Wan Rizal
Singapore
“Better wages, better welfare and better work prospects. Third, make growth sectors accessible. So, every Singaporean, our youth and our rank-and-file workers, can see, can enter and progress in these opportunities. Mr Speaker, our ambition is not just to remain a global transport hub.”
“Also, the type of support that we provide depends on the prevailing circumstances. Should haj be cancelled or disrupted this year, we will work closely with AMTAS to allow the affected pilgrims to defer to the subsequent haj seasons.”
“Thank you, Chairman. Three clarifications for Senior Minister of State Koh. Senior Minister of State had shared earlier about the NMHO that was established to coordinate multi-agency initiatives.”
“Thus, I seek the Minister's views on: how does the Government plan to strengthen coordination between Ministries, institutes of higher learning and community partners so that this support for youth transition can be implemented more systematically, with measurable outcomes, and help more of our youth enter good jobs in growth sectors?”
“So, my question to the Minister is this: how will MOM measure whether enterprises are redesigning jobs alongside technology adoption? Second, will MOM publish outcome indicators, such as the number of jobs redesigned and wage progression outcomes?”
“Sir, I thank the Senior Minister of State for sharing on the efforts done by MOE and working together with the unions and e2i to support both the teachers and of course, the parents in this process too. I have also raised the concern whereby the teachers are now given extra load to do interim supervisory duties.”
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“Better wages, better welfare and better work prospects. Third, make growth sectors accessible. So, every Singaporean, our youth and our rank-and-file workers, can see, can enter and progress in these opportunities. Mr Speaker, our ambition is not just to remain a global transport hub. Our ambition must be to become a people-centred transport hub, where growth creates good jobs, technology uplifts our workers and every Singaporean has a pathway forward. Because in the end, a hub is only as strong as its people. Airports do not connect themselves. Ports do not run themselves too. Logistics networks do not move themselves either. Behind every successful transport hub are workers whose skills, whose commitment and professionalism keep Singapore moving. And when our workers move forward with confidence, Singapore will continue to move forward too.”
“Every time there is a rail breakdown, public frustration is immediate and often directed at them. But what many of us do not see is their reality – working through the night, managing complex systems, carrying the responsibility of keeping millions of commuters safe. This reminds us that strengthening our transport hub is not just about better systems. It is about valuing the people behind them. If we want the next generation to join such jobs, the jobs must be stable and well-paying too. But at the end of the day, respect is important. (In Malay): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] Mr Speaker, please allow me to speak briefly in Malay. When we talk about the future of transport, it is not just about technology or efficiency. It is also about ensuring that our workers, both young and experienced, are able to seize the new opportunities that will emerge. This is closely linked to the work of the Economic Competitiveness Committee, which I co-chair with Mr Saktiandi Supaat. Our task is to translate the recommendations of the Economic Strategy Review into more practical pathways, especially for youths, mid-career workers and lower-wage workers. Within the transport sector, new opportunities will certainly emerge. But those opportunities will not materialise if information is unclear, training is not aligned with real jobs, and support does not reach workers early enough. That is why we need to build career bridges. It is not just about more courses, but a clear pathway that connects skills to jobs, and jobs to better lives. (In English): Mr Speaker, allow me to conclude with three asks, or three calls. First, let us build career bridges early. Support workers before disruption happens, not after. Second, redesign jobs for better outcomes.”
“As we transform our transport sector, we must apply these technologies more directly to protect our workers. Let us leverage technology to support efforts to plan rostering, shifts and rest hours more thoughtfully, especially to support round-the-clock operations in our transport sector. As we build world-class infrastructure, let us also ensure that we plan for adequate amenities for our workers who have to work onsite – affordable food, good rest facilities and quiet rooms for long shifts. Recently, SBS Transit opened Singapore’s first dedicated accommodation for bus drivers at the Sengkang West Depot, with rooms, kitchens and even a dedicated floor for women drivers. I hope to see more of such amenities provided for our workers onsite. Sir, let us also leverage technology to reduce commute times for our transport workers who travel more extensively to both ends of Singapore. For example, by deploying AVs to enable first- and last-mile connections to Changi, Tuas, our ferry terminals and our industrial estates. These work sites generally have less access to public transportation, especially in the early and late hours. Mr Speaker, as we build these pathways, we must also track whether they are delivering real outcomes. We should know who are entering these new roles and whether our young graduates, rank-and-file workers and technicians are benefiting. Such tracking can help monitor worker composition, training outcomes, wage progression and career mobility so that transformation remains accountable to our workers. An aspect of welfare for our workers is also one that we tend to forget is the word “respect”. Mr Speaker, let me briefly share with you from a dialogue that I had with the rail technicians recently. They told me something quite striking.”
“In this regard, I would like to ask MOT on how it intends to work through the Skills and Workforce Development Agency (SWDA), the tripartite Jobs Council, NTUC and our unions to develop clearer “school-to-sector" pathways into the future transport sectors, careers supported by internships, apprenticeships, structured traineeships and career guidance. Sir, second is the group of existing rank-and-file workers and technicians. Many of them will see their daily tasks change with technology. We must identify at-risk roles early, map them to adjacent opportunities and build career pathways. If we get this right, transformation becomes a story of renewal and of growth, not about replacement. So, we must also redesign jobs alongside our workers to help them see how technology can help them to get their jobs done better. And we must provide our workers the necessary support and training pathways to help them move into higher-value, better jobs. Beyond wages and work prospects, it is also important to ensure that jobs in the transport sector also provide better welfare and better working conditions for our workers. Worker welfare must also include safety, especially for workers whose duties expose them to the heat, thunderstorms and other adverse weather conditions. This matters in transport, where aviation, maritime, logistics and port workers continue to keep operations running on the ground, at our terminals, at sea and on the tarmac. For example, the Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment (MSE), and the National Environment Agency launched a Heat Stress Advisory in 2023, while MSE is working with agencies, such as MPA and MOM, to better manage weather-related challenges.”
“According to the Ministry of Manpower's (MOM’s) Workplace Safety and Health Report, platform workers suffered fatal and major injuries at a rate of 84.6 per 100,000 last year – nearly five times higher than the rate for the workforce as a whole. Second, there is also limitation in their progression in the long run. Our young delivery riders risk becoming entrenched in these jobs. And there are signs of potential disruptions too. Drone deliveries have been on trials for a few years now over our waters and more recently, across the Kallang River, where my constituency is. So, as we anchor good jobs through the development of our transport industries, we must also adjust our training curriculum, leverage the new tripartite Jobs Council and create pathways that attract our young graduates into these new and exciting roles. Let us match our young graduates' interests and aptitudes early, while they are still in school, to career ramps available in aviation, logistics and maritime. And let us ensure that the work conditions and prospects, particularly at the entry level, can genuinely attract and retain our younger workers. Many of them need to see their future potential, beyond the internship and the traineeship period, that, if they work hard, there are real prospects for progression – to move into higher value roles, with better wages, welfare and work prospects. Let us double down on our efforts so that we can see more young Singaporeans grow and flourish alongside the development of the transport sector.”
