Zainudin Nordin
Singapore
“We may end up a burden to our future Government and our future generation, but it is necessary. We must do this and, at the same time, we should also make sure that there are enough resources in the future and safeguard and manage the Silver Support Scheme well.”
“They are worried that they would just simply lose their jobs upon reaching the age of 65. They are still alert and full of energy. These are real concerns of Singaporean workers. We should look longer into our Employment Act amendments and see how we can further take into consideration some of this feedback and take care of our workers.”
“Madam, I am very supportive of the Singaporean Core initiative. But on the other hand, I would just like to understand better if all these efforts of getting the EP are making the employers' job more onerous and more difficult, and whether there is a change in image about Singapore being a friendly country for investments, and also, in th…”
“Mdm Speaker, just a supplementary question. I agree with the Prime Minister on taking time and doing this properly. I would like to also reiterate the point that Mr Lee was a giant among the Pioneer leaders and I would not be wrong to say that he was much loved and respected by many.”
“Mdm Chair, for all the resources that the Government is investing in continuous education and training, more still needs to be done to instil a lifelong learning culture in the Singapore worker's psyche. So, I think SkillsFuture is a very promising initiative to encourage working adults to improve themselves.”
“A supplementary question, Mdm Speaker. I would like to ask the Minister if the recipients of the zakat donations are excluded from the regular assistance elsewhere, or can they also tap on the national schemes.”
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“Any complaint on discrimination, whether it is based on gender, sex or race, is given serious concern. Opportunities given by the SAF, just like other opportunities, are also based on meritocracy. I believe last March, the Minister for Defence, Dr Ng Eng Hen, had given an assurance to Mr Zaqy on the position of the Malays in the SAF. We have seen many Malays who have been appointed to higher and more challenging positions in the SAF, in line with the higher educational qualifications in our community. There are more full-time Malay SAF personnel holding high posts in the SAF. As long as they are capable and committed, Singaporean Malays will be given the opportunity to serve the country. In a written answer to Ms Sylvia Lim in November 2011, Dr Ng also said that there is no policy to give an exemption based on religion. Graduates from religious schools of all faiths are required to serve National Service. However, MINDEF received applications from male students of all religions to postpone their national service so that they will continue with their religious education, or to become a teacher or religious leader. Mr Faisal has also quoted Berita Minggu newspaper about the Suara Musyawarah, which I think is not accurate in context. Just like other Singaporeans with various backgrounds, Malay/Muslims also want equal opportunities in the schools or in their workplace, whether in Singapore or overseas. It is human nature to want equal opportunities. I am very glad when Page: 58 informed that the some Suara Musyawarah participants feel that there are equal opportunities for Singaporean locals, including the Malay/Muslim community. What is important for them is whether one is prepared to seize the opportunity, and chase their dreams and ambitions.”
“I would like to emphasise that the meritocracy system gives opportunities for all Singaporeans without taking into account their background or race. If we look at the achievements of the Malay community, I would like to give an example. The Malay/Muslim community in Singapore should be proud to have achieved significant progress in recent years under the meritocracy system. Malay students have achieved good results and the number of "O" and "A" Levels passes has increased. I am also proud because the number of MENDAKI Award recipients has also increased in recent years. Last year, 407 students received this prestigious award for their excellent academic achievements. This is an increase of 3% compared to 2011. Page: 57 Mdm Speaker, I think it is not fair to give a perception that there is a quota system in the local Universities. Our educational system is based on meritocracy. Every student gets a place in the University because of his grades and performance. Is the Workers' Party saying that our students are not qualified to get places in the University? I would like to know his opinion. We know the percentage of PMETs in our community has also increased from 7.2% to 27.8%, from 1980 to 2010. More training opportunities are given and we encourage Malay workers to join training and development programmes so that they will be able to upgrade their skills and employability and competitiveness. The employment opportunities in Singapore are given based on merit. We also have a system to have fair and equal working practices. The Tripartite Alliance for Fair Employment Practices (TAFEP) was established to encourage the employers and employees to practise fair working policies.”
“It is clear now that in this Paper, our policy makers are beginning to challenge themselves to make quantum improvements in their policy responses, and put Singaporeans at the core of every policy decision. Having good policies alone is not sufficient. It is important to be able to explain these policies and their assumptions, and the attendant constraints to the public, and to leave sufficient room for good suggestions to be incorporated. No longer does wisdom lie solely among our policymakers, but it also lies amongst Singaporeans, who are well-educated, who have travelled widely, and who have excellent suggestions, and these can also help to shape our policies in the future. And not least, we must make every effort to hear from the common man, who would feel the brunt of our policies, and ask them whether their lives are improved or made worse by our policies. Mdm Speaker, many in this House may not want to hear this, but we are still some way away from regaining the trust and support of Singaporeans, and we will have to work doubly hard, and maybe triply hard to convince Singaporeans that our decisions are made with the best interest of every Singaporean at heart. Only then can we renew our social compact, and work together to achieve our vision of future Singapore. Be that as it may, with this White Paper, the new land usage plan and the pro-family measures that had been announced recently show the clear intents of the Government and all aim to directly benefit Singaporeans and Singaporean families. Mdm Speaker, please allow me to continue in Malay. (In Malay): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] Mdm Speaker, Mr Faisal Manap has raised the issue of equal opportunities for the Malays in Singapore in Parliament yesterday.”
“It is really a challenging proposition. Let me just give an example. Someone who is 10 years old today, and in Primary school, will probably be a new worker in 2030 at the age of 27. And yet, at the same time, someone who is 40 years old today would still be looking forward to be gainfully employed in 2030, at the age of 57. So, we will have to look into the future to account for the needs of the economy and reverse engineer education programmes for our young and for our current workforce. And if we are to expect our 40-year-olds to be relevant in the future, we will also have to train and have re-education programmes, so that he is not redundant in the future Singapore. It would be worthwhile to take a hard look at our education and training systems to see if they allow enough flexibility to take into account individual preferences, and yet are sufficiently geared towards the needs of the economy. Mdm Speaker, as you probably also know, many residents are unsure if they can keep up with the demands of the future Singapore. Many are concerned about their low skills, and yet may not have the wherewithal to upgrade – for many of these reasons. So, even as we plan and prepare for the future, we must take care of the present, and assuage the fears of many ordinary Singaporeans who are concerned about their livelihoods today. Finally, I want to touch on our policy responses. I believe it has become amply clear that an incremental or linear approach to policies can no longer work. So, we cannot simply say that an increase in our population, let us say, Page: 56 for example, by 30% requires an increase in accompanying infrastructure, for example, MRT lines, by 30%.”
