries to play their part so that we can all emerge from the pandemic sooner and more resilient as a global community. The fact remains that in dealing with a global pandemic, no one is safe until everyone is safe. For this reason, we have continued to support global and regional efforts to tackle COVID-19. Singapore has been a member on WHO’s Executive Board for a three-year term since May 2019, and we have contributed to the COVAX Advance Market Commitment and the COVID-19 ASEAN Response Fund. We were an early supporter of vaccine multilateralism and coalesced support for the COVAX Facility, co-founding the Friends of the COVAX Facility group with Switzerland. MOH's Chief Health Scientist, Prof Tan Chorh Chuan, is Singapore’s representative on the COVAX Shareholders’ Council. Until the end of 2021, he also served as one of three Council representatives on the COVAX Market Sensitive Decisions Committee, which reviews proposed agreements with vaccine manufacturers to ensure reasonableness, acceptable level of reputation risks and availability of resources. We are a member of the Access to COVID-19 Tools (ACT) Accelerator Facilitation Council, in our capacity as Chair of the Forum of Small States, where we have worked to ensure that the perspectives of small states are taken into account. Members would also be aware of the Singapore Government’s contributions of vaccines to countries in our region in their times of need. In July 2021, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong announced that Singapore would donate our vaccine allocation under the COVAX initiative to other countries.”
“These regular engagements with our overseas Singaporean student community enabled our Missions to address in a timely manner any concerns raised by our students overseas and keep them abreast of the latest COVID-19 information so that they could remain safe and informed of public health and safety requirements, as well as developments in both their resident countries and Singapore. In view of the pandemic, Missions and the Singapore Global Network have increasingly leveraged social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Whatsapp, as well as local social media platforms like Weibo, to address students’ COVID-19 concerns, including their queries related to travel and border measures. MFA will continue to prioritise such regular engagement and the provision of timely consular assistance and advice to Singaporean students abroad, to ensure their safety and well-being. Once again, we will urge all Singaporean students abroad to e-register with MFA if they have not already done so.”
“On part (a) of the query, we do not have statistics on the COVID-19 vaccination rates of Singaporean students who are based abroad. The Singapore Government is mindful of the challenges faced by overseas Singaporeans, including our students based overseas, in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic. We have been urging all Singaporeans to get vaccinated. Those who are leaving for overseas studies this year would have had the opportunity to be vaccinated in Singapore before they depart. We understand that some Singaporeans prefer to or may find it difficult to return to Singapore to be vaccinated. We have therefore launched two dedicated vaccination channels recently to make it more convenient for overseas Singaporeans, including our Singaporean students studying abroad, to return to Singapore for vaccination while minimising the time they are required to spend in SHN. As of 31 October 2021, we have received close to 250 successful sign-ups from overseas Singaporeans. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, our Overseas Missions have pro-actively and regularly engaged Singaporean student communities to address their COVID-19 concerns and provided consular assistance to them if required. Our Overseas Missions have provided support and guidance to students who have contracted COVID-19 abroad or had to self-isolate due to being close contacts or from travelling. Such support includes keeping their next-of-kin in Singapore updated of their situation, and connecting the affected individuals with relevant student support groups for the provision of meals and medical supplies.”
“Singapore and ASEAN share a close and multi-faceted relationship with Australia, the UK and the US. All three countries are Dialogue Partners of ASEAN and have contributed to the region’s peace and security over the years. Australia and the UK are also members of the Five Power Defence Arrangements, which celebrates its 50th anniversary this year. We hope that the newly established enhanced trilateral security partnership amongst Australia, the UK and the US (AUKUS) will contribute constructively to the peace and stability of the region, and complement the existing regional architecture which is open and inclusive. Singapore and ASEAN also share good and substantive relations with ASEAN’s other Dialogue Partners including China. China is the largest trading partner for all ASEAN Member States and ASEAN has also become China’s largest trading partner. We welcome engagement with all stakeholders as we work together to uphold ASEAN Centrality in regional cooperation. Singapore has consistently articulated the importance of a peaceful, stable and secure region anchored by an open, inclusive and rules-based order in accordance with international law, including the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). Although competition between major powers may be inevitable, there is room for cooperation and constructive engagement between them and with other stakeholders in the region. ASEAN and our Dialogue Partners will benefit from our collective efforts to enhance regional peace, security and stability.”
“Singapore and ASEAN share a close and multi-faceted relationship with Australia, the UK, and the US. All three countries are Dialogue Partners of ASEAN, and have contributed to the region’s peace and security over the years. Australia and the UK are also members of the Five Power Defence Arrangements, which celebrates its 50th anniversary this year. We hope that the newly-established enhanced trilateral security partnership amongst Australia, the UK and the US (AUKUS) will contribute constructively to the peace and stability of the region, and complement the existing regional architecture which is open and inclusive. Singapore and ASEAN also share good and substantive relations with ASEAN’s other Dialogue Partners including China. China is the largest trading partner for all ASEAN Member States, and ASEAN has also become China’s largest trading partner. We welcome engagement with all stakeholders as we work together to uphold ASEAN Centrality in regional cooperation. Singapore has consistently articulated the importance of a peaceful, stable and secure region anchored by an open, inclusive and rules-based order in accordance with international law, including the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). Although competition between major powers may be inevitable, there is room for cooperation and constructive engagement between them and with other stakeholders in the region. ASEAN and our Dialogue Partners will benefit from our collective efforts to enhance regional peace, security and stability.”