“And that brings us back to the central question: how are we preparing Singaporeans for this future? In my roles as a labour MP and in my work in M3+ under Focus Area Four (FA4) where we look into employment and employability, the question that many Singaporean workers are most concerned about is: will I have a good job in Singapore’s future? So, when we adopt more automation, robotics and AI in our transport sector, let us also ask: how can these technologies help create better jobs for our seafarers, our technicians, our aviation, logistics and maritime workers, and new roles in transport cybersecurity as our sectors become more digitalised? As our rail network expands, with projects like the Johor Bahru-Singapore Rapid Transit System (RTS) Link, how can we create ladders to help our rail technicians progress further? And as we develop the low-altitude economy, including deploying more drones and also unmanned vessels for surveys, how are we creating more career pathways for Singaporeans? The future of transport must also be a future of career progression, where our workers have the opportunities to become more skilled, more productive, with better wages and better work prospects than before. So, today, I would like to speak on how we can create a better future for our young graduates and our existing rank-and-file workers and technicians. First, our young graduates. In my work as an educator, I have watched many of my young students drawn to delivery and gig work to pass time, for their flexibility, and probably the chance to earn slightly extra income. I understand the appeal, but the job has its downsides. There is a higher risk of injury.”
“Mr Speaker, as we double down on efforts to boost our status as a global aviation, maritime and logistics hub, let us also pay equal attention to how these efforts will reshape jobs and impact our workers. Up to 30% of aviation jobs may be redesigned within the next five years, mostly in ground handling, and more preparations are required as T5 is being constructed. In logistics, new, higher-paying roles will be created in professional, manager and executive (PME) jobs, including data analysis, supply chain management and software development. At the same time, some roles will undergo displacement, including operators, storekeepers and in sales and customer services functions. At our container terminals at Tuas, Pasir Panjang and cargo terminals at Jurong Port, usage of more automated vehicles and cranes will likely and very much improve productivity and create more higher value jobs. As we build this future, we must also ask – how are we preparing our people for it? Mr Speaker, I recently had the opportunity to visit China with Senior Minister Lee and your good self, and we saw ports, logistics facilities and aviation-related operations. What struck me was how rapidly technology is changing transport systems around the world. Across countries and industries, there is a growing push towards automation, digitalisation and new operating models. The lesson I took away was that it reinforced the need for Singapore to continue adapting, innovating and investing in our people if we are to maintain our position as a leading global transportation hub. Because ultimately, technology can be bought. Infrastructure can be built. But it is our workers – their skills, their adaptability and professionalism – that will continue to differentiate Singapore.”
“This includes identifying growth sectors with strong potential, connecting our community to those opportunities, and building pathways that can genuinely translate into good jobs, career advancement and long-term economic resilience. For me, this is not merely a matter of access. This is a matter of mobility. (In English): Sir, if SWDA succeeds, our PET students will step into work with greater confidence, our CET learners will have greater assurance that learning can lead to real progress and our workers will move faster into suitable roles with less confusion and less anxiety. Sir, in supporting this Bill, I hope the Government can clarify three practical points. First, how will SWDA move upstream to close both the first-job gap for students and the transition gap for adult learners, so that pathways become clearer much earlier? Second, how will SWDA measure success beyond participation numbers, including whether people are placed into suitable jobs, whether they stay, whether they progress and whether their wages improve over time? Third, what concrete service experience should Singaporeans feel within the next one or two years in guidance, in matching and transition support that will show this merger is actually making the pathway much clearer. With those clarifications, I support the Bill.”
“They want fair access to good jobs and real opportunities for advancement. And this matters because each group requires a different form of support; youth who are just entering the workforce, fresh graduates seeking their first opportunity, mid-career workers who are adapting, professionals who want to remain relevant and entrepreneurs who want to continue to grow. In my work with M3+ FA4, this issue not just being studied at a policy level, but as a real effort to help job seekers and workers who are trying to adapt, upskill and regain their footing. In efforts such as the digital measures that we have launched, it also demonstrates that different groups require different kinds of support – youth as early adopters, families as users that need guidance, the workforce as practical users and seniors as users who need to be reassured. What matters now is ensuring that this confidence translates into good jobs, career advancement and economic resilience. We have made progress in education and training. But for many Malay/Muslim families, the real question is whether the pathway is clear for them? Clear from school to employment. Clear from training to a job. Clear from unstable work to a better career. This is where the role of SWDA must truly be felt on the ground. As part of the efforts by FA4 effort as well as the Economic Resilience Committee, I hope we can work closely with SWDA so that the support provided truly matches the needs of different groups: whether they are youth, fresh graduates, mid-career workers, professionals and entrepreneurs.”
“Too often, help comes after someone has already lost confidence, momentum or income. We need a system that can identify risk earlier and support people while they still have time and options. That is a smarter policy. And frankly, that is a more humane policy. Sir, a central agency is useful. But an agency alone does not place workers. A good system does. And that is why strong tripartite coordination remains essential, including how SWDA works alongside the newly announced Tripartite Jobs Council so that training, transformation and job transitions reinforce one another, because people do not experience policy in neat categories. They experience it in much more simply, either I got help in time or I was left to figure it out by myself. That is the real test. Sir, we should also be careful about how we define success. It is not enough to count how many people joined a particular programme, attended a course or received support. I think the real questions are: did they get a job? Was it a suitable job? Did they stay? Did they progress? Did their wages improve? Workers should be able to land, stay and progress. If SWDA is bringing skills and employment together, then it should also bring measurements together. Otherwise, we may end up celebrating activity without knowing whether lives are actually improving. Sir, this also matters deeply for communities working hard to turn aspiration into mobility. Sir, in Malay, please. (In Malay): In my work with M3+ Focus Area Four (FA4), and now as co-chair of the newly formed Economic Resilience Committee with Mr Saktiandi, it is clear to me that many Malay/Muslim youth, workers and families are not asking for sympathy. They want clarity. They want practical support.”
“It talks about moving beyond fragmented support towards upstream guidance, better triaging, stronger service integration and support that comes before crisis, not after. Sir, I hope SWDA will focus on four practical shifts. First, make jobs and skills information far more usable. A student should be able to understand what jobs are growing, what adjacent roles exist and what skills employers value. An adult learner should be able to understand whether a course is likely to help with employability, a job move or a proper pivot. Second, strengthen work-integrated learning and applied exposure. Internships, attachments, project work and structured pathways into first jobs should not be left to chance. They should become more systematic, especially for those who do not already start with advantages. Third, make skills-based matching real. Workers should be able to see what skills they already have, what roles they may be suited for, what gaps remain and what support can help them close that gap, and employers should be encouraged to hire with a clearer view of skills and potential, not just relying on pedigree shortcuts. This is also where I think we can learn from what is already happening on the ground. Today, Singaporeans already have Government tools, such as MyCareersFuture and the Careers and Skills Passport to support job search and career planning. At the same time, e2i's NTUC AI Career Coach is trying to make career support more integrated and easier to use. The issue is not which platform exists or which platform is better. The issue is whether SWDA can make an overall experience more joined-up, so that workers do not feel like they are moving across separate islands of support. Fourth, support must arrive before the crisis, not after.”