“Mdm Speaker, I would like to touch on three areas that my residents are concerned about. First, even as we plan to grow our population, and to ensure that majority of Singaporeans would hold white collar jobs as predicted in the future, we must assure ourselves that Singaporeans will have the opportunities to be the core workforce in every industry, and in every company. While we appreciate foreign investment, and the technical and managerial expertise this brings, we must strive to ensure that in addition to white collar work, Page: 55 Singaporeans must be allowed to, over time, systematically take over core technical and management functions previously held by foreigners. The Government could put in place requirements to not only transfer technical knowledge, but also administrative and managerial functions, personal networks and other soft skills, so that even foreign companies in Singapore can be run by highly qualified and competent Singaporeans. With Singaporeans holding more senior positions, we would be able to see a narrowing of income gaps between high-income foreigners and locals, which is one stress point that makes foreigners less welcome here that we often hear about. Secondly, in order for this to happen, we must ask ourselves whether our education and training systems are producing the right type of talent for the future. There is no doubt that our local institutions are ranked very highly for their academic quality, but we must be equally assured that we are equipping our future workforce with not only the right knowledge and skills, but also the right attitudes and worldviews to take on these higher level roles. Are we confident that our education system is forward looking enough to anticipate what knowledge and skills will be needed in 2030?”
“Mdm Speaker, the Government's White Paper on Population has drawn great public attention, and understandably so, because it outlines what Singapore will be like, and what Singaporeans can look forward to by 2030. I must congratulate the Government for a very comprehensive document, and the bold planning parameters and thoughtful policies that are outlined in the Paper. As is often the case, the headline numbers are what have drawn public discussion. The biggest of these, of course, is the planning parameter of raising our population to 6.9 million, with 55% of these being Singaporeans. If this scenario comes to pass, and I say again, if this scenario comes to pass, we are talking about adding about 100,000 residents every year, until 2030. Hundred thousand more residents mean that much more demand for housing, transport, medical services, and other strains on our infrastructure. Given the experiences of Singaporeans following recent increases in our population, of overcrowding in our public transport and other public amenities, I was not surprised that many voiced concern, and some even voiced disbelief, over a larger population. But I believe the Government is doing the right thing by making these planning parameters public as early as possible, so that Singaporeans can give their feedback, and be co-authors of what they want future Singapore to be, for them and for their children. I believe it would be worthwhile for the Government to take greater steps to explain the difference between planning parameters and specific targets or goals, so that Singaporeans can understand that plans are for discussion, and nothing is a foregone conclusion because we know nobody knows what is going to happen in the future.”
“The Senior Parliamentary Secretary mentioned about the international internship and programmes. May we know the kind of percentage of success among students who are able to go through such a programme? If there are costs to such a programme, how are loans to families assisted if they want to attend an overseas programme?”
“Supplementary question, Sir. For the enrichment programme and extra programme beyond the curriculum, what are the key objectives that MOE has set for the institutions, and what do they hope to arrive at for these students?”
“Sir, a supplementary question. The objective of the LUP is quite clear – to provide barrier-free access to our residents who are getting old. Beyond the construction of lifts, are there other alternatives that HDB or MND are looking at that are more feasible and viable for our residents, perhaps beyond half a landing or even one or two floors? Can the Senior Minister of State explain?”
“Sir, with regard to the social mobility question, recently, we read in the newspapers the report that about 40% of students living in HDB flats are studying in the top schools. Knowing that more than 80% of our population are living in HDB flats, is this trend worrisome for MOE? Have we seen more of the students living in better conditions progressing into top schools as an indication of difficulty faced by the low-income families?”
“A supplementary question, Sir. Maybe the Ministry of Education could also enlighten us on the progress that has been made by the Malay community students. Secondly, how is the response to the extra enrichment programmes in the LSP, if there is any, towards helping the students who are under achieving? How is the response and the result of this help so far?”
“Sir, the Acting Minister mentioned about the possible pathway in the niche Secondary schools. May we know the exact amount of resources that are given to the specialised schools, that is, in SOTA and the Sports School, as compared to the niche Secondary schools? Is the amount equivalent or a large difference?”
“There are already precedents – many companies and even the Government give hardship allowances to people posted to more undesirable jobs, albeit overseas. If Singaporean workers' advancement prospects are dimmed, then the Government must take a closer look at companies, particularly those with a sizeable foreign workforce, to see whether they deal fairly in offering promotion prospects. At the same time, when approving EPs, especially at the higher end of the spectrum, the Government must be convinced that the company could not find a single Singaporean capable of performing the job. If we allow the companies to decide what is good for them, then, sadly to say, they will decide what is good for their company and not necessarily good for Singaporean workers or Singapore. In addition, the Government must also be satisfied that the qualifications and experiences, as well as the economic contributions that applicants declare, are fully verified before EPs are issued. Page: 738 I believe Sir, that if Singaporeans are convinced that the Government has their best interests at heart, through our policies and through our actions, we will be able to assuage many of the concerns that our workers have. And we may even go some way in restoring our poor broken-backed camel to good health. Mr Speaker, I support the Bill. 3.38 pm”
“Perhaps, we should look into how to support the employment of Singaporeans within such businesses, or open up options for the employment of foreign manpower. Sir, while on this subject, the MOM website states that service-sector companies wishing to apply for work permits, indicating lower starting salaries, can recruit workers only from the People's Republic of China, Hong Kong, Macau, South Korea and Taiwan. Could the Ministry explain why is this so, and consider extending the source countries so that employers have a wider choice of recruitment to support the wider range of dining options that are available today in Singapore? Mr Speaker, Sir, as I have mentioned before, the issue of foreign worker employment is emotive. Clearly, it is no easy task to come up with policies that will help us achieve our long-term goals. But allow me to set out what I believe should be our core considerations. First, Singaporeans must always be at the heart of our foreign worker employment policy – and I would include employment under work permits, S Passes and EPs. If, for example, Singaporean workers and Singaporean businesses can prosper by allowing in more foreigners, and the cost is an infrastructure crunch, then I say, build more infrastructure. If Singaporean workers' jobs are threatened by allowing in more foreigners, then I would say, upgrade the skills of our workers, then make them world-ready and more skilful so that they are able to compete with the best. And if salaries in certain sectors or certain jobs are too low, then maybe we can think of creative and innovative ways of giving Singaporeans additional allowances to take on these jobs.”
“However, for small and medium companies, and, in particular, in the service industry, it is more challenging to reduce reliance on manpower. Take the food and beverage industry for example. Yes, a number of companies have been able to mechanise to save labour. We have conveyor belts to serve food. We have noodle-frying robots. We even have robots that could serve as waiters, though I am not sure if this is fully implemented out there. With all due respect, not everyone wants to eat off a conveyor belt. Some may want to be served, to have a cosy neighbourhood cafe to go to, to relax and spend time with friends and family. And if we are going to allow for this range of dining options, we have to acknowledge that certain types of food outlets are heavily reliant on manpower. Waiters, cooks, baristas, and the like – many people also prefer the personal touch. We also have to allow that in between hawker centres and Michelin-star restaurants, there should be a whole range of dining options, run by small and medium entrepreneurs, who are at the core of our economy. These offer dining options at various price points. And for particularly the small outlets − the truth, Sir, is employing Singaporeans while at the same time keeping prices reasonable has become an insurmountable challenge for them. I am regularly told that the salaries they can offer for cooks, waiters, cashiers and the like are at a level that Singaporeans are not interested in. So, the jobs are out there, but, unfortunately, Singaporeans are not interested in them. Page: 737 It would be worthwhile for us to consider the difficulties of this group of businesses.”