“As terrorism remains a threat to Singapore, we certainly hope that Afghanistan will not revert to becoming a safe haven for any terrorist groups. On the impact on bilateral ties, our engagement with Afghanistan has been limited to technical assistance through our Singapore Cooperation Programme (SCP). Prior to the collapse of the previous government, Afghanistan accounted for the highest number of SCP participants amongst countries in Central Asia, with 837 officials having attended our training courses. As and when the situation permits, we hope to continue this assistance through our SCP.”
“The situation in Afghanistan remains challenging and difficult, especially the humanitarian impact on civilians. The United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres has said that Afghanistan is "on the verge of a dramatic humanitarian disaster". There have been active discussions on the situation in Afghanistan at the multilateral level, including on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly. These discussions have included a focus on improving the humanitarian situation in Afghanistan. Singapore will continue to monitor developments in Afghanistan closely. We hope that all parties, including the Taliban, will protect the safety of civilians and allow humanitarian assistance to reach the intended recipients. While the future of Afghanistan must be determined by the Afghan people, it is also in the international community’s interest to see an Afghanistan at peace with itself and the world. To this end, Singapore welcomes United Nations Security Council Resolution 2593 (2021) which called for Afghanistan to, inter alia, "not be used to threaten or attack any country or to shelter or train terrorists, or to plan or to finance terrorist acts, and reiterates the importance of combating terrorism in Afghanistan". Mr Dennis Tan had referred to Singapore’s past contributions as part of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan from 2007 to 2013. We did so because Afghanistan was a key battlefront in the global fight against terrorism. This posed a security threat to Singapore as the Jemaah Islamiyah group had direct links to Al Qaeda in Afghanistan. The counter-terrorism efforts of the coalition, including Singapore, have contributed to our security over the past 14 years.”
“Foreign policy begins at home. Our diplomacy is only credible if we could maintain a domestic consensus on Singapore’s core interests and our foreign policy priorities. This is why MFA has undertaken sustained efforts to engage Singaporeans on our foreign policy through different means. For example, MFA works with MOE to engage our students in Junior Colleges, Millennia Institute and Integrated Programme Schools through sharing sessions by our retired ambassadors. These sessions cover our core national interests and how Singapore conducts foreign policy as a small city state in Southeast Asia. Such sessions promote two-way communication and allow our younger generation to share what foreign policy issues are top-of-mind. Through regular dialogues, we hope that our younger generation of Singaporeans can better understand the considerations when formulating and implementing our foreign policy. In addition, MFA’s political office holders, senior management and our foreign service officers regularly engage institutes of higher learning, think tanks, media and other fora on Singapore’s foreign policy and other geopolitical developments. MFA also regularly communicates key messages on Singapore’s foreign policy in a variety of formats and vernacular languages, through media interviews and digital media platforms, to reach out to Singaporeans across all age groups. What we aim for is a Singaporean public that is well-informed, that recognises the geostrategic forces at play and understand our national interests. MFA does not conduct regular polling of public sentiment in response to international developments.”
“Singapore is closely monitoring developments in Afghanistan following the collapse of the former Afghan government. To help reduce the humanitarian burden on the evacuees from Afghanistan, Singapore had deployed the RSAF’s A330 Multi-Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) aircraft to assist in the evacuation operations, as announced by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong in a joint press conference with US Vice President Kamala Harris on 23 August 2021. The MRTT mission, staffed by 77 personnel from the Singapore Armed Forces, departed from Singapore on 26 August 2021 and returned to Singapore on 10 September 2021. During this period, it airlifted over 2,200 evacuees from Qatar to Germany. To date, there are no plans for ASEAN to render any humanitarian assistance to affected civilians or those seeking to evacuate Afghanistan. Ultimately, the future of Afghanistan is a matter for the Afghan people to decide. We hope that the transition will be peaceful and that all parties will refrain from violence and reach an agreement on the way forward through peaceful negotiations.”
“While we continue to support regional and global efforts to combat the virus, it is sensible that we begin by helping our neighbours, given their proximity to us, and the large number of cross-border flows between our countries. It is, hence, critical that we first bring the COVID-19 situation in our region under control.”