“It is the gap between returning to learn and actually improving one's job prospects, income, confidence or long-term mobility, and this is where frustration can bite hard because many adult learners are not looking for enrichment. They are looking for improvement. They do not want a certificate that just sits in a folder. They want to know: will this help me pivot? Will this improve my employability? Will this help me a role with prospects? And will these skills that I have learnt be recognised? I have taught adult learners who came to class after work, carrying family responsibilities and financial pressure, like I mentioned earlier. They were serious, disciplined and were not there to collect papers. Their question was always practical: if I invest my evenings, my weekends and my energy in this, will it really lead to better jobs, better wages, or a more secure future? So, that is a fair question. In fact, that is the right question. So, if SWDA is to succeed, it must not only support participation in CET. It must ensure CET is much more closely connected to job transitions, employer recognition and actual labour market demand. Otherwise, we are asking people to invest time, effort and money into learning without giving them a clearer route forward and that would be deeply unfair. Sir, when we look at PET students and CET learners together, the lesson is clear. The issue in Singapore today is not just whether we have the courses. It is not whether we have job vacancies. It is whether people can move from learning to work with greater confidence and less guesswork. This is why this merger matters. If SWDA works well, it can make that journey clearer, more practical and certainly, more credible. And this is where the merger in the right direction.”
“If one part of that is to help young people and fresh graduates find their footing, then that only reinforces the point that we cannot wait until the end of the journey to intervene. So, we must shape the pathways earlier. When we talk about workforce development, we cannot wait until the end of the journey and then say: "Here are some portals, here are some schemes, good luck." That is not the pathway. That is a scavenger hunt. So, SWDA must move upstream. That means better career guidance earlier in the student's journey. It means clearer signals on which jobs are growing and which skills matter. It means making internships, attachments and industry projects more normal, not something enjoyed mainly by those who already have the right networks. And it means making the school-to-work transition less dependent on luck. Our young people do not just need more options. They need better direction. Sir, there is another group that I have also worked closely over the years, and these are the CET learners. Recently, some of them just graduated from their polytechnics and they messaged me about how happy they were to finish that line. They shared, over time, that their challenge is really different. For a CET learner, going back to class is rarely a small decision. Many are already working and they have family responsibilities. Some are under financial pressure. Some have not studied for many years. Some are trying to recover from retrenchment, stagnation or simply a loss of confidence. So, when a CET learner signs up for a course, normally, it is not casual. It is often an act of hope. They are saying: I am willing to learn again. I am willing to put in the effort. But I need to know this leads to somewhere. This is a transition gap.”
“But as graduation approaches, many still become quite anxious. Not because they do not want to start work. Not because they are lazy. Not because they are not sure how to turn what they have learnt into a real first job. Because they ask: fundamentally, does this qualification still matter? Will employers value me for what I can do? Do I still need more training? Do I need experience before I can even get experience? This is what I would call the first-job gap. It is the gap between finishing a formative stage of life and seeing a real route towards meaningful work. It is in that gap that confidence can disappear very quickly. I have seen capable, hardworking and promising students lose their footing at exactly the moment they should have been stepping forward with confidence. Some took temporary work while trying to find their footing. Some drifted into jobs beyond what they have been trained for, not because they chose that path confidently, but because they could not see a way into something better. What they lacked was not willingness. What they lacked was a clear bridge into work. And many parents are asking the same things in their own way: after all that effort, after all these years of study, is there a real pathway to a real job? Sir, I acknowledge that the Government has already taken steps to support fresh graduates. The GRIT programme is one such measure. It helps fresh graduates gain experience and skills through structured traineeships and I find it very useful. But it is still largely help that comes at a point after graduation and this issue is now even more urgent. The newly announced Tripartite Jobs Council reflects that reality that workers and businesses are already facing disruption from AI and economic change.”
“Mr Speaker, this Bill is about bringing skills, career and employment functions under one agency. But that itself, is only the means, it is not the end. The real question is pretty simple: will this make life easier and clearer for Singaporeans trying to find their way in a changing economy? In my Budget speech, I spoke about transitions and the need to have greater clarity, and I think that is exactly the issue here that we are addressing. For many students, fresh graduates and workers today, the problem is not just whether support exists. The problem is whether the way forward is clear, whether there is clarity: in what jobs are growing, what skills really matter, which pathway is worth taking and who can help me get there? And that is why this Bill matters. This Bill gives SWDA a broad remit across career, employment and training matters. It is meant to support students preparing for entry into the labour market, Singaporean's seeking employment or re-employment and employees seeking to develop their careers and remain in productive employment. Sir, I want to speak from two vantage points that I have seen first-hand as an educator: pre-employment training students and continuing education and training learners. These are two different groups. They have different pressures. But both are really asking the same question: where does this path lead to? And to me that is where SWDA comes in. In fact, if I may put it very bluntly and simply, SWDA must be the bridge between learning and work. Let me start with the pre-employment training (PET) students. As a former educator, I have seen many students do everything right. They study hard, they complete their courses, they submit their work, mostly. They try to make good decisions.”
“Also, the type of support that we provide depends on the prevailing circumstances. Should haj be cancelled or disrupted this year, we will work closely with AMTAS to allow the affected pilgrims to defer to the subsequent haj seasons. MUIS will work with the travel agents and the Saudi-based service providers to explore possible refunds, given the situation. So, as I shared earlier, we will continue to monitor the situation. We will keep all the pilgrims informed on the latest arrangements and support measures in a timely manner. We know the haj is a very significant milestone for Muslims and we want to make sure that while we facilitate, we also want to take care of the safety and the welfare of our pilgrims, and we seek the community's understanding and collective effort to stand together during this time of crisis.”
“Sir, I thank the Minister for the reply. I am glad to hear that the haj will continue this year as planned. Given the continuing uncertainty in the Middle East, I think many pilgrims and their families are rightly so concerned about this year's arrangements, and perhaps also what happens if they are disrupted at very short notice. Some have also shared that they might want to withdraw for safety reasons. My first supplementary question is, if haj arrangements are cancelled or significantly disrupted this year, or if some pilgrims choose to defer due to security concerns, will pilgrims who were due to travel this year be given priority in the following year or subsequent years? And how will this affect others who are already in the queue? My second supplementary question is, if that happens, can the Minister also clarify is there some way that they can get a refund or deferment or financial assistance that could be provided and arranged for them, so that the affected pilgrims are not unfairly penalised for circumstances that are beyond their control? Assoc Prof Dr Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim: Sir, I thank the Member for the supplementary question. The answer is yes, the affected pilgrims will be given priority, but this is subject to the annual quota allocated by Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Hajj and Umrah. And when that happens, MUIS will work closely with AMTAS to make the necessary arrangements. On his second supplementary question, we understand that pilgrims will be concerned about the financial impact in event that haj is cancelled or disrupted. As I shared earlier, we are in close contact with Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Hajj and Umrah and AMTAS to ensure that the affected pilgrims receive the necessary support and financial assistance.”