“Nonetheless, as we take errant employers to task, we should also ask ourselves: how many of these employers had to resort to illegal ways because their legitimate application for foreign workers was turned down? Imagine a situation where a contractor submits a bid for a construction project. He does not carry foreign workers on his payroll until he is sure that he has a project to deploy them. This is a common situation. Once he secures a contract, he would be in desperate need for foreign workers. Yet, because of the tight work permit situation, he may be unable to get approvals. What does he do? Decline the project, and risk his company's viability? If he does that, he risks closing down, and that helps no one, because even the Singaporeans working in his company could become unemployed too. You could imagine that the contractor would be tempted to use other ways to get his workers. My point here, Sir, is that even if these amendments are approved, the authorities should carefully look into the individual circumstances of each case, because not every employer who breaks the law is an evil opportunist, looking at squeezing the last buck from hapless workers. Ironically, it is these very contractors who will build our infrastructure, to alleviate the crunch that we are facing today. This brings me to my second point. I accept that Singapore businesses must wean themselves off the reliance on foreign workers. One cannot simply expect to use larger and larger numbers of foreign workers instead of investing in productivity improvements. I think this argument is valid in most industries – increase the productivity and you will be in a better situation.”
“The feedback I received from residents and fellow Singaporeans are quite clear. They are being felt everywhere and every day, be it in the MRT trains, at the workplace, in shopping centres and at the hawker centres. Or in the polyclinics and hospitals, and in our void decks and gardens, we encounter foreign workers in all these places, and many more. But is this phenomenon recent? We have had foreign workers here for many, many years. Yet, it seems that, sometime over the last couple of years, we suddenly reached a tipping point. The daily touchpoints between Singaporeans and foreign workers suddenly became not touchpoints, but friction points. Complaints, at first soft and infrequent, became more strident, and amplified by social media, the complaints reached a point where the situation seemed intolerable. Though I may not agree with all the views and feedback, I empathise with many of my fellow Singaporeans. The fact is that we reached a threshold that seemed to be unbearable. The proverbial straw that broke the camel's back, it seems. But, I cannot help, Sir, but wonder − when did it happen? At what point was too many too much? If we can find this out, it would be instructive for our policymakers – where exactly is that tipping point? Find that out, and maybe save ourselves a lot of grief in the future. Page: 736 Sir, allow me to highlight two additional points in this discussion. One, it is imperative that we manage the influx and quality of foreign workers. It has become clear that in the tug-of-war between demand for foreign labour and the stress that they put on our infrastructure, the limits of our infrastructure have fortunately won – at least for the immediate future.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I wish to acknowledge the quick action taken by the Ministry of Manpower to plug the loopholes that are being exploited by some employers in employing foreign workers. While people might say that the crooks are always one step ahead of the law, I think, in this case, the long arm of the law is quickly catching up. Sir, I believe it is correct that we should have a set of instruments to deal with different situations that we find ourselves in. Like having a good Swiss army knife, we should be equipped with the appropriate and effective tools for the job. Likewise, in the proposed amendments to the Employment of Foreign Manpower Act, the Ministry wants to establish an administrative penalty regime and Commissioners of Foreign Manpower to complement criminal actions. I think this is a good move as it allows for certain offences to be dealt with quickly and makes the point that we will not tolerate the illegal employment of foreign manpower. This protects honest employers as well as foreign workers. Additionally, Sir, by adding new contraventions and enhancing enforcement, the Ministry will be able to send a strong message to employers to take their responsibilities towards workers, both Singaporean and foreigners, seriously. Illegal employment of foreign workers will be dealt with firmly, and the penalties are a stiff deterrent. The proposed amendments will also go some way to enhance Singapore's position as a safe place to work, even as we compete with the region for skilled manpower. This will continue to be a constant challenge, given the economic growth that we are aiming at in the coming years. Having said that, Sir, I would like to make a few broader points. As we all know, the issue of foreign manpower in Singapore is fairly emotive.”
“A supplementary question, Sir. I agree that productivity is a good strategy to enhance the salary of our workers in the long run, but the real challenge is that it is a stretch target. How then can we make people understand – employers and employees – that productivity is the way to go, and are we seeing results in real wages of our workers? And are we expecting some of these to kick in within the next few years before the 10-year target that we have set for ourselves?”
“If we have a job and stable income, it is all right for us to think of a bigger home or a second home. We need to assess and evaluate it better and more carefully. Do not rush into it. I would encourage our workers to be careful when using their CPF savings. Every opportunity that we wish and hope for will carry a risk. Page: 639 My experience at the MPS sessions shows that there are workers who commit themselves to purchasing bigger and more luxurious homes using their CPF funds. Sadly, they then faced all kinds of problems, such as health problems of their own or among their family members. And there are those also who lost their jobs or have some other problems. If this happens, the problems facing the worker will be very complicated. It will put their homes and also their CPF savings at risk. It will be worse if this happens during an economic downturn. Many will be trapped in a very tight spot, even to the point where they lose their homes and most of their CPF savings. Therefore, we must remind our workers that they should continue to be careful as well as think long term and thoroughly, before making the move to use their CPF savings. It is an important nest egg, built over the years through hard work, that takes care of us during old age and retirement. (In English): With that, I would like to support the Bill. I think it is timely that we do these changes as they will benefit our workers in the long run. 5.40 pm”
“While there is some merit in tapping on CPF savings for housing, investment and education purposes, we must constantly remind CPF members that for the majority, it is their CPF savings that will support them in their retirement. While there may be temptation to invest CPF savings through various schemes, the results, we all know, are hardly consistent, and certainly nowhere near as consistent as the returns guaranteed by the CPF Board. Here, I once again urge the CPF Board to look for ways to enhance returns on CPF savings for two reasons: firstly, so that members can enjoy compound interest over the years to build up their CPF savings to fund a reasonable retirement; and secondly, a higher return would also serve to stave off the temptation among many, who today have suffered losses, instead of gains by investing their CPF savings. If the CPF Board could offer even a couple of percentage points higher than it does today, it will match the so-called target returns of many of the instruments under the CPF investment scheme. That would make it an absolute no-brainer, that is, leave your money in the CPF account and watch it grow! Mr Speaker, Sir, allow me to speak a few words in Malay concerning the CPF. (In Malay): [Please refer to Pg 689 for Vernacular Speeches.] Mr Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity in this debate on the CPF Act amendments, to remind workers with CPF accounts, that the main role of their CPF savings is to take care of them during their old age as well as the retirement needs of Singapore workers. I understand there are those who want to use their CPF savings for other purposes, including purchasing a bigger home. We should realise that any utilisation of our CPF savings comes with risks.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I had already and often iterated the importance of CPF savings to our workers. Similarly, I had also voiced my support for the proposed amendments to the CPF Act that are meant to benefit workers and their families. First, I am happy to note that the Ministry has given considerable thought to the implementation aspects of the proposed amendments. The enhancement and streamlining of the top-up scheme that was mentioned by the Acting Minister just now is timely and necessary. Page: 638 Sir, I think it is appropriate that a wider definition has been applied when identifying those who could benefit from the CPF top-ups. By including parents and grandparents-in-laws as beneficiaries of CPF top-ups, CPF members, especially those who are married, are more able to decide how to support both sets of parents and grand-parents. This goes some way in building familial bonds, and helps in the cash-flow of members who may have excess CPF savings, but not so much cash. As for the proposed amendments to refunds on property transactions, I am also glad that the CPF Board will once again focus on its role as a custodian of members' CPF contributions. I think that the CPF is correct in proposing to return CPF savings used for mortgage and interest payments in accordance with the actual payments by individual members. I do not think that the CPF Board should take on the role of arbiter in case of disputes between joint owners of property. We can leave that role to our very capable legal system. Sir, still on the subject of the primary role of the CPF Board, I wish to reiterate that CPF savings should be seen primarily as savings for retirement.”