“I would like to emphasise that we conducted a comprehensive assessment of the progress of our National Vaccination Programme and made the decision to contribute our vaccines only when we were sure that we had, and will continue to have, enough vaccines for our people. We had contributed 100,000 doses of the Moderna vaccine to Brunei on 20 August 2021. We had also contributed 20,000 doses of the Sinovac vaccines to Johor on 29 June 2021 and are working towards a further donation of around 100,000 doses of Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines to Johor. Due to contractual obligations with the vaccine manufacturers, we are not able to disclose the cost of vaccines. Mr Gerald Giam has asked about the considerations behind contributing vaccines to our neighbours, including higher-income countries. As Members of the House are aware, there are global vaccine shortages and delivery delays. I would like to express our gratitude to our vaccine procurement team for securing sufficient vaccines for our people at such an early stage. In combatting a pandemic that knows no boundaries, no one is safe until everyone is safe, and it is, therefore, in our collective interest to help one another. One such example is the swap arrangement with Australia. We sent 500,000 doses of Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines to Australia recently and we will receive the same quantity from Australia at a later date. This arrangement is mutually beneficial as it enables both countries to support each other in optimising our respective schedules for vaccinating our populations against COVID-19. Our contributions are part of our broader commitment to work together with our neighbours in confronting the pandemic.”
“It is Singapore’s consistent position to work with the government of the day. We have enjoyed good relations with successive Malaysian governments and leaders, and cooperated well with them across a wide range of areas. We cooperated closely with the previous government led by former Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin to tackle the COVID-19 pandemic and minimise disruptions to our companies, workers, and citizens. We also made progress on long-term bilateral projects such as the Johor Bahru-Singapore Rapid Transit System (RTS) Link Project. Our office holders are familiar with Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob and his Cabinet, and our civil services maintain good relations and are in regular contact with each other. We remain in close communication with the Malaysian authorities on various issues of mutual concern, such as on cross-border travel and the reopening of borders. Cross-border travel arrangements such as the Periodic Commuting Arrangement and framework for Death and Critically Ill Emergency Visits remain in effect. The Singapore Government is also continuing discussions with the Malaysian government on the safe and gradual resumption of cross-border movement of people. This will require mutually agreed public health protocols, such as the mutual recognition of vaccine certificates, in order to preserve the public health and safety of residents on both sides. Singapore remains committed to maintaining a constructive and positive bilateral relationship with the current Malaysian government. This is especially important in order for both our countries to emerge stronger together from the COVID-19 pandemic. We look forward to working with Prime Minister Ismail Sabri and his government for the mutual benefit of our countries and peoples.”
“Officers posted to our Overseas Missions are frontline and essential services personnel who have been given access to COVID-19 vaccinations. Currently, we have 359 officers based overseas and only one has not yet received the vaccination. The officer will be returning in the next few weeks and will be fully vaccinated by November 2021. On the second query, we are unable to conduct vaccination overseas for medical and legal reasons. Therefore, to the extent possible, MFA will seek the cooperation of foreign governments to extend their local vaccination programmes to Singaporeans overseas. We are also exploring options to make it more convenient for overseas Singaporeans to be vaccinated when they return to Singapore. We just announced two dedicated vaccination options under which Singaporeans overseas can receive one dose of vaccination on transit in Singapore without serving the full Stay-Home Notice (SHN). The Singaporean can then return to receive his second dose on transit again after the required dosing interval. The second option is for Singaporeans overseas to receive their first dose of vaccination while serving SHN after their arrival in Singapore and the second dose post-SHN.”
“We are continuing discussions with the Malaysian government on the safe and gradual resumption of cross-border movement of people as we enter the endemic phase. This will require mutually agreed public health protocols to preserve the public health and safety of residents on both sides, whilst taking into account the medical resources available. For example, both sides are currently working towards recognising each other’s vaccine certificates. These discussions have been fruitful and we hope that this can map our path forward for a safe and gradual reopening of our borders when the situation permits it. Singapore and Malaysia will always be closely intertwined and interdependent. We are committed to engaging and cooperating with the new Malaysian government to seek win-win outcomes. This is especially important in order for both our countries to recover and emerge stronger together from the COVID-19 pandemic situation. And I am confident that our bilateral cooperation will continue to expand for the mutual benefit of citizens on both sides.”
“We also launched several travel arrangements, such as the safe movement of cargo trucks, the Periodic Commuting Arrangement for workers and a framework for Death and Critically Ill Emergency Visits. These travel arrangements will continue. Our leaders are familiar with Prime Minister Ismail Sabri and his Cabinet members. We have worked with them on many bilateral and regional issues. Prime Minister Ismail Sabri and I have known each other from the days when we were both the Ministers for Youth and Sports. That was some time ago. We also met during my more recent visit to Malaysia in March earlier this year, when we discussed COVID-19 safeguards and cross-border travel arrangements. My counterpart – Minister of Foreign Affairs Saifuddin Abdullah – is also a familiar face. We worked closely together when he held the Foreign Affairs portfolio between 2018 and 2020. Besides the political leadership, our respective civil service maintains good relations and communications with each other and officials on both sides are in regular contact. Singapore remains committed to maintaining a constructive and positive relationship with the current Malaysian government. We will also follow through with our commitments on bilateral projects and our partnerships on the Johor Bahru-Singapore Rapid Transit System (RTS) Link Project and COVID-19 border control measures. On the RTS Link Project, Singapore and Malaysia reached an agreement to resume the project in July last year. Construction has in fact commenced on both sides and there has been good progress. The RTS Link will be a game changer when it commences service at the end of 2026. We look forward to it significantly improving connectivity between Singapore and Johor Bahru, and easing congestion on the Causeway.”