“Sir, I offer these points in the spirit of strengthening what is already a robust legislative framework. Given the rapid evolution of synthetic psychoactive substances, I would encourage the Ministry to consider a formal review of the Part 3A framework within three to five years of implementation. Such a review could assess our enforcement outcomes, rehabilitation effectiveness, emerging substances' trends and operational challenges faced by responsible persons. This would future-proof us, because future-proofing requires periodic recalibration. Sir, if I may conclude, the device that the father found was already illegal. We have campaigns that were ongoing. We have laws that exist. What changed was the product's sophistication and the intent behind those distributing it. And this Bill recognises that reality. It closes regulatory gaps, strengthens enforcement and provides the necessary tools to address substances designed to evade existing frameworks. But legislation alone cannot solve the problem. Its success will depend on how effectively we implement enforcement, strengthen rehabilitation and support families as they navigate these challenges. As a father of four myself, I believe strongly that protecting our children from substances designed to exploit regulatory gaps must remain a priority. If we implement this Bill effectively, we can ensure that our laws' enforcement and support structures remain one step ahead. For these reasons, Mr Deputy Speaker, I support the Bill.”
“So, we must ensure our business communities are not penalised for syndicates' sophisticated concealment tactics. I welcome the indication that best-practice guidance may be developed. May I encourage that: firstly, clear operational guidelines be issued before enforcement is intensified; second, outreach be conducted through trade associations; and third, practical examples of due diligence be provided to reduce uncertainty. When compliance expectations are clear, cooperation improves. When ambiguity persists, anxiety naturally will increase. Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, many residents may also wonder how these provisions apply in everyday settings. For example, landlords, small shop operators or those managing shared premises may ask what constitutes reasonable steps to ensure that prohibited products are not stored on their premises. As we strengthen enforcement against those distributing these substances, it will be important that guidance is clear so that law-abiding residents and businesses understand what is expected of them. Sir, the Bill empowers the Chief Executive of HSA to order parents or guardians of youths subject to community-based rehabilitation to attend counselling, with penalties for non-compliance. To me, family involvement is critical, it is critical to sustain recovery and I support this principle. At the same time, we should ensure that such measures strengthen families rather than create adversarial dynamics. Will counselling models emphasise restoration and support? Will there be flexibility for families facing financial or caregiving constraints? If we require parental participation, we should also equip parents with knowledge and the practical tools to navigate.”
“This dual approach is important. But as we strengthen enforcement and potentially increase the number of persons subject to rehabilitation orders, we must ensure there is an adequate capacity. I would like to seek clarification on firstly, the projected caseload for community-based rehabilitation under Part 3A; secondly, whether the supervising officer's capacity is being expanded; the availability of addiction-trained clinicians and counsellors; and finally, the framework for relapse prevention during and after supervision. If rehabilitation becomes primarily supervisory without sufficient therapeutic intervention, we risk short-term compliance without that long-term recovery. Substance misuse is not only a legal issue. It is also a behavioural and health issue. Enforcements protect society. Rehabilitation restores the individual. Both must be resourced proportionately. Sir, beyond enforcement and rehabilitation, the Bill also introduces an important dimension of shared responsibility. Part 3B places duties on the responsible persons of specified premises. This is a significant shift towards shared responsibility. It signals that enforcement cannot rest solely on the state. I support this direction. However, commercial storage operators, landlords, transport providers and small business owners will understandably seek clarity on what constitutes "due care" and "reasonable knowledge". Under the new section 18A, an owner or occupier commits an offence if they allow the storage of these prohibited items unless they have exercised "due care". For a small warehouse operator or a landlord, the difference between compliance and a heavy fine lie in the definition of that effort.”
“The importation and distribution of Part 3A products containing specified psychoactive substances represent deliberate, profit-driven activities. They exploit regulatory gaps. They undermine public safety. They intersect with organised supply networks. The introduction of mandatory imprisonment for serious import and supply offences sends a strong deterrent signal. The enhanced presumptions relating to possession and control are also important enforcement tools. However, I would like to seek clarification on how enforcement agencies intend to operationalise these strengthened provisions in increasingly complex supply environments, including decentralised storage and informal distribution channels. As enforcement tightens, syndicates adapt. And this is a problem. Continuous monitoring and intelligence coordination will be essential. To this end, the Bill equips authorised officers with the necessary powers to operate safely in enforcement situations that may involve risk. I also note that the Bill strengthens operational powers under section 23B, including the use of restraints where necessary. This recognises that enforcements against organised supply networks is not an administrative work. It can involve real operational risks. And for residents on the ground, this Bill sends a clear signal. It tells parents that the law is keeping pace with substances designed to evade regulation. It tells communities that those who profit from distributing these products will face serious consequences. And it reassures residents that enforcement agencies are being equipped with the powers needed to respond to new and evolving threats. Sir, this Bill does not only enhance penalties, it also introduces a structured community-based rehabilitation and institutional treatment orders.”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, some time back, a father met me at my Meet-the-People Session, holding a small metallic device he had found in his daughter's room. It was slim. It was discreet. It did not resemble anything like a cigarette. It did not resemble an item where many parents would traditionally associate with drugs. When he asked his daughter about it, she replied, "It's not like smoking. It's not a drug." Sir, that moment illustrates how quickly substance misuse is evolving, how often, faster than public perception and regulation. Vaping is already illegal in Singapore. We have clear prohibitions on the import, sale, possession and use of vaporisers. Enforcement has been ongoing. Public education efforts have been sustained. Yet what has evolved is not merely the device but the chemistry behind it. Today, products are modified to include nicotine analogues. Some are adapted to deliver psychoactive substances. Specifically, we are seeing the rise of substances, like etomidate, and its analogues, originally developed as medical anaesthetics, which are being misused in vaporisers in ways that exploit regulatory gaps between existing frameworks. This Bill ensures that substances can no longer hide in the shadows of regulatory framework. It reorganises product categories, expands definitions, introduces the new Part 3A framework for specified psychoactive substances, strengthens presumptions and enhances penalties across the supply chain. I strongly support these measures. Today, I will focus on the implementation because the strength of this Bill will ultimately depend on how it is operationalised. While my opening example involved a young person, we must be clear – this is not merely a youth issue.”