“Supplementary question, Sir. Beyond the allocation of resources and funding, what else are we looking to strengthen the MMOs? And will capabilities and capacity building be looked at to meet with future challenges for the community? Also, about the renewal of leadership within the MMOs, is there anything for us to assist them to upgrade and improve the leadership? Assoc Prof Dr Yaacob Ibrahim: Sir, the MMOs are independent organisations. So, we are in no position to suggest otherwise how the leadership renewal should take place. But, obviously, in line with other renewals which are taking place in the overall Singapore society, we would encourage the Malay/Muslim organisations to review their own long-term plans in terms of ensuring that there is a continuous flow of young, talented Malay/Muslim individuals that can take up leadership positions. On the first point raised by the Member, apart from financial resources, Mendaki since 2002 or 2003 has started what we call the "policy forum" to allow a greater sharing of information and data with the Muslim organisations, so that they are in a better place to make an assessment of our challenges and, therefore, reflect further on the kinds of programmes. Apart from that, as and when it is necessary, Mendaki has undertaken training programmes at our expense. As an example, in 2005 or 2006 – I cannot remember the exact year – we conducted a training programme for youth counsellors because there was a lack of youth counsellors in the Malay/Muslim community, where we commissioned an expert from New Zealand to come down to Singapore, and we organised a two-week programme for the Malay/Muslim organisations. So, we will continue to explore other ways to strengthen the Malay/Muslim organisations. Page: 591”
“Sir, just one clarification. Recently, I attended the Seri Gala Temasek where they recognised all the old Malay artistes of the 1950s and the 1960s, and most of them came from Singapore. Since then the Malay movie industry has gone and shifted to Malaysia. Incidentally, I saw a revival of Malay movies in Malaysia and, most of the time, funded by busnessmen, and some of the stars are from Singapore, acting in Malaysian movies. I am asking if there has been any initiative to revive some of our local Malay film industry, as some of the local talents are finding other avenues to express their creative talents and they often land in Malaysia. What more can we do to assist some of these talents? 4.30 pm RAdm [NS] Lui Tuck Yew: We will be happy to hear proposals from the groups, if there are good scripts and good ideas that they want to pitch to us. For example, the different film grants that we have been talking about, including what the Senior Parliamentary Secretary mentioned about the $500,000 that we are prepared to fund first timers, like Wee Li Lin and people who have benefited from it. It is not limited to English films alone. So, if there are good ideas that involve the Malay community, actors and actresses from the Malay programmes, we will be happy to listen to them as well.”
“45 pm Mr Chairman, Sir, the focus of this year's Budget is to strengthen Singapore's economy and society for the future. Our efforts in MICA in harnessing the multiplying effects of infocomm, design and media will enable increased competitiveness in our wider economy and, we believe, create better jobs for Singaporeans. Our continued investment in these sectors will generate greater vitality in our society, enriching the way we live, work, learn and interact. Public service broadcast”
“Indeed, mobile phone users in our neighbouring countries also experience signal spillage from Singapore mobile operators. This is one area where we strongly encourage end-users to play their part by configuring, manually, if necessary, their mobile phones to select the desired local network rather than through auto-roaming features. With regard to mobile coverage within buildings and tunnels, IDA has in place Quality of Service standards that require 95% coverage on street level and in road and MRT tunnels as well as 85% coverage at public access areas within buildings, including basement areas with services to the public, such as shops, food courts and supermarkets. However, where there may be good mobile coverage in one area, there could be specific spots in the same area where coverage is not optimal as mobile signals could be blocked due to the building structure or technical limitations. While IDA has not imposed any financial penalty on the three mobile operators as they are able to meet the current QoS, IDA has imposed financial penalties on the operators for delaying rollout of 3G coverage at certain MRT tunnels. So, no penalties for buildings because they are actually currently meeting the QoS but penalties have been imposed on them because they have delayed the rollout of 3G coverage in MRT tunnels. IDA has directed the operators to achieve full 3G tunnel coverage by end July this year. I will just briefly touch on what we will be doing to address some of these four areas of concern. IDA will be announcing in detail its measures on these areas next week and they will provide more information then. IDA will also continue to study other areas which require greater regulatory control to protect consumers' interests. 2.”
“Presently, IDA has in place a quality of service framework for fixed-line broadband services, covering network availability, latency and international bandwidth utilisation, but not minimum standards on broadband speeds. In IDA's public consultation on network neutrality, the IDA proposed that service providers improve information transparency on the expected average broadband speeds achievable for their broadband plans. As Mr Low has noted, the service providers did not welcome this proposal. IDA understands that there are many factors affecting consumers' fixed-line and mobile broadband surfing experience, such as the types of equipment, devices and applications being used and the website content provider's system configuration, bandwidth connection, and so on. But, nonetheless, to enable consumers to make more informed choices between service providers, IDA intends to require service providers to publish the typical speeds which consumers can expect of both fixed and mobile broadband services, in addition to the theoretical maximum speeds advertised. And IDA will also publish its own audit of the speeds and the methodology it uses in carrying out its audit. A fourth area of concern, highlighted by Mr Lim, is the mobile coverage along the coastline and within buildings and tunnels. IDA is aware of signals spilling over from overseas mobile operators near the coastline, and is constantly working with their Malaysian and Indonesian counterparts to minimise signal spillage. But this is the nature of radio-frequency signals, they are no respecter of borders, they do not carry a passport when they cross borders. And so it is not totally possible to eradicate such spillage given the close proximity with our neighbouring countries.”