“Mr Speaker, Malaysia will always be our closest neighbour. This is a geographical fact. Our long-term relationship will always be bound by the ties of kinship, culture, history and economic interdependence. A stable and prosperous Malaysia is good for Singapore and indeed, good for our region. Naturally, the Singapore Government watches developments in Malaysia very closely. As Members of the House would be aware, there has been a change in leadership in Malaysia. Its new Cabinet, led by Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob, was sworn in on 21 August 2021. Prime Minister Lee spoke with Prime Minister Ismail Sabri the very next morning. Many Singapore Ministers have also established or renewed contact with their Malaysian counterparts. Singapore’s consistent position is to work with the government of the day. Mr Speaker, we have enjoyed good relations with successive Malaysian governments and leaders, and we have cooperated well with them across a wide range of areas. For example, we cooperated closely with the previous government led by former Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin to tackle the COVID-19 pandemic, including contributing medical supplies and test kits. We acted quickly in the early days of the pandemic to set up the Singapore-Malaysia Special Working Committee on COVID-19, which was co-chaired by Senior Minister and the Coordinating Minister for National Security Teo Chee Hean and then-Senior Minister and Minister of Defence of Malaysia Ismail Sabri, in order to coordinate both countries’ measures to respond to COVID-19, and minimise disruptions to our companies, workers and citizens.”
“Mr Speaker, may I have your permission to take Question Nos 2 and 3 together?”
“We also urge those who have not e-registered with us to do so immediately so that we can reach out to them in the event of an emergency.”
“The Singapore Government has committed S$10 million under the Enhanced Technical Assistance Program (ETAP). Since its inception in 2013, the ETAP has hosted customised study visits and training programmes for over five hundred Palestinian officials in line with the PA’s priorities such as public administration, economic development and urban development. We have also sponsored Palestinian students to pursue post-graduate degrees in our local Universities. Fourth, Singapore has taken a consistent and principled position on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. We support a negotiated two-state solution that allows both Israelis and Palestinians to live side-by-side in peace and security consistent with relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions. This is the only viable option to achieve a durable, just and comprehensive solution. While the international community can help support this process, the Israeli and Palestinian leadership ultimately need to have the political will to resolve this conflict. Concessions have to be made by both sides. We hope that the leaders on both sides will find a way to engage in serious negotiations on the two-state solution in the interest of their peoples and regional stability. In the meantime, we call on all sides to refrain from taking any actions that would further escalate tensions. MFA continues to provide consular assistance to Singaporeans residing in the region. MFA had reached out early to check on their welfare. MFA reminded them to be vigilant and to take the necessary precautions for their personal safety. MFA will continue to work with our Honorary Consulate-General in Tel Aviv to provide consular assistance to Singaporeans in Israel as necessary.”
“Gaza is a densely populated area and the risk of civilian casualties is high. On its part, Hamas should not use civilians as shields by launching indiscriminate rocket attacks at Israel from civilian sites. On 21 May, we welcomed the mutual ceasefire and urged both sides to avoid further loss of civilian lives. We also called for the swift and unhindered delivery of humanitarian aid to affected civilians. As with past conflicts in Gaza in 2009 and 2014, Singapore will continue to support humanitarian assistance efforts for the Palestinians. For example, the Singapore Government donated US$100,000 as seed money to the Singapore Red Cross (SRC) for its fund-raising appeal. I am heartened that Singaporeans have responded generously by contributing almost S$4.5 million to the fund-raising drives by the SRC and the Rahmatan Lil Alamin Fund (RLAF), which will be channelled through the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) and the Palestinian Red Crescent in support of their humanitarian and relief efforts. This is a testament to the Singaporean spirit of compassion for others in need. Second, the cycle of violence in Gaza must stop. While the damaged infrastructure in Gaza can be rebuilt, the cynical view is that it is inevitable that another round of violence would erupt again. This will continue unless all sides are willing to make the necessary compromises and refrain from further violence. In this regard, Singapore welcomes efforts by key regional countries such as Egypt in strengthening the ceasefire in Gaza and facilitating negotiations between the relevant parties. Third, Singapore will continue to support the Palestinian Authority’s (PA) capacity-building efforts.”
“It, therefore, comes as no surprise that public Palestinian polls have indicated that popular support for Hamas has considerably increased following its latest attacks on Israel, as was the case immediately after the 2014 Gaza War. Fourth, given the complexities of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, achieving a resolution has been extremely difficult. The historic Oslo Accords in 1993 gave rise initially to optimism that a two-state solution and Israel’s right to exist in peace could be realised at some point. Regrettably, there has been limited progress despite attempts by the international community, including the Quartet, to support direct negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians. The lack of visible progress has made it even more difficult to realise a peaceful outcome. Public polls show that support for a two-state solution within Israel appears to be waning. Similar polls show that many Palestinians believe a two-state solution to be neither achievable nor viable. I have first provided some context so that Singaporeans can have a better appreciation of the ground realities in Israel, the West Bank and Gaza beyond the media headlines and polemics. This is also the context for the Singapore Government’s longstanding, consistent and principled position on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. First, Singapore’s primary concern has always been the safety and security of civilians on all sides. International law and agreements must be upheld. On 9 May, MFA expressed deep concerns and urged all sides to stop the violence following the clashes on the Haram al-Sharif / Temple Mount. On 12 May, MFA called upon all parties to cease attacks against civilian targets and work towards a durable ceasefire.”