“Thus, I seek the Minister's views on: how does the Government plan to strengthen coordination between Ministries, institutes of higher learning and community partners so that this support for youth transition can be implemented more systematically, with measurable outcomes, and help more of our youth enter good jobs in growth sectors? Malay Heritage Centre”
“(In Malay): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] Sir, I would like to touch on youths transiting from higher education institutions, the Institute of Education (ITE), polytechnics and universities, to the working world. This transition is an important occasion in every young person's life. In a rapidly changing economy, having a certificate or diploma is no longer enough. Our youths need early exposure to growth sectors, an understanding of future skills, as well as closer relations with employers. We want more youths entering good jobs in sectors, such as technology, advanced manufacturing, healthcare and AI-enabled roles, not by chance, but through clear and planned pathways. Under Focus Area Four (FA4) of M3, there is scope to strengthen support for this transition in a more structured manner. The unions and the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) are ready to collaborate with MENDAKI, institutes of higher learning, employers and community partners, like MEMBINA Komuniti and 4PM, to enhance career guidance earlier on campus, provide channels to career coaching services and give advice on skills that are more targeted to growth sectors, expand access to industry mentors and professional networks, and lastly, open pathways, such as internships, place-and-train and entry-level roles in high-potential industries. A more integrated approach like this can help ensure that our youths understand the available opportunities, build confidence and are ready to face the transition more assuredly. However, this effort will be more effective if supported by strong coordination between Ministries, agencies and educational institutions, so that these transition pathways are well-structured, have clear outcomes and can be scaled up if proven effective.”
“Thank you, Chairman. Three clarifications for Senior Minister of State Koh. Senior Minister of State had shared earlier about the NMHO that was established to coordinate multi-agency initiatives. What would the Senior Minister of State Koh be able to share what are their KPIs, for example, whether there is a reduction in average wait times, improve care continuity, reduce crisis presentations? And how often will this, if any, be reported? Senior Minister of State also mentioned that tied care and a no-wrong door approach, which I welcome. Will MOH share the desired service standards, for example, maximum time to first contact, maximum time to first clinical appointment for moderate or high risk cases and escalation protocols across settings? And my third and final one is Senior Minister of State spoke about retention measures for nurses and allied health staff. Are there any retention levels for psychologists specifically? For example, specialist track, progression and the public sector pay competitiveness.”
“Sir, if mental health is a national infrastructure, then we must build it with strong foundations, clear standards and long-term sustainability. I look forward to the Minister’s response.”
“Clinical psychologists and other higher-risk psychology disciplines undergo years of rigorous postgraduate training and supervised practice. Standards must remain high. Patient safety depends on it. At the same time, demand is growing. How is MOH projecting manpower needs for clinical psychologists and allied mental health professionals over the next five to 10 years? Are there plans to strengthen the local training pipeline and supervision capacity to build a strong local core while maintaining professional standards? And does the Ministry see scope to strengthen professional regulation at higher-risk psychological practice to safeguard patients and reinforce public confidence? Sir, mental health care must operate as one integrated system. Psychologists, counsellors, social workers, occupational therapists and peer support specialists each play important and complementary roles. How will workforce planning and training reforms ensure stronger integration across these professions and better coordination between primary care, hospitals and community providers? Patients should not experience fragmentation. They should experience continuity. Sir, as we look ahead, we should also be mindful of the growing use of AI in mental health support. AI tools may be useful for self-help psychoeducational early screening, but we should be cautious. If such technologies begin to substitute professional care, mental health treatment often involves complex clinical judgement and ability to respond appropriately in crisis situations. Could the Minister share how MOH is thinking about the role of AI in mental healthcare and what safeguards may be needed to ensure that technology compliments, rather than replaces, trained professionals?”
“Chairman, mental health is a national priority. Over the past few years, we have made significant progress in recognising that mental well-being is foundational to our social and economic resilience. We see growing demands across young people, working adults and seniors. More people are coming forward to seek help and that is a good sign. But the pressures are real. Mental health conditions cost Singapore around $16 billion annually, largely from lost productivity due to absenteeism and presenteeism. That figure reminds us that mental health is not just a healthcare issue. It affects our workers, families and national resilience. So, the question is not whether mental health matters. The question is whether our system is built to sustain the demand ahead. We launched the National Mental Health and Well-being Strategy. We expanded community services and strengthened primary care. As we move into the next phase, could the Minister update us on its progress? Are we seeing measurable improvements in early intervention? Are the wait times stabilising, particularly for moderate and higher-risk cases? Are community providers adequately supported as the demand continually grows? Every strategy eventually reaches a point where expansion alone is not enough. It requires structural strengthening. Mental health also cuts across healthcare, education, workplaces and the social sector. Could the Minister elaborate on the role and mandate of the Mental Health Office? How does it coordinate across agencies, track system-level outcomes and ensure accountability? If this is truly a whole-of-society effort, then governance must be deliberate and clear. Sir, access ultimately depends on people.”
“So, my question to the Minister is this: how will MOM measure whether enterprises are redesigning jobs alongside technology adoption? Second, will MOM publish outcome indicators, such as the number of jobs redesigned and wage progression outcomes? Third, how will advisory support for SMEs be strengthened to ensure AI adoption leads to job upgrading, not displacement? And fourth, how will MOM support gig workers and self-employed persons whose rice bowls are broken by AI? Chairman, enterprise transformation is necessary, but workforce transformation is non-negotiable. Growth must upgrade our workers, or it will not last. Career and Employability of Matures PMEs”
“Chairman, technology does not transform companies, people do. If we want sustained growth, enterprises and workers must transform together. Not AI first and people later, it is together. That is why the implementation of the enterprise workforce transformation package matters. First, tie technology adoption to job redesign. Many firms are investing in AI and automation, and that is good. But the real test is this: are we redesigning jobs or just reducing headcount? We must make job redesign a default expectation of enterprise transformation. When a logistics SME adopted AI route optimisation, they did not cut drivers. They trained them in digital fleet coordination and customer management. Productivity improved and wages too. In precision engineering, AI-enabled inspection reduced manual checks. Instead of displacement, technicians were reskilled into robotics maintenance and data functions. That is the model we want: adopt technology, redesign jobs, reskill workers and reshare the gains. Second, make transformation practical for SMEs. SMEs face real constraints: cost, capability and confusion. If assessing support requires navigating multiple schemes and agencies, we will lose them. Can MOM ensure the package is streamlined with clear advisory support to help SMEs conduct structured job redesign and skills mapping exercises? Transformation must be hands on, not theoretical. Third, show workers a clear pathway. For workers, transformation must answer three questions. What skills do I need? Who supports my training and how will my wages progress? Mid-career and low-wage workers in particular must see tangible progression not just of digitalisation. If AI raises productivity, but wages remain flat, then confidence will certainly erode.”
“Sir, I have two clarifications for the Minister. The first is regarding making mediation mandatory in appropriate cases. Can the Minister share what is the requirement and what are the type of cases for which mediation can be made mandatory? My second clarification is on both mandatory mediation and the CRU. Can the Minister share whether there are any plans for the Government to expand mandatory mediation and the CRU beyond the Tampines pilot?”