“This measure will help parents better prevent their children from accidental subscription to PRS, because it is now easier for them to block this specific prefix number. The second concern is the unknowing incurrence of high data roaming charges. Currently, mobile operators have several measures to protect consumers against high data roaming charges. These include SMS alerts on usage, special plans which cap data roaming charges with unlimited usage in selected countries, and so on. Consumers, of course, can also switch off the data roaming function on their mobile phones. Nonetheless, we know that consumers still face difficulties. To further protect consumers against data roaming bill shocks, IDA intends to require all mobile operators to offer consumers two new options. The first is a free data roaming service suspension option that caps consumers' data roaming usage at a specified dollar quantum in data roaming charges. The service is automatically suspended once your data roaming reaches this specified dollar quantum that you have set. The second is to provide more convenient means for consumers to de-activate data services before travelling overseas. These measures will allow consumers to better control their usage of data roaming services and prevent bill shocks. We will also encourage all consumers to be diligent, seek to understand the prices and terms of mobile services, and the features of the smartphones that they are using. Ultimately, this is the best assurance that consumers do not face any surprises in their bills. The third concern is on the actual broadband speeds which consumers experience.”
“Having said all these, the public must remain vigilant when giving out personal information, when filling up survey, contest or registration forms, the terms and conditions ought to be read closely to determine how personal details will be used; and we will also ensure businesses refrain from collecting personal information other than what is necessary and should inform consumers about the purpose of collection and ensure that the information is used only for that purpose stated. Mr Lim Biow Chuan, Mr Zainudin Nordin and Mr Low Thia Khiang spoke on the quality of our telecom services. For the past six months, IDA has studied but it intends to implement measures in several areas that pertain to key consumer concerns. Let me address them in turn. The first concern is on unsolicited chargeable SMS messages, otherwise known as premium rate services (PRS). Such services include mobile ring tones, quizzes, information or game downloads. Currently, IDA has in place requirements which prohibit all telecom service providers from charging for unsolicited services. For PRS providers, IDA has imposed additional rules, including stringent advertising requirements and the need for PRS providers to constantly remind consumers, via SMS, of their subscriptions. IDA views any non-compliance by such PRS providers seriously and will not hesitate to penalise operators in breach of the PRS requirements. However, recognising the ease with which consumers can unwittingly subscribe to PRS, IDA plans to require mobile operators to offer a PRS barring service, so that consumers have an option to block chargeable PRS. To facilitate the barring, IDA intends to set aside a prefix number to which mobile operators can migrate PRS to.”
“Consumer personal data protection, we know, is a complex issue and, therefore, MICA will be carrying out further consultation with the public, private and people sectors to address their concerns. As I mentioned earlier, we intend to introduce new legislation for consideration by Parliament in early 2012, and to set up a Data Protection Council to oversee the legislation. This is different from what Mr Low mentioned, which is about the protection of the privacy of individuals. So, one, we are doing is the Consumer Data Protection Law; and the other point he mentioned is protecting the privacy of individuals. Privacy generally relates to the prevention of intrusion into an individual's private life; while data protection concerns the protection of an individual's personal data against misuse. An intrusion into an individual's private life need not necessarily be derived from a misuse of an individual's personal data and vice versa. And so they cannot be said to be one and the same. For example, privacy issues include the taking of photographs by a stranger of a person performing an activity – eating, exercising, etc. But this alone would not constitute a data protection issue. So what we are doing, first and foremost, is to govern the proper processing of personal information such as the collection, the use, the disclosure and the transfer of this data, and to make sure that this is appropriately regulated.”
“Beyond this, MDA has been working with various parties to better educate industry professionals on their obligations and rights as well as encourage media companies to adopt best practices to raise industry standards. Specifically, the MDA has engaged Association of Independent Production Houses (AIPRO) and MediaCorp to explore establishing a standard of best practices and guidelines for the engagement of freelancers, and look into how payment schedules could be revised to better suit the cashflow requirements of productions. NTUC and e2i are also in discussion with AIPRO to work out a standardised contract for freelancers. Mr Chairman, Sir, several Members have raised questions concerning consumer interests. Let me first address Mr Low Thia Khiang and Mr Chiam See Tong's questions on information confidentiality and consumer personal data protection. As consumer personal data becomes increasingly valuable in the information goods and services market, there are growing concerns that the consumers' personal information is collected, sold or used without their consent, be it in the Internet or through filling up of forms for lucky draws or the purchase of goods. I had recently informed the House that the Government will be introducing a Consumer Data Protection Law that will provide for the protection of consumer personal data in Singapore. The proposed law aims to protect individuals' personal information against misuse by regulating how businesses collect, use, disclose and retain consumer personal data, including through online means. In addition to protecting individuals' interests, the proposed law will enhance our overall competitiveness and strengthen our position as a trusted hub for businesses.”
“Today, MediaCorp and Infinite Frameworks Studios have signed on to Mediapolis, and more companies are being engaged. Some of them, I understand, are quite promising. As demand builds up, there are plans to facilitate a multi-tenanted building for smaller companies and those who prefer not to develop their own buildings. The present 19-hectare Mediapolis site should be fully completed, we believe, by 2020, and an adjacent 18-hectare site has been earmarked for future expansion. MDA launched the Mediapolis Phase Zero initiative to incubate start-ups and test-bed new concepts in the media sector, while IDA has developed a Media ICT blueprint to guide the industry in ICT design, implementation and service delivery for Mediapolis. Let me now address Ms Audrey Wong's concerns on the professionalism of local production houses and I want to assure her that MDA pays keen attention to this area. The issues of late payment and contract disputes had occurred from time to time but MDA's assessment is that such problems were confined to selected companies or projects and they do not believe this is a systemic problem in the media industry. We also recognise that non-payment may be due to unfortunate circumstances where production companies' projects fail and cashflow problems set in. Such challenges could be faced, of course, by any SME in any industry. But when non-payment cases are raised, the MDA will assist to facilitate a positive resolution between production companies and freelancers. We have also assisted production companies to ease cashflow through link-ups with financial institutions and other financiers.”