“Clashes in the vicinity of the Haram al-Sharif / Temple Mount are always very sensitive given its sanctity and religious significance for Christianity, Islam and Judaism. That these took place during the holy month of Ramadan only exacerbated tensions. When Hamas decided to launch rocket attacks on Israel on 10 May, it had publicly claimed that it was doing so in the name of "defending Jerusalem and Islam". Given Jerusalem’s importance to all the Abrahamic religions, incidents at key religious sites will inflame emotions and be easily exploited by various groups to advance political causes. However, this does not mean that the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is a religious one. At its core, the conflict has always been about territory, self-determination and identity which has been ensnared by Israeli and intra-Palestinian politics. Third, the situation in Gaza is partly a reflection of intra-Palestinian political rivalries. The West Bank is governed by the Palestinian Authority (PA) and controlled by the Fatah party. However, the PA no longer governs Gaza after Hamas seized unilateral control in 2007. The political divide between the West Bank and Gaza has remained despite past attempts at forging a national unity government between Fatah and Hamas. Unlike Fatah, Hamas does not recognise Israel’s right to exist and believes in armed conflict. In an interview in May 2020, Palestinian academic Dr Khalil Shikaki said that Palestinians in Gaza viewed the use of violence as an effective solution against Israel and that support for armed resistance was notably higher among Palestinian youth compared to the older generation.”
“We need to understand the context of the broader Israeli-Palestinian conflict that led to the tragic loss of many innocent lives in May 2021. First, the 11-day outbreak of violence in May 2021 was the fifth major military confrontation between Israel and Hamas in the last 15 years. Israel withdrew from Gaza in 2005 but retained control over the border crossing and the supply of goods into Gaza from the Israeli side. The Palestinians have accused Israel of imposing a blockade of Gaza. On Israel’s part, it has experienced recurrent indiscriminate rocket attacks from Gaza and armed border incursions over the years. In this latest round, an unprecedented number of more than 4,000 rockets were fired indiscriminately at civilian areas in Israel. Israel has also accused Hamas of launching rockets from civilian areas in Gaza. Although a majority of rockets were intercepted by Israel’s Iron Dome missile defence system, a dozen people were killed, including one child. On the Gaza side, the Palestinian toll was higher, with Palestinian health authorities reporting about 250 deaths, including 60 children. Gaza’s civilian infrastructure was also badly damaged and over 77,000 civilians were displaced according to UN figures. Tragically, the cycle of violence has not been broken over the last 15 years and civilians on both sides have been the victims. We are all deeply saddened by the loss of innocent civilian lives. Second, this latest episode was related to earlier violent clashes between Palestinians and Israeli police in Jerusalem, including on the Haram al-Sharif / Temple Mount and the Sheikh Jarrah neighbourhood.”
“There are currently around 240 Singaporeans in Myanmar who have registered with MFA. The Singapore Embassy in Yangon has been providing regular consular advice and updates on the situation in Myanmar to them. Presently, there are three relief flights a week from Yangon to Singapore which are operated by Singapore Airlines and Myanmar National Airlines. Singaporeans can book the flights directly with the airlines to return home. MFA cannot guarantee that these relief flights will continue on a regular basis throughout August and beyond. In such a scenario, we may also not be granted permission to conduct repatriation flights. Consequently, MFA has advised Singaporeans currently in Myanmar to consider leaving as soon as they can via commercially operated flights. The situation in Myanmar remains volatile, compounded by the recent surge in the number of COVID-19 cases which has placed tremendous stress on the public health system in Myanmar. Singaporeans who choose to remain in Myanmar must consider the risks to their health and personal safety. If they have not yet e-registered with MFA, they are strongly advised to do so immediately.”
“The Five-Point Consensus was agreed to by all the ASEAN Leaders and the Commander-in-Chief of the Myanmar military. The Five-Point Consensus called for (i) the immediate cessation of violence and all parties to exercise utmost restraint, (ii) commencement of constructive dialogue among all parties to seek a peaceful solution, (iii) the appointment of a special envoy or envoys of the ASEAN Chair to facilitate mediation and (iv) for the envoy(s) to be given access to all parties concerned; and (v) the provision of humanitarian assistance through the AHA Centre. ASEAN Leaders also called for the release of all political detainees. Brunei, in its capacity as ASEAN Chair for 2021, visited Myanmar from 3 to 5 June 2021 with the ASEAN Secretary General to hold preliminary discussions with the Myanmar military authorities. ASEAN Member States are working on the implementation of the Consensus, including the nomination of an ASEAN envoy comprising a team of eminent individuals, the modalities of sending such an envoy, as well as how and when to disburse humanitarian assistance. The implementation of the Five-Point Consensus has been very slow so far and we are working within ASEAN to expedite this process. It is imperative that the Myanmar military authorities uphold their commitment to implement the Five-Point Consensus, which is totally unrelated to their Five-Point Roadmap. The stakeholders in Myanmar must decide to come together to seek genuine dialogue, negotiation and reconciliation. There are no quick fixes for the situation in Myanmar. The process is a difficult one and will take time. Singapore, along with ASEAN, stands ready to help.”