“Sir, I thank the Senior Minister of State for sharing on the efforts done by MOE and working together with the unions and e2i to support both the teachers and of course, the parents in this process too. I have also raised the concern whereby the teachers are now given extra load to do interim supervisory duties. How will MOE ensure that such stopgap measures do not become normalised or prolonged, such that it affects their workload? And how can we make sure that those teachers who are currently on those workloads are recognised formally and they can be added into the additional responsibilities?”
“Secondly, will the Ministry also review whether there is a growing access gap for lower middle-income Singaporeans who may not qualify for legal aid, but cannot afford private legal representation, and how can we prevent them from falling through the cracks?”
“Chairman, cost-of-living pressures have tightened budgets for many Singaporeans. And when life hits, retrenchment, separation, caregiving strain, debt and legal problems do not come with a warning. In these moments, access to justice cannot become what we call a justice tax. For lower-income Singaporeans, legal aid is sometimes not optional. It is the difference between getting timely advice and being forced to navigate complex processes alone. When families are already stretched, they should not be priced out of basic legal protection. But accessibility is not just about whether a scheme exists. It is whether residents can actually use it when they are under stress, worried about bills, juggling work, caring for family and trying to keep life together. If the system feels out of reach, people delay, disputes worsen and the eventual outcome is often more painful for everyone. Sir, I also want to flag a growing group we see on the ground – the lower-middle-income families. They may fall outside the legal aid threshold, but they, too, struggle to afford private legal fees. They are not asking for special treatment. They are asking not to be stuck in a gap where they are told they do not qualify yet cannot realistically pay for help. This matters because when the squeezed middle cannot access advice early, problems escalate, creating avoidable stress for families and greater strain on the system later. So, Sir, I have two questions for the Minister. Given cost-of-living concerns, how will the Ministry continue to ensure that legal aid remains accessible to lower-income Singaporeans?”
“At the same time, scams is a whole-of-society approach because scammers exploit multiple layers in our ecosystem. They use online platforms to reach victims at scale. They use social engineering to push victims with messages. They use mule accounts and laundering networks to move funds quickly. And they exploit gaps between systems, where responsibilities are unclear, or where speed of action is uneven. That is why the private sector plays such a critical role not as an add-on, but as part of the frontline defence. So, my questions to the Minister are these. First, fighting scams is a whole-of-society approach and the private sector plays an important role. What are the plans that the Government have to work with the private sector to fight scams more effectively? Second, a significant part of scam activity today is enabled or amplified online. How can more be done to ensure that online platforms, such as Meta, Apple or Google, strengthen their anti-scam measures to better protect users? Sir, the Anti-Scam Centre shows us that when we move fast and coordinate well, we can blunt the impact of scams. So, the next step is to ensure that everyone in the ecosystem, especially those who control reach and virality, plays their part with the same seriousness and urgency. Systemic Change to Counter Scammers”
“Chairman, scams today no longer are just isolated incidents. They have become organised, industrialised and highly adaptive. Criminal syndicates test scripts like marketers and A/B-test messages like salespeople and exploit the speed of online platforms to scale harm quickly. They do not wait for trust to be built over years. They manufacture it in minutes through impersonation, fake endorsements, doctored screenshots and increasingly, AI-generated content. The impact is not just financial. It is psychological. Victims often feel ashamed, families get strained and confidence in institutions can get a hit, especially when scams impersonate Government agencies, banks or trusted brands. That is why enforcement and public education remain essential. But, Sir, I want to highlight one capability that I think deserves more recognition. I recently visited the Anti-Scam Centre, and I was genuinely impressed by what I saw. The public usually only sees the aftermath: reports filed, warnings issued, investigations underway. But behind the scenes, the Anti-Scam Centre is doing time-sensitive operational work where minutes matter, coordinating information, tracing flows, engaging partners and acting quickly to disrupt and prevent further losses. It is not glamorous work. It is relentless and it is easy for people to underestimate it precisely because when it works well, the story becomes "nothing happened". But what "nothing happened" often means money was frozen in time, a scam network was disrupted, or more victims were prevented. So, Sir, I want to put on record my appreciation for the officers and partners involved. Their work is certainly underrated, and it is a key part of our national response.”
“Chairman, as a small nation, we have always lived with one hard truth – we cannot count on others to defend Singapore. That is why from our earliest years, we invested heavily in building a credible SAF and why defence has always been treated as a long-term business, not an annual shopping list. Building deterrence takes time. It takes years to develop capabilities, train people and build up infrastructure. And today's security environment is becoming more complex, with cyber threats, disinformation and hybrid tactics that target our systems and our social cohesion, even without a single shot fired. So, I agree – where necessary, we must invest in new capabilities to keep the SAF agile and resilient. But at the same time, we owe it to Singaporeans to be prudent. Every dollar for defence is also a dollar not spent on other pressing priorities. People say it is healthcare, education, cost-of-living support and strengthening our social compact. In that regard, I have two questions for the Minister. First, what is the projection for defence spending this year in absolute terms and as a share of Government expenditure and gross domestic product (GDP), and what are the key drivers of any change? Second, how does MINDEF and the SAF ensure cost effectiveness across major procurements and long-term programmes? For example, what stronger "value-for-money" checks are in place? How do we manage cost over-runs and lifecycle costs, and how do we retire or refresh legacy systems, so that we do not carry capabilities that no longer match today's threat landscape? Chairman, Singaporeans support defence spending when it is clearly tied to real capabilities and disciplined stewardship. Our commitment must remain – strong security, but with strong accountability. 2.”
“In the areas of Employment and Employability, FA4 can continue to strengthen relations with employers and industry partners, so that more training opportunities, internships and job placements are created in the growth sectors. On NTUC's part, through initiatives, like AI-Ready SG, we will continue to support workers and entrepreneurs in facing this change. I will provide further details in the upcoming COS debate. Finally, AI is not just about technology. It is about how we choose to use it. If we use it wisely, this change is not a threat. It is an opportunity for our community to continue progressing confidently. (In English): Sir, in closing, as transitions become more frequent in the age of AI, our responsibility is clear. We must strengthen clarity, so workers see the real pathways forward. We must deepen early, trusted engagement, so no one feels blindsided by change. And we must intentionally build confidence so that workers are equipped not only with skills but also with the self-assurance and resilience to move forward. If we get these three foundations right, transition will not weaken our workforce. It will only strengthen it and Singapore will continue to move ahead with our workers, not ahead of them. Sir, I support the Budget.”
“Allow me now to focus on the role of Focus Area 4 (FA4) under the MENDAKI, MUIS, MESRA initiative (M3), covering Employment and Employability. FA4 will ensure that the Malay/Muslim community is prepared and competitive in a changing economy. In this month of Ramadan and with Hari Raya approaching, I know many residents in my constituency are running home-based businesses selling cookies, clothing and various products online. AI can also be utilised by them. They can use AI tools to design more attractive posters and product images, write more effective marketing captions, automatically reply to customer queries and even manage bookings and financial records more systematically. This technology is not just for large companies. It is also for small businesses who want to grow. AI is also not merely relevant in business. As a father, I myself have seen how this technology can be used responsibly in learning. My child, who has dyslexia like me, sat for the Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE) last year. We all know PSLE questions can sometimes be quite "interesting". Difficult, certainly, but “interesting". By using AI tools in the appropriate learning mode, called “study and learn”, it does not provide answers directly. Instead, it provides step-by-step guidance, helping to understand ways of thinking and approaches to solving questions. This makes it a support tool, not a substitute for effort. I was able to sit with him and go through those questions with more confidence, seemingly turning into a "pro dad" for a moment. That experience showed me that if used correctly, AI can build confidence and strengthen learning. If we can utilise AI wisely in education and small businesses, then we should also be bold enough to do the same in employment and skills upgrading.”