“Members may wonder why this is so important. China accepts 20 foreign films a year. If a Singapore film is treated as a foreign film, we know we stand little chance against the Hollywood blockbusters. But a film that is produced under the "co-pro" agreement is treated as a local product. Hence, I think it gives us greater opportunity to access this market. These agreements overall facilitate networking opportunities and encourage co-productions between Singapore and foreign companies where part of the production work is carried out here in Singapore. Our aim is to build a commercially scalable and viable media industry that is largely financed by private capital, rather than to rely heavily on Government funding. To date, about $1.5 billion of media funds have been anchored in Singapore, of which $620 million is committed to be spent in Singapore over the next five years starting from FY2011. Let me also further address Mr Zaqy Mohamad's questions on anchoring content providers. MDA and IDA offer a wide variety of development and funding schemes to grow the creation of innovative content and attract digital media players. MDA's INVIGORATE+ and Content360 TV, which support local game and television content development and commercialisation for emerging media platforms, and IDA's Digital Marketplace Programme which attracts international media service providers and content owners to hub here in Singapore are just some examples. Ultimately, for Singapore to be a centre for producing Asian content purposed for both the East and the West, we need a globally connected, self-sustaining and vibrant media ecosystem where creative talents can do their best work. And this is what we aim to do with the Mediapolis.”
“We strongly encourage infocomm and media companies to invest in R&D, new technology and staff training, as well as take maximum advantage of IDA and MDA schemes and the enhanced Productivity and Innovation Credit to restructure, improve efficiency and grow their businesses to offset the impact of higher labour costs over time. Mr Calvin Cheng spoke about building a unique service proposition for Singapore's media sector. We fully agree with that. Our media industry cannot solely focus on the domestic market. Hence, the Singapore Media Fusion Plan has identified the growing Asian media market as an opportunity and the Government has committed $230 million to this Plan over the next five years. We are seeing good progress. Mr Calvin Cheng has listed a number of our stengths but it also includes areas like technical competence, production of factual entertainment content, good quality cost balance as well as our rigorous legal and intellectual property regime. These are attracting collaborations from the international community. For example, Singapore’s Beach House Pictures and Very! produced documentaries "Hidden Cities" and "Partners In Crime" for AETN All Asia Networks’ History and Crime and Investigation Channels respectively, while Scrawl Studios is now working with SLR Productions, an Australia company, to adapt the well loved and internationally successful book, "Guess How Much I Love You" into animation. 2.30 pm MDA has also secured Government-to-Government media co-operation and co-production agreements with 13 countries including Australia, Canada, Italy, France, Japan, Korea, United Kingdom and Sweden. The latest is our co-production treaty with China, which makes Singapore the first country in Asia with such an agreement with China.”
“We really do not know if we can, over time, have someone as big as the giants we know today. The challenge is whether they would be tempted to sell out early. I have spoken to a number of these young entrepreneurs, and some of them were quite successful in the initial phase, so I ask them why. And they say, "my expertise is in this particular phase. I am not sure I have the expertise to bring it to the next level. Hence, I think I am better off selling and then re-starting the cycle." From their point of view, it is a very rational progress and development. What we have to do is to put in place the environment, mentorship, other funding support and opportunities for them to network with the best to see if some of them are prepared to stay with the programme for the long haul. For the media sector, the number of tertiary graduates is about 2,000 annually. We work closely with the institutes of higher learning, media associations as well as WDA and their Continuing Education Centres to establish bridging programmes and attachments with leading local and overseas media companies. To groom young talents, MDA’s Media Education Scheme offers scholarships to students and industry professionals to pursue a broad range of media-related courses locally and overseas, with an obligation to contribute to the local media industry upon graduation. Under the International Media Manpower Programme, MDA seeks to anchor top media talents in Singapore to boost the capability of local media companies and enhance Singapore’s reputation as a global media city.”
“5 million of funding from the National Productivity Fund for another five years. With this extended scheme, we aim to help another 5,000 SMEs adopt at least one infocomm business solution by March 2016. MICA is also mindful that for Singapore to benefit from a vibrant infocomm and media ecosystem, there has to be sufficient infocomm and media professionals. Mr Zaqy Mohamad asked about capability development in these sectors. Let me address them. At present, we have a steady supply of about 5,000 infocomm tertiary graduates annually. IDA has also been enabling continual skills upgrading through the Critical Infocomm Technology Resource Programme where more than 42,000 people have undergone training since 2005. To continue to meet industry demands, IDA developed a new four-year manpower development roadmap that we unveiled just last week. I will not go into the details here. Mr Zaqy Mohamad also asked whether Singapore could create the next Facebook or Google. IDA has initiated programmes to attract and nurture infocomm technopreneurs and start-ups to infuse innovation, new business models and capabilities into our infocomm ecosystem. One programme is iStart, which has helped local start-ups gain access to market connections, investment funding and high-quality international mentors, including those from Silicon Valley. Another programme is iBEST, which seeks to anchor 40 high potential international venture capital-backed start-ups in Singapore. These start-ups are required to hire at least 50% local manpower, hence exposing our local infocomm talent to new jobs, knowledge and skills. There are also schemes like the Technology Enterprise Commercialisation Scheme, Technology Innovation Programme and other programmes under SPRING.”
“Hence, we have put in place assistance schemes to facilitate enterprises, especially SMEs, to take the first step. For design, the Design Engage Programme provides co-funding grants to support enterprises in the strategic adoption of design innovation. Another co-funding grant, the Design for Business Innovation Grant, was launched in August last year to match-make enterprises with suitable design consultancies and support the consultation fees for their design project. The Productivity and Innovation Credit also applies to investments in design. Thus far, 53 enterprises have benefited from these schemes. For infocomm, IDA, SPRING Singapore and IRAS introduced the $25 million iSPRINT scheme last year, to help SMEs acquire and implement infocomm solutions. As at January 2011, more than 750 SMEs had been funded, generating a projected $400 million in value-add over the next three years. Let me illustrate the extent of impact that iSPRINT generates. The Association of Employment Agencies initiated the development of a sector-wide infocomm solution that automates employment agencies’ operational processes and improves turnaround time. As the solution was built as a cloud service, the cost of adoption for employment agencies is only 40% the cost of implementing their own infocomm systems. Pilot deployment of the solution has shown good results, with sales staff saving about two hours per sales transaction. The association plans to have over 100 agencies adopt the solution over the next six months. According to IDA’s survey in 2010, only half of our SMEs use at least one infocomm business solution. And so, more needs to be done. I am pleased to inform the House that iSPRINT will be extended with $85.”
“NDC will serve as an integrated hub, providing enterprises and designers with facilities, resources and opportunities to use design competitively and collaborate in projects for commercialisation. The DesignSingapore Council will also establish an Asian Insights Design Innovation lab in the NDC to give enterprises a leg up in developing innovative products, services and experiences catered to the Asian lifestyle and consumer preferences. Let me illustrate with an example. Electrolux introduced a unique gas hob designed with Asian cooking in mind. Unlike the usual gas hobs that have flames in a circular ring, its new keyhole hob features a flame that is concentrated in the middle which emphasises Asian wok-cooking. There are many more opportunities to develop innovative products like this for the Asian market. Another initiative in the NDC is the Design Thinking and Innovation Academy (DTIA) which aims to infuse design thinking in public and private enterprises. DTIA will promote and develop capabilities in design thinking and design-driven innovation by conducting master-classes, workshops and mentorship programmes. DTIA aims to train 2,500 people in design thinking by 2014. Mr Chairman, Sir, Singapore designers are well sought after by the industry. Our design graduates enjoy high employment rates, with starting salaries comparable to graduates of other disciplines. With DesignSingapore Council’s new initiatives, we believe our home-grown designers will have even greater opportunities to hone and apply their skills in a wide range of economic sectors. MICA is mindful that the adoption of infocomm and design is a business transformation that needs to be guided and supported.”