“We must recognise that, ultimately, the key stakeholders in Myanmar must find the political will to negotiate, compromise, and find a durable political solution that is in the interest of the people of Myanmar. We hope that wisdom and good sense will prevail, and we are ready to do our part.”
“On declaration of arms exports, Singapore submits reports to the UN Register of Conventional Arms (UNROCA) on international arms transfers every year. That information is listed on the UNROCA website. As shown, Myanmar is not one of the countries. Singapore has a robust export control regime and our control lists are updated regularly to ensure that our export control system is aligned with international non-proliferation regimes. We will not hesitate to take action against those who contravene our laws. Mr Dennis Tan has also asked whether the fact that ASEAN Member States voted differently on the UN resolution has any bearing on ASEAN’s efforts in fulfilling the Five-Point Consensus. We would like to point out that no ASEAN Member State voted against the UN resolution. The Five-Point Consensus was agreed to by all the ASEAN Leaders and the leader of the Myanmar military. This common vision of the way forward has not changed. That said, we recognise that implementation of the Five-Point Consensus has been slow and a little disappointing. We are working within ASEAN to expedite this process, with a view to alleviate the humanitarian situation, cease the violence in Myanmar and set it back on the path of direct negotiation by all stakeholders that will lead to normalcy, peace and stability for the long term. This will not be an easy or quick process and its success, ultimately, lies in the hands of the Myanmar people. Nonetheless, ASEAN will not waver in its commitment to facilitate and support this process in line with the Five-Point Consensus. Singapore is fully committed to supporting ASEAN’s efforts in facilitating a return to normalcy, peace and stability in Myanmar, including through the implementation of the Five-Point Consensus.”
“Mr Dennis Tan and Ms He Ting Ru have both asked about Singapore’s compliance with the UN General Assembly resolution on Myanmar, with particular focus on the provision relating to an arms embargo. Singapore has taken a clear and consistent position on the situation in Myanmar since the Myanmar military seized power on 1 February 2021. We categorically reject the use of lethal force against unarmed civilians. It is deplorable and unacceptable under any circumstances. We have called on the Myanmar military authorities to put an end to further violence and bloodshed, and for all sides to refrain from escalating tensions. We have also called for the release of all political detainees so that all stakeholders can negotiate in good faith to find a durable and peaceful political situation. We have conveyed our views both in this Chamber and directly to the Myanmar military authorities. Singapore voted in favour of the UN General Assembly resolution as the key elements of the resolution are consistent with Singapore’s position calling for an end to the violence and for all stakeholders to begin a process of genuine political dialogue and national reconciliation in Myanmar. The resolution also recognises the central role of ASEAN and calls on all stakeholders in Myanmar to cooperate with ASEAN and the Special Envoy or Envoys of ASEAN to swiftly and fully implement the Five-Point Consensus reached at the ASEAN Leaders’ Meeting on 24 April. We also support the resolution’s calls for unimpeded humanitarian assistance to safely reach those in need. Singapore complies strictly with international obligations on international arms sales and transfers, and abides by UN sanctions or embargo against any country.”
“We have witnessed a wide range of contributions from private sector entities and philanthropic organisations in Singapore. The Singapore Government had provided seed funding to the Singapore Red Cross Society (SRC)’s fundraising effort for humanitarian assistance to affected communities in China. This fundraising drive raised more than S$6 million. The SRC has also coordinated the supply of medical aid worth S$900,000 to other countries. In addition, the Temasek Foundation has to date donated diagnostic test kits, oxygen concentrators, and BiPAP machines to over 30 countries around the world. Singapore’s contributions to India have been addressed by the Written Answer to Question No 8 given on 10 May 2021.”
“The Fund will be used to procure medical equipment and other supplies for frontline response and preventative measures, as well as to finance long-term research and development of COVID-19 treatments and vaccines. Notably, with further contributions from ASEAN Dialogue Partners, US$10.5 million of this Fund will also be used for the purchase of COVID-19 vaccines for ASEAN Member States and the ASEAN Secretariat in Jakarta. In addition, our role as a transit hub has enabled us to help repatriate other countries’ nationals, even as commercial flight connections are affected by global travel restrictions. As a result, many were able to go home and be reunited with their families and loved ones. In turn, Singaporeans have also benefited from similar assistance provided by our friends around the world. We also offered what we can to our neighbours and partners around the world while taking care of our domestic needs. Singapore has provided critical medical supplies such as polymerase chain reaction (PCR) machines, diagnostic test kits, personal protective equipment (PPE), oximeters, surgical masks, hand sanitisers, thermometers and oxygen-related supplies to our friends in the region including Brunei, Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines, Myanmar, China and India, as well as those further away like Fiji, Palau, Ethiopia, Kenya and Rwanda. We are also planning to donate medical supplies to countries in Latin America, such as Brazil, Mexico, Peru and Ecuador. Looking ahead, Singapore will continue to assist countries in need within our means during this challenging time. The Singapore Government’s international assistance during this pandemic has also served as a catalyst for wider efforts within our community.”