“And this means that as we design transition support frameworks, whether for youths entering the workforce, mid-career switchers or displaced workers, structured activation and confidence-building components should sit alongside upgrading and job matching. Career guidance should not only provide listings of available roles, it should help workers reframe their value. Transition programmes should not only provide technical certification. They should help individuals rebuild momentum and self-belief. We have seen through structured activation and resilience interventions that when workers regain clarity and confidence, follow-through and interview rates, and transition outcomes improve. Confidence, therefore, is not abstract. It is measurable and actionable. I therefore suggest that confidence-building and structured activation support be intentionally embedded within our transition frameworks, alongside skills upgrading and job matching. This could help integrate structured coaching and activation components into career conversion programmes and transition support services, so that workers receive not only technical training but guided momentum towards re-employment. If we deliberately embed confidence-building into transition support, we strengthen not only our individual workers but also the resilience of our workforce as a whole. Resilience determines whether change feels like an opportunity or a threat that gives individuals the confidence to take decisive steps to embrace the future of work. And this is the third pillar. Transitions require confidence. Sir, I will now speak in Malay. (In Malay): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] Sir, in my speech earlier, I touched on job transitions and the impact of AI on our workforce.”
“Other jurisdictions have formalised advance notice mechanisms. Our approach need not replicate theirs, but we can continue strengthening norms that encourage responsible employer conduct and early partnership. Because trust cannot be built at the point of retrenchment. It must be built before disruption happens. This is the second pillar. Transitions require early and trusted engagement. Sir, third, transitions require confidence. This confidence comes from two sources: external assurance of clear pathways from education and training from work, and internal resilience. Sir, I thank the Prime Minister for acknowledging that anxieties surrounding AI are real. What I have observed is that this anxiety often stems not from the resistance to change, but from uncertainty about identity and value. Workers ask themselves, "Am I still relevant? Do my skills matter? Is there still space for me in this economy?" And these are deeply human questions. In one conversation, a senior professional shared that his greatest fear was not unemployment, but irrelevance. He had spent decades building expertise. As digital systems were introduced, he worried whether the expertise would still be recognised. In another case, a displaced worker delayed updating his resume for weeks, not because he lacked ability, but because he felt uncertain about how to position himself in a vastly changed market. Transitions, therefore, are not merely about skills transfer. They are about identity transition. They are about dignity. As we strengthen workforce systems, we should also be intentionally ensuring that our students and workers have the confidence to navigate.”
“Clarity turns the transition from something feared into something navigable. Sir, second, transitions require early and trusted engagement. No worker should have to navigate transitions alone. Recently, I was involved in a retrenchment exercise. It gave me a deeper appreciation of how important early engagement is. Not just a concept, but as a lived, practical mechanism of support. When union leaders were engaged early, even before formal announcements, preparations could begin quietly. Career advisory support was coordinated. Alternative employment options could be identified in advance to minimise the period of uncertainty for the worker. In contrast, when information flows to the union too late, workers feel blindsided. And of course, anxiety multiplies. Support becomes reactive instead of proactive. The difference between being informed before and after an announcement can be profound. This experience reinforced something I have spoken about in previous debates. Strong industrial relations are built over time. They are built on trust, regular dialogue and mutual respect, long before disruption occurs. As transitions accelerate in the age of AI, restructuring may become more frequent across many sectors. The strength of our system will depend not only on economic agility, but on relational trust. The Prime Minister reaffirmed in his Budget speech that the Government will continue working closely with NTUC and unions to support workers through change. To strengthen this commitment, we should review and reinforce norms around early engagement and consultation where feasible. This does not mean adversarial industrial relations. It means building clearer expectations. It means earlier dialogue, greater transparency, shared responsibility in transition planning.”
“Sir, I am very encouraged that this year's Budget strengthens the system-level alignment by merging SkillsFuture Singapore and Workforce Singapore. This structural reform improves coordination between training, career guidance and most importantly, job matching. It begins to address the fragmentation that I raised previously. I met a mid-career worker who completed multiple courses over three years. She showed me her certificates proudly. Yet, she asked whether she had upgraded in the right direction. Her wages had not shifted significantly. Her pathway remained unclear. So, effort without direction creates frustration. Effort with direction builds confidence. Clarity must mean that workers understand what skills are in demand, which sectors are growing, what roles can they realistically move into and what progression looks like over time. This is particularly important in the age of AI, where change is faster and signals be very much blurred. For our young people, clarity must begin even before they graduate. And this is why early career exposure and structured mentorship matters. Through platforms such as NTUC Youth, young members receive career guidance and industry exposure to help them navigate this first transition with greater confidence. Clarity must also translate into action at the company level. Transformation is ultimately about process redesign, tool redesign and of course, job redesign. I therefore call on more businesses to take a worker-centred perspective when implementing transformation. NTUC's CTC Grant supports companies in doing precisely this – by funding structured transformation initiatives that directly translate into better worker outcomes. When workers see how their roles are redesigned, rather than removed, clarity becomes tangible.”
“" I therefore thank the Government for announcing increased support for aged care, preschool childcare and student care, and committing holistically to review the student care sector to better meet the caregiving needs of families with primary school-aged children. This would ease some of the burdens on our mid-career workers and help them juggle work, upskilling and caregiving more effectively. The third group, our senior workers. Many have spent a large part of their lives working and take a great pride in their jobs, careers and the knowledge they have built. They are living longer and healthier lives, and would like more options to continue contributing, such as flexible work arrangements and part-time and even community-based work. For them, it is not just about the job redesign, but also ageism and social stigma, and presumptions that they are less productive and slower to adapt. Our seniors want to feel accepted and valued in the workplace after a lifetime of contributing to Singapore's economic development. They have undergone many rounds of technological change and they believe they can adapt and acquire AI skills. The fourth group are displaced workers. When retrenchment occurs, anxiety is immediate. It can paralyse decision-making and in such moments, clarity and coordinated support matter greatly. These groups face different friction points, but whether young or senior, mid-career or displaced, their concerns converge around three pillars: clarity, early and trusted engagement, and confidence. Sir, let me begin with the first pillar. Transitions require clarity. At last year's debate, I spoke about workers' uncertainty regarding the returns from upskilling. Many were willing to learn, but unsure whether courses would translate into real employment outcomes.”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, this is my first Budget as an MP from the Labour Movement. And in previous debates, I have spoken up on mental health, education and lifelong learning and in support of educators and our healthcare workers, causes that remain close to my heart. Stepping into this new role has made something clearer to me, it all converges. At the heart of all these issues lies work – the dignity of work, the stability that employment provides and the confidence to navigate change, whether as an educator or a healthcare worker adapting to new technologies, or a mid-career worker confronting AI-driven transformation; transitions affect everyone. And so today, I wish to focus on how we can better support workers through transitions in the age of AI. Over the past months, through my engagements at NTUC, I have observed that transitions are not "one-size-fits-all". Different workers experience transitions differently. So, let me briefly outline four groups. First, our youths. For young people entering the workforce, the transition is from education to employment. Many wonder whether the skills that they are learning today will still be relevant to them in the future. They are thinking about more than just their first job. They are thinking about independence, stability and of course, building a future. They need clearer exposure to industry realities, earlier signals of growth sectors, stronger alignment between education and employment, and of course, meaningful mentorship. Second are mid-career workers. This group has financial commitments: housing loans, caregiving responsibilities and children in school. So, when industries transform, they not only ask: "What should I learn?", but also "Do I have time to go and learn?", "Can I afford to make this move?”