“Consumers can look forward to greater assurance and ease of using a single authentication device for multiple services, while businesses can enjoy cost savings from the use of a common platform. The NAF expects to service three million end-users and handle over 200 million transactions annually by 2015. Let me now address Mr Zainudin Nordin’s questions on design. Besides lower cost, higher speed and better quality, enterprises must consider how best to compete on innovation and design to create new value, new user experiences and penetrate new markets. The Design for Enterprises (DFE) initiative was launched by the DesignSingapore Council, SPRING Singapore and IE Singapore, as a national programme to help enterprises understand and adopt design as a strategic differentiator for competitiveness and growth. For the design industry, designers can tap on the Capability Development Programme to upgrade their skills and the Overseas Promotion Partnership Programme to develop international markets. Young designers can seek the DesignSingapore Scholarship to pursue full-time tertiary education, while design industry associations can use the Industry Association Development Scheme to roll out industry-wide development programmes. Last year, the ESC further recommended to leverage on design to establish Singapore as a hub for innovation and enterprise. The DesignSingapore Council has studied the recommendations and introduced several initiatives since. A key overarching initiative is the National Design Centre (NDC). We need to raise awareness of the benefits of design, lower barriers to adoption, and cultivate the spirit of innovation and R&D through design.”
“IDA has worked with SPRING Singapore and BCA to introduce two green initiatives. The first is the Singapore Standard for Green Data Centres, a certifiable standard under SPRING Singapore that helps data centres establish policies, systems and processes to improve energy efficiency. This Standard was launched in January this year, and is a world’s first in integrating energy and environment management systems together. The second initiative is the BCA-IDA Green Mark for Data Centres, which is a rating system for data centres to assess and benchmark their energy efficiency and other green features with each other. This system will be implemented in a year’s time. IDA will also launch a Green Data Centre Innovation Challenge this month, to provide opportunities and funding for Green Data Centre pilot deployments. Lest Members wonder why we are putting so much resources and energy into this, the top 10 data centres in Singapore use energy that is equivalent to that used by 130,000 households. Mr Chairman, Sir, trustworthiness has been Singapore’s competitive differentiator. Our approach towards building a trusted infocomm ecosystem includes two aspects. The first is the protection of consumer personal data, which I will cover later in my reply. The second is the security of our infrastructure, which is guided by our national Infocomm Security Masterplan, complemented by initiatives such as the National Authentication Framework (NAF). The NAF is on track for launch in the second half of this year. It will provide a nationwide platform for strong authentication to safeguard against unauthorised access to sensitive information, such as those transmitted in banking, healthcare and Government online services.”
“This will in turn attract more Internet traffic and network providers, and draw world-class Internet and media companies to host their content and services here. Hence, infrastructure forms the first part of the response to Mr Zaqy Mohamad’s question on anchoring content providers in Singapore. A new initiative that would strengthen Singapore’s data hosting capacity is the development of a Data Centre Park by IDA, EDB, EMA and JTC. We offer a stable and trusted location for hosting of data and content. However, residual plots for data centre development in Singapore are difficult to find. The new Data Centre Park will provide economies of scale, with ready-built facilities that allow enterprises and data centre players faster speed to market and flexibility to scale up their operations upon demand. The Data Centre Park will increase Singapore’s current data centre capacity by about 50%. More details of this project will be released later this year. To enhance data connectivity, the Singapore Internet Exchange (SGIX) provides a central point for international and domestic Internet service and content providers to exchange traffic with each other. SGIX minimises situations where Internet traffic from one domestic provider to another has to be routed overseas before returning to Singapore, and reduces the need for international providers to establish multiple linkages with local providers. SGIX has been operational since June 2010 and has attracted more than 20 providers as members. We are mindful that digital growth is achieved on a sustainable basis. Studies have shown that green practices can reduce data centre energy consumption by up to 55% and in turn generate cost savings for enterprise users.”
“The Infocomm Development Authority (IDA) recognises the importance of increasing the vibrancy of the services market to lower costs for enterprises and consumers. They have been working with the industry to set up Next Gen Innovation Centres where service providers can gain access to technology expertise from the big players throughout their project life cycle of conceptualising, test-bedding and deploying innovative solutions. To date, IDA has established three Innovation Centres with Cisco, Oracle and IBM. Another initiative is the Next Gen Services Innovation Programme, which co-funds the deployment of impactful services over the NGNBN. IDA has awarded seven proposed services through its first call for proposals in 2010. Services which are now commercially available include SecureAge Technology’s secure storage as a service product and AsiaSoft Solution’s software as a service environment for businesses. IDA is evaluating its second call for proposals and there have been responses which include cloud-based e-learning and gaming services. The NBN is complemented by the upcoming deployment of mobile 4G technology which potentially offers speeds five to 10 times faster than 3G technologies. I understand that all mobile operators are currently conducting 4G trials, and we can expect deployment, I am told, as early as at the end of this year. This would be timely as manufacturers would also have rolled out more 4G-enabled devices by then. 2.15 pm In addition to high-speed, our infrastructure must have the necessary connectivity and hosting capacity to support the development of content-rich services and to lower the cost of delivery.”
“Commercial services were launched since September 2010. To date, there are more than six service providers offering over 30 fibre-based broadband access plans. For residential, 100 Mbps plan prices range from $39.90 to $68, which is cheaper than non-NGNBN plans of the same speed sold at around $100. But he rightly pointed out the real benefit of the NGNBN lies in the delivery of innovative solutions. Today, several service providers have packaged their broadband access plans with value-added services, such as online storage, video chat, video search engines, music stores to their hosting. We expect more innovative services to emerge. For example, high definition video conferencing and Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) will experience little or no lag time with the bandwidth afforded under the Next Gen NBN. Next Generation Interactive Multimedia Applications and Services (NIMS) project will encourage the development of interactive services and multimedia applications over IPTV under a common feature set-up box. We will share updates on this programme at another time. The higher speeds are not just for gaming or TV. They also allow enterprises to re-engineer business processes for increased productivity. One example is the access to cloud services, where enterprises can buy services online on a "pay-as-you-use" basis as and when they need them. This helps enterprises, especially the SMEs, reduce upfront infrastructure and software costs. For instance, StarHub has launched an electronic human resource management cloud service for businesses. Instead of buying their own servers and programmes, SMEs can actually subscribe and use the cloud services at a fraction of what they would otherwise have to invest.”