“It has been more than a year since the first known cases of the COVID-19 pandemic. Unfortunately, despite important progress such as the rapid development of several vaccines, we are seeing the emergence of new variants of the COVID-19 virus, and renewed waves of cases and deaths being reported across the globe. As I have mentioned previously, this is a virus that does not discriminate across language, race, religion, or borders. Multilateralism and international cooperation are, therefore, vital elements in our response to the pandemic, since no one is safe until everyone is safe. During the Committee of Supply Debate on 1 March 2021, I explained that no matter how well we control the pandemic within our borders, life cannot resume and get back to the status quo unless the rest of the world is also made safer. This is why Singapore was an early supporter of the COVAX Facility, which is the flagship global mechanism to facilitate access to COVID-19 vaccines for all countries. We founded, and we co-chair the informal Friends of the COVAX Facility (FOF), a 15-member group, to catalyse discussions on the operationalisation of the COVAX Facility. COVAX’s primary value is in ensuring that subsidised vaccines will be allocated to 92 low and lower-middle income countries. Singapore has contributed US$5 million to the COVAX Advance Market Commitment (AMC) towards this purpose. In less than three months, the COVAX Facility has delivered more than 49 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines to over 120 countries. The world would be collectively worse off without COVAX. To support regional efforts to combat the virus, Singapore has contributed US$100,000 to the COVID-19 ASEAN Response Fund.”
“Singapore will continue to do what we can to support ASEAN’s efforts in facilitating a return to normalcy, peace and stability in Myanmar, including through the implementation of the Five-Point Consensus. We hope that wisdom and good sense will prevail, and we stand ready to do our part.”
“ASEAN’s immediate task is to implement the Five-Point Consensus. This will not be an easy process. The cooperation of the Tatmadaw will be needed. There are many details to be worked out, including nominating an envoy or a team of ASEAN envoys, their terms of reference, as well as working out how and when to disburse humanitarian assistance. ASEAN will also have to continue to speak collectively to urge the Myanmar military authorities to uphold the consensus – particularly to exercise maximum restraint and begin meaningful dialogue with all parties concerned. ASEAN must also continue to call for the release of all political detainees, notably President Win Myint and State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi. While the ALM represented an initial step, the path back to normalcy in Myanmar will be a long and difficult one. As I have said before, the long-term and sustainable resolution of the current crisis, ultimately, lies with the Myanmar people. The key stakeholders in Myanmar must negotiate, find a compromise and formulate a durable political solution. Ultimately, it is their political will to do what is right for the people of Myanmar that would determine how quickly a solution can be found. ASEAN can only help to facilitate this dialogue and support the process. At the same time, Singapore and ASEAN must continue to work with and complement the efforts by the UN and other international bodies, including the UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy on Myanmar Ms Christine Schraner Burgener. Other countries like China, the US, India, Japan and other Dialogue Partners of ASEAN also have important roles to play, given their considerable influence over the various actors in this crisis.”
“I will respond to questions by Ms Sylvia Lim and Mr Dennis Tan on how ASEAN and Singapore can address the deteriorating situation in Myanmar, in light of the ASEAN Leaders’ Meeting (ALM) which took place on 24 April 2021. The situation in Myanmar remains fraught with on-going fatalities, increased clashes between the Tatmadaw and the Ethnic Armed Organisations, and the severe COVID-19 pandemic. According to the UN, more than 700 people have been killed since 1 February. President Win Myint, State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi and other political detainees remain under detention. Protests against the military are continuing. This points to an increasingly intractable situation that threatens to further disrupt regional stability. Our immediate priority remains the de-escalation of the situation in Myanmar, particularly the cessation of violence that has caused the tragic loss of civilian lives. The ALM in Jakarta on 24 April 2021 was a positive initial step. The resulting Five-Point Consensus calls for: first, the immediate cessation of violence in Myanmar, and for all parties to exercise utmost restraint; second, the commencement of constructive dialogue among all parties concerned, to seek a peaceful solution in the interests of the people; third, a special envoy of the ASEAN Chair, assisted by the Secretary-General of ASEAN, to facilitate mediation of the dialogue process; fourth, ASEAN to provide humanitarian assistance through the ASEAN Coordinating Centre for Humanitarian Assistance on Disaster Management (AHA Centre); and fifth, the special envoy and delegation to visit Myanmar and meet with all parties concerned. The Chairman’s Statement on the ALM also called for the release of all political prisoners.”