“Through continuous engagement on the ground, NTUC and workers' associations, such as the National Delivery Champions Association (NDCA), have met delivery workers at their workplaces, where they rest, where they work, listening directly to concerns and worries they have about income, compliance costs and changes to their work routines. Their feedback will form the basis for ongoing discussions with platform operators and relevant agencies, so that safety can be enhanced without sacrificing livelihoods. Fair safety is safety that takes into account the reality of workers' lives. Sir, in conclusion, this Bill requires us to find a balance between safety and social justice. Protecting lives, without denying the dignity of work and the right to earn a living. When we care for the most vulnerable, the families, the senior citizens, persons with disabilities and workers, we are building a society that is safer, more humane and more resilient. I support this Bill.”
“] Sir, I recently met a resident who uses a PMA due to permanent mobility constraints. The PMA enables him to leave home independently, buy food, go for medical appointments and manage daily needs without relying entirely on family members. He moves slowly, carefully and complies with regulations. His concern is not about safety, but about access – whether the process and cost of obtaining a Certificate of Medical Need will complicate something that is essential to his daily life. Sir, safety is not merely a matter of regulations. It is a matter of shared values and responsibility. Safety begins at home. When mobility devices are not safely stored or charged, the risk falls not only on one individual but on the entire family as well as neighbours around them. Fire and smoke know no boundaries of housing units. On the issue of PMAs, we must be clear that these devices are medical necessities for individuals with mobility constraints. For them, PMAs are not a luxury. Rather, it is a device for independent living, for mobility and for continuing to contribute to as a member of society. Many PMA users are also our platform workers. They leave early in the morning and return late at night, not by choice, but out of their duty to support their families. This kind of work is employment with dignity; livelihood earned through one's own effort. As a labour movement, NTUC takes seriously the impact of implementing these regulations on our workers' daily lives.”
“I therefore call on the Ministry to implement these regulations in a manner that does not place additional burden or hardships on those with genuine needs. In particular, Sir, I seek clarification on whether assessments for the Certificate of Medical Need can be conducted at polyclinics so as to help manage costs and ensure accessibility. Sir, this Bill also sends a clear signal on the importance of road safety for all road users. In 2024, speeding violations reached a 10-year high, with the number of cases doubling compared to the previous year. More than 6,000 cases involve lorries and other heavy vehicles. When I was an SCDF officer many years ago, I witnessed an accident where a lorry was hit and the workers who were in the vehicle were thrown all over the road. At the site of that, being a part of the SCDF team, it just reminds me that we cannot allow these things to happen. I really support this part of the Bill. Sir, I support the increased penalties for breaches involving failure to install speed limiters by the compliance deadline as these are important measures to protect heavy vehicle drivers, the workers conveyed on such vehicles and other road users. I also welcome the strengthening of penalties for illegal vehicle modifications, including the tampering with speed limiters which undermine the intent of safety regulations. I urge companies to comply fully with the speed limit rules, including early installation ahead of the 1 July 2027 deadline. At the same time, I ask whether the Ministry is studying the challenges companies may face, whether cost, operational or technical to ensure that enforcement is effective and sustainable. Mr Deputy Speaker, in Malay, please. (In Malay): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.”
“I urge all owners to check their devices and to use only UL2272-certified models to protect the safety of themselves and their loved ones. And in a neighbourhood where we all live together, it is especially important that we remain vigilant and support each other in such a manner. Mr Speaker, the use of AMDs on public paths has been a challenging issue in many neighbourhoods. In land scarce Singapore, pedestrians and device users must share our limited space. When accidents occur, the consequences can be serious, especially for elderly pedestrians who often sustain even more severe injuries and take much longer to recover. I recall when I was a grassroots leader in Pasir Ris many years ago, I was distraught at the thought and sight of an elderly lady being hit by an e-scooter. That memory is still fresh in my mind and I do not want that to occur anymore. I note that this Bill seeks to strengthen the operating safety of PMAs by reducing the limit from 10 kilometres per hour to six kilometres per hour by January 2029, extending size restrictions, requiring registration and introducing a Certificate of Medical Need for the use of PMDs on public paths. While these regulatory changes aim to improve pedestrian safety, which I really support, you must recognise that PMDs are medical devices that support persons with mobility impairments too. So, for many PMDs like those in my constituency, which is aged and we have many elderly residents, PMDs are not merely a means of transport but an essential enabler for independence and dignity. They allow my residents to move about in their neighbourhoods, attend medical appointments, purchase daily necessities and manage personal errands independently.”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, I rise in support of the Bill which seeks to improve the safe usage of transportation modes on our roads and footpaths as well as the storage within our homes and neighbourhoods. Transport safety does not begin only at home. It does start the moment we step on the road too. It begins at home with our families, our neighbours and the choices we make in shared spaces. Electric-powered PMDs have gained popularity as an affordable and efficient means of travel for many. However, these devices also pose higher fire risks in our homes and neighbourhoods. As such, fires are often more severe and more likely to result in serious injuries and fatalities. This is why Singapore has placed strong emphasis on the use of PMDs that comply with UL2272 fire safety standards. Even so, improper use of unsafe charging practices can still pose significant risk to device owners, family members, neighbours and of course, our firefighters. A firefighter once shared with me that the e-scooter battery fires are unlike the typical fires that they face. They can reignite, generate intense heat and spread rapidly, especially in confined spaces. The most distressing moments are when families are trapped behind close doors while corridors are filled with toxic smoke from burning lithium ion batteries. I, the,refore commend our Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) officers for continuously upskilling our firefighters to respond to fires involving PMDs. But at the same time, prevention must remain our first line of defence. In this regard, I support the move to go beyond banning the use of non-UL2272-certified e-scooters on public paths and roads and to make it an offence to keep such devices.”