“I will finally end with something on what MICA is doing to protect the consumers. Last year, MICA’s focus was to boost the skills, innovation and productivity of our workforce and contribute towards the growth of globally competitive local enterprises. In tandem with Singapore’s strong economic recovery in 2010, our infocomm, media and design sectors have regained growth momentum. However, even more important than the growth of these sectors, is how they can help enable innovation, productivity and increased competitiveness across other economic sectors, and how they can help enrich the lives of consumers. This will be a major focus area for MICA in the coming year. Mr Zainudin Nordin asked about MICA’s infocomm infrastructural projects and design-related initiatives. Let me start with infocomm infrastructure. In recent years, we have witnessed a global explosion in demand for bandwidth and speed. Strong growth in online services and social media has brought about a massive increase in content and data delivered over the Internet. MICA recognises the need to support these bandwidth-intensive activities, so that our enterprises can benefit from these technological and social trends. We have prepared ourselves well, by investing in a next generation infocomm infrastructure that is high-speed, pervasive and secure. Mr Zaqy Mohamad asked about the Next Generation Nationwide Broadband Network (NGNBN). This ultra-high speed optical fibre network will be a core backbone of our infocomm infrastructure, providing broadband access speeds of one Gbps and beyond. This is at least 10 to 100 times faster than the fastest public networks today. Deployment of the network has achieved 60% coverage nationwide at end 2010 and is on track for 95% coverage by mid 2012.”
“Mr Chairman, Sir, the increasing popularity in the usage of smartphones is largely due to the excellent national broadband and mobile infrastructure which support 3G and wifi services in Singapore. It is logical that the Government moves in tandem with this recent development and tailors initiatives according to this trend. Beyond just providing for a modern and up-to-date infocommunication infrastructure or the hardware, I think it is important for MICA to come up with a comprehensive strategy that would allow the Government to develop the content or software that could leverage and maximise the grand infrastructure. Similarly, expand on its current range of services to reach out to the citizens and guide them to be smart and responsible users. Sir, improvements in mobile telecommunications technology have allowed more innovative and convenient services to be delivered over mobile phones. The vibrancy of the mobile telephone market lowered cost and increased usage of mobile phones. However, downsides, such as unsolicited services and building disputes, have also emerged. Can the Minister share with this House how is MICA ensuring that mobile telephone operators and mobile service providers keep up their quality of services to meet customers' needs and expectations? Also, what is MICA doing to protect customers' interests? RAdm [NS] Lui Tuck Yew: Mr Chairman, Sir, I thank hon. Members for their comments and suggestions on what is part of MICA’s economic portfolio. The infocomm, design and media are sectors with significant innovative potential for greater value creation. In responding to Members, I will elaborate on how MICA will develop the infocomm, design and media sectors to bring about benefits for enterprises, especially SMEs and consumers.”
“This is only possible if certain measures are taken to ensure businesses and enterprises adopt creative solutions. This is where design and packaging are important for enterprises. Not only does design help a company differentiate its products, recent studies suggest that the success of a product is significantly linked to the effort expended on design during developmental stages. Previously, the ESC has highlighted design as a key business capability to increase enterprises' productivity. Indeed, design thinking provides the creative process that allows enterprises to differentiate their offerings to stay ahead of competition. The talent pools of designers should be expanded, Sir. These designers should also be given sufficient recognition in monetary terms as well as career prospects. Otherwise, they may just desert their profession and take an alternative route and go into other streams of Arts. Can MICA give an update on design-related initiatives and programmes that will enhance our design sector's capabilities and harness the multiplying effects of design? How is MICA helping enterprises to adopt design, especially since design could be a concept new to other businesses? How well are our designers paid compared with graduates from other sectors in the industry?”
“Thank you, Mr Chairman. Mr Chairman, Sir, like many governments in the world, Singapore is studying how best to deliver services and engage her citizens through new technologies. Our country has been receptive to the latest infocomm technologies to radically transform public administration and service delivery. This has resulted in an increase in productivity and efficiency. As we continue to develop at a steady pace, it is clear that businesses need to meet the growing demands and higher expectations of customers and interact with tech-savvy citizens who are empowered by the use of social networking tools. Infocomm technology is an enabler that enhances innovation, productivity and competitiveness in other sectors of the economy. Technological trends, such as cloud computing and mobile services, provide opportunities for enterprises, to create new business models and generate value propositions. We have to continue to keep abreast of the developments and we should continually send our best people abroad to be trained. A strong pervasive infocomm infrastructure thus plays a vital role in supporting the data intensive activities that take place across our economy. May I ask the Minister to update this House on MICA infocomm investments and infrastructural projects and elaborate on the benefits and multiplying effects that they would bring to our economy? Design capability I salute the efforts of MICA in promoting the growth of creative industries and the infocomm sector in Singapore. Much has been done to drive productivity at the industry level and help build capabilities for growth. To ensure Singapore stays globally competitive, we will need to enhance our ability to create innovative and distinctive products that meet the demands of consumers.”
“I would like to ask the Minister how are the resources allocated in support for all workers and their different needs and aspirations. Sir, I spoke in this House in January to appeal to our Government to take the lead by making the best sourcing initiative (BSI) a norm and practice in all Government procurement. In this regard, can the Minister update this House on the progress of BSI and the impact of MOM advisory on the possible outsourcing that was issued a few years ago? Work-life harmony”
“Mr Chairman, Sir, within the labour movement, we are clear about the need for Government intervention to help low-wage workers do better. The Government has responded vigorously through initiatives such as the Workfare Training Support scheme to complement the existing Workfare Income Supplement (WIS). Therefore the issue here is not if the Government should act but rather the manner of the intervention for it to be really effective. Low-wage workers are often faced with challenges of opportunity cost for training versus staying on the job to earn more. It is a dilemma for these workers because if they stay away from work and go for training, they will incur a short-term loss of income. To go for training is like telling them that there are two birds in a bush. Moreover, these workers are also having problems to pay even a portion of the course fees for training which is about 5% to 10% of the training costs. I think the Ministry should consider doing more to assist these workers. They should be treated differently to benefit from full subsidies for training. Can MOM highlight the efforts and programmes to get more of such workers on the WTS and WIS schemes? Sir, these workers need special attention and support for such schemes so that they can climb up the income ladder through skills training and upgrading. Training for low-wage workers can be particularly challenging as they usually hold more than one job and depend a great deal on overtime to boost their monthly income. Often, they are the key breadwinners in the family. So for any training programme to succeed, there will have to be an income subsidy to encourage, to train and compensate for the loss of income.”
“In that regard, Sir, can the Minister share with the House what measures are being taken to address the perennial problems of indigenous workforce shortfall? Secondly, what is MOM's strategic thrust in supporting sustainable economic growth and helping Singaporeans remain meaningfully employed in our own country? Future workforce”