“For example, we are supporting on-going efforts by the Indian Air Force to airlift cryogenic tanks from Singapore in several batches, and facilitating Indian naval ships coming to Singapore to pick up relief supplies. This has not only been a Singapore Government effort. Many Singapore-based private sector entities and other civil society organisations are also playing an important part in providing assistance to India. For example, the Temasek Foundation has sent urgent relief supplies and essential medical equipment such as oxygen concentrators, oximeters and ventilators. It is working with Indian partners to ensure that these are distributed to areas in need. Singapore Airlines has helped to airlift these items to India. Many people and companies have generously reached out and indicated their interest in contributing to relief efforts. The Singapore Red Cross has launched a fundraiser and is currently coordinating contributions from the public and private sector entities. These resources will go towards procuring and distributing the necessary medical supplies and equipment to India. We will continue to work with our Indian friends during this difficult time and explore various avenues to help in areas that we can.”
“The resurgence of COVID-19 cases and evolution of multiple variants poses a global challenge. The virus does not discriminate across language, race, religion, or national borders; it is therefore in our collective interest to help one another because no one is safe until everyone is safe. India has been hit especially hard due to their recent second wave, exacerbated by the emergence of new variants of the virus that appear to be more transmissible. Countries around the world are rallying together to work with India to alleviate the critical situation. India is a close friend and partner of Singapore, and many Singaporeans have families and friends there. Singapore is committed to doing our part to contribute to these efforts. I have been in contact with Indian External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar and our officials have been working to ensure that our efforts to help would be rapid, targeted, and practical. On 28 April 2021, the Singapore Government sent a consignment of 256 oxygen cylinders to support India’s pandemic response. These were flown directly to West Bengal in India via two Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) C-130 aircraft. There is a critical need for oxygen-related supplies in India, especially in the areas of oxygen storage and last-mile delivery to hospitals around the country. Our modest assistance was aimed at supporting this critical and urgent area of need and we hope that it provided some relief to those battling the pandemic on the frontlines. Singapore was amongst the first countries to send oxygen cylinders to India. In addition, we are facilitating India’s efforts to procure COVID-19 supplies and equipment through Singapore-based entities or by providing transport and logistical support.”
“As of the 30 April 2021, there were 4,923,054 individuals on board the TraceTogether (TT) programme, or approximately 92% of the population above the age of six years. As of the same date, only 1,155 users (or 0.021% of the population above the age of six years) had requested deregistration from the TT programme. TT App users who apply to deregister will be sent a SMS confirming that their request has been received. For users returning the TT Token, the officer receiving the token at the Community Centre will provide confirmation of the deregistration on the spot. All TT registration data, including NRIC or contact number, is deleted from the TT server within three to five working days. Consequently, any data previously exchanged with other TT devices cannot be decrypted any longer. When the user uninstalls the app, all previously collected data will also be permanently deleted from the smartphone. In any case, all data is deleted from TT devices automatically after 25 days. If a user had previously been identified as a close contact and uploaded his or her data to the Government’s server for contact tracing purposes, these records are retained. This is essential for public health reasons. Notwithstanding this, subsection 82(9) of the COVID-19 (Temporary Measures) Act allows the Minister to specify a date, once the pandemic is over, after which all personally identifiable contact tracing data must be deleted as soon as reasonably practicable.”
“We are dismayed that the death toll and number of injuries in Myanmar has continued to climb as a result of clashes between security forces and civilian protestors. Some reports put the death toll since 1 February in excess of 500. The Myanmar military authorities must exercise utmost restraint and desist from the use of lethal force against unarmed civilians. We will continue to do what we can to support ASEAN’s efforts in facilitating a return to normalcy, peace and stability in Myanmar. As I had previously told Members, the solution lies within Myanmar. We must be realistic about the limits of external pressure. Ultimately, it is the key stakeholders who must commit to negotiate and find a solution to the political and humanitarian problems in Myanmar. We hope wisdom and good sense will prevail.”
“We are gravely concerned with the violence inflicted by the military on civilians and the escalating loss of life and injuries. This remains a key priority for ASEAN. ASEAN has issued two ASEAN Chairs’ Statements on Myanmar to date, in February and March 2021 respectively. ASEAN has repeatedly urged the Myanmar military authorities to exercise the utmost restraint, protect civilian lives, to immediately release all political detainees, and to seek a peaceful solution through constructive dialogue and practical reconciliation in the interests of the people and their livelihood. That is the only way peace and stability will return to Myanmar. It is critical for Member States to uphold the purposes and principles of the ASEAN Charter. Singapore supports the convening of a special ASEAN Leaders’ Summit, in view of the rapidly deteriorating situation in Myanmar. The Summit would allow ASEAN Leaders to convey our views and concerns directly to the leader of the Myanmar military authorities. ASEAN Leaders can also discuss the possible ways that ASEAN can support and facilitate Myanmar’s return to the path of national reconciliation through negotiations and dialogue among all key stakeholders. We also support the efforts of UN Special Envoy Christine Schraner Burgener, to continue constructive engagement on the Myanmar issue. I had set out Singapore’s response to the developments in Myanmar extensively both within and outside this House. I want to reiterate our call to the Myanmar military authorities to take immediate steps to stop further bloodshed, violence and deaths. All political detainees, including President U Win Myint and State Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi should be released immediately.”